By: Staff Writer

January 14, Colombo (LNW): The recent appointment of former High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake as the Director General (DG) of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, based on recommendations from the Constitutional Council, has sparked significant debate within Sri Lanka’s legal community.

Legal professionals have raised concerns about the legality of this appointment under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023. According to legal activist and attorney Namal Rajapaksa, the Act clearly specifies the qualifications required for the position of DG.

Legal Provisions and Concerns

Section 17 of the Anti-Corruption Act outlines the qualifications for the DG role, emphasizing the necessity for a minimum of 15 years of experience in handling criminal prosecutions and extensive legal expertise.

Furthermore, Section 19(A) mandates that the appointee must be a legal professional with proven experience in managing criminal cases. Rajapaksa contends that the inclusion of these provisions in the Act was aimed at addressing the inefficiencies of past CIABOC leadership in managing high-profile corruption cases.

Ranga Dissanayake, while widely regarded as a competent and honest High Court judge, lacks the required 15 years of experience in managing criminal prosecutions. Rajapaksa asserts that this makes the appointment non-compliant with the law.

Counterarguments in Favor of the Appointment

Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa, a legal analyst and former commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, refuted these claims. He argued that Dissanayake’s extensive judicial career, including his tenure as a Magistrate and later as a High Court Judge, provides him with substantial experience and knowledge of criminal law and case management.

Magistrates, he noted, handle a significant volume of criminal cases, which equips them with expertise in this domain.

Mahanamahewa also highlighted that the DG operates with the support of a legal team within CIABOC, suggesting that Dissanayake’s appointment does not violate the law.

Implications and Potential Legal Challenges

Despite these arguments, Rajapaksa maintains that the appointment is legally contentious and could be challenged in court.

He pointed to a precedent involving former DG Kanishka Wijerathna, whose appointment as DG while serving as a High Court Judge was deemed unlawful due to non-compliance with the qualifications outlined in the law. Wijerathna subsequently resigned, citing these legal concerns.

Rajapaksa warned that similar challenges could arise regarding Dissanayake’s appointment, potentially undermining the validity of indictments signed by the DG. He cited ongoing legal disputes, such as the Greek Bond case involving former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, where the validity of indictments signed by the previous DG has already been contested.

 Future Implications

If legal challenges against Dissanayake’s appointment succeed, it could cast doubt on the legitimacy of cases initiated under his tenure. This includes the risk of indictments being invalidated, potentially leading to the dismissal of critical corruption cases.

The debate underscores the importance of adhering to legal frameworks in appointing officials to key institutions tasked with upholding integrity and accountability in Sri Lanka.

January 14, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Public Security has confirmed that efforts are underway to significantly accelerate the passport issuance process, with plans to issue up to 2,500 passports per day.

This move comes as part of a broader initiative to address the growing demand for passports and streamline the application procedure.

Minister Ananda Wijepala explained that the previous daily output of 1,100 passports was insufficient to meet the increasing needs of citizens.

“We have now put measures in place to increase the daily issuance of passports to 2,500. This is a significant boost to ensure that citizens are not facing unnecessary delays,” the Minister stated.

Responding to concerns raised by the public regarding long waiting periods, particularly for those who have been waiting for up to three months, Minister Wijepala assured that provisions had been made for urgent cases.

“For individuals who need to travel abroad at short notice, we have introduced a special channel for expedited passport processing. This will allow those in urgent need to receive their passports without delay,” he added.

He further explained that applications submitted through this expedited channel would be reviewed by a dedicated committee, which would prioritise these cases and take all necessary steps to ensure that passports are issued as swiftly as possible.

“We are committed to ensuring that no one is left waiting when they urgently need to travel,” the Minister emphasised.

This new initiative is expected to alleviate the passport backlog and offer a more efficient service to the public, particularly for those with pressing travel needs.

January 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Koshala Wickremasinghe has revealed that the country lost access to 10,000 job opportunities in the Israeli agricultural sector due to the actions of unqualified individuals sent under the previous government.

These individuals, who were placed in jobs without meeting the necessary requirements, violated their work agreements by abandoning their posts and seeking alternative employment, resulting in Israeli authorities revoking the job quota.

Wickremasinghe made these remarks in a special media briefing where he discussed the recent introduction of a physical fitness test for Sri Lankan workers hoping to secure agricultural positions in Israel.

He outlined the challenges Sri Lanka faced due to political interference in the past, where unfit workers were pushed into jobs without due process.

“For two years, approximately 5,000 people have been waiting for employment in Israel, after being promised jobs by politicians who also took money from them. These individuals were often brought to the Bureau in buses and vehicles, under pressure from political figures, without following proper procedures,” Wickremasinghe explained.

He stressed that such practices undermined the integrity of Sri Lanka’s job market, leading to the loss of employment opportunities abroad.

In response to this, the current administration has implemented necessary reforms to rectify the situation and ensure that only qualified and fit individuals are sent abroad for work.

Historically, Israel had granted Sri Lanka a job quota of around 10,000 agricultural positions.

However, only 2,000 workers were successfully dispatched to Israel. Unfortunately, many of these workers were not physically prepared for the demanding nature of agricultural work and vacated their positions without notice, prompting Israel to cancel the job quota altogether.

“Following extensive discussions with Israeli authorities, they have indicated a willingness to reconsider the job quota, provided that only physically fit and qualified workers are sent. In collaboration with the Sri Lankan Army and health authorities, we have developed a health and fitness programme that meets Israel’s stringent requirements. Over the past month and a half, we have made efforts to ensure potential workers understand and meet these health criteria,” said Wickremasinghe.

The SLBFE Chairman highlighted that many individuals had already invested money and effort to qualify for these positions, despite facing considerable hardships.

To ensure these workers are fit for the job, the Bureau introduced a series of medical and physical tests, including ECG screenings and a two-kilometre run that must be completed within 10 to 12 minutes.

Wickremasinghe addressed concerns raised by some job aspirants who found the physical examination too challenging, as well as the media’s portrayal of these complaints.

“Whilst some individuals have voiced their discontent with the physical fitness requirements, it is crucial to understand that Israel expects a certain level of strength and endurance from agricultural workers. Without meeting these standards, there is a real risk that Israel will once again cancel the job quota,” he warned.

The SLBFE Chairman reiterated the importance of sending only properly qualified and fit workers to Israel, stressing that doing so would not only restore the agricultural job opportunities but also pave the way for more Sri Lankans to secure similar positions in the future.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the right people are sent for these jobs, and through these physical fitness activities, we hope to regain these vital employment opportunities for our citizens,” Wickremasinghe concluded.

January 14, Colombo (LNW): The annual Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya, or New Rice Festival, took place yesterday morning at the holy Temple of Tooth Relic, with ancient rituals marking the occasion.

This significant festival, which forms part of the four major religious celebrations held at the Temple of Tooth Relic each year, honours the first harvest of rice, a tradition dating back to the time of ancient kings.

The event was conducted under the guidance of the venerable Thera of Thewawa, the Chief Incumbent of Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya, Ven. Urulawatte Dhammarakkhita Thera.

Also present at the ceremony was Diyawadana Nilame, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, who took part in the sacred rituals.

The New Rice Festival, held on the full moon day of January each year, is a key highlight of the religious calendar. During the festival, the first harvest of rice from the fields owned by the Dalada Maligawa is brought to the temple and offered to the sacred Tooth Relic as an act of devotion and thanksgiving.

This custom is believed to symbolise gratitude for the abundance of nature and the blessings bestowed upon the people by the divine.

The celebration of the New Rice Festival has been a cherished tradition for centuries, marking the beginning of the annual cycle of major religious festivals in Kandy.

These four grand festivals—starting with the New Rice Festival—are a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s cultural and religious heritage.

Following the New Rice Festival, the other prominent celebrations include the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival, the Esala Perahera, and the Kartika Festival, each rich in ritual and devotion.

As part of the day’s rituals, a special Buddha pooja was conducted, during which fresh rice was offered to the Sacred Tooth Relic. This sacred ceremony, guided by the Thera of Thewawa and supported by the Diyawadana Nilame, was a moment of spiritual significance for all involved, reaffirming the deep cultural and religious connection to the harvest and to the temple’s sacred traditions.

January 13, Colombo (LNW): Former Director of Agriculture, K.B. Gunaratne, has laid the blame for the current shortage of red raw rice squarely on the shoulders of a politician from the Southern Province, who was responsible for agriculture during the previous regime.

A series of politically motivated decisions made over the past six years have led to a severe lack of this essential staple, according to Gunaratne.

In a recent briefing in Kandy, Gunaratne explained that the crisis surrounding red raw rice was directly caused by the arbitrary actions of those in political power, which sidelined the needs of farmers in favour of fulfilling political agendas.

“For the past six years, the Agriculture Department was not serving the interests of the farmers but instead was working to fulfil the wishes of politicians,” he said.

Gunaratne further detailed how the people of the Southern Province, who traditionally consume red raw rice more than any other group in the country, were severely impacted by these decisions.

“At one point, there was an overwhelming demand for red raw rice, not only in the Southern Province but across the entire country,” he remarked, pointing out that the farmers had responded by cultivating the AT 362 rice variety in significant quantities.

“As a result, there was a large surplus of red raw rice, and farmers were even storing it,” he added.

However, according to Gunaratne, the situation took a turn for the worse when the government, under political pressure, distributed 20 kilogrammes of this surplus rice to families nationwide for free.

“What the political authorities did was to distribute large quantities of red raw rice to the people without considering the long-term effects. This is one of the key reasons we are now facing such a scarcity,” he said.

Following this, he claimed, the same authorities then advised farmers to shift their focus to cultivating Keeri Samba rice instead of red raw rice, further exacerbating the problem.

“This is the real story behind the shortage of red raw rice,” Gunaratne asserted.

The former director also lamented the lack of red raw rice available for one of the most significant festivals for the Tamil community, Thai Pongal, a time when the rice is traditionally used to prepare milk rice offerings to the gods.

“At this moment, there is no red raw milk rice to offer during the Thai Pongal festival. This situation is deeply troubling,” he said.

Looking ahead, Gunaratne warned that the ongoing shortage of red raw rice could persist well into next year, potentially lasting until August or September.

“Currently, the government is attempting to halt rice imports, but even if they bring in 100,000 metric tons, it will only be enough for around 10 to 11 days of consumption,” he explained.

He also cautioned that if the government fails to implement a comprehensive strategy to address the rice shortage, prices will continue to rise.

“If nothing is done, the price of Nadu rice could reach Rs. 330 to Rs. 350 per kilogramme, while Samba rice could climb to Rs. 380 to Rs. 400. Keeri Samba will also become more expensive, with prices potentially soaring past Rs. 450 per kilogramme,” Gunaratne predicted. “In addition, red raw rice may become completely unavailable.“