January 17, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ruled that the presidential pardon granted to former MP Duminda Silva by ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was unlawful. Silva, along with four others, had been convicted in 2016 for the 2011 murder of politician Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

The High Court had sentenced all five individuals to death, a verdict subsequently upheld by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court. However, following his election victory in 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa granted a pardon exclusively to Duminda Silva.

The unexpected and controversial pardon prompted three separate fundamental rights petitions challenging its legality, filed by Hirunika Premachandra, Sumana Premachandra, and Former Human Rights Commissioner Ghazali Hussain, PC.

After thorough consideration, the bench, comprised of Justices P. Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekera, and Arjuna Obeysekera, unanimously concluded that the pardon process was flawed, rendering it unlawful.

The High Court had sentenced all five individuals to death, a verdict subsequently upheld by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court. However, following his election victory in 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa granted a pardon exclusively to Duminda Silva.

The unexpected and controversial pardon prompted three separate fundamental rights petitions challenging its legality, filed by Hirunika Premachandra, Sumana Premachandra, and Former Human Rights Commissioner Ghazali Hussain, PC.

After thorough consideration, the bench, comprised of Justices P. Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekera, and Arjuna Obeysekera, unanimously concluded that the pardon process was flawed, rendering it unlawful.

January 17, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee has further appreciated against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka on January 17, compared to the previous day.

At Peoples Bank, both the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar have seen a decrease, moving from Rs. 316.03 to Rs. 315.79 for buying and from Rs. 327.05 to Rs. 326.79 for selling.

According to Commercial Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar has decreased from Rs. 315.91 to Rs. 315.42, while the selling rate has also dropped from Rs. 326 to Rs. 325.50.

At Sampath Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 317 and Rs. 326, respectively.

1. IMF officials led by Mission Chief Peter Breuer tour the Jaffna District: meet Provincial Governor P M S Charles and discuss economic growth in the Province, de-mining, resettlement of conflict-displaced individuals & compensation for conflict victims: also discuss educational matters related to the Jaffna University, post-Covid operations, and effects of climate change in the region.
2. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera reveals that over one million electricity disconnections occurred in 2023, marking the highest number in history: says that out of nearly 7 million users, defaulted payments led to 1,064,400 disconnections: CEB was responsible for 965,566 disconnections and LECO for 98,834 disconnections.
3. Consumers experience profound misery as the relentless surge in the cost of living reaches new & distressing heights: vegetables at staggering prices: Carrots Rs.2,200 per kg, broccoli Rs.7,000, Beans Rs.1,400, Beetroot Rs.1,200, Green chillies Rs.1,400: Central Bank says Inflation has moderated to less than 5%, and IMF praises the outcome.
4. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says the 4th Session of the 9th Parliament will be ended on 24th January ’24: the termination date to be confirmed through a gazette issued by the President.
5. Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader & MP Udaya Gammanpila says the process of insulting Buddhism in the country is now a highly organized process and colossal amounts of money is invested by certain foreign countries for this purpose: also says those who insult Buddhism receive massive sums of money.
6. Govt. seeks 3 weeks to respond to the health sector non-medical employees’ unions’ who are demanding the “Disturbance, Availability and Transport” allowance of Rs.35,000 as provided to doctors.
7. Elections Commission Chairman R M A L Rathnayake says the Commission had already initiated work related to the Presidential Election: also says he hopes the necessary funds for the preliminary work will be received by the end of June’24.
8. Recent Govt audit report reveals that the Prisons capacity has exceeded by 232%.
9. Met Dept says polluted air from India has caused haze in Bandarawela & Badulla: explains that the wind flow from New Delhi comes in a circular motion where it travels from Delhi towards Bay of Bengal, and that this wind flow curves from Bay of Bengal thereby entering SL from the East.
10. Zimbabwe wins the 2nd Cricket T20I against SL, by 4 wickets: SL – 173/6 in 20 overs: Charith Asalanka 69, Angelo Mathews 66*: Zimbabwe 178/6 in 19.5 overs.

January 17, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Colombo port has experienced a significant increase in container volumes in recent weeks, attributed to vessels diverting from tensions in the southern Red Sea. Shipping companies are opting for Colombo as a transit point, avoiding the conflict-ridden Red Sea route.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted ships in the Red Sea since November, disrupting a crucial route accounting for approximately 12% of global shipping traffic. In response, some shipping companies are rerouting vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, despite it being a slower and costlier alternative.

Colombo’s strategic location has made it a preferred hub for ships seeking access to the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. Lal Weerasinghe, a senior official at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), explained that Colombo is the first hub ships encounter after passing South Africa, making it a convenient port for access.

The Port of Colombo, a key link between Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia, recorded a 2% increase in container volumes, handling 6.94 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, with a notable 15% jump in TEUs in December alone.

Over the past four to six weeks, shipping lines have sought additional berthing windows, and transshipment volumes from neighboring India have also risen. Weerasinghe noted an increase of approximately 1,000 TEUs per day, leading to a need to decline requests from some shipping lines to avoid delays for existing customers.

Mediterranean Shipping Company accounts for up to 50% of the increased traffic. Colombo is increasingly being utilized as a relaying port, with ships offloading their entire cargo to different vessels.

January 17, Colombo (LNW): A shortage of essential stents required for heart surgeries at the Colombo National Hospital is causing difficulties for patients, raising concerns about potential risks for those dealing with cardiac conditions.

Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe, spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers’ Association, emphasized the critical situation, expressing worries about the lives of heart patients being at risk due to the unavailability of necessary stents.

In an effort to verify the situation, News 1st reached out to Dr. Kumara Wickramasinghe, Director of the National Hospital, who confirmed the shortage of stents. This acknowledgment underscores the gravity of the situation, as a reliable supply of these medical devices is crucial for heart surgeries.

Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Secretary of the Ministry of Health, further confirmed the ongoing shortage. However, he provided reassurance by stating that orders have been placed to replenish the necessary medical supplies.

January 17, Colombo (LNW): In a recent announcement, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has once again sounded the alarm regarding an escalating number of financial scams associated with promises of high returns through cryptocurrency investments.

The bank emphasizes that it has neither granted licenses nor provided authorization to individuals or businesses for engaging in activities such as cryptocurrency operations, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), mining, exchanges, deposit-taking or custody services, or advisory services related to cryptocurrencies.

Highlighting the alarming surge in fraudulent activities linked to crypto investments, the Central Bank urges the public to be vigilant and acquainted with the tactics employed by fraudsters to protect their finances.

The bank’s message warns against the various tactics employed by scammers, including the exploitation of social media platforms to promote schemes with high returns, often accompanied by boasts of claimed earnings. It underscores the use of communication channels like Whatsapp and Telegram by scammers to interact with potential victims.

The announcement sheds light on how scam advertisements often lead individuals to professional-looking websites, designed to mask their fraudulent nature. Some scammers even go so far as to conduct classes or awareness sessions on fabricated platforms, disseminating misleading information about earning high returns or trading cryptocurrencies.

Once an investment is made, scammers may swiftly seize funds or continue the deception to attract more victims. The announcement emphasizes the importance of recognizing potential scams, as victims may not realize they’ve fallen prey until attempting to divest from their investments.

Providing insights on protecting oneself from scams, the announcement highlights that cryptocurrencies are unregulated in Sri Lanka, not recognized as legal tender, and lack regulatory safeguards.

The Central Bank identifies several entities found promoting the involvement of cryptocurrencies, including Sport Chain App, Sports Chain ZS Society Sri Lanka, OnmaxDT 3, MTFE App, MTFE SL Group, MTFE Success Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and MTFE DSCC Group (Pvt) Ltd.

January 16, London, UK (LNW): The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom, Rohitha Bogollagama, paid a gracious courtesy call on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Right Reverend Justin Welby, on 11 January 2024 at the Lambeth Palace in London. the Sri Lankan High Commission in London said in a statement today (16).

Prior to their meeting, an Anglican paternity led by the Archbishop convened at the St-Mary-at-Lambeth church, offering prayers for the well-being of Sri Lanka.

During their interaction, High Commissioner Bogollagama and Archbishop Welby delved into the historical significance of the Church of Ceylon, established in 1845 as an extra-provincial jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The discussion extended to exploring proposed reforms for the Church of Sri Lanka.

Archbishop Welby fondly recalled his visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic during his tour to Sri Lanka in 2019.

In turn, High Commissioner Bogollagama provided a comprehensive briefing on the Buddhist heritage and the evolution of Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka.

The dignitaries engaged in an extensive dialogue covering various facets relevant to Sri Lanka, including the country’s current economic and political landscape, international relations, economic ties between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka, and the ongoing reconciliation process.

Archbishop Welby expressed the opinion that an effective reconciliation process must emanate from within the relevant community.

Archbishop Justin Welby, serving as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury since 2013, holds the esteemed position of being the Primate of All England and the symbolic head primus inter pares of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka looks forward to continued collaboration and strengthened ties between Sri Lanka and the Church of England.