Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena disclosed in Parliament the maximum penalty applicable for a breach of privilege by Members of the Sri Lankan Parliament. Addressing the assembly on Tuesday, he outlined the stipulations for imposing penalties in cases where a Member of Parliament faces multiple charges from the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The Speaker clarified that if a charge-sheet contains multiple charges for separate offenses against a Member of Parliament and the said member is found guilty of more than one charge, the maximum penalty comes into effect.

In seeking guidance on the permissible punishment under Section 28 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953, the Speaker consulted the Attorney General. The Attorney General’s assessment, considering various constitutional provisions and legislative acts, concluded that the suspension of a Member of Parliament’s service for over a month, up to a maximum of three months, is feasible for convictions involving two or more separate offenses within a single incident.

MP Harsha de Silva, Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), disclosed directives issued to the Department of Inland Revenue (IRD) concerning Value Added Tax (VAT) regulations for local software enterprises. Speaking to ‘X’, he highlighted pivotal discussions addressing VAT applicability for both local and foreign software and digital service providers.

MP Harsha de Silva emphasized that during discussions, the IRD recognized the necessity for VAT to be applied based on the consumption of services, not solely on the location of businesses.

Despite anticipated administrative challenges, the COPF has instructed the IRD to devise a comprehensive plan within a week, aimed at establishing an equitable environment for all stakeholders.

The MP expressed pride in advocating for fairness in the treatment of local software companies like PickMe compared to their foreign counterparts such as Uber.

1. Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardene testifies before the Parliamentary Committee to look into the matter of Financial Bankruptcy: says he did not declare a financial bankruptcy on 12th April ’22, and only announced the inability to pay some debts: asserts that therefore, the “financial bankruptcy” is a misinterpretation.
2. United Entrepreneurs’ Forum President Tanya Abeysundera claims there were nearly a million SMEs in this country, but that the economic management of President Ranil Wickramasinghe & CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe has caused that number to collapse to just about 300,000.
3. Japan stresses urgency of finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding on Debt Re-structuring between the Official Creditor Committee and the SL Govt: highlights the need for transparency & comparability in agreements with all Creditors.
4. SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri resigns as an MP: Nayana Wasalathilaka fills the Parliamentary seat thereby falling vacant.
5. GMOA & FUTA welcome the Govt’s recent decision to double the “Disturbance, Availability & Transport” allowance paid for Govt doctors and the 25% increase in the study allowance given to university teachers.
6. UK’s Princess Anne and spouse Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence visit SL: the visit to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between UK & SL: SL had been colonised by Portugal, Netherlands & UK for 443 years from 1505 to 1948.
7. Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says there are around 20,000 private zoos in China, and many have expressed hopes of acquiring SL toque macaque monkeys for exhibition in their zoos.
8. Cabinet grants approval to a proposal to enhance 1,500km of roads under the 100,000km Roads Programme, where work had been inaugurated but suspended.
9. National Construction Assn Chairman Susantha Liyanaarachchi says the country’s business community is prepared to confront any potential measures of suppression by the Govt: his comments likely to be in response to a recent statement by Presidential Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka that the Govt would take action against “individuals spreading misinformation regarding the recent increase in VAT”.
10. Afghanistan Cricket Board says Afghanistan will undertake an all-formats tour of SL in February’24: will play a one-off Test followed by 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is.

January 10, Colombo (LNW): Following the brutal murder of a 41-year-old woman near the Kahathuduwa interchange of the Southern Expressway, a significant breakthrough occurred as police apprehended a suspect at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

The victim, an employee of the Civil Aviation Authority, fell victim to a heinous hacking incident in the Kahathuduwa area on the evening of January 9. SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the police spokesman, confirmed the arrest of a 45-year-old man believed to be responsible for the murder. He was intercepted at the airport while attempting to flee the country.

Residing in Madapatha, Piliyandala, the victim was en route home from work when the tragic incident occurred near the Kahathuduwa entrance to the expressway. Law enforcement authorities suspect the motive behind the murder to be related to an illicit affair.

Further investigation revealed that the arrested suspect had recently returned to the country after spending several years overseas, adding a layer of complexity to the case.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the sentencing of Shangguan Yunkai to 15 years in prison on trumped-up charges. The investigative journalist known for his probes into the corruption of the Chinese officials must be released immediately.

On 5 January 2024, Chinese investigative journalist Shangguan Yunkai was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 380,000 Chinese yuan (around 50,000 euros) by court, in China’s central city of Ezhou, on five charges, including “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” as well as “selling fake medicines”.

Known for his investigations on the corruption of Chinese officials, Shangguan was detained on 20 April 2023. He had just published a report in a series of articles in which he revealed the wrongdoings of several officials and law enforcement in the city of Ezhou.

“This incredibly severe sentence, based on obviously trumped-up charges, clearly comes as a retribution against Shangguan Yunkai’s investigations on corruption. We urge the international community to build up pressure on the Chinese authorities to secure his release alongside all other journalists and press freedom defenders detained in the country.”

Cedric Alviani
RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director

Shangguan, who is a former leading reporter of the state-run newspaper Legal Daily, in recent years ran several groups on WeChat, the leading social media in China, in which he shared evidence of hundreds of officials’ and criminals’ violations of discipline and law. In the 1990s, his investigations had already revealed the corrupt practices of Xu Penghang, then vice-governor of Hubei province, in central China, and contributed to the official’s dismissal.

Since 2012, in line with Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s crusade against the right to information, the Beijing’s regime has stepped up its crackdown on investigative journalists, such as Huang Qi, a seasoned Chinese journalist and the founder of independent media 64 Tianwang sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2019 for “leaking state secrets” and “providing state secrets abroad”, as well as Huang Xueqin, a figure of China’s #MeToo movement, who has been detained since September 2021 and who faces a 15 years jail sentence for “inciting subversion of state power”.

Ranked 179th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2023 RSF World Press Freedom Index, China is the world’s largest jailer of journalists and press freedom defenders, with at least 121 currently detained.

REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES / REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS (RSF)
Aleksandra Bielakowska
Chargée de plaidoyer du Bureau Asie-Pacifique / Advocacy officer, Asia-Pacific Bureau
CS 90247 75083 Paris Cedex 02
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January 10, Colombo (LNW): Scheduled to begin today, the three-day visit of The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence to Sri Lanka marks a significant milestone as both nations celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties.

The British High Commission in Colombo announced this visit, highlighting the strong personal connections and shared interests that bind the UK and Sri Lanka, fostering a natural partnership within the Commonwealth. During her visit, The Princess Royal is set to engage in various activities, including meetings with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and interactions with businesses, charities, and the Save the Children Sri Lanka Programme.

In her capacity as President of Commonwealth War Graves, she plans to pay respects at a Commonwealth War Grave, signifying the importance of historical remembrance. The itinerary also features visits to religiously significant sites in Kandy and Colombo, as well as engagements with local communities and civil society representatives in Jaffna.

Notably, The Princess Royal’s last visit to Sri Lanka in 1995, as the patron of Save the Children, aimed to familiarize herself with the charity’s supported projects. This tour stands as the Royal family’s inaugural overseas visit for 2024, reflecting the enduring ties between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.