July 25, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) happens to be steady against the US Dollar today (25) in comparison to yesterday, as per leading commercial banks in the country.
At Peoples Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 297.87 from Rs. 298.36, and the selling price to Rs. 308.56 from Rs. 309.07.
At Commercial Bank, the buying and selling prices of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. Rs. 297.67 and Rs. 307.50, respectively.
At Sampath Bank, the buying and selling prices of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 299 and Rs. 308, respectively.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): The Court of Appeal has directed the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court to grant bail to Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, the former Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division.
Dr. Wickramanayake had been held in remand custody in connection with the alleged importation of substandard intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) vials.
Following a writ petition filed by Wickramanayake’s legal team, the Court of Appeal instructed the lower court to release him on bail under appropriate conditions.
The petition challenged the legality of his remand and sought his release.
Dr. Wickramanayake, along with three other senior officials from the Medical Supplies Division, was detained by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on 20 November 2023.
The officials involved include Assistant Director Devashantha Soloman, Accountant Neran Dhananjaya, and Stock Controller Sujith Kumara.
The case also includes several prominent figures, such as former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, former Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta, Additional Health Secretary Dr. Saman Ratnayake, and the proprietor of the company accused of supplying the problematic IVIG vials.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): Three petitions have been lodged with the Supreme Court challenging the visa processing system introduced at Katunayake Airport by VFS Global, involving Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and the government.
Opposition MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.A. Sumanthiran, and Rauff Hakeem are behind the legal actions.
They are seeking a court order to halt the new visa procedure, citing concerns over potential breaches of crucial national security data.
MP Ranawaka publicly criticised the system, alleging it is part of a multi-billion-dollar scam.
“We have challenged Minister Alles and the government in the Supreme Court over their role in this scandalous visa procedure,” Ranawaka said in a statement.
The scrutiny intensified after a local passenger highlighted issues with the VFS visa process, which was widely shared online.
A subsequent probe by the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) revealed that VFS Global was selected without a competitive bidding process, which may have led to the Department of Immigration and Emigration missing out on more favourable rates.
CoPF Chairman MP Harsha de Silva noted that if competitive bids had been solicited, the government could have secured services at a lower cost, potentially under US$25, and even mentioned that Mobitel had previously offered to provide similar services for US$1.
The lack of specification documents for the visa service’s criteria has raised questions about the selection process.
The CoPF’s findings suggest that more competitive options might have been available if a transparent bidding process had been followed.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): The government is contemplating the introduction of a new ‘no-fault divorce’ law, announced Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
During a parliamentary session this week, Rajapakshe revealed plans to overhaul the existing divorce legislation, with the aim of simplifying the process.
The proposed ‘no-fault divorce’ law would enable courts to grant divorces without prolonged proceedings, provided it is established that the marriage is irreparably broken.
The draft bill for this reform has been completed, and it is expected to streamline divorce cases significantly.
Additionally, the Justice Minister highlighted plans to facilitate the recognition of divorce judgments from foreign courts in Sri Lanka through the new Reciprocal Recognition, Registration, and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Bill.
The new Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill, recently passed, addresses challenges in divorce cases related to serving notices to respondents who have moved abroad.
This amendment allows for notifications via electronic methods such as email and WhatsApp, aiming to improve procedural efficiency.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne, the distinguished leader of the Nawa Sama Samaja Pakshaya (NSSP), has died at the age of 81.
Renowned for his unwavering dedication to socialist ideals and social justice, Dr. Karunaratne was a significant presence in Sri Lankan politics.
Karunaratne’s political journey began in his youth, marked by a steadfast commitment to Marxist principles. He emerged as a vocal critic of capitalist structures and an advocate for the working class.
Throughout his career, he championed numerous causes, including workers’ rights, anti-imperialism, and social equity.
His leadership in the NSSP was characterised by efforts to mobilise grassroots movements and challenge established political norms.
Dr. Karunaratne’s contributions to Sri Lankan politics were not confined to his party. He engaged in various coalitions and political alliances, striving to create a broader leftist front.
His intellectual rigor and eloquence made him a respected figure amongst both supporters and opponents.
Despite facing political and personal adversities, Karunaratne remained a staunch advocate for his beliefs, leaving a lasting legacy in the country’s socio-political landscape.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): The Supreme Court yesterday (24) evening issued an injunction preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from performing his duties as Inspector General of Police (IGP).
In response, the government convened a Cabinet meeting this evening to address the issue.
The Cabinet decided to announce the government’s response to the Supreme Court’s decision within the next two days, following a comprehensive review of all legal aspects involved.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Police has announced the suspension of the ‘Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) Public Relief Day’ programme this Friday.
In a statement, the Police indicated that the weekly programme, usually held every Friday, will not take place on 26th July due to unavoidable circumstances.
Reintroduced in December 2023 after being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative allows the public to meet senior Police officers, including the IGP, to address unresolved complaints.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): The National Election Commission will meet today (25) to finalise the dates for the upcoming Presidential Election and the calling of nominations.
Chaired by R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, the Chairman of the Election Commission, the meeting aims to agree on these essential dates.
At a press conference yesterday (24), Rathnayake indicated that the election date would be revealed before the weekend, and that the preliminary arrangements for conducting the polls have already been completed.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe announced in Parliament yesterday (24) that the liquidation letter for The Finance Company PLC (TFC) has been issued, with the government committed to expediting the process and ensuring swift compensation for all insured depositors.
In response to a question from MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam about the dissolution and depositor issues of TFC, Minister Semasinghe emphasised the government’s intent to resolve the matter quickly.
He stated that liquidation is the most just course of action for depositors.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka decided on liquidation after all restructuring efforts for TFC failed. Liquidation is seen as the only way to maximise compensation for depositors and prevent further losses.
The Colombo High Court has issued the liquidation order, and the government is prioritising the acceleration of these proceedings to address the issue promptly.
July 25, Colombo (LNW): The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) is set to announce a possible reduction in the price of bread tomorrow (26).
Association president N.K. Jayawardena noted that a significant discussion was held yesterday (24) regarding the potential price cut, but no conclusive agreement was reached.
The deliberation on price reduction follows recent remarks by Minister of Trade Nalin Fernando, who cautioned that a control price for bread would be enforced if bakery owners did not reduce prices.
This has led bakery owners to reconsider the pricing of their products, including bread.
Jayawardena indicated that a final decision on the matter is anticipated to be made tomorrow.
