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Lankan man convicted of sexual assault and counterfeiting currency denied refugee status, must leave New Zealand
A Sri Lankan man convicted of sexual assault and counterfeiting currency has been denied refugee status in New Zealand.The man – who comes from a wealthy family – is afraid he will be “labelled as a criminal sex offender” if he returns to Sri Lanka.
He initially claimed he was bisexual, but when the man was questioned by the Refugee Status Unit he retracted that statement.The Immigration and Protection Tribunal found the man’s belief that he would be persecuted was not well founded and his appeal for refugee status was rejected.
The 33-year-old man also said he was afraid of retaliation after he was charged with attempted murder in 2013 for hitting a man with some timber while protecting one of his family’s 15 sawmills from a gang.
He spent 28 days in jail and was released after his family paid money to local authorities.He was threatened and, fearful of gang retaliation, the man said he “went into hiding” at a family home.In a bid to flee Sri Lanka for his “own safety”, he applied for a student visa in New Zealand in 2014.
Four years later, he was still in New Zealand on an essential skills work visa and was spending his time partying and using drugs.At one party, he sexually assaulted a woman while intoxicated. He was arrested and charged.
While out on bail, the partying continued. This time, he made and used counterfeit money to keep up the habit.In November 2019, the man was convicted of 18 counts of using forged documents and one count of theft (of a sum under $500).
He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, which was increased by an extra two years and eight months after he was also convicted of “unlawful sexual connection” with a woman aged over 16.
The man said his family in Sir Lanka was threatened and harassed because of his offending. They would not support him when he returned.The tribunal found there was no “real chance” of serious harm by the people who attacked one of his family’s sawmills.
It acknowledged that it may be hard for the man to go back to Sir Lanka after his offending in New Zealand but said there was “no right to be liked by everyone”.As to the lack of family support, the tribunal noted the man was 33 years old.
“He has lived independently of his family for many years and is not compelled to return to them in Sri Lanka.”
The man’s appeal was dismissed. He remains liable to be deported at the end of his sentence. – stuff.co.nz
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Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
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Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
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