News
Kiriella casts aspersions about Minister Ali Sabry’s neutrality
By Saman Indrajith
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP, Lakshman Kiriella expressed his displeasure with the media’s perceived lack of attention to his statement made at the last sitting day in Parliament. His statement pertained to concerns regarding conflicts of interest arising from Foreign Minister Ali Sabry’s presentations at international forums in relation to the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Kiriella said that he had been approached by the Catholic Church on Friday morning, urging him to convey to Parliament their reservations about the involvement of Foreign Minister Sabry in matters concerning the Easter Sunday investigations and at international forums relating to the subject. The Church, led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, had come under criticism from government members for advocating Sabry’s removal from such affairs, Kiriella said.
During his participation in a two-day parliamentary debate on Friday, Kiriella said: “I was contacted this morning by the Church and asked to inform the House that they oppose Foreign Minister Sabry’s involvement in the Easter Sunday probe or with international forums on the matter due to his apparent conflicts of interest.” Sabry had previously appeared for Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 35 legal cases, raising concerns about his impartiality in the Easter Sunday issue. Anura Kumara Dissanayake had also pointed out Sabry’s previous role as counsel for Mohamed Ibrahim, whose sons were involved in the terror attacks.
“Soon after Channel 4 aired its documentary on Easter Sunday, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued a statement of denial of any meetings with SIS intelligence Chief Suresh Sallay during the period referred to by the documentary as Sallay was in Malaysia for three years. These are stories that should have been told to children. I have a document which proves that intelligence operatives of the US and China are going all over the world using various passports. It is very usual for senior intelligence officers to have several passports. It is a common practice. Even some of the MPs in this House have more than one passport.
“Channel 4 exposure confirms what was found by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. I call on the President to make use of the information given by Channel 4 to commence investigations. He could also commence investigations into the killing of Lasantha Wickrematunga because the Channel 4 programme provides information about that killing too.
“Sri Lanka today is in dire straits as we could not investigate the charges on human rights violations alleged to have taken place during the last phase of the war against the LTTE. Soon after the war the then UN General Secretary Ban ki-moon came to Lanka and went to meet the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kandy. There the UN secretary General spoke for the need of an international probe on the allegations. Mahinda Rajapaksa said that there was no need for such an international probe and undertook to conduct an investigation.
As a result of that came the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. The report of the LLRC came, we all including the government and the opposition even the international community accepted that report. But its recommendations were not implemented. So, there is a demand for an international probe on the matters.
Nine generals who had fled this country are now giving evidence against Sri Lanka in international forums. So, there are calls for an international probe on Easter Sunday terror attacks. This means the country is being asked to face two international probes. This situation would not be in favour of Sri Lanka especially in terms of foreign investments and aid to this country,” Kiriella said.
Several ex-Cabinet ministers questioned; Ranil, Sajith, too likely to be summoned
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an inquiry into the shifting of the Agriculture Ministry situated at Rajamalwatte, to a building belonging to the D. P. Jayasinghe Group of Companies, at Rajagiriya, during the Yahapalana government.
The building was rented for a five-year period at a cost of over Rs 1 bn by the yahapalana government within months after the then President Maithripala Sirisena declared opened the 10-storey building complex.
The CIABOC yesterday morning recorded former yahapalana minister Gayantha Karunatilleke’s statement in connection with the investigation. Later in the day, CIABOC recorded the statement of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabanadara. Earlier CIABOC summoned former ministers Thalatha Atukorale, Wajira Abeywardena and Lakshman Kiriella. At the time of the finalisation of the deal, KIriella was in the UNP.
Sources said that former PM and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, was likely to be questioned in this regard. Responding to The Island queries, sources pointed out even SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was expected to be questioned.
The then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is on record as having said that the building was rented in keeping with a decision taken by the government and not Parliament.
The UNP-SLFP coalition shifted the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate 16 Sectoral Oversight Committees therein.
Although the government paid as much as Rs. 21.5 mn monthly rent to D.P.A. Jayasinghe Company, the Agriculture Ministry failed to move in for over a year. The then Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake sought Cabinet approval on Dec 1, 2015 to rent the building.
According to inquiries conducted earlier by the Presidential Commission appointed to probe state sector corruption, the Agriculture Ministry sought Cabinet approval for a new building after the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe submitted a cabinet proposal on 21 September, 2015, to use the Agriculture Ministry building for Parliament’s sectoral oversight committees.
PM Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has told the Commission that public funds could have been saved if the several vacant floors of Suhurupaya belonging to the Defence Ministry had been made available to the Agriculture Ministry.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Railway sources said that the damages caused to railway tracks could be more than USD 300 mn.
According to UNDP Rapid Crisis Assessment Sri Lanka’s railroad system, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. This figure reflects flooding only, but other hazards (such as localised debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) can also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions can render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.
At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo District, Ja Ela in Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.
Commissioner-General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi is on record as having said that only 478 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s 1,593-km railway network were currently usable following extensive damage caused by the recent cyclone.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker arrived in Colombo yesterday (11) to underscore US interest in defence, trade and maritime security in line with their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The US embassy here issued the following statement: “Under Secretary Hooker will meet with Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, focused on deepening economic and commercial ties, strengthening defence cooperation, and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic and maritime sovereignty.
The United States and Sri Lanka share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in our mutual commitment to regional security, economic growth, and prosperity for our peoples. Through close cooperation on defence, trade, and maritime security, we are working together to advance a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
As we continue to build on our strategic partnership, the United States also stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. We remain committed to working together to address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for our two nations, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership.”
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Puttalam, Matale and Kurunegala districts
Rs 1. 3 bn yahapalana building deal under investigation
SL Railways suffers staggering losses; more than 2/3 of rail tracks out of service
US, SL advancing free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region: Embassy
Vetaran lankan artistes domiciled in UK felicitated in London ceremony
Forced disappearances, a contentious issue warranting NPP’s attention – FSP
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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