News
Buddhika’s question on assassin of SWRD to be taken up again today
By Saman Indrajith
A question Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana posed to the Justice Minister about Talduwe Somarama Thera, who was judicially executed for assassinating former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike is listed to be taken up in Parliament, again, today.
MP Pathirana has asked the Justice Minister why the death certificate of Somarama has not been released yet, according to today’s Order Paper of Parliament.
The MP has asked whether the Minister is aware that the death of Somarama, on 06.07.1962, was not registered although it is mentioned that he was hanged to death on that day.
The MP has called on the Minister to inform the House whether an inquiry was conducted in relation to the non-issuance of the Certificate of Death of Ven Somarama; if so, its conclusion; if not, whether an inquiry would be conducted; whether there are any other persons in relation to whom Certificates of Death have not been issued following enforcement of the capital punishment and if not, why.
MP Pathirana also calls on the Minister to inform the House of the number of persons who were hanged to death following the imposition of the capital punishment after 04.02.1948 in Sri Lanka; whether arrangements will be made to make the Certificates of Death of the persons who were hanged to death, available to their relatives; and if so, how long it will take.
Today’s instance is the third time the question is listed in the Order Paper. The question had been raised twice in earlier sittings but the government, on both occasions, asked for time.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
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