News
Five-judge SC bench annuls acquittal of Hemasiri and Pujitha by Trial-at-Bar
Case against them ordered to be resumed
Amidst continuing exchange of accusations over the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage with former Minister Udaya Gammanpila accusing the NPP government of a cover-up, the Supreme Court yesterday (05) directed the Trial-at-Bar to proceed with the case.
The highest court also set aside the Trial-at-Bar acquittal of former IGP Pujitha Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando of charges related to the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The SC judgement came following the Attorney General’s intervention.
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Yasantha Kodagoda, Kumudini Wickremasinghe, Mahinda Samayawardhena, and Arjuna Obeyesekere, delivered the judgment in response to two separate appeals filed by the Attorney General challenging the High Court Trial-at-Bar’s order to acquit Jayasundara and Fernando.
Taking into account the complexity and gravity of the case, the Supreme Court declared that it was not appropriate for the High Court to have acquitted them without calling for their defence. The Supreme Court further observed that there were grounds for the High Court-at-Bar to proceed with the trial and therefore directed the High Court-at-Bar to hear their defence and continue with the rest of the trial.
The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar on 18 Feb., 2022, acquitted Jayasundera and Fernando from the charges without calling defence on the basis that the prosecution evidence had failed to establish the commission of the offences against the accused in the indictments.
The Attorney General had filed the indictments consisting of 855 charges against Jayasundara and Fernando for their failure and illegal omission to prevent the terrorist attacks between in 2019.
The Chartered Computer Institute of Sri Lanka was established in 1976 as the premier and sole body representing professionals in the Information and Communication Technology sector in Sri Lanka. It has recognized the importance of establishing the Sri Lanka Chartered Computer Association as the main professional organization to act on behalf of the interests of professionals representing the computer sector in Sri Lanka, which should be treated equally with other professional organizations that have obtained chartered status and other formal recognition.
Accordingly, taking into account a resolution furnished by the Hon. President, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to grant policy approval for the establishment of the Chartered Computer Institute of Sri Lanka and to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill in line with the proposed objectives.
it has become essential to introduce appropriate revisions to the Drug Dependent Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act No 54 of 2007 so that a proper formal mechanism can be maintained in treatment and rehabilitation.
Accordingly, considering a resolution forwarded by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to grant the policy approval to revise the Drug Dependent Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act No 54 of 2007 and direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill including the relevant amendments.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Mrs. O. T. M. I. Thilakarathne, the senior most officer in Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service serving as an Additional Surveyor General of that Department to the Post of Surveyor General that will be vacant from 20.08.2026.
Charted Computer Institute of Sri Lanka to be established
Drug Dependent Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act No 54 of 2007 to be amendmend
Mrs. O. T. M. I. Thilakarathne appointed to the Post of Surveyor General
Purchase of 600 buses for intercity / long distance services of the Sri Lanka Transport Board
Protection of Historical, Cultural, and Traditional Intellectual Property related to the Kandy Esala Perahera
Development of roads which are not under the Road Development Authority
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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