News
SJB gives in to SLMC pressure, appoints Kariapper as NL MP
Imthiaz, Pohottuwa rebels left out
The SJB yesterday (12) named SLMC General Secretary Nizam Kariapper on its National List after the latter moved the Colombo District court against the party to prevent filling of NL slots without including President’s Counsel Kariapper.
The SJB named Mano Ganesan, Nizam Kariapper, Sujeewa Senasinghe and Mohamed Ismail for the remaining NL slots. Among those who were left out were Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Chairman of the SJB as well as Pohottuwa rebels Prof. G. L. Peiris and Dullas Alahapperuma. Both Ganesan and Senasinghe were rejected by the electorate at the general election conducted on Nov 14.
Earlier, the SLMC and SJB clashed over the failure on the part of the latter to include SLMC General Secretary Nizam Kariapper on its National List.
SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem has moved the Colombo District Court against the SJB. The court yesterday (12) issued a restraining order preventing the SJB from filling the four remaining NL slots without including the SLMC’s Nizam Kariapper.
The District Court issued this order after considering a plaint filed by lawmaker Hakeem. MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara had been named as the respondent.
Of the five NL slots that had been secured by the SJB, only one was filled with SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara taking one slot.
The SLMC’s M.S. Naleem, the former Chairman of the Eravur Urban Council was appointed as NL member to fill the slot obtained by the party.The SLMC contested some districts on its own.The SJB obtained seven NL slots at the previous election held in Aug 2020.
Political sources said that in spite of several rounds of talks among political parties and groups that contested on the SJB ticket at the Nov 14 general election, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa couldn’t resolve the dispute. That led to the SLMC moving the District Court of Colombo. (SF)
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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