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Jail term for ex- Controller Gen. of Immigration and Emigration for defying court order

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Ilukpitiya being taken from SC yesterday (pic by Nishan S. Priyantha)

Former Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Harsha Ilukpitiya, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for contempt of court.

Justice Yasantha Kodagoda made the order yesterday (23) with Justices Janak de Silva and Arjuna Obeyesekere agreeing.

Justice Kodagoda told the former official that the latter had committed a serious act of contempt against the judiciary.

During the previous government, the Cabinet-of-Ministers approved a proposal to outsource the electronic visa issuance process to two private companies. However, the Supreme Court later issued an interim injunction suspending the move and ordered the resumption of the previous visa issuance procedure.

In spite of the court order, Ilukpitiya continued with the controversial and disputed scheme.

Court determined that his actions had willfully disregarded the authority of the Supreme Court, warranting the sentence imposed.



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IMF MD commends government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February

Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.

The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed

The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department,  Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister  Pradeep Saputhanthri and  Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Cabinet approves construction of new 300 bed Base Hospital in Deniyaya

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The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.

The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.

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Cabinet nod to legally empower methodology for implementing the ‘Praja Shakthi’ poverty alleviation national movement

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The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to legally empower the implementation of ‘Praja Shakthi’ (Strength of the Community) poverty alleviation national movement

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