News
Bathiudeen’s associates used Sathosa vehicles to travel to East
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Several associates of former minister Rishad Bathiudeen had used Lanka Sathosa vehicles to travel to the East on a number of occasions when he was t Industrial and Commerce Minister, the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks was informed yesterday.
A driver attached to Lanka Sathosa, Nimesh Illangasinghe told the PCoI that he had traveled to the Eastern Province with Mohammed Aslam, a Sathosa Engineer and an associate of Bathiudeen on several occasions before the attacks.
“I drove Aslam to several areas in the Eastern Province in January, February and March 2019. He inspected several Sathosa outlets in the east and a number of mosques.”
Illangasinghe said that Aslam was a resident of Dehiwala and he travelled with two individuals who were not attached to Sathosa. The witness added that they had also taken part in mosque events. In one such instance in Medawachchiya, two Arabs had played prominent roles in the event, the witness said.
“We have installed GPS in all Lanka Sathosa vehicles. Sathosa vehicles, PL-2961, PL-2962, PL-2963 and PL-2882 were used by Aslam and his associates to travel to the East.”
Former Chief Engineer – Lanka Sathosa, Kumarawadu Ariyawansha said that on January 30, 2019 former Minister Bathiudeen had advised him to send Aslam to several Sathosa branches, including those in Pottuvil and Mannar.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
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Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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