News
Chief Govt Whip informs Parliament CID wants to question Harin over contradictory statements
By Saman Indrajith
Chief Government Whip and Minister Johnston Fernando told Parliament on Thursday that the CID wanted to question SJB MP Harin Fernando over some contradictory statements the latter made with regard to the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
“MP Fernando has made some contradictory statements . For example, we remember that he said soon after the attacks that he had received a warning of imminent attack from his father. But if you go through the report of the presidential commission of investigation, you may find MP Fernando said he had received the warning from his elder sister. There are many such contradictory statements he had made. So, the CID has to question him on them. The allegations of the Opposition Leader, the Chief Opposition Whip and some MPs of the Opposition that the government was harassing the MP with the help of the CID are not true at all.
“I assure on behalf of the government that none among us has made any requests to arrest any opposition MP. I also assure you that there will be no arrest with regard to this all Fernando has to do is tell the CID is why he made those contradictory statements.”
MPs of both sides were seen threatening each other and hurling verbal abuses.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa informed Parliament that there was an attempt to arrest MP Fernando under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over statements he had made in Parliament. He said that MP Fernando was being investigated for a statement made in Parliament during a debate on the Easter attacks.
MP Indika Anuruddha was seen walking down to the Well shouting at Opposition MPs resulting in the Speaker calling on him multiple times to return to his seat.
General Secretary of the SJB, MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that MP Anuruddha’s actions were a clear threat to the opposition.
MP Madduma Bandara called on the Speaker to assure that opposition MPs will not be penalised for making statements in Parliament.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (20) paid his last respects to the remains of Most Venerable Kappetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera, Anunayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Chief Incumbent of the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, who passed away.
The President visited the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, where the remains of the Thera are lying, and paid his last respects. He subsequently expressed his deepest condolences to the Maha Sangha and the temple’s Dayaka Sabha, who are mourning the passing of the Thera.
Central Province Governor and Consultant Physician Dr Harsha Suranga Fernando, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta and several others were present.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
… reminds AKD led over 560 protests during Yahapalanaya
Former Yahapalana Minister and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (19) alleged that the JVP, which carried out over 560 protests during the 2015-2019 period, was now bent on preventing the Opposition from exercising its democratic right to protest.
Recalling the declaration made by the JVP at the height of the violent protest campaign in July 2022 that it would set the Parliament ablaze, the former parliamentarian lashed out at the JVP-led administration for using the police excessively to curb political opposition. Ranawaka said this while addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office .
Commenting on the protest campaign launched by the Maha Sangha, demanding presidential pardon for General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagotaatte Gnanasara, the ex-Colombo District lawmaker alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used a combination of police, investigative units and JVP cadres to break up the monks’ protest. The government went to the extent of compelling the JVP/NPP-run Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to deprive the peaceful protesters of basic toilet facilities, he alleged.
The government’s actions proved that only those with prior approval from JVP Pelawatte headquarters could launch protests in Colombo, its suburbs or in the provinces. The police have become a political tool in the hands of the JVP, the ex-Minister said. (SF)
By SK Samaranayake
Six people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding bulker lorry carrying cement and concrete ploughed into several vehicles and a shop on the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road at Kurugoda, Akurana, yesterday (19).
Four of the victims, two women and two men, died on the spot in the accident which occurred around 10.30 am, according to Alawathugoda Police.
Police said the bulker, travelling at high speed from the Matale direction, collided with three three-wheelers, two motorcycles and two lorries before veering off the road and crashing into a commercial establishment.
Five of the injured were rushed to the National Hospital of Kandy, where hospital sources said two remained in critical condition.
The bodies of the four victims were placed at the Akurana Hospital, where two others, who suffered minor injuries, were also receiving treatment.
The driver of the bulker was arrested by the Alawathugoda Police Traffic Division and is to be produced before court.
Investigations are being conducted under the supervision of Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake.
President pays last respects to Most Venerable Kappetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera
Shafali receives demerit point for breaching Level 1 of ICC code of conduct
Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Northern, North-central, Central, Eastern, North-western and Uva provinces
Molineux, Dunkley enter WPL 2027 auction with top base price of INR 50 lakh
Ranawaka accuses govt. of using JVP cadres and police to suppress political opponents
Six killed as speeding bulker crashes into vehicles, shop in Akurana
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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