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Drug-addicted Hindu priest arrested for stealing gold from temple till in Jaffna

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Gold sovereigns recovered by police

Text and Pic by Dinasena Rathugamage

Jaffna Urkavathuari police apprehended a drug-addicted Poosari (Hindu priest) on Wednesday for stealing four gold sovereigns from the temple’s till, which he managed, to fund his heroin addiction.

The Poosari had pledged the four gold sovereigns at a pawnbroker to obtain money to pay his heroin dealer, confirmed the police. Additionally, the Poosari provided the receipt issued by the pawnshop.

Upon arrest, the suspect was under the influence of heroin and was promptly taken to Urkavathurai hospital for medical treatment, as stated by the police. The suspect is scheduled to appear before the Urkavathurai Magistrate, according to authorities.

Police reported this as the second incident involving a Poosari pilfering money from the temple’s till within a week in Jaffna. Earlier, another Poosari was apprehended for forcibly entering the temple’s till, selling a gold receptacle, and some jewelry donated by devotees to the Kovil. This suspect was remanded after a court appearance, the police disclosed.



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The names of new Members of Parliament to serve on the Committee on Parliamentary Business and the Committee on Public Finance announced to Parliament

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The names of three new Members of Parliament to serve on the Committee on Parliamentary Business and four new Members of Parliament to serve on the Committee on Public Finance were announced to Parliament on Tuesday (Jan. 07) by the  Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

Accordingly, the Speaker announced that notwithstanding the provisions of the Standing Order 115 of the Parliament, as per the motion agreed to by Parliament subject to the amendments, on the 06th December 2024, Members of Parliament  (Prof.) Anil Jayantha,  Gamagedara Dissanayake and. Gayan Janaka, have also been nominated by the Committee of Selection, to serve on the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

The Speaker also announced that in terms of the provisions of the Standing Order 121 of Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on the 06th December 2024 Members of Parliament  Chathuranga Abeysinghe, . Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam,  Dr. (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathne and  Arkam Ilyas have been nominated to serve on the Committee on Public Finance.

Dr. Wickramarathne further stated that the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on 31 December 2024 approved the request to re-establish the Caucus on Climate Parliament of Sri Lanka for the Tenth Parliament and the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative for the Tenth Parliament.

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Easter Sunday carnage: Govt. claims emergence of fresh evidence

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Minister Wijepala

by Saman Indrajith

Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijeypala informed Parliament yesterday that new evidence had emerged in the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

Responding to a question raised by Puttalam District NPP MP Ajith Gihan, the Minister said that following the resumption of investigations under the new government, both civil and military personnel had come forward to furnish new evidence.

The Minister said the latest investigation had been initiated, as reported to the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court on November 11, 2024, under case No. B 35882/2024.

Investigators had recorded statements from 48 individuals so far. Among them were 12 civilians, seven army personnel, 26 police officers, and three prison officials, the Minister said.

The Minister added that investigations conducted by the CID and the Terrorist Investigation Division, under previous administrations, had led to the arrest of 747 suspects. Forty-one cases had been filed against 100 of those suspects before the High Courts, and indictments had been served on 14 of them by the Attorney General, he said.

Minister Wijeypala agreed with the NPP MP that the Catholic Church, led by His Eminence the Cardinal, along with other religious leaders, expected the masterminds and all responsible individuals behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks to be brought to justice soon.

The Minister said matters raised following the Channel 4 revelations on the Easter Sunday attacks, as well as information from other sources, were being thoroughly investigated. Legal action would be taken based on the results of these investigations.

MP Gihan: “As you have informed this House, several cases are currently in progress. They were filed on the basis of the findings of investigations and reports from commissions of inquiry appointed by previous governments. New evidence is emerging, and I ask whether new commissions or appropriate mechanisms will be established to examine this evidence.”

Minister Wijayapala: “We have initiated fresh investigations since the new government took office. We assure you that investigations are on track.”

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CBSL Governor predicts USD 7 bn foreign reserves by year end

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Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves would reach USD 7 billion by the end of 2025, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said on Monday night (06) during a discussion on Derana TV. He said that the country’s foreign reserves remained robust.

Dr. Weerasinghe said their foreign reserve target for 2024 had been USD 5.6 billion but the country had raised USD 6.5 billion before settling debts.

After settling debts, the reserves stood at USD 6.1 billion and the CBSL expected the reserves to reach USD 7 billion at the end of 2025, he said, noting that Sri Lanka could pay 3 to 4 billion dollars annually, as debt servicing, following debt restructuring.

If Sri Lanka could maintain USD 8 billion in reserves, it would have a strong buffer to meet foreign debt obligations, Dr. Weerasinghe said.

The current reserve levels were stable to handle these challenges,” Dr. Weerasinghe added. (RK)

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