News
Environment Minister vouches for President’s will to protect environment
By Ifham Nizam
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided not to give priority to the construction of new diesel and coal power plants in the country. The President had made that clear to the Cabinet, said Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.
He said the President had pledged to support the programme implemented by international organizations to protect our country’s environment as well as to control global warming.
Accordingly, it is planned to obtain 70 percent of country’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.
“We will implement future programmes to generate electricity from wind, LNG, hydro as well as solar energy. His support to fight global warming as well as for saving our planet has been recognized internationally. But many in our country are not aware of the programmes already initated,” Minister Amaraweera said
He said there was no other leader who had been as active as the President in protecting the country’s environment. Those who caused damage to the environment and especially the destruction of the forests were arrested regardless of rank. The Special Task Force, the Civil Defense Force as well as the Police were deployed to raid such anti-environmental activities and arrest those responsible. Moreover, cases had been filed against them.
According to the environmental conservation programmes implemented by the President, plans were in the pipeline to cultivate 16,000 hectares of new forests in the coming year, he said.
Said Minister Amaraweera: “Our goal is to increase our country’s forest cover to 30 percent by 2025. Last week, the Air Force launched an aerial planting programme. According to the information I have received, they will implement this sowing programme on 201 hectares in the next three months”
The conserving of the Kelani Ganga would be given priority under the Surakimu Ganga programme. Most of the money allocated under the programme would be used for the conservation of the Kelani, on which many people depend on to obtain their drinking water. Yet as things stand from Hanwella to Peliyagoda it was badly polluted, he said.
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.
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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