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Fourteenth accused in Easter Sunday carnage case seeks bail
The bail applications of Rasheed Ibrahim, the 14th accused in the Colombo High Court Trial at Bar over the Easter carnage, and Akram Ahkam, the 25th accused in the same case, were taken up for inquiry in the Court of Appeal before Justice Sampath B. Abayakoon and Justice P. Kumararatnam on Thursday.
According to the Petition for bail filed in the Court of Appeal, Rasheed Ibrahim, who has been in state custody for over four years, has health issues, including cancer, while Akram Ahkam has completed four years without trial.
The Court heard a preliminary objection by the State on the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to hear this bail application and also heard the counter submissions of the Petitioners and reserved order on the objections for 16 June 2023.
Counsel for the Petitioners submitted that regarding suspect Rasheed Ibrahim, the Medical Report issued by the Chief Medical Officer of the Bogambara Prison stated that the patient is afflicted with cancer.
The Counsel said the Bogambara Prison Hospital and the Kandy National Hospital did not have the medical facility and drugs to treat this uncommon type of cancer and urged that both suspects be enlarged on bail, under the provisions of Article 138(2) of the Constitution read with the newly amended section 15A of the PTA. The Petition also refers to the death in custody of the 17th accused, in the same trial at bar case, due to ill-health.
The petition for bail of Akram Ahkam alleges that during the investigations he was offered to be released if he would sign a statement saying that the Aruppola meeting was to plan the Easter attacks on churches and hotels but he refused to sign any such statement as he was ‘totally unaware of any such planning by anyone of any such attacks’.
Thereafter, the petitioner alleges that he was illegally moved out from the detention centre, specified in the detention order, to a Navy camp in Welisara, where he was threatened and tortured, employing many inhuman methods, and compelled to sign a prepared statement.
Ahkam states in the petition that when he was produced before the Colombo Magistrate, he informed the judge that he was threatened and compelled to sign a statement and the judge recorded the petitioner’s complaint in the Court record, marked P5 annexed to the Petition.
State Counsel Shakthi Jagoda Arachchi with State Counsel Akila Dalpathado appeared for the Attorney General and the other Respondents.M.M. Zuhair PC with Rizwan Uvais appeared for the Petitioners in both cases.
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Members of the National Student Parliament meet PM
Members of the National Student Parliament met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Monday [02nd of February] at Temple Trees.
The representatives of the National Student Parliament, representing schools from across the island, visited the Temple Trees following their visit to the Presidential Secretariat and the Parliament.
Expressing her views on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated,
“The new education reforms were recently initiated starting from Grade One. Discussions are currently underway to include students entering Grade Six this year into the new education reform process in the future. The education reforms will not be halted, and the government is committed to implementing them in a systematic manner without shortcomings”.
She further noted that the reforms are being carried out under five main pillars, with the government’s key objective being to reduce disparities and provide children with quality education, while also nurturing a socially responsible community enriched with human values such as compassion, love for the environment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
The occasion was attended by the Deputy Director of Education Kasun Gunarathne, along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the National Student Parliament.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Mrs. I.J. Aberathne appointed Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.
News
Cabinet gives green light to provide equipment for the promotion of Aesthetic Education in schools
Although the teaching of art subjects such as music, dance, art, and drama under aesthetic education continues in the Sri Lankan school system, it has been observed that there is a severe shortage of equipment required for this purpose in many schools. Furthermore, a situation concerning the lack of modern equipment suitable for the needs of the children has also arisen, and it has been reported that most equipment available at present is outdated and dilapidated. It has been observed that this condition has an adverse effect on the quality of the aesthetic education and overall personality development of the children.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to implement a project for supplying aesthetic equipment for the promotion of aesthetic education in schools under an estimated cost of Rs. 1,215 million during the period of 2026 to 2028.
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