News
Govt. to appoint retired military officer to oversee mining sites
Mysterious disappearance of explosives from Mawanella quarry
By Ifham Nizam
A high ranking retired army officer is to be appointed to oversee all granite quarries handling explosives as the government has commenced an investigation into the incident of damaging a Buddha statue in Mawanella and the disappearance of explosives in a mine in that area.
State Minister Kanaka Herath said that a formal investigation into the incident was already underway and legal action would be taken against those responsible soon.
Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has decided to appoint a high ranking retired Army officer to oversee all quarries handling explosives following the disappearance of a stock of explosives from a granite quarry in Mawanella.
Amaraweera said: “This incident is a cause for concern. That is why I decided to appoint the committee. This officer will also look at illegal activities that are taking place in quarries. He will also look into the harm caused to the environment as well as to the people living around quarries”.
The army officer would be attached to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the minister said. “The usual practice is that following the issuance of a permit by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau for the quarrying of rock, a report is submitted to the Ministry of Defence to obtain the explosives.”
He said that there had always been concerns that quarry owners obtained more explosives than needed. “Sometimes, we wonder if such a large quantity of granite can be excavated daily. With the disappearance of the explosives from a quarry in Mawanella, we need to figure out if these explosives have found their way into the wrong hands.”
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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