News
Indian HC visits Gangaramaya
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha visited the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo on Friday morning to pray to the Lord Buddha for health, peace and prosperity of the people of Sri Lanka and India and the longstanding friendship between the two countries. The High Commissioner’s spouse, Mrs. Tanuja Jha also accompanied him.
At the Temple, the High Commissioner was welcomed by Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera, the Deputy Incumbent of the temple. Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera warmly recalled Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the temple in 2017, wherein he had inaugurated the International Vesak Day Celebrations. Venerable Assaji Thera also shared his learnings from the times he studied in India, the land of the Buddha’s enlightenment, and underlined the importance of the civilisational ties between the two countries. He blessed High Commissioner Jha and Mrs Jha by tying pirith noola on their hands after conducting the special Puja at the temple.
The High Commissioner stressed the commitment of India’s leadership to strengthen multifaceted ties, especially the deep civilisational, historical, religious and cultural bonds. He also discussed with the Venerable Thera the current engagement of the High Commission of India in offering scholarships for the monks for their higher studies in India along with other developmental projects carried out to strengthen the Buddhist ties between both countries, including the recently signed MoU for solar electrification of religious temples under USD 10 mn Indian grant.
The High Commissioner reiterated India’s abiding commitment to develop an even stronger all-round cooperation with Sri Lanka in line with India’s Neighbourhood First policy, with people being at the centre of this cooperation.
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.
[Aljazeera]
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
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Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
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