News
JICA funding controversy: Colombo Law Society finds fault with BASL over procedural failure and lack of transparency
Close on the heels of nearly 100 lawyers calling for the resignation of those allegedly responsible for wrongdoing in respect of highly questionable handling of funds of the JICA-BASL project, pending an internal investigation and final determination of the matter, the executive committee of the Colombo Law Society (CLS) has passed a resolution critical of the Bar Association.
A group of lawyers wrote to the five-member committee inquiring into it on May 28 and the CLS called a special meeting last Thursday (30) to discuss the issue. The decision-making Bar Council appointed a five-member team, comprising Presidents Counsels, Dr. K. Kanag-Isvaran, Dr. Faisz Musthapa, Ikram Mohamed, Rienzie Arsekularatne and Geoffrey Alagaratnam, to inquire into the matter and submit its recommendations within six weeks.
Sources said that the Executive Committee of the CLS discussed the issue at length and reached the conclusion that due procedure and transparency had been seriously lacking in the manner the BASL had handled the JAICA funds.
The Island revealed on May 13, 2024, in a lead story headlined ‘BASL in JICA-funded anti-corruption study controversy’ how Rs 19 mn out of Rs 21 received from JICA had been shared by lawyers. Later, it transpired that one lawyer, out of the five-member group, hadn’t taken his cut.
The members of the CLS executive committee later passed a resolution condemning the lack of procedure on part of the BASL in the issue of handling JICA funds and called upon the current President of the BASL Kaushalya Nawaratne to immediately step down and also called upon the management committee to step down pending investigations over the matter (SF)
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a reduction in the prices of Petrol 92 and Petrol 95, effective from midnight today (30).
The price of Petrol 92 has been reduced by Rs. 15 per litre, from Rs. 414 to Rs. 399 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 20 per litre, from Rs. 495 to Rs. 475
There will be no change in the prices of diesel, Super Diesel and kerosene under the latest revision.
The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
Petrol to cost less from midnight today (30)
Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before school washed away by Nepal floods
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