News
Minister Johnston discharged from bribery case
Minister Johnston Fernando was yesterday discharged by the Colombo High Court from by the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The action had been filed under the Bribery Act during the period of Director General of Bribery, Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe.
The CIABOC Director General had alleged that Fernando had employed CWE workers for election related purposes.
The Counsel for Johnston Fernando raised a preliminary objection, claiming that in any event the prosecution could not maintain the case as they had failed to comply with the mandatory provisions required under the law.
The court was informed that the former DG had filed the action maliciously and without obtaining a mandatory direction under Section 11 of the Bribery Act. Under that provision the Director General could not institute an action without the three Commissioners approving a prosecution. It was also argued that when a prosecution was initiated in a Magistrate Court it was mandatory to obtain the sanction of the Commission and that the former DG Bribery had filed the action without such sanction.
These preliminary objections were overruled by the Magistrate Colombo. However, Johnston Fernando filed an application for Revision and acting in Revision Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige, accepted the position of Johnston Fernando and discharged him from the criminal charges.
Kalinga Indatissa PC with Samantha Premachandra, Rashmini Kalpana Indatissa and Razana Salih appeared for petitioner Johnston Fernando.
Ganga Heiyanthuduwa appeared for the prosecution.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
Sears takes five again as New Zealand complete ODI series sweep over Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
-
Business2 days agoStrengthening SDG integration into provincial planning and development process
-
News6 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
Sports7 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
Business20 hours agoNew SL Sovereign Bonds win foreign investor confidence
-
Sports3 days agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
News7 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features7 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Features7 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know