News
National organisations meet Prime Minister
A meeting between national organizations and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, was held on Wednesday, at the Prime Minister’s Office.Venerable Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara, Dr. Wasantha Bandara, lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama, professor R.B. Herath, engineer Keerthi Wickramaratne, specialist Dr. Harris Pathirage, lawyer Madumali Alwis, Primal Fernando, Yasas Dharmadasa, Senaratne de Silva and several other scholars, representing national organizations, participated at this event.
Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara pointed out that “Together with Dinesh Gunawardena, then a MP, we brought the real struggles to life in the past. Today, there are struggles that meet the needs of foreign interests and they are done for money. They cannot be called struggles. Reactionaries, who try to destabilize the country in economic, social, religious and cultural perspectives, are working rapidly, in different ways. In such a situation, on behalf of all the national organizations, we thank you for your commitment to the country by accepting this important position. We believe that you will be able to turn the country in the right direction, based on the mission you have carried forward, on behalf of the nation, for four decades.
“The combination of the President and you becomes a great strength for the country”.
Taking part in the event, Ven. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera said: It is very important for the country that you have been appointed as the Prime Minister since you have committed yourself to protect the national identity of the country, even in and outside of the Parliament. Our organizations have presented a programme for the all-party government that will be implemented in the future. We hope that you will study it and take it forward. Reactionaries are engaged in a grand operation of discrediting progressive characters who voice the needs of the country.”
Expressing his thoughts, lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama commented: We reversed some unimaginable laws that were harmful to the country. You were also with us that day, providing a giant strength. No one thought that we would win the case against the Foreign Exchange Act. But we did it that day. We have regained that confidence today. Let’s work with the right decision, together”
Meanwhile, Dr. Wasantha Bandara said “You, to be in the office, as the Prime Minister, is a great strength and a beacon of light for national organizations. You are the only person who can save us if we go into bad situations on this journey. If public trust is directed in the right direction, the struggles will disappear. If they head towards the right path within that programme, we will contribute”.
“You are the only leader who consistently followed a nation-first policy,” Prof. R B Herath said, and assured, “We will support you to implement that policy forward in the correct path”.
Attorney-at-Law Madumali Alwis called for an immediate change in the elections system, which she described as corrupt. “We are aware of your commitment to the principle of electoral reforms. I urge you to use your current exalted position as a weapon for that purpose. The belief in the country, as well as your belief, is that a system of elections that is accountable to the people should be introduced. Furthermore, we call on you to introduce a new income tax formula suitable to our country. Our appeal to you is to lessen the cost of living burden faced by the people,” she said.
Engineer Keerthi Wickramaratne, Yasas Dharmadasa and Primal Fernando also spoke on this occasion.
The Patriotic National Movement, National Scholars Monks Association, 56’ Children Organization, Union of National Organizations, Global Sri Lankan Forum, Professional Engineers Association, Vijayagrahi National Organization, Buddhist- Christian Brotherhood, Patriotic Scholars Association and the Patriotic National Front were among the organizations that participated in the event.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
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 (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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