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PM instructs CCF to introduce all-inclusive online ticket for tourists at archaeological sites
By Norman Palihawadana
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) officials to introduce an all-inclusive one online ticket for foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka to enter all the archaeological sites in the country.
The Premier also told them that terrorists were greatly inconvenienced when they were made to buy tickets at all sites. Local tourists too would be benefited if officials could find possibilities of introducing one ticket at a reasonable price, covering all museums in a particular archaeological site, he said.
He instructed officials to consult the Tourist Board and introduce the new online ticketing system.
The PM said so at Temple Trees after accepting the report submitted by a five-member committee appointed by him in his capacity as the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to provide recommendations for the restructuring of the CCF.
The committee was appointed by the Prime Minister to make recommendations in line with the national policy framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”, which states that “the Central Cultural Fund should be fully revised and restructured”
This committee, chaired by Director-General, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources S. J. Kahawatte, consists of Director of Management Services Department B. M. D. N. Balasooriya, Senior Assistant Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Priyanga Nanayakkara, Director of Information Technology Management Department D.P.C.E. Peiris and Assistant Director (Information Technology) at Department of Management Services, Ministry of Finance Madhushani Warnasooriya.
The Prime Minister accepted the report and stated that the implementation of these recommendations would enable the CCF to become a more effective institution in achieving its objectives in the future.
Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Prof. Kapila Gunawardana, Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Attorney-at-Law, Ganesh R. Dharmawardena- Public Trustee of Sri Lanka, Senior Prof. Anura Manathunga- Director General of the Department of Archaeology and Prof. Gamini Ranasinghe- Director General of the Central Cultural Fund were also present at the occasion.
News
Police under greater pressure to track down IGP on the run as CA rejects bid to stay arrest order
Having dismissed the writ petition filed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon on the run, the Court of Appeal yesterday (17) ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest him and produce him in Court.
The IGP sought an interim injunction to prevent the execution of the arrest order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court on February 28 against him in connection with the shooting incident that took place in Weligama, Matara, on Dec, 31, 2023.
The Court of Appeal bench, comprising its Acting President Justice Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Justice Sarath Dissanayake dismissed the petition without a hearing.
The petition filed by Tennakoon before the Court of Appeal was earlier taken up for consideration on March 12 but the decision was put off to March 17.
The IGP’s legal team made a last minute bid to prevent an arrest order by submitting a motion requesting an opportunity to submit additional documents related to the case.
However, in terms of an agreement between the Attorney General (AG) and the counsel of six other policemen implicated in the Weligama shooting, the AG ordered the CID not to arrest the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and five other policemen implicated in the case.
UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena on Sunday alleged that during the 1987-1990 period, the JVP killed approximately 1,960 UNPers.
The former Minister told the media that the Batalanda Commission report had given that figure in its third chapter. Addressing the media in Colombo, the former parliamentarian said that the JVP had targeted both UNP and leftist politicians during their second abortive insurgency.
The UNP victims included two General Secretaries of the party, Nandalal Fernando and Harsha Abeywickrema.
Abeywardena said that those demanding action against the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on the basis of the Batalanda Commission report, had conveniently forgotten the atrocities perpetrated by the JVP.
The JVP-led NPP won both presidential and parliamentary polls last year.
The newly formed influential health sector professionals group, the Academy of Health Professionals (AHP), yesterday declared that its members would launch a 24-hour strike commencing from 7.00 am today.
President AHP Ravi Kumudesh told the media that the decision to stage a strike had been taken as talks between the AHP and the officials of the Ministry of Health had failed.
Kumudesh alleged that cuts in health sector allowances through the 2025 Budget proposals, had badly affected health workers.
Health professionals, including those from paramedical medical services, medical laboratories, allied medical services, radiology, medical practitioners, family health services, optometrists, public health inspectors, entomologists, dental technicians, and pharmacists, are expected to join today’s strike.
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