News
Ranil, Anura yet to confirm participation in public debate
The public debate among the presidential candidates contesting the 2024 Presidential Election is scheduled to be held on Saturday (07), according to Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), speaking to The Island.
The event, organised by the ‘March 12 Movement’, will be broadcast live from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. on all mainstream television channels and streamed on over 200 social media platforms. This will provide the presidential candidates with an opportunity to present their policies to the public.
Hettiarachchi revealed that four presidential candidates, including Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate Namal Rajapaksa, ‘Sarvajana Balaya’ presidential candidate Dilith Jayaweera, and Tamil common candidate P. Ariyanethiran, have confirmed their participation in the debate.
He added that other presidential candidates, including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, have also been invited but have yet to confirm their attendance.
“We remain hopeful they will take part. However, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party has informed us in writing that it will be difficult for him to participate. We are still optimistic that Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be able to attend,” he stated.The debate is set to take place at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
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Harmer, Markram and Wolvaardt win top honours at CSA awards
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