News
SIS said security stable despite intelligence warning – Counsel
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Former Director of State Intelligence Service (SIS) SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena, in his report to the weekly intelligence review meeting on April 9, 2019, said that country’s security remained stable, although he had received foreign intelligence of a possible terrorist attack on April 04, yesterday at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks was informed yesterday.
Shanaka Ranasinghe PC, who appeared for former Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Sisira Mendis, questioned the accuracy of Jayawardena’s report.
.In response, SDIG Jayawardena said in his report to the weekly intelligence review meeting, the SIS had mentioned that there was a suspected group and that a report should be sent to former IGP Pujith Jayasundara immediately.
“We cannot spoon-feed the higher political and security officials. They have to conduct investigation into certain matters and find information,” Jayawardena said.
Ranasinghe PC told the witness that all the reports submitted by the SIS on Zharan and his extremist practices, were inconclusive.
“You didn’t at least tell that the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) was led by Zahran Hashim and reports were not clear about the impending threat,” Ranasinghe PC told the witness.
Jayawardena said that the SIS had submitted 347 reports on Zahran and his extremist activities but there had been no feedback from the security agencies.
Members of the Civil Security Department have donated a day’s salary to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, a cheque amounting to Rs. 40,870,686 was handed over on Thursday (22) at the Presidential Secretariat by the District Officer of the Civil Security Department G.Y.B. Perera to Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne and Director General of the Civil Security Department, Major General Palitha Fernando (Retired), were also present on the occasion.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
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