News
SJB asks President to sack Keheliya from Cabinet immediately
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SJB yesterday (04) said that a second no-faith motion would be moved against Environment Minister Keheliya Rambukwella unless President Ranil Wickremesinghe removed him from the Cabinet.
Minister Rambukwella was remanded until 15 Feb., pending further investigations into the procurement of a stock of fake human immunoglobulin. Responding to The Island queries, MP Kavinda Jayawardena said that the SLPP had defeated a no-faith motion against Rambukwella last year.
President Wickremesinghe appointed Rambukwella the Environment Minister.MP Jayawardena said that 113 MPs had voted against the no-faith motion against Rambukwella. The SJB had delayed moving a second no-confidence motion as it was aware of the President’s decision to prorogue Parliament.
The new session of Parliament begins on 07 Feb.
MP Jayawardena pointed out that there had never been a previous instance of a Minister and the Secretary to the same Ministry Secretary being remanded on corruption charges. The CID arrested former Health Secretary Janaka Chandraguptha in late Dec., 2023. The police arrested several others, including Hewage Sudath Janaka Fernando, the proprietor of Isolez Biotech Pharma.
Asked whether they were satisfied with the progress made by police so far, MP Jayawardena said that he would like to point out that the CID had recorded Rambukwella’s statement at his official residence. The powers that be had striven to save Rambukwella but had failed to do so due to mounting evidence against him, MP Jayawardena said.
“We expect the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption to initiate an inquiry,” MP Jayawardena said, adding that Rambukwella had become a liability for the ruling party. “Actually, the SLPP has suffered a debilitating setback ahead of the official launch of their presidential election campaign.”
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.
Harmer, Markram and Wolvaardt win top honours at CSA awards
War of words erupts between Minister Chandrasekar and Archchuna in North
Cardinal seeks dismissal of Sallay’s petition
Money laundering case against Yoshitha, fixed for pre-trial conference
More illicit hooch found
Four vie for wealthy woman’s remains
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features5 days agoPrison riots and politics: NPP’s biggest challenge and Sri Lanka’s biggest opportunity
-
Editorial6 days agoWhat’s the world coming to?
-
Foreign News7 days agoTensions erupt in Indian state after 11-year-old raped and murdered
-
Features2 days agoDirty Money
-
Editorial5 days agoMuch ado about crime: Fish or cut bait
-
Features5 days agoMore on Saudi Arabia: ARAMCO and beyond
-
Latest News3 days agoOil prices hit 1-month high as US-Iran attacks dim Strait of Hormuz outlook
-
Features4 days agoDeepening Democracy – Constitutions and Constitutionalism