News
SJB confident its members won’t join UNP
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SJB says it is confident that none of its members will join the UNP at its 76th annual convention to be held on 10 Sep., at the Lake House vehicle park.
Gampaha District MP Harshana Rajakaruna said so in response to the UNP’s claim that some SJB MPs would switch their allegiance to President Ranil Wickremesinghe soon.
“The truth is only Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara accepted the UNP leader’s invitation. That was well over a year ago, soon after Wickremesinghe accepted the premiership from the then President Gotabaya Rajapakasa. Diana Gamage switched her allegiance to the Rajapaksas soon after the last parliamentary election in Aug. 2020,” MP Rajakaruna said.
Responding to another query, the MP said that the UNP was engaged in a futile propaganda exercise. “The reality is the UNP has been reduced to just one National List MP. At the previous Parliament we had 106 elected on the UNP ticket,” the former UNP MP said, adding that by joining the Rajapaksas, Wickremesinghe has committed an irrevocable blunder.
The SJB secured 54 seats, including seven National List slots, at the last general election. The UNP feared the electorate, MP Rajakaruna said, pointing out that the once great party was not in a position to contest Local Government polls. Regardless of bombastic declarations made by the President and former MPs with him, the party lacked a grassroots level mechanism to organize supporters.
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.
Venezuela earthquake: Number of known dead rises to nearly 5,000 victims
A few showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
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
‘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?
-
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
-
Midweek Review2 days agoThe sordid tale of theft and tragedy at Finance Ministry
-
Features4 days agoDeepening Democracy – Constitutions and Constitutionalism