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SJB sees sinister motive in govt. move to put off debate on political victimisation PCoI report

Published

5 years ago

2021/04/7

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday, in Parliament, accused the government of trying to postpone the debate on the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on political victimisation as a part of a sinister plot to strip 10 leading Opposition politicians of their civic rights.

Raising a point of order, the MP said it had been previously agreed to take up the PCoI report on Thursday and Friday. It was the report of the PCoI, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne. “Then there is another special presidential commission appointed to implement the recommendations of the Abeyratne Commission. The second special commission, headed by Supreme Court Judge Dhammika Priyantha Samarakoon, comprises Supreme Court Judge Khema Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Court of Appeal Judge Rathnapriya Gurusinghe. Their task is to make further recommendations on the implementation of the recommendations of the previous commission. The term of the second commission lapses in the days to come. The government wants to postpone the debate on the report of the Upali Abeyratne Commission until the conclusion of the work of the second commission. It is afraid that the commissioners might change their minds after hearing what we have to say in the debate.”

The government plan was to go ahead and strip 10 political leaders of their civic rights as they were critical of the powers that be, MP Kiriella said. “We are against this move. The 10 politicians targeted by the government including former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senaratne, Malik Samarawickrema as well as MP M.A. Sumanthiran and JVP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

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INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

7 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts

Published

10 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities

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Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).

The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:

01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)

02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)

03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)

04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See

05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan

06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait

Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.