News
SJB threatens to move SC against recommendations of PCoI on political victimisation
By Saman Indrajith
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday said that the SJB would move the Supreme Court against the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on political victimisation.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, MP Kiriella said that the party had consulted its legal advisors to explore the possibility of filing a case against the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on political victimization for exceeding its mandate. “We have not yet received the report officially. When we get it we plan to take legal action against it. We have requested the Speaker for a copy of the report. He said he would do so. He is duty bound to make a copy available to Parliament.
“We first asked the Speaker for the report on Jan 28. As per the Constitution the President is responsible to Parliament therefore he has a duty to send the report to MPs through the Speaker.”
When it was pointed out the yahapalana government of which MP Kiriella was a leading member too had appointed anti-corruption Commissions which could not deliver results and caused a waste of public money, the MP said those Commissions had been tasked with only fact finding.
“Thereafter, those facts should have been forwarded to the Department of Attorney General and the Bribery Commission for further actions. There has been a delay in that process but the Commission completed its fact finding mission.”
The Chief Opposition Whip said: “There is a discussion in the media on attempts to deprive some prominent person of their civic rights. This country has a legal system that has provisions to take punitive actions against anyone who had committed an offence or political victimization. The government has to abide by the law. We have set an example in this regard. When we came to power in 2015 there had been requests from various quarters to appoint commissions to investigate the wrongdoings of some politicians and to strip them of their civic rights. But the then President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stated clearly that there was a legal system and the law should take its own course. They stood by the decision that there were the police, attorney general department and judiciary and those institutions were sufficient to implement the law and did not move to appoint special presidential commissions to take actions against their rival political parties. Opting to make use of such commissions to punish political rivals is actually an outdated mechanism. It was former President JR Jayewardene who introduced the practice of depriving political opponents of their civic rights. That goernment incurred international opprobium That was why no government since 1981 has resorted to such action, but the incumbent government seems to be convinced otherwise.”
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will represent Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican City, the Ministry said.
The funeral is scheduled for today.
About 50,000 people came to pay their respects to the late Pope on Thursday, the Vatican news service said.
“Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of the Novemdiales, an ancient tradition of nine days of mourning and Masses for the repose of the late Pope’s soul,” according to the Vatican news service.
“The Novemdiales Masses will be held each day at 5:00 PM (GMT +2) in St. Peter’s Basilica, except for the Mass on Divine Mercy on Sunday, April 27, which will take place at 10:30 AM in St. Peter’s Square.”
An underworld hitman who attempted to break into a house in the Andiambalama area of Katunayake to kill a businessman was arrested in Rajanganaya by the police and the Special Task Force (STF) on Thursday night after the attempt failed and he escaped by jumping over a wall.
Investigations have revealed that this individual is connected to a number of murders, including the recent killing of a businessman known as “Indikatu Jude” in the Seeduwa area a few weeks ago, as well as several other criminal activities.
Police said that the suspect was responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a man sleeping in a three-wheeler in the Gampaha area and attempting to assassinate another person at the Negombo market.
The suspect arrived in Andiambalama with another underworld assassin to murder a businessman engaged in money lending from his residence.
At the time of the incident, the businessman attempted to close his electric gate. The contract killer and his accomplice tried to shoot the businessman, but their weapon malfunctioned and did not fire. A struggle ensued between the businessman and the two assailants, after which the assailants tried to escape by jumping over the wall of the house as the would-be victim ran into the house.
During the escape, one of the suspects fell from the wall and fractured a bone in his leg. Local residents captured him after assaulting him and handed him over to the police.
The other contract killer managed to flee the scene but was later apprehended in the Rajanganaya area.Investigations are being carried out under the supervision of Negombo Division SSP Ashoka Dharmasena.
By Hemantha Randunu
The Committee of Inquiry investigating IGP T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon over alleged gross abuse of power has formally requested the Acting IGP to nominate a police investigation team to assist its work. The request was made during the Committee’s second meeting, held yesterday (25 April) in the Parliamentary complex.
The Attorney General has appointed Additional Solicitor General (President’s Counsel) Dileepa Peiris, and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, to support the Committee’s proceedings.
At the session, the Committee held initial discussions on how to proceed with the investigation and involve key stakeholders. It was agreed that the next meeting will be held on 28 April, 2025, to decide on the next steps.
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