News
UNFPA signs MoU with University of Colombo, hands over medical supplies to Health Minister
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka, on Friday (01), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Colombo for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE), the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region.
The MoU formalizes the collaboration between the UNFPA Sri Lanka Country Office and the University of Colombo for the design and establishment of the Centre of Excellence, underscoring UNFPA’s commitment to thought leadership, knowledge creation, and innovation in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Pio Smith, UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Director and Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador of the Embassy of Japan, ceremoniously handed over medical supplies to Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health at the Ministry of Health.
The medicines and medical equipment, worth more than USD 2.1 million, were donated under the project “ENSURE: Ensuring access to life-saving sexual & reproductive health and providing gender-based violence prevention and response services for women, girls and vulnerable groups”.
This project, which is entirely worth USD 4.6 million, has been funded by the Government of Japan, as part of a response to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka and is aimed to support women in vulnerable communities.
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’
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