News
Vasu: Basil advancing US agenda
… says ready to be sacked
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara yesterday (16) alleged that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was bent on furthering US interests in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the media at Dr. N. M. Perera Centre, Cotta Road, Borella, the General Secretary of the Democratic Left Front (DLF) said the rebel group, within the ruling coalition, was sure of its assessment.
Ratnapura District lawmaker Nanayakkara said that they couldn’t have remained silent as the incumbent dispensation quite controversially opted for what he called, neo-liberal policies at the expense of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s manifesto, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour.’
Having opposed the controversial Yugadanavi deal with the US-based energy firm, New Fortress Energy, in September 2021, the dissident group had launched an alternative economic recovery plan, on 02 March, this year, lawmaker Nanayakkara said.
MP Nanayakkara explained how they had tried to prevent the government from departing from its original plans. Their failure to reverse the government decision on Yugadanavi had prompted them to oppose it in public.
The government had given a boost to their campaign by removing NFF leader Wimal Weerawans, and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila from the Cabinet on 03 March following the unveiling of alternative proposals, the veteran leftist said.
Nanayakkara endorsed allegations his colleagues, Weerawansa and Gammanpila, levelled against Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared that the Finance Minister wouldn’t be removed under any circumstances.
Minister Nanayakkara said their future course of action would be influenced by the government’s reaction to their campaign.
Declaring that he wouldn’t attend Cabinet meetings or carry out ministerial duties and functions, MP Nanayakkara said that it was up to the government to respond. He urged the government to sack him.
Nanayakkara said they had opposed to the 20th Amendment, which enabled dual citizens to enter Parliament. He recalled how they had discussed the matter with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
President Rajapaksa had assured the dissent group that the purpose of the constitutional amendment was to counter the yahapalana attempt to prevent him from contesting the 2019 presidential election.
President Rajapaksa stressed that the change had been made as a matter of principle. But contrary to the assurance given by the President, Basil Rajapaksa had brought into Parliament in July last year and made the Finance Minister, MP Nayakkara said.
News
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (07) are Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon.
By Norman Palihawadane
The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as ‘Choka Malli’, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday.
The CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on August 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. The Department has subsequently informed the Attorney General’s Department of the development.
The Supreme Court last Friday ordered Jayasekara, and two other men, to appear before court on October 21, and imposed a ban on their overseas travel.
The orders were made as the Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging the acquittal of the three men in connection with the 2015 murder of Shantha Dodangoda, also known as D.G. Sunil Perera.
The appeal was filed by Dodangoda’s wife against a decision of the Court of Appeal to acquit and release Jayasekara and the two other accused, who had previously been convicted and sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.
Dodangoda was killed in a shooting in Kahawatta town, in the early hours of January 5, 2015, while a group of people were putting up decorations for an election rally in support of then common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Two others, Karunadasa Weerasinghe and Mohamed Ilfan, were seriously injured in the shooting.
Following the incident, the Ratnapura High Court convicted Jayasekara, former Chairman of the Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Wajira Darshana de Silva, and former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilanta Jayakody, sentencing all three to death.
The Court of Appeal subsequently acquitted the three men and ordered their release.
The victim’s wife later challenged the acquittal before the Supreme Court.
The appeal was taken up before a Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli and Gihan Kulatunga.
During the proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara requested that the court impose overseas travel restrictions on Jayasekara and the other respondents.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered all three to appear before the court on October 21 and imposed travel bans on them.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty, President’s Counsel U.R. de Silva and President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for the respondents. President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris represented the aggrieved party.
Police sources said that the discovery that Jayasekara had already left for Thailand, on August 31, has raised concerns over the timing and enforcement of the travel ban.
Sources said that the CID had notified the Attorney General’s Department and was taking further action in relation to the development.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far, according to the Dengue Control Unit.
The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone.
Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, while 10,155 cases were reported in August.
Earlier in the year, 8,590 cases were recorded in May and 7,866 cases in January.The Western Province remains the worst-affected area, accounting for more than half of all dengue cases reported nationwide. A total of 50,851 cases have been recorded in the province, representing 52.84% of the country’s total.
The Southern Province has recorded 13,950 cases, followed by the Central Province with 8,818 cases and Sabaragamuwa Province with 7,925 cases.
Sun directly overhead Galle, Angulugaha, Imaduwa, Telijjawila, Yatiyana and Tangalle about 12.08 noon today (07)
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in the Uva and Eastern provinces.
Harshitha’s composed knock seals Sri Lanka’s semi-final berth
‘Choka Malli’ slips out of country before travel ban
Dengue death toll rises to 73
Ranil accuses govt. of undermining democracy
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
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Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
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