News
Wanted Pastor still overseas: SC told of transactions amounting to Rs 12.2 bn
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Priyantha Nawana yesterday (28) informed the Supreme Court that law enforcement authorities, inquiring into Pastor Jerome Fernando, under investigation for causing religious tensions, have found transaction records relating to Rs. 12.2 billion in 11 bank accounts held by him. Additional Solicitor General
Priyantha Nawana appeared in SC on behalf of Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam,PC, when a the fundamental rights (FR) petition, filed by Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera, was taken up for hearing.The ASG told SC that further investigations were underway in terms of the Money Laundering Act.The next hearing of the petition has been fixed for 27 October.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage, after taking into account a motion filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), on 18 July, gave permission to investigate the bank accounts belonging to Pastor Fernando.
The bank accounts in question, which are under investigation, include Pastor Fernando’s private accounts, as well as those belonging to his private firm, Church and his wife, Melanie Dianne Vancuylenberg.
Fernando had stirred up much controversy after making several ‘derogatory’ statements regarding Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam during a sermon he delivered, after which the CID launched probe into the matter, on 15 May, on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate imposed an overseas travel ban on Fernando, on 16 May, as requested by the CID, but Fernando had already left for Singapore. on 14 May, and is yet to return to the country.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a reduction in the prices of Petrol 92 and Petrol 95, effective from midnight today (30).
The price of Petrol 92 has been reduced by Rs. 15 per litre, from Rs. 414 to Rs. 399 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 20 per litre, from Rs. 495 to Rs. 475
There will be no change in the prices of diesel, Super Diesel and kerosene under the latest revision.
The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.
Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”
The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)
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 (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.
Petrol to cost less from midnight today (30)
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