News
20 new Superior Court judges sworn in – six to SC and 14 to CA
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (1) pledged to guarantee judicial independence. Marking a new milestone in the judicial system of the country, 20 new superior court judges were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat.
They comprised six new Judges of the Supreme Court and 14 new Judges of the Court of Appeal
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, addressing the gathering, pledged to support the independence of the judiciary and ensure its functioning is free of politicization and other forms of interference.
“The judicial cadre of both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal has remained static since 1978. Although the necessity of increasing the number of judges in the superior courts has been mooted several times in the past, the number of judges in both courts has remained the same for over 40 years. There have been many an advancement in the law and litigation has increased exponentially in this time. However, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of judges”.
The efficient administration of justice is not only important in terms of upholding the rule of law, it is also vital to the economic development of this nation, President said adding that reliable, efficient and effective dispute resolution through the justice system will foster the nation’s progress.
Chief Justice Jayantha C Jayasuriya, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera and Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present.
Judges appointed to the Supreme Court:
1. Justice A. H. M. Dilip Nawaz
2. Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe
3. Justice Anthony Lalith Shiran Gooneratne
4. Justice Janak de Silva
5. Justice Arachchige Achala Uthpalavarna Wengappuli
6. Justice Mahinda Abeysinghe Samayawardhena
Justice Arjuna Obeysekara was sworn in as the President of the Court of Appeal.
Judges appointed to the Court of Appeal
1.Justice Menaka Wijesundera
2.Justice D.N. Samarakoon
3.Justice M Prasantha de Silva
4.Justice M.T.M. Laffar
5.Justice C. Pradeep Keerthisinghe
6.Justice Sampath B. Abayakoon
7.Justice M. S. K. B. Wijeratne
8.Justice S. U. B. Karalliyadde
9.Justice R. Gurusinghe
10.Justice G. A. D. Ganepola
11.Justice K. K. A. V. Swarnadhipathi
12.Justice Mayadunne Corea
13. Justice Prabaharan Kumararatnam
14. Justice W. N. N. P. Iddawala
News
Swiss ambassador meets President Dissanayake
Dr. (Ms.) Siri Walt, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Sri Lanka, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (09).
During the meeting, Ambassador Walt extended her congratulations to President Dissanayake on his recent election victory, conveying best wishes on behalf of the Government and people of Switzerland.
Ambassador Walt reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka, particularly through the ongoing IMF program, and expressed Switzerland’s readiness to assist in President Dissanayake’s efforts to combat corruption. She also emphasized Switzerland’s expertise in foreign direct investments (FDI) and tourism, offering assistance to Sri Lanka in these sectors to promote economic growth.
Further areas of collaboration discussed included constitutional reforms and labour migration, with Ambassador
Business
President discusses enhancing revenue and efficiency with Sri Lanka Customs and Inland Revenue officials
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a key meeting with senior officials from both the Sri Lanka Customs Department and the Inland Revenue Department at the Presidential Secretariat today (09). The discussions centered on strategies to enhance revenue generation and improve operational efficiency within both departments, in line with the government’s broader economic mandate.
During the meeting, officials from both departments presented the challenges they face in managing revenue and tackling tax evasion. They stressed the importance of strengthening coordination between the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and Customs to effectively combat these issues. It was highlighted that better collaboration would ensure more robust enforcement of tax laws and prevent tax leakage, further boosting the country’s revenue collection.
Representing the Sri Lanka Customs Department were P B S C Nonis, Director General of Customs; Mrs. H W S P Karunaratne, Additional Director General of Customs; . C S A Chandrasekara, Additional Director General of Customs; W S I Silva, Additional Director General of Customs; S P Arukgoda, Additional Director General of Customs; J M M G Wijeratna Bandara, Additional Director General of Customs; A. W. L. C. Weerakoon, Senior Deputy Director and M R G A B Muthukuda, Chief Financial Officer, among other officials.
From the Inland Revenue Department, Mrs. W S Chandrasekara, Commissioner General; B K S Shanta, Deputy Commissioner General; Mrs. J A D D B K Siriwardena, Deputy Commissioner General; Mrs. J D Ranasinghe, Deputy Commissioner General; D M N S B Dissanayake, Deputy Commissioner General; H H S Samantha Kumara; and Ms. T M S Thennakone, Senior Commissioner, participated in the discussions.
News
Vietnamese Ambassador meets President; explores possibility of enhancing direct flights between Vietnam and Sri Lanka
The Ambassador of Vietnam to Sri Lanka, Ms Trinh Thi Tam, paid a courtesy call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (09).
During the meeting, Ambassador Tam conveyed her congratulations on behalf of the Government of Vietnam and expressed optimism for continued cooperation between the two nations.
Highlighting Vietnam’s achievements in foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade, President Dissanayake requested Vietnam’s assistance in fostering these sectors in Sri Lanka.
The discussion also explored the possibility of enhancing direct flights between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, with a focus on strengthening Buddhist ties and cultural connections. Ambassador Tam further pledged to explore opportunities to promote Sri Lanka as a key destination for Vietnamese tourists, thereby expanding people-to-people connections and boosting tourism.
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