News
Cardinal petitions Court of Appeal seeking justice over Easter Sunday carnage
The Archdiocese of Colombo said yesterday His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith had filed a writ application before the Court of Appeal seeking writs of mandamus and certiorari against the IGP and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security to get them implement the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Easter Sunday carnage.
The Archdiocese has in a mediate statement said: “On the 27th of June 2022, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal seeking relief against the IGP and the Secretary, Ministry of Public Security, for the non-implementation of certain recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate into and make recommendations on the Easter Sunday Bombings of April 2019, headed by Justice Janak de Silva.
‘The aforesaid Presidential Commission of Inquiry made certain findings against key individuals who held positions of power and responsibility. This included several Police Officers such as now Senior-DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon, against whom the Commission recommended conducting disciplinary inquiries for their negligence / failure in preventing the horrific Easter Sunday Bombings of 2019. However, the repeated pleas for Accountability, Justice and the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations, from the victims, the Archdiocese, and the Archbishop, fell on deaf ears.
Among other reliefs, the Writ Application filed by His Eminence seeks directives from the Court of Appeal to the IGP and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, directing them to implement the relevant recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.
Further legal steps will be taken towards the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations against the other key persons named in the Final Report of the Commission, in due course.
His Eminence regrets the consistent indifference shown towards ensuring Justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday massacre, by those holding Public Office on Trust for the Sovereign People of Sri Lanka.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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