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Corona infected Shani Abeysekara under treatment in Polonnaruwa – Prisons official
Former CID director Shani Abeysekara is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Polonnaruwa after he was diagnosed with Covid-19, a prisons department official said.
Asked whether Abeysekara, who is in remand custody, was being brought to the Colombo Infectious Diseases Hospital for further medical attention, the official replied, “not so far, he’s still in Polonnaruwa”.
On whether there is a move to bring him to Colombo, he said, “that’s difficult to say”.
News
A new online visa system in place now
The Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday (17) implemented a new procedure in visa process and the online visa application portal.The new visa methodology, relevant fees, requirements to be met and the validity period in Sri Lanka were earlier published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2360/24, dated 27 November 2023.
The department said arrangements have been made together with GBS Technology Service and IVS Global Institute to implement the e-visa system – the online methodology to be introduced in lieu of the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) methodology currently in use.
More details about the online visa application portal can be accessed from www.srilankaevisa.lk, the press release read further.
The department highlighted that it intends to provide a fast and efficient visa application process through the introduction of the new online portal, in a bid to woo foreign tourists and investors.
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State funeral for A.T. Ariyaratne
Sarvodaya Leader A.T. Ariyaratne’s funeral will be held on Saturday (20) with State honours. He was 93 years old at the time of his demise on Tuesday (16) at a private hospital. The late Dr. Ariyaratne’s mortal remains will lie at the Sarvodaya Headquarters in Moratuwa, open for homage from 4:00 pm till noon on Saturday (20). Thereafter a funeral procession will commence from the headquarters to Independence Square in Colombo, where the final religious rites will be conducted while the cremation ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
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Australia-based doc alleges her flat illegally occupied by diplomatic mission employee
Dr. Rasanjali Ratnayake, a dual Sri Lankan and Australian passport holder, has said that law enforcement authorities seemed to be quite indifferent to her complaint regarding a foreign national occupying a flat owned by her at Elvitigala Flats (Block F/No 12).
Having produced receipts issued by the Borella police and the Fraud Bureau, after recording her complaints in this regard, she said that a request was also made to the CEB Office, Borella, to disconnect the electricity to Flat-1-12, Elvitigala Flats, Elvitigala Mawatha, Borella.
Dr. Ratnayake, who has been living in Australia for some time, returned to Sri Lanka on March 18, this year, and stayed with relatives for over a week before visiting her flat on March 27. “I went to my flat with a cleaner and was quite surprised to see a foreign couple there. When inquired they said that the man served at the Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo.”
Responding to questions, Dr. Ratnayake said that she didn’t rent it out or grant legal authority to anyone to lease it. Dr. Ratnayake said that she visited the Bangladeshi mission to alert them what was going on and also informed Police Headquarters and Bangladesh Foreign Ministry through e-mail.
The Bangladeshi, identified as Personal Assistant to the Defence Advisor, has produced a document that disclosed a payment of Rs 504,000 was made to secure the flat in January for a period of one year.
Dr. Ratnayake said that law enforcement authorities could easily verify the ownership of the said flat and take tangible measures to inform the illegal occupant to leave. Unfortunately, those in authority seemed to be indifferent to her complaints though the public were being routinely urged to get in touch with the police in case of injustice perpetrated by anyone.
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