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Crisis in corona-hit prisons: AG faults IGP
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, on Monday (14), alleged that the situation in overcrowded coronavirus-affected prisons wouldn’t have been so bad if specific instructions issued by him to IGP C.D. Wickremaratne had been properly implemented.
The AG said so at the opening of a 12-storyed building complex for the Attorney General’s Department at Hulftsdorp. Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC and Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC were present on the occasion. Eleven remand prisoners were killed and over 100 wounded in recent Mahara Prison riot triggered by those protesting against the failure on the part of authorities to adopt sufficient precautionary measures. Referring to the law enforcement authorities’ response to the health emergency, President’s Counsel Livera said that he advised the police in that regard umpteenth number of times since April, 2020. According to him, the instructions were meant to reduce the severe congestion in prisons. The Mahara prison riot caused massive losses to public property there. The AG said he couldn’t understand why specific instructions weren’t carried out. Turning towards the Justice Minister, the AG thanked him for intervening in November.
Declaring that they had done their job, the AG emphasized his department was not responsible for overcrowding in prisons. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week faulted the Government Analyst, the AG and the police for the current crisis in prisons. The AG has been critical of the way the police handled investigations into the second covid-19 eruption. The AG criticized the delay on the part of the police in initiating the probe before personally advising the team chosen to conduct the inquiry.
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“Improve the quality of infrastructure and services provided to tourists visiting the country.” – President
President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized the necessity of providing high-quality infrastructure and services for tourists visiting Sri Lanka, as the country has gained significant international recognition as an attractive tourist destination.
Accordingly, the President instructed officials to pay special attention to this matter and take necessary actions.
President Disanayake issued these instructions during a discussion held today (17) at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Tourism.
During the discussion, officials briefed the President on the budgetary allocations designated for the Ministry of Tourism and the projects being implemented under those funds.
With the tourism sector taking a new step forward, Sri Lanka aims to attract three million tourists this year. The discussion also extensively covered the utilization of these budgetary allocations for the development of essential infrastructure to support this goal.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Employment Vijitha Herath, Deputy Minister of Tourism Dr. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, along with a group of senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, attended this discussion.
The French Navy Ship PROVENCE arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on Sunday (16 Mar 25) morning.
She was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with the time-honoured naval traditions.
The 142.20m long Destroyer is Commanded by Captain Lionel SIEGFRIED and manned by a crew of 160 members.
During the stay in the island, crew members of PROVENCE will visit some tourist hotspots in the country and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 20 Mar.
The Court of Appeal this [17] morning dismissed the writ petition filed by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, seeking an interim injunction to prevent the execution of the arrest order issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court against him.
Cannes award-winning actress Dequenne dies at 43
“Improve the quality of infrastructure and services provided to tourists visiting the country.” – President
French Navy Ship PROVENCE arrives in Port of Colombo
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