News
EC ready to squeeze in two national polls this year
By Saman Indrajith
Even if circumstances lead to holding a general election early, the Election Commission (EC) is ready to hold the presidential election on time between 17 September and 17 October, 2024, EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake has said.
Asked to comment on SLPP MPs urging to support the proposal to conduct a general election, prior to the presidential polls, Ratnayake said that they were ready to hold two national level elections within the current year.
“If Parliament is dissolved, then we will have to hold the general election,” he said.
Asked whether the EC would be able to handle two major elections within several months, Ratnayake said the EC, in such an eventuality, would have to manage the difficulties that may arise and hold the elections as scheduled.
The presidential election is due to be held on a date between 17 September and 17 October, he said. The exact dates for holding the election and the deadlines for accepting nominations would be determined during the last week of July or the first week of August. We are making arrangements for that,” Ratnayake said.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
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