Connect with us

News

Ex-IGP: Easter carnage caused by system failure

Published

on

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Everyone in power during the Easter Sunday attacks should take responsibility for failing  to prevent the incident as it was clearly a system failure, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara yesterday told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.

Jayasundara said that the attacks could have been prevented if the Minister of Defence at that time, President Maithripala Sirisena, and the National Security Council (NSC), had acted appropriately on the information provided by the State Intelligence Service (SIS),warning of a possible terrorist attack. The SIS had received the information on 04 April 2019.

President’s Counsel Anil Silva appearing for former President Sirisena, Attorney- at-Law Upul Kumarapperuna appearing for former SDIG of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Ravi Seneviratne and former CID Director Shani Abeysekera, and Attorney- at- Law Madu Jayatilake appearing for former SIS Director SDIG Jayawardena crossexamined the witness.

Jayasundara said that when former SIS Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena sent him a report on 09 April 2019 warning of the attacks, he had contacted the relevant officials over the phone and informed them.  He added that he had forwarded the report to SDIG of Western Province, Nandana Munasinghe, SDIG crimes and STF M.R. Latif, DIG special protection range Priyalal Dassanayake and Director of the Terrorism Investigation Division, Waruna Jayasundara and spoken to them over the phone. Jayasundara said that he had also phoned all SDIGs in charge of provinces.

“I gave all of them specific instructions on what to do. But when investigators checked my mobile records, the details of these records were gone. President Sirisena’s brother headed Mobitel at that time. What happened to these call logs must be investigated.”

The former IGP added that SIS had tapped his phone and had deployed officers opposite his house. “Intelligence agents were monitoring my movements. They were right outside my house. I was the IGP.”

The representative of the Attorney General’s Department who led evidence also said that there were no records of the calls which, Jayasundara said, he had made to senior police officers on April 9, 2019 after receiving foreign intelligence on a possible terror attack.



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

With new education reforms, every child will have access to either employment or higher education after leaving school – PM

Published

on

By

Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, emphasized that the new education reforms would ensure that all children will have the opportunity to either pursue  higher education  or gain employment after leaving school.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the awareness program held on Sunday [July 13] at the Eastern Provincial Council premises, to inform officials of the Eastern Province about the proposed education reforms.

Addressing those present the Prime Minister stated:

“This is a historic opportunity for all of us. Through these education reforms, we can provide high-quality education that aligns with global standards. Every child will receive a NVQ certificate that enables them to enter the workforce after the completion of school education.

Currently, the school system does not adequately prepare students for employment. As a result, universities are compelled to develop their soft skills. That skill development should start at the school level.

Starting from Grade 9, children will be given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience to decide on the profession they wish to pursue in the future. Whether they complete 11 or 13 years of education, students will have the choice to either take up a job or pursue a degree. If they wish, they can even work and study for a degree simultaneously.

The education reforms will not be limited to curriculum changes alone but will also focus on improving school infrastructure, teacher training, and fostering public discourse around the reform process.

The funds allocated this year for infrastructure development should be used appropriately. When selecting schools for development in underprivileged areas, do not base decisions on village affiliation or personal favouration.  Selection must be made through proper procedures with the approval of the District Development Committee.”

The Prime Minister also called on the Ministry of Education, the Provincial Council, Provincial Departments of Education, Zonal Offices, and Divisional Education Offices to work in collaboration during the reform process.

This event was attended by Eastern Province Governor Jayanta Lal Ratnasiri, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, Members of Parliament Roshan Akmeemana and S. Kugananthan, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwawa, officials representing the Ministry of Education, Department of Examinations, National Institute of Education, and Provincial Departments of Education, as well as Zonal Education Directors.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Continue Reading

News

Aviation authority says Boeing fuel switches are safe during crash probe

Published

on

By

260 people died when the Air India plane crashed in June, including 240 who had been onboard and 20 more at ground level [BBC]

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said the fuel control switches in Boeing aeroplanes are safe, following their reported involvement in a fatal Air India crash that killed 260 people in June.

The safety of the switches has become a key point of concern after a preliminary report on the disaster was released by investigators on Friday.

That report said fuel to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner engines was cut off moments after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, and highlighted past FAA reports that suggested the switches should be inspected for safety.

The disaster involving London-bound Flight 171 was one of the worst aviation incidents globally in almost a decade.

Switches controlling fuel flow to the jet’s engines had been moved from “run” to the “cut-off” position, hampering the thrust of the plane, according to the preliminary report, which was published by the India Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Investigators referred to a 2018 FAA advisory, which urged – but did not mandate – operators of Boeing models to inspect the locking feature of the fuel cut-off switches to ensure they could not be moved by accident. This step was not taken by Air India, the AAIB said in its early findings.

The FAA on Friday told civil aviation authorities that it had seen AAIB’s preliminary report. It noted that its own 2018 advisory “was based on reports that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged” – but added that it does not believe this makes the planes unsafe.

“Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787,” said the authority, in an internal note shared with the BBC.

“The FAA will continue to share relevant information with foreign civil aviation authorities as appropriate.”

AAIB, which reviewed recovered cockpit voice recordings, reported that one pilot could be heard during the flight asking the other why he cut off the fuel. “The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” said the report.

Investigators said the fuel switches had almost simultaneously flipped from run to cut-off just after take-off. The report did not say how the switches could have flipped during the flight.

Air India Flight 171 was scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad in India to London’s Gatwick airport.

The plane crashed into a medical college near the airport within a minute of take-off, killing 260 people who were mostly passengers. One British national survived the crash.

Investigators are expected to produce a more detailed report in 12 months.

[BBC]

Continue Reading

Latest News

Evaluating education, measured solely on exam results should be changed. – Prime Minister

Published

on

By

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the current perspective on education is extremely narrow and that the practice of evaluating education solely based on exam results is flawed and in need of change.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the “Pankaja Student Summit 2025” of the Polonnaruwa District, held on Sunday [July 13]  at Royal Central College, Polonnaruwa aiming for the development of virtues among children by fostering the fundamental aspects of higher education.

Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya attended the event as Minister of Education, in response to an invitation from Praveen Maneesha Watthegama, the student Prime Minister representing Royal Central College in the National Student Parliament.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated;

“We are committed to transforming the exam-centered education system to one that allows talented children to move forward through their abilities and skills.

Our President constantly emphasizes the need to build a compassionate society by nurturing sensitive children with good values. It is not enough to raise individuals who only fulfill their own duties and needs, what matters is producing students who work for the betterment of society in mind.

Today, seeing the creativity and skills of these students, I truly feel happy. I am confident that there is a highly capable group of young people ready to take on the future leadership of our country. Our goal is to nurture not only creativity but also children who are enriched with humanity. Seeing your talents has given me further encouragement. You are the ones who give us the strength to keep working. Let us all join together and commit ourselves to building a compassionate and value-driven society.”

Praveen Maneesha Watthegama, the student Prime Minister of the National Student Parliament presenting his views said:

“We have named this student summit ’Pankaja’ (lotus), a flower that rises from the mud to symbolize the emergence of a noble new generation from a troubled society.

As a representative of the student community, I hope to present three key proposals to the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training.

Firstly, to implement the concept of student parliaments effectively in schools; secondly, to introduce a system where physical punishment is replaced with a skill-based point deduction method as a form of discipline; and thirdly, to investigate the possibility of implementing value-based programs in Sunday Dhamma schools that help shape students’ attitudes.”

The event was graced by the presence of the Maha Sangha and clergy of other religions, Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramarathna, Deputy Minister of Housing Development, Construction and Housing T.B. Sarath, Members of Parliament for Polonnaruwa District Padmasiri Bandara and Sunil Rathnasiri, Principal of Royal Central College Mr. Ravilal Wijewansa, members of the school academic staff, students, and a large number of parents.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Continue Reading

Trending