News
Excise chief removed
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Commissioner General of Excise, J. M. Gunasiri was removed from his post yesterday with immediate effect.
Gunasiri was appointed the Excice Chief in early Dec. 2020. The then government replaced R. A. Bodaragama with Gunasiri under controversial circumstances.
Cabinet spokesperson Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday (08) announced the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers to remove the Commissioner General of Excise, J. M. Gunasiri, with immediate effect and replace him with U. D. N. Jayaweera, a special grade officer of the Inland Revenue Service.
Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Herath said Gunasiri was working on acontract basis.
His replacement, Jayaweera, at present, serves as an Additional Secretary (Agency Coordination 11) of the Presidential Secretariat.
Herath said the Sri Lanka Excise Department is the main revenue collection agency of the government and the efficiency and the good governance of this Department directly affects the revenue of the government.
Commissioner General of Excise Gunasiri has faced multiple allegations during his tenure, including claims that he has been secretly issuing liquor licenses beyond the legal limit. A few months ago, a group of liquor shop owners filed petitions, leading the Supreme Court to issue an interim injunction halting the issuance of new licenses.
Despite the court order, allegations continue to surface, suggesting that licenses have been issued in violation of the injunction. In response, the Supreme Court has extended its injunction and granted leave to proceed with four petitions filed by wine shop owners, challenging the unlawful issuance of licenses under excise regulations.
The trial, which names both the former Minister of Finance and the Commissioner General of Excise as respondents, is set to begin on 06 February 2025.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya yesterday sad that the Executive Presidency would be abolished, in line with the NPP’s election manifesto.
Speaking in Parliament, in response to a question raised under Standing Order 27/2 by Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Prime Minister said the abolition would take place through a proposed new Constitution.
She added that preliminary work on drafting the new Constitution had already begun, with previous committee reports and other proposals being studied to guide the process.
“A concept paper on the draft will be presented to the Cabinet,” Amarasuriya said, noting that a formal study has been initiated on abolishing the Executive Presidency.
She said that the move cannot be implemented without introducing a new Constitution.
Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the suspension of duties imposed on Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director of the National Hospital, amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
Raising the issue during parliamentary proceedings, Premadasa, who is also the SJB Leader, questioned the decision to suspend the senior medical officer for issuing a statement to the media, particularly on matters relating to children’s medicines.
He said health was a fundamental right and noted that two children had reportedly died, stressing that the focus should be on accountability over the incident rather than penalising a medical professional for speaking out.
Premadasa criticised the authorities for suspending Dr. Bellana solely for communicating with the media, asking whether such action constituted justice for families who had lost their children.The Opposition Leader said silencing officials, who raise concerns, undermines fundamental rights and does not address the underlying issues related to patient safety and public health.
Acting Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital Dr. Rukshan Bellana has been suspended.
A letter, issued by the Ministry of Health, says preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Health has revealed that Dr. Bellana, as a government medical officer holding a responsible position, made statements to the media, without approval, in a manner that created a controversial situation in the country and unrest among the public.
The letter further stated that formal disciplinary action will be taken in due course regarding this matter.
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