News
Govt. makes U-turn on hoarders’ Mafia

Question mark over Office of CGES, emergency regulations
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Following the abolition of price control on rice and paddy, the government is expected to review its controversial decision to establish the Office of Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) to ensure an uninterrupted supply of paddy, rice, sugar and other essential goods.
Authoritative sources said that a decision taken by Cabinet of ministers on Monday (27) to rescind the relevant gazette underlined the urgent need to examine the government’s overall response to shortage of essential items.
Responding to The Island queries, sources explained that the government backed the appointment of a serving officer, Maj. Gen. M.D.S.P. Niwunhella as the CGES with the declaration of emergency regulations. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made the declaration effective Aug, 31, 2021 in terms of the Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance as per the Section 5 that dealt with essential food supply. Maj. Gen. Niwunhella of the Gajaba Regiment is the incumbent head of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s security contingent.
Sources emphasised that the abolition of price controls on wholesale and retail sale of rice as well as purchase of paddy should be examined against the backdrop of declaration of emergency regulations and specific measures such as the appointment of CGES to tackle hoarding, price manipulation and a range of other irregularities.
In the absence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is away in the US, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has chaired Monday’s meeting. The Island learns that proper consultations hadn’t taken place before the government made a U turn on traders Mafia.
Sources said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa moved to reign in the group of powerful millers in the wake of the collapse of agreement between the government and the businessmen. Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane and Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on July 21, 2021 reached agreement with millers for the latter to buy paddy at what they called government guaranteed price.
In spite of Ministers Gunawardane and Aluthgamage vowing to ensure uninterrupted supply of rice, the millers reneged on their promise. Sources pointed out that the decision to rescind the relevant gazette on price controls, the announcement of the release of funds from the Central Bank to release food containers held up at the Colombo port, immediately import 100,000 tonnes of rice to maintain a buffer stock, delay decision on the revision of milk food, flour and cement, and millers declaring a new price structure (retail and wholesale as well as paddy purchasing price from farmers) happened within 48 hours.
The Central Bank on yesterday (29) announced the release of USD 50 mn to two state banks to make it possible for importers to clear their goods from the Colombo harbour.
On the instructions of the President, the CGES Maj. Gen. Niwunhella and Chairman of Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) retired Maj. Gen. Shantha Dissanayake, led raids on Nipuna, Lathpadura, Araliya, Hiru, New Rathna and Sooriya in the Polonnaruwa District.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother Dudley Sirisena and State Minister Siripala Gamlath are among those accused of hoarding rice.
Sources said that just a day after the cancellation of the relevant gazette, a group of millers led by Dudley Sirisena declared retail price for nadu Rs 115, samba Rs 140 and keeri samba Rs 165,000. The group also declared that paddy would be bought at nadu Rs 62.50 a kilo, samba Rs 70 and keeri samba Rs 80.
The declaration of emergency regulations in the run-up to the 48th session of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council caused quite a controversy. The entire Opposition in the parliament, two major civil society groups –Sri Lanka Collective for Consensus (SLCC) and Civil Society Platform (CSP) and a section of the international community and the Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet condemned the declaration of emergency though the government repeatedly stressed that particular measure was taken for the benefit of the fleeced consumer.
Sources said that with the abolition of the gazette meant to regulate the rice market, the whole strategy initiated by the government in late August was in tatters.
Other sources said the government had conveniently side-stepped the simmering issue pertaining to the issuance of a gazette on Oct 13, 2020 to reduce the import duty on a kilo of rice to 25 cents from Rs 50. In spite of the Committee on Public Finance chaired by SLPP lawmaker Anura Priyadarshana Yapa declaring that the duty reduction didn’t bring any relief at all to the consumer, the reduced duty remained, sources said.
Having accused major sugar importers of hoarding, the Presidential Secretariat in a statement issued on Sept 1 identified the hoarders as Pyramid Wilmar(6,200 mt),Global trading company (4,900 mt),Wilson Trading Company (14 mt) and R.G. Stores (800 mt). The announcement was made after the government seized 29,000 mt from five warehouses.
News
Voter apathy grows as never before: PAFFREL

Public’s interest in the upcoming Provincial Council elections remains low, according to the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL).
PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi told The Island that there was an urgent need to encourage voter participation, noting that a higher voter turnout is essential for a functioning democracy.
Hettiarachchi said that the current level of political campaigning has been relatively subdued, with fewer aggressive or violent activities than seen in previous elections—a trend he described as a positive development.
He, however, stressed that local councils play a vital role in the lives of citizens, from birth- to death-related services, and also contribute to the legislative process. As such, voters must understand their importance and engage in the electoral process.
Despite the peaceful nature of the campaign so far, PAFFREL has received 20 complaints regarding the misuse of state resources and 15 complaints related to physical assaults. Hettiarachchi, however, added that no major incidents have been reported to date.
By Chaminda Silva
News
Many foreign diplomats witness sacred relic exposition on first day

A group of 44 diplomats, including those from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Netherlands, India, Myanmar, Palestine, France, New Zealand, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada and South Korea, headed to Kandy, by train, yesterday morning, to witness the sacred relic exposition.
The group travelled to Kandy in a special observation saloon of a train that departed from the Colombo Fort Railway Station around 7:00 am.
The ‘Sri Dalada Vandanawa’, a special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, commenced yesterday (18), and will continue till 27 April.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake, along with the ambassadors, high commissioners and other diplomats, participated in the inaugural event.
“This initiative aims to convey a message to Sri Lanka’s friendly nations that the country is recovering economically, overcoming previous challenges, and fostering national harmony. The event also seeks to strengthen international support for Sri Lanka,” the PMD said.
Yesterday (18), on the opening day, the public had the opportunity to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm From today (19) onwards, it will open for public veneration, daily from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.
News
Ahungalla shooting ordered from Dubai for failure to carry out contract killing

Police investigations have revealed that the shooting of a 27-year-old man in Ahungalla on Thursday night was a revenge attack. The motive is said to be his failure to carry out a contract killing assigned by a prominent underworld gang leader currently hiding in Dubai.
The 27-year-old victim, who was seriously injured in the attack, is currently receiving treatment at the Balapitiya Hospital. Investigations have further revealed that the attack was ordered by an underworld figure, known as “Abrew,” who is reportedly hiding in Dubai.
It has come to light that Abrew had given the young man a contract to kill a rival. However, since the contract was not carried out, the attack is believed to have been an act of retaliation.On the night of 17 April, around 9:48 pm, the young man received a phone call from an individual who instructed him to come and collect a packet of ice (a term commonly used to refer to crystal meth).
Accordingly, the 27-year-old arrived near the Revatha Primary School, in Balapitiya, Ahungalla in a three-wheeler. At that location, a hired gunman, who had arrived in another three-wheeler, fired three shots at him and fled the scene.
Despite being injured by one of the bullets hitting him, the young man managed to reach the Ahungalla Police Station in the same three-wheeler he had come in. Police officers then arranged for him to be admitted to Balapitiya Hospital for treatment.
By Hemantha Randunu
-
Business7 days ago
Members’ Night of the Sri Lanka – Russia Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
-
Features7 days ago
Liberation Day tariffs chaos could cause permanent damage to US economy, amid global tensions
-
Features7 days ago
Minds and Memories picturing 65 years of Sri Lankan Politics and Society
-
Business23 hours ago
DIMO pioneers major fleet expansion with Tata SIGNA Prime Movers for ILM
-
Sports7 days ago
Lankan legends, Modi and the Jaffna dream
-
Opinion7 days ago
End of an Era: Passing away of Raja Uncle (Mr. Rajapaksha)
-
Features7 days ago
Repentance Leads to Passion
-
Features7 days ago
Recollections of two past Aprils