News
IGP put on notice over CID’S failure to arrest State Minister Gamage
Premier Legal Consultants, Counsel for civil society activist Oshala Herath, has informed IGP C. D. Wickremaratne that legal action would be initiated against him, too, unless W.I.P. Shashikala, OIC of the Human Trafficking and Smuggling Unit of the CID was directed to arrest State Minister Diana Gamage for committing offenses under Sections 45(1) (a) and 45(1) (c) of the Immigration and Emigration Act.
Rienzie Arsecularatne, PC, has taken this up with the IGP, following the inordinate delay on the part of the CID officer in taking the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) National List MP into custody over the disclosures made in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, pertaining to a complaint Herath lodged with the Human Trafficking and Smuggling Unit of the CID, on Nov, 02, 2020.
Pointing out that the Human Trafficking and Smuggling Unit of the CID has filed a report in the Magistrate Court, on March 09, 2021, the Counsel brought to the IGP’s attention that the lawmaker had obtained two Sri Lankan passports, bearing numbers N 5091386 and OL 5654794 (official passport) while being a British citizen.
The lawyer said that the CID continued to shirk its duties even after the Magistrate, on April 24, 2023, declared that on the basis of material furnished by the Immigration and Emigration Department, the investigating officers could make the arrest under Section 32(1) of Code of Criminal Procedure Act No 15 of 1979. The Magistrate has also stressed that investigating officers had no discretion in that regard, the lawyers pointed out to the IGP.
MP Gamage has switched her allegiance to President Ranil Wickremesinghe having entered parliament with the blessings of SJB leader Sajith Premadasa.
The IGP has been told that conferring of wrongful or unlawful benefit, favour or advantage on the lawmaker constituted the offense of corruption in terms of Section 70 of the Bribery Act (SF)
The second day of the “Vesak Bhakti Gee Saraniya”, held in parallel with the “Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya” jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, commenced on Tuesday (13) at 6:30 p.m. under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat premises.
The evening featured musical performances by renowned vocalist Ilyas Beg and the Sri Lanka Air Force Bhakti Gee Troup, accompanied by the Air Force Band. A Vesak lantern exhibition was also held at the venue. The event was attended by the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero, along with several senior officials of the Presidential Secretariat.
This Bhakthi Gee programme will continue today [May 14] and tomorrow at the same location. Additionally, a short-eats dansala is being held near the Presidential Secretariat for the benefit of the public visiting Colombo for Vesak, and will continue until May 16.
Meanwhile, a ‘Buth Dansala’ organized jointly by the Presidential Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Army was inaugurated yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of senior military officers. A large number of devotees from across the country attended the event.
In line with the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ and ‘Bauddhaloka Vesak Kalapya’, several Vesak programmes have been organized in the vicinity with the support of the Presidential Secretariat. These include the illumination of nearby government buildings and roads with decorative lights, and the display of Vesak lanterns, with the active participation of the Presidential Secretariat staff.
[PMD]
The French Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit (09 May 25), departed the island on Tuesday (13 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ visited some tourist attractions in the country. In addition, the Commanding Officer and a group of
crew members of the ship called on senior officers of the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) to discuss key hydrographic matters of bilateral importance.
News
“Clean Sri Lanka” joins hands to Improve facilities and sanitation at Kotmale Regional Hospital
Following the bus accident in the Garandiella area of Kotmale, a large number of injured individuals were admitted to the Kotmale Regional Hospital for treatment. In response, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme has collaborated to improve the facilities and sanitation of the hospital.
Accordingly, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme actively worked to clean the hospital ward complex and the hospital premises, aiming to create a comfortable environment for the patients’ treatment and to enhance other facilities.
A notable aspect was the voluntary participation of the local community in this effort. The “Clean Sri Lanka” secretariat appreciates the dedication shown by the doctors and hospital staff of the Kotmale Regional Hospital, who provided emergency treatment to those injured in this unexpected incident despite having access to limited resources.
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