News
Justice Minister alleges NARA causes massive revenue losses, opposes remedial measures
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, yesterday (31) alleged that the country had been deprived of foreign exchange to the tune of billions of USD over the past three decades due to the failure on the part of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) to establish a system to sell hydrographic maps for ships entering Sri Lankan waters.
Addressing the media at his office near Technical Junction, Minister Rajapakshe said that NARA not only neglected its responsibility but allowed external parties to exploit the situation for their benefit. The Minister alleged that NARA had reached an agreement with the external parties and the payments received were utilised by that institute.
The Justice Minister said the National Hydrographic Bill had been submitted to the Parliament to enable the country to receive full benefits of ensuring safe passage of foreign vessels passing through local waters.
The NARA is the apex national institute vested with the responsibility of carrying out research, development and management of aquatic resources.
Responding to The Island query, Dr. Rajapakshe said it was possible that successive governments had not implemented the proposed system in line with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) deliberately.
Pointing out that 200 to 300 vessels entered Sri Lankan waters a day, Minister Rajapakshe declared that the Consolidated Fund could have received as much as USD 200 mn (Rs 60-65 bn) annually by providing the hydrographic maps at USD 25 each.
Dr. Rajapakshe explained how the project could contribute towards the government’s efforts to overcome economic difficulties experienced since 2020. Declaring that the Navy was fully capable of undertaking the project, he said that NARA and some surveyors had resisted the government move for obvious reasons.
According to the Minister, NARA wants the status quo to continue and receive payments from those who provide the services to the ships passing through Sri Lankan waters.
Minister Rajapakshe said that the Navy had brought the issue to his notice and he was glad to act on their concerns.
Commodore Kosala Warnakulasooriya functions as the Chief Hydrographer of the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS). Warnakulasooriya received the appointment at NARA on 10 Aug., this year.
Dr. Rajapakshe said that the Supreme Court had been moved against the proposed Act.
Referring to statistics provided by relevant authorities, Minister Rajapakshe said that all ports save the Hambantota Port had recorded a drop in ship arrivals due to several reasons, including the absence of proper hydrographic maps.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.
The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
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