News
Kiriella complains tabled report on political victimisation incomplete
By Saman Indrajith
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday that the Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), which investigated the alleged incidents of political victimisation tabled by the government in Parliament, was incomplete.
When the report was tabled in Parliament by Leader of the House, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, the Chief Opposition Whip said that the testimonies of the report had not been included in what had been tabled.
The first three volumes of the Sinhala version of the report were tabled by the Leader of the House Minister Gunawardena.
Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella requested the government for recordings of evidence of the PCoI reports. “Not even the volumes containing the records of testimonies of the report on the Easter Sunday terror attacks have been given. The Attorney General says he too has not been given them. How could he institute legal action without reading them? We have been repeatedly asking for the complete report.”
Leader of the House Minister Gunawardena said: We agreed at the Party leaders’ meeting to debate the Presidential Commission of inquiry report on Easter Sunday attacks for three days. The first day of debate is scheduled for Wednesday. The next two days will be allocated on the third next sitting week. That was the agreement and we would work according to that.
Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella:
Where are the sections containing the testimonies? They too should be given to us.
Leader of the House Minister Gunawardena:
That is a future issue.
A three-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2020, to inquire into alleged political victimisations that took place from 2015 to 2019.
The Commission consisted of retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, retired Court of Appeal Judge Daya Chandrasiri Jayatilake, and retired IGP Chandra Fernando.
The Commission was mandated to inquire into political victimisation as regards investigations conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, FCID, CID, and the Special Investigation Unit of the Police from January 8, 2015, to November 16, 2019.
The Commission also investigated the cases of politically victimised public officers during the relevant period.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to award the contract for printing and supplying vehicle number plates for the Department of Motor Traffic for a period of five (5) years to M/s South Asian Technologies based on the recommendations of the High-Level Standing Procurement Committee and the Procurement Appeal Board.
The National Lotteries board has been established subject to the Finance Act No. 11 of 1963. Having identified the requirement of amending that act which was imposed around 62 years to cater the current requirements of the lottery market, the Cabinet of Mnisters at their meeting held on 14.02.2017 granted approval to draft a new bill for the purpose.
Accordingly, the National Lotteries Board has recognized further amendments to be performed to the fundamental draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsmen.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the
resolution furnished by the President in his office as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to direct the Legal Draftsmen to finalize the formulation of the draft bill for the National Lotteries Board as soon as possible including the proposed new amendments as well.
The Werahara office of the Department of Motor Traffic performs issuance of temporary driving licenses in this country based on the driving licenses issued overseas, and measures have been initiated to render the service from a service window of the Department of Motor Traffic established at the Bandaranayake International Airport from 03.08.2025.
The fees charged for issuing temporary driving licenses have been published in Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 prepared under the provisions of the Motor Traffic (Authority 203) Act.
But, as the fee of Rupees 2,000/- charged for the service is not sufficient, the requirement of amending the regulations has been recognized.
The regulations for introducing the revised fees have been published in the government extraordinary gazette
notification No. 2463/04 dated 17.11.2025. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to
submit the regulations to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Venezuelan security forces detain journalists as armed police patrol streets
Selfies and smiles: South Korea seeks ‘new phase’ in ties with China
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News24 hours agoBroad support emerges for Faiszer’s sweeping proposals on long- delayed divorce and personal law reforms
-
News2 days agoPrivate airline crew member nabbed with contraband gold
-
News24 hours agoInterception of SL fishing craft by Seychelles: Trawler owners demand international investigation
-
News4 days agoHealth Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages
-
Opinion6 days agoRemembering Douglas Devananda on New Year’s Day 2026
-
Features2 days agoPharmaceuticals, deaths, and work ethics
-
News7 days agoLeading the Nation’s Connectivity Recovery Amid Unprecedented Challenges
-
News23 hours agoUS raid on Venezuela violation of UN Charter and intl. law: Govt.