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Kiriella pleads with govt. Impose travel restrictions to prevent Delta entering hill country

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Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday requested the government to impose travel restrictions to prevent Delta variant of coronavirus entering the upcountry areas.

MP Kiriella said that the Delta variant was not found the upcountry areas. “The Kandy district and upcountry areas could be saved from this virus variant if the government imposes travel restrictions without further delay,” he said.

The Chief Opposition Whip said: “We, as the opposition, wish that the government’s vaccination drive would be successful. We look beyond party interests and ideological differences because the virus does not discriminate. Therefore, we are willing to support the government’s efforts but its attitude is deplorable.

Kiriella said that in 2020, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had spoken about coronavirus and warned of a possible pandemic. However, the government had no interest in listening to the Opposition and take action, he said.

“Some of the government MPs ridiculed him. Thereafter he warned of this again on 05 February 2020 and pleaded with the government to take precautions. He said that the virus originated in Wuhan was spreading fast and the countries in our region too were under threat. We are ready to support the national vaccination drive, but the government should change its attitude,” he said.

The MP said that he had received telephone calls from specialist doctors, who said the Delta variant was not found in the upcountry. They believe that if travel restrictions were imposed, those areas could be saved from the highly transmissible variant.

“The government did not close the airports in a timely manner. It kept the airports open while other countries took precautionary measures. Check the statistics and you will find the first 100 cases reported from here were from those who had returned home from abroad. Opposition Leader Premadasa asked for the closure of airports on both 24 January and 05 February 2020, but the airports were kept open till March 17. The government did not heed our warnings, and instead it promoted syrups and other concoctions. They even drank some syrup in this Parliament. They thought the syrup was a miracle cure.”

The Chief Opposition Whip said that the government should appoint a parliamentary committee, consisting of MPs belonging to both the government and the Opposition, and the Disaster Management Act had provision for such action.

“The government is asking for our support but how do you expect us to help if it is not ready to listen to us?



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Southern Expressway land leased to Rajapaksa allies for Rs. 10,000 – Minister

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Bimal Rathnayake

Leader of the House and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament yesterday that a service area on the Southern Expressway had been leased for 99 years to individuals linked to the Rajapaksa family for just Rs. 10,000.

Responding to questions raised by Opposition MPs Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Ajith P. Perera, Minister Rathnayake also claimed that the Rajapaksa associates had obstructed the construction of several other approved service areas along the expressway.

He said that the Southern Expressway project suffered from serious irregularities, including deviations from feasibility studies, which he said led to the wastage of billions of rupees.

Highlighting specific discrepancies, the Minister pointed to the construction of two interchanges that were not part of the original expressway blueprint.

“One is at Kapuduwa, just 5 km from Godagama in Matara, serving only traffic to and from Colombo. The other is at Bedigama, 6 km from Beliatta,” he said, adding that each interchange cost over Rs. 10 million to build.

By Saman Indrajith

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Hike in bus fares if Israel-Iran conflict results in higher fuel prices

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Gemunu

A hike in private bus fares could be on the cards next month if global fuel prices continue to climb as a result of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, according to Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President, Gemunu Wijeratne.

Wijeratne told The Island yesterday (20), that the annual bus fare revision, scheduled for the 1st of next month, could lead to a revision in fares, should fuel prices in the global market remain on an upward trajectory.

He said that while fuel prices are already high due to the prevailing geopolitical tensions, the Association is cautious about pushing for a fare increase immediately, warning that such a move could adversely affect the industry in the current economic climate.

However, Wijeratne emphasised that if international fuel prices stabilise and remain at their present levels, a fare hike may not be necessary.

“The situation is being closely monitored. We hope that the global market stabilises, but if fuel prices continue to rise, we will have no choice but to adjust fares accordingly,” he added.

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon ✍️

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Committee probing alleged abuse of power by IGP approves inclusion of two additional witnesses, currently abroad

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The Committee of Inquiry investigating allegations of gross abuse of power by IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon convened for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, under the Chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. The Committee also includes Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman of the National Police Commission, the Parliament Media Division said.

It said that as of Thursday, 28 prosecution witnesses have testified before the Committee, including seven on that day (Thursday).

The Committee has also approved the inclusion of two additional witnesses, currently abroad on official duty, to testify after their return to the country on 26 June. This request was submitted by Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Dileepa Peiris, and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department.

Attorney-at-Law R.S. Weerawikrama, appearing on behalf of IGP Tennakoon, gave his consent for the two witnesses to be summoned for examination and cross-examination upon their return. The Committee granted the request.

Although initially scheduled to reconvene yesterday (20), proceedings have been postponed to Monday, 23 June, following a request by Weerawikrama to allow additional time to prepare the IGP’s defence. With the Attorney General’s Department not objecting, the Committee approved the postponement.

The next sessions will be held from 23 to 25 June, commencing at 9:30 a.m. daily. During this period, 15 witnesses are expected to testify on behalf of the Respondent IGP.The Committee will reconvene again at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, 26June, following the conclusion of the defense’s witness testimonies.

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