News
LTTE Deputy Mahattaya left out of Mahaveer Naal commemoration

Rajiv assassination mastermind, suicide bomber, too, missing from ‘Heroes’ list
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Mahendraraja Gopalswamy alias Mahattaya, the deputy of the defeated LTTE, has been left out of its ‘Heroes’ list displayed in Nallur, Jaffna, during the recent Mahaveer Naal celebrations.
Sources based in Jaffna said that Mahattaya, who had been executed on Dec 28, 1994, on orders of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, wasn’t included in the list. Mahattaya was put to death after LTTE found him guilty of serving India’s premier intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
Sources said that the list that consisted of 24,379 names must have been subjected to the approval of the LTTE rump, and hence the decision to leave out the one-time deputy of the group.
Mahattaya is believed to have been executed after being detained for about 16 months. He was about 38 years of age at the time of his execution by the LTTE.
Responding to The Island queries, sources said that the LTTE was believed to have initiated investigations after he was left out of a charge sheet in former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The LTTE assassinated Gandhi during the parliamentary polls campaign at Sriperumbudur, in South India, on May 21, 1991, less than year after India pulled its Army from Sri Lanka’s northern and eastern provinces.
Among those who had been left out of the ‘Heroes’ list were the suicide killer of Gandhi Puwaneshwari Rajaratnam and two other LTTE operatives who took cyanide when Indian security forces, following a three-month long manhunt, surrounded their hideout in Banglaore, in Karanataka State, on August 20, 1991. Sources identified one of them as one-eyed Sivarasan, who
masterminded the assassination of Gandhi. Military Intelligence sources told The Island that Uduppidy, Jaffna born Pakyachandran Chandrasekarampillai was one-eyed LTTE operative’s real name. Like thousands of others, Chandrasekarampillai had received military training in India in the early 80s as a member of another Tamil group TELO (Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization) before switching his allegiance to Prabhakaran.
Sources said that there could be many other cadres left out of the list as Prabhakaran executed quite a number of his men on suspicion they served Indian and Sri Lankan intelligence services.
News
Secretary to the President meets with heads of the Health sector

A special discussion between Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and the heads of the health sector was held on Tuesday (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the meeting, it was discussed that a committee would be formed to explore possible steps that could be taken through the President’s Fund to reduce the number of patients on long waiting lists for surgeries in government hospitals.
The committee is expected to submit a report on the matter within one month. Based on the findings, appropriate actions will be taken, as indicated by the Secretary to the President.
The discussion highlighted the significant number of patients, including those requiring cardiac, ophthalmic, and paediatric surgeries, who are currently awaiting procedures on long waiting lists at government hospitals.
Attention was also given to the potential support that could be provided by the President’s Fund and other relevant sectors to address the challenges faced by these patients.
Additionally, discussions were held regarding the possibility of conducting surgeries after regular working hours at government hospitals. The challenges faced by doctors and staff were also thoroughly discussed during the meeting.
The discussion was attended by several key officials, including Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Additional Secretary (Public Health Services) Dr. Lakshmi Somathunga, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, along with directors and specialist doctors from major hospitals across the country.
News
Govt. plan to boost revenue with taxes on vehicle imports unrealistic, warns Harsha

By Saman Indrajith
SJB Colombo District MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that vehicle imports would be affected by unusually high prices. Commencing the Second Reading debate from the Opposition side, Dr. de Silva said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had, in his Budget speech, projected a substantial portion of tax revenue from vehicle imports. “What is the feasibility of such expectations, given the current price surge,” the MP queried.
“Who can afford to import vehicles at these rates? I do not believe there are enough affluent individuals in Sri Lanka to sustain vehicle imports at these exorbitant prices.”
Providing examples of the dramatic price increase, Dr. de Silva pointed out that a Toyota Raize now cost Rs. 12.2 mn, a Toyota Yaris Rs. 18.5 mn, and a Toyota Prius a staggering Rs. 28.9 mn.
“Someone mentioned that a Toyota Vitz could be available at Rs. 1.4 mn.”
Dr. de Silva said that the government aimed to increase tax revenue by 1.6% of GDP with a significant portion expected from vehicle imports. However, he warned that achieving that target was unrealistic under current circumstances. The government must reassess its reliance on this sector for increasing tax revenue,” he said.
News
SLN receives shallow water multi-beam echo sounder from Australia

Giving a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s hydrographic capabilities, the government of Australia handed over a state-of-the-art Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo Sounder to the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) during a ceremony held at SLNS Rangalla today (18 Feb 25). The formal ceremony was held under the auspices of the High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, marking new chapter in the discipline of hydrography.
The Australian government provided the Sri Lanka Navy with this Multi Beam Echo Sounder to enhance its hydrographic capabilities. This advanced equipment will enable the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) to conduct precise hydrographic surveys, essential for creating nautical and electronic charts for international use. The device will also facilitate the production of high-precision nautical charts, ensuring safer maritime navigation.
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