The newly appointed Country Director of the Asian Development Bank for Sri Lanka Ms Shannon Cowlin and the accompanying delegation met with  Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Tuesday [0th of February] at the Prime Minister’s office.

Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister extended congratulations to the newly appointed Country Director and acknowledged the long-standing partnership with the Asian Development Bank. The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for ADB Bank’s continued engagement and support aligned with Sri Lanka’s national development priorities.

The Prime Minister also conveyed gratitude for the timely assistance extended by the ADB in response to Cyclone Ditwah, noting the importance of such support in mitigating the immediate impacts of natural disasters.

The ADB delegation reiterated its readiness to further assist Sri Lanka during the post-cyclone recovery phase, including rebuilding and reconstruction efforts, and emphasized its commitment to the supporting the education sector.

The meeting was attended by OIC / Deputy Director General, SARD Ms. Sona Shrestha, Ms. Cholpon Mambetova Country Operations Head of ADB Sri Lanka Mission Resident, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Director General of the External Resource Department, Ministry of Finance  Samantha Bandara, Director for ADB Division in External Resource Department, Ministry of Finance Ranjith Gurusinghe.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

A discussion on regulating school student transport services was held on the 09th of February at the Prime Minister’s Office under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, with the participation of officials from the National Transport Commission and the Ministry of Education.

The authority for regulating school student transport has been vested with the National Transport Commission, and as the relevant draft of regulations have already been prepared, discussions were held on the provisions contained in these drafts as well as on new proposals that should be incorporated.

During the discussion, the attention was focused on meeting the emerging needs of transportation arising from the schools, minimizing issues encountered in the transportation of school students by establishing an organized transport mechanism, and deploying the “Sisu Sariya” school transport service in a more efficient and effective manner followed by the new educational reforms process.

Discussions were also held on introducing laws and regulations to systematize the transportation of schoolchildren, prioritizing child protection by preventing reported incidents of abuse and harassment during student transport, and enhancing professionalism among school transport service providers to ensure a responsible and accountable service.

The focus was also emphasized on the need for coordinated action among the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, the National Transport Commission, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, and the National Child Protection Authority.

The discussion was attended by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake, Chairman of the National Transport Commission P. A. Chandrapala, officials of the National Transport Commission, and the officials from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

… ex-Public Security Minister says lives of MP and bodyguard could have been saved

The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday (11) sentenced 12 persons to death by hanging over the May 9, 2022, killing of former Polonnaruwa District SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his police bodyguard. They were among altogether 39 persons tried by the High Court for the double murder. Of the remaining accused, four persons were handed six-month sentences, suspended for five years, and 23 others acquitted by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar, consisting of High Court Judges Sahan Mapa Bandara Rashmi Singappuli and A.D. Ruwan Pathirana.

Of the 12 sentenced to death, one continues to evade the law.

The verdict was to be announced on January 14.

Sri Lanka suspended implementation of the death penalty in 1976. The EU has repeatedly warned that resumption of judicial executions would result in consequences.

The new entrant to Parliament, and his bodyguard, were lynched by a ‘Aragalaya’ mob, in broad daylight. They were on their way back to Polonnaruwa when the gang intercepted the MP’s car, in the Nittambuwa town, during violence unleashed in the aftermath of SLPP goons’ attack on those camping at the Gotagohome site at Galle Face.

Footage secured from a nearby CCTV camera showed MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala fleeing the scene with his security officer, who was armed with a gun. Dozens of suspects had been subsequently arrested on several occasions on suspicion of involvement in the MP’s murder. The MP and police officer were killed in a garment store where they took refuge.

Earlier, the case caused major controversy over the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar granting bail to all suspects. The Attorney General appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) to cancel the bail granted by the High Court Trial-at-Bar. The AG argued that releasing the accused on bail would impede a fair trial. The AG asked that the SC cancel the bail order and requested that the accused be placed in remand custody till the conclusion of the trial.

One-time Law and Order Minister Rear Admiral (retd) Sarath Weerasekera told The Island that the lives of the parliamentarian and his police bodyguard could have been saved if the military swiftly responded to the then developing situation. Former Colombo District MP said that he told Parliament that the Army, in spite of having troops at Nittambuwa, didn’t intervene. The powers that be never inquired into the lapses on the part of those responsible for maintaining law and order, the ex-Minister said, alleging that successive governments conveniently neglected that responsibility.

by Shamindra Ferdinando