News
Opposition flays Basil for going to US while country is burning
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition parties yesterday flayed Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa for going to the US amidst the country’s worst-ever economic crisis.
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told The Island that it was unbelievable that the Finance Minister had decided to go to the US while the country was burning.
“He was not in Parliament during the budget debate to listen to the MPs views. He did not come to Parliament. None of his predecessors skipped parliamentary sessions while the budget debate was on. When he came to the House on the day of the vote, we asked him how he proposed to repay the loans. His response was that the government would pay the loans but did not tell the House how he was planning to do that. That is against parliamentary procedures; the MPs have a right to know how such payments are settled. Now, amidst all these problems, the Finance Minister has gone to the US.”
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said many problems faced by the people had been caused by the Finance Ministry, which was duty-bound to solve them.
“The Finance Ministry is the most important ministry as regards the present crisis. There are no dollars for containers of essentials held up at the port to be released. It is a problem that should be sorted out by the Finance Ministry. There are many explosions caused by gas leaks countrywide. The gas companies come under the Finance Ministry. The Yugadanvi power plant has been sold. It is the Finance Ministry that signed the agreement at issue. There are many such problems that the Finance Ministry should solve as a national priority. But the Finance Minister has left the country. Some other ministers too have left the country on foreign trips.”
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
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