News
PCoI to file contempt case against five SJB MPs in Court of Appeal
By Shyam Nuwan Ganewatte
Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on political victimisation, retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne yesterday told MPs Harin Fernando, Nalin Bandara, J. C.Alawathuwela, Mayantha Dissanayake and Sujith Sanjaya that the commission had decided to file a contempt case against them in the Court of Appeal.
The PCoI Chairman announced the commission decision when the MPs appeared before the commission yesterday. The SJB MPs had been summoned based on information that they had allegedly made disparaging remarks about the PCoI while speaking to the media after making a complaint to the Bribery Commission recently.
Retired Supreme Court Judge Abeyratne said the Commission decision had been referred to the Appeal Court under the provisions of Article 10 of the Commissions Act, and Clause 105 (3) of the Constitution, naming the five MPs as respondents.
The Chairman asked the five MPs to be present before the Appeal Court once notice is served on them.
The Chairman said according to the opinion of the commission the MPs had committed an offence and their submissions could be referred to the Court of Appeal.
Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya, appearing for the Attorney General, said the matter should be referred to the Court of Appeal. The MPs had made defamatory statements challenging the authority of the commission and in a manner derogatory of the commission while addressing the media near the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Colombo 7.
Also present were SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MPs Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Dr Harsha de Silva, and Thalatha Atukorale to witness yesterday’s session.
A spokesman for the commission said that following the hearing of evidence, a case was expected to be filed before the Court of Appeal at a later date on charges of contempt of the presidential commission.
Speaking to the media after the MPs appeared before the Commission, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that a group of MPs including the five summoned by the commission yesterday had submitted a complaint to the Bribery Commission on behalf of the people as per their democratic right.
By Norman Palihawadane
Authorities have launched an investigation into the disappearance of over 70 assault rifles from an undisclosed Army camp.The police confirmed that two of the missing T-56 assault rifles had been recovered.
A 47-year-old Civil Defence Force (CDF) member has been arrested in connection with the incident. Acting on information from the suspect, police recovered a T-56 with 11 rounds of ammunition in Kotawila, Matara, on Friday. The arrest followed an earlier recovery of another T-56 rifle and a grenade in Ruhunuketha, Welikanda, which the suspect was allegedly attempting to sell.
Investigations have revealed that the suspect had sold one more T-56, with ammunition, for Rs. 200,000. The CDF member’s arrest came after a person, detained by the Wellampitiya Police with a pistol, confessed to purchasing the weapon from him, providing contact details that led to his arrest.
The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) obtained a 90-day detention order for further questioning of the suspect.
Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya confirmed to The Island that details of the Army camp and officers involved were being withheld for now.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said that the CCD and CID were conducting parallel investigations into the case.
Further updates on the missing firearms and their potential links to crimes are expected as the investigation progresses, SSP Manatunga told The Island.
More than 35 people were hospitalised following a head-on collision between two privately-owned buses in Matara yesterday morning.Six persons sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Matara Hospital, police added.
Police Spokesman SSP K.B. Manathunga said that there was a rising number of road accidents involving privately-owned buses in recent times. In response, police have intensified legal actions against passenger bus drivers who violate traffic regulations.
SSP Manathunga announced on Saturday that the government has approved the recruitment of an additional 10,000 police officers. This move aims to strengthen efforts in preventing road accidents, as well as supporting broader anti-crime and anti-drug operations.
Investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing, SSP Manatunga said. (RK)
Text and Pic by Dinasena Rathugamage
A 25-year-old elephant that had been struggling in pain and hunger for 14 days due to suspected severe gunshot injuries died on Saturday near the Iranamadukulam tank in Kilinochchi.
Villagers who noticed the injured elephant informed Wildlife officers about its condition. Although a team of officials rushed to the location and attempted to treat the elephant, its condition was critical due to severe injuries and its extreme weakness, making recovery impossible.
Wildlife officers said that the elephant was about 25 years of age and they suspected that the elephant’s injuries had been caused by a gunshot. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. The Kilinochchi Police and Wildlife officials have launched an investigation into the death of the elephant.
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