News
Police Spokesman tells PCoI detention of terror suspects should be decided by a DIG instead of court
… stresses need for new law to govern intelligence agencies
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Police spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana, on Saturday, told the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks that the power to issue detention orders for suspects arrested on terrorism-related activities should be given to a DIG instead of a court of law. He said that there was a dire need for a new law governing the activities of intelligence agencies.
Giving evidence before the PCoI for the third day, the Police Spokesman said that suspects arrested for terrorism, related offences should be questioned at least for six months. Rohana, who was on the committee that provided inputs for the Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) proposed by the previous administration, was called before the PCoI to ascertain his opinions on the existing laws on terrorism and religious extremism and the steps that should be taken to curb such activities.
The representative of the Attorney General’s Department that led the evidence asked Rohana what the most important aspects to be considered were when extending detention orders for terror suspects.
“Usually, we go before a Magistrate to get detention orders or to get an extension. My personal opinion is that a DIG must be given the power to extend detention orders. There is no problem with establishing a supervisory body to monitor this. A Magistrate who operates in an area where terrorism or religious extremism is rife is somewhat unsafe. Pressure can be exerted on the Magistrate. But since the investigators are trained, armed and are in camps they have no such worries. The Magistrate or the Human Rights Commission can see the suspects once a month.”
The police spokesman added that authorising a DIG to extend detention orders would be helpful to investigators.
Chairman of the PCoI then asked DIG Rohana for his proposals on granting bail for those arrested for terrorist activities. “I don’t think such a person should be granted bail before a year has elapsed. If bail is granted before a year, the AG’s advice must be sought. If a suspect is to be given bail after a year, a high court should do that. I am making these suggestions based on the complexity of terrorism these days.”
The Chairman asked, “There have been instances where politicians contact policemen regarding bail for suspects. Doesn’t this obstruct justice?”
The DIG said: Certainly, politicians do such things, and don’t think about the impact of such action on the country. According to the Penal Code, preventing the enactment of justice and hiding evidence are offences.
Chairman: “Tell me, based on your experience, who should be entrusted with investigating a group of extremists in a particular area? The police station there or officers from a central location?”
“Even now this is being done by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID.) There is a DIG in charge of the TID. I think such investigations must be directed centrally but sub divisions must be established provincially. We also need laws governing intelligence operations, this is a good way to strengthen these mechanisms,” DIG Rohana said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed rice traders to sell Nadu rice to consumers at a wholesale price of Rs. 225 per kilo and a retail price of Rs. 230 per kilo.
The President also instructed the officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority to closely monitor the situation over the next ten days and strictly enforce the law against rice mill owners who fail to comply with the fixed prices.
President Dissanayake made these remarks during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, along with rice traders, at the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday (07).
The President highlighted that the largest investments in the country are allocated to the Ministry of Highways, followed by the Irrigation and Agriculture sectors, with substantial subsidies provided to farmers.
The President further pointed out that low-interest bank loans have been provided to traders for the purchase of paddy and urged rice traders not to undermine the public’s right to access affordable rice.
As a result, the following rice prices will be implemented
• Wholesale price of a kilo of Nadu rice: Rs. 225, Retail price: Rs. 230
• Wholesale price of a kilo of white rice: Rs. 215, Retail price: Rs. 220
• Retail price of a kilo of imported Nadu rice: Rs. 220
• Wholesale price of a kilo of Samba rice: Rs. 235, Retail price: Rs. 240
• Wholesale price of a kilo of Keeri Samba: Rs. 255, Retail price: Rs. 260
The President also strongly criticized rice mill owners for frequently changing rice prices on a daily basis and instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority to monitor the daily rice production and distribution by mills.
Furthermore, President Dissanayake urged the rice traders to collaborate with the government in resolving the rice-related issues in an amicable manner.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development A. Wimalenthirajah, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, Director General of the Department of Development Finance Malarmathy Gangatharan, Acting Director General of the Department of Agriculture Dr. S.K. Wasala, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority Hemantha Samarakoon, Chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board A.M.U. Pinnalanda, Director of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and Training Institute A.L. Chandika, among other officials.
ECONOMYNEXT –The Election Commission (EC) has warned all candidates who have failed to submit their election campaign income and expenditure after contested in the November 14 parliament polls.
The Election Commission has set a deadline to submit the income and expenditure reports for 12 midnight on Friday, December 06, 2024.
R M A L Ratnayake, the Chairman of the EC said only few have submitted their reports so far.
“It is not only for those who have elected to the parliament, but those all who contested the election. They all should file their expenditure reports, Ratnayake told in a video clip circulated by the EC.
“I specially urge all candidates to fulfil this obligation without facing any legal actions.”
“In the event of a legal action, those candidates who face legal action are sometimes likely to lose their opportunity of contesting in local government or provincial council polls.”
Out of the total 8,361 candidates, around 24 percent or 1,985 have submitted their reports to the Election Commission as at 3 pm on Tuesday (03), the Commission said in a statement.
Out of a total 690 political parties and independent groups, only 15.4 percent (106) and out of 527 named national list members, only 10.8 percent (57) have so far submitted their reports, the EC said.
The Regulation of Election Expenditure Act is effective for the first time in Sri Lanka for a Parliament poll.
By Aruna Bogahawatte
The SLFP is facing a serious internal crisis as multiple factions within the party vie for control over the symbol to contest the upcoming local government elections, sources reveal.
One faction, led by Nimal Siripala de Silva, supported the National Democratic Front during the presidential elections and contested under the gas cylinder symbol. Some members from this group also ran in the general elections under the same symbol, securing a single seat in Parliament. This faction, supported by key figures such as Mahinda Amaraweera, Duminda Dissanayake, and several former MPs, believes the party should contest the local government elections under the traditional SLFP symbol, the ‘Hand.’
On the other side, a faction led by SLFP Treasurer Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa is pushing to contest under the People’s Alliance symbol, the ‘Chair.’ They point to the success of this symbol in the recent Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha elections, where they secured two seats.
Amid this turmoil, SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has offered to take on the role of SLFP Chairman if all factions can unite and set aside their differences for the sake of a stronger showing in the elections. Jayasekera said that he had discussed the same with Alagiyawanna and Dissanayake.
“The SLFP is now almost flattened to the ground, but I still believe it could be a formidable force in the next election if its leaders come together without delay,” Jayasekera said.
Fairly heavy showers are likely at some places in Western, and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, and Matara districts during the evening or night
Nadu Rice Prices Set: wholesale Rs. 225, retail Rs. 230
EC warns of legal action against candidates not compiling expense report
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