News
Remembering Founder of Upali Group of Companies

The Upali Group, its employees and sales agents countrywide, have made arrangements to invoke blessings on its Founder Upali Wijewardene, who disappeared 38 years ago. Bodhi Pooja, Pahan Pooja and an alms-giving will be held, in his memory, on Feb 13 (Saturday).
On 12th February (Friday) 9.00 a.m. Holy Mass will be held at the Mattakkuliya De Mazenod House, opposite Carmelite Convent.
A special Bodhi Pooja will be held at the Kelani Rajamaha Viharaya at 6 p.m. on 13 February, with the blessings of Prof. Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkitha Thera, the Chief Incumbent of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.
Besides, arrangements have been made to offer alms to the Maha Sangha at Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya and scholarships to 10 needy children from the Helena Wijewardene Maha
Vidyalaya, Kelaniya. Alms-giving to the inmates of the Home for the Elders at Mulgampola, Kandy, alms-giving and donation to the differently abled children’s home – Galmaduwa, Kundasale and Bodhipooja Pinkama from 4.30 p.m. onwards at the factory premises.
Bodhipooja and Pahan Pooja will be held at Vidya Niketha
Piriven Viharaya, Sapugoda, Kamburupitiya & at Maha Saman Devalaya, Ratnapura.
The employees of Upali Consumer Products have arranged an Alms-giving – Lunch for the ‘Children’s Home’ at Ja-Ela.
Founder’s Day Program on 13th February 2021.
10.00 a.m. Offering of Buddhapooja at the ‘Dhathumandiraya’.
10.30 a.m. – Scholarships to 10 needy children from Helena Wijewardene Maha Vidyalaya, Kelaniya.
11.30 a.m. – Alms-giving for the Maha Sangha at Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya.
12 noon – Providing lunch for the Children’s Home, Ja-Ela, organized by the employees of the Upali Trading Co. Ltd.
5.15 p.m. – Offering Gilanpasapooja (permissible drinks) for Dhathumandiraya.
6.00 p.m. – Bodhi Pooja and Pahan Pooja at Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya.
All these pinkamas (meritorious acts) are organized by Upali Group employees & Newspaper, Kandos/Delta Agents.
News
SJB, JVP move SC against Finance Secy. for contempt of court

The main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday (21) moved Supreme Court against Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana over his failure to provide funds required by the Election Commission to conduct the Local Government polls, ignoring an interim order issued by the apex court, on 03 March.
Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP, is the petitioner for the SJB and Vijitha Herath, MP, moved court on behalf of the JVP, the leading party in the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB).
Two Opposition parties declared action against Siriwardana the day after the Freedom People’s Alliance (FPA) issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Finance Secretary to release the funds.
EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa is on record as having said that in spite of SC directive he didn’t receive fresh funding.
The petitioners sought the issuance of summons on Siriwardana for contempt of court over failure to carry out its interim orders, given on 03 March.
The petitioners want the Finance Secretary punished in terms of Article 105 (3) of the Constitution.
The SJB stated that Siriwardana had refrained from carrying out the March directives, on the basis of a Cabinet decision, taken on 13 Feb., 2023. The SJB also pointed out that the offensive conduct of the Treasury Secretary, inter alia, causes grave prejudice to the esteemed authority of the Supreme Court and in turn disturb the public confidence in the authority of the highest Court in the country. (SF)
News
Minister indicates reduction in fuel prices in April

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara told Parliament yesterday that fuel prices would be reduced considerably according to the fuel price formula at the next fuel price revision, due in April.
The Minister said that the government would be able to procure fuel shipments, at lower prices, during competitive bidding, with the receipt of the IMF bailout.
There had been practical issues, and problems, in opening Letters of Credit, and obtaining credit facilities, in the recent past, as Sri Lanka could not give a guarantee to fuel suppliers, Minister Wijesekara said.
“We could not open LCs and obtain credit facilities when procuring fuel. After the IMF bailout, we will be able to procure fuel at lower prices during competitive biddings. We will be able to obtain a long-term credit facility as well. Fuel prices in the global market seem to have declined and the rupee has also gained strength against the US Dollar. Having considered all these factors, fuel prices will be reduced by a considerable margin which could be felt by the people,” he said.
News
IGP tells CID not to brook any interference from any quarter while they probe ’Harak Kata’ and ‘Kudu Salindu’

By Norman Palihawadane
IGP CD Wickramaratne has directed the CID to maintain a special log of names and details of any attempts by external parties to influene the ongoing investigations on notorious drug traffickers Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne aka Harak Kata and Salindu Malshika aka Kudu Salindu.
The suspects are currently under the custody of the CID.
The IGP issued the orders to the DIG CID and its director during a meeting of senior police officers on Monday, police headquarters said.
Sources said that the IGP has further instructed not to allow statements from the detainees to be taken by any police team other than the team currently investigating the suspects.
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