News
Rishad lodges complaint against Wimal
… insists neither he nor his brother had links to Zahran
By Shamindra Ferdinando
All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Vanni District Samagi Jana Balavegaya lawmaker Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday (10) lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requesting an inquiry into National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa’s claim that his brother Riyaj had been in touch with Easter Sunday bomber Zahran Hashim.
Addressing the media at the entrance to the CID headquarters, SJB lawmaker Bathiudeen alleged that Minister Weerawansa had made a deliberate bid to mislead the public when he delivered a speech at the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya the previous day.
Bathiudeen said that neither he nor his brother had ever met Zahran Hashim or talked to him over the phone under any circumstances in the run-up to 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The lawmaker alleged that Minister Weerawansa’s statement was meant to harm the Muslim community.
Minister Weerawansa during his Tuesday’s special lecture delivered at the Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mandiraya alleged that the police spokesman was on record as having said that Rishard Bathiudeen’s brother called Zahran and the police spokesman had been transferred immediately.
Weerawansa said that the police had explained to Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith how Rishad ‘s brother called Zahran Hashim and then got in touch with Rishad. Then again Rishad Bathiudeen’s brother called Zahran Hashim.
One-time Police Spokesman SSP and attorney-at-law Jaliya Senaratne told police headquarters briefing last year how Riyaj had been in touch with one of the suicide bombers in the run-up to the attacks. SSP Senaratne said that the investigators were in possession of incriminating evidence. However, Riyaj who had been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was subsequently released by the CID claiming there was no case against the suspect.
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, intervened in the wake of over 100 SLPP members of parliament demanding an inquiry into Riyaj Bathiudeen’s release. The DIG CID and Director CID were replaced while police headquarters appointed two special teams to probe the matter. Police headquarters is yet to announce their findings.
At the time of the Easter Sunday attacks the ACMC had been a constituent of the UNP led administration, having contested the 2015 general election on the UNP ticket. The ACMC contested the last general election in 2020 on the SJB ticket.
NPP, SJB and SLPP won’t have parades
The ruling party National People’s Power (NPP) will celebrate May Day at Galle Face Green in Colombo. However, the NPP wouldn’t have a parade, party sources said.
The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government in 2023 made Galle Face Green off limits for political rallies. But the incumbent government lifted the restrictions in November 2024.
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will have its May Day rally at Talawakelle town. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 pm with the participation of SJB’s coalition partners, including Digambaram, Mano Ganesan.
The SLPP, too, decided against having a parade this time though it will hold a rally at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre in Nugegoda.
The SLFP will hold its May Day event at its headquarters on Darley Road.
The Navy on April 28 carried out post-event maintenance efforts at Kandy Lake, following the Siri Dalada Vandanawa.
The collaborative efforts of the officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, the Department of Irrigation, the Department of Archaeology and the Navy ensured the preservation of the lake’s natural beauty.
(Pic courtesy Navy media)
The Presidential Media Division (PMD) said yesterday that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had received an assurance from the head of the South Asia Division of the European Union (EU), Charles Whiteley during a meeting that the European Union would positively consider extending the GSP+ trade concession to Sri Lanka in its review.
The EU delegation, which arrived on Monday (28)., will be here till May 7. The EU delegation said the team would take stock of progress on the fulfilment of conditions linked to the granting of GSP+ trade preferences.
Political, Press, and Information Section of the Delegation said: “This is part of the regular biannual monitoring to which the Government of Sri Lanka has committed in order to benefit from GSP+. The Mission will meet government officials, relevant institutions, politicians, civil society, business associations, trade unions and will also make site visits.
Sri Lanka is one among eight low- or lower-middle income countries benefiting from the GSP+. This is a special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance that is open for vulnerable developing countries that have ratified 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and climate change, and good governance. The effective implementation of these 27 conventions is monitored with biannual missions and reports.”
Major May Day rallies in Colombo and Talawakelle
Navy cleans up Kandy Lake
EU delegation positive about extending GSP+ concessions
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