News
Sabry urged to rein in foreign envoys interfering in domestic affairs
The Federation of National Organisations (FNO) has, in a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, requested him to take up with US Ambassador Julie Chung her continuous interventions in Sri Lanka’s domestic affairs. The letter was handed over to the Foreign Ministry on yesterday (31).
Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera has signed the letter on behalf of the FNO. A senior spokesperson for the group told The Island that they had raised several issues including the flouting of diplomatic protocols and Vienna diplomatic conventions and also controversial declarations made in various parts of the country meant to cause further turmoil.
Referring to Ambassador Chung’s tweets issued following such visits, the letter brought to Minister Sabry’s attention a book written by National Literary Award winner Sena Thoradeniya titled “Galle Face Protest: Systems Change or Anarchy”, which deals with the external elements influencing domestic factors that overthrew the former President in July 2022. The book exposed the role the US and India played in that plot, the letter has pointed out.
“The US interference in Sri Lanka is increasing. Prof Levin of Carnegie Mellon University claims US interfered in at least 4 elections in Sri Lanka (1956-1970). Former US Secretary of State Jihn Kerry admitted to making a regime change here in 2015 too.
The petitioners who earlier moved the Supreme Court against the midnight Yugadanavi power plant deal, accused the former US ambassador Alaina Teplitz of unethically interfering by sending a letter to the Presidential Secretariat on 22 June 2020 in that regard.
The present ambassador recently met with military officials and requested them to build trust towards the minority communities. The ambassador also visited the Thirukketheeswaram (Koneswaram) Kovil, which was built on top of Gokanna Viharaya but claimed it had a history of 2500 years in her official tweet. She must prove this with documentary archaeological evidence or retract her statement & tender an apology.”
The letter alleges that immense sacrifices made by the armed forces in their war against terrorism have been compromised by the political and it was the responsibility of Ali Sabry as the current foreign minister to take tangible measures to prevent Colombo based foreign envoys from violating diplomatic norms.
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’
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