News
Sajith urges govt. not to close down regional radio services
By Ranil Dharmasena and Akitha Perera
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, on Thursday, addressing the Parliament, urged the government not to close down the regional services of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).It was revealed earlier that the SLBC was to close down all regional services, from 31 May, as they were loss making.
“Apparently, the SLBC will close down all regional services from 31 May due to financial difficulties. This is apparently a part of the government restructuring process of loss making state enterprises. Rajarata, Ruhuna and Kandurata services, Yaal FM, Dambana FM and Wayamba Radio are to be closed down. They say these institutions are inefficient. Who made them inefficient?” he asked.
Premadasa said that these regional services play an important role and that these institutions made profits for many decades.
“There are ways of continuing these services. Have a partnership with the private sector. Provide incentives for employees to work more efficiently. These regional services also helped a lot of upcoming artistes. Without Rajarata Service, there would have been no Gunadasa Kapuge,” he said.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Matale Dirstrict SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna yesterday tabled a list in Parliament naming 1,300 members, leaders, trade unionists, and activists of the UNP, who were allegedly assassinated by the JVP. The list was submitted during a parliamentary session as part of the government’s ongoing effort to document victims of political violence.
Along with the names of the victims, MP Wijerathna also introduced over 900 family members of the alleged victims, providing further context to the extent of the violence.
Speaking during the session, MP Wijerathna stated, “Child soldiers were recruited by the JVP even before the LTTE. ‘Kantale Bonikki,’ a 13-year-old child was used to murder a 70-year-old female UNP supporter.” She accused the JVP of using children to kill numerous UNP members during the JVP’s second insurgency.
The MP said that names not included in the current list would be submitted during the upcoming “Batalanda Debate” in April.
MP Wijerathna invited the public, via her Facebook page to submit further details on family members affected by political violence to ensure their inclusion in the extended record.
Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe yesterday informed Parliament that a CID probe had been called into land deals involving former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in Gampaha.
Jayasinghe said a request has been made by the Acting IGP in that regard.
The Deputy Minister said the lands in the Imbulgoda and Makola had been purchased in 2012 and sold in 2023.
He told Parliament that a plot of land purchased in Ihala Imbulgoda in 2012 under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Spiritual Foundation for Rs. 500,000 has been sold for Rs. 10 million, adding that the owner of the land is one Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa of Carlton House, Tangalle.
Jayasinghe said that another plot of land in Makola that was purchased for Rs. 01 million has been sold for Rs. 12 million, of which the owner was Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa of Carlton House, Tangalle. Inquiries into the land deals have revealed that the deeds had been drawn up and signed at Temple Trees and had been transferred in 2023 to a person residing in Nugegoda.
Trump revoking protections for 530,000 Cubans, Haitians and other migrants
Heavyweight boxing legend George Foreman dies aged 76, says family
Two persons shot dead at Devinuwara
-
Foreign News7 days agoSearch continues in Dominican Republic for missing student Sudiksha Konanki
-
Business1 day agoCargoserv Shipping partners Prima Ceylon & onboards Nestlé Lanka for landmark rail logistics initiative
-
Sports4 days agoSri Lanka to compete against USA, Jamaica in relay finals
-
Features6 days agoThe Royal-Thomian and its Timeless Charm
-
Features6 days ago‘Thomia’: Richard Simon’s Masterpiece
-
Business1 day agoSri Lankans Vote Dialog as the Telecommunication Brand and Service Brand of the Year
-
Features1 day agoThe Vaping Veil: Unmasking the dangers of E-Cigarettes
-
Business4 days agoAffairs of SriLankan Airlines could be turned around using local expertise – former CAA chair