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Sajith’s leave application for Ranjan rejected by Speaker

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By Saman Indrajith

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena turned down an attempt by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa to move a motion seeking parliamentary approval for leave of absence for Ratnapura District SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake serving a prison sentence after being convicted by the Supreme Court.

 Opposition Leader Premadasa accused the Speaker of being biased and said that the latter had rejected the orders of the authorities to bring Ranjan Ramanayake to Parliament.

He said that it was not clear why the Speaker had not allowed Ramanayake to attend Parliament.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said the Speaker’s actions were against Parliament traditions and accused him of turning a blind eye to the issue, despite the Court instructing Parliament to refrain from taking any action with regard to MP Ramanayake’s Parliament seat.

Premadasa said that according to the court order, the Speaker had to allow MP Ramanayake to attend Parliament.

The Opposition leader said the Speaker had obstructed the party from submitting the motion which was consistent with Standing Orders.

Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Opposition leader’s questions could not be raised during yesterday’s session as it had not been included in the Parliament Order Paper.

Minister Gunawardena pointed out that MP Premadasa was raising questions on other matters, at a time when the debate on the report on the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks was about to commence.

Minister Gunawardena said that it might be an attempt by the Opposition to sabotage the debate on the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry.

Speaker Abeywardena said the matter raised by the MP was currently before courts.

He said it was believed that the Supreme Court would issue its verdict on MP Ramanayake’s Parliament seat and requested the Opposition leader to wait until that time. He added that there was time to resolve the issue as the time frame to decide on MP Ramanayake’s Parliament seat was expected to fall vacant in April.

He said that as the Speaker he was unable to make a decision in that regard, as MP Ramanayake had been convicted by the Supreme Court and sentenced to jail without bail.

Speaker Abeywardena said there was a legal issue as regards allowing an imprisoned MP without clearance for bail to attend Parliament proceedings. MP Premalal Jayasekara, convicted of murder, had been allowed to attend Parliament. MP Jayasekera was a remand prisoner, while MP Ramanayake was a convict serving a jail term, he said.

 

 



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188 complaints received in the 24 hours ending 4.30pm on 11th November

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Saman Sri Rathnayake, Commissioner General of Elections (pic by Priyan de Silva)

The Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake said that the EC  received 188 complaints during the 24 hours that ended at 4.30pm on Monday 11th November. Of the 188, 187 were of incidents related to the violation of election laws while one was an incident of election related violence.

The EC has received a total of 2999 complaints from 26th September to 11th November 2024 and have investigated and resolved 2353.

 

 

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Navy detain Indian fishing boat poaching in Sri Lankan waters

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The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehend 12 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted off Chundikulam, Jaffna today (12th November 2024).

The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.

Including this apprehension, the Navy has held 66 Indian fishing boats and 497 Indian fishermen this year, and handed them over to authorities for legal action.

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Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces.

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Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 12 November 2024 by the Department of Meteorology

A low-pressure area is likely to form over the south west Bay of Bengal today (12). Under its influence, atmospheric conditions will be favorable for afternoon thundershowers in most parts of the island from 13th November.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.

Several spells of showers will occur in Northern Province. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere during the evening or night.  Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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