News
Sinister plot to bring govt. into disrepute internationally
– Minister Weerawansa
By Saman Indrajith
Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa told Parliament yesterday that the Mahara Prison riots had been planned as a part of a sinister plot to bring the government into disrepute internationally. “The aim of this plot is to mislead the world into believing that prisoners were killed while Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Defence Secretary and they were being killed on his watch as the President.
Weerawansa said that he had made inquiries into the incidents and found that there had been a plan to instigate a riot at the Welikada Prison. He said the prison intelligence officers had received information that a drug dealer by the name of Chaturanga, a close associate of late notorious drug dealer, known as Samayang, had distributed drugs to prisoners at the Mahara Prison. “The new drug was smuggled into the Welikada Prison sometime ago. It was commonly known as ‘Sarup’ and also known as ‘Reverse’. The tablet was tested twice using two inmates. Those who take the tablet become aggressive and want to see blood. They were getting ready to give the tablet to many inmates and create a riot in the Welikada Prison. After the plot came to light, prison officials separated Chaturanga and his allies. Now, it has been found that a large number of such tablets had been distributed among the inmates at Mahara Prison on the day of the incident. There were several leading drug dealers involved in the conspiracy. They have been hit bad by the ongoing anti-narcotic operations and wanted to take revenge from the incumbent administration by getting foreign powers to accuse the government of President Rajapaksa of killing inmates in prisons.”
Power sector workers shouldn’t be granted year-end bonuses
Leader of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) and former Power Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that CEB workers shouldn’t be granted year end/Christmas bonuses as they had not contributed to the much favourable current financial status of that state-owned enterprise.
Ex-parliamentarian Ranawaka said that the CEB had earned massive profits solely by implementing extremely unfair tariff structure, therefore workers shouldn’t be paid bonuses.
The former Minister was addressing the media at the EJP Colombo office. Referring to official records, the EJP leader said that the CEB had earned a profit of Rs. 6161 mn in 2023 and also saved Rs. 36 bn. So far this year (January to November), the CEB had recorded Rs. 263 bn profit but the government continued to fleece consumers.
Ranawaka also questioned the failure on the part of the government to provide electricity consumers relief as decided by the Cabinet during the previous government that there would be quarterly revision of pricing formula.
Ranawaka said that the government should explain why it couldn’t decrease fuel prices by a significant amount. The NPP administration should at least admit that it couldn’t do away with the current unbearable tax regime. The ex-parliamentarian asked the NPP to acknowledge that the government feared collapse in case of abolition of heavy taxes on fuel.
The ex-Minister challenged the NPP to prove accusations that had been directed at ministers of previous governments without propagating allegations. According to Ranawaka, both diesel and petrol prices remained high as the government levied Rs 50 and 72 on diesel and petrol, respectively, in addition to 18% VAT (Value Added Tax).
Ranawaka pointed out that in addition to Ceypetco, IOC and Sinopec had been levying taxes heavily with diesel (Rs 88-94) and petrol (Rs 110-117) imports per litre (SF)
A person who had been apprehended by protesting Development Officers during a noisy demonstration outside the Education Ministry at Isurupaya and handed over to police was subsequently identified as a member of the Military Intelligence.
Police said that those demanding they be made permanent in the teaching service alleged that the apprehended man allegedly caused injuries to policemen deployed at the scene.
A Sub-Inspector of Police (SI) and two constables were injured. (HR)
Muhammathu Saali Naleem was sworn in as a member of the Tenth Parliament yesterday before Speaker Dr. Asoka Ranwala.
Following the oath taking, Naleem signed the Members’ Roll in the presence of Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, marking his formal induction into the legislative body. Naleem was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament, representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).
The inaugural session of the Tenth Parliament took place on November 21st, 2024, with members taking their oaths the following day. On November 22nd, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification confirming Naleem’s appointment to the National List of the SLMC, paving the way for his oath-taking ceremony yesterday.
Before entering Parliament, Naleem served as the Chairman of the Eravur Urban Council, bringing valuable local governance experience to his new role as a lawmaker.
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