News
Sirisena fired me after I warned him of intelligence lapses – SDIG Lewke
By Rathindra Kuruwita
President Maithripala Sirisena had stripped him of his position as a national security advisor a week after he told the former president that the then head of the SIS Nilantha Jayawardena was not fit to hold that position, retired SDIG Nimal Lewke, on Tuesday night, told the PCoI investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.
Lewke, who was a former commandant of the STF, was appointed as a security advisor by Sirisena on September 2017. However, he had not been called for any meeting regarding security, Lewke said.
“After one year, I went to see President Sirisena and told him that more attention should be paid to intelligence services. I said special attention must be paid for the SIS and that Nilantha Jayawardena, who headed the SIS was not as capable as his predecessors.”
The witness said that Sirisena told that he would look into it. But a week after the meeting, Lewke was informed that his services would nolonger be required.
Earlier, Counsel Dilshan Jayasuriya, appearing for former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, asked Sirisena how come he had visited Tirupathi Kovil in India, on 16 April, 2019, if he was to undergo medical treatment in Singapore that prevented him from communicating with anyone for two days.
Earlier Sirisena told the PCoI that even his personal security officer could not contact him between April 20 and 21, 2019 because he was undergoing treatment.
“Since you could go on a pilgrimage to the Tirupati Kovil before going to Singapore, you may not have serious health issues,” Jayasuriya said.
Sirisena said: “I did not go to Singapore to receive treatment for a serious disease. But I do go to Tirupati every year.”
The Chartered Computer Institute of Sri Lanka was established in 1976 as the premier and sole body representing professionals in the Information and Communication Technology sector in Sri Lanka. It has recognized the importance of establishing the Sri Lanka Chartered Computer Association as the main professional organization to act on behalf of the interests of professionals representing the computer sector in Sri Lanka, which should be treated equally with other professional organizations that have obtained chartered status and other formal recognition.
Accordingly, taking into account a resolution furnished by the Hon. President, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to grant policy approval for the establishment of the Chartered Computer Institute of Sri Lanka and to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill in line with the proposed objectives.
it has become essential to introduce appropriate revisions to the Drug Dependent Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act No 54 of 2007 so that a proper formal mechanism can be maintained in treatment and rehabilitation.
Accordingly, considering a resolution forwarded by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to grant the policy approval to revise the Drug Dependent Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act No 54 of 2007 and direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill including the relevant amendments.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Mrs. O. T. M. I. Thilakarathne, the senior most officer in Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service serving as an Additional Surveyor General of that Department to the Post of Surveyor General that will be vacant from 20.08.2026.
Thushara four-for, Udara fifty hand Kandy Royals first points
Charted Computer Institute of Sri Lanka to be established
Drug Dependent Persons (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act No 54 of 2007 to be amendend
Mrs. O. T. M. I. Thilakarathne appointed to the Post of Surveyor General
Purchase of 600 buses for intercity / long distance services of the Sri Lanka Transport Board
Protection of Historical, Cultural, and Traditional Intellectual Property related to the Kandy Esala Perahera
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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