News
Stalin urges Modi to secure release of Indian fishermen from Lankan custody
After 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the latter to secure the release of all fishermen numbering 28 and their fishing boats from Sri Lankan custody, according to a news report published by The Hindu on Friday.
Stalin has, in his letter, said it is disheartening to note that the fishermen are facing harassment at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy frequently. “The arrests continue despite several letters of protest by the Tamil Nadu government highlighting the escalation in the arrests of fishermen.”
The arrests and violent attacks on Indian fishermen took place unabated despite the diplomatic initiatives from the Government of India, Stalin has contended. The repeated attempts by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Bay must be permanently ended through concerted efforts by the Government of India, he said.
“I consider that a concrete and time-bound plan may be drawn up in this regard urgently. The continuing incidents of incarceration of the fishermen and their boats have created a deep sense of despondency among the fishermen community as fishing is their only means of livelihood,” Stalin said.
As on March 23, 104 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu were in the custody of Sri Lanka and five fishing boats that were released by Sri Lanka were yet to be repatriated to India. A total of 16 Indian fishermen were in Sri Lankan prisons.
Under these circumstances, he sought the PM’s personal intervention and direct the authorities concerned to take effective steps to secure the release of all the 28 fishermen and their fishing boats that have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) Shahjahan which arrived in Colombo on 02nd June 2023 on a two-day official visit, departed the island on 04th June 2023.
By Priyan de Silva
The Election Commission (ECSL) has opposed a move by the government to appoint representatives of the Chairpersons of the Regional Development Committee to monitor local government institutions.
ECSL Chairman Nimal G. Punchihewa told The Island that the government had informed the ECSL of its plan to appoint representatives of the Chairpersons of the Regional Development Committee to monitor the local government bodies and the ECSL had decided to write to the Ministry of Local Government opposing the move, he said. A Chairman of a regional development committee ESD a representative of a particular political party and it would be unfair by other parties for such appointments to be made, the EC Chairman said.
Punchihewa said that the administration of local government institutions could be done through Municipal Commissioners and Divisional Secretaries.Many political parties had complained against the government move, he said.
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP would file a fresh application before the Supreme Court against the government for not holding the local council polls, JVP MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday.Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, Herath said that his party had ascertained fresh information by invoking the Right to Information Act about the funds needed for the holding of the elections and his party would file another fundamental rights case against those responsible for conducting elections.
“The LG polls were to be held on 09 March. They were postponed until 25 April, and later they were put off indefinitely. The President appoints Governors to the provinces and the local councils are under them. Now, he says no party commands the support of 50 percent of voters.
Is this reason why he is not holding elections? His claim that there are no funds for elections is not acceptable. The Election Commission (EC) has, in a letter to the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, asked for Rs 1,100 million in installments for conducting local government elections. The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, on 07 March, informed
the EC that the latter’s request had been referred to the Minister of Finance on the same day. But so far the money has not been released. As per a report released by the Treasury, the government revenue was Rs 177,900 million in January this year alone. Of that amount, Rs 156,760 was allocated to government institutions. The Treasury has Rs 21,410 million. In February, the government revenue was at Rs. 271,750 million and of that Rs. 208,620 million was spent. The balance was Rs 63,130 million. In January and February, the Treasury had Rs 84,270 million. These figures have been officially confirmed by a Deputy Treasury Secretary. The EC is seeking only Rs 2,460 million for elections. So, the claim that there is no money for elections is false as per official records. We will submit this information to the Supreme Court when we file a fresh application. We will prove that the government has lied to people,” Herath said.
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