News
Sumanthiran says time not right for salary increase to OMP members
The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has rejected a proposal to increase salary and various payments to Chairman and members of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), according to the Communication Department of Parliament.
Kurunegala District lawmaker Anura Priyadarshana Yapa chaired the meeting at Parliament, where COPF discussed the issue at hand. The Communication Department quoted TNA Jaffna District MP M. A. Sumanthiran, PC, as having strongly opposed the proposal in view of the current situation in the country. Sumanthiran received the backing of all other members of the COPF, hence the decision to dismiss the proposal.
Wartime IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne recently received the appointment as Chairman of the OMP established during the Yahapalana administration in terms of the OMP Act passed in August 2016.
Current President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Saliya Peiris, PC, functioned as the first Chairman of the OMP, one of the key mechanisms established in line with the previous understanding with the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council.
Political sources said that civil society activists had strongly opposed the appointment of former IGP as head of the OMP. (SF)
BBC reported that at least 17 people have been killed in an explosion at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
The blast happened when the mosque was packed with worshippers and more than 90 people were injured.
A section of the building was destroyed, and officials say people are buried under the rubble. Several others are being taken to local hospitals.
The cause of the explosion is unclear.
BBC reported that residents in flood-hit northern New Zealand are bracing for more heavy rains as officials issued severe weather alerts.
At least four people have died and a state of emergency was declared in Auckland, which on Friday experienced its worst downpour on record.
by Priyan de Silva
Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Nimal Punchihewa, asked to comment on a special news release, purportedly issued by the Director General of the Department of Government Information, on Sunday (29), told The Island that preparations for the 09 March local government elections were going ahead, as planned, and that the media statement at issue was misleading.
The media statement says: “The gazette notice with signatures of the Chairman and other members of the Election Commission required for the commencement of the Local Government election process has not been sent to the Government Press for printing.”
Punchihewa requested the public not to be misled by any misinformation being spread in an attempt to create doubts in their minds.He also reiterated that the EC would not be deterred by any acts of intimidation.
Three of the EC members have been threatened with death by an unidentified caller to resign from their posts. They are S. B. Divaratne, M. M. Mohamed and K. P. P. Pathirana. The Opposition has accused the government of trying to sabotage the LG polls.
At least 17 killed after explosion in Peshawar mosque
More heavy rain ahead for New Zealand’s largest city
Very heavy showers (150mm) likely in Northern, Eastern, Uva, North Central and Central Provinces
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