News
SW asks if mishandling of Rambukkana incident led to May 09 violence
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security, Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday (05) said that over a year after the killing of eight persons, including SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale and his police bodyguard and destruction of approximately 150 private properties the government was yet to conduct a proper inquiry into the incidents.
The former Public Security Minister also emphasized that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government hadn’t so far probed as to why law enforcement authorities and the military did absolutely nothing during the systematic violence unleashed by organized gangs in Colombo, its suburbs and the provinces. Polonnaruwa District lawmaker Atukorale and his police bodyguard had been lynched in Nittambuwa in broad daylight in spite of the presence of contingent of armed troops there. In fact, the contingent declined to intervene even after the local police sought its assistance, the former Navy Chief of Staff said.
The Colombo District MP said so in response to The Island query regarding SLPP MP Chandima Weerakkody raising a privilege issue with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena over MP Weerasekera, in his capacity as the Chairman of the SOC writing to State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon in this regard. MP Weerakkody, who is also a member of the SOC on National Security has declared that the Chairman couldn’t have written to the State Minister without the consensus of members.
In a letter to Speaker Abeywardena, MP Weerasekera, has asked whether the arrest of SSP Kegalle K.B Keerthiratne over ordering police to open fire on a mob that tried to set fire to a fuel bowser on April 19, 2022 discouraged law enforcement authorities and the military. One person died as a result of police firing while several police officers suffered injuries.
Pointing out that SSP Keerthiratne, now on bail, had been forced to meet his legal expenses, lawmaker Weerasekera has warned the Speaker of dire consequences of such a disastrous government policy.
Would any officer dare to issue instructions to quell mob violence when he realized the catastrophic consequences in the absence of political backing for security measures, MP Weerasekera asked. According to him, the bone of contention is that MP Weerakkody felt that he shouldn’t have drawn the State Defence Minister’s attention to a discussion chaired by him in Parliament on Oct 05, 2023. “Lawmaker Weerakkody also found fault with me for commenting on US Ambassador Julie Chung’s behaviour during last year’s troubles,” MP Weerasekera said.
“The US Ambassador misinterpreted developments. She intervened and in the process misled all, including her own government,” MP Weerasekera said.
Referring to the findings made by the Committee of Experts appointed by the Human Rights Commission to investigate the Rambukkana shooting, MP Weerasekera said that at the time he wrote to the State Defence Minister he hadn’t been aware of the existence of such a committee.
MP Weerasekera said that SOC wouldn’t under any circumstances endorse that committee’s recommendation that disciplinary action be taken against SSP Keerthiratne as the police officer didn’t violate any law. If not for the timely action taken by Kegalle police on the orders of the senior officer in charge, a massive disaster would have happened, the former Public Security Minister said.
At the time of the Rambukkana incident, Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga served as the Public Security Minister. Rambukkana violence erupted close on the heels of Weerasekera’s resignation as Public Security Minister.
MP Weerasekera said that SSP Keerthiratne’s issue hadn’t been resolved yet. The failure on the part of the government to address this issue posed quite a threat to national security as both police and military would hesitate to take tangible measures in emergency situations.
Having dismissed MP Weerakkody’s concerns over violation of certain Standing Orders pertaining to the operation of SOCs, MP Weerasekera said that no one could find fault with him for bringing a matter of utmost importance to the notice of the State Minister. The ex-Navy Chief of Staff asserted that perhaps the former minister had no idea whatsoever regarding the subject of national security.
Responding to another query, MP Weerasekera said that the government owed an explanation regarding the outcome of investigations. The retired Navy officer noted that lawmakers who had moved court against the failure on the part of police and military to save their property later withdrew their case on the promise fresh investigation would be conducted. “We are yet to hear anything about the progress of this fresh investigation,” the MP said.
The “Siri Dalada Wandanawa”, the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, commenced today (18) with the participation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
The President placed the first floral tribute to the Sacred Tooth Relic after which the public were allowed to pay homage. A large number of devotees from all over the country arrived at the Temple of the Tooth Relic today (18) to pay their homage.
The public will have the opportunity to venerate the Sacred Tooth Relic from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m from tomorrow (19).
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi along with other Ministers and Ambassadors and High Commissioners representing Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Netherlands, India, Myanmar, Palestine, France, New Zealand, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada and South Korea, Public officials, Members of the security forces and a large number of local and foreign devotees were also present.
… Prez Secretariat faulted for not maintaining asset declaration registry
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has decided against refiling 34 cases that were withdrawn during the 2019-2024 period.
The 34 cases are among 102 cases withdrawn during that period, the CIABOC has disclosed, adding that 65 cases had been refiled. Decisions on three others are pending according to statistics made available on 01 March 2025.
The CIABOC provided a breakdown of the withdrawal of cases: 2019 (5), 2020 (0), 2021 (44), 2022 (49), 2023 (02) and 2024 (2).
The current CIABOC consists of Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala (Chairman/Commissioner), K. B. Rajapakse (Commissioner) and Chethiya Goonesekera P.C (Commissioner). Its Director General is R. S. A. Dissanayake.
According to the CIABOC the majority of cases were withdrawn due to the absence of the signatures of all commissioners who served during 2019-2024.
Among the cases dropped by the CIABOC were four involving former Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando. The CIABOC found fault with the Presidential Secretariat (PS) for the collapse of the cases due to the failure on the part of the PS to maintain a proper asset declaration registry at that time. The charge against the then Minister Fernando was the non-disclosure of assets and liabilities during the 2010-2014 period.
Fernando contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket but failed to retain his seat in Kurunegala District.The CIABOC has also decided against refiling the case against MP Rohitha
Abeygunawardena (New Democratic Front/Kalutara District) as the corruption charges pertained to acquisition of illegal assets amounting to Rs. 41.2 mn in 2004 and due to their failure to move court within 20 years.
The CIABOC also disclosed that the case against one-time Chairman of National Lotteries Board A.I. Ismail (2002-2003) charged for wrongful payment of Rs 9.8 mn to a private party had been dropped due to main witnesses former prisons Commissioner G.M.K. Bandara and former Director Public Enterprises K.M. Indrajith having migrated.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Election Commission yesterday announced a revision to the postal voting schedule for the upcoming Local Government Elections, which are set to take place on May 6.According to the updated timetable, postal voting would now be conducted on April 24, 25, 28, and 29, Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said yesterday.
“All government institutions, including the police, tri-forces, schools, corporations, and statutory
boards, will conduct postal voting on these four days,” Rathnayake said, adding that employees of those institutions can mark their postal ballots at their respective offices without any change to the existing arrangements.
A special postal voting centre will be set up at Kandy Girls’ High School to facilitate voting by police personnel on duty at the Sri Dalada Maligawa during the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Arrangements have been made for tri-forces personnel to cast their postal votes under the supervision of designated certifying officers at their respective camps during the same four-day period.
In preparation for the elections, official ballot papers for all eligible postal voters across the 339 local government bodies were handed over to the Postal Department by Returning Officers on April 16. Distribution has already begun and will continue until April 29.
The Election Commission advises any postal voter who has not received their ballot by April 29 to make inquiries at their respective post offices.
The revised schedule replaces an earlier announcement made on March 27, which had designated April 22, 23, and 24 for postal voting at district secretariats and election offices, with April 28 and 29 set aside for those unable to vote on the initial dates.
With the latest changes, April 24, 25, 28, and 29 are now the official postal voting dates for the 2025 Local Government Elections.
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