News
TNA MP raises privilege issue against EP Governor
Batticaloa District TNA MP Rasamanickam Shankiyan called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to take action against Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath for violating his privileges as an MP.
MP Shankiyan raising a privilege issue said the Governor had issued media statements which were malicious and false. “Batticaloa District MPs including myself met Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath on Oct 14 by prior appointment. Governor Yahampath thereafter issued statements to the press stating that I led the delegation which behaved in a manner unbecoming of parliamentarians by demanding land on the basis of ethnic proportion. The Island newspaper of Oct 15 quoted the Governor’s media unit and stated the Governor found fault with TNA politicians attaching communal identity to lands for cheap political gain.
It identifies me having led the delegation. Also similar statements have appeared in other Sinhala and English newspapers. That statement issued to the press by the governor violates my privileges as an MP. The statements spread malicious and false stories and thereby lower the dignity of an MP. I urge you to take actions against Anuradha Yahampath in this regard. I read the article in The Island. It says Eastern Governor locks horns with TNA politicians.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: There is no need to read the article. You can present your privilege issue.
MP Shankiyan: Actually this issue is not related to lands or anything ethnic. It is a pastureland between Mailaththamadu and Madawana belonging to Chenkaladi. It belongs to Mahaweli B Zone. There are 200,000 milch cows for many years. The cows produce around 17,000 liters of milk daily. We met with the Grama Niladhari, Divisional Secretary and District Secretary to point out that those pasturelands are being divided into five acre plots and distributed for various purposes. The District Secretary has now been transferred out because she spoke on this matter. We met Director General of Mahaweli. I met Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa too to discuss this matter. There is a circular to affect 22,000 acres in the area. When I took up the issue I am labeled a racist. These media circuses depict me as a communalist. Sinhala readers think that I arouse communal issues. There is no such thing. This is a pastureland. Milch cows grazing there do not know whether those are Sinhala or Tamil lands”.
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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