News
Wijeyadasa: No govt. has followed national disaster guidelines for past 18 yrs
By Saman Indrajith
Successive governments had not followed national disaster guidelines formulated after the 2004 tsunami disaster, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told Parliament yesterday (25).The Minister said so, making a statement on the status of litigation on the X-Press Pearl disaster and a report on the disaster by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.
Commenting on the report, Rajapakshe said the Sectoral Oversight Committee, comprising 12 members had presented its report in late July, but only six members had signed it.The Justice Minister said that the Sectoral Oversight Committee report had levelled serious allegations against the Attorney General’s Department.
“This report is problematic as only six have signed. What is the view of the other six MPs? I urge the Speaker to prepare some guidelines on this,” he said.
The Parliament had appointed a committee led by Minister Ramesh Pathirana to study both X-Press Pearl and MV New Diamond disasters, Rajapakshe said.
“I have also just appeared before it. However, the report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development has caused great inconvenience to the Attorney General’s Department. In fact, most of the findings of the report reflect the opinions expressed by a former employee of the Attorney General’s Department. He now appears as an expert in maritime law.
In response, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that they had no intention of making life difficult for those engaged in litigation in the X-Press Pearl case. However, the manner in which the estimates for the damage caused by the disaster had been made left much to be desired.
“The previous government learnt nothing from the MV New Diamond case. It also learnt nothing from the X-Press Pearl disaster. The manner in which the damage to nature was calculated was wrong. Those in charge said the damage was only limited to the area between Negombo and Panadura. However, we know that the damage was caused to a much larger area. So, was the damage properly assessed? Also the MPs do have a right to ask questions about the status of inquiry, he said.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Lakshman Kirielle asked the Justice Minister to explain the current status of the litigation. He said that MPs need to know what has transpired following Sri Lanka filing a case in Singapore.
The Minister said that a nine-member team, with representatives from the Attorney General’s Department and the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), met representatives from insurers of X-Press Pearl in Singapore. There is also an attempt to shift the case to a commercial high court there.
“This would allow us to have judges from different countries. This would actually be beneficial to us,” he said.
Ratnapura District SJB MP Hesha Withanage yesterday tabled several documents in Parliament to substantiate his allegations against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). He presented an Executive Committee meeting minute, claiming that according to it, payments to IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon had been approved.
The MP said that the SLC Executive Committee had appointed Tennakoon, the then Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province, as an Advisor to the Security Consultant of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The contract, effective from August 16, 2021, included a monthly allowance of Rs. 150,000, 200 litres of fuel per month, a Rs. 5,000 mobile phone allowance, a laptop, a mobile phone, and medical insurance, MP Withanage told Parliament.
The MP tabled the document in the House in response to SLC’s recent denial of his claims. The SLC had previously dismissed allegations that Tennakoon had been paid or provided with perks, calling them baseless and false.
The SLC denial came after Withanage, commencing the Committee Stage budget debate under the Head of Expenditure of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, claimed on Tuesday (18) that IGP Tennakoon had been on the payroll of SLC.
MP Withanage criticised the government, stating it had no intention of preventing the accused group from contesting the upcoming SLC election on 31 March. He also accused the current Sports Minister of supporting a corrupt faction within SLC and announced plans to take legal action over the matter.
“This denial by SLC is irrelevant,” Withanage said. “We have a copy of the report approved by the Executive Committee.”
By Saman Indrajith
Election Commission (EC) Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake yesterday announced that the Local Government (LG) elections would be held on 6 May 2025.The date was revealed during a special media briefing following the conclusion of the submission of nominations for LG polls.
Nominations for 336 LG institutions, which began on 17 March, were officially closed at 12:00 noon yesterday. Additionally, the deadline for placing deposits ended at midnight on 19 March.The EC said 17,296,330 persopns were eligible to vote in this year’s LG elections.
by Ranil Dharmasena
The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a successful shipwreck expedition from 10 to 17 March focusing on historically significant shipwrecks located in the sea area off the coast of Colombo.
The expedition was carried out to document the current state of numerous shipwrecks lying beneath the waves, off Colombo. The survey included the Coal Wreck, Chief Dragon Car Carrier, MV Astoria, MT Nilgiri, Thermopylae Sierra, MV Pecheur Breton, Taprobane East Wreck, SS Worcestershire, Toilet Barge, SS Perseus and some other unidentified wrecks, according to the Navy.
Navy divers explored a series of shipwrecks, including the historically significant SS Worcestershire and SS Perseus, both sunk during World War I. Beyond their historical value, the wrecks of the Chief Dragon Car Carrier and Thermopylae Sierra are now functioning as thriving artificial reefs, providing habitats for a variety of marine species.
A total of 14 diving officers and 15 diving sailors participated in this intensive shipwreck expedition. They used both atmospheric air and nitrox air mix as breathing agents, depending on depth and dive duration. This enhanced safety and efficiency, particularly for deeper and more complex dives.
Showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
‘Deshabandu is on SLC payroll’; Hesha tables documents
LG polls on 06 May
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