Wanted : Triple murder in Minuwangoda
Sri Lanka Police is seeking public assistance to locate and arrest the main suspect responsible for the brutal triple murder in Minuwangoda on 6th October 2022. Police said the suspects is currently in hiding, and his details are as follows: Name: Jayagodage Sanjeewa Don Sanjeewa LakmalAge: 39 yearsNIC: 833214292 VAddress: 10, Mahindarama Road, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Sri Lanka Police is requesting the public with any available information to contact the following the numbers: SSP Gampaha: 0718 591 608ASP Gampaha: 0718 591 610OIC Minuwangoda: 0718 591 612
Bond Scam:Court released Mahendran, and others
Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, and nine other people who were accused in the 1st Bond Scam case of 2015 were released from the charges filed under the Public Property Act, by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar on Tuesday (11). The court ruled that it cannot proceed with the charges filed under the Public Property Act by the Attorney General against the ten people accused of committing the Bond Scam of 2015. The verdict was delivered by a 2/3 majority in the court. The case was called up in the presence of Justices Chamath Morias, Damith Thotawatte, and Namal Balalle. President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana had filed a preliminary objection with the court noting that charges cannot be charged against a company under the Public Property Act and noted that Perpetual Treasuries Limited which was also named as an accused is a company and not a person. After the court accepted the objection, the defense counsel also argued that as a majority of the other accused at Directors of Perpetual Treasuries Limited, it applies to them as well, and therefore the charges under the Public Property Act filed against them cannot be taken forward. Thereby, the Justice of the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar ordered for all other charges to be taken up for a trial, leaving the charges filed under the Public Property Act, on the 16th of December 2022. The case was filed against the 10 accused under 23 counts for committing the Bond Scam on the 27th of February 2015, and causing a loss of Rs. 688 Million to the government. The accused are: Ex-CBSL Governor Lakshman Arjuna MahendranEx-CBSL Deputy Governor P. SamarasiriPerpetual Treasuries LimitedArjun Joseph AloysiusKasun PalisenaGeoffrey Joseph AloysiusPushpa Chandra GunawardenaC. Ranjan HulugalleMuthuraja SurendranAjahn Gardiye Punchihewa
Laugfs Gas reduced domestic gas cylinder prices
LAUGFS Gas has reduced to the price of a domestic 12.5 kg cylinder to Rs. 5,300/-, and a 5 kg cylinder to Rs 2,120/- with effect from Tuesday (11).
110 essential medicines are still in short supply – Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health says that there is still a shortage of 110 types of essential medicines in the country. Dr. Anwar Hamdani, Coordinator of International Medicines Chief, said that patient care services are being maintained by managing shortages of medicines. Dr. Anwar Hamdani also mentioned that several new programs are being implemented to prevent drug shortages.
Fuel prices will increase in the future?
President Ranil Wickramasinghe says that due to the global impact, fuel prices may increase in the coming months of December, January and February. The President mentioned this in his special statement in Parliament. The President further commented, ‘We have to suffer from global trends that we cannot control while moving forward through this crisis. Fuel price is one such thing. Due to the impact of the war in Ukraine, it has been predicted that the world’s fuel production will drop in the coming months of December, January and February. Yesterday I think one of the OPEC organizations announced that they are going to reduce their production. That is why the developed countries of Europe buy this fuel for the winter season. One is that there is a shortage in the fuel market. Most of it is bought by European countries. Then the fuel prices for countries like Sri Lanka will increase. Especially because of this, not only Sri Lanka but many countries in South Asia have to face it. We need to plan now to keep fuel price hikes affordable for consumers.”
Tea and plane tea price reduced
The Restaurant Owners Association announced that the price of plane tea and tea has been reduced to 30 rupees. Mr Asela Sampath, the national organizer of that association, mentioned that the price of plane tea was Rs. 50 was reduced by Rs. 20. Meanwhile, the price of the milk tea has also been reduced to Rs 100.
A school principal was arrested for illegally producing local alcohol
A principal of a school in the Giradurukotta area of Mahiyangana has been arrested by Giradurukotte police with two bottles of local alcohol. This raid was conducted based on the complaints that this principle had been illegally producing and selling ‘Kasippu’ for some time. In the questioning of the principal there, he said that this business was done due to economic difficulties.
The phone call and internet charges increased again
Phone service companies have increased the phone call and internet charges again from yesterday. The companies say they were forced to raise rates due to the government’s move to impose a 2.5% social security tax from this month.
Google bans translation tool in China
According to foreign media, Google, the world’s leading internet service provider, has decided to suspend its language translation tool in China. It is also reported that the low number of users using Google Translate in China has been the main reason for that decision. In 2010, Google removed its internet search application from China due to its unwillingness to comply with the censorship laws imposed by China. In addition to this, foreign media also said that it has been ordered to obtain the relevant server facilities through a government agency when providing internet services in China.
New proposal about Sri Lanka, to be debated in the Human Rights Council
The debate regarding the new resolution submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is scheduled to be held today (06). It is stated that the relevant proposal regarding Sri Lanka has been submitted to the Human Rights Council under the theme of reconciliation, accountability and promotion of human rights. The proposal was presented at the initiative of several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, Canada, Malawi, Montenegro and North Macedonia, and so far it has received the support of about 30 countries. It is reported that the new resolution of the Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka has included the points of the previously adopted resolutions as well as several other clauses. Matters such as increasing military influence, lack of transparency in government governance, and non-punishment for serious human rights violations have been included in the relevant proposal. This situation has become a major obstacle to the rule of law, harmony and sustainable peace as well as development in Sri Lanka, according to the proposal submitted to the Human Rights Council. As a solution to the economic problems, the Government of Sri Lanka has welcomed the staff agreement proposal with the International Monetary Fund and it is said that corruption has had a severe negative impact on the human rights situation in the country. Therefore, the relevant resolution has indicated that the protection and promotion of human rights as well as the fight against corruption should be strengthened. It further states that peaceful protests help to strengthen democratic systems, and despite the addition of amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, people will still be arrested under it. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ali Sabri said that a poll is requested regarding the relevant proposal. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also stated that Sri Lanka will not be able to defeat the proposal.