Lankan politicians Pay BEST RATES FOR FOREIGN GIRLS

Sri Lankan politicians who visit high class brothels operating under the guise of Spas in the Colombo city are reported to be paying the best rates for Russian, Thai and Indonesian women who are engaged in the oldest profession at those brothels, highly placed police sources revealed.

Asked whether any ministers too were involved in the purchase of these women for sexual needs, a senior police spokesman said, “Yes… these women revealed some names of ministers and leading local government politicians under interrogation”.

He added that these women had been taken to luxury hotels and apartments in the city owned by those politicians.

A considerable number of women from those countries are now in Colombo, employed as Spa Therapists and the police have found that most of them have arrived on tourist visas.

Several Indonesian women overstaying such visas while engaging in prostitution had been rounded up by the police and grilled.

Police said these women under interrogation have confessed that Sri Lankan politicians contacted them through certain channels and paid best rates demanded by them. ‘Some have been paid US$ 1,000-1,500 per full night from 9.00pm to 5.00 am the following day with all facilities provided at  three star and five star hotels’, police disclosed.

Police have arrested some of these foreign prostitutes and had produced them in court. ‘We have also informed the respective  foreign missions in Colombo to ensure that they are deported early after punishment is meted out by court’, he added.

Sri Lanka Exams Timetable for 2016

The timetable for key examinations to be held during 2016 was announced by the Examinations Department today. Accordingly the GCE Advanced Level Examination will be held from August 2 to  27, the Grade 5 Scholarship examination on August 21 and the GCE Ordinary Level Examination from  December 6 to 27.

Defender vehicle colour changed by Yoshith Rajapaksa

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday ordered the CID to probe the alleged misuse of a Defender vehicle belonging to the Red Cross Society, for the commission of a crime, being painted over in a different colour to avoid recognition.

Court has learned that this has been allegedly authorized by a former Minister of Social Services. The vehicle had belonged to the 'Siriliya Saviya' project of former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

The Chief Magistrate also ordered the CID to record a statement from the former minister who had allegedly recommended the Defender vehicle bearing number plate WP KA-0642 to the 'Siriliya Saviya' project headed by the former First Lady.

The CID also informed Court that the colour of the said vehicle was changed on the advice of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The CID also found that the vehicle in question has not been used for any social service activity.

Following information received by the CID about two Defender vehicles bearing registration numbers WPKE 3671 and WPKA 0642 at Habarakada junction, Homagama, a probe was launched on 18 February 2015, the CID told Court.

Afterwards, the CID had received a report concerning the two Defender vehicles before discovering that the said vehicles had been registered under the name of the Director General of the Red Cross Society at its offices at No. 104, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7.

The CID then informed Court that when the vehicles in question had been registered under the name of the Red Cross Director General their suspicions had been aroused when they found the vehicles parked at a private residence.

The CID had then gone to 'Siriliya Saviya', Habarakada, Homagama address where its officials had spotted the black Defender bearing number WPKA 0642 parked there.

Two men, named Lathika Kumuduni Perera and Simson Perera, had resided at the said address. More information shed light on the fact that the head of the household was Wasantha Kariyawasam who was the transport and service manager employed by Red Cross Society.

The CID had also uncovered through its inquiries that Lathika Kumuduni Perera was the wife of Kariyawasam while Simson Perera had been a Red Cross Society driver.

More investigations revealed that the Defender, bearing number WPKA 0642, had belonged to the Red Cross and it had been handed over to the 'Siriliya Saviya' project on 11 August 2011, upon a request by its Secretary Seetha Kalyani Kumari to the former Minister of Social Service, Felix Perera.

The CID informed Court that Red Cross CEO, Jagath Bandu Abeysinghe had said in a statement that upon a written request by former Minister Felix Perera on 27 July 2011 a white Defender had been gifted to the 'Siriliya Saviya' project to carry out its activities.

The Red Cross Chairman had told the CID in his statement that the vehicle had been brought back after the 2015 Presidential poll and that its colour change raised suspicions and that he was not aware of how or why it had taken place.

Though the vehicle in question did not belong to the Presidential Secretariat, its maintenance and pumping of fuel had been carried out through the latter, inquiries had exposed, the CID told the Court.

Secretary to the 'Siriliya Saviya' project, Seetha Kalyani Kumari had acknowledged in a statement that though she had asked for the Defender vehicle it had at no stage been used for the 'Sirilya Saviya' project or its related activities, the CID also told Court.

A constable attached to the PSD, Chathura de Silva giving a statement had told the CID that the colour of the vehicle had been changed to blue on the advice of Yoshitha Rajapaksa before it was once again painted black at a garage in Kollupitiya, on the instructions of an individual named Deen who had served as a Marketing Executive at the CSN television station, the CID further told Court.

The CID also tyold Court that the Defender had first been used by Yoshitha Rajapaksa before it was used by Deen who was a close friend of Yoshitha, the CID had uncovered.

The CID then informed the Court that the Defender vehicle has not been used for any social service activity.

The CID then told Court that the colour of the said vehicle had been changed twice with no logical reason and the costs for the colour changes had been borne by the Presidential Secretariat.The CID then told Court that it was conducting further investigations to ascertain why the colour of the vehicle was changed twice and whether the vehicle had met with an accident or whether it had been repaired and for what purpose the vehicle had been used.

The CID then stated that they also had sought reports in this connection from the Motor Traffic Commissioner and the Government Analyst.

The Chief Magistrate who ordered the Motor Traffic Commissioner and the Government Analyst to produce the reports sought by the CID in this connection, ordered the CID to submit to Court a progress report on the inquiries on 3 March.

Chaminda Vaas to help Irish World T20 campaign

Former Sri Lanka bowler Chaminda Vaas will help Ireland's preparations for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20.Vaas took 755 wickets for his country, playing in 111 Tests and 322 one-day matches.

Since retiring in 2012, the 41-year-old has worked as a bowling consultant for Sri Lanka and New Zealand.Vaas' short-term contract will begin next month and will continue until the end of Ireland's World T20 campaign, which starts in March.

"It's great to have Chaminda with us through the build-up as well as during the World T20," Ireland coach John Bracewell said.

"His ability to get wickets in all forms of the game especially on the sub-continent was extraordinary. This experience will be invaluable to our bowling group."

Vaas said he was relishing the prospect of sharing the knowledge and experience he had picked up.

"I've played with and against some of the guys during my time in county cricket with Middlesex and Northants," Vaas added.

"There's a lot of talent and experience in the squad which I'm confident I can add to."

Vaas holds the record for the best bowling figures in one-day internationals with his 8-19 off eight overs against Zimbabwe in 2001.

The Irish will open their World T20 campaign in India against Oman on 8 March before going on to face Bangladesh (11 March) and the Netherlands (14 March) in the qualifying group, with only the winners going on to the Super 10 stage.

Prior to the World T20, the Irish will have a busy programme of games in Australia and Abu Dhabi which includes the four-day Intercontinental Cup game against Papua New Guinea, which begins in Townsville in Queensland on 31 January.

'Gammanpila allegedly sold property valued at Rs. 190 million'

R.P.L.I. Perera, the Power of Attorney holder for wealthy foreign businessman Brian Shaddick, lodged a complaint with the Police yesterday alleging that MP Udaya Gammanpila had fraudulently sold a property valued over millions of rupees belonging to the businessman.

The property including a tea factory named 'Brombil' had allegedly been sold for Rs. 190 million to another company by forging fake documents.

The complaint had been made while investigations are going on over an incident where Gammanpila had fraudulently sold shares of the Pan Asia Bank valued at Rs. 110 million belonging to the same businessman, when he was the Power of Attorney holder for Shaddick. Investigations have reached the final stage.

The complaint had been made against MP Gammanpila, the Brombil Tea Factory and the Director Board. All documents pertaining to the alleged fraud have been submitted to investigative bodies by the holder of the Power of Attorney of the businessman.

Perera said that Brian Shaddick was an Australian national. Two Police officers had gone to Australia to investigate the selling of shares of the Pan Asia Bank. He added that Shaddick was ready to fly to Sri Lanka at any time to support the investigations.

‘New Sri Lanka Freedom Front’ - Leadership for Gotabaya

Electing a leader for the new front which is to be created by the joint opposition, has been one of the main topics of political discussions recently, the sources said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s name has been considered to the position, said the sources. If the request is rejected by Rajapaksa, the Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be nominated for the leadership.

Leaders of the joint opposition have stated that majority of public would only assist the two Rajapaksa brothers, pointing out that most of the people are fascinated by them.

Therefore, the attention has been given to build a new political force against the government, associated with two Rajapaksas. It is reported that discussions have been held to give Rajapaksas more opportunities to interact with the public.

Former President and Former Defence Secretary have joined the ongoing negotiations with the joint opposition, combined with several members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, National Freedom Front, Piwithuru Hela Urumaya, Democratic Left Front, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and Sri Lanka Communist Party.

‘New Sri Lanka Freedom Front’ is reported to be the suggested name for the new party.

Welgama says that Rajapaksa Should Lead SLFP At LG Polls

UPFA MP and former Minister Kumara Welgama said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should lead the Sri Lanka Freedom Party campaign at the forthcoming Local Government elections.

Speaking to BBC he said that he was prepared to accept President Maithripala Sirisena since he is an elected leader. However, the people are with Rajapaksa, Welgama also insisted.

Therefore the campaign should be led by Rajapaksa, he said.

Welgama also warned that he will take a serious political decision if the party did not accept this proposal.

The Rajpaksa camp has been discussing the launch of a new political front for weeks. However, the former President has rejected that a new front will be formed.

Kidney racket: Indian police file cases against 6 Lankan doctors

The police in Nalgonda, in Telangana, India, have filed cases against six Sri Lankan doctors who are allegedly involved in a kidney racket, The Hindu said.

The newspaper said that the doctors have been charged of conducting paid kidney transplants in violation of ethics.

Dr. Madhava, Dr. Monik and Dr. Sadhana, working at the Nawaloka Hospital, Dr. Chamila (Hemas Hospital), Dr. Niroshini (Lanka Hospital) and Dr. Habeeba Saheef (Western Hospital), have allegedly performed the 60 transplants, the Nalgonda police said.

Police recently arrested the kingpin in the kidney racket, Suresh Prajapathi (36), and two of his cronies, who facilitated 60 kidney transplants.

The police also arrested Prajapathi’s accomplice Dilip Umedamal Chouhan (31), who used to help conduct health tests on donors at various diagnostic centres in Ahmedabad.

 The Ministry of Health has launched a fresh investigation into the alleged kidney transplant racket operated from India.

The Department of Medical Services in the ministry has been instructed to conduct a full investigation on the matter and submit a report, Secretary to the Ministry of Health Anura Jayawickrama told the Daily News yesterday. As a temporary measure, the ministry has also suspended approval for any organ transplant procedures, he said. Any transplant procedure has to obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Health.

"The ministry is looking at establishing a formal system to give approval for transplants and till such time giving approval has been suspended, this is imposed especially in the case of foreigners," a highly ranked source from the Ministry told the the Daily News.

This is the second time an investigation is being commissioned on the matter. In 2014, the Health Ministry commissioned an inspection of all private hospitals in the country following accounts of illegal kidney transplants being carried out in private hospitals reported in both Indian and local papers.

The Indian media this week reported on fresh arrests on the alleged kidney transplant racket. Reports also said that six Sri Lankan doctors attached to four private hospitals are involved in the racket.According to Indian Daily, The Hindu, all transplants had taken place in four Sri Lankan hospitals while all donors and recipients involved in the racket are from India.

The kingpin of the racket, Suresh Prajapathi an Indian based in Ahmedabad was arrested on Tuesday. A fee of Indian rupees Rs.28 lakhs to Rs.30 lakhs has been charged for a transplant the paper reported. "he kept Rs.5 lakhs and paid up the remaining money to the donor, doctors and others. Prajapathi amassed Rs. 3 crore in the trade, bought a house investing Rs. 1.4 crore, an office costing Rs. 30 lakhs, and furniture worth Rs.27 lakhs," The Hindu said.

Meanwhile the Indian High Commssion in Sri Lanka said no offcials in Inda had made contact with them regarding investigations.