Minister to get final report of Kidney racket

The final report prepared by the five member committee appointed to investigate into alleged kidney transplant racket involving Sri Lankan doctors will be handed over to the Health Minister today (05).

The committee was appointed by the Director General of Health Services Dr Palitha Mahipala on January 23.

The composition of the three-member committee initially appointed was changed under the instruction of Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne in order to expedite the investigation process and make it comprehensive.

Deputy Director General (Dental Services) Dr. Jayasundara Bandara, has been appointed as the chairman of the committee, which also includes Deputy Director General (Medical Services) Dr. Lakshmi C. Somathunga, Director (Laboratory Services) Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe, Consultant Medical Administrator Dr. Rajapriya Balasuriya and Senior Assistant Secretary Rohana Silva.

Indian police recently uncovered information regarding 6 Sri Lankan doctors from 4 private hospitals allegedly involved in the kidney racket.

The Ministry of Health launched an investigation into the allegations and appointed a three-member committee comprising Dr. Kanthi Ariyaratne, Director of Private Health Sector Development, Dr. Deepthi Perera, Provincial Director of Health Services (Western Province), and a senior official of the Health Ministry’s investigative unit.

Rajiv assassin's mother Starts campaign for son's release

The mother of Murugan, one of the convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, who is presently serving a life imprisonment, launched a public campaign from her native Kilinochchi last week, urging the release of her son from the Vellore prison in Tamil Nadu.


Convict Murugan's mother Somini Vettivel has launched the campaign with the intention of obtaining more than one million signatures in support of her campaign, seeking the release of her son Murugan, who is presently serving his life imprisonment with six other convicts. Murugan's wife Nalini is also imprisoned in a separate prison in Tamil Nadu for her supportive role in the assassination. The daughter of Murugan and Nalini, their only child is presently domiciled in the UK supported by their relatives.

According to Murugan's mother Somini, who lives in Kilinochchi, armed with the mass support of her signature campaign, she would plead with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the early release of her son.
Murugan's mother also added that there are instances, where world leaders had pardoned convicts of grave crimes and hence she expected her son to be given clemency.

The LTTE assassinated Rajiv Gandhi on the 21 May 1991 in Sriperumbudur when the former Prime Minister was on a campaign trail.

Dampening hopes of release for the killers of Rajiv Gandhi, India's Supreme Court in the month of December, 2015, had ruled that the Centre has primacy over States as well as the right to grant remission and referred the issue of clemency for the assassins, to a three-Judge Bench.
Meanwhile, convict Murugan is now leading a spiritual life behind bars, becoming vegetarian and engaged in meditations. In a recent interview he said that he would remain as a spiritualist even if he was pardoned and released from the prison. (PA)

CID investigation into FB threats against President Sirisena

The CID has launched an investigation into the recent publication of death threats and defamatory remarks against President Maithripala Sirisena via social media websites including Facebook by several people including women, Police said today.

 Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said the number of messages had increased in the wake of the arrest of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera. “The presidential secretariat has complained to the police about this matter and the investigations have been now handed over to the CID,” he said.     ASP Gunasekara said legal action would be taken against the offenders

Cecile Kotelawala taken into custody

Cecile Kotelawala who was wanted in connection with the Golden Key Credit Card fraud running into Rs. 26 billion, was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while returning to Sri Lanka today.

Last month, former Ceylinco Group Chairman and husband of Cecile Kotelawala, Lalith Kotelawala  gave a statement to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC). Kotalawela arrived at PRECIFAC on a wheel chair. PRECIFAC Secretary Lacille de Silva said Kotelawala was summoned to record a statement with regard to an alleged financial irregularity said to have taken place during the construction of a building on Galle Road, Colpetty.

Vass Gunawardena's wife named a suspect

The wife of former DIG Vass Gunawardena was yesterday named as a suspect. She was noticed to appear in Court on February 17 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris regarding a case where six suspects including her husband and son remanded for the alleged possession of firearms.

On June 18, 2015 the Additional Magistrate had named Shyalali Priyadarshani Perera, the wife of former DIG as a suspect in the case and decided to issue notices on her.

However, Shyalali Priyadarshani Perera filed an appeal in the Colombo High Court challenging the Additional Magistrate's decision. The Court was informed that the High Court had dismissed the appeal and affirmed the Additional Magistrate's earlier judgment.

Meanwhile, six suspects including former DIG Vass Gunawardena and his son Ravindu Gunawardena arrested and remanded for the alleged possession of firearms were yesterday ordered to be further remanded till February 17 by the Additional Magistrate.

However, six suspects - Former DIG Vaas Gunawardena and his son Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena, Sub Inspector Indika Bamunuge, Police Constable (PC) Gamini Sarath Chandra, PC Priyanka Sanjeewa and PC Kelum Ranga had been sentenced to death by Colombo High Court for committing the murder of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam in 2013 at Dompe area.

Defence counsel Ashitha Vipulanayake appeared for the suspects.

'FCID: Foremost enemy of those who ruined country'

The FCID has become the foremost enemy of those who skimmed the wealth of the nation, said JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Addressing a press conference yesterday at the JVP office in Battaramulla, he said all the thieves who robbed public money are now standing against the FCID.

"Some deputy ministers within the government itself are stating that the FCID is not legal, a matter that must be settled within the Government. The FCID is operating under the IGP. We believe such a special unit must exist to take action against those involved in large scale frauds. It is the FCID which investigated on persons such as Basil Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando and Yoshitha Rajapaksa. That was the reason why they are so scared of it," he said.

He further said the arrest of Yoshitha Rajapaksa was based on two major questions. "One was how a capital of Rs. 234 million was found to commence the CSN. What we tell former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to say how this money was found and get his son released. If that money is not from the salary of Yoshitha or Mahinda and the income from the Medamulana Walauwa, then it should definitely be Treasury funds. In other words public funds. Should not those who robbed the public money be punished? Under the Money Laundering Act, such money could be taken over. There is enough evidence to proceed on this matter," he added.

He said the arrest of Yoshitha was not an act of political revenge, adding that it was a result of legal action taken jointly by the Police and the Court.

He said the JVP will give its fullest support for the investigations taking place on bribery and corruption, adding that they would never give up the fight until the thieves are brought to book.

"Investigations concerning nearly 35 cases of corruption and bribery have been completed and sent to the Attorney General. However, the Attorney General is yet to reply to over 30 of them. Therefore legal action have been delayed," he said.

Referring to comments made by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake to his allegations in Parliament on the import of undervalued Prado jeeps, Dissanayake challenged Karunanayake for an open debate on TV.

United National Party signs MoU with Democratic party

Sri Lanka’s ruling United National Party (UNP) today signed a collective agreement with the Democratic Party (DP) led by former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka at Temple Trees in Colombo.

The agreement was signed by Fonseka as the leader of the Democratic Party and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the UNP leader. The two leaders exchanged agreements for the Democratic Party to join the United National Front (UNF), the coalition led by the UNP.

Addressing media at the event, Fonseka said that his party acted alone for the past 3 years and that it wanted to deliver a message to the country.

He stated that the party was able to go a long way within a short period of time and that they decided to move forward together with the UNF.

“We will act as a partner of the United National Front from here on,” he said.

The former Army Chief said he believes he was somewhat related to the UNP and that they shared the same stage during two important junctures – the presidential elections in 2010 and 2015.  

Fonseka was the Common Candidate and contested against Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010 while his party supported then Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the 2015 presidential poll.

He also said that it will not be difficult for the UNF to continue forward under the leadership of Wickremesinghe.

The Prime Minister, also speaking at the occasion, said that the two parties discussed the agreement in December and that they were hoping to finalize it in January.

However, it was delayed due to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

The UNP leader said that they wanted all the parties who supported the ‘January 08 revolution’ to join together and move forward.

He stated that several parties joined forces to ensure Maithripala Sirisena’s victory at the election and that some of those parties are now I the opposition.

We invited all the other parties to join the United National Front and the Democratic Party accepted that invitation, he said.

Deputy ministers visit to see remanded Yoshitha Rajapaksa

Several public representatives continued to visit the Welikada Remand Prison on Tuesday as well, to meet Yoshitha Rajapaksa and the detainees arrested with him.

Among them were many of his relatives including his brother, MP Namal Rajapaksa. Several SLFP minister and MPs who are seated with the government, also visited the detainees today.

Among them were Arundika Fernando, the Deputy Minister for Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs.

He said ” With regard to the FCID, many are saying that this institution is illegal, at a time when the Police Commission is also functioning. ”

Also among the visitors was Nishantha Muthuhettigama, now Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping. He warned ” We will not leave the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, but we are prepared to abandon the post of deputy minister or even pawn it. We have faith that a decision will be made on this.”

Meanwhile, a group of lawyers also convened a media briefing on Tuesday and expressed their views on the matter.

Attorney-at-Law Premanath Dolawaththa said ” The manner in which the police and the government are acting in this special case, is very suspicious.”

Harin Fernando, the Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure raised several issues with the operations of the channel CSN, a channel which he said had been dubbed as ” the channel that turns black money, white. ”

He pointed out that the channel’s offices sat on land gifted to the Rajapaksa Foundation by a man he identified as M.H. Mohammed.

He also criticised the Rajapaksas as “authoritarians” who were “trying to turn this into a vote by inciting the people”. He cited the comments by the youngest Rajapaksa sibling, Rohitha Rajapakse, who took to social media to state the arrest of his elder brother was akin to “trampling on a lion’s tale.”

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said ” Even now, we are against the FCID. But, Yoshitha Rajapaksa has now been arrested. Is this fair or unfair? This must be decided by the court.” He requested that ” the Attorney General must act to take this to trial.”

” I wish to state that we have complete faith in the judicial system.” he concluded.