SLPA seeks Interest and Business Proposals to develop Colombo Port's ECT

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) seeks Interest and Business Proposals from interested parties for the development process of Colombo Port's East Container terminal (ECT). The decision has also obtained the Minister's approval at a Cabinet meeting held last week. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also been appointed as transaction adviser to the Colombo Port's East terminal project by the Cabinet decision.

The constructions of Colombo Port's East Terminal (ECT) have already completed in 400 meters out of 12,000 proposed. However currently the SLPA is handling bulk cargo vessels operations in constructed area and is being received extra income. The terminal helps to reduce the container traffic in other terminals at the Colombo port.

The second deep-water terminal in the Colombo Port Expansion Project is the East Container terminal. It has been planned to commence terminal operations as joint venture arrangement with a shipping line or a private terminal operator with 51% of Equity owned by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

A closer look of Sarath N. Silva

In the year 1999, then-president Chandrika Bandaranaike hand-picked retired Judge Sarath N. Silva to the post of Chief Justice. The appointment came under scrutiny from the international and local fora, as two petitions were being examined in the Supreme Court against him.

Over the years, he aligned himself with a number of leaders. Most recently during the 2015 general election, he pledged his support to Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Speaking on the retired Chief Justice, Attorney-at-Law Karunaratne Herath stated that Sarath N. Silva pledged his support to Mahinda Rajapaksa after it became clear that he would not receive the post of Prime Minister under the current government. He added that Sarath N. Silva joined Mahinda Rajapaksa with the hope that he will be made Chairman of the new party.

Retired Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva participated in a meeting of local government representatives convened by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday February 14.

Today, February 15, the Leader of the Democratic Left Front Vasudeva Nanayakkara was questioned by journalists on Sarath N. Silva’s support for the joint opposition, given that he had opposed the former president in the past.

Responding to the question, Vasudeva Nanayakkara noted that the decision must be made by the former president himself. He stated that Silva, who has joined Mahinda Rajapaksa now, had opposed him in the past and rejoined on several occasions.

The Leader of the Democratic Left Front also noted that the retired chief justice has on earlier occasions aligned himself with former president Chandrika Bandaranaike and also Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as well.

Veteran journalist and political analyst Victor Ivan gave a more direct view on the retired chief Justice, highlighting Silva’s time when he was subject to inspection by police for being with a woman in a car parked near the Diyawanna Oya. The veteran journalist noted that in truth, at that time, the country’s chief justice did not have his pants on.

Daughter arrested for keeping 87- year- old mother in kennel

Ududumbara Police, on a tip off given by residents yesterday arrested a daughter who kept her 87- year- old mother in a kennel adjoining her palacious house.

Police inspected the cage where the mother was kept and found that she was suffering from skin infection due to the unhygienic environment.

Later, she was admitted to the Medamahanuwara Hospital. Police said that her daughter has neglected her for years while she was staying in the second floor of the house with her child.

The 87- year - old woman has not received food regularly. The daughter who was arrested by the Police is reportedly running a canteen at a local hospital. Investigations into this incident are being conducted under the directive of Teldeniya SP C.W. Rajapaksa.

Mahinda lied about the party chairmanship- SB

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave up the SLFP chairmanship over personal issues, or not because he loved this country nor the party, Minister S. B. Dissanayake says.

The observation was made at a press conference held in Colombo this afternoon (15).

The Minister claimed the former President had to give up party chairmanship amid corruption and fraud investigations initiated aiming his (Mahinda Rajapaksa’s) family members. 

“It’s a big lie if Rajapaksa says that he gave up the chairmanship because he loves this country and the party,” he added.

However, the former President yesterday stressed he gave up the chairmanship of the SLFP since he had no intention to see the party split. “He (President) got the chairmanship from me using executive powers,” Rajapaksa said.

Bail application filed on behalf of Yoshitha

Bail Applications were filed at Colombo High Court on behalf of five individuals including Yoshitha Rajapaksa, arrested for  alleged involvement in money laundering at Carlton Sports Network.

Through the bail applications, the lawyers of the five suspects have challenged the decision by the Kaduwela Magistrate to deny bail to them. The applications will be taken up for support on February 17.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa and the others were arrested on January 30

Four Navy Rugby players suspended

Four Navy Sports Club players have been suspended by the Sri Lanka Navy for wearing wrist bands that said "YOO7" during a match with Army at the Dialog Rugby league encounter yesterday (14).

The wrist bands have been worn by the players in order to express their solidarity with son of former President Mahinda Rakapaksa and former Navy SC captain Yoshitha Rajapaksa who has been remanded over allegations of fraud.

The four players have been suspended from the Navy squad until investigations are being carried out into the incident, stated Navy Spokesman Akram Alavi.

Letter of Demand sends Letter of Demand to Wijedasa

Danuna Tilakaratne, son-in-law of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, today (13) sent a Letter of Demand (LoD) to justice minister Wijedasa Rajapakse, it was revealed at a media briefing.

The LoD is against Danuna’s bank accounts being still in the minister’s custody, although courts had acquitted him in the Hicorp case and ordered the release of his passport.

Danuna told the media that since the time he had sent the minister a letter, requesting the release of the money, Rajapakse has summoned a media briefing and tarnished his image by alleging black money was in these accounts and that it should be investigated as to whether it was the commission money Fonseka had received during the period he was the Army commander.

Rajapakse continues to sling mud at him, without responding to his request although three months had elapsed, Danuna said, adding that the Rs. 88.6 million in these accounts was neither commission money nor black money.

He said he had earned the money cleanly, being a consultant to a satellite company in the US.

A Rs. 25 million compensation would be sought at courts after sending a LoD to the justice minister within 14 days for the insulting remarks he had made, Danuna added.

Politician Who Forced Teacher To Kneel Down Invited As Chief Guest

he Ceylon Teachers' Union calls on the Education Ministry to hold an inquiry into an incident where the politician who forced a teacher to kneel down at Nawagaththegama Navadya School was invited to the same school as a chief guest.

Former UPFA Provincial Council member Ananda Sarath Kumara was invited to the school as the Chief Guest of the sports meet yesterday, the Union said.

The whole teaching sector has been forced on its knees by this gesture shown to the politician, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said.

Ananda Sarath Kumara was given a suspended prison term for his action. The teacher who faced the incident has obtained a transfer to another school.