Kusal Perera bans for 4 years by ICC

Kusal Janith Perera has been banned for four years by ICC for using banned substance.   

Kusal Janith Perera has been banned from cricket after failing a doping test during an earlier home series against Pakistan, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said.    

He stated that the government will appeal to reduce the suspension period, which could be maximum 4 years.    

“The second sample (B Sample) of cricketer Kusal Janith has also tested positive for banned substances,” Jayasekara told Ada Derana.  We will appeal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to attempt to reduce the period, he said.    “We will do our utmost because we cannot leave him (Perera) stranded. We intend to do everything we can for him.” he added.

Decision on next Inspector General of Police on April 18

A final decision regarding the appointment of the next Inspector General of Police (IGP) will be taken by the Constitutional Council on April 18, Government Information Department said.

Three names - Senior Deputy Inspectors General of Police S. M.Wickramasinghe, Pujith Jayasundara and Chandana Wickramaratne were proposed by the President Maithripala Sirisena for the post.

Although, until the final decision is reached, an acting IGP has to be appointed by the President due to the retirement of the current IGP N.K.Illangakoon today. It will be the Council, which decides whether one person out of these three is selected or to request to forward only one name.

Kaduwela Sudu arrested

A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of Kaduwela Wasantha and several others was arrested by the Peliyagoda Crime Division this morning.

The suspect, Kaduwela Sudu aka Millage Sudath Kithsiri was arrested by the police in Kotelawala, while a T-56 in his passion was also taken into police custody.

Major fire at Puttingal temple in Kollam, over 80 dead

A huge fire broke out at Puttingal temple at Paravaur (Kollam District), Kerala early Sunday morning leaving at least eighty dead and over a hundred injured, local media said quoting police officials. The fire took place at around 3.30 am this morning.

According to reports, the fire could have been caused due to a firework that sparked a pile of fireworks stocked for the temple celebrations. The police had earlier warned temple authorities to restrict usage of fireworks.

7.50 am: The fireworks display forms an important part of celebrations at the temple. Traditionally, there is even a competitive fireworks show organised at the temple. However, this year there was no competition, probably because of the local administration’s restrictions.

7.42 am: Local reports coming in also say that window panes of houses within a 1-km radius have been shattered.

7.40 am: The building collapse is being seen as one of the main reasons for such a high casualty rate.

7.32 am: The building of the Devaswom Board, which runs temples in Kerala, collapsed due to the impact. Many people at the spot complained of bleeding from their ears.

7.30 am: The death toll is now at 84, Kerala DGP Senkumar has told The Indian Express.

7.24 am: Local media channels report that the temple authorities went ahead with the fireworks display despite a warning from the local administration.

7. 20 am: Watch video – Fire at Kerala Temple

7.00 am: The death toll is now at 70, K Lalji, ACP, Kollam district has said, adding that over 200 people were injured. “The situation is now under control, the DGP is also here,” he said, adding that the rescue operations were still underway.

6.52 am: Home Minister Chennithala has said that a judicial inquiry will be ordered into the fire and that the Chief Minister will be at the site around noon. He also said the government will announce compensation for families of those dead as well as the injured.

6.50 am: Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the DGP has been asked to rush to the site and he will coordinate all rescue efforts. “The temple holds an annual firework display every year. We’re doing our best to rescue those still trapped.”

6.46 am: Asianet reports that the police had not given permission for the use of fireworks

6.42 am: The fire at the temple site has been brought under control

6.40 am: CM Oommen Chandy, state ministers have rushed to the site

6.35 am: Victims have been rushed to a local hospital in Kollam while those in a much serious condition have been transferred to Thiruvananthapuram.

6:23 am: Kollam ACP K Lalji to ANI, 60 people have died more than 200 injured in Puttingal temple in Paravoor in Kerala’s Kollam district

(Story and Pix : indianexpress)

President talks about Mahinda’s security detail

President Maithripala Sirisena, speaking in Bibila on Saturday, commented on the allegations that have been raised on curtailing the security detail of the former president

The president stated that Former President Rajapkasa had a security detail of 226 personnel from different ranks from the Army and the Police.

The president also noted that the former president had also taken with him the latest bullet proof vehicles that were brought into the country

President Sirisena went on to say that during his one year and three months in office, he had not imported any bullet-proof vehicles, and pointed out that he is currently using the vehicle that was used by the former president.

Preisdent Sirisena emphasised that he does not have a military personnel.

Panama Papers: Kith and kin of politicos named

Contrary to speculation Sri Lankan politicians are not among those named in Panama Papers (a vast collection of documents pertaining to massive secret investments in far-flung tax havens).

However, among those Sri Lankans who had been named in the Panama Papers are in a range of lucrative sectors mainly among captains of private industries including leisure, tourism promotion, travel industry, health care, capital market promotion, power generation for the state sector, state procurement, and major automobile importer and at least one former head of cash-strapped state enterprise.

Informed sources identified some of those named as near and dear to politicians, both past and present.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faizer Musthapha yesterday said that the government would thoroughly investigate the matter. He was answering a query at a media briefing at the Information Department. The Minister didn’t elaborate.

Deputy Minister of State Enterprise Development Eran Wickremaratne on Thursday declared at the weekly cabinet briefing that some Sri Lankan companies and politicians were being investigated and those named in the Panama Papers would be revealed soon.

UPFA Ratnapura District MP Ranjith de Zoysa told The Island that those who had been accusing former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa of having USD 18 bn in secret offshore accounts expected Panama Papers to contain the names of the former President, his family or close associates. The SLFPer said that a thorough investigation was required to ascertain the amounts stashed overseas.

Corporate sources told The Island that now that the government had assured a thorough inquiry it would be the responsibility on the part of relevant institutions to swiftly proceed with the investigation.

Asked who should be in charge of the inquiry, Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday told The Island that the Central Bank would have to lead the investigation. The economist said that the Inland Revenue Department could step in subsequently.

The government last year established PRECIFAC (Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges) to inquire into transactions during the previous administration.

MP De Zoysa said the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) could be directed to inquire into those named in Panama Papers.

A senior spokesperson for the Joint Opposition told The Island that British Prime Minister David Cameron’s admission that he had held large stake in an offshore fund established by his father came to light amidst high profile UK campaign here against corruption. Deputy High Commissioner Ms Laura Davies recently pledged British financial support and expertise to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) as well as police, especially FCID.

The UK Serious Fraud Office has commenced providing training in addition to making available three quarters of million pounds sterling for the project over a three-year period.

The Island sought a clarification from the British High Commission in Colombo as regards charge of tax evasion directed at PM Cameron, a spokesperson for the government said: "The Prime Minister, his wife and their children do not benefit from any offshore funds. The Prime Minister owns no shares.  There are no off-shore funds or trusts which the PM, Mrs Cameron or their children will benefit from in future."

Caffe Chief Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday emphasized that it would be necessary to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into offshore accounts maintained by Sri Lankans. However, it would be important to keep in mind that those having large overseas accounts for business purposes and ill-gotten money in offshore accounts should be investigated separately. "Tax evasion cannot be compared with moving ill gotten money from a country." The NGO activist said that those who had been named in Panama Papers were prominent personalities who held part of their revenue in offshore accounts.

Asked whether the FCID would be tasked to investigate Panama Papers, Tennakoon said that unit had failed to produce results at Dubai and Seychelles, where bigwigs of previous government and their henchmen maintained secret accounts. Referring to funds stashed in Dubai, Tennakoon stressed that the FCID and others responsible for the inquiry failed to achieve desired results. Tennakoon alleged that some people had been reluctant to go all the way, hence serious setbacks. Responding to another query, Tennakoon said the government should initiate legal process here to recover stashed funds overseas and bring them back to Sri Lanka.

Probe against 'eloped' principal and teacher of Mahanama College

An investigation was launched by the Education Ministry against a married principal of a leading boys’ school in Colombo - Mahanama College and another married female teacher of the same college who had reportedly eloped.

Following the reports on the ‘long-standing’ extra-marital affair between the principal aged 56, and a female teacher aged 30, the Ministry Secretary W.M. Bandusena said disciplinary action will be taken against the principal and the teacher if they are found guilty in the investigation.

Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said according to sources close to the school, the duo had been continuing the extra-marital affair for a long time despite objection from the school staff. He alleged that the Education Ministry had kept silent to complaints lodged by the school staff with regard to this issue. “The husband of the female teacher had gone to a nearby police station with the child to lodge a complaint.

When the husband came out of the police station after lodging a complaint, the female teacher had returned with the principal and taken away the child by force,” Mr. Jayasinghe said. Secretary Bandusena said the information received by him could still not be verified, and therefore they couldn’t come to conclusions relying on the claims of other teachers in the same school.

However, he said that details would not be published regarding the suspected principal and the teacher will not be published until investigation confirm the truth.

Malinga ruled out of first half of IPL

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians coach Ricky Ponting feels his side has adequate replacements for premier bowler Lasith Malings, who is virtually ruled out of the first half of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League.

Ponting lauded Malinga for being one of the best performers in world cricket with the new and old ball and stated he will definitely be missed. “If you look at last season when we were playing our best cricket, Malinga was bowling at his best as well. He’s been one of the great performers in world cricket with the new as well as the old ball. He will be definitely missed, but we have more than adequate replacements if he’s ruled out,” said Ponting.

The former Australian skipper said that Malinga isn’t with the squad now and confirmed that if the side wants to name a replacement, it would have to be before fifth game. “He’s not with the squad now. He’s unlikely to take part in the first half of the tournament. If we want to name a replacement we have to do so before the fifth game,” said Ponting.

Malinga has been nursing a knee injury that prevented him from being fully fit for the Asia Cup as well as the recently concluded ICC World Twenty20 tournament in India.

Ponting also seemed upbeat about Mumbai Indians’ skipper Rohit Sharma and backed him to play exceptionally well in this season. Rohit had a poor form in the WT20.

“Rohit is one of the best players in the world. He has shown it over a long period of time. It’s very hard to maintain top form. You will have ups and downs. I am sure he will play exceptionally well over the next two months.”

Defending champions Mumbai Indians see themselves embroiled in an enticing lung-opener against new IPL side Rising Pune Supergiants on April 9 at the Wankhede.

– PTI