Monks Protest Against Eastern Province Chief Minister For Reprimanding Naval Officer

Group of Buddhist monks who visited the residence of Eastern provincial council Chief Minister Nazeer Ahamed, staged a protest against reprimanding a Navy officer.

Reports indicated that a group of monks including Deputy Chief Sangha-nayake of Eastern province – Chief incumbent of Batticaloa Mangalarama Vihara Venerable Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera were among the protestors.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi has stated that a decision has been taken to ban the Eastern provincial Chief Minister from entering any military camp in the island.

The Defence Secretary further noted that the decision was taken to protest against the Chief Minister for reprimanding a Naval officer in public.

The incident took place on the 20th of this month, when Eastern provincial council Chief Minister Nazeer Ahamed reprimanded a navy officer who was remaining close to the stage, during a prize giving ceremony held at Trincomalee Sampoor Maha Vidyalaya.

The event was organized by the navy.

The Chief Minister reprimanded the naval officer, charging that he was not treated according to the procedures.

It was noted that Governor of Eastern province Austin Fernando and the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka were present at the occasion when the incident took place.

The Defence Secretary noted that a report pertaining to the matter has been handed over to the President and the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has released a communiqué, condemning the incident.

In his communiqué, the former President stated that an investigation should be conducted with regard to the incident and the attitude of the Eastern provincial Chief Minister.

The Former President also recalled the incident where a group of TNA politicians attempting to forcibly enter a military camp, charging that no action was taken concerning the matter.

In addition, the former President stated that a scheme is underway to debase the dignity of the war heroes since the beginning of previous year.

Meanwhile, the chief incumbent of Mangalarama Vihara, questioned the Eastern provincial Chief Minister, whether he was ready to apologize.

However, according to our correspondent, the Chief Minister has not offered a direct response.

Daughter Of Horowpathana OIC Killed By Husband

The 46-year-old wife and the 20-year-old daughter of Horowpathana Police OIC had been stabbed by his son-in-law last night at their residence in Galenbindunuwewa, Anuradhapura, Police said. 

They said the two victims who were in critical condition were admitted to the Anuradhapura Hospital and the daughter succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

Harin Fernando apologises to Parliament over words he used

Minister Harin Fernando today extended an apology for using unparliamentary language in Parliamentary recently.

Making a special statement in Parliament today, the Minister said that the words he used were instigated by the opposition.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya accepted the apology and urged the members of the House to respect Parliament in future.

Fernando was heard saying “mother f*****” in Sinhalese in Parliament recently during his speech but the words were later removed from the video posted on the Parliament website.

The joint opposition had slammed Fernando over the words he used in Parliament. Opposition member Dinesh Gunawardena had said that the words used by Fernando was unparliamentary and should not be repeated in future.

The unparliamentary words were used during a heated exchange between the Minister and former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

Teacher Gives an unnatural punishment

It was reported at a Galle District child development committee meeting held yesterday that a teacher of a popular girls’ school in Galle had got 44 children of a year 4 class to knock another girl on the head as a punishment for an offence allegedly committed by her. 

This grade four student had been thus punished for a minor offence allegedly committed by her. The teacher had asked 44 children, out of a class of 50, to knock the girl on the head.

this was reported at the meeting by the Galle probation officer Ms. K. Nanayakkara Saying to the girl,“you look guilty,” this science teacher, who is a trainee teacher at the school, had meted out this cruel punishment. 

It had caused much grief and pain to the student who had later been afraid to go to school.

Petition against Sarath Fonseka’s appointment as MP dismissed

The Supreme Court, yesterday, rejected the fundamental rights violation petition, filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, against the appointment of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to Parliament as a National List Member of the UNP.

The Court said there was no legal basis to grant leave to proceed.

Deputy Solicitor General, Navin Pulle, who appeared for the Elections Commission and the Attorney General, told the Court, that the first respondent, cited in the petition is a

private person, the Secretary of a political party. Article 126 of the Constitution applicable to executive action only. Hence, the Supreme Court, had no jurisdiction, under Article 126 of the Constitution, to entertain the application, which should be rejected.

The DSG also said that Article 99 A of the Constitution, explained the way MPs should be selected to Parliament, consequent to a general election. If therefore, a seat fell vacant, due to the demise of an MP, that vacancy could be filled under Section 64 (5), of the Parliamentary Elections Special Provisions Act.

The Secretary General of Parliament had duly, informed the Elections Commission of the demise of MP, M. K. D. S. Gunawardena of the UNP. The Commission had contacted the Secretary of the UNP. He had suggested Sarath Fonseka, who was in the UNP, at that time. Hence the selection of Fonseka was justified, DSG Pulle contended.

The petitioner, the Centre for Policy Alternative, complained that Fonseka, had not been in the UNP National List before the general election held on August 17, 2015; he contested the polls as a member of the Democratic Party. Hence, the UNP could not appoint him to Parliament via the National List.

Faiz Mustapa PC, appeared with Upul Jayasuriya, Sri Kanthan and Neranjan Arulpragasam for the second respondent, Sarath Fonseka.

Counsel, Viran Corea, appeared for the petitioner.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice, K. Sripavan, Justice Sisira de Abrew and Justice Nalin Perera.

Basil Rajapaksa's Secretary Arrested Over Land Deal

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s Coordination Secretary has been arrested by the Financial Crime Investigation Division today in connection with a land deal at Oruthota, Gampaha.

Former Secretary, and the Treasurer to Basil Rajapaksa, Willie Gamage and Ariyaratne Dahanayake, who were arrested on the same matter were given a conditional bail yesterday.

Man who threatened President, PM on FB pleads guilty

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya yesterday released a suspect charged for threatening through Facebook to slay President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe after he had accepted his offence.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate also sternly warned the suspect against his future conduct after he was arrested by the CID before being produced at the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court.

The suspect who was released was identified as Lakmana Kumara Lakmana a resident of Yakkala.

The CID had brought charges against the suspect concerned stating that he had violated clause 484 of the Penal Code......for having maintained an account on his Facebook titled 'Sumal Lakmana' before releasing a video on his web page on 5 February 2016 through which he had allegedly vowed to assassinate both the President and the PM and coaxing the security forces towards that nefarious act.

The CID in its complaint to the Court had stated that the suspect had also allegedly termed both the President and the PM as effeminate and thus degrading their status, as well as the esteem with which their offices are held by the people of the country.

The CID had also stated that by issuing a direct death threat to both leaders the suspect had violated clause 486 of the Penal Code hence having committed punishable offences in a Court of law.

The suspect accepted full responsibility to the charges levelled against him.

Afterwards the Colombo Chief Magistrate decided to release the suspect from the charges but after having issued a stern warning.

Flood, landslide affected areas declared High Security Zones

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday declared all areas affected by floods and landslides as High Security Zones (HSZs) and instructed officials to bring all houses affected by disaster under proper technical evaluation before resettlement of families.

The Special Task Force presided over by President Sirisena also decided to ban reclamation lands in the Western Province from yesterday.

The President instructed officials not to allow any unauthorised dwellings.

Addressing the Special Presidential Task Force, the President said that these measures were taken to prevent a recurrence of this situation in the future

The officials pointed out that unauthorised settlements and reclamation of lands have led to the disaster situation.

President Sirisena instructed the officials to ensure maximum assistance to the people affected by floods and landslides and to continue the welfare services without considering about the financial allocations.

The Task Force decided to grant a technical allowance of Rs.10,000 for a house affected by floods and landslide.

The Task Force members extensively discussed as to how people can be assisted to bring their life back to normal after the water level recedes.

They focused on resettlement of people affected by disaster and their health needs at this meeting.

President Sirisena instructed the officials to put in place a proper mechanism to acquire lands for the resettlement of families displaced by the disaster.

He said special attention should be drawn to the education of children affected by the disaster.

It was mentioned at the meeting that the United Nations has agreed to provide technical assistance to clean the area affected by the disaster.

Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa outlined the relief programme launched by the government.

He said that five countries Japan, India, Turkey, The Maldives, Pakistan have provided assistance to the people affected by the disaster and many countries have agreed to help with the welfare of the people. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Land Reclaimation and Development Corporation Chairman Asela Iddawela yesterday said that President Maithripala Sirisena issued instructions to them to remove squatters and unauthorized dwellings which are blocking canals and waterways in the city.

Iddawela also said that the President instructed them to find suitable lands for the relocation of these unauthorised dwellers. He said that the reclaimation of lands in the province was banned from yesterday.