Indian fishermen Protest against Sri Lankan Navy

Indian Fishermen and the family members of those who were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on the charge of poaching in Lankan waters staged a demonstration in Rameswaram, demanding the release of all the 77 arrested fishermen with their trawlers. They also pressed for a lasting solution to their problem, The Hindu newspaper reported.

The fishermen who had been abstaining from fishing since July 22, in protest against the continuing arrests of fishermen by the Lankan navy, staged the demonstration in front of the bus stand here, urging the Central and State governments to protect their livelihood by working out a permanent solution to the vexatious issue.

As the fishermen launched the stir and decided to step up the agitation by observing a fast from July 30 to press for their demands, the Lankan authorities have released 73 of the 77 arrested fishermen in the last couple of months, according to reports received here. The arrested fishermen from Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai and Nagapattinam districts were produced before different courts in the island nation on Monday and Tuesday and set free, U. Arulanandham, president of Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), said.

Four country boat fishermen from Pamban, who were arrested on July 15, are expected to be released in a week’s time, he said, adding the released fishermen were expected to be repatriated in a couple of days after they were assembled in Jaffna.

Thanking the Lankan government for the release of fishermen, leaders of fishermen associations said they were upset that the government in the island nation had not ordered the release of more than 100 trawlers which were in its custody. They would continue the strike till the Centre secured the release of the boats and put an end to the arrest of the fishermen, they said.

“The Sri Lankan Navy arresting the Indian fishermen and releasing them after a few months has become a routine and we want to put an end to this agonising episode,” they said.

Jobs for Sri Lankan sailors in Switzerland

Secretary of Ministry of Ports and Shipping Mr. L. P. Jayampathy claims that in the near future Sri Lankan sailors will get the opportunity to sail in Swiss flagged ships. 

With the presence of Director General, Mr. Ajith Seneviratne and Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Mr. Heinz Walker – Nederkoon, the Memorandum of Mutual was signed at the Merchant Shipping Secretariat Office. Under the monitor of Hon. Minister of Ports and Shipping Mr. Arjuna Ranatunga, this agreement was signed. This is the first ever agreement signed regarding the subject of maritime between the two nations Sri Lanka and Switzerland.

International Maritime Organization is the organization which will introduce the areas in commercial seafarers training, certifications and the appointment of guards.

Sri Lanka is also a party to the International Maritime Organization. Therefore, the Merchant Shipping Secretary office of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping is responsible of holding the conventions of the International Maritime Organization in Sri Lanka. The issuing of all certifications to the Sri Lankan sailors is done by this company. 

However, the Director General of Merchant Shipping at the Secretariat Office Mr. Ajith Seneviratne said that when a Sri Lankan sailor is serving for a foreign ship the Sri Lankan certification is insufficient. Therefore, the necessity arises to obtain the ‘Certificate of Recognition’, which will be recognized by that ship’s specific nation. 

In order to obtain this Certificate of Recognition, MOU between the nations or pledge between the two nations should be constructed. Sri Lanka has already signed 29 such agreements. The arrangement with Switzerland is latest from all. When serving together with Swiss flagged ships, due to this agreement, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping confidently believe that in the near future that the country will receive a great deal of foreign income.

CID Completes Investigations Against Tissa Attanayake

The CID today informed court that the investigations against Tissa Attanayake on the alleged forging of the signatures of Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe have been completed.

The matter has been referred to the AG for his advice, the CID also said.

Attanayake is accused of preparing a document claiming to have the signatures of the then common candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena and the then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during the 2015 Presidential Election campaign. The document was said to be a secret agreement between the two.

Attanayake, who was a long serving General Secretary of the UNP, defected to the government side during the election campaign. However the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in the January 2015 election.

Attanayake was arrested in February 2015 over the incident.

Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton for US presidency

The US Democratic Party has officially nominated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be its presidential nominee, despite protests from supporters of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

The roll call vote was conducted on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, making Clinton the first presidential nominee for a major US political party. She will accept the nomination in a speech on Thursday.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine will also be officially nominated to be the vice presidential candidate.

The convention brings a bitter primary race to a close. A number of Sanders supporters remained loyal to the Senator up until the very end, reinvigorated by the release of internal DNC emails that showed the ostensibly neutral organization had a systematic bias toward Clinton.

Woman bites sexually abuser's lip

A part of the lower lip of a man had been bitten off when he allegedly tried to sexually abuse his 65-year old mother- in -law, Kirindiwela Police said. 

The 44-year old son-in-law has been taken into custody by Kirindiwela Police. The mother-in-law had been at home alone when the suspect allegedly entered the house by the back door and tried to molest her. She had defended herself by biting his lower lip.

 Police said suspect’s wife was working abroad and his daughter was living with his mother-in-law. The incident had taken place when suspect’s daughter was at a tuition class. Later, the mother-in-law has gone to her younger daughter’s residence to avoid her son-in-law and complained to the Kirindiwela Police. 

Police said that when they arrested the suspect a part of his lower lip was missing. OIC (Crimes) Sub Inspector Wanniarachchi and PC Lakshantha are conducting further investigations instructed by OIC Kirindiwela Police, Rukshantha Perera. (Upali Ranaweera, Kirindiwela)

BIA closed for eight hours from January 5, for renovations

The Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told a media briefing that the main runway of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) would be closed for three months from January 5 next year for renovations.

He said it would be closed .

“The BIA will be closed for eight hours from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm every day for three months during which a selected area of the runway would be renovated for four hours and allowed to cool down for another four hours,” the Minister said.

the Minister said a Netherland advisory team has been selected for the renovation project through a tender procedure.

He said flights could be allowed to land at the BIA for about another one year according to International Air Transport regulation because the runway had not been renovated since 1958.

President Maithripala didn’t okay Pada Yathra

President Maithripala Sirisena has asked the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MPs of the Joint Opposition (JO) not to take part in the Pada Yathra (protest march) against the government on 28 July, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training, Mahinda Samarasinghe said.

Samarasinghe denied media reports, quoting MP Prasanna Ranatunga, that the President has told SLFP MPs of the JO that it is ok for them to take part in the protest march. The reports also stated that Sirisena told the MPs that they can protest against the government, but not against the SLFP.

"This is a blatant lie. The President opposed any SLFP MP from taking part in any protest against the government. The President wants the government to last and he does not want anyone to undermine it," he said.

Samarasinghe added that the central committee of the SLFP will decide whether to take action against SLFP MPs who will take part in the protest march.

"The JO is saying that they are protesting against a diabolical new Constitution. But unlike the constitutional amendments made during the Rajapaksa era, we consulted everyone for this amendment," he said.

Petition in Court to Unseat actress Geetha

J.C. Weliamuna, Counsel for the Petitioners of a writ application challenging the election of cinema actress Geetha Samanmali Kumarasinghe to Parliament told Court that when she tendered her candidature application to contest a seat in Parliament at the last General Election she was not eligible to do so.

Counsel submitted that it is a constitutional disqualification for anyone holding dual citizenship to contest a local election.

This matter was taken up before the Bench comprising Justice Vijith Malalgoda (President of the Court of Appeal) and Justice Padman Sri Surasena.

N.K.D. Buwaneka, I.K. Kumarawardana, A.C. Gunasekera, J.K. Wijesiri, H.L.P. Deepthalal, all of whom are voters from Galle, filed this petition requesting Court to declare Geetha Kumarasinghe is not a Member of Parliament.

Geetha Kumarasinghe, Commissioner General of Immigration and Emigration, Secretary to Eksath Janatha Nidahas Sandanaya and Secretary General of Parliament Dammika Disanayaka have been cited as respondents.

Counsel further argued that at the time she tendered her candidature to contest the election, she held dual citizenship in Switzerland and Sri Lanka and was hence constitutionally barred from contesting any local State election, and is hence not to be considered a member of Parliament. After an election the names of the elected candidates are gazetted but she is not a Member of Parliament and she cannot sit or vote in Parliament, counsel added.

91(1) 3 of the Constitution very clearly states that "No dual citizen can become a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka."

Court fixed further argument for 24 October.J.C. Weliamuna appeared for petitioners with Pulasthi Hewamanna.

Deputy Solicitor General Janak de Silva appeared for the Commissioner General of Immigration and Emigration.

President's Counsel Manohara de Silva appeared for Geetha Kumarasinghe.