Child dies after parapet wall collapses on her

An 18-month-old child living at Staden estate, Hatton with her grandmother, died on the spot yesterday when a parapet wall collapsed on her.

According to Police, the child was playing with her sister near her house when the incident occurred.

Her parents are employed abroad. The child and her sister were looked after by her grandmother.

She fell down a precipice after the wall collapsed on her.

Residents ask how the mother left the country for employment, when mothers with children below five years are prohibited to leave the country as housemaids. 

Rajitha blasts S.B. for defending Basil

Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday in Colombo that it was wrong for Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare S. B. Dissanayake to defend former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who had allegedly bribed heads of Local Councils with GI pipes purchased using Divineguma funds prior to the last presidential election.

Dissanayake, addressing a news conference, on Tuesday, claimed that there was nothing unlawful about Basil having used state funds to distribute GI pipes among local government authorities in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election.

Minister Senaratne, responding to questions at the weekly Cabinet Press Briefing at the Information Department said that Dissanayake by justifying what Basil Rajapaksa had done failed to see that it was a blatant violation of election law. "I was present at the meeting where Basil told heads of Local Councils that 60 GI pipes would be given to each of them by the Economic Development Ministry using Divineguma Funds. In return, they would have to use the pipes to display flags and propaganda material in favour of Mahinda. He also told them that they could do whatever they wanted with the pipes after the presidential election was over."

Senaratne recalled he had at that juncture advised Basil not to make such foolish and culpable statements, but his advice had fallen on deaf years.

Pointing out that he did not make use of any of the pipes that were distributed in his electorate, the Minister said he along with Maithripala Sirisena and several others had shortly thereafter crossed over to the Opposition.

"It was a blatant violation of election law. But the Rajapaksa’s did not care, because they were so intoxicated with power that they thought the war had been won purely because of them and they would be in power forever," he noted, adding that sacrifices made by the security forces, police and also civil society which had to undergo immense suffering without hordes of armed guards to protect them had all been conveniently forgotten.

CSN case: Confiscation of CSN investment

The Sri Lanka Treasury today received Rs. 157. 5 million, when the Kaduwela Magistrate approved the transfer of the monies unclaimed.

The monies deposited in the name of a private company, at a private bank,  came under investigation when the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) of the Police opened investigation into the Carlton Sports Network (CSN).

The company in question however had stated that the monies did not belong to them.

They had expressed their willingness to have the monies transferred to the Sri Lanka Treasury.

The FCID thereafter filed a motion seeking approval from the Kaduwela Magistrate to have the unclaimed funds transferred to the Treasury.

Cabinet co-spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne at the Cabinet press briefing today quipped this was probably the largest amount of ‘illegal’ or ‘stolen’ money received by the Sri Lanka Treasury.

Harshana - Volga Kalpani Wedding Photos

Harshana Bethmage & Volga Kalpani WeddingPix By - Asantha Gamaarachchi
Harshana Bethmage & Volga Kalpani Pre Wedding Photo Shoot in Malaysia

Video Filming & Photography - Event Media
Bridal Dressing - Salon La Mondo 
Groom Outfit - Wills Design (Pvt) Ltd

Profit making Gov. institutions will not be sold

His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena stated that, none of the profit-making government institutions will be sold to the private. He further stated that there is no need for the port to be privatized. 

The President stated this attending the opening ceremony of the Sri Lankan Ports Authority’s CFS 1 Container Freight Station as the chief guest. Hon. Minister of Ports and Shipping Mr. Arjuna Ranatunga, Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping Mr. Nishantha Muthuhettigama, Secretary of Ports and Shipping Mr. L. P. Jayampathy, Chairman of Sri Lankan Ports Authority Mr. Dhammika Ranatunga and many other invitees attended the this distinguished event today.

At today’s ceremony, the new website of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority was also launched by His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena. Similarly the operations of the Container Freight Station were also opened by the President himself. Addressing the Ports Authority employees, the President noted that it’s everyone’s responsibility to support the Minister to protect the port which is the heart of the nation.

“Hon. Minister Arjuna Ranathunga is a person that I had known for a long period of time. Hon. Minister Arjuna Ranatunga was always walking with me as a shadow, when I decided to leave the previous government on the 21st of November 2014 and decided to contest as a common candidate. Therefore, I maintain good friendship with the Minister Arjuna Ranatunga. When we are working we should pay special attention upon our responsibilities. The chairman of the Port Authority, Secretary to the Ministry, Directors and the Administrative officers and Trade Unions should carry out their duties on a friendly, understanding and in a responsible manner.

Very often, there are different talks and views expressed on media on the topic of selling our government institutions to the private sectors. There are various discussions on these subjects. When referring to the port I have heard numerous views on some of the various divisions. I have seen this on the media. In the recent past I read in a newspaper article that Lanka Hospital would be sold out. In addition the names of many profit-making organizations were also included in that article. There, I didn’t note the name of the port by any chance. However, I would never agree on a policy of selling any profit-making government organizations. I would like to clearly state that. If there are non-profit organizations, we have series of measures on developing those organizations. At some instances the necessity arises to work in collaboration with the private sector as well. Anyhow, if I say it in simple I will never agree on the fact of selling profit-making organizations to the private. That is my stance…” His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena stated.

The Container Freight Station which was opened by His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena According was completed with the use of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority’s technology and manpower. Because of this reason, the Container Freight Station spent Rs.95 million for the construction materials only. The employees who built the 5400 square meters Container Freight Station got the opportunity in taking a group photograph with the President as well.

Bail for Wele Suda’s wife and Mother

Another six suspects produced in courts over the money laundering inquiry conducted against international drug dealer Wele Suda and seven others by the CID.

The mother, and the wife of the drug kingpin were among the suspects who were produced in court.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris, considering the defence counsel submission, granted bail to four suspects, including the mother and Wele Suda’s wife.
Two other suspects were ordered to be remanded till August 11.

The Magistrate released the four suspects on cash bail of Rs. 10,000 with two sureties of Rs. 5 million each. (Shehan Chamika Silva)

Two Sri Lankan Maids Accused Of Theft

A state-owned newspaper in the United Arab Emirates reported that two maids from Sri Lanka have been charged with theft over allegedly stealing from a Dubai palace belonging to a member of the city-state's ruling family.

The National newspaper of Abu Dhabi reported the two maids did not attend a Tuesday court hearing over the charges, the Associated Press said.

According to the newspaper report, one of the maids allegedly stole jewelry and three mobile phones from the palace in March, allegedly at the urging of two other maids. The third maid has fled the UAE.

The newspaper didn't identify the defendants or the member of the ruling family who owned the palace in question.

(With inputs from AP)

Killing of SL doctor in Australia: Wife not seeking parole

A Sri Lankan-born doctor who bludgeoned her sleeping husband to death with a mallet in Geraldton after years of abuse will not apply for parole because she fears being taken into immigration detention, according to online ABC report.

The full report posted on Aug. 9: Chamari Liyanage, 36, is serving a four-year prison term in Greenough Prison after being convicted of the manslaughter of fellow doctor Dinendra Athukorala at their home in June 2014.

She was acquitted of the more serious charge of murder.

Liyanage’s appeal is expected to be heard in the Supreme Court as early as November.

Her lawyer George Giudice said she would not be applying for release because of her uncertain fate.

"She doesn’t want to apply for parole because apparently they will put her in an immigration detention centre," he said.

Liyanage has been eligible to apply for parole since June.

During her trial, the court heard the couple’s five-year marriage was defined by the "worst kind" of escalating sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

The Department of Immigration has been contacted for comment."