The post was previously held by MP Dullas Alahapperuma, who resigned on Friday. Minister Abeywardene was given the letter of appointment by the President at the President’s Secretariat today.
Lakshman Yapa appointed Matara District SLFP leader
Namal and Nithya granted bail in Hello Corp case
UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa, Sudarshana Bandara and Nithya Senani Samaranayake, who were arrested by the FCID over the inquiry conducted under the Money Laundering Act, were today released on bail by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris.
They were released on cash bail of Rs. 100,000 with four sureties of Rs. ten million each for every suspect.
They were arrested by the FCID into the inquiry over alleged two transactions worth Rs. 45 million in connection with purchasing Rs. 100 million worth shares of HelloCorp using alleged ill-gotten funds of Gowers Corporation, which headed by MP Rajapaksa.
They were released on cash bail of Rs. 100,000 with four sureties of Rs. ten million each for every suspect.
They were arrested by the FCID into the inquiry over alleged two transactions worth Rs. 45 million in connection with purchasing Rs. 100 million worth shares of HelloCorp using alleged ill-gotten funds of Gowers Corporation, which headed by MP Rajapaksa.
FCID probes Anarkalli & Rosie’s daughter
The FCID is investigating ex-MP and actress Anarkalli Akarsha and Thisakya Maya Senanayake, daughter of former minister Rosie Senanayake, who were among the organizing team of the 2013 CHOGM in Sri Lanka.
Former supervising MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena oversaw the organizing of the event, and had a separate office to run its affairs.
Former supervising MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena oversaw the organizing of the event, and had a separate office to run its affairs.
Questions have been raised as to how Anarkalli, presently in the US, had acquired funds to build a hotel in Koggala.Investigations so far have revealed that MP Namal Rajapaksa had given a state land to her to construct the hotel, FCID sources say.
Also, she has been given a television transmission license.
The FCID is also to investigate the deals done through Anarkalli by businessman Nahil Weerasuriya, who has had close connections with her mother.
Thisakya has a degree on fashion from London College of Fashion.
The FCID is also to investigate the deals done through Anarkalli by businessman Nahil Weerasuriya, who has had close connections with her mother.
Thisakya has a degree on fashion from London College of Fashion.
‘Untouchable problem’ for cops
Maharagama police anti-narcotic sleuths have come across a huge problem as heroin smugglers have resorted to transporting the banned substance inside women’s bras. As a result policemen need to be accompanied by women police constables.The police, acting on a tip-off nabbed a woman at the Perakum Mawatha, Maharagama last Sunday and a subsequent search yielded 900 grams of heroin inside her bra. The 50-year old suspect was later produced before Nugegoda Magistrate and remanded.
Maharagama police nabbed three other women with heroin concealed in their bras.
Maharagama OIC Chief Inspector Upali Thalagala said he had instructed the special raids unit of the police to increase the number of WPCs working with them so as to counter the latest ruse employed by drug dealers.
Sri Lanka now the Hub of Cricket in Asia
In a momentous occasion in Sri Lanka's cricketing history, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced that it has established its Head Office at Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7, at a high profile event on 20 August 2016.
The occasion was graced by Dayasiri Jayasekera, Minister of Sports and Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively, in the presence of other eminent personalities.
The decision of the ACC to set up its permanent address in Sri Lanka was facilitated by overwhelming support from Sri Lanka Cricket and the Government of Sri Lanka, both of which helped pave the way for ACC's entry into Sri Lanka.
This move will strengthen Sri Lanka's position as the nerve centre for the sport in the Asian region by uniting the region's membership base of 25 countries to work towards global prosperity of the sport.
The President of ACC and Sri Lanka Cricket, Thilanga Sumathipala, commenting on the historic occasion welcomed the Asian Cricket Council to Sri Lanka, saying it marks a new and exciting chapter for the sport in the region which will simultaneously have a positive impact on the game in Sri Lanka as well.
Three die in head-on collision
Three people died when a three wheeler collided head on with a private bus at Kohombagahapelassa in Tissamaharamaya yesterday afternoon.
All three who lost their lives were travelling in the three wheeler.
All three who lost their lives were travelling in the three wheeler.
The incident occurred at around 2.20 p.m. yesterday along the Tissamaharamaya-Kataragama road. The bus carrying a group of pilgrims were returning from Kataragama when the three wheeler which came from the opposite direction collided head-on.
The victims were residents of Kohombagahapelassa.
Tissamaharamaya Police is investigating.
‘IS child bomber’ kills at least 51 at Turkish wedding
Erdogan said Saturday’s blast in Gaziantep near the Syria border “was the result of a suicide bomber aged between 12 and 14 who either detonated (the bomb) or others detonated it.” The explosion was the latest attack to rock the key NATO member in a horrific year that has seen strikes blamed on Kurdish and Islamist militants as well as a bloody July 15 botched coup.
The president said the Islamic State group was the “likely perpetrator” of the bomb attack, the deadliest in 2016, that targeted a celebration attended by many Kurds.
The remains of a suicide vest were found at the scene, the chief prosecutor’s office said Sunday according to broadcaster CNN-Turk.
Gulser Ates, one of scores wounded in the attack, told Hurriyet the attack took place as the party was breaking up.
“We were sitting on chairs, having a chat with one of our neighbours.
“During the explosion, the neighbour died on top of me. I remember being underneath. If my neighbour hadn’t fallen on top of me, I would have died,” she said.
“The bride and groom’s happiest day was poisoned.” Another resident in Gaziantep told Dogan news agency he saw many dead bodies and body parts including a “head, arm, hand scattered on the ground”.
The bride and groom -- Besna and Nurettin Akdogan -- were rushed to hospital but were not seriously wounded. - AFP
All SLFP JO MPs to quit from organiser ranks
Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, Rambukwella said the resignation letters would be sent to the Party Leadership shortly.MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Bandula Gunawardena announced their decisions to resign from organiser posts, stating that the resignation letters would be sent to President Maithripala Sirisena today.
Rambukwella said the rest of the JO members would also follow the same line.
SLFP MPs Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Kumara Welgama, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Mohan de Silva, Lohan Ratwatte, Johnston Fernando, Vidura Wickremanayake, Ranjith de Zoysa and Janaka Wakkumbura will resign from district and electoral organiser ranks in the coming few days.
This decision comes in the wake of President Maithripala Sirisena appointing 40 new district and electoral organiders as a part of the restructuring process of the party. With the new appointments seven JO MPs including Keheliya Rambukwella, Gamini Lokuge, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, C.B. Rathnayake, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Uditha Lokubandara were stripped off their positions.
At the same time, the JO sent a letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya last week asking to recognise them as Independent MPs in the Opposition. Rambukwella said all 51 JO MPs signed this letter.
He said the JO meeting convened today would take several crucial decisions including that of their decision to be independent MPs in Parliament. Asked whether they would also claim for the post of Opposition Leader, the MP said it would also be discussed but added the JO should win their due rights and privileges in Parliament before claiming on that position.
Commenting on this development, Finance State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said it exposes the JO MPs anxieties that they would be the next to be removed. “They are uncertain about their positions as they know their wrongful conduct. Their resignations will have no effect to the Party. The Party Leadership will appoint new organisers and take the party forward with a new look,” he said. The state minister also said none of the SLFP members in government ranks would join with the JO group. “All those speculations in that regard were untrue,” he said.
Meanwhile, MP Chamal Rajapaksa said that he has not signed the letter by the JO handed over to the Speaker asking to be recognised as independent MPs.
He also said that his participation to the JO meeting today was unsure.
“I have got another meeting at the Speaker’s residence. I will attend it first and then decide on the JO meeting,” he said.
Asked about his participation at the 65th SLFP Convention in Kurunegala, MP Rajapaksa said he would decide it after having a round of talks with the SLFPers in his electorate. “I will not go by the decisions made by any other group. My decision will be made after discussing with the members of SLFP branches in my area and I hope to meet them shortly,” he said.
Commenting over the JO’s decision to resign from electoral and district organiser posts, MP Rajapaksa said it is better if both sides of the division in the SLFP be patient and flexible at this time as the party is undergoing a turbulent time.
“I remember when former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was leading the party, Philip Gunawardena tried to break away with a group. Bandaranaike at that time personally talked to each member in the rebel group and asked them not to leave the party. These are past experiences which will be useful in dealing with the present situation. Threatening and intimidating would make the matters worse,” he said.