A cobra that had entered the main hall of Parliament through the MPs' special entrance was captured by a Police Officer and subsequently handed over to the officials of the Wildlife Department yesterday.
An employee had spotted the cobra around 8:45 a.m. yesterday and asked the Policemen to get rid of it just in case it did not take too kindly to an MP on either side of the Chamber. The Diyawanna's profusion of pythons and vipers have of late taken a keen interest in seeking entry into Parliament.
Former Parliamentarian R. Duminda Silva, speaking before the verdict, in the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar, relating to the murder of former MP and Presidential Adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three of his bodyguards, was given, said he had been charged with various offences and that the only thing he has to say is that he is not guilty of the crime and that he cannot even remember the said incident.
When the death sentence was handed down to him the accused Duminda Silva was seen looking down.
However, after the verdict his supporters were seen clamouring to get a glimpse of him before he and the other convicts were taken to the Welikada Prison under the protection of the Prisons officers and the STF.
Minister of Cultural Affairs, Internal Affairs and Wayamba Development, S.B. Navinna, informed Parliament yesterday that diplomatic passports issued to former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga and his wife had been cancelled and they had been issued normal passports.
The Minister said the change to ordinary passports had been effected prior to a Court order being issued against the couple and that had there been a Court order prior to that, such passports would not have been issued.
The Minister made these remarks in response to a question posed by JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa who claimed that Weeratunga had been charged with various crimes including allegations made against him by the Ukranian Government.
Former Ambassador Weeratunga has been linked to the death of a Sri Lankan employee at the Lankan Embassy in Moscow. MP Jayatissa demanded to know who had permitted an individual with such allegations against him to be issued a new passport.
The Minister explained that there was no problem with the renewal or issuance of a new passport to an individual who had been accused of a crime as long as there was no judgment or Court order against the said individual, adding that following developments in the case, the Controller of Immigration and Emigration had informed the International Police (INTERPOL) of Weeratunga and the allegations against him.
The Minister went on to say that Weeratunga's wife had returned to the country and was responsible for obtaining a new passport for her husband while the Police were investigating complaints against him. The Minister noted that these developments had taken place with the concurrence and assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that the new Government had cancelled the diplomatic passport given to Weeratunga and issued him an ordinary passport despite there being a Court order to the contrary.
UNF Colombo District MP Hirunika Premachandra said after clamouring for justice, in connection with the murder of her father, for five long years, her struggle had triumphed after five suspects in the case were sentenced to death by a special trial-at-bar of the Colombo High Court (CHC) last morning.
The Colombo High Court yesterday handed down death sentences on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th and 11th accused, including former MP Duminda Silva. The fifth suspect was not in Court when the verdict was announced.
Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, a former Presidential Adviser, and his bodyguards, were mowed down in a flurry of bullets in October 2011 shortly before the elections, on the campaign trail.
Speaking to reporters gathered outside the CHC, Hirunika said that even though justice may have been delivered in the form of the verdict, she will never again see her father alive.
"We did not go to Court to influence its verdict. My only concern was to see justice being meted out for the killing of my father.
"We were only able to seek justice after President Maithripala Sirisena came to power. My mother and I constantly live with just the memories of my father at home."
Hirunika added that she fervently hoped that similar justice would be meted out in the killings of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Ekneligoda etc.
Death sentences are automatically commuted to life sentences in Sri Lanka since the death penalty is not carried out under law.
Defence counsel appearing for Duminda Silva and four others, who were sentenced to death, told the media at the Colombo High Court premises that they would appeal against judgment delivered by the judges of the High Court Trial-At-Bar.
They said they would do so within the 40 days allowed by law to file an appeal.
Former parliamentarian Duminda Silva and five others received death sentences in connection with the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.
The case was taken up before a trial-at-bar. The defendants were charged with unlawful assembly and attempted murder.
The prison sentence was handed down on former parliamentarian Duminda Silva, Anura Thushara Demel, Chandana Jagath Kumara, Chaminda Ravi-Jayanath alias ‘Dematagoda Chaminda’, Lanka Rasanjana, W.A. Malaka Sameera, Vidanagamage Amila, Sarath Bandara, Suranga Premalal, Saman-Kumara Abeywickrema, Rohana Marasinghe and Nagoda Liyanarachchi.
It was revealed during the trial that one of the defendants in the case, Janaka Bandara Galegoda was reported missing.
This case was taken up for trial on October 12, 2015 before High Court judges Shiran Gooneratne, Padmini Ranawaka Goonetilake and MCGS Morais.
Seventeen indictments were filed against the defendants in connection with unlawful assembly and attempted murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and four others on October 8 in the Walpola junction, Mulleriyawa.
In order to develop the regular costal transportation services all measures have been taken to build jetty at Jaffna. Northern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Priyantha De Silva said that the development work has already been started from Eluvativu Warden.
This was revealed at a meeting which was held regarding the development of the port peninsula. Because of the use of labor force and expertise of professional of the Navy a minimum cost was spent on the development of the Jetty.
The total number of islands in Jaffna is 11, out of that only seven islands are inhabited. They are Karikattuwan, Nagadeepa, Delft, Analathivu, Eluvativu, Kites and Karainagar. From all of these islands Delft Island is the one which is far from Jaffna. The other islands are located 2-3 km from the city of Jaffna. Artificial roads are open to Kites and Karainagar Islands.
Only boats can access to the other islands. Even though there were Jetty’s located in every island since time they were not properly maintained. The main expectation of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping is that to develop the jetties using the navy’s labor force and expertise of the professionals. Northern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Priyantha De Silva said that under this project the Eluvativu and Analathivu islands are expected to develop the piers. Eluvativ Pier Development has already begun.
Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday that the government would not abolish the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine.
The government would have to face legal action if it abolished the SAITM, he said.
The Minister said the government hoped to develop the SAITM as a public-private partnership. The government needed the assistance of the JVP for that purpose.
The Minister said so responding to a question raised by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. (SI)
