No tax hikes on imported vehicles expected

Vehicle Importers Association of Lanka (VIAL) expects no change in the vehicle prices in the country despite speculation that the prices of imported vehicles may be affected by the next budget scheduled to be presented to Parliament in November.

Addressing the media at the National Chamber of Commerce auditorium, VIA President Indika Sampath Merenchige said the rumours among the public that there would be a reduction in taxes imposed on imported vehicles were baseless.

He said the Finance Minister had given the association a pledge that there would be no change in taxes on imported vehicles for a period of two years.

Merenchige said therefore other than rectifying any irregularities that might exist in the valuation method of vehicles, the forthcoming budget was very unlikely to have any effect on prices of vehicles.

The Association said there were yet vehicles available in showrooms had been imported into the country prior to the hike on import taxes.

"These vehicles can be obtained at the same old prices, Merenchige said, adding that since the prices of vehicles were actually increasing, it was the ideal moment to purchase vehicles.

Yoshitha’s request for lifting travel ban

The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for September 28 to deliver its order regarding the request made by Yoshitha Rajapaksa that he be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa whose passport was impounded by Court over alleged money laundering at Carlton Sports Network (CSN), had sought the Colombo High Court’s permission to temporarily lift his travel ban.

Filing a motion before Colombo High Court Judge A.A.R. Heiyantuduwa, President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana with Nalin Marapana appearing on behalf of Yoshitha Rajapaksa informed Court that their client was expecting to leave for Melbourne in Australia for one month, for treatment for an ankle disorder.

They informed Court that Yoshitha had been selected to the National Rugby Pool. Counsel further informed that his passport was required to obtain visa.

However, the Attorney General raised objection to the request and Court would conduct an inquiry in this regard on September 28.

On March 14, four suspects including Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Nishantha Ranatunga and Rohan Weliwita were remanded over an alleged money laundering case.

They are currently out on bail.

Thirty Sri Lankan deported from Japan

Japan yesterday deported 30 Sri Lankan migrants for overstaying their visas in Japan. Three women are among the deported 30.

They arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on a special charter flight arranged by the Immigration Bureau of Japan, BIA Border Control sources said.

The flight arrived at the airport at 2.15 pm.

The deportees were accompanied by 64 Japanese officers, including a doctor, a translator, a Foreign Ministry official and immigration officers.

Japanese Immigration Bureau investigators had caught them in Japan on expired visas. Assistant Border Controller Ports and Investigations, M G V Kariyawasam said the Immigration and Emigration Department of Sri Lanka is currently recording statements from them.

The group will be directed to the Security and Investigation Services, after they will be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department as per procedure, he said.

Inaugural rally of JO backed political front on Oct. 8

 The inaugural rally of a new political front headed by the Joint Opposition is slated to be held at Eheliyagoda town on October 8, Parliamentarian Pavithra Wanniarachchi revealed yesterday.

Speaking to the media in Colombo, Wanniarachchi said that the aim of the new political front was to unseat the current regime.

“This government misled the people with false promises. Today they are dancing to the tune of some western countries. The government has become highly unpopular and people are looking for an alternative. Our new front will fill this void,” she said. The Ratnapura district parliamentarian also predicted that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will attend the event. She also said that a number of political parties will join the new front including a large group of SLFP politicians.

Wanniarachchi said the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was currently in a very weak state due to the party’s marriage to the United National Party to form a national government.

“If people are thrown out of their parties, they have no alternative but to form a new political party. Everyone has the responsibility to form a strong opposition,” she stressed in an obvious reference to the SLFP leadership’s decision to remove some electoral organisers affiliated to the JO.

President Sirisena poses with Obama

President Maithripala Sirisena who attended the banquet hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for Heads of State attending the 71st UN General Assembly sessions during a reception at the Lotte New York Palace in New York on September 20.

‘Ramith hit a tree’: Keheliya Rambukwella

Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said his son Ramith Rambukwella, who was arrested on charges of drunk driving this morning, had a hit a tree.

“There was a bachelor’s party. He was returning from it. On his way, his vehicle hit a tree,” the former Minister told Daily News Online.

“There was no damage to anyone, no damage to a third-party, or to public property – his vehicle just, hit a tree,” he said.

Ramith Rambukwella was released on Police bail a short while ago.

This is not the first time the son of the former Minister of Media and Information has been in trouble for drinking too much.

In June 2013, the then 21-year-old national cricketer tried to open the cabin door on a British Airways flight from St Lucia to London Gatwick.

It was alleged he was inebriated at the time.

Rambukwella said he mistook the cabin door for the lavatory, and implied the mistake happened, because he was half asleep.

He was made to forfeit 50% of his tour fee and was issued a severe warning from Sri Lanka Cricket.

The audio recording of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella responding to the Daily News Online journalist can be accessed below:

Duminda Silva seeks to overturn death sentence

Former parliamentarian Duminda Silva, who was convicted for the murder of former MP Baratha Lakshman Premachandra, filed an appeal before the Colombo High Court’s registrar office today, challenging the judgment of Colombo High Court.

The Colombo High Court, on September 8,  sentenced to death four persons, including former MP Duminda Silva, for the murder of Baratha Lakshman on October 8, 2011, in a shoot-out in Mulleriyava.

The three others sentenced - Anura Thushara de Mel, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath alias ‘Dematagoda Chaminda’ and Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Sarath Bandara filed separate appeals on Tuesday (September 20), seeking to revoke the judgemnet made by the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.

The verdict delivered by the  trial-at-bar was divided two to one, with judges Padmini N. Ranawaka and M.C.B.S. Moreis finding the five accused guilty on 10 counts including committing and conspiring to commit murder of four people, while Justice Shiran Gunaratne, President of Colombo High Court trial-at-bar found the thirteen accused not guilty of all seventeen charges.

The appeals of the four sentences  will be referred to the Supreme Court in due course.

Aluthgamage Remanded Further

Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was further remanded till September 27 by Colombo Magistrate Courts after the CID informed court that investigations into the alleged financial misconduct by him are still being continued.

Aluthgamage was arrested on September 15 for alleged financial fraud concerning the purchase of a house in Kynsey Road, Colombo.

The CID today informed that six cases of fraud, including one regarding a property in London are being probed. In the case regarding the property in London, Aluthgamage had claimed that his brother gave him money. However, there were no records of the transaction to be found as per now, the CID said.

According to the law such a transaction of foreign money had to be declared to the state.

Meanwhile, 51 construction projects under the Sports Ministry have to be investigated, the CID said, adding that 40 of these cases are yet to be looked into.