Sri Lanka: Release thousands being held under repressive laws
2011-03-09
Amnesty International is calling on the Sri Lankan government to immediately release thousands of people currently being held in detention without charge or trial and to amend its repressive anti-terrorism laws to conform to international standards.
Karannagoda gets the green light
Thisara and Palitha not cleared
2011-03-09
The Japanese government has accepted former Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, who is Sri Lanka's nominee to take charge as the the Sri Lankan ambassador to Japan. However, requests made by the Sri Lankan government to appoint former Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK and former Navy Commander, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia have not been accepted by the respective governments.
Defence Secretary digs out skeletons from the Premadasa era due to the President's and Namal's insistence
2011-03-09
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has assigned a special investigations team on continuous requests made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his eldest son, Namal Rajapaksa, to inquire into massive fraud and corruption that had taken place during R. Premadasa's tenure as President.
Minister Johnny gets 20 expensive shirts from racketeer coordinating secretary
2011-03-09
One of minister Johnston Fernando's coordinating secretaries, Mohommad Iliyas alias Dida who uses the Cooperatives and Internal Trade Ministry for his rackets, has recently gifted the Minister 20 high quality shirts valued at US$ 279 each.
After cleaning drains and selling tomatoes
Military Police to be assigned the task of chauffeuring vehicles
2011-03-09
Plans are reportedly underway to hand over the handling of all vehicles belonging to the Sri Lanka Police Department to the Military Police in the near future.
The UNP has now broken into three. Karu's faction is the latest group to be added to the Ranil and Sajith factions. Deputy Karu Jayasuriya leads this team. A high ranking UNP parliamentarian representing the hill country is supportive of him.
Central Bank Governor pressures Nation Lanka Finance Company directors to hand the company to Asanga Seneviratne
2011-03-08
Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabral has threatened the directors of the Nation Lanka Finance Company to hand the company to businessman Asanga Seneviratne.
A senior official from the Presidential Secretariat has asked Ravi not to accommodate Maligawatte Ranji
2011-03-08
Head of the President's Staff, Gamini Senarath has asked well known casino businessman Ravi Wijeratne not to accommodate one of Minister Mervyn Silva's underworld members, Maligawatte Ranji alias Donald, at the Star Dust Casino. Ranji is known to collect extortion money from small time businessmen in Colombo.
Taprobane Kamantha blames the police for media expose on Ishara's land racket
2011-03-08
Chief Executive Officer of the Taprobane Company, Kamantha Amerasinghe had called the Director of the CID after reading the story published in our website yesterday titled, “LOLC Deputy Chairman flees the country amidst CID inquiry,” and had accused the CID officer conducting the investigation of leaking the news item to the media.
LOLC Deputy Chairman flees the country amidst CID inquiry
2011-03-08
LOLC Deputy Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara has fled the country amidst a CID investigation into an illegal acquisition of land on Cotta Road in Colombo, sources from the Police Headquarters said.
Pabha's statement to the Mirihana police on taking Rs. 50 million to cross over removed following political pressure
2011-03-07
The statement made to a woman police constable (WPC) at the Mirihana Police by parliamentarian Upeksha Swarnamali also known as Pabha, that she joined the government due to pressure from her husband who was given Rs. 50 million and a vehicle by MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena has been removed by the police following political pressure, an officer from the Mirihana Police told Lanka News Web.
Softlogic Finance Company gives loans without collateral
2011-03-07
Softlogic Finance PLC, which is registered under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, is issuing loans in an illegal manner after taking bribes, a senior Central Bank official told Lanka News Web.
Minister Kodikara takes a Rs. 50 lakhs bribe to hand over Payagala Distilleries
2011-03-07
Cooperatives Minister of the Western Provincial Council Upali Kodikara has taken a Rs. 50 Lakhs advance payment from a businessman named Diresh Hettiarachchi to hand to him the Payagala Distilleries, which is under the Kalutara Distilleries Cooperatives Association, sources from the Western Provincial Council said.
Diyawadana Nilame keeps Rs. 447 million of the Dalada Maligawa funds as cash in hand
2011-03-07
Diyawadana Nilame, Nilanga Dela Bandara's move to keep Rs. 447 million of the Dalada Maligawa funds as cash in hand has created suspicion, a senior official at the Maligawa told Lanka News Web.
UNP supporters suspiciouss over Sajith's silence over Walasmulla attack
2011-03-07
UNP supporters in the Hambantota District are suspicious over the silence maintained by Sajith Premadasa over the attack on his rally in Walasmulla on the 4th night and his failure to lodge a police complaint about the incident.
The United States is increasing pressure on Sri Lanka to investigate the deaths of thousands of civilians at the end of its civil war. Human rights groups contend a Sri Lankan government commission has demonstrated no intent of doing it.
The government has forcibly acquired agriculture land, fisheries areas and areas where people are residing under the guise of tourism development. Among the lands that have been acquired are 50,000 acres of agriculture land in Moneragala, 5,000 acres paddy land in Shastravela in Panama, 4,500 agriculture land in Batticaloa District and 4,000 acres of land from Puhulpola and Bathmedilla areas surrounding Uma Oya.
Batticaloa District parliamentarian P. Selvarasah has said that neither TNA or opposition parliamentarians nor opposition members in the local government bodies were invited for the Batticaloa District Development meeting that was held on February 27 at the Batticaloa kachcheri under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
Tickets for the musical show to collect funds for the disabled soldiers in the Sri Lanka Infantry Regiment are being sold by the disabled soldiers themselves. The show that is organized by the Seva Vanitha Unit is to be held at the Wilfred Senanayake grounds in Homagama on the 11th.
The Asian Catholic news website has reported that the security officers have not responded to requests made by civilians still residing in camps asking that they be allowed to participate in the holy service without any obstacles.
Speaker and three others get three vehicles for Rs. 500 lakhs
2011-03-06
Three brand new luxury vehicles with a market value of Rs. 500 lakhs have been brought down for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of Committees.
Trincomalee beach is also acquired
Only those possessing licenses could reside
2011-03-06
The Eastern People's Organizations said there are plans to build hotels on the Trincomalee beach after chasing away fishermen and other residents in the area and as the first step, the Navy had surveyed the land area expanding for 100 meters from the beach.
Sujeewa and Buddhika ask Duminda Silva not to criticize Sajith
2011-03-06
UNP parliamentarians Sujeewa Senasinghe and Buddhika Pathirana have asked UPFA MP supervising the Defence Ministry, Duminda Silva not to criticizeee UNP parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa, sources from Sirikotha said.
