Breaking News 148

Colombo (News 1st); The consideration of the petitions filed with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka challenging the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill commenced on Monday (19).

Some 12 petitions have been filed with the Supreme Court challenging the bill, and among the parties is President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris PC, BASL Secretary Rajiv Amarasuriya, Chairman of the United National Party Vajira Abeywardena, and UNP General Secretary, Palitha Range Bandara, Dr. Ajantha Perera, and engineer Kapila Renuka Perera.

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya nominated a full bench comprising five judges of the Supreme Court to hear Special Determination petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill.

Colombo (News 1st); The consideration of the petitions filed with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka challenging the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill commenced on Monday (19).

Some 12 petitions have been filed with the Supreme Court challenging the bill, and among the parties is President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris PC, BASL Secretary Rajiv Amarasuriya, Chairman of the United National Party Vajira Abeywardena, and UNP General Secretary, Palitha Range Bandara, Dr. Ajantha Perera, and engineer Kapila Renuka Perera.

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya nominated a full bench comprising five judges of the Supreme Court to hear Special Determination petitions filed challenging the constitutionality of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) arrested six suspects along with 13 kilograms of narcotic substance ICE, during a special raid conducted in Nawandama of the Ja-Ela police area, Sri Lanka Police said on Monday morning (Apr. 12).

The four men and two women arrested during the raid were brought to the Police Narcotic Bureau and further investigations are underway,” Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st.

Whilst pointing out that several raids were conducted with regard to Heroin, the Deputy Police Chief noted that there is a scarcity of Heroin in the market leading to an increase in the distribution of narcotic substance ICE.

Separately, Galgamuwa Police arrested a couple and recovered 04 kilograms of Cannabis at a special roadblock in Naan-Eriya in the Galgamuwa Police area, DIG Ajith Rohana noted.

The suspects aged 37 and 40 years will be produced before the Galgamuwa Magistrate’s Court today (Apr. 12).

Colombo (News 1st); An Indian national who was arrested & remanded for allegedly damaging a statue in Kuliyapitiya has died at the Wariyapola hospital, confirmed the Prisons Commissioner General on Tuesday (06).

An Indian national was arrested for allegedly damaging several Buddha statues in Kuliyapitiya, said Sri Lanka Police on 19th March and Sri Lanka Police said, several statues located in Ratmalewatte, Kuliyapitiya were damaged on 18th March.

Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana speaking to News 1st following the arrest said the Indian was arrested on suspicion of his involvement in the incidents.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The final report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to study the recommendations of the final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Probe 2019 April 21st Attacks, will be handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (Apr. 05).

“The final report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee will be handed over to the President at 4:00 pm today (05),” Hariguptha Rohanadheera, the Secretary to the Committee and Director-General (Legal) at the Presidential Secretariat told News 1st.

According to Hariguptha Rohanadheera, the Cabinet Sub-Committee report contains an in-depth analysis on how to implement the recommendations presented by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 April 21st Attacks.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed the Cabinet Sub-Committee to conduct a study on implementing the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 April 21st Attacks and the Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee is headed by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Ministers

Johnston Fernando, Udaya Gammanpila, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga, and Rohitha Abeygunawardene are the other members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee.

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police seized a freight container truck in Dambulla for transporting a consignment of suspected carcinogenic coconut oil, DIG Ajith Rohana said on Friday morning (Apr. 02).

Upon receiving information regarding a suspicious coconut oil freight container, Dambulla Police rushed to the scene and discovered the consignment near the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre,” Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st.

According to DIG Ajith Rohana, the suspected freight container was taken into police custody and Dambulla Police will obtain reports from experts with regard to the quality of the Coconut oil consignment.

“According to the informant, the police had been intimated that the container contained adulterated coconut oil. Dambulla Police are conducting further investigations and the police are seeking to obtain a report from the experts. Facts would be reported to Dambulla Magistrate’s Court. Further investigations are underway,” the Deputy Police Chief further elaborated.

Colombo (News 1st); The Presidents of Sri Lanka and China have agreed to strengthen and enhance mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in all fields.

In a phone conversation with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted he will continue to support the sustainable development of Sri Lanka and will stand firm for Sri Lanka in the face of the unjust pressure it faces in the multilateral forums.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa thanked President Xi and the Chinese Government for their support at the recently concluded UN Human Rights Council sessions and also appreciated the presentation of 600,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka.

“The Port City of Colombo and the Port of Hambantota are two projects that have great potential to contribute to the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka. We hope to see them completed soon. The port city has the potential to greatly expand foreign investment opportunities. It is also a solution to unemployment,” said the Chinese President.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa noted the Hambantota Port and other infrastructure development projects are progressing satisfactorily and requested the Chinese Government to complete the remaining work on the project expeditiously.

President Rajapaksa said he intends to do what is necessary for the prosperity and development of Sri Lanka during the remaining four years of his tenure. “Poverty alleviation is our primary objective. For that, we can follow the example of China,” he said.

The Chinese leader expressed his willingness to help alleviate poverty in Sri Lanka, saying that in the past few years, 9 million people in his country have been lifted out of poverty.

Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka hopes to learn from China’s experience in poverty reduction and rural revitalization and is willing to expand cooperation in infrastructure construction, tourism and so on, so as to benefit Sri Lanka’s economic development and its people.