Unusuma Media, Author at උණුසුම් පුවත් - unusuma.lk

22 Jan

200M Compensation for Stopping Kandy Perahera!

Colombo District Judge Mahesha de Silva yesterday (21) directed the respondent to file their response by June 3rd in the defamation case filed by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. The case pertains to allegations regarding statements about the Sri Dalada Maligawa Perahera potentially being stopped under a National People’s Power government.

During the hearing at the Colombo District Court, the respondent’s legal team requested additional time to submit their response, which was granted, setting the deadline for June 3rd.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya filed the case, claiming that former MP Tissa Attanayake made false and malicious statements during a meeting in Mawanella on August 19th, held in support of Sajith Premadasa during the last presidential election.

The plaintiff further stated in court that the Media chanel, named as the second respondent, aired the incident as the lead story in its main news bulletin and later featured it on the newspaper headlines program.

The lawsuit seeks Rs. 100 million in compensation from both the respondent and a private media channel for broadcasting a defamatory statement that allegedly harmed Dr. Amarasuriya’s reputation as a respected university lecturer and political activist.

22 Jan

The Exact Person Explains What Happens Exactly to the Vehicle Price!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 22, 2025 @ 8:38 pm (LK time)

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, while participating in the Sirasa Battle program yesterday, expressed his intention to maintain a significant price gap between vehicles in the current market and imported vehicles when the vehicle market reopens in February.

He highlighted plans to gradually revise taxes based on market behavior, aiming to prevent undue pressure on the dollar in the initial month of reopening the vehicle market after many years.

The President also noted that a significant drop in prices within the current second-tier vehicle market could pose risks to financial institutions, including the banking sector.

Taking these factors into account, he assured that measures would be taken to reduce vehicle prices gradually, ensuring a balanced approach to market stability.

22 Jan

Suggestion in Parliament on Sri Lankan Marriage Age Reforms.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 22, 2025 @ 8:39 pm (LK time)

At the Women Parliamentarians’ Forum held in Parliament yesterday (21), initiated by Minister Saroja Savitri Paulraj, key discussions centered on revising the marriageable age in Sri Lanka.

The Forum proposed collecting input from civil society organizations and relevant stakeholders to draft necessary amendments. The goal is to establish a unified marriageable age across Sri Lanka’s various marriage laws and finalize recommendations through collaborative efforts within the Forum.

Additionally, the Forum highlighted the need to amend existing laws to provide a clear and consistent definition of “child.”

The Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Forum emphasized the Forum’s commitment to empowering women and undertaking impactful initiatives during this tenth Parliament.

22 Jan

Bimal’s Bold Initiative: Fixing Sri Lanka’s Deadliest Black Spots.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 22, 2025 @ 8:38 pm (LK time)

The tragic loss of lives due to road accidents remains a pressing issue in Sri Lanka, with 5 to 10 fatalities reported daily.

Addressing Parliament today (22), Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Ratnayake, announced a significant initiative in collaboration with the Road Development Authority. The project aims to identify and rectify high-risk locations, commonly referred to as “Black Spots,” where accidents frequently occur.

The Minister highlighted that the majority of these hazardous sites have been identified, and urgent repairs are underway. Only a few areas requiring substantial financial investment—amounting to billions of rupees—remain pending.

21 Jan

NPP Upholds the Tradition Started by JVP.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 21, 2025 @ 8:20 pm (LK time)

Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, stated that all allowances received by members NPP will be credited to a single account.

This initiative, which began in 1994 under Member of Parliament Nihal Galappaththi, is set to continue.

The Deputy Minister explained that the allowances will be deposited into a bank account at the Borella branch of the People’s Bank. These funds will be utilized exclusively for public service, enabling the expansion of services and assistance to the people.

21 Jan

Sujeewa’s V8 Struggle and Manusha’s E8 Trouble.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 21, 2025 @ 8:09 pm (LK time)

In a case involving allegations of assembling a Toyota Land Cruiser jeep by welding two parts outside the manufacturer’s factory, Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura has ordered Member of Parliament and former Minister of Justice Sujeewa Arjuna Senasinghe to appear in court on February 5. This order follows a motion filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on January 8.

The V8 vehicle in question was reportedly assembled, and its registered owner, Sujeewa Senasinghe, has been released on a bond of 100 million rupees. Additionally, the court has prohibited the sale, modification, or transfer of the vehicle.

Separately, former Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara is set to appear before the CID today (21) to provide a statement regarding the E8 cooperation program. This initiative is focused on facilitating the migration of Sri Lankan workers to South Korea for employment in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.

President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, representing Nanayakkara, informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali yesterday (20) that his client is willing to cooperate with the investigation. This announcement was made during the hearing of an anticipatory bail petition filed by Nanayakkara, seeking pre-arrest bail in anticipation of a potential arrest related to the E8 program.

21 Jan

Water Board Prepares for Major Bill Revision.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 21, 2025 @ 7:52 pm (LK time)

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced plans to reduce water tariffs in line with the recent decrease in electricity rates.

The board is currently conducting an in-depth study to determine how the benefits of lower electricity costs can be passed on to water consumers.

A spokesperson confirmed that the NWSDB’s findings will be compiled into a detailed report, which is set to be submitted to the Ministry in two weeks.

According to the latest statistics, the number of water consumers in the country has surpassed 3.2 million. The most recent water tariff revision, implemented on August 21, resulted in a 5.94% reduction in rates.

The initiative underscores the board’s commitment to easing the financial burden on households, promising further relief as discussions advance.

21 Jan

2 Months in Office: The Big Game Defense Minister Played Revealed!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 21, 2025 @ 7:45 pm (LK time)

In a detailed statement in Parliament on the 21st, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala announced significant developments in addressing recent crimes and shootings. Among those arrested are an Army Major, six soldiers of other ranks, a police officer, a civil security officer, and 15 organized criminals.

“Since September 23rd, we have observed that one or two active members of the Army have been involved in these criminal activities while still in service,” Minister Wijepala stated.

He further elaborated on the recent arrests:

An Army Major
Six other ranks of the Army
A police officer
A civil security officer
Fifteen organized criminals
Fifteen others for aiding and abetting crimes

The Minister also detailed the recovery of weapons since the current government came into power:

7 T56 firearms
10 pistols
14 revolvers
461 shotguns
58 12-bore firearms
13 Galcutas
2 repeaters

Additionally, significant quantities of narcotics were seized within the past two months:

354 kilograms of heroin
3,847 kilograms of Kerala cannabis
3.8 kilograms of cocaine
181.9 kilograms of hashish
759 kilograms of ice

Minister Wijepala also announced the re-establishment of the Financial Crimes Division, scheduled for next week. This division will handle financial crime investigations, with steps being taken to transfer files from the Criminal Investigation Department’s backlog of 29,000 cases to the new division.

21 Jan

Sri Lanka Police Introduces Advanced Traffic Monitoring System.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 21, 2025 @ 7:25 pm (LK time)

The Sri Lanka Police, with the support of Prima Management Services (Pvt) Ltd, introduced a new software system today (21st) to enhance the monitoring of traffic violations through CCTV cameras. This advanced system aims to streamline law enforcement processes, improving efficiency in addressing traffic violations.

The launch was held under the patronage of Acting Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, and Deputy Inspector General of the CCTV Directorate, T. P. Gamalath.

This initiative builds on a system introduced in February 2024, where fine notices for traffic violations were sent to vehicle owners using video evidence captured by police CCTV systems, primarily installed in the suburbs of Colombo. These notices are delivered directly to the registered addresses of violators.

The earlier software used for this process posed significant challenges due to its complexity, requiring considerable effort from police officers. The newly supported software resolves these challenges by enhancing operational efficiency, reinforcing the Sri Lanka Police’s commitment to road safety and effective enforcement of traffic laws.

20 Jan

Gota Unaware of G. Rajapaksa and Menik River Construction.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 20, 2025 @ 9:14 pm (LK time)

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was questioned on the 17th by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding the illegal construction of approximately 12 rooms on a government reserve land near the Menik River in Kataragama.

During the questioning, Gotabaya Rajapaksa claimed that he was unaware of the electricity bills issued in the name of “G. Rajapaksa” for the building and denied any involvement in the matter.

CID investigations revealed that the construction was carried out prior to 2010, utilizing labor contributions from the army. Following its completion, a member of the Navy was reportedly assigned to guard the premises.

On December 27, the CID also questioned Major Neville Wanniarachchi, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s personal security officer, as part of the investigation. On January 3, Yoshitha Rajapaksa was also interrogated, during which he similarly denied knowledge of the construction.

Notably, this investigation had initially been launched during the Yahapalana government but was allegedly manipulated when the Rajapaksa regime returned to power.

The electricity bills for the building, however, continue to bear the name “G. Rajapaksa,” raising further questions about the connection.

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