Main news (English) Archives - උණුසුම් පුවත්

05 Feb

Hopes for Justice in Lasantha’s Murder Shattered?

By unusuma.lk on Feb 5, 2025 @ 1:38 pm (LK time)

A letter currently in circulation on social media appears to indicate that the Attorney General has written to the CID indicating that he will not be indicting the three individuals named as suspects in respect of the January 8th, 2009, daylight roadside murder of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga, which therefore clears the way for those three individuals being let off.

Many journalists and social media activists, on their verified social media, have commented upon the letter and verified the authenticity of it as well.

In a letter sent by the Attorney General on the 27th, the CID has further been informed to inform him about the action taken by the court in this regard within 14 days after reporting this to the Magistrate’s Court.

The suspects recommended for release include Army Staff Sergeant Prem Ananda Udalagama, Sub-Inspector Tissasiri Sugathapala and Deputy Inspector General of Police Prasanna Nanayakkara.

Since its publication, many have reacted to the article to say that it raises suspicion that state crimes committed in the past will never come to light.

However, the government has not yet made any official announcement in this regard.

05 Feb

“Shame On You!” Archuna Points the Finger at the Speaker.!

By unusuma.lk on Feb 5, 2025 @ 12:55 pm (LK time)

MP (Dr.) Ramanathan Archuna raised a privilege issue in Parliament today (5) concerning his arrest by the Anuradhapura Police related to a traffic violation. During the session, the MP’s behavior turned impulsive as he diverged from the main issue, prompting multiple warnings from the Speaker to stick to the written question he had submitted. Despite these warnings, Dr. Archuna continued to make emotional and unrestrained remarks.

At one point, the MP openly expressed his frustration, directing his anger toward the entire Parliament and the Speaker. He exclaimed, “Shame on you… Shame on this Parliament,” a statement that drew immediate backlash from other members of the House. Fellow MPs criticized his conduct, and the Speaker intervened, ordering the removal of Dr. Archuna’s remarks from the official Hansard records.

02 Feb

Does Crucial Evidence on the Easter Attacks Finally Emerge?

Asad Maulana, who previously worked as the secretary for Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan), is reportedly preparing to return to Sri Lanka to testify to events pertaining to the Easter Sunday bombings.

Maulana, who was a key witness in the Channel 4 documentary on the Easter attacks, currently resides in political asylum in Switzerland.

The Criminal Investigation Department, meanwhile, continued probing the claims of the Channel 4 report and it is expected that Maulana’s testimony would form part of that investigation.

These utterances have now placed several well-known figures in the line of fire, including retired Major General Suresh Saleh, former Director of the State Intelligence Service, and ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

02 Feb

Urgent Decision Regarding 5 Deputy Inspector Generals.!

By unusuma.lk on Feb 2, 2025 @ 12:46 am (LK time)

The Police Headquarters has announced that four senior police officers have been transferred, effective from February 5. These transfers have been approved by the National Police Commission.

The officers reassigned are:

Senior DIG P.P.S.M. Dharmaratne – Transferred from Senior DIG in charge of Sabaragamuwa Province to Senior DIG in charge of Western Province.
Senior DIG K.P.M. Gunaratne – Transferred from Senior DIG in charge of Western Province to Senior DIG in charge of Sabaragamuwa Province.
DIG G.A.N.L. Wijesena – Transferred from DIG in charge of Kalutara District to DIG in charge of Sadhana District.
Female DIG W.J. Padmini – Transferred from DIG in charge of the Welfare District to DIG in charge of Kalutara District.

02 Feb

Govt Going to Announce Paddy Price with 30% Profit.!

By unusuma.lk on Feb 2, 2025 @ 12:40 am (LK time)

Addressing a public meeting today, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne announced that the guaranteed price for paddy will be revealed in the coming days.

He stated that the ongoing struggle for fair paddy pricing, led by farmers, will soon see victory for the first time in history.

“In the past, we campaigned for a fair paddy price based on a simple principle—adding 30% to the production cost per kilo. For the first time, we will fulfill that promise.”

The Deputy Minister further explained that five institutions under the ministry have calculated the production cost of a kilo of paddy, excluding the fertilizer subsidy. This ensures that the calculation reflects the actual cost borne by farmers.

“We have factored in the cost as if farmers purchased fertilizer on their own. Adding 30% to this cost, we will soon announce a guaranteed minimum price per kilo of paddy. Additionally, government warehouses will be opened to support this initiative.”

02 Feb

Government Moves to Reclaim Rajapaksa’s Official Residence Through Law.!

By unusuma.lk on Feb 2, 2025 @ 12:33 am (LK time)

Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, has announced that the government will not issue a formal request for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to vacate his official residence. Instead, a bill will be presented in Parliament to legally address the matter.

He questioned whether it is morally justifiable for a single individual to occupy a vast 30,000-square-foot mansion.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that rather than sending an official letter, the government will follow legal procedures to remove the former President through an Act of Parliament.

Commenting on the issue, Mr. Watagala stated:

“30,000 square feet… Oh, Mr. President, if you have a conscience, reflect on it. If not, then leave. The bill will be tabled in Parliament in the coming days. No letters will be sent—only an Act of Parliament. The process will follow legal provisions. If he chooses to leave voluntarily, it would be an honorable decision. So, he should reflect on it.”

01 Feb

Tax Hike Just 23%, 2023 Wagon R Now Under 6.5 Million.!

By unusuma.lk on Feb 1, 2025 @ 2:24 am (LK time)

The latest gazette notification on the import of private vehicles, signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance, was issued a few hours ago.

Effective February 1, the ban on several categories of vehicles—including cabs, auto-rental cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and special-purpose vehicles—has been lifted.

As a result, the import of the following vehicle categories as private vehicles under 14 HS codes is now permitted.

In line with the new tax amendments, three types of taxes have been increased. Additionally, a 3% penalty has been imposed on importers as a late registration fee.

Below are the average tax percentage increases for 20 popular vehicle models in Sri Lanka compared to the previous tax system.

The tax increase on a Wagon R/Vitz is 26%, on an Aqua it is 23%, and on a Prius, it is approximately 21%.

Some importers have already announced their prices as follows:

29 Jan

By Tagging Anura with the Diaspora Label, Is Mahinda Playing His Last Trump Card?

By unusuma.lk on Jan 29, 2025 @ 9:05 pm (LK time)

Responding to Deshaya newspaper, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision to revoke his official residence and security was a move to satisfy the Tamil diaspora that contributed to his electoral victory.

Rajapaksa emphasized that many have forgotten the past, reminding the public that it was the heroic tri-forces who halted the LTTE’s wave of destruction. He recalled the Central Bank bombing, the Dehiwala train attack, the Air Lanka bombing, and aerial attacks on Colombo, which were countered under his leadership.

Reflecting on the past sacrifices, he mentioned how villages frequently received sealed coffins of fallen soldiers. He asserted that his leadership was instrumental in ending the violence that claimed thousands of innocent lives, including those of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa.

Rajapaksa remarked that the government would witness public sentiment in the upcoming elections regarding the decision to withdraw security and accommodation from a former head of state, who remains highly vulnerable to security threats.

29 Jan

The UN Backs the Government to Fulfill the People’s Mandate.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 29, 2025 @ 8:58 pm (LK time)

A meeting took place today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Mark Andrew, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

Mark Andrew expressed the UN’s strong confidence and optimism regarding Sri Lanka’s new government. During the discussion, he assured Minister Herath that UN agencies are ready to assist the government in identifying hidden assets.

The UN emphasized Sri Lanka’s engagement with the UN Peacebuilding Commission in New York and pledged full support for national integration initiatives, including financial assistance. Mark Andrew also commended Sri Lanka’s humane response in rescuing Rohingya refugees stranded at sea.

He further revealed that the UN Secretary-General is expected to visit Sri Lanka by the end of the year.

Minister Herath described the recent election as historic, highlighting how Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity or region, overwhelmingly supported the new government. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to returning acquired lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces to their rightful owners.

Additionally, the Minister emphasized the government’s efforts to ensure fair ethnic representation in Sri Lanka’s police force. He also urged the UN to expand opportunities for Sri Lankan tri-service personnel in UN peacekeeping missions, to which Mark Andrew responded with keen interest.

28 Jan

“What Were You Doing for 8 Years?” Court Questions CID.!

By unusuma.lk on Jan 28, 2025 @ 7:44 pm (LK time)

Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake has rejected the CID’s request to remand a suspect, citing the lack of appropriate action taken against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who was previously arrested and produced before the court under the Money Laundering Act.

The court highlighted that while the CID presented the matter as a serious allegation, they failed to produce the suspect before the court for eight years or take necessary steps to freeze his assets as required by the Act.

The Magistrate emphasized that under the Money Laundering Act, freezing assets related to the incident is mandatory during such investigations. As the CID failed to comply with this requirement, the court granted bail to the suspect.

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