Day: 6 December 2015

Ex – Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission Nalaka Godahewa Evades Arrest as Police Crack Down on “Stock Market Mafia” Under Rajapaksa Regime The Financial Crimes Division sent out fresh teams yesterday to arrest Nalaka Godahewa, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He is wanted in connection with the SEC transfer of five million rupees to Tharunyata Hetak (A tomorrow for youth), an organisation headed by Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. According to investigations the money said to be allocated for an awareness programme among rural youth on investing…

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An end seems to be in sight for the political prisoner issue with the Government saying it will consider a General Amnesty for the detainees arrested for minor offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The detainees, The Sunday Leader learns, had informed the Government through their relatives last week that they will not accept another investigation but instead want their unconditional release. The Government had earlier said it will appoint a special commissioner to expedite the investigations into the detainees. However, the detainees had demanded that the Government…

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Probe called by the UNP by Nirmala Kannangara The government’s decision to initiate an investigation into the alleged siphoning of millions of rupees from state coffers to be given to the LTTE by the Rajapaksas before and after the 2005 presidential election has been hailed by all quarters of the country. According to the Minister of Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilake, once the investigation is concluded, the entire country will come to know how the Rajapaksas, who boasted of being patriots, had allegedly strengthened the LTTE by funding them with billions…

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By Rasika Jayakody When President Maithripala Sirisena, former General Secretary of the SLFP, visited Paris before the Parliamentary election in 2010, the Paris Branch of his party was bitterly divided. Both factions of the Paris Branch of the SLFP attempted to hold separate meetings with the then General Secretary of the party who was visiting France on an official matter. President Sirisena, who had been in the party for nearly three decades, did not take too long to realize that an internal power struggle was simmering in the party due to…

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by Easwaran Rutnam Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been accused of busting millions of rupees to construct a museum at Medamulana in memory of his father, the late politician D. A. Rajapaksa. Documents presented to Parliament last week by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera revealed that the D. A. Rajapaksa Museum and memorial statue was constructed at a cost of Rs. 62.07 million using public funds. It was also revealed that the Navy was paid Rs. 25 million to construct the museum by the former government. The construction of a waterfall…

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Thajudeen’s killers identified – CID By Niranjala Ariyawansha The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has identified National rugby star Wassim Thajudeen’s killers. CID sources said that however this is yet to be confirmed by Court when hearings into the case are next held. A top Cid official told Ceylon Today that the identified suspects will be arrested as soon as the CID receives a Court Order. Dr. Ajith Tennakoon, the Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday that the victim had been dumped on the passenger seat…

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Magisterial verdict on December 10 Ending months of controversy over the alleged cause of death of Wasim Thajudeen, the verdict of the magisterial inquiry into the case is due on December 10, authoritative legal sources told the Sunday Observer. The magistrate, considering the JMO report and other evidence presented before the court, will determine whether the rugby player’s death was a murder or the result of a fatal accident. The Homicide Unit of the CID and Judicial Medical Officers who presented the JMO report have already established that it was…

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COLOMBO: The Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran on Friday expressed a wish send relief to the flood-affected people of Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu as an expression of gratitude for the way the people of Tamil Nadu had risen in support of the beleaguered Tamils of Lanka in the 1980s bringing the latter’s plight to the attention of the international community. The CM said in a press release that the Board of Ministers of the Northern Province would meet to discuss what could be sent to Chennai from…

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By Hilmy Ahamed – Mohammed Wasim Thajudeen died or was murdered on the 17th of May 2012. He played rugby for St. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia, Havelocks Sports Club and Sri Lanka National Rugby team. He was a brilliant rugger-rite- and a much loved human being. Wasim’s death is surrounded in mystery with rumours that members of the security division of a certain VVIP killed Wasim. There are also unverified reports claiming that the police investigations into Wasim’s death had been shelved due to political wheeler dealing. God forbid that…

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Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe held a one-on-one meeting in the Prime Minister’s office in the Parliamentary complex yesterday. It is claimed that Ranil and Mahinda are working against Maithiri who wants to end the Presidency after this term. Ranil who wants to be the next President of Sri Lanka has no choice other than to get the help of Mahinda who is opposed to abolishing Presidency in Sri Lanka.  It will be known soon if President Maithiri will be toppled and Ranil will take over as…

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