More fraud allegedly committed by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has come to light when a scam in which provided state institutions with the option of leasing vehicles from three companies close to him was discussed at the weekly Cabinet meeting.

At the meeting it was revealed that the former Finance Minister, instead of purchasing vehicles through a payment scheme – as is the practice – which is much more economical, leased vehicles from the three companies close to him causing loss to the government.

When the issue was raised at the Cabinet meeting, Social Empowerment Minister S.B. Dissanayake and Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera were among the former Ministers loudest critics, reports reveal.   

President Maithripala Sirisena had also agreed with the two Ministers that the former Finance and later Foreign Affairs Minister’s conduct amounted to fraud, sources close to Asian Mirror also reliably report.

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake was removed from his post on May 22 – at the first Cabinet reshuffle of the national unity government – and given the portfolio of Foreign Affairs Minister.

However, the Minister publicly resigned from his position after evidence implicating him of corruption was uncovered during hearings on the controversial Treasury bond auctions of February 2015, and March 2016.

Former Governor of the Central Bank Arjuna Mahendran, questioned before the tribunal today, denied knowledge of whom ‘AM’ refers to in the text messages retrieved from Arjun Aloysius’ phone.

To which Presidential Commissioner Justice Prasanna Jayawardene replied dryly – “Is your son a friend of Angelo Mathews?”

Arjun Mahendran is before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Treasury bond auctions of February 27, 2015 and 29, 31 March 2016.

Perpetual Treasuries Limited – owned by his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius – recorded unprecedented a profit of Rs. 5.1 billion for the year that ended in March 2016.

Arjuna Mahendran and Arjun Aloysius are accused of insider trading that resulted in PTL earning a 430% increase in profits in comparison to the previous year.

President Maithripala Sirisena, in a statement issued for ‘Children’s Day (October 1), said education was essential to children and reaffirmed the government’s decision to give priority to the health, nutrition and mental requirements of children.

‘It is the expectation of every adult to create a more copious and perfect life than they experienced for their children,’ the President said in his message.

‘As a country, our expectation is to bestow the children a wonderful childhood that is free from any social, economic and political burden.’

‘This is why the government has declared that education is essential to children and is giving priority to fulfill the health, nutrition and mental requirements of the child.’

Full statement follows:

Child is the universal symbol purity, innocence, and beauty. All children, born in this world, are creators of the future destiny of humankind, irrespective of their country of origin, race or religion.

Childhood is the period of gathering knowledge. In this context, what the child is collecting throughout childhood is the brilliance of future universes if human beings.

 It is the responsibility of the adults to make space for the children who are trying to understand the wonderful patterns of this universe with the open eyes of curiosity, to gather knowledge freely and experience imagination and joy.

 It is the expectation of every adult to create a more copious and perfect life than they experienced for their children. 

 As a country, our expectation is to bestow the children a wonderful childhood that is free from any social, economic and political burden.

 This is why the government has declared that education is essential to children and is giving priority to fulfill the health, nutrition and mental requirements of the child.

 It is our objective and responsibility to remove all barriers adverse to the positive growth of children, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

World Children’s Day, which falls today, will be an ideal occasion for the entire society to collectively pay attention towards this imperative requirement.

I congratulate the national celebration of World Children’s Day, organized by the Ministry of Women’s and Children’s Affairs under the theme ‘Lead Children to Their Wonder World – Along the Path of Love and Affection and wish all endeavors to create a beautiful world for children, a success!

A special discussion was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the prices of the essential food items at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday.

During this meeting it was revealed that the traders in the private sector decide the prices in order to keep huge profit when importing rice into the country and the President instructed the Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to hold discussion with the relevant parties to reduce the prices of rice.

The President gave instructions to import 5 lakh metric tonnes of rice in the next few months, without considering the prices at the international market. The President further instructed to reduce the prices of all types of rice selling at the Lanka Sathosa stores from tomorrow.

They discussed about the price increase of the big onions and the President pointed out though 1kg of big onions and potatoes are imported for a price like Rs. 65.00, but the consumers have to buy it at a very higher price due to the strategies of the sellers to make big profits. He directed the Consumer Affairs Authority control the prices of these goods. He also directed them to take actions to reduce prices of big onions and potatoes at Sathosa outlets.

President Sirisena directed the Coconut Cultivation Board to work over the price reduction of coconuts, sold in the markets. He advised them to take actions to sell coconuts to the consumers directly, without any middlemen.

The President said although the proper tender procedures should be observed in importing of essential goods, the officials should not have an unwanted fear that they will have to face problems. He directed them to act efficiently by following proper procedures.

He also emphasized that a committee consists of officials from Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture Ministry to gather weekly and decide the prices of essential goods.

He emphasized that the prices of essential goods must not be increased and the decisions taken regarding the prices must be implemented directly with immediate effect.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Rishad Bathiudeen, Mahinda Amaraweera, Deputy Ministers Sujeewa Senasinghe and Eran Wickramarathne were among those who joined this discussion.

Mahalingam Shashikumar - ‘Swiss Kumar’, and seven other suspects were handed the death sentence by the Jaffna High Court today, for the rape and murder of Vithya Sivaloganathan.

Eighteen-year-old Vithya Sivaloganathan was brutally raped and murdered in Pungudutivu, west of Jaffna on May 13, 2015.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, three brothers were arrested. Later 5 youth in Colombo were arrested and lastly Mahalingam Shashikumar - ‘Swiss Kumar’ was arrested.

The nine accused are Poobalasingham Indrakumar, Poobalasingham Jeyakumar, Poobalasingham Navakumar, Mahalingam Shashidaren, Pillainandan Chandrakasan, Shivaderan Kushange, Palani Rubasingham Kuganathan, Jeyadaran Kokilan and ‘Swiss Kumar’.

Forty Sri Lankan cricketers are currently being investigated by the Sri Lanka Cricket,based on the allegations levelled against the team by former cricketer and national selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

Wickremasinghe, in a television interview recently, said “unusual developments” happened in the Sri Lankan dressing room during the tournaments against Australia and Zimbabwe.

The former Sri Lankan fast bowler said outsiders had access to internal strategy meetings of the cricket team and former captain Angelo Mathews made certain strange moves during the match, without informing anyone.

What Wickremasinghe indicated was that these “unusual developments” suggested the possibility of match fixing and spot fixing.

It was in this light that the 40 cricketers are being probed by the cricket authorities demanding an inquiry, with the aim of ascertaining the truth behind claims by Wickremasinghe. The inquiry was launched based on a request made by the cricketers who are under spotlight. 

Among them are captains of the Sri Lankan ODI team and the Test team.

The interim report of the Constitutional Assembly’s Steering Committee decrees that Sri Lanka should abolish its Executive Presidency, retain its undivided and indivisible status, and allow maximum devolution to the provinces.

The report, presented to Parliament by Chair, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also said specific provisions should be included to prevent secession and that Buddhism should be given the foremost place.

‘There was general consensus that the Executive Presidency as it exists today, be abolished,’ the Interim Report read. ‘The President should be conferred with powers, including those in relation to Provincial Councils in specified situations and the President should be elected by Parliament for a fixed term of office.’

On the topic of the unitary nature of the country, the Interim Report said: ‘The Constitution should specifically state that the Sri Lankan State is “undivided and indivisible.” It should additionally specify that: “No Provincial Council or other authority may declare any part of the territory of Sri Lanka to be a separate State or advocate or take steps towards the secession of any Province or part thereof, from Sri Lanka”.’

‘The President whilst speaking on the Resolution to set up the Constitutional Assembly, stated that whilst people in the south were fearful of the word “federal”, people in the north were fearful of the word “unitary.” A constitution is not a document that people should fear,’ the report said.

‘The classical definition of the English term “unitary state” has undergone change. In the United Kingdom, it is now possible for Northern Ireland and Scotland to move away from the union. Therefore, the English term “Unitary State” will not be appropriate for Sri Lanka.’

‘The Sinhala term “aekiya raajyaya” best describes an undivided and indivisible country. The Tamil language equivalent of this is “orumiththa nadu”.’

‘In these circumstances, the following formulation may be considered:

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is a free, sovereign and independent Republic which is an aekiya raajyaya / orumiththa nadu, consisting of the institutions of the Centre and of the Provinces which shall exercise power as laid down in the Constitution.

In this Article aekiya raajyaya / orumiththa nadu means a State which is undivided and indivisible, and in which the power to amend the Constitution, or to repeal and replace the Constitution, shall remain with the Parliament and the People of Sri Lanka as provided in this Constitution,’ the interim report stated, in respect of Articles 1 and 2 of Chapter I and II of the Constitution.

The Report said the province should be recognized as the ‘primary unit of devolution’ and that ‘maximum devolution should be granted’ to the provinces.

On giving Buddhism the foremost place, the Interim Report said the following formulations may be considered:

▪ Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Article 10 and 14(1)(e).

Or

▪ Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while treating all religions and beliefs with honour and dignity, and without discrimination, and guaranteeing to all persons the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Steering Committee, the first sitting of which was held on 5th April 2016 where the 21-member Steering Committee chaired by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, was appointed, had identified 12 main subject areas and assigned six of those subjects to Sub-Committees appointed by the Constitutional Assembly on 05th May 2016.

The Reports of the said six Sub Committees and another report by an ad-hoc Committee appointed by the Steering Committee were tabled before the Constitutional Assembly on 19th November and 10th December 2016.

The Interim Report of the Steering Committee deals with the remaining six subjects that were not assigned to any Sub-Committee and contains principles and formulations that reflect the deliberations of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly that met 73 times between April 2016 and September 2017.

Included in the Interim Report are observations and comments by Members of the Steering Committee on the principles and formulations contained in the Report.

Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) CEO Kasun Palisena today told the Bond Commission that former PTL Director Arjun Aloysius had lied to the COPE about his involvement with the company.

He made this statement while giving evidence before the Bond Commission today.

Cross-examination of Kasun Palisena is continuing today, after which he will be re-examined by President’s Counsel Nihal Fernando.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Treasury bond auction of February 27, 2015 acknowledged today it could not compel former Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) Director Arjun Aloysius to give evidence, although evidence from Aloysius was both ‘required and necessary’.

On Monday (11), Gamini Marapana PC appearing for Arjun Aloysius raised the point that his client was not compelled to give evidence that would incriminate him at a court of law before the panel of judges that constituted the Bond Commission.

The Bond Commission had clarified its mandate at that occasion, pointing out it was a truth-seeking, investigative body, bereft of power to prosecute. 

Arjun Aloysius is being investigated by the Bond Commission into the nexus between the Central Bank and PTL that resulted in PTL making an unprecedented profit of Rs. 5.1 billion for the year that ended in March 2016, an increase of 430% in profits in comparison to the previous year at the company.

Former Director of Perpetual Treasuries Limited Arjun Aloysius arrived before the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) attached to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) investigating the Treasury Bond issue today.

He is expected to make a statement relating to evidence that was uncovered at yesterday Bond Commission hearing. 

At yesterday's hearing it was discovered that Aloysius had given Perpetual Treasuries CEO Kasun Palisena sensitive inside information on the Bond auction.

The PCoI, through Aloysius’s lawyers, issued orders to have Aloysius appear before the Commission to make a statement.