Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said today a Court Order was obtained from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to check all accounts held by Colombo District United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Duminda Silva at several banks and financial institutions.

The Court Order was based on a statement made by narcotics kingpin ‘Wele Suda’ and included the checking of accounts held by two others as well.

“The accounts belonging to Duminda Silva, Wele Suda and his wife held at 82 banks and financial institutions will be probed. During interrogations by the CID, Wele Suda revealed that he doled out money obtained from drug trafficking to Mr. Silva,” SSP Rohana told a news conference today.

He said Wele Suda is reported to have gone under two other names and as such the police would also check whether accounts were maintained under these two names as well.

The SSP said the Central Bank’s Financial Investigation Unit would assist the police in investigating the suspects’ foreign accounts especially those in Pakistan and Dubai.

He said since 2012 Wela Suda was believed to have smuggled into the country about a 1,000 kilos of heroin worth some eight to 10 million rupees a kilo.

“The fate which had befallen this massive amount of money obtained from drug trafficking was uncertain. Wele Suda revealed that he paid money to Mr. Silva so as to continue his smuggling unhampered. He also alleged that Lalitha Kaushaluya, who was killed in Athurugiriya had paid money to the MP. The police found an Allion Toyota Car near a house at Madiwela bought by Wele Suda from drug trafficking,” SSP Rohana said.

He said investigations will be launched against Wele Suda on charges of money laundering and terrorist connections. (Sanath Desmond)

Watch video :http://www.dailymirror.lk/62223/police-to-probe-duminda-s-accounts

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

The President of the United States, Barack Obama, notes that there is new hope for democracy in Sri Lanka and that India can help countries like Sri Lanka forge a better future.

In a transcript posted on the White House website of a speech Obama made at the Siri Fort Auditorium in India, the US President is quoted as saying that India can help other countries with their elections by using the experience India has with its elections.

“Of course, as I’ve said before, with power comes responsibility.  In this region, India can play a positive role in helping countries forge a better future, from Burma to Sri Lanka, where today there’s new hope for democracy.  With your experience in elections, you can help other countries with theirs.  With your expertise in science and medicine, India can do more around the world to fight disease and develop new vaccines, and help us end the moral outrage of even a single child dying from a preventable disease.  Together, we can stand up against human trafficking and work to end the scourge of modern day slavery,” President Obama said.

Obama concluded an official visit to India today saying he believes America can be India’s best partner but only Indians can decide India’s role in the world.

“But I’m here because I’m absolutely convinced that both our peoples will have more jobs and opportunity, and our nations will be more secure, and the world will be a safer and a more just place when our two democracies — the world’s largest democracy and the world’s oldest democracy — stand together,” he said.

Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement today charged that a media blitz had been unleashed to vilify him and mislead the public instead of following a proper procedure to act on allegeations of wrongdoing against anybody.

Full statement

To the Venerable Maha Sangha, all Reverend Clergymen and the People of Sri Lanka,

Numerous allegations have been levelled against me, my family and my government both before and after the recent presidential election. If there are allegations of wrongdoing against anybody, there are established procedures that can be followed. What we see instead is a media blitz meant to vilify me and to mislead the public. I wish to state my position on these matters so that the people will not be misled by this unprecedented campaign of vilification by interested parties.

The allegation has been made that I attempted to launch a military coup in the early hours of the 9th January. On the contrary, I conceded defeat and having discussed matters with the then opposition leader Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, left Temple Trees several hours before the final results were announced.

The accusation that I sought the Attorney General’s advice on how to remain in power illegally is by its very nature, an absurdity. I was saddened by the comments made about this alleged incident and other matters by the incumbent president at a rally in Polonnaruwa. It is with deep regret that I state that I am not being allowed to spend my days in peace even after leaving office.

Images of the interior of Temple Trees have been disseminated with the insinuation that I and my family had led an extravagant lifestyle at state expense. Attention was focused on an air conditioned rest room with TV and attached baththroom. This particular section of the Temple Trees premises was fully refurbished for the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in accordance with international specifications. An exhibition and a banquet for the visiting heads of state were held there. Over the past decade all foreign dignitaries visiting Sri Lanka have been received at Temple Trees and the quality of the facilities available had to suit the purpose.

Raids have been conducted by self appointed anti-corruption campaigners and the police to uncover evidence of waste, corruption and misuse of state funds by my government. A stock of plastic wall clocks with my likeness, a stock of tea cups with the ‘sataka’ symbol, stickers, posters and calendars have been shown on TV with the insinuation that the very existence of such items points to wrongdoing. Yet the people know that the possession of items like that by various individuals cannot possibly constitute a crime or an abuse of power. There was even an accusation that my wife had been involved in a scam trying to sell 100 kilos of gold belonging to no less an institution than the Treasury. Since the police have already responded to that ridiculous allegation, I do not wish to say anything further on that matter other than to point out that gold belonging to the treasury cannot be sold in that manner even by the Secretary to the Treasury leave alone the first lady!

Vehicles that even remotely resemble sports cars are being taken by the police from the houses of their owners in their search for Lamborghinis belonging to my sons. But no Lamborghinis were found. My property in Weeraketiya was raided in search of a seaplane. Two containers of personal belongings of my family have been examined by the police on suspicion of being items ‘stolen’ from Temple Trees. These items were stored in containers because I had no place to go to in Colombo after vacating my official residence. They will remain in the containers until I receive the official residence due to a former president.

My government carried out more development work in this country than any other government in post independence history. These unprecedented achievements were belittled in the eyes of the public during the presidential election campaign with the malicious propaganda that the costs of these infrastructure projects had been overpriced three to tenfold and huge kickbacks taken by politicians and officials in my government. The estimates for all infrastructure projects are made by Technical Evaluation Committees (TECs) made up of well qualified and reputed engineers. The project is then evaluated by a cabinet appointed tender board which is made up of the most senior civil servants in the country. Every agreement signed with a foreign lending agency is vetted by the Attorney General and it has to receive final approval from the cabinet. Sri Lanka is now a middle income country and not entitled to development assistance. Therefore, my government used concessionary financing arrangements with the ADB, World Bank, and the Japanese, Chinese and Indian governments for the implementation of certain development projects. If the cost of a project is to be artificially inflated as some have alleged, there will have to be collusion between all the relevant bodies of the government, the international project consultants who design and supervise the project from start to finish, the contractor and the lending agency – a process involving scores of individuals and therefore virtually impossible.

Some say that the main contractor in some projects subcontracts some of the work to others at a lower cost and therefore the entire project can be done at that lower price. The usual practice in the construction industry is that sub-contractors are brought in for certain tasks while the main contractors do the more important tasks themselves. However, the responsibility for the entire project rests with the main contractor.

At times segments of the same project are financed by different lenders. Two segments of the Southern Highway were financed by Japan and one segment by China. Similarly, two segments of the Outer Circular Highway were financed by Japan and one segment by China. It is the Chinese funded projects that have been singled out for criticism. China is a country that has helped all Sri Lankan governments for over six decades. Like all international lending organisations the China Exim Bank also has procedures in place to ensure the integrity of their transactions. I wish to suggest to those concerned that this maligning of a friendly country that has helped us so generously over many decades should stop.

Outrageous and totally unsubstantiated accusations against me were disseminated through various websites and social media networks such as facebook both before and after the election. I self-critically admit that my government did not take these baseless allegations seriously and counter them in time.

However, I am confident that the truth will prevail one day.

May the blessings of the triple gem be upon you

Mahinda Rajapaksa
Former President of Sri Lanka

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire will visit Jaffna while in Sri Lanka from 28-30 January, the British High Commission in Colombo said.

Hugo Swire is paying a second visit to Sri Lanka which comes shortly after the formation of a new government.

As part of a broad visit Swire will call on senior ministers including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss the new government’s reform programme and areas of potential co-operation.

“I am delighted to be visiting Sri Lanka again so soon after the recent elections, and welcome the early progress made by President Sirisena towards a more democratic and accountable government,” Swire said with regards to his upcoming visit.

He said that it is encouraging to see such a renewed desire for peace and reconciliation following past instability and the UK will do all it can to support Sri Lanka as it moves towards a brighter future.

During his visit Swire will meet representatives from NGOs to discuss human rights issues. He will travel to Jaffna to meet the Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council and civil society, and visit the British Council in Jaffna, where significant work is being undertaken to improve access to English language training.

Britain has been very vocal on human rights concerns over Sri Lanka and had co-sponsored the resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last March calling for an international investigation on the war in Sri Lanka.

Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)

While denying allegation that his mother was involved in a gold racket, MP Namal Rajapaksa said yesterday that if anyone wanted to take revenge politically they should only attack his father or himself and not the other members of his family.

“If political revenge is the main objective, attack my father and myself, and stop making false allegations against my mother and brothers,” the former president’s son tweeted.

Meanwhile, Speaking to Adha newspaper, Mr. Rajapaksa said that a woman who claimed to be the wife of former DIG Vass Gunawardane had lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission accusing his mother of being involved in a gold racket that also involved the treasury.

“This allegation is completely false and the whole purpose is to sling mud at my family,” he said.

He said that only he and his father had been involved in politics and the other three members of the family had not. He added that the truth would come out in due course.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Pope Francis has called for the “pursuit of truth” in Sri Lanka as he visits a country still grappling with the legacy of a long civil war.

Crowds and ceremonial dancers welcomed the Pope as he arrived in Colombo.

It is the first papal visit since the end of the war in 2009 that saw the army and Tamil rebels accused of atrocities.

The country’s new president has promised an end to repression of religious minorities.

Speaking on the tarmac of Colombo’s international airport, where he was met by the new leader, Maithripala Sirisena, the Pope said that peace could be found by “cultivating those virtues which foster reconciliation, solidarity and peace”.

Continue reading >>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30789124

Source: BBC

Common opposition Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena thanked the thousands of Sri Lankans who kept their unstinted faith in him during the election.

Sirisena urged the public to now join him to help the country move towards a compassionate, Maithree era.

“I wish to respectfully thank the thousands of Sri Lankans who kept their unstinted faith in me. Let’s move towards a compassionate, Maithree era,” he said.

Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka’s long-time leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has admitted defeat in the presidential election, his office says.

President Rajapaksa has dominated politics for a decade, but faced an unexpected challenge from his health minister Maithripala Sirisena.

The statement said Mr Rajapaksa would “ensure a smooth transition of power bowing to the wishes of the people”.

Mr Rajapaksa, who was seeking a third term in office, is credited by many with ending the civil war in 2009.

Continue reading >>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30738671

Source: BBC

[By Charles Haviland]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa hopes to be re-elected to a third term in Sri Lanka’s election on Thursday. But what sort of a country has Sri Lanka become under Mr Rajapaksa and his brothers?

One day last month six astrologers were brought onto government television to discuss the prospects for the presidential election.

All six declared that not only would President Rajapaksa “secure a fabulous victory” but “nature” would “completely work against” anyone challenging him.

For nearly a decade Mahinda Rajapaksa has been the undisputed leader of Sri Lanka – perhaps I should really say “king” because that’s how many of his fans refer to him.

He is frequently compared to a conquering Sinhalese monarch of ancient times.

Not so long ago state television featured a lullaby on how the “king” saved the country from the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Continue reading >>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30656219
Source: BBC

The Wennapuwa police yesterday had recovered the bodies of four members of the same family hidden inside a small lake in the backyard of their residence at Nainamadama, the police spokesman said.

SSP Ajith Rohana said the victims were a dental surgeon attached to the Lunuwila hospital, her businessman husband,  their 13-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter.

Police officers investigating the four murders found bodies with cut injuries and their hands tied.

Marawila magistrate visited the scene of the crime in the afternoon.

The SSP said the police had been informed by a doctor-in-charge of the victim’s hospital that the lady doctor’s phone was not functioning for two days and she had not reported for work.

No suspects had been identified, police said.

Three statements had been recorded from a group of victims’ relations who arrived from Moratuwa, police officer said.

The house is located in the middle of a large land about 100 metres away from the road. The doctor’s son was a student of Joseph Vaz and her daughter had attended Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa.

The watchman, attached to the coir mill owned by the doctor’s husband, had gone missing, police said adding that no breakthrough had been made until last night.

by Madura Ranwala
Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)

Bollywood actor Salman Khan and former Miss Sri Lanka, Jacqueline Fernandez arrived in Sri Lanka early this morning and were widely speculated to participate in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election campaign.

They are close associates of UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa.

Salman Khan’s Being Human Foundation and MP Rajapaksa’s Tharunyata Hetak Organisation organised a health campaign at Campbell Park in Borella. Six people accompanied the two actors who arrived on a jet airways flight early this morning. (Deepa Adhikari)

– See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/59921/salman-and-jacqueline-here-for-mr-polls#sthash.eDxGUlJ8.dpuf

More than 24 persons had been killed and eight persons were reported missing as a result of adverse weather conditions prevailing in the country during the last few days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

The floods have also destroyed 4593 houses and damaged further 14,649 according to DMC.

Some 1.01 million people belonging to 281,767 families in 22 districts had been affected by the floods according to the latest figures by the Department of Meteorology.

Several roads had become impassable. The Polonnaruwa-Batticloa Road was closed at Manampitiya, while Somawathiya, Sungawala-Welimada and Ampitiya were impassable and was closed.

In addition Mannar Silavathurai, Puttlam Road, was closed for light vehicles.

People in and around Muttur and Somapura were evacuated as the water level in Mavilaru was rising.(Yohan Perera and Sandun A Jayasekera)

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

‘If terrorists can enter politics, why not forces personnel?’

Defence Secretary said that President Rajapaksa had promptly accepted the former army commander’s letter of resignation when the latter declared his intention to contest the 2010 presidential election.

The Defence Secretary was responding to Opposition allegation that he was using retired service personnel in President Rajapaksa’s campaign.

Defence Secretary recalled the JVP revealing the then CDS consulting them from the US in late Oct/Nov 2009 when Department of Homeland Security sought an interview.

The vast majority of military would support the government because whatever the allegations, no one could deprive President Rajapaksa of giving political leadership to the successful war effort.

The Maithripala Sirisena’s Camp yesterday told the media that Defence Secretary Rajapaksa was using Urban Development Authority (UDA) in President Rajapaksa’s campaign. Addressing the media, Opposition spokesman attorney-at-law Shiral Lakthilaka alleged that the UDA was operating digital screens in Colombo 24 hours a day to promote President Rajapaksa. Lakthilaka said that the Opposition had a list of serving military personnel campaigning for the incumbent president.

Defence Secretary Rajapaksa emphasized that there shouldn’t be any bar on retired military personnel to either contest election at any level or support a political party of their choice. The war veteran pointed out that there were a number of retired military personnel in active politics in addition to the Democratic Party (DP) leader.

The coalition that backed the Opposition candidate at the last presidential election included the UNP, JVP, TNA and SLMC, the Defence Secretary said. Those demanding accountability and good governance never bothered to ask the TNA why it recognized the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamil speaking people, he said.

Responding to a query, Rajapaksa said that many retired service personnel had worked closely with different political parties, including the SLFP-led People’s Alliance. Those worried about retired military personnel backing a particular political party had absolutely no qualms about the LTTE receiving political recognition in Dec 1989 during UNP-LTTE honeymoon, the Defence Secretary said. In addition to the LTTE, all other terrorist groups received political recognition to enable them to contest election in late 80s, the Defence Secretary said.

He said that the UDA operated digital screens were meant to highlight the transformation of Colombo since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. The official said that those advertisements didn’t carry pictures of him or the President.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)

ජනාධිපතිවරණ ප්‍රචාරණ කටයුතු සඳහා පොදු දේපළ අයථා ලෙස පරිහරණය කරන බවට ‘පොදු දේපල රැක ගැනීමේ වැඩසටහන’ මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්වරයාට පැමිණිලි කරයි.

රජයේ දේපල, රජයේ නිලධාරීන් සහ රාජ්‍ය මාධ්‍ය අයථා ලෙස පරිහරණය කිරීම ඇතුළු නිරීක්ෂණ ගණනාවක් සම්බන්ධයෙන් ට්‍රාන්ස්පේරන්සි ඉන්ටර්නැෂනල් ශ්‍රී ලංකා ආයතනය මගින් ක්‍රියාත්මක කරනු ලබන පොදු දේපල රැක ගැනීමේ වැඩසටහන, මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස් මහින්ද දේශප්‍රියට පැමිණිලි කොට තිබේ.

එක්සත් ජනතා නිදහස් සන්ධානයේ ජනාධිපති අපේක්ෂක මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ ප්‍රචාරක රැළි ආවරණය කිරීම සඳහා ජාතික රූපවාහිනී සේවය සහ ස්වාධීන රූපවාහිනී සේවය යොදා ගැනීම මැතිවරණ නීති උල්ලංඝනය කිරීමක් බව මැතිවරණ කොමසාරිස්වරයා වෙත කරන ලද පැමිණිල්ලේ සඳහන්.

Continue reading>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/sri_lanka/2014/12/141214_prespoll_transparency

Source: BBC Sinhala

President Mahinda Rajapaske said he would not allow anyone to lead the people astray and to revert the country to the bullock–cart era.

Addressing a meeting at the Dambulla Economic Centre he said the government’s development process targeted the forward march of the country with sophisticated facilities including a modernised road network and other facilities to fall in line with the developed world.

“The government is prepared to face any challenge in this endeavour. It is unavoidable that there are rivals who attempt to sabotage the development activities. Rural politicians who wanted the roads to be paved with gravel, today request to concrete the roads. They have realised that the country today was entirely different from yesterday due to the ongoing development process.

“My government always looks into the problems of the farmers. When Minister Janaka Bandara informed me about the problems facing the big onion farmers, I immediately ordered the purchase of big onion for a guaranteed price.

“In 2006 the people did not make such requests from me. Their only request was to save them from terrorism.

“Dambulla had been a border village where the people lived in constant fear of terrorist attacks.

“In 2010 I received the people’s mandate to develop the country. Development would uplift the standard of living of the people. Very soon one will be able to make a journey to Colombo after his breakfast and return to Colombo for his midday meal after getting his things done.

“This is due to the ongoing development.  Those who resort to mud-slinging and attempt to tarnish the image of patriots who saved do not have a country or nation. They are motivated by hatred and revenge,” he said.

Minister of Land and Land Development Janaka Bandara Thennakoon and several others addressed the gathering.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

“That the government has said they do not have funds to pay
salaries to the disabled soldiers from the date of retirement.”

Over 300 disabled war veterans are outside Temple Trees at the moment demanding their dues that have not been paid for many years.

Speaking to Lanka Herald, spokesperson of the disabled war heroes association, W.M.S.D. Wickremasinghe said they have not received their entitlements under the 1982 circular on disabled soldiers.

The armed forces drafted regulations according to this circular and all disabled soldiers have to be sent on retirement with the entitlements outlined in the circular, Wickremasinghe explained.

However, after serving for 20 years in the armed forces, these disabled soldiers have been paid only the pension and not the salary they are due to be paid until the age of 55 years.

Explaining further, Wickremasinghe observed that the association had even filed a case before the Supreme Court demanding their dues.

The Defence Ministry then issued directives for the payment of salaries of disabled soldiers along with their pension effective from March 1, 2014. This is not fair. The proper procedure is to pay the salaries from the date of retirement. That is what we ask, the spokesperson said.

However, Wickremasinghe notes that the government has said they do not have funds to pay salaries to the disabled soldiers from the date of retirement.

The soldiers outside Temple Trees have been injured in the battle field and the government that speaks endlessly of the war victory have failed to address the needs of the disabled soldiers compelling them to demand the President for their entitlements.

Source: Lanka Herald (Sri Lanka)

Source: BBC Sinhala