An event to mark the 25th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s victory at the 1996 Cricket World Cup and felicitate all the players who were part of the World Cup squad in 1996 was held at Temple Trees on Wednesday (March 17) under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The captain of the 1996 Cricket World Cup winning team Arjuna Ranatunga said that it has been 25 years since Sri Lanka won the World Cup, but everyone in this country still remembers the winning moment. Ranatunga also called on the Prime Minister to appoint a committee to look into the abyss Sri Lanka cricket has fallen into at present. He said money is flowing overseas, the best people are migrating, and coaches are leaving their positions.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa recalled the day the Sri Lanka cricket team arrived in the country after winning the World Cup and how the then Captain Arjuna Ranatunga took the World Cup trophy to late Minister Gamini Dissanayake’s residence as a mark of respect for the statesmen. He also cherished the solidarity from South Asian countries when Australia and the West Indies refused to play in Colombo.
Premier Rajapaksa said, “Today Sri Lanka celebrates 25 years of humanity on the cricket field.” He said if cricketers can build excellent teamwork and play with more commitment like those days, then Sri Lanka could win the Cricket
World Cup again. “We have to look at our past and build from those lessons, and the World Cup victory gave a good lesson to all.”
Absurd allegations
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the Opposition campaign to mislead the people by making absurd allegations cannot be allowed and must be countered. He said that the Opposition has the freedom to make various allegations but these allegations should be based on facts.
He was speaking at the 14th “Discussion with the Village” program at the Galagoda East Grama Niladhari Division in the Galle district.
The President said a recent statement made by an Opposition MP regarding the Easter Sunday attacks was circulated in the media. It is a statement that directly concerns national security. Therefore, the CID investigated the matter. The MP who made the allegation gave conflicting answers to the CID such as “I forgot”, “Lost memory”, “I don’t know”. The people should never be misled by making such baseless allegations,” the President said.
Master brain
SJB Parliamentarian Chaminda Wijesiri said that not only former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, but former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should also be arrested in connection with the Treasury Bond scam. Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, MP Wijesiri charged that instead of striving to apprehend Wickremesinghe as the master brain behind the Treasury Bond scam, the present regime was deriving temporary satisfaction through the arrest of the former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.
Arrested
Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley was arrested by the CID on Tuesday (March 16) on the advice of the Attorney General. The AG had advised the CID that Azath Salley had committed offences under the Penal Code, Prevention of Terrorism Act, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights over a statement made on March 10 over Sharia law and that he does not wish to honour the law of the land.
Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera told the media that Azath Salley was arrested by the CID as he is alleged to have had links with the Easter Sunday suicide bombers. The Minister alleged that according to initial investigation it was revealed that Salley had overt or covert links to the vandalisation of the Buddha statues in Mawanella and to the attack.
“Cannot remember”
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said SJB Parliamentarian Ashok Abeysinghe who said that Pres
ident Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa were behind the Easter Sunday attacks, had told the CID that he could not remember making such a statement. Minister Aluthgamage told the media in Kandy recently, said the people have a clear understanding of the Opposition politician who tries to save himself by making baseless statements to mislead the people.
The Minister said that while taxes are increased, some people make a profit and some people lose when taxes are reduced. He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is eliminating fraud and corruption and creating respect and value for the votes cast by the people and he has reduced e
xpenditure from what the former President incurred which was Rs. 3.2 billion, by a massive Rs. 1.3 billion today.
Insult to the Judiciary
Chief Incumbent of the Pepiliyana Sri Sunethradevi Pirivena, Ven. Prof. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera told the media with people of the likes of Azath Salley, it would be imposs
ible to prevent this country from going up in flames and becoming a battle ground.
He said that it was not an issue regarding Salley alone but a problem regarding spineless persons. Ven. Thera told the media recently that the statement made by Salley that the laws of this country did not impinge on him and that he accepts only the ‘Sharia Law’ was an insult to the laws of this country and to the Judiciary.
He also said that it was clear that Salley was dragging the Muslim community of this country on a vicious racist, extremist and terrorism path. Ven. Abhayatissa Thera said that it was due to such politicians that people are instigated to carry out extremist activities such as the Easter Sunday attacks.
SLFP advice not needed
SLPP Parliamentarian Janaka Tissakuttiarachchi said SLFP candidates who obtained preferential votes throu
gh the Pohottuwa Party were now making a ruckus in Parliament.
He told the media following a meeting recently, that the SLFP was a party that had absolutely nothing to cling to and had to fall on all fours. He said he witnessed this at the Nelum Mawatha, Pohottuwa office when they worshipped SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa and asked him for nominations. Tissakuttiarachchi also requested the SLFP General Secretary to keep his stature and said they should mind their own business without trying to advise either the President or the Prime Minister and that he and his party would do the same.
Incomplete
Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said that they consider the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday terror attacks as an incomplete one.
He told a recent media briefing that although there are a few recommendations, this report had not identified anyone or any organisation eith
er local or international, that had funded these extremists and the masterminds behind these attacks. “Therefore, we cannot be satisfied with this Presidential Commission report. This is the reality and we have to accept it.”
The Cardinal said that he was unaware if the politicians had seen the carnage created by those bomb blasts but said that he had witnessed his beloved people blasted into pieces at the churches that had come under attack. “I say this because I love my people. Therefore, we cannot allow anyone to make profits or gain any advantage by having brutally killed these innocent people in this manner. That is against our religious conscience. I know that the majority of our people will not support the pe
rpetrators of such a crime.
“Therefore, if justice is to be meted out for the innocent people who were killed, we need to get out of this undermining, ruthless politics. Our country has been under such politicians, who would do anything for their gain, for far too long, but we cannot allow this to continue. We need leaders with a backbone who would stand up for the people and fight for justice, not those who will succumb for political or other gains,” he said.
Restrictions on the burqa
Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government will take a decision on banning the Burqa and the Niqab wisely so as not to exert undue influence on any party. Responding to a question by a journalist at the weekly Cabinet press briefing, the Minister said the Muslim community in Sri Lanka has inherited a unique culture and the restrictions on the Burqa should be done in a manner that does not adversely affect their culture.
“However, if there is a threat to national security through clothing such as the Burqa, it is imperative that action be taken in this regard but it should not be done hastily,” he said.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) celebrated its first anniversary at the Hyde Park Grounds in Colombo on March 15. The first anniversary celebration was held on the theme “Let’s stand together to overcome challenges”.
Many people’s representatives representing the SJB were present at the celebration. SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa told the gathering that despite the party having been formed and registered a few months ago, the SJB succeeded in obtaining the highest number of seats in Parliament and gaining the highest number of votes. He vowed to ensure the victory of the SJB at the next Presidential election and to form a Government that is sensitive to the people’s grievances and is a true representative of the people.
Bond scam
Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and seven other suspects were remanded till March 23 by the High Court Trial at Bar over the 2016 Central Bank bond scam. Karunanayake and seven others who were ordered to be remanded were brought to the Welikada Prison on Wednesday (March 17).
The eight suspects had been directed to the quarantine centre of the prison. The Attorney General on Wednesday filed indictments against the suspects before the two Trials-at-Bar hearing the legal matters on Central Bank Treasury Bond auctions held between March 29 and March 31, 2016. The accused were indicted under the Penal Code, Public Properties Act and the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance; and face charges, including criminal misappropriation and insider trading.