President Maithripala Sirisena, in his address to the UN General Assembly, fell short of presenting specific proposals to "acquit" whom he termed war heroes from war crimes charges.

Before he left Colombo to attend the summit., Sirisena told newspaper editors that he would present a fresh set of proposals to the UN aiming to protect the country's armed forces from prosecution. 

However, Sirsena's speech at the UN was full of political rhetoric and frills, with little attention to details and specifications. 

He called upon the international community to look at Sri Lanka from a fresh perspective and consider the "tremendous progress" made by his government towards reconciliation, restoration of democratic freedom, human rights and the rule of law. 

 Sirisena also asked world leaders to extend the fullest support to build a progressive, democratic, free and equal society in the country. 

He also said Sri Lanka was taking action to consolidate peace and forge ahead to develop the economy, and such a nation deserves the support and understanding of the international community. 

“I urge the international community to allow Sri Lankan people to solve their problems on their own,” he said. 

"As an independent country we do not want any foreign power to exert influence on us. We want to appeal to the international community to give us the room to resolve the problems that we are facing so that the right of the Sri Lankan people to find solutions to their problems is respected, " he added.

The President  said that the government was also  working to eliminate fear and suspicion among different communities. 

Quoting from the Buddha’s preaching in the Sallasutta of Samyuktha Nikaye in Thripitaka, he said, "if a man is pierced with a dart, he will suffer physical pain. When he worries about it, he suffers more pain. Hence, there are two kinds of pains suffered by the man. When it comes to Sri Lanka, it is the people who suffered pain due to war and they continue to feel pain when they think about it. Therefore, I take this opportunity to call upon your support and cooperation." (Sic)

The audio clip relating to the alleged conspiracy on President Maithripala Sirisena's life would be sent to Singapore for further inquiries, top Police sources said. 

They added, in Singapore, the authenticity of the sound clip would be analyzed by experts. 

The audio clip allegedly contains a conversation between former Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) DIG Nalaka Silva and an individual named "Namal Kumara."

They also started that there are glaring contradiction in the police statement given by Namal Kumara, the man who revealed the alleged conspiracy to media recently.

However, they did not go on to elaborate what those "contradictions" are. 

Kumara gave a 10 hour statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) earlier this week on the alleged conspiracy on President's life .

DIG Silva has been sent on compulsory leave until the end of investigations. 

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara has requested the Police Commission to send DIG Nalaka Silva on compulsory leave to facilitate an independent prove into the alleged assasination attempt on President Maithripala Sirisena. 

DIG  Silva, who is now under investigation over the alleged conspiracy, was previously transfered to overlook the Police IT Division. 

Before that, he was the head of the Police Terrorist Investigations Division (TID). The transfer was made by IGP Pujitha Jayasundara pending inquiry. 

The investigation into the alleged plot was previously handled by the Police Special Investigations Unit and was later transfered to the CID under directives from IGP Jayasundara. 

The Police started investigations into the TID DIG after Anti-corruption Front, an organization affiliated with President Maithripala Sirisena, revealed an alleged plot to kill the President and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. 

The organization, in a press conference, said some audio clips relating to the alleged plot had already been handed over to the Police Commission for further investigations. 

They alleged DIG Nalaka Silva was involved in the alleged plot and his voice could be identified in the said audio clips. The contract to kill Sirisena, according to them, was to be given to an underworld kingpin who is currently in Dubai.

President Maithripala Sirisena has ,for the first time, explained why he recalled the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Austria and her staff for failing to answer a phone call. 

Addressing a public meeting, Sirisena said his staff attempted to contact the Ambassador over the phone for four and a half hours . 

Although six phones rang, the President said, no one answers . He said it was a serious situation as the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in Vienna offered services to several countries . 

Sirisena said the entire staff of the embassy was recalled as a lesson to all diplomatic mission. 

Former Parliament Secretary General Priyani Wijesekera was the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Austria. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a report on the investigations into the assasination plot to kill President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

The investigation, in which DIG Nalaka Silva, is implicated is currently being handled by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). 

The investigation was previously handled by the Police Special Investigations Unit and was later transfered to the CID under directive from IGP Pujith Jayasundara. 

The Police started investigations into the TID DIG after an organization affiliated with President Maithripala Sirisena revealed an alleged plot to kill the President and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. 

The organization, speaking to media, said some audio clips relating to the alleged plot had already been handed over to the Police Commission for further investigations. 

They alleged DIG Nalaka Silva was involved in the alleged plot and his voice could be identified in the said audio clips. The contract to kill Sirisena, according to them, was to be given to an underworld kingpin who is currently in Dubai.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in New Delhi this morning on a three-day visit during which he will address a public gathering in New Delhi. 

Rajapaksa and his delegation were welcomed by BJP stalwart Dr. Subramanian Swamy, a long-time friend of the former Sri Lankan President and the facilitator of the visit. 

Rajapaksa's speech, according to Swamy, will be on strengthening Indo-Lanka relations and the way forwad. 

The former Sri Lankan President, however, had a turbulent relationship with India towards the latter part of his government. 

Rajapaksa even accused the Indian intelligence service of working behind his back to bring his former aide, Maithripala Sirisena, to power. 

Despite these bitter allegations, Rajapaksa have maintained cordial releations, on a personal level, with Indian Prime Minister narendra Modi and his camp. 

Swamy, a minor party leader affiliated with the BJP, has often described Rajapaksa as a true friend of India. 

The former President's visit to New Delhi can be contrued as an effort to mend his relations with the 'big brother' before his party's comeback bid next year. 

President Maithripala Sirisena today said a fresh proposal would be presented to the United Nations Human Rights Commission to acquit whom he termed as Sri Lankan war heroes from war crimes charges. 

Although the President did not elaborate as to how he planned to go about it, he indicated that this proposal would be a resolution presented to the UNHRC at a future session. 

Addressing an SLFP meeting in Nivithigala today , President said he would talk abut this matter at his UN General Assembly speech, later this month. 

"There will be a lot of criticism. But I am sure we can overcome this challenge," he said. 

However, Sri Lanka has already come under fire from UNHRC on moving too slow over the previous resolutions. Although Sri Lanka has co-sponsored a resolution, two years ago, at UNHRC, on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, its recommendations are yet to be fully implemented. 

Commenting on the President's latest remark, several foreign policy experts opined that the majority of member nations of the UNHRC would not support a resolution on 'acquitting Sri Lankan soldiers ' without a convincing investigation. 

"How on earth can they acquit Sri Lankan soldiers without an investigation? On what grounds can they support such a proposal?" a leading foreign policy expert who did not wish to be quoted asked, during an interview with Asian Mirror. 

Such a proposal, he added, would turn Sri Lanka into a laughing stock in their eyes. 

Meanwhile, the President also stated that the Presidential Election would not be held even a single day ahead of the scheduled time. 

Car registrations have sky rocketed in Sri Lanka in the last 3 months mainly in the small car category that account for close to 90% of volumes.

"The impact of the recent increase in minimum duty rates will only be reflected in registrations towards the end of the year for there are large stocks of unregistered cars in the market and many more on the water that will not be taxed at the higher rates," JB Securities, in a report, said yesterday. 

 "It may also be appropriate to reinstate the 50% LTV rate on financing of hybrid cars from the current 70% - excess credit towards purchasing of cars is driving imports and holding up the cost of borrowing which has not tracked policy and GSEC yields downwards. On the flip side taxi hailing platforms like Uber and Pickme have created a professional class of drivers who need financing to get their first vehicle thus any measures to curtail funding is a regressive measure – in such instance the car is a production asset rather than a consumption asset. Getting policy always right is very difficult for there are winners and losers thus one has to balance the various interests," the report also added.

It said the restriction imposed on civil servant car permits such as eligibility and transferability have been relaxed which has resulted in a supply of 6-8,000 permits.

"A bearer of a permit is entitled to a discount of LKR 3.6 million on the excise taxes payable irrespective of the CIF value of the vehicle. Most of these permits are been sold at a price between LKR 2.1 million and LKR 2.3 million – a back of the envelope calculation would estimate that permit holders have been enriched by a sum close to LKR 15 billion," the report stated.

 It also added, "Not only does such a scheme encourage further rent seeking and create an entitled class and but it also reduces tax morality amongst compliant tax payers – tax compliance is lower when compliant tax payers witness other taxable cohorts not paying their fair share of taxes.

 The wealth transfer to those who are entitled to a permit is not necessarily an equivalent loss to the treasury for demand would have been significantly lower due to higher prices but it accentuates imports. Firstly, the sellers of permits who are enriched by LKR 2.1-2.3 million probably purchase durable goods including small cars that are imported. Secondly, the permit buyer creates further import pressure for he will probably invest in a more expensive car incentivised by a partial discount.

Finally, fuel is yet under taxed relative to other imported goods especially diesel. Some estimates state that the top 30% of households benefit from 70% of the tax subsidy thus is a regressive measure. Relatively lower priced fuel coupled with cheaper vehicles has created a lethal cocktail that is now pressurising the currency and driving the LKR to set new daily records.

Perhaps its time for policy makers to rethink the lower LTV on hybrid vehicles, reintroduce restrictions on civil servant permits such as the eligibility criteria and transferability and adequately tax fuel so that it is in line with other imported products and accounts for externalities including congestion and pollution.

Attachment 2 are notable premium cars in July (less exciting) and attachment 3 are notable premium cars in June (more exciting with a couple of Bentleys). Considering the very high incidence of taxation on these premium cars I believe it is sufficiently progressive form of taxation (30-50x the tax on a small car) and thus does not warrant a change."

The Colombo Municipal Council has passed a proposal recommending to charge Rs. 400 from a child visiting the Vihara Mahadevi Park, Colombo 07. 

The money will be charged by a private company which will upgrade the park with new sport equipment for children. 

The CMC sources said the Crow Island park in Colombo will also fall under the same development plan. 

The proposal has been presented under the recommendation of the Finance Committee of the Colombo Municipal Council. 

The members representing the UNP, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and Sri Lanka Freedom Party have voted in favour of the proposal. 

The JVP has voted against it saying the propal, if implemented, will restrict the Vihara Mahadevi Park to the 'privileged' children. 

The proposal is expected  to be fully implemented in two months. 

The Colombo Municipal Councilors have voted to increase their monthly allowance by Rs. 25000. 

The councilors previously received a monthly allowance of Rs. 20,000. Under the new salary increase, they are entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs. 45000. 

Under the new electoral system, the number of Councilors of the Colombo Local Government body increased from 53 to 119. 

At the General meeting of the council, 68 members have voted in favour of the proposal while 07 members objected. 

Interestingly, the Sri Lanka Podujana Permuna members were absent at the time the vote was taken. 

The members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna representing the council voted against the proposal.