Lawyers representing the Attorney General’s Department informed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Treasury Bond issue that the communication devices handed over by Arjun Aloysius to the Commission, were only six months old.

Arjun Aloysius, on Monday (24) was ordered to hand over all communication devices used during the years 2015-2016 to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Police and had complied with the order made by the Commission.

The Attorney General’s Department however today informed the Presidential Commission that the devices used were merely six months old and not the devices Aloysius had used during the period 2015-2016.

Summons that were issued on Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake last week, to appear before the Presidential Commission appointed to look into the Treasury Bond issue, were today re-issued on the former Finance Minister.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to look into the Treasury Bond issue had issued summons on the former Finance Minister but he had failed to appear before the Commission.

President Maithripala Sirisena on January 27 appointed Supreme Court Judges Kankanithanthri T. Chitrasiri, Prasanna Sujeewa Jayawardena and former Deputy Auditor General Kandasamy Velupillai to the Presidential Commission to Inquire into the bond issue. 

The Presidential Commission appointed to inquire the bond scandal at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), today ordered Perpetual Treasuries Director Arjun Aloysius to hand over his mobile phone and other communication devices used during the period 2015-2016 to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Police.

Aloysius is alleged to have made ‘unlawful gains’ in a bond transaction that took place during the 2015-2016 period, while his father-in-law Arjuna Mahendran was at the helm of the CBSL. Mahendran stands accused of insider trading and a Presidential Commission was appointed to look into the scandal the caught the attention of the public.

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a four-member Commission consisting Supreme Court Judges Kankanithanthri T. Chitrasiri, Prasanna Sujeewa Jayawardena and former Deputy Auditor General Kandasamy Velupillai on January 27 to inquire into the alleged bond scandal, despite protestation from Mahendran that he was not guilty.

The bond scandal is at the forefront of allegations against the current unity government; members of the previous regime have accused the government of covering up after Arjuna Mahendran, who is said to be a close ally of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe through his father, UNP stalwart Charlie Mahendran.

President Maithripala Sirisena condemns the shooting attack aimed at the High Court Judge M. Illanchelian yesterday in Nallur. He expressed his condolence over the death of police Sergeant Sarath Premachandra during this shooting incident. 

The President who paid his attention over the security of judges, directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to initiate a special program to strengthen the security of judges.

He also directed the IGP and other security sections to carry out an investigation into this incident.

The President who expressed his condolence to the family of the late Mr. Premachandra, said these kinds of officers who execute their duties properly are exemplary to the entire government service and the Department of Police.

The President also wishes speedy recovery to the police officer who was injured during the incident.

(GID)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today congratulated the Sri Lankan Government for setting up an Office of Missing Persons (OMP), “an important step for all Sri Lankans who are still looking for the truth about their loved ones.”

“The United Nations stands ready to support this process and the Secretary-General looks forward to [the Office] becoming operational as soon as possible, starting with the appointment of independent commissioners,” said the Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq, In a statement.

For many years, Sri Lanka's armed conflict was a matter of grave international concern. The United Nations supported political efforts to resolve the conflict and, during its final stages in 2009, strongly advocated respect for human rights and a humane and orderly end to the fighting.

In the aftermath of the conflict, the United Nations, through the work of its agencies, funds and programmes on the ground, has assisted with the safe and dignified return and resettlement of civilians uprooted by the conflict.

The UN has also encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to adopt policies to promote political reconciliation and a credible accountability process for allegations of wartime violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, who is in Sri Lanka on a state visit, has announced Rs. 58 million for immediate dengue prevention in Sri Lanka.

Australia will also provide Rs. 118 million for long-term dengue research at the Monash University, Bishop said, during a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena.

On July 17, the Australia Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that Bishop would visit Sri Lanka from 18-20 July, where she would make an announcement on combating dengue.

Bishop who also met with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake and other ministers to discuss security cooperation and explore new economic opportunities in science, resources and energy.

Bishop said she would also discuss progress on the implementation of Sri Lanka's reconciliation process, which is critical to its long-term security and prosperity.

The National Freedom Front (NFF), led by MP Wimal Weerawansa, has informed the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of their intention to withdraw from the 225-member Constitutional Assembly.

Wimal Weerawansa handed over a letter containing ten reasons for his decision to withdraw with four other members of the NFF to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, today.

These included agreement with the recent statement by the bhikkus of the three Nikayas that a new Constitution was unnecessary for the country.

Additionally, the NFF pointed out, in withdrawing, the validity of the Constitutional Assembly, which is expected to consist of 225 members, would be challenged.

The five NFF parliamentarians who contested on the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) ticket are listed below:

Leader, Wimal Weearawansa

Weerakumara Dissanayake

Jayantha Samaraweera

Udayashantha Gunasekara

Niroshan Premaratne

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the second review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the program supported by a three-year extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. Completion of the review enables the disbursement of the equivalent of SDR 119.894 million (about US$ 167.2 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to the equivalent of SDR 359.682 million (about US$ 501.5 million).

In completing the review, the Executive Board granted a waiver of nonobservance of the continuous performance criterion on accumulation of external arrears which was missed due to continued difficulties of establishing a payment platform and waivers of applicability of the performance criteria for end-June 2017 on floor of the central government primary balance and the program net official international reserves of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, given the unavailability of the information necessary to assess observance.

Sri Lanka’s three-year extended arrangement was approved on June 3, 2016 in the amount of about SDR 1.1 billion (US$1.45 billion, or 185 percent of quota in the IMF at that time of approval of the arrangement. See Press Release No. 16/262 ). The government’s reform program, supported by the IMF, aims to reduce the fiscal deficit, rebuild foreign exchange reserves, and introduce a simpler, more equitable tax system to restore macroeconomic stability and promote inclusive growth.

Following the Executive Board’s discussion of the review, Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Acting Chair and Deputy Managing Director, said:

“Sri Lanka’s performance under the Fund-supported program has been broadly satisfactory. Macroeconomic and financial conditions have been stable, despite severe weather events and global market volatility. The authorities launched fundamental income tax reform, undertook meaningful corrective actions to achieve program targets on international reserves, and remain committed to the reform program. Going forward, the reform momentum should strengthen further with greater ownership, building on the progress made so far.

“Fiscal performance has been strong. Targets for the fiscal balance and tax revenue have been met. The new Inland Revenue Act, which has been submitted to parliament, will support fiscal consolidation, make the tax system more efficient and equitable, and generate resources for social and development programs. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka’s high debt burden and gross financing needs require further revenue-based consolidation. Timely progress in structural reforms, including tax administration and energy pricing, will strengthen the platform for durable consolidation.

“Inflation and credit growth remain on the high side. While monetary policy was tightened in March, further tightening is desirable until clear signs emerge that inflation pressures and credit expansion have subsided. While financial soundness indicators remain stable, banks’ capital adequacy ratio has declined due to rapid credit growth. Financial sector supervision should be strengthened, and macro-prudential measures could be deployed to rein in credit growth if needed.

“Continued international reserves accumulation and enhanced exchange rate flexibility, to which the authorities are committed, would reduce Sri Lanka’s external vulnerabilities.”

The Ministry of Health will take over the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital in Malabe today, the Government Information Department said.

 A special ceremony to mark the state acquisition of the hospital is currently underway, under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena.

 An agreement is to be signed between the government and its current management with regard to the take over and the future functions of the hospital.

 The acquisition of the hospital is part of the government’s solution to the current crisis surrounding the private medical education in Sri Lanka.

 The Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital is attached to the controversial South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) – the Sri Lankan private medical school which is now at the centre of a major controversy.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have signed 14 instruments, including one between Shipping Corporations of the two countries.

The signing ceremony was held at the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s office.

Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque said the two countries have also agreed to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) within this year to boost trade cooperation.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in Dhaka on a three-day state visit on Thursday, highlighting the growing ties between Dhaka and Colombo.

(Dhaka Tribune)