The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) which is counselling a 16-year-old girl from a “well-to-do Muslim family” in a Pune suburb, revealed a Sri Lankan ISIS link, The Indian Express said.

The girl was found to be preparing to go to Syria in 2017 and join the so called Islamic State (IS).

The ATS probe revealed that the girl took the first step towards IS after she came across a news item on the militant group about four months back, sources told The Indian Express. Out of curiosity, the sources added, she joined a related Facebook group where she came in contact with a Sri Lankan national suspected to be an IS operative.

Soon, she started communicating with other IS sympathisers through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram and email, sources said.

According to ATS officials, the girl was radicalised to such an extent that she changed her personal lifestyle within a short span of time. “Earlier, she wore modern clothes and had to be forced by her family to observe certain religious customs. After radicalisation, she started wearing the burqa and observing all religious customs meticulously,” sources also told the Indian Express.

ATS sources said the girl had been convinced by IS sympathisers on various social media platforms that they would get her admission to a medical course in Syria so that she could work for IS.

Investigations by ATS have also revealed that the girl was connected through her Facebook account to IOC manager Mohammed Sirajuddin, who was arrested last week from Jaipur for his alleged links with IS. But sources said there was no evidence that she had communicated with Sirajuddin.

The Pune ATS team has alerted police teams in the other states and international agencies about these suspects.

Directed by state ATS chief Vivek Phansalkar and IG Niket Kaushik, the Pune team zeroed in on the girl “using human and technical intelligence a few days ago” based on inputs received from others who were being lured by IS propaganda on social media.

Sources described the girl as “bright”, with 90 per cent marks in her SSC exams. She is now a student of Class 11, pursuing the science stream in a Pune-based junior college, they said.

ATS Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhanupratap Barge told The Indian Express that they are “de-radicalising the girl” with the help of Islamic clerics and with the “complete support” of her family.

According to sources, the team contacted the girl and her “highly educated” family and opted for counselling instead of registering a case as the girl was a minor.

(With inputs from the Indian Express)

The Attorney General indicted former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Nalaka Godahewa and two other individuals over alleged financial fraud at the SEC.

They are allegedly involved in a fraudulent transaction of Rs 5 million. The money was to be paid to the 'Tharunyata Hetak' organization, byt has been remitted to a company named Ceylon Premium Sports. It is alleged that the money in question was transferred as payment for some American artists.

The alleged fraud occurred on a date between August 6 to 18 in 2013.

Godahewa was arrested on December 07 by the police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) after he arrived at the SEC to give a statement.

On December 4, Police arrested former Deputy Director General of the SEC Dhammika Manjira Perera, and another individual named Ronny Ibrahim, over the alleged financial irregularity.

The security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be increased rather than decreasing it, his spokesman Rohan Welivita said in a statement today.

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Commenting on certain reports that Rajapaksa's security detail has been reduced from 500, Welivita said that the security detail was not 500 in the first place for it to be reduced from that number. Only 102 military personnel were assigned for his security, said Welivita.

He added that increasing the security detail was vital since Rajapaksa's life was still in danger. The recent release of some ex-LTTE inmates has increased the threat, he added.

Transparency should be the norm, and secrecy the exception, emphasised Dr Harsha de Silva, Deputy-Foreign Minister at a meeting on the Right to Information.

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He was speaking at a consultation organised by the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) held at the ICES Auditorium on Thursday 3rd December and Friday 4th December 2015. 

The Consultation came a day after the Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers gave its stamp of approval to a draft law on the Right to Information (RTI).  Enacting a RTI law was part of the 100 day programme of the current Government. However, the law did not get passed during the 100 day period. 

The Deputy-Minister emphasised that this time there is political will to make the RTI law a reality, and that a democratic government cannot survive without accountability. This is the second time in 12 years that the Cabinet has approved a draft RTI law, on the previous occasion Parliament was dissolved before the law could be passed. 

The Deputy-Minister commented on two challenges to address: ensuring the legislation adequately balances the exemptions against the duty to disclose information; and secondly, the need to create an implementation framework that is effective. He noted that the exemptions to the disclosure of information should be minimised and be specific. The Deputy-Minister urged civil society and the media to bring the topic under public scrutiny and make it a subject of public discussion. 

The Deputy-Minister noted the role that technology plays in implementing the right to information and the importance of using innovative technology in facilitating open government. Sri Lanka has joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP), which requires the government to prepare a two-year action plan for promoting open government. Public access to information and creating spaces for citizen participation in decision making processes at all levels of government are two major pillars of this worldwide movement, which currently has more than 60 members. Sri Lanka is the only country in South Asia that has joined the OGP, despite the absence of an existing RTI law.

Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne, MP and Chairperson of the RTI Bill Drafting Committee, also participating in the RTI consultation, emphasised that the exemptions in the draft Bill must be tested against the constitutional guarantee of the right to information contained in Article 14(A) inserted by the recent 19th Amendment. He encouraged civil society to raises issues of inconsistency with the Constitution with the Government and also in the Supreme Court. Dr Wickramaratne also stressed the importance of taking the draft to non-English audiences for meaningful and widespread consultation.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament today that concessionary duty free vehicle permits to public sector officials will be given once in 10 years.

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This comes amidst trade union action launched by Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association, the GMOA and other public services.

Wickramasinghe also said that under the new proposal, a maximum of two permits will be issued per person.

The government had earlier said that the vehicle permits would be abolished. However, amidst growing criticism, the government later said that it will offer Rs one million instead of the permit to buy vehicles.

Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala turned down a request made by former Minister Bandula Gunawardena today in the Parliament, giving rise to a tense situation.

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Gunawardena requested for a debate on the budget proposals on education, saying that there were misleading facts on the education sector in the budget.

However, Sumathipala said that Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has already given an explanation regarding the controversy in Parliament.

The government earlier said that 5.41 percent of the government income was allocated for the budget. Gunawardena and several other opposition members vehemently denied this claim.

Gunawardena was the last Minister of Education under the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Britain will give Sri Lanka £6.6m over three years to help the battle-scarred country continue its recovery from a long civil war, and will help the country with armed forces reform, 'The Independent' said.

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British Prime Minister made this offer when he met President Maithripala Sirisena in Malta yesterday.

The money will be backed up by a non-resident defence attache and access to British armed forces training to help with military reform. The aid will also help people displaced from their towns and villages during the bloodshed to return home.

The rebel Tamil Tigers were defeated six years ago after decades of war, but there have been serious concerns over alleged human rights abuses. The new President, Maithripala Sirisensa, has pledged major reforms, including a crack down on corruption.

The British Prime Minister said: "Britain is committed to standing up for those affected by Sri Lanka’s civil war. This £6.6m funding is part of a long-term UK commitment to supporting stability and prosperity in Sri Lanka."

(With inputs from The Independent)

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges named four individuals, including two former Navy Commanders as respondents in the Rakna Lanka probe.

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The respondents are former Navy Commander Admiral Jayantha Perera, former Navy Commander Admiral Jayanath Colambage, Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and former Additional Secretary to the Defence Ministry Sujatha Jayaratne.

Senadhipathi's lawyer filed a preliminary objection against naming his client as a respondent.

Meanwhile, the commission is to take legal action against former General Manager of Rakna Lanka Gamini Jayaratne for giving false evidence to the commission.

Three Cabinet Ministers have written to the IGP, seeking an investigation into allegations made by Avant Garde Maritime Services Chairman Major (retired) Nissanka Senadhipathi.

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Ministers Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka and Arjuna Ranatunga have written a joint letter to the IGP, saying that Senadhipathi has made allegedly defamatory statements to a newspaper in a recent interview. Accordingly, Senadhipathi had claimed that the three ministers were opposed to the Avant Garde Company because he had refused to pay them bribes.

The three ministers have denied this allegation, adding that their opposition was due to national interest and adherance to the good governance mandate.

The three ministers charge that their credibilities have been tarnished by the statement made by Senadhipathi.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) to give a statement on the alleged default of payment to ITN during the 2015 presidential election campaign.

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Rajapaksa was scheduled to appear at the commission yesterday. However, its proceedings were postponed since his lawyers asked for documents filed by the complainant.

The former President was in Kandy yesterday to attend religious activities to mark his 70th birthday.

Rajapaksa has already given one statement to the PRECIFAC on September 23. He attended several sessions of the proceedings last month.