Court refuses to free student activist Lahiru Weerasekera

Champika arrest violates Parliamentary norms

The Office of the Speaker has expressed concern over the arrest of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, asserting that the arrest had violated Parliamentary traditions and privileges followed when arresting an MP. The Speaker affirmed that he must be notified before a Parliamentarian could be arrested and that he was not duly notified prior to the arrest of MP Ranawaka. In a statement, the Speakers Office noted that former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa had set precedent on similar situations in the past wh

19 Dec, 2019

Government denies claims of political witch hunt

Government today denied claims that it has launched a political witch hunt on members of the opposition. Cabinet spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the current administration has no intention of following the line taken by the former Government accusing them of taking revenge on the then opposition. Gunawardena insisted that the due process was followed when former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was arrested. He said that the arrest was made on the advise of the Attorney Gen

19 Dec, 2019

TISL encouraged by convictions handed over to two ex-officials

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) is encouraged by the convictions handed down by the Special High Court Trial-at-Bar, which sentenced the former President?s Chief of Staff I.H.K. Mahanama and the former Chairman of the State Timber Corporation P. Dissanayaka to 20 years and 12 years rigorous imprisonment respectively. Both men were found guilty of soliciting a bribe of Rs.100 million and accepting an advance payment of Rs. 20 million from an Indian businessman, who was the complainant

20 Dec, 2019