THOUGHT OF THE DAY -1

Former Presidential Secretary Laith Weeratunge And Two Others Have Been Summoned To The Police Financial Crimes Division

Lalith Weeratunge

The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division has questioned and recorded a statement from the former Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge over the controversial financial transaction of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

Along with Mr.Weeratunge former President of the Tourism Development Authority Bhashwara Senanke Gunaratne and Kanthi Wijwthunge have been also summoned today on the same issue according to the Police.

The former Presidential Secretary was questioned by the Police Financial Crimes Division over the same issue on  an earlier occasion
too.

Four Persons Died And Another Two Injured Due To A Van-Train Collision

Four persons were killed and another two severely injured due to a collision between a Van and a Train this evening at Mankulam(Northern Province) .The injured were admitted to the Kilinochchi General Hospital for treatment.

According to the Railway Control Room the van was collided with the  train which transporting goods from Anuradhapura to Jaffna when the van tried to cross the rail track at an unprotected Rail crossing.

Sections In The 19th Amendemnt Related To Media To Be Removed-Prime Minister

Prime Minister Ranil Wikarmasinha has said today(27) in Parliament that the sections related to the Media in the proposed 19th Amendment Draft Bill will be removed as Local Media and several critics have shown that media freedom will be affected through these sections.

Former President Mahinda Rajapakshe too has stated  last Saturday during a function that through some sections in the Amendment media freedom will be affected.

The debate on the 19th Amendment Draft Bill  has began this morning at Parliament and the President Maithripala Sirisena has been inaugurated the debate.Addressing the Parliament the President has said that this will be a historical occasion and all 225 MP's in the house should vote in favor of the Draft Bill which includes the amendments removing several key powers of the executive president .

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

The First Batch Of Displaced Sri Lankans In Nepal To Be Arrived In The Island Shortly

Around 33 Sri Lankans who have been displaced due to the Earthquake occurred  in Nepal yesterday  are  due to be arrived in the Island shortly through a Sri Lanka Air Force Plane it has been reported.They are scheduled to be transported through the Air Force Plane C-130  which carried 48 member Sri Lankan Relief Team to Kathmandu for relief services this evening.

Due to the reported aftershocks in the Nepali Capitol Kathamndu the arrival of the plane has been delayed reports said.

As there is an  Emergency Situation in Nepal following the yesterday's earthquake Sri Lankan Government is planning  to bring back all the Sri Lankans reside in Nepal numbering 140 including University Students to Sri Lanka with immediate effect.

Meanwhile the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's Office has today requested the Government Doctors,Nurses and Paramedics who are willing to provide their volunteer service in Nepal to contact the Prime Minister's Office.

Draft Bill On 19th Amendment To Be Presented To The Parliament Tomorrow(27)

The much talked about 19th Amendment Draft Bill which introducing  amendments to reduce the powers of the Executive President is scheduled to be presented to Parliament tomorrow(27).The Draft Bill was scheduled to be taken in to debate last week but due to the protests conducted by a group of Parliamentarians attach to the Opposition United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) inside the Parliament  over the actions of  Bribery Commission, it has been postponed till tomorrow.

The Main Opposition  Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya Party (JHU)have  already extended their support to pass the draft bill.The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) has yet to decide on whether to support the draft bill or not it has been reported.

After tomorrow's debate on  the draft bill  it will be taken for vote  on Tuesday(28) according to government sources
.

Meanwhile Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo the General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya Party Patali Champika Ranawake who is also the Power and Energy Minster of the current government has said that as the current government has made several constitutional amendments per the requests of the JHU , the Party has decided to back the draft bill.