Cabinet Spokesman Has Denied Reports Published That There Was A Cabinet Paper Submitted To The CABINET On Handing Over Eastern Port Terminal To India

Co-Cabinet Spokesman ,Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne has  denied that there was a Cabinet Paper submitted to the Cabinet by Minister of Port  and Shipping Mahinda Samarisinghe to handover the Eastern Terminal of Colombo Harbor to India on lease .

There was no such Cabinet Paper submitted to the Cabinet in this regard so far Dr.Senaratne has said during the Cabinet briefing held at Government Information Department today (17).

However some reports appeared in media have  stated today that there was a Cabinet Paper submitted regarding handing over of the Eastern terminal attached to Colombo Harbor to India on lease and President has strongly opposed to it during the Cabinet meeting held last night (16).

President has also indicated the importance of maintaining Eastern Terminal of Colombo Harbor under Sri Lanka  Ports Authority during the meeting the reports have said.

President Has Dissolved The Director Boards Of Three State Financial Institutions

President Maithripala Sirisena has

dissolved the Board Of Directors of three State Owned Financial Institutions, namely The Board Of Investment  (BOI)Bank Of Ceylon and People's Bank with effect from midnight tonight  (17) over an allegation levelled against the Boards on misuse of funds in these institutions .

A proper investigation will be conducted on the allegations levelled  against Board Of Directors of these three state institutions the Presidential Media Division has announced.

FIFTY EIGHT PENGUINS KILLED IN A SUSPECTED DOG ATTACK

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Former Minister MP Johnston Fernando And Two Others Acquitted From All Charges

Former Trade Minister and MP

Johnston Fernando and two others arrested and remanded over involving in a financial fraud at CWE  (Sathosa)branch in Kurunagala ,have been acquitted from all charges levelled against them  today (27)by the Kurunagala High Court Judge Menaka Jayasundara.

Accordingly the three suspects MP Johnston Fernando ,His private Secretary Mohommad Zakir and former Laksathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando have been acquitted from all charges levelled against them on purchasing goods worth more than Rs. 3.8 million from a CWE Kurunagala branch without paying money in 2013 ,due to the poor and contradictory evidence produced against the suspects by complainants it has been revealed. 

The Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID)has filed charges against the suspects.

The Bail Application filed by the suspects has been rejected by the Court of Appeal recently.

Meanwhile former President MP Mahinda Rajapakshe and his son MP Namal Rajapakshe had met the released MP Johnston Fernando at his residence in Kurunagala according to reports.

Funeral Of Late Singer Visharada Amara Ranathunge To Be Held At Borella Cemetery

The funeral of the late popular singer Professor Visharada Amara Ranathunge who had passed away on Monday Night (15)at the Colombo National Hospital is due to be held at Borella Cemetery tomorrow afternoon (18).

The Body of the deceased singer is scheduled to be taken to University Of Visual and Performing Arts at 2 p.m tomorrow it has been announced.

The Late singer  who was also a Music Teacher  ,was 79 years old at the time of her death.