3 December 2024 | Vol. 10, #220

Dinamina:Protestors attack police in front of Isurupaya, three police officers hospitalised; one in critical condition | LG election in March or April; A spokesperson from the Election Commission tells Dinamina

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

‘Don’t make the Tamils who supported you, your enemies by removing the 13th [Amendment] and abolishing the provincial councils. The government should say whether Tilvin’s opinion is the government’s stance?’ – MP Sathyalingam 

Thinakkural 

General Secretary of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), MP P. Sathyalingam inquired if the statement made by the General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on the 13th Amendment and the provincial councils is the government’s stance.

He added that if the 13th Amendment and the provincial councils were removed, there would be opportunities for the Tamils who voted for the government to turn against them.

Sathyalingam made these remarks during a public meeting in Vavuniya yesterday (3).

‘Tamils have every right to remember those who died in the North and East war’ – Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe

Thinakaran 

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that the Tamils living in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have every right to remember their relatives who died during the war.

Samarasinghe added that certain voices who have become politically marginalised in the South are rekindling racial contradictions by discussing the Memorial Day issue.

He noted that the Tamils in the North and East did not have the need to rekindle separatist contradictions and that the entire Tamil population supported the NPP-led government.

“Prevention of Terrorism Act will be repealed” – Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa 

Mawbima 

Minister of Mass Media and Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, confirmed that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would definitely be repealed.

He made this statement in response to questions about criticism directed at the government after a suspect arrested for distributing fake news related to the Mahaviru (Great Heroes) commemoration, was charged under the PTA.

He further noted that the NPP’s stance is to repeal the PTA and the new government will act accordingly, commenting the arrest happened because some police officers were not made aware of the government’s stance regarding the use of the PTA.

Tax files still processed at snail’s pace; Only 106,000 received of the 1 million yet to be received 

Aruna 

Although there are over one million pending individual tax files, information has been revealed that as of November 30, the last date for submitting tax files for the 2023/24 income year, only 106,022 tax files had been submitted online to the Inland Revenue Department.

The 23/24 tax year runs from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The last date for all taxpayers to submit their annual tax returns for this period to the Inland Revenue Department was November 30. A period of 8 months was given from March 31 to submit these tax returns.

At a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Center on August 26, Deputy Commissioner General (Tax Policy, International Affairs and Legal Affairs) of the Inland Revenue Department, Saman Shantha, said that the total number of tax files this year has increased to 1.1 million, and 400,000 individuals have obtained Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) this year. 

Former Minister Bandula (Gunawardana) summoned to the CID today over the sugar tax fraud 

Lankadeepa

Former Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security Dr. Bandula Gunawardana has been summoned to the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department today (3) to record a statement regarding the sugar tax fraud.

The Financial and Commercial Crimes Investigation Bureau says that it will record a statement from him regarding the alleged loss of tax revenue to the government and the benefit to the public by reducing the special commodity tax imposed on sugar from Rs. 50 to 25 cents.

The special commodity tax on sugar was reportedly reduced on October 13, 2020.

Sources said that as Gunawardana had served as the Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security during that period, statements will be recorded in connection with the powers and duties assigned to him.

Scholarship will not be reheld – AG informs Supreme Court of the Cabinet recommendation of ‘free marks’ for ‘leaked questions’

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Aruna, Dinamina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan, Thinakkural

The Cabinet recommended awarding ‘free marks’ to all students for the three questions, which were alleged to have been leaked in the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, the Attorney General (AG) told the Supreme Court yesterday (2).

Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing for the AG, further submitted that the Cabinet had decided that it was not necessary to reconduct the examination for this question paper as it could, possibly cause stress to the students concerned.

Considering the submission, the Supreme Court fixed the petition to be taken up for hearing on 11 December following the Fundamental Rights (FR) application which sought an order preventing the release of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination results and the cut-off marks, taken up for consideration yesterday.

Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara, on October 14, announced that it was decided not to reconduct the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. Further, it had been decided to award free marks to all students for the three questions which were alleged to have been leaked.

The Supreme Court issued an interim order preventing the release of results of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination in November.

Protests demanding teaching appointments; A battleground near Isurupaya; Three police officers hospitalised and four development officers remanded 

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Aruna, Dinamina, Ada, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan

Three Police officers have been injured and hospitalised and four protestors have been remanded following the tense situation that erupted during a protest in front of the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya, Battaramulla, yesterday (2).

Meanwhile, one of the injured Police officers has been transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment.

The protesters demanded that the responsible authorities absorb them into the teaching service, citing their five years of experience as teachers.

Approximately 500 development officers participated in the protest in front of the Ministry today.

A special discussion was held yesterday at the Education Ministry to address the ongoing issues related to the integration of School Development Officers and graduates into the teaching service.

During the meeting, attention was drawn to the recruitment of development officers into the teaching service in accordance with the recommendations of the Public Service Commission, as directed by the Supreme Court.

Justice Murdu Fernando sworn in as new Chief Justice before the President

Divaina, Dinamina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan 

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Murdu Fernando took oaths as Sri Lanka’s new Chief Justice before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (2).

Justice Fernando is the second woman to hold the position of Chief Justice in Sri Lanka’s history, after Shirani Bandaranayake in 2011.

She assumes office as the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, succeeding Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, who recently retired. Her appointment received approval from the Constitutional Council.

She began her career at the Attorney General’s Department in 1985, rising through its ranks to become Deputy Solicitor General in 1997 and Additional Solicitor General in 2014. With over three decades of service as a State Counsel, she was appointed to the Supreme Court in March 2018.

As the most Senior Supreme Court Justice prior to her appointment, she has played a significant role in shaping Sri Lanka’s legal landscape.

She also served as Senior Additional Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department, demonstrating a distinguished career in public service.

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