The Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) – State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna has instructed the Civil Security Department to prepare a program of action.

State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna gave such instructions at the COPA meeting held (08) under his chairmanship to examine the Auditor General’s report and current performance of the Civil Defense Department for the years 2019/2020/2021.

Mr. Lasantha Alagiyawanna recommended that a report be given to COPA with a date before September 11th regarding the preparation of a legal framework regarding the Civil Security Department to suit the state budget.

Officials present pointed out that there has been no recruitment to the Civil Security Department in three-and-a-half years and that the Civil Security Force has now been designated as an attrition force. The officials present also pointed out that 33,687 people are currently working in the Civil Security Force and also mentioned places and services where the people are assigned.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Mr. Kamal Gunaratne gave an explanation about the formation of this force and how it was done.

He also discussed the purchases made in excess of the requirement, the projects undertaken by this department and the sale of grain and harvest grown by this force.

The Supreme Court today issued a rule for the removal of a lawyer from the position of the Attorney-at-Law after he was found guilty of forgery in attesting a deed.

The Registrar of the Kandy High Court in terms of section 42(4) of the Judicature Act had communicated to the registrar of the Supreme Court alleging that attorney-at-law Mahinda Ratnayake was sentenced by the High Court having found him guilty of four counts on which he stood indicted. A fine of five hundred rupees had been imposed on one count and he had been sentenced to a term of one-year rigorous imprisonment for three counts.

It was alleged that the respondent attorney-at-law fraudulently conspired to attest a deed in 1999, and made a false statement in attesting the said deed. It was further alleged that the respondent had acted in breach of the rules set out in section 31 of the Notaries Ordinance. Thereby, he had conducted in a manner which would reasonably be regarded as disgraceful by attorneys-at-law of good repute and competency as well as in a manner which is regarded as deplorable by fellow members of the profession. The rule had been issued for breaching Rule 60 of the Supreme Court (Conduct and Etiquette for Attorneys-at-Law) Rules, 1988 as well as Rule 61 of the said Rules as he had conducted in such a manner that is unworthy of an attorney-at-law.

During the Supreme Court inquiry, the respondent had pleaded guilty to the charges by way of an affidavit.

Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice S. Thurairaja and Mahinda Samayawardana held that the rule made against the respondent is made absolute. Accordingly, the Supreme Court issued a rule ordering the respondent lawyer’s name to be struck off the Roll of Attorney-at-Law.

(dailymirror.lk)

In the face of the prevailing dry spell, the worst crop damages in the Yala season is reported from the Kurunegala district, says the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board.

Chairman of the Board, Mr. W.M.M.B. Weerasekara has said this today (Aug. 10), during a discussion with the Agriculture Minister – Mahinda Amaraweera.

At the present, the Board has commenced to take damage assessments in every district and according to assessments done so far, the highest crop damages are reported from the Kurunegala district.

A detailed report in this regard is to be handed over to the Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera within next week.

(Source : News 1st)