President to fight with Pakistani smugglers to bring ‘Harak Kata’ to SL
The government has decided to get the Interpol assistance to bring drug traffickers Nandun Chinthaka alias ‘Harak Kata’ and Salindu Malshitha Gunarathne alias ‘Kudu Salindu’ from Madagascar to Sri Lanka.The decision was taken after the country’s authorities were officially informed of the arrest of the suspects.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the security chiefs at the National Security Council meeting held yesterday (07) to immediately bring this group of suspects from Madagascar to Sri Lanka and keep them under detention orders for further investigation.Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Pakistani drug traffickers had already launched an operation to rescue ‘Harak Kata’ and others by paying money to the Madagascar security forces.
The ‘Aruna’ newspaper said according to unofficial sources, USD 3 million have been sent from Dubai to Madagascar for this purpose.
A lawyer has also been sent from France to rescue Harak Kata and others.The newspaper reported that the suspects were arrested according to the information provided by the Interpol branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to the International Police Headquarters.
Accordingly, a special discussion was held yesterday (7) regarding the attempts to bring the group to Sri Lanka by sending a special CID team to Madagascar.
It has been decided to send a team including an Assistant Superintendent of Police as well as the Police Special Task Force to Madagascar.
Many Asian countries have also informed the interpol and the Government of Madagascar at diplomatic level about the relations maintained by the culprits involved in this regional drug network with the involvement of extremist groups of Iran and Pakistan.
Accordingly, it has been decided to hand over these suspects to Sri Lanka.Current investigations have revealed that Harak Kata and others had come to Madagascar with the intention of fleeing to Malaysia and then to Europe or another country.
The Ministry of Public Security had held several rounds of negotiations to get back the drug traffickers and gangsters hiding in Dubai, UAE to Sri Lanka utilizing diplomatic relations.Meanwhile, the security forces have received information that drug smugglers in Dubai are planning to escape to other countries.
Harak Kata had arrived in Madagascar as a business tycoon in a private jet.
He was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on August 19 last year when he was trying to travel abroad with a passport prepared under the name of Roshan Isanka.Among the people who went to Madagascar with Harak Kata is an Ethiopian woman named Amaitu Mohammed Noor, who has appeared as Harak Kata’s wife.
It has been revealed that Harak Kata has a one year and nine month old child named Herath Dissanayakege Marcel Etesh.
The arrested group includes an Indian named Rajesh Rajaram and a South African named Frakthevis Peters.
Two shooters involved in the incident where shots were fired at an ambulance driver near Panadura Hospital are also among the arrested suspects and one of them has been identified as Sarath Kumara.
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In order to investigate the matters raised by the special audit report on the functioning of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) and to examine the progress of the implementation of recommendations given by COPE, a committee meeting was held yesterday (07) under the chairmanship of (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara.
The Internal Inquiry Committee appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry to investigate the matters raised in the said Special Audit Report for the purpose of reporting to COPE was discussed at length.
Furthermore, in the last meeting, there was a discussion at length about holding the meetings of the governing council of the Central Cultural Fund and whether the funds have been properly spent, and the committee members had agreed to discuss the validity of the 209th meeting of the governing council in this meeting.
Accordingly, the Auditor General pointed out that only 07 of the 11 members have agreed to the decisions of the 209th meeting and 04 including the former Prime Minister have not signed. Stating that there is a discrepancy between the signatures used by the 07 signatories on the signature list of this meeting and the signatures used by them in the previous governing board meetings, the Auditor General pointed out that the decisions of the 209th governing board meeting have not been adopted in the 210th meeting.
The Auditor General also stated that the then Prime Minister’s Secretary and the current President’s Secretary, who were members of the relevant governing body, confirmed that he was not a party to such a meeting.
Accordingly, followed by extensive discussion, the COPE Chair gave the following recommendations to the Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
Appointment of a committee headed by a retired court judge to investigate the issues raised by the special audit report of the Central Cultural Fund for the period 2015 – 2019.
Dissolution of the singular internal investigation committee for the purpose of reporting to COPE appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry to investigate the matters raised in the said Special Audit Report.
To check the validity of the signature list of the 209th meeting, to refer the list to the Criminal Investigation Department and the Government Inspector.
Recall the Central Cultural Fund before the Committee to review the progress of the recommendations made by COPE on the matters raised by the Special Audit Report on the functioning of the Fund.
To make the report of the new committee proposed which is to be appointed to investigate the functioning of the Central Cultural Fund and present it before COPE within 03 months.
In addition to this, the committee members focused on the future plans of COPE, and the institutions that should be prioritized. The Chair mentioned that he had already discussed it with the Auditor General. Accordingly, the chair mentioned that investigations will be carried out by sub-committees through a cluster committee system and a system of calling only the institutions with essential and current importance to the main committee will be facilitated.
New decision on Fuel Pass QR quota
The National Fuel Pass QR Quota will be topped up weekly, on every Tuesday midnight and would come into effect from today (08) onwards, says Minister of Power and Energy – Kanchana Wijesekera.
Noting that the fuel quotas will remain unchanged, the minister adds that the decision was taken to reduce cost of distribution attributed to operate CPC & CPSTL on weekends.
Prices of bread & several essential food items reduced
Prices of several essential food items have been reduced due to the strengthening of the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US Dollar.
The Essential Food Commodities’ Importers and Traders Association stated that the strengthening of the Sri Lankan Rupee has resulted in a drop in wholesale prices of imported food commodities by around 10%.
The Association further stated that thereby, the wholesale prices of imported Sugar, Dhal and Onions have been reduced by Rs.30 per kilogram.
Meanwhile, flour companies – Serandib and Prima have announced that the price of their Wheat Flour products will be reduced by Rs.15 per kilo from today.
The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association has announced that the price of a 450g loaf of bread will be reduced by Rs. 10 from midnight today (08).
