ICC withholding funds will disrupt cricket in Sri Lanka - SLC

Sri Lanka`s cricket board Monday accused the world governing body of “gravely” disrupting the sport in the island by withholding its share of proceeds from World Cup tournaments.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said last week it was withholding Sri Lanka`s share from the 2014 T20 World Cup and 2015 World Cup after the Colombo government dispensed with elections and appointed a local governing body.

Police grills Tiran Alles

The police Special Investigation Unit on Thursday (9) recorded a statement from MP Tiran Alles over an alleged financial fraud, the police Spokesperson said.
Earlier, the Fort Magistrate’s Court banned the foreign travel for Parliamentarian Tiran Alles and five other Directors of a private company owing to an alleged financial fraud occurred through funds allocated for tsunami-affected people.

19A to be presented on April 20; Parliament dissolved after

President Maithripala Sirisena says that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution will be presented to Parliament on the 20th of April and that Parliament will be dissolved once the 19th Amendment is passed.
“I have to fulfill the promise made to the people regarding the curtailing of executive powers vested with the President,” he said, speaking at an event in Pulathisipura, Polonnaruwa.
The President stated that political party leaders yesterday held discussion and decided to present the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament on April 20.

SC determines 19th Amendment consistent with Constitution

The Supreme Court has determined that the 19th Amendment is consistent with the constitution and that, however, certain sections require a referendum, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa informed Parliament today.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramanayake stated that the sections which require a referendum will be omitted from the 19th Amendment.
Speaking to heads of media organizations with

Bhutan Premier to meet President tomorrow

The Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay has arrived in Sri Lanka for a visit from 9 to 12 April on an invitation extended by President Maithripala Sirisena.
During the visit, Prime Minister Tobgay will hold bilateral discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena and also meet with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and several other dignitaries. President Sirisena will host a state banquet in honour of visiting Prime Minister Tobgay. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will meet his Bhutanese counterpart during a working luncheon on 10 April 2015.

2 yr. jail term for hate speech

The cabinet has given approval for a revision to the penal code to make hate speech a punishable offence, said cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne.
On a proposal by justice minister Wijedasa Rajapakse, the revision will be tabled for parliamentary approval, he said.

SriLankan corruption revealed

The prime minister’s office has issued a brief of a four-member committee report into corruption and wrongdoing in the SriLankan Airlines.
The report, handed over to the prime minister by committee chairman J.C. Weliamuna, details irregularities in the procurement of aircraft and misuse of the airline by its top officials during the previous regime.

‘Govt. to allocate more resources for education’

The government is ready to allocate more resources to the education sector, Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariawasam says.
Institutions responsible for service delivery must be more efficient and focus on taking the results of reforms to the school level where the children are the real beneficiary, the minister notes.

35 investment projects to be reassessed

The government has ordered that 35 investment projects launched during the previous regime be reassessed, said investment promotion deputy minister Eran Wickramaratne.
He has told BBC Sandeshaya that neither the proper tender procedures nor the competitive bids had been followed with regard to those projects.
Higher the bids, we could surmise that massive corruption had taken

Weeratunga’s diplomatic passport withdrawn

The diplomatic passport issued to Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador in Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga has reportedly been withdrawn by the government.

Investigators to visit Seychelles

The Finance Ministry is to send a team of investigators to Seychelles to probe allegations of illegal transfer of funds and assets during the previous regime.
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has told the media that the officials will hold discussions with Seychelles authorities in a bid to gain more information about the funds illegally transferred from Sri Lanka.

CBK ready for MR

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge says the accumulated payments due to contractors by the former regime amounts to Rs. 100,000 million.
The former president made this comment participating in a ceremony where Minister Arjuna Ranatunge assumed duties as the SLFP organizer for Attanagalla.

Ravi's 'Swan' suggestion opposed

The majority of UNP electorate organisers have opposed Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake's suggestion to contest the upcoming general election as a coalition under the 'Swan' symbol.
The suggestion was made by the minister during a UNP Working Committee meeting last Thursday (02).
The organisers are of the view that contesting the UNP under the 'Swan' symbol would be a betrayal of the party, as parties such the Tamil