Yahapalana Minister Pilfered Rs 1B

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER 2020 LATEST EDITION VOL: 09/48 PRICE : RS 70.00 Events and Athletes Limited Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) decision to limit the number of events and number of athletes for the upcoming performance test next weekend (24 and 25) at Sugathadasa Stadium, has created an uproar among athletes and coaches islandwide. A16 Buddhist Monks write to President on 20A Three Buddhist monks submitted a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urging him to reconsider the RDA official makes damning allegation decision to ratify the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution, introducing necessary amendments before passing it. Yahapalana Story Continued on PAGE 2 EC urges Minister President to hold PC elections BY J.T. DE SILVA Pilfered Rs 1B Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda BY W.K. PRASAD MANJU claimed that a former Minister pilfered a sum of Rs 1,000 Deshapriya requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to of the previous United National million from a highway project. take necessary actions to pass a Parliamentary Act as A top officer from the Road Front-led regime, hailing from He confirmed that necessary soon as possible in order to hold the postponed Provincial Development Authority (RDA) the Kalutara District, had legal action against the... Council elections. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Brandix COVID-19 cluster Chief Epidemiologist’s duty to reveal origin – GMOA Rosy Senanayake undergoes PCR test BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE purpose of having a Chief Epidemiologist was to provide the Although the origin of the Brandix technical answers to the country. Minuwangoda facility COVID-19 “When the first wave of the virus cluster is not important to treat was controlled, the people were patients, it is the duty of the Chief informed of the origin and the Epidemiologist to reveal its origin, spread of the disease. Even when Secretary of the Government the Navy cluster at Welisara was Medical Officers’ Association identified, the public were informed (GMOA), Dr. Senal Fernando said. as to how the infection could have He said on 16 October that the started within the Naval camp. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Bogus Tourist Board PCoI on Easter Sunday Attacks members’ trip to Canada Kabir does Why was not remember prime phone call suspect not BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA Two days before the 21 April 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, a 147 arrested? seconds (two minutes and 27 Concerns have arisen as to why seconds) long telephone the main suspect involved in the conversation had taken place incident where four persons had between former Minister Kabir falsely identified themselves as Hashim and Abdul Latheef Hakeem members of the Sri Lankan Tourist Mohamed, the brother of Abdul Board and attended the World Latheef Jameel Mohamed, the latter Tourism Representatives who detonated the suicide bomb at Exhibition held in Canada, has not the Tropical Inn Lodge in Dehiwala. been arrested yet. This was revealed when Hashim, The Sunday Mawbima on 15 October, testified before the newspaper, for the first time, Presidential Commission of Inquiry revealed the said incident on... into the Easter Sunday bombings. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER 2020 NEWS Zaharan’s group planned 20 suicide bombings BY BUDDHIKA SAMARAWEERA Moulavi, who is believed to be the suicide bomber of the St.Sebastian’s Zaharan. He had also suggested At that time, Muaad, the suicide The National Thowheed Jama’ath mentor of the NTJ and Zaharan, Church in Katuwapitiya, Atchchi that Noufer Moulavi be given a bomber of the St. Anthony’s Church (NTJ) Leader Zaharan Hashim- led and also the mastermind of the Muhammadu Muhammadu house and a weapon,” the witness in Kochchikade said that there was group had initially planned to carry Easter Sunday bombings. Hastun, had also been in the safe also said. a church in Kochchikade near his out the bombings on Easter The witness further said, house at the time of the arrival of He also said, Zaharan had house and that he would commit Sunday, with the involvement of 20 Alawdeen Ahamed Muaad, who Muaad and Mohamed. planned for a retaliation again the suicide there. suicide bombers targeting crowded carried out the suicide bombing at Responding to a question by an Christchurch attack in New Zealand According to the investigations places including hospitals. St. Anthony’s Church in Additional Solicitor General (ASG) and the attacks in Syria. Zaharan carried out by the TID, Zaharan, This was related, on 16 October, Kochchikade and Abdul Latheef as to what had been discussed on has had plans to attack places such had once summoned members of by an officer, attached to the Jameel Mohamed, the one who the day, the witness said, the NTJ as hotels, casinos and churches his group to the Malwana area and Terrorism Investigations Division carried out the attack at the had had a Shura Council with 13 where foreigners visited in large obtained signatures. He has also (TID), testifying before the Tropical Inn in Dehiwala, had been members and one of them, Milhan, numbers, he said. asked them to choose whether to Presidential Commission of Inquiry trying to resolve the conflict between had presented 19 allegations A Senior State Counsel (SSC) commit suicide or die in the war into the 2019 Easter Sunday Zaharan and Naufer Moulavi. against Zaharan. questioned the witness as to what while sacrificing their lives for bombings. Testifying further, the TID officer “Milhan had suggested that the time period was in which Jihad. Zaharan had not decided on According to him, a member of the went on to say, “During the Zaharan be removed and Noufer Zaharan had planned to carry out the date of the attack until 24 Zaharan- led group, who is in investigations it was also found that Moulavi be appointed as the NTJ the attack. In reply, he said the March, 2019. custody, had said, they were Muaad and Mohamed had arrived in leader. During the discussion they explosives made by Zaharan and his A member of the Commission then planning to carry out a series of a car close to the Mount Lavinia had also decided to share their brother Rilwan Hashim were to questioned the witness as to attacks in three stages after the railway station and picked up properties. However, Mohamed expire in 15 days. They were, whether Zaharan, during the said initial attack on 21 April, 2019. another three members of the NTJ Ibrahim Ilham Ahmed, who carried therefore, of the opinion that the discussion, made a statement, that He also said, during the on a certain date. They had then out the suicide bombing at Shangri- attack should be carried out within he would launch an attack outside investigations into the bombings on gone to Zaharan’s safehouse in la Hotel in Colombo had opposed 15 days and the plans were made to Colombo. In response, he said Easter Sunday, the TID were able to Panadura to discuss the plan to Milhan’s suggestion. He had also carry out the attack and a decision “Zaharan planned to visit Nuwara- uncover information that by March resolve the conflict between been a member of the NTJ Shura was reached at the NTJ safe house Eliya to find the whereabouts of 2019, there had been a conflict Zaharan and Noufer Maulavi,” council and had said, he did not in Negombo to attack on 21 April, foreigners to launch an attack, but between Zaharan and Naufer He further said, Zaharan and give money to the NTJ, but to the witness said. they left in fear,” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Yahapalana Minister... Why was prime... ...26 May 2019, following which money obtained by this fraud had A payment of US$ 1,950 had investigations commenced. The been received by an individual in also been made for the entrance newspaper also revealed that the charge of Amaratunga’s personal ticket to the Exhibition from the said individuals had not returned staff. stenographer’s credit card while to the country. The four individuals had visited the approval for such a payment While the fraudster charged six the Travel and Vacation Show, had been given by the Personal individuals who did not belong to that was held in Ontario, Secretary of the Minister. the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, a Canada, on 30 and 31 March It is also reported that the sum of Rs one million each for 2019 as Tourism Development Personal Assistant held a high the said visit, investigations Officers, a Senior Tourism post in the Police and was the reveal that only four individuals Instructor, and a Tourism brother-in-law of the Minister. left for Canada. Instructor. Investigations into the Incident ...former Minister will be instituted seven-day period, according to the law. Documents containing the Additionally, a letter for the were carried out on the shortly. He also said the former Minister The officer from the RDA added that signature of former Minister of participation of the said instructions of the Colombo had obtained the said amount through a legal action will also be instituted against Tourism Development John individual was signed by Crimes Division DIG Neville de service bond and he emphasised that the the contractor who had failed to carry out Amaratunga has been used for Amaratunga and it contained his Silva. Two women and another said amount will be reclaimed by the RDA the highway constructions on time after the said individuals to leave to official seal and was sent to suspect were arrested in this through bank bonds from construction having obtained the contracts in this Canada. Ottawa, Canada, on 8 March regard and probe findings were firms owned by the ex-Minister within a regard.

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