The Government will not issue any new license for Casinos, President
Mahinda Rajapaksa told Editors and Media Heads at Temple Trees today.
He added that no license will given by the government for the opening of any new casinos.
Commission to probe Matale mass grave
He
also said that a Presidential Commission has been appointed to probe
into the Matale mass graves. The committee comprises of former Supreme
Court Judge S.I. Imam, former High Court Judge Bandula Attapattu and
Dammika Kitulgoda.
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga
stated that the commission has been empowered with full authority to
conduct investigations into the matter.
A mass grave of over 150
skeletal remains was discovered in November last year during the digging
of the ground to build a new structure for the Matale hospital.
The
JVP claimed the victims were their members as a result of the
government crackdown on a rebellion during 1987-90 while forensic
reports confirmed the grave could not be older than 1986 and not newer
than 1990.
Code of media ethics
When inquired
regarding a code of media ethics proposed by the government, the
President said that it is more suitable if an all inclusive
code-of-ethics for media emerges from within the media industry itself
as journalists cannot be punished regarding certain wrongdoings under
normal laws.
PSC on 13th amendment, the ‘white elephant’
On
Lalith Weeratunga’s comments, in a Twitter interview, that the 13th
amendment was a ‘white elephant,’ Rajapaksa said: “even though it’s a
white elephant, that elephant cannot be killed.”
Conceding that
it would be better if an easier method existed, he said good results
have been harnessed through Provincial Councils.
Meanwhile
government sources say that a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) has
been appointed to look into the changes that should be affected to the
Constitution of Sri Lanka.
It is said that Speaker Chamal
Rajapaksa will today announce in Parliament the names of the
representatives appointed to the PSC.
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