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Policeman-turned-politician Palitha Range Bandara has had many a brush with the law since he switched professions.
The state minister is now in for some good news – the former Inspector of Police is likely to be promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police. That will not mean he will join the active ranks but he will receive a pension and possibly a commuted amount too for the period he did not get paid.

After he made representations to the Political Victimisation Committee, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to consider his request. This will be in consultation with the National Police Commission.
A precedent has already been set earlier by two more policemen-turned-politicians. One is the late M.K.D.S. Gunawardena, a former Minister. He was a Sub Inspector in the Police. The other is E.K.D. Gunawardena who was also a Sub Inspector.

Their requests for promotions were granted. The two were promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). They became entitled to a pension that is paid to ASPs upon retirement.
There were also other instances where the Political Victimisation Committee recommended the re-instatement of police officers to active service. Some were given their promotions and received even back wages.

More amendments to human rights action plan
A lesser known fact is that the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) was further amended before the Cabinet of Ministers approved it.
The amendments were made by the then acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Harsha de Silva.
Such amendments were made taking into consideration the following factors, a ministerial source said. They were: Religious sentiments and cultural values of the General Public of the country.

•  Actions that could have undesirable effects on the investor confidence pertaining to the prevailing industrial peace in the country.
• The existing Government policy of provision of housing facilities to the homeless in a phased out basis.
  Ministers noted that:
• The NHRAP has paid attention to give effect to certain civil, political, economic and cultural rights which had not been fully enjoyed up to now;
• The NHRAP should give priority to the matters pointed out by the General Public to be enforced in the field of Human Rights, to ensure the sustainability of a Democratic Society;
• Comprehensive provisions are already available in the Constitution for non-discrimination of any individual of any segment of society;
• Actions proposed in the NHRAP should not impinge on the religious sentiments and cultural values of the General Public and the sentiments of the minority communities of the country.

Ministers were emphatic that the country’s religious sentiments and cultural values should be protected. They also said they wanted to ensure the existing Official Language Policy based on the Constitutional provisions be retained. This was in the light of an NHRAP provision that English also should be made a national language.

Ministers also decided that “any other matter which may not be in harmony with the civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights of the General Public in the country” should not be changed.

Free Ports in Lanka
An octogenarian retired public service official has been placed in charge of a Committee to “submit a report” on converting the Financial City (Colombo Port City), Hambantota and Trincomalee as “free ports.”
A free port (porto franco) is a port area where goods in transit are exempt from customs duty.
R. Paskeralingam, now advisor to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, will head the committee including the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, the Secretary to the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade and the Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping.

The decision to appoint the committee was made by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) which is chaired by Premier Wickremesinghe.
A former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Paskeralingam was then a close confidant of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. After President D.B. Wijetunga took over Mr. Paskaralingam became a resident in London. With the advent of the National Unity Government, he was invited to return to Colombo and serve as the powerful Advisor to the Prime Minister.
A CCEM source said yesterday that the report of the Committee, once ready, will be studied and a cabinet memorandum submitted thereafter for approval.

John’s family tourism
The promotion of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, it appears, is the exclusive preserve of the Minister in charge – John Ameratunga.
Mr. Ameratunga was in Spain for a tourism conference last week. He was accompanied by his private secretary and son-in-law’s father Lal Ratnayake. The Minister’s Personal Assistant, his own daughter, was in the official delegation.
He is set to go on a tourism promotion tour – a workshop – in Israel. Of course the delegation – Minister, daughter, Private Secretary, an Advisor – are all travelling at state expense. They will be away for eight days.
There are whispers that Mr. Ameratunga has already made plans to travel to Jerusalem. Of course, the per diem allowances for the whole trips have been paid for by the state. At least this part of the trip, a source close to the Minister said, was on religious grounds.
So from promoting tourism, Mr. Ameratunga has turned himself into a lucky tourist and even a pilgrim from Sri Lanka.

Bet what they are?
Sri Lanka’s gaming laws are to be changed.
The matter is now being examined by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) which is chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Probe suspended as part of package
An investor who won ‘never-never’ terms for a manufacturing project near Colombo is two times lucky.
Before he won the deal and worked his way into the hearts of a known deal maker, the man was to be questioned by FCID detectives over money laundering.
Insiders now say that the matter has been put on hold. As one detective remarked rather wryly; ‘it’s all part of the package.’