Category: Legal

Dec 15, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court barred a senior official from a state-run petroleum retailer over a case involving derivative deals and said the country’s central bank has to probe and solve the case. Supreme Court asked the central bank to file a preliminary probe report brought to court Monday, with the […]

Dec 03, 2008 (LBO) – An imprisoned Sri Lankan journalist, who faces a lengthy jail term for expressing his views, if convicted, has been nominated for a media freedom award by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 RSF said […]

Nov 19, 2008 (LBO) – Several Sri Lankan government institutions are scrambling to get land in a government property near the capital Colombo whose ownership reverted back to the state on a recent court order, a senior official said Court had ordered how the land could be used for its original flood retention purposes. Ramanujam […]

Nov 14, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has suspended new broadcasting regulations brought through a gazette notice, after TV stations and journalists sought relief, lawyers said. Supreme Court justice Shirani Tilakawardane had also suggested that state TV stations share its towers with private stations for a fee. Sri Lanka’s Free Media Movement, a […]

Nov 04, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has struck down a hidden budgetary fund that gave the island’s top treasury official power to circumvent the parliament and allocate money to any ministry, usurping parliamentary control over the public purse. Court said the government was caught in a ‘debt trap’ where debt service was […]

Nov 04, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said it has ordered four unlicensed finance companies that failed to register with the regulator to repay depositors, and given time for two more to comply with its rules. A bank statement said four of six organisations and individuals carrying on finance business without authority had […]

Oct 22, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a statement on a consultant Toshihisa Iida, the spouse of the head of the World Bank country office, Naoko Ishii. The statement is reproduced below: We refer to an article which appeared on a Sunday newspaper pertaining to Mr. Toshihisa Iida, Consultant […]

Oct 13, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has halted a recent practice by the island’s top retail chains to charge for plastic bags, and ordered alternatives to be provided if such bags are not considered eco-friendly, lawyers said. Sri Lanka’s top supermarket chains, with the environmental ministry, announced earlier in the year at […]

Oct 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has called for new laws to cut political interference in investment projects and the handing out of concessions, following the reversal of an illegal sale of state lands in which a former president was involved. The investment value which was first listed as 250,000 US dollars […]

Oct 11, 2008 9LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former president Chandrika Kumaratunga had grossly violated public trust in a deal where state lands and a tax holiday were given to a firm in which an associate was covertly holding shares, the island’s Supreme Court has said. The judgement delivered by Supreme Court justice Shirani Tillakawardene said […]

Oct 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka top grouping of legal professionals had unanimously condemned an attack on anti-corruption activist and lawyer J C Weliamuna, sending a powerful message against the culture of impunity in the country, lawyers said. Weliamuna had appeared in human rights cases relating to police brutality. He also appeared in a […]

Oct 08, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera was ordered to assure Supreme Court that he would not remain in public service following an apology for having remained in public office after a judgment, lawyers said. On Wednesday Jayasundera was told to submit an affidavit assuring Supreme Court that he […]