reports: Latest News

 – News 1st's Naveksha Gunasekera contributed to this report.

COLOMBO (News 1st); US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said it is important for Sri Lanka to go ahead with the March elections.She spoke to reporters in Colombo and said that the people of Sri Lanka must be allowed to have a voice in their future."It is vital time for Sri Lanka to strengthen its democracy, its governance, and its reconciliation.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) compiled by Transparency International (TI) was released yesterday. The CPI scores 180 countries and territories around the world based on perceptions of public sector corruption.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The International Federation for Human Rights in a new report detailing the relentless repression of a peaceful protest movement noted that the Sri Lankan authorities systematically violated international human rights law and standards with complete impunity in their crackdown on the Aragalaya.The protest movement, called aragalaya [“struggle” in Sinhala], was triggered by the government’s protracted economic mismanagement and the growing public discontent over corruption and nepotism. The protests, which initially started in the country’s capital, Colombo, quickly spread across all nine provinces of Sri Lanka.

COLOMBO (News 1st); In a note to the Cabinet, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, had stated that the Government revenue at present is far below the monthly expenditure for the month of January 2023.The President's Media Division, and Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena confirmed that the President had instructed on further curtailing government expenses.The President had noted that the Treasury finds it challenging to meet all expenditures at this moment, except for payments for salaries, pensions, welfare, pharmaceuticals and debt servicing.Therefore, President Wickremesinghe had pointed out that the Government expenditure will have to be curtailed further / postponed until planned revenue to be raised on the recent tax revisions is realized, reported the President's Media Division.He had noted that the Treasury will formulate a priority criterion for this purpose.Furthermore, the President had pointed out that public officers should refrain from obtaining goods/services on credit basis, and any officer who violates this will be held personally responsible for such expenditure, said the PMD."The President informed the Cabinet of Ministers that the revenue for January collected from the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs and the Excise Department was Rs. 158.7 Billion.

ACTRESS Cindy Williams, who played Shirley on Laverne & Shirley, has passed away after a health battle. The iconic TV star who worked alongside Penny Marshall’s Laverne on the Happy Days spin-off died aged 75, her family revealed on Monday. Cindy, who is survived by her two children Zak and Emily Hudson, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2022, after suffering from a brief illness.

COLOMBO (News 1st) : Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena asked for forgiveness from the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.Speaking to reporters in Colombo the Former President asked for forgiveness for such a tragedy taking place during his tenure, adding that he was unaware beforehand of the attacks."The ruling does not say that I have committed an offense, but that the President is also accountable for the offenses committed by the officers appointed by the President.

COLOMBO (News 1st) : Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena asked for forgiveness from the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.Speaking to reporters in Colombo the Former President asked for forgiveness for such a tragedy taking place during his tenure, adding that he was unaware beforehand of the attacks."The ruling does not say that I have committed an offense, but that the President is also accountable for the offenses committed by the officers appointed by the President.

COLOMBO (News 1st) : Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena apologized to the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.Speaking to reporters in Colombo the Former President apologized for such a tragedy taking place during his tenure, adding that he was unaware of the attacks."The ruling does not say that I have committed an offense, but that the President is also accountable for the offenses committed by the officers appointed by the President.

Regular listeners of Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast show were left confused this morning when the star was absent from her slot due to illness.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Election Commission said that it cannot be satisfied with the status of investigations taking place with regard to the death threats made to three members of the NEC.A senior official at the National Election Commission speaking to News 1st said that various factions are continuing to make undue influence on the NEC in order to delay the Local Government Elections.He added that certain state officials, attached to several State Institutions that should be involved in ensuring a Free & Fair election takes place, are neglecting their duties.The Senior Official said that those who appointed the state officials who are neglecting their duties must be held accountable for the dereliction of duty.The Chairman of the National Election Commission, Attorney Nimal Punshihewa has requested the President to intervene over the death threats made to the members of the National Election Commission.The NEC Chairman in a letter to the President requested that an environment favourable to conduct a free and fair election be created.News 1st also inquired from the Criminal Investigations Department on the progress made with regard to the investigations on the death threats made to members of the National Election Commission.A Senior Official at the CID said that investigations revealed that the threatening phone calls were made from Dubai.He said that a telecommunication analysis reports has been called for from the service providers.

Lethal new pills on the street have sparked a major warning they could fuel Scotland’s drug death toll.

COLOMBO (News 1st) : Former Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday (27).The Former President of the Maldives is currently in Sri Lanka on a personal visit, and was accopanied by his son Faris Maumoon on his trip.Gayoom met with Wickremesinghe at the Sri Lankan President’s Office, where the two spoke about the bilateral ties between the two countries. The two spoke about ways of improving the longstanding cooperation.

Odisha Health Minister Naba Kishore Das was shot at at Gandhi Chowk in Brajarajnagar while getting out of his car to attend an event Odisha Health Minister Naba Das has sustained some injuries after being shot by some miscreants near Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district. The reasons behind the firing and identity of the shooter remain unknoown.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Presidential Secretariat says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has not yet accepted the resignation letter sent by P.S.M. Charles, as a member of the Election Commission.When inquired by News 1st, a senior official at the Presidential Secretariat confirmed the matter.Recent media reports stated that P.S.M.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday notified that in the past week, almost 40,000 deaths were reported, more than half were reported from China alone.  WHO chief notified, in total, over the past 8 weeks, over 170 thousand deaths have been recorded, actual numbers are higher.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the All Party Leaders' Conference on Reconciliation that the Cabinet was agreeable to fully implementing 13th Amendment, until the Party Leaders decide whether or not to abolish the Amendment.This was reported by the President's Media Division on Friday (27).President Ranil Wickremesinghe had said that he is bound to implement the existing law in accordance with the executive powers of the President.He had said further that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is being implemented accordingly or the Parliament should abolish the 13th amendment.The President Wickremesinghe also pointed out that any parliamentarian could move a private member’s bill to abolish the 13th Amendment to the constitution and the same amendment would have to be implemented provided that the bill was voted against by the majority of the House.The President stressed that he was not ready to divide the country.President Wickremesinghe made these remarks at the All-Party Conference, which was held at the President's Office on Thursday (26) evening.The statement made by the President is as follows:It is my responsibility as the Executive to carry out the current law. For approximately 37 years, the 13th Amendment has been a part of the constitution.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that the officials from the Ministry of Power and Energy who attended a recent meeting with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had disclosed that they were pressurized to sign two documents that they did not agree do.The Minister tweeted on Friday (27) that the officials were pressurized by two members of the Human Rights Commission, and that they were threatened with jail sentences.On Wednesday (25), the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka revealed that all the  necessary stakeholders including Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) agreed to provide uninterrupted power supply during the advanced level examination period until February 17th.However, despite the statement from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, power outages were experienced on Wednesday (25) and Thursday (26).The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on Friday (27) said it will elaborate facts to the Supreme Court against officials including the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy for breaching an agreement by suspending the supply of power. Speaking further, an official from the HRCS said it has been observed that the CEB and the Ministry of Power and Energy are operating arbitrarily, going against the laws of the land. Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka directing a letter to the Chairman of the HRCSL said that it will not approve power outages occurring during the period between the 26th of January and 17th of February. The Human Rights Commission emphasized that if the CEB does not act according to the directive, the HRCSL has the ability to act according to Section 21 of the Sri

 COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ceylon Electricity Board said that it has not yet reached a decision to suspend power cuts during the period of the G. C.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Chairman of the National Election Commission Attorney Nimal Punchihewa has refuted rumours being spread that he is planning on submitting his resignation to the NEC."Paying any heed to these rumours is a waste of time", he said."All preparations are being made to hold the local government election", Attorney Punchihewa said."The resignation of one member of the Election Commission does not affect the Commission's ability to hold the election", he added.The Chairman of the commission was responding to the media reports regarding the resignation of member of the Election Commission P.S.M.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Appeal Court on Wednesday (25) vacated the death sentence imposed on the convict who was the second accused in the 2007 quintuple murder in Mahawatte, Delgoda.On the 22nd of February 2017, the Gampaha High Court Judge sentenced the second accused Welivita Liyanage Don Mahesh Lasantha Perera to death by hanging at the Welikada Prison.He was indicted with having committed the murder of five members of the same family, K.W.W. Tillakaratne, A.D.

FORMER HOLLYOAKS star Hollie-Jay Bowes revealed that she's been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The actress - who played Michaela McQueen in the Channel 4 soap - said she was relieved to receive the news after being on a waiting list for three years. Hollie-Jay, 34, who also plays Debs Rafferty in the new series of BBC's Waterloo Road, will be part of a new storyline with pupil Kelly Jo Rafferty, played by Alicia Forde, in which she learns whether she has ADHD.

(Reuters) – The Export-Import Bank of China has offered Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on its debt and said it will support the country's efforts to secure a $2.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters.India wrote to the IMF earlier this month, saying it would commit to supporting Sri Lanka with financing and debt relief, but the island nation also needs the backing of China in order to reach a final agreement with the global lender.China's Jan.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Keselwatte Police on Tuesday (24) withdrew a B report that it filed with the court regarding a group of lawyers who protested opposite the Hultsdorf Magistrate's Court on the 18th of January 2023.Lawyers protested on that day against the conduct of the Attorney General's Department and the undue influence on Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga' Mahawatte.Sri Lanka Police filed the B report with the court, and Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis upon considering the report ordered Sri Lanka Police to inquire into the matter, and produce a report.However, when the complaint was called up on Tuesday (24) the Keselwatte Police requested permission from the court to withdraw the B report without taking further action on the matter.Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis granted permission to the request and concluded the matter.On Monday (23), IGP C. D.

(Reuters) – India has committed to help ease the debt burden of its crisis-stricken neighbor Sri Lanka as part of a possible International Monetary Fund-supported program, the IMF said on Monday.The island nation of 22 million people has grappled with challenges during the past year ranging from a shortage of foreign currency to runaway inflation and a steep recession – the worst such crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.Reuters reported last week that India had told the IMF it strongly supports Sri Lanka's debt restructuring plan as the island seeks a $2.9 billion loan from the global lender, according to a letter."Sri Lanka is engaged with other official bilateral creditors to obtain similar assurances," an IMF spokesperson said in a statement on Monday."As soon as adequate assurances are obtained and remaining requirements are met, including by the Sri Lankan authorities, a Fund-supported program for Sri Lanka can be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for approval that would unlock much needed financing."Sri Lanka requires the backing of China and India – its biggest bilateral lenders – to reach a final agreement with the IMF that is essential to help the country emerge from its worst financial crisis in seven decades.

People in one travel hotspot of Spain are being asked to wear face masks to help reduce the spread of new Covid-19 variants.

New Delhi: India reported 94 new covid cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry data on Monday showed New Delhi: India reported 94 new covid cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry data on Monday showed. While active cases have declined to 1,934, the country’s total covid cases have reached 4.47 crore so far. The overall death toll stood at 5,30,735 since the onset of covid pandemic.

Colombo (News 1st) – The last rites of the 05 members of the same family who died in the Nanuoya Radella vehicle accident were performed on Saturday (21), at the Dik Oya Jumma Mosque Cemetery.Our reporter mentioned that the last rites of the driver of the van and the driver of the three-wheeler who are residents of Nanuoya will be performed on Monday (23).Director of Nuwara Eliya Hospital Dr.

 

Colombo (News 1st) – The last rites of the 05 members of the same family who died in the Nanuoya Radella vehicle accident were performed on Saturday (22), at the Dik Oya Jumma Mosque Cemetery.Our reporter mentioned that the last rites of the driver of the van and the driver of the three-wheeler, who are residents of Nanuoya, will be performed on Monday (23).The director of Nuwara Eliya Hospital Dr.

Here's all you need to know about India's first of its kind Covid vaccine: The iNCOVACC is a recombinant replication-deficient adenovirus vectored vaccine with a pre-fusion stabilized spike protein. This vaccine candidate was evaluated in phase I, II and III clinical trials with successful results. The vaccine was developed in partnership with Washington University, St.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Several deaths were reported following a tragic accident that took place in Nuwara Eliya on Friday (20) evening.The Nuwara Eliya hospital director confirmed to News 1st that seven people died, and 30 others were injured following the accident.News 1st correspondent Sampath Jayalal said the accident took place at the Radella 'Keti" Road.He said the road in which the accident took place was considered as a risky route, that is usually used by experienced drivers.He also noted that the van was badly damaged in the accident.A bus carrying a group of students from Thurstan College, Colombo on an education trip had veered off the road and fallen into a precipice in Radella, Nuwara Eliya.Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa speaking to News 1st confirmed that the bus fell into a 50 feet deep precipice after it collided with a van.

A new Covid strain has been identified by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as a likely contender to become the most dominant across the UK.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Director General of the Disaster Management Center Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe confirmed to News 1st that school students are NOT among the fatalities reported following an accident in Radella, Nuwara Eliya.Seven people died in the accident, and six of them were those traveling in the van, and the other was a three wheeler driver.The accident took place when a bus carrying a group of students from Thurstan College, Colombo collided with a van and a three-wheeler along the 'Keti' Road in Radella, Nuwara Eliya.Director General of the Disaster Management Center Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe said that 41 students were admitted to the hospital and all of them are out of harms way.News 1st correspondent Sampath Jayalal said the accident took place at the Radella 'Keti" Road.He said the road in which the accident took place was considered as a risky route, that is usually used by experienced drivers.He also noted that the van was badly damaged in the accident. 

Nick Carter's benefit concert in memory of his estranged late brother Aaron Carter raised $150k for a children's mental health charity.Songs For Tomorrow - which Nick, 42, and N*Sync's Lance Bass, 43, headlined at West Hollywood's Heart on Wednesday - raised money for On Our Sleeves: The Movement for Children’s Mental Health.Former child star Aaron was found dead in his bathtub at his Lancaster, California home on November 5 at age 34. His fiancee Melanie Martin and mother Jane have recently claimed he died from an overdose and did not drown in his bath as previously suspected.

'Gloomy emotions'  China's leader has expressed similar concern about the impact of the outbreak on rural areas during the holidays. "Xi said he was primarily concerned about rural areas and rural residents after the country adjusted its Covid-19 response measures," state news agency Xinhua reported Wednesday -- a reference to the relaxing of China's strict virus curbs last month. He "stressed efforts to improve medical care for those most vulnerable to the virus in rural areas", Xinhua said.

New Delhi: Lengthy school closures due to the pandemic have undone years of gradual gains in learning levels among India’s school-age students, with a major education report released on Wednesday reporting elementary reading and maths skills comparable to pre-2012 levels. Nearly 43% of class V students tested by education non-profit Pratham Education Foundation could read a class II level text and 26% could divide numbers. In 2012, the figures were 47% and 25%, respectively.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  The aft section of the X-Press Pearl wreck was successfully raised from the sea floor and is aboard the semi-submersible FAN ZHOU 10. This was confirmed to News 1st by X-Press Feeders, former operators of the container ship 'X-Press Pearl'.The wreck section will now be transported to a certified decommissioning facility for dismantling, recycling, and disposal.The Shanghai Salvage Companies' onsite team is now focusing on the remaining fore section of the wreck with tandem lifting barges ZR122 and ZR123, planning to raise the last section in the near future, depending on prevailing weather conditions.The alvage works on the wreck have re-commenced after the end of the southwest monsoon season commenced in late November 2022. The focus was cutting the hull into two sections for lifting.Incident Overview:On May 20, 2021, the Singapore -flagged Containership, 'X-Press Pearl' reported smoke from the cargo hold while at Colombo anchorage, Sri Lanka.Emergency procedures were initiated, and Co2 released in the cargo hold.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that a conspiracy is afoot to underminde the people's mandate by implementing various regulations.He told Parliament on Wednesday (18) that he would not allow for the upcoming Local Government Election to be delayed via such conspiracies.The Opposition Leader said that the Election Expenditure Bill is a vital piece of legislation, however, the timing of the legislation is cause for concern.The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms on Tuesday (17) decided to postpone the second reading debate of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill by one months’ time.However, Special Party Leaders meeting will has been called for on Wednesday (18) afternoon with the President and Prime Minister in attendance to discuss the Election Expenditure Bill, said the Speaker.The Opposition Leader speaking in Parliament expressed that trying to discuss the Bill while the nomination and bond acceptance process is taking place, creates a state of confusion and concern."If this bill is passed tomorrow, it will become an obstacle for the election that is expected to take place in March 2023," warned Premadasa.He said the Election Expenditure Bill contains a section where candidates are expected to produce a comprehensive report on their campaign expenses, donations, funds, etc.While noting that such articles are of paramount importance, he said failure to produce such a report will be termed as an offense, and when that happens petitions can be filed against the candidate.The Opposition Leader noted that if this Bill is passed ahead of the Local Government Election, it would also apply to the 2023 Local Government

COLOMBO (News 1st) – India formally notified that it would support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring plan, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, reported Bloomberg News.This would clear a major hurdle for the bankrupt nation to unlock a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.India, one of Sri Lanka’s major bilateral creditors, gave its assurances late Monday (16), the person said, asking not to be identified as the details aren’t public, reported Bloomberg News.An announcement could be made as early as Tuesday, another person said, according to the report.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the National Security Advisor of India Shri Ajit Kumar Doval, on Monday (16).The High Commission said that duo discussed matters pertaining to India-Sri Lanka relations.  The discussion focused on mutual strategic interests of the two countries and priority areas for cooperation, it added.The meeting took place as part of the regular and ongoing dialogue between the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and the National Security Advisor of India, noted the High Commission.The meeting took place days ahead of the reported visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S.

Colombo (News 1st) – The National Dengue Control Unit says that 4178 Dengue patients were reported within the first two weeks of the year. The most number of patients were reported from the Colombo District and the number of patients were 871. The number of patients reported from the Gampaha District was at 846 as well.The number of dengue patients reported from the Kalutara district was at 224 while 190 patients were reported from Kandy as well for this year so far. 533 dengue patients were reported from the Puttalam District as well. The National Dengue Control Unit reported that 255 patients had been identified in the the Jaffna district as well within the first two weeks of this month. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The body of a second youth, who was reported missing, was recovered from behind a house in Rambukkana on Friday (13) evening.Sri Lanka Police said that the two young men were missing for over a month.A missing person complaint was filed by the families of Mohamed Anwar Mohamed Arfan from Kiringadeniya, and Mohamed Nafaz Mohamed Ali from Shafia-Watte stating they were missing since 28th November last year.Later, it was revealed that the men were murdered and buried near a house in Rambukkana.Sri Lanka Police suspect the two men were attacked and killed by a drug dealer following a dispute, and later buried in the garden of a house.A search was carried out based on a court order, and one of the bodies was found buried in the garden. The remains were wrapped in polythene.The body of the other young man was discovered on Friday (13) evening.The bodies were buried under a  concrete layer of three inches.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ceylon Electricity Board announced that the electricity tariff will be increased with effect from the 15th of January, as per the decision reached by the Cabinet of Ministers.CEB General Manager Rohan Seneviratne told reporters that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka will be apprised of the data on the tariff hike within a month.As per the proposal that was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, the fixed rates for domestic electricity units will also be increased from the 15th of January.For Units 0 to 30: Fixed Rate increased from Rs. 120/- to Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Thursday (12) found Former President Maithripala Sirisena, his Defence Secretary, the Police Chief during his time, as well as the then Chief of National Intelligence, and Director of State Intelligence guilty of violating fundamental right.11 Fundamental Rights petitions were filed with the Supreme Court, claiming that the Sri Lankan administration failed to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks, despite having information about an imminent attack.The applications contain revelations of reckless failure on the part of the Executive Branch of the government and the Petitioners allege that these illegal omissions effectively betray the people and public trust by recklessly failing to take cognizance and accord due priority to intelligence information received regarding the premeditation of the attacks which could have been prevented if proactive and timely response had been taken.The respondents named in the petitions are Former President Maithripala Sirisena, Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, Former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara, Former National Intelligence Service Chief Sisira Mendis, and Former State Intelligence Services Chief Nilantha Jayawardena.Maithripala Sirisena:The Supreme Court observed that multiple gazettes bestowed 23 duties on the President as a Minister of Defence, thus an increase of duties vested in the Minister.The Supreme Court observed that an exponential range of powers over security continued to be bestowed on Minister of Defence as the years rolled by and it cannot be gainsaid that the Minister of Defence was the repository of the national security of the country. The Supreme Court noted that the custody of personal liberty and

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry said that a circular on slashing 5% of the budgeted funds of the ministries will be issued soon.A Senior Officer at the Finance Ministry said the circular will be directed to the Ministry Secretaries in due course.President Ranil Wickremesinghe had informed the cabinet that the fund allocations made via the budget for all ministries will have to be cut down by 5%.This was announced by Minister Bandula Gunawardena, the Cabinet Spokesperson on Tuesday (10) at the weekly Cabinet media briefing."There is no stable income to even support the essential welfare expenses.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Chairman of the National Delimitation Committee Mahinda Deshapriya said that the final report of the Committee on the delimitation of the country's local government bodies could be further delayed.However, he said the delay in issuing the report will not impact the upcoming local government election.Chairman of the National Delimitation Committee Mahinda Deshapriya said the delay in issuing the report was due to multiple reports including the promotion of three District Secretaries, the retirement of four District Secretaries, transfers given to seventeen Statistics Officers, transfers given to nine Senior Superintendent of Surveys, as well as the busy schedule of the Assistant & Deputy Election Commissioner.He said the National Delimitation Committee was to produce its final report to the government on the 28th of February, however, given the existing situation it could be delayed to late March.He said that a request will be made next week to the respective officials to extend the tenure of the National Delimitation Committee.Mahinda Deshapriya stressed that the delay in producing the Final Report of the National Delimitation Committee will in no way impact the upcoming Local Government Election.   

Colombo (News 1st) – Chairman of the National Election Commission Attorney Nimal Punchihewa stated that there are no divisions amongst the commission members. "In any institution, be it a commission, agency, or even the Supreme Court, various opinions are put forth when a decision is being made – that is the order of things" he stated. "That has happened within this commission as well.