By Meera Srinivasan From 10 feet away, it looked like a grin, the row of teeth stretching from ear to ear. Freshly dug out from many layers of soil, the mud-covered skeleton lay on its spine, awaiting a number. “That would be 283,” says W.R.A.S. Rajapaksa. He is standing on an elevation inside the site, …
By Hannah Ellis-Petersen South east Asia correspondent Sri Lanka’s president has praised his Philippines counterpart Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, which has taken thousands of lives, calling it an “example to the world”. In a speech during a visit to the Philippines this week, Maithripala Sirisena said he intended to replicate Duterte’s ruthless approach …
By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole Newspapers of 16 January report Indian poachers turning on our Navy. An earlier incident of 23 December where poachers really used violence was hardly reported. All this mis- and non-reporting raise questions of the veracity of our Navy and the irresponsibility of our press to us reader. These newspapers have …
(Text of a communique released by the TNA Media office carrying excerpts from a speech made by Mr.MA Sumanthiran MP in Jaffna) The media is busy reporting on what various individuals say about the draft Constitution, but don’t look at what draft itself says. The media is intent on reporting deliberately false and misleading news …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Permanent High Court Trial at Bar has decided to hear the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum case against the former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa from January 22. The case was taken up before the Special High Court three-judge bench comprising Judges Sampath Abeykoon, Sampath Wijeratne, and Champa Janaki Rajaratne this morning(Jan 17).
By Sujith Hewajulige Hambantota District UPFA MP Chamal Rajapaksa speaking to the media yesterday said that he too is ready for the forthcoming Presidential Election. He said further that Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that if the people are ready, he is also ready to contest for the Presidential poll. If I am also suitable for the …
By Rajitha Weerakoon Was Dalrene Ingram guilty of killing her husband? Was she aware of Mathew Peiris’ criminal designs and the method of killing he carried out? Did she respond to his advances while her husband was still living? The continuous stream of film goers heading to cinema halls to see “According to Matthew” seeks …
By Sandun A Jayasekera Non-cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera yesterday said he would speak to Home Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Vajira Abeywardana to see the possibility of presenting a motion in Parliament to hold PC polls under the old system as soon as possible. The Non-cabinet minister who represented the UNF at …
By Heather Stewart and Daniel Boffey Theresa May has pledged to face down a vote of no confidence in her government, after her Brexit deal was shot down by MPs in the heaviest parliamentary defeat of the democratic era. On a day of extraordinary drama at Westminster, the House of Commons delivered a devastating verdict …
By Sharmini Serasinghe As a Sri Lankan first, as a member of the predominant ethnic community- Sinhalese, as a follower of the Buddhist philosophy and as a grandmother, I have taken it upon myself to address the youth and young adults of Sri Lanka, amongst them – the future leaders of Sri Lanka – through …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The election of President Maithripala Sirisena four years ago on January 8 was a watershed moment in Sri Lankan politics. However, since then, it has lost its allure. This year’s anniversary was, by and large, abandoned by its early supporters. As he enters into his final year, the president himself looks as …
By Peter Walker After Theresa May’s huge defeat over her Brexit deal, parliament and the country face an uncertain next few days. On Wednesday, a no-confidence motion in the government will be debated. If the government loses there could be a general election. But even if she defeats the motion, the prime minister’s next steps …
By M.Mahasenan Can the boiling-over the ‘standardised-pasteurized’ milk on a corner of an apartment on a gas stove be considered Thai Pongal in its strictest meaning remains a troubling question for us today. The Pongal sweet rice thus made is offered to the sun that beats down through the high rise window. You are lucky …
By Mirudhula Thambiah Newly-appointed Governor of the Eastern Province, M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, in an interview with Ceylon Today says, “I created a problem by being selected as the Governor of the East. I will find a solution very soon. I know how to tackle them. The protesters will be satisfied when they see my work. I …
Giving the clearest indication yet of his intention to run in the upcoming Presidential elections, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said he is ready to take up the challenge when polls are called, possibly towards the end of 2019. Speaking at a ‘Viyathmaga’ event at Water’s Edge on Saturday,Rajapaksa argued that he advocates ‘Jathikathwaya’ …
By P. Krishnaswamy After the Christmas and New Year festivities, the focus is now on the Pongal harvest festival, popularly known as Thai Pongal, celebrated in the first four days of the month of Thai in the Tamil-Hindu calendar. Traditionally, it is the festival of farmers who depend on Mother Earth, the sun, rain, other …
Continue reading ‘‘Thai Pongal’ the Harvest Festival of Tamils’ »
By Sowmya Rajendran Before we see Rajinikanth on screen, we hear the song Vantha Naal Mudhal, Indha Naal Varai. It sets the framework for what we’re about to see – Rajinikanth from those days, until now. Karthik Subbaraj’s Petta is exactly what he promised – a tribute to Rajinikanth, with the director’s trademark twists. And …
By Sowmya Rajendran After touring Eastern Europe in Vivegam, which didn’t go so well, Siva brings Ajith back to Tamil Nadu and reinstates him in a veshti-white shirt. It’s a wise move, because Viswasam is familiar territory to the director and he appears more sure-footed of what he’s doing than in his previous ambitious venture. …
By Anurangi Singh The unedited footage of an interview with former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa aired on a private television channel over a year before Lasantha Wickrematunge’s assassination, was ordered into CID custody by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court last week, as friends and colleagues marked a decade since the senior journalist was assassinated in …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene White vans and ‘black media’ aside (which I will return to later), Sri Lanka has seen politicians insulting judges in Parliament under cover of parliamentary privilege in the past. Staggering and scurrilous abuse Each time, these attacks have been discomfiting, indicating the extent to which the ancient law of privilege can …
by Sanjana Hattotuwa The appointment of a new Army Chief of Staff. A fresh denial around the use of chemical weapons. The denunciation of a civil society protest against mainstream media supportive of the constitutional coup, not by members of the SLPP, but by those in the UNP and government. A photograph of a former …
by Zacki Jabbar Deputy Leader of the UNP and Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa revealed that President Sirisena had offered him the post of Prime Minister on 71 occasions – ten times prior to October 26 and 61 times after that. “However, I declined on a matter of principle as I opposed the President’s …
The Ministry of Housing development this week announced the construction of four new villages in honour of journalists who either lost their lives or were attacked in the line of duty. Attending the ground breaking ceremony of four Uda Gammana villages to be created in Weeraketiya, Hambantota in remembrance of four veteran journalists – late …
By P.K.Balachandran The Constitutional Expert Committee’s report, which was tabled in the Sri Lankan parliament on Friday abolishes the powerful Executive Presidency and replaces it by a Westminster style parliamentary system with a powerful Prime Minister and a ceremonial President. As per the report which can be described as the “draft constitution”, the President will …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj ‘Spotlight’ shines for the first time in the new year. Although devoted in principle to films, film personalities and film-related matters, the column will deviate in practice this week to focus on a renowned Sri Lankan newspaper Editor whose contribution to his country and people as a Watchdog of the Nation has been …
By Saman Indrajith Poor attendance at the Constitutional Assembly (CA) meeting was noted yesterday with only 56 MPs being present when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe presented reports pertaining to constitutional reforms. The CA met, at 10.00 am at the Parliament chamber after a lapse of over a year. The meeting was convened to table five …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake We have just completed the tenth anniversary of the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. A decade after this political brutality under a government with a bloody record of such violence against society, media freedom and democracy, we still await the killers of Lasantha, and those who wanted it done, caught in the …
By Saman Indrajith Former President and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa was spreading hatred and circulating misinformation about the new Constitution among the people, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday. “Rajapaksa has now become an orb of hatred. He recently visited a temple and said that by April a new Constitution would be introduced …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama A report prepared by the Panel of Experts for the Steering Committee based on the Interim Report, six Sub Committee Reports, the Report of the ad hoc Sub Committee assigned to look into the relationship between the Parliament and the Provincial Councils were presented to the Constitutional Assembly yesterday. As the Steering …
By Disna Mudalige, Camelia Nathaniel and Amali Mallawaarachchi Drafting a Constitutional Bill depends on the support of the Constitutional Assemblyand any such draft requires the support of a two thirds majority, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Addressing the Constitutional Assembly, the Prime Minister yesterday said public opinion is always respected in proceeding with Constitutional reforms. …
By Lahiru Fernando The United National Party stressed it had no involvement in the protest carried out by a number of social activists’ groups opposite several media institutes in Colombo on Thursday. Issuing a special statement yesterday, the party said the UNP is committed to promote and protect the freedom of media. The statement also …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Colombo Commercial High Court yesterday ordered National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa that compensation of Rs. 10 million be paid to JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva. This is for publishing and distributing the book titled Neththa Venuwata Aththa in violation of provisions of the Intellectual Property Act. In his judgment, Commercial …
(Text of Media Release Issued by Centre for Policy Alternatives on Jan 11th 2019) The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is deeply concerned by the recent appointment of Major General Shavendra Silva as the Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and urges President Maithripala Sirisena to immediately review the appointment in light of serious …
By Kelum Bandara That President Maithripala Sirisena desires to be the next presidential candidate surfaced once again when newly appointed General Secretary of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Dayasiri Jayasekara made some utterances to that effect early this week. Jayasekara said that his party wished to field President Sirisena as the candidate for the …
(Text of Editorial appearing in “The Island” of January 10th 2019 under the heading “The hunt begins?) The JVP has torn into Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, who, it says, backed the 26 Oct. government change. It has, however, stopped short of explaining how he did so. Is it referring to his …
(Text of a media release issued by Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 9th 2019 under the heading “Four years of misrule and the fate of future generations in this country”) Sri Lanka faces three major dangers as we complete four years since the change of government on 9 January 2015. The first …
By Chitra Weerarathne The indictment against Janaka Ranawaka the former Mayor of Kotte was read out to him yesterday in the High Court of Colombo. He has been indicted with undue access to the computer of the then Deputy Mayor. The accused is on bail at present.
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed three judges to the Supreme Court, including two whose appointments were delayed following a constitutional coup. Court of Appeal President Preethi Padman Surasena, S Thurairaja and E N P G R Amarasekera were sworn in before the president, his office said.
By Disna MudaligeCamelia Nathaniel and Amali Mallawaarachchi The Independent Television Network (ITN) is a ‘den of thieves’ and the best way to reform the institution is to operate it as a “public broadcasting service,” Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera told Parliament yesterday. The minister was making a ministerial statement in response to a …
By Camelia Nathaniel Major General Shavendra Silva has been appointed as the 53rd Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army from yesterday. Major General Silva is currently the Adjutant General and Colonel Commandant of the Gajaba Regiment. A proud product of the Sri Lanka Military Academy he was enlisted on the fifth of March …
By Saman Indrajith The Constitutional Assembly will meet, at 10.30 am tomorrow (11) with Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri presiding. The expert panel report, which contains draft constitutional proposals, will be tabled by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during the sitting. The views of political parties are also given in the report and the report will be …
By Saman Indrajith Concerns regarding the conduct of Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka had been raised during a recent meeting of the Committee on High Posts, JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament yesterday. Participating in the debate on Regulations under the Diplomatic Privileges Act, MP Rathnayake said that Dr. Jayatilleka’s conduct as …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Putting the issue of party membership before the Judiciary, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said it was up to the courts to decide whether any Parliamentarian has resigned from his party membership and reaffirmed United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) lawmaker Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition. In the absence of Speaker …
By Saman Indrajith Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had reaffirmed the recognition of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader of Parliament, Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri told Parliament yesterday. Speaker Jayasuriya is currently attending the Conference of Speakers of Commonwealth Countries in Malta and the Deputy Speaker read out the Speaker’s announcements to the House at …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka President Sirisena’s foreign policy, just as that of any other leader anywhere in the world, must be seen in relation to several factors. These are the success or otherwise of the policy he inherited, the character of his own foreign policy as it evolved, and most importantly, the ‘fit’ or otherwise of …
By Ahimsa Wickrematunge I first came to know of the MiG Deal in August 2007. I was living in Canada with family when my father called me from Colombo. He told me that The Sunday Leader had reported on a shady military contract involving Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Air Force. My father had just watched …
(Text Of Editorial Appearing in the “Sunday Observer”of January 6th 2019 Under the Heading “Who is Lasantha?) The words are still chilling, a decade later. “Who is Lasantha?” retorted a once all-powerful Defence Secretary angrily, when a BBC journalist dared to question him incessantly on the brutal murder of founding editor of The Sunday Leader, …
By Keith Noyahr (In some ways, Keith Noyahr’s abduction and assault in May 2008 was the harbinger of the more brutal crime that was to follow. At the time of his abduction, Keith Noyahr was the most senior journalist to be attacked during that dark era for press freedom in Sri Lanka. That dubious honour …
By- Sharmini Serasinghe The leader of a nation is like a parent to one’s children. The children emulate the examples set by the parent, for better or for worse. The morally upright parent sets morally upright examples and standards and ensures the children abide by them. What happens when the leader/parent is immoral, unethical and …
By Marwaan Macan-Markar In the Great Game being played across the Indian Ocean, the U.S. Navy has its eye on Sri Lanka’s northeastern port of Trincomalee to serve as a logistics hub for South Asian waters churned by India, Japan and China. Western diplomats in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, noted an upping of the …
By Sawani Sheshadi If there are issues and crises related to religious as well as ethnic co-existence in Sri Lanka, solutions can be solicited through the spiritual guidance taught in religions. Hence, any unwanted foreign involvement should be frowned upon, said Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith attending the launching ceremony of the biography of Ven. …
By Yoshitha Perera Mihin Lanka has paid a loan of Rs.8.2 million for a car (Nissan- N16) which was gifted to Astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the year 2007, Astrologer Abeygunawardana informed the SriLankan Airlines Commission yesterday. He informed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into irregularities at SriLankan airlines, SriLankan …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attempt to seize power through the backdoor with the support of President Maithripala Sirisena has been roundly defeated by a courageous display of united resistance by concerned citizens in combination with decisive votes in the legislature and unanimous rulings by the Judiciary. After clinging on stubbornly from October 26th …
Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa May Be Down But He Is Certainly Not Out Yet.’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The seven-week-long curse which blighted this beautiful and bountiful land from 26 October onwards ended over the mid-December weekend. On Saturday 15 December former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa terminated his illegitimate tenure as purported Prime Minister by signing a letter of resignation at his residence amidst a gathering of acolytes, …
Continue reading ‘Rightfully Restored Premier Ranil Likely To Hold Early Parliamentary Elections’ »
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene When chastened supporters of the Rajapaksa-led ‘Pohottuwa’ (lotus bud) Party bewail the December 2018 decision of the Supreme Court holding that the Presidential dissolution of Parliament was unconstitutional with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa having to step back from a contested Prime Ministerial seat and return to opposition ranks, a frequent lament …
By A ” Sunday Observer” Special Correspondent In 2007, journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge published a series of exposes about a murky arms procurement that has since come to be known as the ‘MiG deal’. The articles resulted in Lasantha and his newspaper being sued for defamation over his reporting on the alleged involvement of then Defence …
by C. Mahendran I spent my entire professional life from 1957- 2004 representing the Sri Lankan government’s interests abroad, heading our diplomatic missions in China, Japan, South Korea and the UN mission in New York. I have worked with Sri Lankan politicians from different parties implementing different policies. So I have watched with bemusement the …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” – HP Hartley (The Go-Between) The Iliad begins when the Trojan War is in its ninth murderous and exhausting year. In between trying to breach the famed walls of Troy, the Greeks raid nearby settlements for booty, material and human. Chryseis …
By Sanjana Hattotuwa New Year. Old problems. Those who have taken a medium or long haul flight in recent years know the feeling. You are promised hundreds of channels of the best entertainment, more than enough to last the length of the flight. In reality, the films and shows are those you have seen before, …
By Dr Nihal Jayawickrama Article 33A of the Constitution states that the President “shall be responsible to Parliament for the due exercise, performance and discharge of his powers, duties and functions under the Constitution and any written law”. Parliament, therefore, has a constitutional duty to call upon the President to account for his actions, especially …
by Shamindra Ferdinando President Maithripala Sirisena has named UPFA MP M.L.A.M. Hisbullah, Colombo Municipal Councillor Azath Sally, who is also the leader of the National Unity Alliance (NUA) and leader of the United National Freedom Front (UNFF) Maithree Gunaratne as Governors of the Eastern, Western and Central Province, respectively. Hisbullah was accommodated in parliament on …
The 10th anniversary of the assassination of The Sunday Leader founder Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge, which falls on 8 January, will be marked with a service at his graveside. Family, friends, former colleagues and others, including those from political and diplomatic circles, will gather at Borella Kanatte at 9 a.m. to mark the anniversary and remember …
A forum titled ‘10 Years After Lasantha: Whither Investigative Journalism in Sri Lanka?’ will be held on 8 January at the Lighthouse Auditorium, No. 24, Horton Place, Colombo 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. The speakers will comprise – The Sunday Morning Editor and former The Sunday Leader Editor Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema, Sunday Observer Editor …
The Kerala Chief Minister’s Office on Friday claimed that a 46-year-old woman from Sri Lanka entered the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala last night to offer prayers. The woman, however, said that police had stopped her from entering the temple despite her reaching close to the 18 sacred steps that lead to the shrine. The Chief …
BY Yohan Perera and Sheain Fernandopulle Former civil servant Devanesan Nesiah officially returned the “Deshamanya” award conferred to him by President Maithripala Sirisena today. Dr. Nesiah and his daughter handed it over to the Presidential Secretariat last evening. Talking to journalists, Dr. Nesiah said he decided to return the award as he was disappointed with …
A Sri Lankan couple living in Rome had the honour of being the parents of the first baby born in the New Year. The baby had been born ten seconds after the dawn of the New Year at St. Philip Neri’s Hospital in Rome.
Wishing Everyone a Very Happy New Year. Best Wishes To All For 2019. D.B.S.Jeyaraj.
By Yohan Perera Minister of National Integration, Official Languages and Social Progress Mano Ganesan requested the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka to ensure the inclusion of Tamil language in signboards erected at Chinese funded development projects. He said the signboards had been written in Chinese, English and Sinhala only.
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka January 1st 2019– 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution Jan 1st marks the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution; 60 years of the revolutionary Cuba that we have known. The Cuban revolution was a pure revolution, the purest revolution we have seen. By pure I do not mean a revolution that was …
By Don Manu If the year 2018 began with a bang for Mahinda Rajapaksa when his ghost-led Pohottuwa party swept the local polls in February, the year ended for him with a whimper stuck in the sinking sands of his fluctuating political fortunes. Whatever his royal astrologer may have predicted of the rosy things to …
Continue reading ‘The Rise and Fall of Mahinda Rajapaksa Within a Period of Six Weeks’ »
By Gamini Weerakoon It may be good times for some people and bad times for others. But, undeniably, it is interesting times for most of us watching antics of politicians though not necessarily a blessing. Close on the heels of the rowdy Sri Lankan parliamentary ‘comedies’ that brought this island into focus in the international …
Sri Lanka’s October coup that brought former president Mahinda Rajapaksa briefly back to power may have backfired on a close relative, ex-ambassador to Washington and fugitive from justice, Jaliya Wickramasuriya. The prospect of a Rajapaksa government in Colombo prompted justice authorities in Washington to publicly disclose money laundering and visa fraud charges against Wickramasuriya, a …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As a foreboding New Year by way of the Gregorian calendar dawns for Sri Lankans, the choices before us (at least, politically) are not felicitous by any stretch of the imagination. Atavistic demons conjured up by opportunists A cynic may question, ‘when were the choices ever felicitous during the past five …
By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, December 28: Sri Lanka saw cataclysmic political events in 2018. Democracy, which was introduced way back in 1931 and was thought to be well and truly entrenched in Sri Lanka, was put in danger in October-November when President Maithripala Sirisena dismissed Prime Minister Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and dissolved parliament in brazen …
BY RAJITHA JAGODA ARACHCHI & RASULA DILHARA GAMAGE Continuous rains in the northern part of the country during the past few days inundated large areas of Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Jaffna. Overall, 123,178 people belonging to 39,669 families were displaced by the bad weather. Meanwhile, 474 houses had been fully damaged and another 4,522 houses …
President Maithripala Sirsiena has allocated all state media institutions to the ministry of Finance and Media ending speculation that he may keep some of them under his direct control as the country heads for an election year. In an Extraordinary Gazette notification dated December 24, but published Saturday, the President listed the two state television …
Merry Christmas Everybody! Compliments of the season From David Buell Sabapathy Jeyaraj
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year Friends! It’s Christmas season again! An integral part of Christmas is the singing of Christmas carols in churches as well as at events celebrating Christmas. The Many Faces of Christmas – Shaped Wooden Puzzle from Sri Lanka ~ Photographed at an exhibit of over 900 …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former President and current Kurunegala district MP Mahinda Rajapaksa was interviewed regarding the present political situation by Kelum Bandara of the “Daily Mirror” last week. One of the questions posed to Mahinda in the interview was – “There is perception among some that you took over the Government entering through the backdoor despite …
Continue reading ‘Mahinda’s Hurried Backdoor Power Grab and the Gotabhaya Factor’ »
By Sharmini Serasinghe Sri Lanka is politically bankrupt! The two main players in Sri Lanka’s political arena – the UNP and the SLFP – have outlived their lifespan. Further, each time they form new coalitions and their identities and symbols are changed more frequently than their underwear, the average voter is left so utterly confused, …
By Don Manu Today on the presidential throne of Lanka, there sits a man who gambled with the nation’s heirloom of democracy and endangered the people’s sovereign inheritance, who gambled with the nation’s economy and imperiled it, on Manuwho gambled with the nation’s international image and sullied it, who placed his bets and waged his …
By the “Sunday Times”Political Editor President Maithripala Sirisena has rejected a request by the United National Party (UNP) to re-activate the onetime ‘National Government’ with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and thus enlarge the Cabinet of Ministers. It was made on Saturday night by a four-member UNP delegation led by the then Prime Minister …
By a “Sunday Observer” Staff Reporter Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa found himself in another political conundrum this week when his new appointment as the Opposition Leader was challenged in Parliament and his parliamentary membership too appeared to be at risk. While the country grappled with a prolonged political deadlock since October 26 following Rajapaksa’s appointment …
By Anurangi Singh President Maithripala Sirisena had referred two other names to the Constitutional Council (CC) seeking approval to be appointed to the Supreme Court. The CC has been called upon to consider the names of two Court of Appeal judges, Deepali Wijesundera and Kumudini Wickremasinghe for the vacant posts in the Supreme Court. The …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday postponed his decision on whether MP Mahinda Rajapaksa would be Opposition Leader despite the request for the appointment of a Parliament Select Committee. Extending the period to deliver his decision, Speaker Jayasuriya informed the House he has received letters from a group of lawmakers seeking a committee to …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Parliamentary proceedings of Sri Lanka known formerly as Ceylon have been the focus of my interest from a fairly early age. It began when I was in the Upper-fourth D class (Grade seven) at St. Thomas’ College Mt.Lavinia in 1966. Our English teacher Mrs. Fernando advised us at the beginning of the …
Continue reading ‘From Molamure to Jayasuriya: “Honourable” Speakers of Sri Lanka’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj “The Speaker represents the House. He/she represents the dignity of the House, the freedom of the House and because the House represents the nation, in a particular way, the Speaker becomes a symbol of nation’s freedom and liberty. Therefore that should be an honoured position, a free position and should be occupied always …
Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s Heroic Defiance of Maithripala and Mahinda’ »
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appointed three non-Cabinet Ministers, 17 State Ministers, and seven Deputy Ministers at a ceremony held in the Presidential Secretariat in the evening. United National Party Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva was appointed as the Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, while Ajith P. Perera was appointed as Minister of Digital …
(The Tamil National Alliance has made written submissions urging the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya not to recognize Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition. The TNA Outlining several reasons fir taking up yhis position has requested that a Parliamentary Select Committee be appointed to go into the matter and arrive at a final …
Sri Lanka’s police detained two navy intelligence officers at the Fort magistrate’s court Wednesday amid fears of a threat to the life of a key detective investigating the abduction and killing of several people allegedly by navy officers. Police spotted two navy men identified as N. M. W Janaka (38190) and A.S.N. Tony (103183) sitting …
Twenty -nine ministers headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were sworn in as members of the new cabinet on Thursday December 20th .The new Ministers took their oaths before President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s office in the morning. The list of Ministers and portfilios are : 01. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe – Ministry of …
By Meera Srinivasan Following a crisis marked by two competing claims to the office of the Prime Minister, R. Sampanthan — Leader of Opposition since 2015 — on Wednesday challenged the Speaker on his naming of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the position. Referring to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s announcement on Tuesday, following a request made …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama The appointment of MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader was challenged yesterday in parliament by ITAK MP Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, who held that he is the Opposition Leader unless the Speaker decides otherwise and removes him. According to MP Sampanthan, the Speaker will have to remove him from the post before appointing …
( The following news item was published in the “Daily Financial Times” of November 12th 2018 under the heading “MR takes SLPP membership” relating to the joining of SLPP By Mahinda Rajapaksa,Namal Rajapaksa and 31 others from the SLFP-UPFA. There was also a picture of a smiling Mahinda with SLPP chairman GL Peiris and SLPP …
By Sirimantha Ratnayake SLFP Vice President and Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama says that President Maithripala Sirisena should resign from his post immediately. “The Supreme Court has found that President Sirisena violated the Constitution. One who has acted in contravention of the Constitution should not hold that position. He can be impeached any moment and …
By Disna Mudalige, Camelia Nathaniel and Amali Mallawaarachchi Questions were raised in Parliament yesterday over the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader. The Speaker, listening to arguments of both sides of the House, said he will give his ruling on the Opposition Leader’s post on Friday. At the commencement of the …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Many an eyebrow has been raised over former Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s recent declaration that SLFP/UPFA lawmakers hadn’t received Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) membership. Addressing a gathering at Maharagama over the last weekend, the chief architect of the SLPP claimed that the party was yet to take SLFP/UPFA lawmakers to …
ALL’S WELL that ends well, or so Shakespeare would have it, when a seeming tragedy turns into a heart-warming story of persistence and redemption. Such was the relief that Sri Lanka felt on December 16th, as seven weeks of political turbulence ended like a summer squall. After a period when the country had first two …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama UPFA lawmakers Gamini Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Lakshman Senewiratne, and Indika Bandaranayake crossed over to join the Government soon after Parliament was convened yesterday for the first time after UNP MP Ranil Wickre-mesinghe was reappointed as Prime Minister. Explaining the reasons which compelled the three of them to leave the United People’s Freedom …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Speaker Karu Jayasuriya nominated MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition soon after Parliament convened yesterday, but responding to protests from Parliamentarians, said he would decide whether to appoint a Select Committee to look into the validity of the appointment. Filling three other important positions in Parliament, Speaker appointed United …
By Chathuri Dissanayake Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday made an open request to United National Party Parliamentarians to voluntarily give up Ministry portfolios, in a bid to limit the Cabinet to 30 members. Initially, only Party senior Malik Samarawickrama offered to step down, but seeing there were no volunteers, Party leaders who form the United …
By Saman Indrajith Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday informed Parliament that he recognised Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition. He also recognised UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera as the Chief Opposition Whip. However, UNP and TNA opposed the recognition of Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader and called him the leader of a …
Sri Lanka’s reinstated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe marked his first day back in office Monday with a hostile president resisting his nominations to a new cabinet. Party officials said Wickremesinghe was battling to form a government as Maithripala Sirisena insisted that he wanted to retain media and the law-and-order portfolios. Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) …
Triggering a fresh controversy, President Maithripala Sirisena has demanded state media institutions, making the negotiations over the appointments of a new Cabinet even harder. Sirisena has reportedly informed the UNP that he would place two state media institutions under his direct purview.
By Uditha Jayasinghe and Nuwan Senarathna Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday led from the front by calling on the public to give a two-thirds majority to a coalition led by the United National Party (UNP) at the next general election to abolish the Executive Presidency and outlined plans to form a new coalition titled the …
(Text of Speech Made by President Maithripala Sirisena to a Gathering of UNF representatives after swearing in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister on December 16th 2018) The January 08, 2015 Presidential election was an extraordinary people’s victory achieved through a challenging election campaign. In that victory, the people of the country had many of their …
By Ranga Jayasuriya After an uphill battle by the people,who are not necessarily the fans of the United National Party, a good deal of activism by the civil society, lawyers and online chatter; and finally an unanimous Supreme Court verdict that ruled the dissolution of Parliament as illegal and ultra-vires, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in …
Sri Lanka will prepare an interim budget to keep the government ticking from January 2019, after a new cabinet of ministers is appointed, United National Party legislators said. “We expect to appoint a cabinet of ministers within 48 hours,” UNP legislator and former state minister for finance Eran Wickramaratne said. “We will talk with party …
Heavyweights Mangala Samaraweera and Ravi Karunanayake are alleged to be fighting over the key Finance Ministry portfolio whilst political analysts claim it would not be a surprise if either fails to secure it. Karunanayake is keen to regain the once lost portfolio though he also briefly held the Foreign Minister title. Given the speculation, sections …
President Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday, told newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other UNP MPs at a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, that he was still of the view that Wickremesinghe should not have been appointed Prime Minister. A media statement issued by the President Secretariat, yesterday quoted President Sirisena as having said: “When I …
(Text of special Ststement Issued by recently removed and subsequently re-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe after being worn in by President Maithripala Sirisena) The full statement is reproduced below: Special Statement made by the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka 16th December 2018 It is a pleasure to me to address you once again as …