By S.Ratnajeevan H. Hoole Our main job on the Election Commission is to uphold election laws and conduct free and fair elections. Of necessity, this involves interdicting election law violations, usually by powerful politicians. Politicians promote the fiction that when they violate the law, we must not name them; that naming them is to violate …

Continue reading ‘Parliament must pass laws that MPs cannot engage in defamation of members of the Election Commission so as to make the EC look the other way out of fear when party leaders wreak havoc.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Birth Centenary of “Comrade Shan On July 3rd A political personality must be judged against the backdrop of his/her own time but also viewed with the benefit of hindsight so as to ascertain the more lasting relevance of his/her effort. So it is with Nagalingam Sanmugathasan, better known as N. Sanmugathasan and …

Continue reading ‘Had Veluppillai Prabhakaran heeded the advice of Comrade Shanmugathasan he and his militia may not have been obliterated on the banks of the Nandikadal lagoon.’ »

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged Sri Lankans not to get distracted by minor issues overblown by the opposition like Karuna Amman’s campaign claim that he killed thousands of soldiers in one night at Elephant Pass, but to have the broader picture in mind when it cause to politics. “If we are able to distinguish …

Continue reading ‘“Karuna may have given up murdering people, but the yahapalana cabal has not given up trying to divide the country” – Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Governance in Sri Lanka today is transitioning from a constitutional (albeit flawed) system of checks and balances to tugs of war between competing political power centres that are constrained not by the Constitution or statute but by the sheer praxis of force. In that unseemly struggle over which looms the spectre …

Continue reading ‘The silence of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka is shameful given that former greats of the profession stood up to the State even in the most chilling of times.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The restrictions of Covid-19 have not removed the enthusiasm of the General Election, with statements by non-leader candidates drawing more attention than huge crowds at meetings or the distribution of goodies among voters. Karuna Amman and Harin Fernando are the main players in the current political drama. The Elections Commission has controlled …

Continue reading ‘Should the leader of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka not have the right to make statements that relate to the politics in the country, which will affect voting by Catholics?’ »

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya Former minister Mangala Samaraweera’s decision not to contest the upcoming parliamentary election, despite his name being on the candidates list, is unlikely to have been an arbitrary one. Samaraweera is not the type of politician to fade into oblivion simply based on the chance that he may lose. An advocate of far-reaching …

Continue reading ‘Many of Mangala Samaraweera’s “New Deal” Proposals are at variance with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s vision for the country as spelled out in his 2019 elections manifesto.’ »

by C.A. Chandraprema An issue that this writer has been highlighting in this newspaper from time to time for the past several years has now finally come home to roost and how! Today it has become a national issue affecting the candidates of all political parties in the country. This Parliamentary election will have to …

Continue reading ‘All Candidates Suffering Under irrational and inexplicable restrictions Imposed by Current parliamentary elections law Who Get Elected to Parliament Must Get Together And Enact Much Needed Amendments to Election Law’ »

by Prof. Savitri Goonesekere During the last few weeks, the media has paid a great deal of attention to fundamental rights cases filed in our Supreme Court. The electronic media, typically expressed half-truths or incorrect information on what these cases were about. Sadly, but perhaps not unexpectedly, opposition parties who should have been concerned with …

Continue reading ‘A tongue lashing by the President of senior officials in the banking sector may please those who want the President to exercise dictatorial powers in governance.’ »

Milinda Moragoda, Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation and former Cabinet Minister, called on political parties to clearly state their positions on the Provincial Council system in their policy platforms for the forthcoming general elections. He urges parties to consider repealing the 13th Amendment, thereby abolishing the Provincial Council system. Moragoda reiterated his earlier proposal that …

Continue reading ‘Milinda Moragoda urges political parties to consider abolishing the Provincial Council system’ »

Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka said in open court that officers of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had attempted to show photographs of Hejaaz Hizbullah at his chambers prior to the recording of statements from two children. When the matter was taken up before Dissanayake on 24 June, he told Hizbullah’s lawyers that prior to the …

Continue reading ‘Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake asks CID Officers to Leave His Chambers After They Tried to Show Photographs of Arrested Lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah To Children Prior to Recording Statements From Them; Identification Parade with 10 Child Witnesses Cancelled Due to Defence Lawyers Protesting Against Exercise to “Legitimise an Illegal Process.”’ »

By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka It was hardly a textbook example of the “correct handling of contradictions” (Mao). Future historians may conclude that the achievable dream of the 21st century as an Asian Age in a multipolar world order, died in mid-June 2020 in the Himalayas, in the Galwan valley in Ladakh. The ferocious and lamentable …

Continue reading ‘If the Incumbent Lankan Regime with its ‘Asiatic Authoritarian-militarist mode’ is Perceived by India and the US as having Transitioned to a category of China’s “most favoured” States Like Pakistan,Cambodia and Myanmar the Consequences could be Unfavourable.’ »

(Text of a Media Communique Released by the Human Rights Watch of a Joint Statement Issued by the Amnesty International,Committee to Protect Journalists, Front Line Defenders. Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders on behalf of Beleaguered Sri Lankan Senior Journalist Dharisha Bastians) The Sri Lankan authorities should stop targeting, intimidating, and harassing journalist and …

Continue reading ‘Five Inernational Organizations Call Upom Sri Lankan authorities to stop targeting, intimidating, and harassing journalist Dharisha Bastians and her family and Ensure Their Safety’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You can take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.”_ — Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela was a rare leader. It would be hard …

Continue reading ‘COVID-19 has compelled us to ask questions about leaders and leadership. What kind of leaders do we have?’ »

By Meera Srinivasan As investigators in Sri Lanka move into the “final stages” of the probe into the April 2019 Easter terror bombings, concerns over apparent lack of adherence to due process have risen from several quarters. Sri Lanka police recently said they are about to conclude investigations of the deadly serial bombings that claimed …

Continue reading ‘The “Crucial flaw” affecting credible investigation into any ‘high profile’ crime in Sri Lanka is its “capture by the political arm of the State”- Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena.’ »

Sri Lanka’s ex-Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has come out to defend the central bank after it was slammed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for inaction saying a credit guarantee scheme is needed to help move loans. Ironically Samaraweera’s economic program was hit by monetary instability in 2018 triggered by pro-cyclical rate cuts and liquidity injections which …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera Writes Letter to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa In Defence of the Central Bank After President Gotabaya Rajapaksa castigates CB Officials Publicly’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene If President Gotabaya Rajapaksa can be so bold as to set up institutions running parallel to constitutional bodies situated in his Presidential Secretariat, the consequential question arises as to what need is there of a Constitution for Sri Lanka? Duplication of constitutional institutions This query becomes pertinent in regard to the …

Continue reading ‘If President Rajapaksa Continues to Centralise Power in the Presidential Secreariat Like Appointing an ex-DIG an Ombudsman Thereby , Dupicating Constitutional Institutions Then What is the Need For a Constitution in Sri Lanka?’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham COVID-19, the pandemic that is claiming lives all over the world, has thrown global politics into disarray, crafting a new normal in which nothing will be the way it was. Political scholars are writing extensively on the challenges that will characterize the post-pandemic world order. This is the time for international cooperation …

Continue reading ‘Does the Tamil polity have the wisdom and maturity to undertake a critical analysis of the strategies that need to be adopted in the post-COVID-19 world?’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s probe into the April 2019 Easter terror bombings is in its “final stages”, authorities have said, while raising suspicion that the suicide bombers were funded by “two foreign outfits”. The Colombo Crime Division, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), who are investigating the attacks of last …

Continue reading ‘April 2019 Easter Bombings Investigation now focusing on financial networks connected to suicide bombers with role of foreign groups being Suspected; 200 suspects so far arrested’ »

By Dr.Sarath Amunugama I thought of writing this note as I am one of the few survivors from the halcyon days of the nineteen seventies when Father Ernest Poruthota nurtured a small group of young middle class urbanites who were breaking into the hitherto exclusive preserves of Sinhala theatre and film. Many of these young …

Continue reading ‘Father Ernest Poruthota Was the Patron Saint of Sinhala Theatre and Film.’ »

by R. B. Wijesinha (Jnr.) Had Bertie Wijesinha been alive on May 24, he would have been 100 years old. Sadly, he fell just short of his century. This year is also the 25th anniversary of the passing of his great friend, teammate and fellow commentator, Lucien de Zoysa. Four years older than Bertie, their …

Continue reading ‘Lucien de Zoysa: Cricketer, actor, playwright, producer, cricket commentator, journalist and raconteur extraordinary’ »

by C. A. Chandraprema If Sri Lanka’s own experience is anything to go by, the chaos reigning on the streets of the USA should ensure the re-election of President Donald Trump at the presidential elections later this year. In 1988, Prime Minister R. Premadasa’s victory at the presidential elections of that year was more or …

Continue reading ‘The chaos reigning on the streets of the USA should ensure the re-election of President Donald Trump as many Americans would see him as the only thing standing between them and total anarchy’ »

The National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday, expressed grave concern regarding the appointment of a series of Presidential Task Forces (PTFs) by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in recent times. Issuing a press release the NPP stated that PTFs posed a significant threat to democracy in Sri Lanka and pledged to resist such attempts to bypass mandated, established …

Continue reading ‘President Trying to bypass Prime Minister, Cabinet and Ministries and establish a form of direct government coming under his control Through Presidential Task Forces – National Peoples Front’ »

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has in a speech called on all candidates to be mindful of the election related guidelines issued by the health authorities and also to conduct an environmentally friendly and exemplary election campaign. The following is the text of the PM’s speech: After the Presidential election of 16 November 2019, we will …

Continue reading ‘“Yahapalana” Minister Who Faced Protess for Allegedly Giving “Dud” Job Appointments to the Youths of Hambantota is now Contesting From Colombo Instead of Hambantota – Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By Victor Ivan The decision reached by Mangala Samaraweera who is considered a colourful, controversial, daring and creative political figure in the old or the traditional political landscape of Sri Lanka, which is currently on the verge of decay and death, to abandon the course of traditional politics and choose to tread on an alternative …

Continue reading ‘Mangala Samaraweera is firm in his conviction that he should move away from the extremely rotten old political culture and commit himself to the cause of building a new mass political movement aimed at rescuing the country.’ »

By Keith Jones The most serious border clash between Indian and Chinese troops since the two countries fought a brief border war in 1962 has reportedly resulted in dozens of fatalities. Fighting erupted Monday night in the Galwan Valley, one of at least four places along the disputed Sino-Indian border where troops have been arrayed …

Continue reading ‘Indian and Chinese Troops Clash in Galwan Valley Along Sino-Indian Border in Most Serious Incident Since 1962 War: Officially India Acknowledges 20 Dead but China Remains Silent Though US Intelligence Estimates at Least 35 Chinese Casualties’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Forced to shift to online platforms due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sri Lankan educators fear that the uneven access to gadgets and internet connection among students might bring new divides in the country’s free education system. Ever since Sri Lanka reported its first local case of COVID-19 on March 10, public health …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan educators fear that the uneven access to gadgets and internet connection among students might bring new divides in the country’s free education system.’ »

Ahimsa Wickrematunge, the daughter of late journalist and Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, has appealed to the Police Commission to block the appointment of SSP A.R.P.J. Alwis as Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Wickrematunge releasing a statement said that Alwis was ordered to be arrested in connection to her father’s murder and he was unsuited …

Continue reading ‘SSP Who Allegedly Suppressed Evidence to Shield Suspected Murderers of Lasantha Wickrematunge Appointed Director of CID;Slain “Sunday Leader”Editor’s Daughter Ahimsa Asks National Police Commission to Remove A.R. Prasanna J. Alwis and Take Steps to Produce him in Court as Ordered by Acting IGP Before 2019 Presidential Election’ »

By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka “Can you gather grapes from thorns or pick figs from thistles?” – Matthew 7:16-20 Tamil politics is devoid of a strategic calculus. While the recent welcome offers to the Prime Minister and the President (in that chronological order) of conditional cooperation by the TNA leader Sampanthan followed by its rising star …

Continue reading ‘Ultimately the outcome Prabhakaran and the LTTE achieved for the Tamils was negative: destruction, and a situation in which the Sri Lankan military completely dominates the North and East and its citizenry.’ »

(Text of a letter sent by TNA leader and former Trincomalee District MP Rajavarothayam Sampanthan to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the Estabishment of a Presidential Task Force for Archeological Heritage Management in the EASTERN PROVINCE) 15th June 2020 R. SAMPANTHAN LEADER TAMIL NATIONAL ALLIANCE PRESIDENT GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSA President Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka, Presidential …

Continue reading ‘TNA Leader R.Sampanthan as a Sri Lankan Tamil and Devout Hindu Writes Lengthy Letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Over Appointment of “Sinhala Buddhist”Task Force To Allegedly Preserve Archaeological Heritage of only The Eastern Province Excluding Other eight Provinces’ »

By Asiri Fernando The role of the Presidential Task Forces (PTFs) has been misinterpreted by some and there is no provision to bring public officials under the control of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), said Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne. The statement by the Secretary to the MOD comes in the wake …

Continue reading ‘Presidential Task Forces (PTFs) has no provision to bring public officials under the control of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Says Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne.’ »

By T. Farook Thajudeen and Yoshitha Perera The Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today directed the CID to obtain a report from the Government Analyst on the laptop belonging to journalist Dharisha Bastains had been Tampered The laptop is currently in the custody of the CID in connection with the investigation into the alleged abduction …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne Directs CID to Obtain a report from the Government Analyst on Whether the laptop belonging to journalist Dharisha Bastians Seized by the CID had been Tampered with Between June 4 to June 10’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A Sri Lankan journalist attached to the The New York Times has said police recently raided her home and seized her laptop, in connection with the alleged abduction of a Swiss Embassy staffer in Colombo last November. On Monday, Dharisha Bastians, a correspondent for The New York Times and a former editor …

Continue reading ‘Following Application Made by Journalist’s Lawyers Colombo Chief Magistrate Orders Govt Analyst to Examine Laptop Computer of “New York Times” Correspondent Dharisha Bastians That was Seized by CID to See Whether Any Alterations Had been made to it’ »

CID officers have searched the Colombo residence of career journalist and former Editor of the State-owned Sunday Observer, Dharisha Bastians, and taken away her computer last week. Bastians, who was forced to leave the country after the change in Government, after her name was dragged into an investigation Involving the alleged abduction of an employee …

Continue reading ‘CID Searches Colombo Residence of Well-known Journalist Dharisha Bastians and Seize Computer used in the Past by her; Former “Sunday Observer” Editor who was Forced to Leave Country After 2019 Regime Change Concerned that “Interested parties” may Compromise the integrity of hardware, software, data and documents of the laptop’ »

by Jehan Perera The signs of elections, and the short term changes that they bring, are upon us today. Posters of candidates are coming up with their party symbols, preference numbers and their vote-catching mottos. Although this is only a caretaker government and hence restricted in its ability to spend state funds and make far …

Continue reading ‘Reliance on military for civil tasks may be popular at this time But unwise’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene To those who scoffed that the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Presidency would not come in with a sweepingly heavy hand after the first few months of sweetness and charm, this frightening moment of the iron hand in the iron glove that Sri Lanka is experiencing at its onset must surely teach otherwise. The …

Continue reading ‘Resisting the militarisation of Sri Lanka with all means at our collective command must be our first priority Ahead of the 2020 Parliament Election.This must be the unifying clarion call from the North to the South.’ »

By Nigel Hatch PC The five Judge Bench of the Supreme Court by its decision on June 2, 2020 speaking through its majority rejected the preliminary objections raised by the Respondents to the maintainability of the several Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the legality of the presidential proclamation of March 2 dissolving Parliament. A Petition …

Continue reading ‘The Fundamental Rights Petitions Relating to The General Elections’ »

by C.A.Chandraprema The long awaited date of the parliamentary election has been announced and the beleaguered Elections Commission has been able to somewhat vindicate itself. The August 5 date is not too far off nor too close for more accusations to be hurled at the EC. Up to the time of writing, we have not …

Continue reading ‘Political Implications of Elections System Mechanics’ »

(Text of Media Release Issued by the “Friday Forum”on June 11th 2020 Under the Heading ” The Rule of Law and Democratic Governance”) At the Annual National law Conference 2020 organised by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka 2020, President Gotabaya Rajapakse in the course of his address said, “The time has come for all …

Continue reading ‘If the Military Task Force Appointed by the President continues to function Sri Lanka would have established a military regime, within what is expected to be a civilian administration&a parliamentary democracy under a written Constitution – Friday Forum’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake How did Sri Lanka get so distant from global realities, so soon? Why is a protest near an embassy of the United States a matter for such concern for the Police to even obtain a court order against, when the whole democratic world is carrying on such protests? One may not be …

Continue reading ‘Did the police brutality in Colombo against democratic demonstrators show that Sri Lanka is moving towards the democracy of the Retired Uniforms?’ »

By Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy In the first few days, as America burned, the world looked on amazed and bewildered, wondering what this would mean for the immediate and long-term future. As the protests settled down and drew larger crowds with an overwhelming number of young people, one began to think of other movements in Hong Kong, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka today may be high on security with our omnipresent armed forces but it is not a safe place to speak or work for many. There is a difference between security and safety.’ »

by Dayan Jayatilleka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a Task Force of the heavy mob, which will press its collective knee into the neck of the new, socially legitimate Parliament that will arise thanks to the Supreme Court judgment which cleared the way for the Election Commission to name a date for voting. Lankans live at …

Continue reading ‘Why would Sri Lanka, which successfully fought three civil wars using the National Security Council, require a militarised Presidential Task Force to build “a secure country” in peacetime?’ »

Election Commission member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole said yesterday that sensible people would be satisfied with his explanation as regards his recent interview with Jaffna-based Dan TV. Asked whether he believed the matter was closed now after EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya on Monday said that the explanation given by you in respect of the Dan TV …

Continue reading ‘“Vote for good people who can truly represent us. At that point, our dirty politics stands a chance of recovering.” -Election Commission Member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole’ »

By Saman Gunadasa This week, the Sri Lankan government stopped planned air flights to bring Sri Lankan migrant workers back home from the Middle East. The decision was made after it was discovered that many were infected with the coronavirus. On May 26, President Gotabhaya Rajapakse’s media division announced that a “new mechanism is to …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan government responds to rising COVID-19 infections by abandoning expatriate workers’ »

By Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu The distinguishing feature of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and indeed, at the same time the cause for concern with regard to him, is that he was never elected to any office until he won the presidency. He was a military man first and then the all-powerful bureaucrat as Secretary to the Ministry of …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa has little time for the niceties and conventions of parliamentary democracy unless of course that too can be sewn up to further buttress his regime’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As the United States erupts in outrage at the killing of George Floyd, the question posed by multi-racial protestors on the streets is simple. Why are there two Americas, one for the whites who do not fear death, deprivation or insults when stopped by the police and another for ‘communities of …

Continue reading ‘There is One Sri Lanka for the Sinhalese with special elevation for Sinhala Buddhists and another for Tamils and Muslims who face far more brutal treatment at the hands of state agents’ »

By S. Rubatheesan After ten days of hearings, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, has dismissed eight Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions that had challenged the validity of the March 2 Presidential proclamation dissolving Parliament and refused the petitioners leave to proceed. Incidentally, the judgement day, Tuesday, coincided with the end of the three-month period …

Continue reading ‘Dispute over polls date and dissolution: Petitions dismissed, Supreme Court restores status-quo-ante’ »

By Kshama Ranawana Three police officers connected with the alleged assault of a teenaged autistic boy in Dharga Town have been interdicted, according to a statement from Police Headquarters released at 7.45 p.m on June 5th. The interdiction follows an investigation into the incident, where dereliction of duties on the part of the three officers …

Continue reading ‘Police Sub-inspector, Sergeant and Constable Interdicted Following Investigation Into Alleged Assault of an Autistic 14 Year Old Boy With Mental Capacity of 6 Year Old Child at Dharga Town’ »

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in a statement yesterday expressed its deep concern with the appointment of two Presidential Task Forces by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Following is the CPA’s full statement. These appointments came soon after the Supreme Court refused leave to proceed to all petitioners on the subject of the dissolution of Parliament …

Continue reading ‘“Appointment of the two Presidential task forces demonstrates troubling trends of authoritarian rule and militarisation with serious implications to Constitutional democracy and reconciliation in Sri Lanka”-Centre for Policy Alternatives’ »

By Chandani Kirinde President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has authorised Rs. 1,043 billion for expenditure from the Consolidated Fund from 1 June up to 31 August in terms of provisions of Paragraph (3) of Article 150 of the Constitution. The relevant circular was issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S. R. Attygalle this week …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Authorises Rs. 1,043 billion for expenditure from the Consolidated Fund from 1 June up to 31 August in terms of provisions of Paragraph (3) of Article 150 of the Constitution.’ »

by By P.K.Balachandran The Presidential Task Force for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province, which was gazetted on June 2, has no Tamils or Muslims even though Tamils and Muslims together constitute two-thirds of the population of the province. Secondly, the Task Force has a number of Sinhala-Buddhist monks but no representative of Hinduism …

Continue reading ‘Appointment of “Sinhala Buddhist Only”Task Force is to Ignore Present Reality of Tamils and Muslims Comprising 75% of Eastern Province Population and Create an Artificial Sinhala Buddhist Past by Weaponising Archaeology.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a 11-member Presidential Task Force to conduct a comprehensive survey of archaeological sites in the Eastern Province and recommend measures to preserve them. The Task Force will be chaired by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Major General (Rtd.) Kamal Gunaratne. This is one of two Task …

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Appoints 11-member Presidential Task Force to conduct a comprehensive survey of archaeological sites in the Eastern Province and recommend measures to preserve them.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Watching on TV Prime Minister MR’s empathy at the funeral of Arumugam Thondaman, I remembered the two of us walking back from the funeral of S. Thondaman in 1999, discussing politics (the upcoming Dec ’99 Presidential Election). It was fitting indeed that the 50th anniversary of the entry to Parliament of Prime …

Continue reading ‘The War That Was Fought and Won Against the LTTE was “MAHINDA’S WAR” Just as World War Two Fought and Won Against the Fascist Axis was Churchill’s,Stalin’s,Roosevelt’s and de Gaulle’s War’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Despite familiar wiles of lawyers sacrificing the national interest in favour of (political) clients in cases currently being heard at the Supreme Court leading to sensational headlines that Sri Lanka’s topmost health officials had waved the green flag for the holding of the country’s 2020 Presidential Elections, the truth was not …

Continue reading ‘“So let us recognise the singular danger besetting the nation.The only question is as to how slow or how quick this will be”’ »

By Col R Hariharan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa completed six months in office on May 18. He came after the Sinhala majority voted him to power after they were disillusioned by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government’s failure to deliver on their promises. The last straw was the failure of the government in taking decisive action to stop the …

Continue reading ‘“If there is an award for plain speaking politician President Rajapaksa would win it hands down but it is too early to ask the question how much would it benefit him in Sri Lanka politics?’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The Supreme Court yesterday unanimously dismissed all the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed challenging the Gazette issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolving Parliament, as well as that of the Election Commission setting the date of the General Election, The Court also dismissed all preliminary objections raised during the ten days of hearings. …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Unanimously Dismisses all the Fundamental Rights (FR) Petitions Challenging the Gazette issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolving Parliament and the Election Commission setting the date of the General Election Without Giving Any Reasons’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Supreme Court five-judge-bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday unanimously refused to grant Leave to Proceed with eight Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the dissolution of Parliament and holding the General Election on June 20, 2020. Accordingly, the Court decided to dismiss all petitions in limine. However, Preliminary Objections raised …

Continue reading ‘Five Judge Bench of Supreme Court Dismisses All Eight Fundamenal Rights petitions in limine:”By majority decision, preliminary objections are overruled. By unanimous decision, Leave to Proceed is refused for all applications” Announces Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya’ »

By Yohan Perera The United National Party (UNP) working committee today approved the suspension of the party membership of its deputy leader Sajith Premadasa and 98 other former ministers, MPs, provincial councillors and organizers. Former MP Ruwan Wijewardene told journalists that the membership of 99 UNPers will be suspended pending their explanation letters on their …

Continue reading ‘UNP Working Committee Suspends Party Membership of 98 Former Ministers and Ex- Provincial Councillors for Decision to Contest Elections From SJB and Calls For Explanation Letters For Not Contesting Under UNP Elephant Symbol’ »

By Victor Ivan Sri Lanka is now going through the last stage of the disastrous, multi-phased journey into the rock bottom of a great abyss, which had begun 72 years ago and gradually progressed in several phases. The time cohorts from 1948 to 1956, 1956 to 1978, 1978 to 2009 and 2009 to 2020 can …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka is facing a huge crisis which may even result in the decline of the entire political system and plunge the country into complete anarchy.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The political prospects of the Tamil people, or if you prefer, the Tamil ethnonational community or Tamil minority are at the dimmest, lowest and most challenging that I can remember, and my memory goes back to 1972, the hoisting of black flags (occasioning a sensitive Daily News editorial by my father) and …

Continue reading ‘In the final analysis, all that stands between the Lankan Tamil community and the end of Tamil political history on the island, is India.’ »

By Namal Rajapaksa 50 years ago, on May 27, 1970, the journey of a political legend began. Entering Parliament as the youngest MP to join, Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa, entered the political sphere back then with only one aim, one vision – to serve the country, to sacrifice himself for his people, and bring the country …

Continue reading ‘My Father Mahinda Rajapaksa who Became an MP on May 27th 1970 at the age of 24 , completes his 50th year today of serving the nation, in dedication and true spirit.’ »

Responding to the report ‘Sri Lanka will not tolerate targeting of war heroes: Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ published on May 20 in The Hindu, the office of the President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has said the article did not reflect “the real situation”. The President’s Media Division, in a written response, pointed to its reference to …

Continue reading ‘“In any armed conflict, maintaining human rights of an individual is akin to preventing muddy puddles during rain.” – Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa’s Media Division Responds to News Report in Indian Newspaper “The Hindu”’ »

By Meera Srinivasan . Ceylon Workers’ Congress [CWC] leader and Sri Lanka Cabinet Minister Arumugan Thondaman passed away on Tuesday night, after a sudden illness. He was 55. Earlier on Tuesday, Minister Thondaman met Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay and held discussions on development partnership in Sri Lanka’s hill country, where Malayaha Tamils, or Tamils …

Continue reading ‘Ceylon Workers’ Congress Leader and Sri Lanka Cabinet Minister of Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development Arumugan Thondaman Passes Away at the Age of 56’ »

By Chandani Kirinde President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has brought six institutions including the Api Wenuwen Api Fund and the National Police Academy (NPA) under the Ministry of Defence. The relevant Gazette notification was issued by the President on Saturday. The Api Wenuwen Api Fund was set up as a collaboration between the Defence Ministry and the …

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Brings Six institutions including Api Wenuwen Api Fund, National Police Academy (NPA),Lanka Institute of National Defence Studies, and Department of Multi-Purpose Development Task Force.under the Ministry of Defence.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to entrust the survey and preservation of archaeological sites in the ethnically-mixed Eastern Province to a Presidential Task Force headed by the Defense Secretary, appears to have a political objective. Ostensibly taken at the instance of the Buddhist Advisory Council (including the Mahanayakes) the decision taken at …

Continue reading ‘Has President Rajapaksa Appointed Defence Secretary Gen.Kamal Gunaratne as Head of Task Force to Implement “nationalistic” project to establish, through archaeological excavations, that the multi-ethnic Eastern province was once a Sinhala-Buddhist habitat ?’ »

By Chandani Kirinde As part of its efforts to revive the economy and reduce the COVID-19 impact, the Government yesterday eased import restrictions on several product categories linked to exports and production of import substitution goods but retained the ban on vehicles. The interim trade and custom based tax policy framework, which is part of …

Continue reading ‘Government releases new interim trade and customs tax policy framework as part of COVID-19 Economic Revival Plan’ »

By Victor Ivan A heaty dialogue appears to have been generated on social media over two letters that I had addressed to the Ravaya staff recently, suggesting to them the desirability of liquidating Ravaya in the present context of the coronavirus pandemic Sri Lanka is facing rather than continuing the publication and avoid disastrous financial …

Continue reading ‘The Founding of “Ravaya” and my Journalistic Struggle To Establish a Visionary, Fearless and Investigative Media Tradition Different from other Newspapers”’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Unsurprisingly but nonetheless worryingly, a seismic shift in positing the military front and centre of Sri Lanka’s governance framework was pronounced in Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s statement this week, issued on the eleventh anniversary of the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Powerful imagery and symbolic thrust …

Continue reading ‘Communalism rides high by ‘patriots’ parading their stuff while the majority and the minority lay claim to distinctly clashing victimhoods instead of a common loss.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan S’ At a time when big and mighty countries struggle to cope with soaring numbers of coronavirus cases and consequent deaths, the official figures from 21-million strong Sri Lanka stand out — 1,070 cases, 660 recoveries and nine deaths as of Saturday evening. Behind those promising numbers are early thinking and swift …

Continue reading ‘Targeted and tough control measures helped Sri Lanka arrest virus spread and ensure a “low death rate”says Health Services Director-General Dr. Anil Jasinghe’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Minister Bandula Gunawardena is out. He thought it was a sixer he hit, with the ball rising up in the sky and racing to pass the boundary. But it suddenly moved down, and was caught by none other than the Vice Captain – the Prime Minister himself. Which means the Homagama, Diyagama …

Continue reading ‘Bandula Gunawardena’s Attempt to Hit a “Sixer”With His Homagama Cricket Stadium Project Fails as PM Mahinda Rajapaksa Gets Him Out By Fielding a catch at the Boundary Line.’ »

By Naveen Dewage Sri Lankan health authorities announced on Friday that the total number COVID-19 infections had risen to 1,068 but that the official death toll remained at nine. The government is using these relatively low numbers to claim that the coronavirus is “under control” and that the existing, but limited, national curfews can be …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Government Understates COVID-19 Figures by Conducting a Small Number of Covid Tests To Claim Virus is “Under Control” and Recklessly Reopen the Economy’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Existential perils to the democratic, constitutional model on which the Sri Lankan Republic was constructed now quickening apace, does not even have the excitement of novelty to spark the imagination. Familiar patterns of militaristic governance There is nothing very special in the creeping militarisation of governance that we are witnessing. From …

Continue reading ‘While Miltary are Elbowing Public Servants out of Positions of High State Responsibility Sans National Protest the President Commands the Remainder in the Public Service to “Obey or Else”……..’ »

By Pradeep Ramanayake Addressing a victory celebration on Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapakse eulogised the military for its part in Colombo’s 30-year communal war and declared that he would continue to oppose all war crime indictments against the armed forces. The event was held at Battaramulla, in the Colombo suburbs, near a memorial to …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Demands Legal Immunity for the Armed Forces Facing War Crime Indictments.’ »

By Tamara Kunanayakam Speaking at the National War Heroes Commemoration Ceremony on 19 May 2020, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared that he will not hesitate to withdraw Sri Lanka from any international body or organisation that continuously targets the country and war heroes. The President was probably referring to the UN Office of the High Commissioner …

Continue reading ‘Will Sri Lanka stay and face the attacks in a manner worthy of its war heroes, or flee from International Organizations in the Footsteps of President Trump leaving all flanks exposed?’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The footage on TV news was straight out of my favourite Netflix series. A long convoy of glossy black four-wheel drives coming down a dusty road with a heat haze shimmering in the background. Elite guards in red berets and body-armour, sunshades and carrying Heckler-and-Koch MP6s dismount, escorting the Bosses, also in …

Continue reading ‘What Was The Need for Defence Secretary and the Army and Navy Chiefs With Their Elite Guards in Red Berets and Body-armour To Visit with Full TV Coverage the Muhudu Vihare and Digavapi in Amparai District?’ »

By Tamara Kunanayakam Below are my Initial comments on the statement made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday when addressing the war hero’s ceremony at the war memorial, that he will not hesitate to pull Sri Lanka out of any international organisation that unfairly targets the country’s war heroes. My Comments The President is most likely …

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa’s statement About Sri Lanka Pulling out of any Internaional Organization Targeting War Heroes Unfairly indicates he is either wrongly advised about the UN or plain politics, which could go against Sri Lanka at a time it desperately needs international support precisely to protect its war heroes.’ »

By A.J.A. Abeynayake The Election Commission (EC) yesterday informed the Supreme Court that the general election could not be held on June 20. President’s Counsel Saliya Peries, appearing for the EC submitted to the court that as of now it felt that the general election could not be held on June 20. The submission was …

Continue reading ‘Presidents Counsel Saliya Peries Appearing for the Election Commission Tells the Supreme Court That Parliamentary Elections Cannot be Held on June 20th 2020 as Scheduled.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran After de-colonization, many countries in South and South East Asia have been subjected to military rule. But military rule has been both direct and indirect. The affected countries have also gone through “de-militarization” and “re-militarization” depending upon a variety of domestic and external development impinging on the ruling elites’ notion of “national security.” …

Continue reading ‘The military is set to become part of the power base of Sri Lankan politics Under Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ »

Brigadier Priyanka Fernando was Promoted to the rank of Major General of Sri Lanka Army on the 11 th Anniversary of liberation of Sri Lanka from the LTTE. The President promoted over a 14000 officers in the military to mark the 11th anniversary of the national war heroes day.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday declared that he wouldn’t hesitate to withdraw from the international bodies relentlessly attacking Sri Lanka over unsubstantiated war crimes allegations. He said so at the 11th annual commemoration of the defeat of the LTTE. The ceremony was held at War Heroes’ memorial in Battaramulla. The President said: “Even leaders of powerful …

Continue reading ‘“If any international body or organization continuously targets our country and our war heroes, using baseless allegations, I will also not hesitate to withdraw Sri Lanka from such bodies or organizations.” Declares President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ »

(20th May, 2020 Statement Issued by the Peoples Alliance for Right to Land (PARL) on recent developments in Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya inclusive of Misuse of land acquisition laws and the military) The People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL) is deeply disturbed by the military intervention in civilian land administration in the Pottuvil Muhudu …

Continue reading ‘People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL)deeply disturbed by military intervention in civilian land administration in the Pottuvil Muhudu Maha Viharaya area and attempt to acquire lands as an archaeological site without adhering to transparent procedures and consulting with affected communities.’ »

The second day of hearing of Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions that have been filed challenging the Gazette issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolving Parliament as well as the Gazette issued by the Election Commission that has set 20 June as the date for the General Election were taken up before a five-member Bench of the …

Continue reading ‘Counsels Suren Fernando, Ikram Mohammed and Viran Corea Appearing for Five Fundamental Righs Petitioners make submissions Before Supreme Court arguing President’s Gazette dissolving P’ment is no longer valid on Second Day of Hearings: AG and Counsel for President’s Sec. to raise preliminary objections on Third Day’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The Supreme Court yesterday began hearings into several Fundamental Rights petitions that have been filed challenging the Gazette issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolving Parliament as well as the Gazette issued by the Election Commission that set 20 June as the date for the poll. The case is being heard before a …

Continue reading ‘A functioning Parliament was essential in a democracy and during a time of crisis it was even more important and must be strengthened” Says Sumanthiran PC in Submissions Before Five Judge Bench of Supreme Court Hearing Fundamental Rights Petitions’ »

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday issuing a statement to mark the 11th year anniversary to commemorate the victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) reiterated it was not a war against the Tamil people, but against an organisation designated by the FBI as the deadliest terrorists in the world. Following is the full …

Continue reading ‘“Whenever we happen to be in power, there will always be former members of the armed forces and police holding various positions in the Government” Declares Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By Arjuna Ranawana A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, will tomorrow, May 18, examine at least six Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the holding of the Parliamentary General Elections on June 20 and the President’s refusal to reconvene the recently dissolved Parliament. At these hearings, the Court will decide whether they are to accept the …

Continue reading ‘Five-judge Supreme Court Bench Headed By Chief Justice Will Examine on May 18 and 19 Six Fundamental Rights Petitions Challenging the Holding of Parliamentary General Elections on June 20 and the President’s Refusal to Reconvene the Recently Dissolved Parliament.’ »

BEFORE THE presidential election he won last November, Gotabaya Rajapaksa laid out for Banyan his vision for Sri Lanka. It was a sunlit upland of peaceful, inclusive “knowledge-based” development. All the political bickering of recent years, “Gota” promised, would be swept aside by his programme of brisk, technocratic proficiency. His years as an army officer …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Lurches Further Away From Liberal Democracy as President Rajapaksa Puts Soldiers in Charge of Everything Thereby Creating “Normalisation” of Military Influence in the Civilian Sphere- The Economist’ »

(Text of Statement Issued by R Sampanthan Leader of the Tamil National Alliance and former Member of Parliament) My attention has been drawn to the interview said to have been given to the media by Mr. M. A. Sumanthiran, President’s Counsel, former Member of Parliament Jaffna District, and Spokesman for the Tamil National Alliance. Mr. …

Continue reading ‘TNA Leader Sampanthan Commends Party Spokesperson Sumanthiran for Providing “frank and forthright i answers” to “questions that were asked with the deliberate purpose of promoting mischief and disunity amongst the people of this country”’ »

By Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole On 11 and 12 May, several newspaper and websites quoted the Attorney General as stating in Court that day that he could not represent the Election Commission in the ongoing FR petitions on the Parliamentary Elections. The Attorney General represented by ASG Indika Devamuni de Silva said that the …

Continue reading ‘“As an Election Commission Member, I Refused to let the Attorney -General Represent me in the Supreme Court Because I Have No Confidence in the A-G” – EC Member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought the release of “political prisoners” who were arrested — some convicted — for their alleged association with or role in the rebel LTTE during the civil war. On Tuesday night, TNA spokesman and former Jaffna parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran handed over a list of the …

Continue reading ‘TNA Seeks Release of Tamil “Political” Prisoners:Party spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran hands over a list of the detainees under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) Act to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa For Potential Action’ »

By Dr. Ram Manikkalingam There is a standoff between the New President and the Old Parliament. The Old Parliament wants the New President to recall it. And the New President wants to bring in a New Parliament that supports him. But both are stuck. The Old Parliament does not have the power to recall itself. …

Continue reading ‘Can Sri Lanka really live with this possible governance vacuum — no parliament, no cabinet and no Prime Minister?’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The Election Commission, which met yesterday, decided to postpone the issuing of the Gazette notification bearing the names and preferential number of candidates contesting the upcoming General Election until the Supreme Court rules on the Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the date of the election. EC sources said the Commission decided to …

Continue reading ‘Election Commission Postpones the issuing of the Gazette notification bearing the names and preferential number of candidates contesting General Election until the Supreme Court rules on the Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the date of the election.’ »

By (Dr) Jayampathy Wickramaratne, President’s Counsel My article, ‘Necessity: Doctrine That Destroyed Pakistani Democracy’ published in The Island on 08 May has evoked interest in the subject and I have been asked for my views on its implications for Sri Lanka, including on whether it can be invoked in the present circumstances. For the benefit …

Continue reading ‘Can the Doctrine of Necessity Be Invoked in Sri Lanka To Enable President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Govern Without a Parliament?’ »

By Harindra Dunuwille (The Writer a former Mayor of Kandy is an Attorney-at-Law and an ex-State Minister of Constitutional Affairs) Dissolution of Parliament President Gotabaya Rajapaksa exercising his constitutional powers and prerogatives under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, dissolved Parliament immediately upon it completing four and a half years by a Proclamation on the …

Continue reading ‘It lies mainly in the hands of President Rajapaksa to avert this Constitutional impasse. It will not only be in his own interests but in the best interests of the country as well.’ »

By Dinesha Samararatne Governance in Sri Lanka, is once again, on familiar ground; a constitutional crisis, or at the very least, a constitutional conundrum. In the main, we are presented with two alternatives. Neither of these alternatives seem attractive at first brush; reviving a Parliament that had a mixed record in which we had a …

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa has a reputation for hard work and efficiency. Nevertheless, his effectiveness too depends on being accountable and transparent in his decisions and actions.’ »

(Text of a Press Release Issued by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Under the Heading “Controlling the Coronavirus pandemic and gradual restoration of normal life”) Covid-19 came to the attention of the world as a new disease around the beginning of this year. From the very outset, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated very candidly that …

Continue reading ‘“With the Coronavirus outbreak now under control to a certain degree, the government has gradually begun relaxing the curfew. We will have to maintain a balance between steps taken to prevent the spread of the disease on the one hand and the restoration of normalcy on the other” – Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

Rishad Bathiudeen, Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) and a former Minister of Industry and Commerce, has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to say that the cremation of Muslims who had died of coronavirus, violates an authentic “Hadeeth” which is attributed to Prophet Mohammad and one of is companions. ”Breaking A Muslim’s Bones …

Continue reading ‘All Ceylon Makkal Congress Leader Rishad Bathiudeen Writes to President Rajapaksa Explaining why Islam forbids cremation of Muslims by Citing a “Hadeeth” and Requests Gotabaya to Amend Gazette Accordingly to Stop Forced Cremation of Covid -19 Affected Bodies of Dead Muslims and Enable Burial’ »