By M. Sooriasegaram Caste system is still practiced in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Contrary to popular view propagated by the ruling caste that caste is a thing of the past, it is a living cancer within the Tamil community. The upper caste community is the ruling caste in this province. All other castes …
Sri Lanka’s police chief has triggered calls for his resignation after footage emerged showing him assaulting an employee who refused to participate in mandatory morning meditation sessions. The leaked CCTV video showed Inspector-General Pujith Jayasundara grabbing a lift operator by the collar and making threatening gestures after he did not join the regulation “mindfulness meditation” …
By W.A. Sunil The forced resignation of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake last week is a clear sign of the intensifying political crisis facing the government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The immediate reason for Karunanayake’s resignation was to avoid a no-confidence motion presented to the parliamentary speaker by the self-named joint …
by Zacki Jabbar The government has decided to increase the number of High Courts with some of them functioning as trials-at-bar since more than 43 criminal cases against some members of former President Mahinda Rajapaksas family and his regime were stuck at the Attorney General’s Department for nearly two years. Addressing the weekly Cabinet Press …
By Ajit Kanagasundram The world today is desperate to attract foreign talent. Thirty percent of Silicon Valley startups are by Indians, and the same percentage is true of Microsoft employees, NASA employees and US physicians. Canada and Australia have long had a point system to attract talent and the US and the UK are thinking …
Continue reading ‘How the “Ceylon” Tamils From Sri Lanka Contributed to Singapore Over The Years’ »
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa appeared before the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Police this morning. He will be asked to make a statement relating to a jeep belonging to the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ Foundation suspected to have been used in the abduction and murder of Wasim Thajudeen.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s youngest son, Rohitha Rajapaksa yesterday said a satellite stationed in the sky cannot be viewed with a magnifying glass – as suggested by some government ministers. He made these remarks while speaking to media after giving a statement to the Police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID). Rajapaksa was questioned today by …
By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka’s Minister for Justice and Buddha Sasana, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, appears to be making a bid to capture the island’s core political constituency – the Sinhala Buddhist-Nationalist constituency – in the absence of credible senior claimants.. The constituency was well served by Mahinda Rajapaksa until he messed up his political career by a …
Sri Lanka’s former first lady, Shiranthi Rajapakse was questioned by the Criminal Investigations Department on Tuesday over the murder of a former national rugby player. Shiranthi, was escorted into the CID by her husband and former President Mahinda Rajapakse after she was summoned to provide a statement.
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The weekly evidence of the unprecedentedly dependent, servile character of the Yahapalana administration came in the form of a report in the prestigious Hindu by its smart, Colombo based correspondent Meera Srinivasan. Captioned ‘India keen to run Sri Lanka airport’, it says: “India has expressed interest to operate Sri Lanka’s second international …
Sri Lanka’s information technology chief, Muhunthan Canagey said he was forced to resign Monday following a public criticism of spectrum award said to have been made to a business group which operates a radio and TV network. Canagey alleged that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka which is directly under President Maithripala Sirisena had …
By Sirimantha Ratnasekera and Priyadarshana Liyanage The Cabinet of ministers, at its meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, had taken up what some members described as inordinate delay in taking action against the Rajapaksa family and ministers of the previous government. Political sources said that several ministers had strongly criticised the delay and veteran …
By Sham Nuwan Ganewatta The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing Central Bank-Perpetual Treasuries bond scams yesterday stressed that it wouldn’t be influenced by statements made by various persons regarding evidence given before it and also suggestions in respect of those whom they believed should be summoned. The PCoI comprises Supreme Court Judges K. T. …
Tilak Janaka Marapana, Minister of Development Assignments, was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister on Tuesday in place of Ravi Karunanayake who had resigned last week. Karunanayake had resigned on account of his controversial financial dealings with stock broker Arjun Aloysisus, a principal figure in the 2015 Central Bank bonds scam. Marapana is a loyalist …
By P.K.Balachandran Two years into its five year term, Sri Lanka’s coalition government led by President Maithipala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is afflicted by chronic disunity; contradictions in domestic and foreign policies; and a marked inability to fulfill election promises. Given its multifarious dilemmas and the inaction these have led to, it is …
Minister Tilak Marapama, who is chosen to be the new Foreign Minister, is reluctant to take oaths in the position as his predecessor Ravi Karunanayake’s personal staff is still at the ministry, informed government sources said. Aside from the personal staff, Karunanayake, who stepped down from the position last week, is still using ministry vehicle …
By Chathuri Dissanayake UNP yesterday called on President Maithripala Sirisena to take action on Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe who has compromised “collective responsibility” of the Cabinet. Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe has been under fire for a number of controversial statements he made on Government’s move to lease Hambantota Port, leading to a number of UNP Ministers …
Sri Lanka’s once popular Sunday Leader newspaper which gained popularity under slain Editor Lasantha Wickremetunga is now facing a severe financial crisis, with staff forced to go without salaries for months. Sources attached to the newspaper alleged that the paper was facing a financial crisis as a result of mismanagement by officials appointed by former …
(Excerpts from the “Sunday Times” Political Column of August 13th 2017) “President Sirisena, who declared he would heed their request made a disclosure that became the talking point among those present at the CC meeting. He noted ‘Joint Opposition’ members were jubilant over the events related to Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s resignation. He warned that …
Sri Lankan born Krish Vignarajah, a former Obama official, is entering the race for governor of Maryland. An official campaign kick-off and announcement is scheduled for September 19. About her decision, Ms. Vignarajah said: “I am running for Governor because I am worried my daughter will not have the same opportunities that my mom gave …
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan The Chinese started vying for Mattala Airport on seeing, both, then and the incumbent governments lament over the non-operation of the International Mattala Airport in the South. The Chinese built it and said it’s not their problem if Sri Lankans don’t make use of it. However, the trend has changed with …
(Full Text of Statement Made on August 10th 2017 By Ravi Karunanayake M.P. In Parliament When Resigning as Minister of Foreign Affairs ‘The mainstream media in the country, websites and other social media made bold headlines about me in the last few days. Certain members of parliament too expressed different views. A no confidence motion …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene For those who laboured long and hard to bring fresh cleansing winds to Sri Lanka’s degenerate political culture in 2015, these are times of mortified reflection. The collective angst of the United National Party (UNP) amidst a dismaying disarray and loss of public confidence beggars the imagination. Its parliamentarians are filing …
Continue reading ‘Public Being Told To Rejoice Over a Minister Resigning Is Devilish Satire’ »
By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya The government’s manner of communicating details of the Hambantota port deal to the public has been less than forthright, and lacking in transparency, considering public apprehensions over the fallout of the project. In an attempt to get around the opposition to a big time give-away of control over a national asset – …
Continue reading ‘India’s Worries Over China Extend Far Beyond Sri Lanka and Hambantota Port.’ »
(Excerpts From the “Sunday Times”Political Column of August 13th 2017) ” Adding to the unease of the UNP was another development. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in different public comments and in newspaper interviews, strongly criticised the Concession Agreement between the Government and the Chinese company for the Hambantota Port project. Rajapakshe, known for wallowing in …
by C.A.Chandraprema The resignation of Ravi Karunanayke from the position of Foreign Minister will have far reaching implications for the UNP. This is not just some provincial politician who can be replaced by the next person on the list. Ravi K was the Assistant Leader of the UNP and it was no secret that he …
Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Ouster is Part of President Sirisena’s Anti-UNP Conspiracy’ »
by Tisaranee Gunasekara “Fools do not feel disgrace.” Erasmus (Praise of Folly) Gajabinna is a Sinhala word for lies of elephantine proportions. A book named Gajabinnalankaraya (roughly translatable as In Praise of Mammoth-lies) did exist, according to the late DF Kariyakarawana. The book was in the form of a dialogue between two fictional characters and …
The Supreme Court (SC) declared this week that advocating for a federal form of government within the existing state could not be considered as advocating separatism and that the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) does not, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka …
By Winston de Valliere Ask any man on the street, in a big corporate office, or as I did, ask the guy who prepares tea for the staff to share his thoughts on the current miasmic mess that the government is thrashing around in and you find that there’s an amazing unanimity of opinion. It …
By Jayadeva Uyangoda As the media predicted last week, alluding to an off-guard comment made by a junior member of the AG’s legal team of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Central Bank Bond scam, a star witness has turned the public discussion on the Central Bank bond scandal into a major political drama. …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Let’s hope the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lotteries, Ravi Karunanayake, will not be blissfully ignorant of having ushered in a new culture, with his resignation from office, with all those quotations from the scriptures of different faiths. And what is this new culture Ravi K has ushered in, as stated …
By Saman Indrajith UNP yesterday demanded to know why former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal or his sister Shiromi Wickremasinghe had not been summoned before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the bond issues. UNP MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe, speaking at the Parliamentary debate yesterday pointed out that the PCoI, would need the help …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday declared that it wouldn’t support the 20th Amendment to the Constitution in its present form, under any circumstances, top party spokesperson, Jaffna District MP M.A. Sumanthiran told The Island. The TNA parliamentary group comprises 16 members, including two National List MPs. Asked whether the four-party coalition …
By Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige UNP backbenchers today questioned as to why former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal or his sister Shiromi Wickremasinghe were not yet summoned before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the bond issue. UNP MP Professor Ashu Marasinghe speaking at the Parliamentary debate pointed out the PCoI would need …
By Thilanka Kanakarathna Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe express his own opinion on any subject but it is wrong to make a statement on a subject on which a collective decision was taken by the Cabinet of which he was a member, State Minister Harsha De Silva said today. Responding to questions asked by a journalist …
By Prasanna Sanjeewa Thennakone Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the sale of Hambantota Harbour – a public asset-to the Chinese was a wrong and assured the public that he would not rest until he regains its ownership on behalf of the people. In an interview with our sister paper the Sunday …
By Saman Indrajith Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned from his post after making a special statement in Parliament yesterday and left his front row seat to become a backbencher. “The media and some Opposition politicians demand that I be crucified over being probed by a presidential commission of inquiry. I decided to resign to set …
By Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said in parliament that the resignation of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake signified a new political culture and he was proud of having ushered it in. Addressing parliament soon after the resignation of Karunanayake, the Prime Minister said: The Assistant Leader of my party told me that he …
By Saman Indrajith The leader of the Joint Opposition in Parliament and the MEP, Dinesh Gunawardena, lashed out at the Leader of the Opposition, R Sampanthan, after the latter commended MP Karunanayake. “That was a shameless speech!” MP Gunawardana shouted at the leader of the Opposition as the latter was taking his seat after making …
By Saman Indrajith The Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan, in Parliament yesterday commended MP Ravi Karunanayake for resigning from his Ministerial post. He added that it was fundamental right of a person accused of a crime to be presumed innocent till proven guilty. “It is a fundamental right of a person accused of a …
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned on Thursday before facing a No Confident Motion against him submitted by the Joint Opposition Group for his alleged involvement in the 2015 Central Bank bond scam. Karunanayake made a Special Statement in parliament and then resigned from his post. In the statement he said that he …
Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake who resigned from his ministerial portfolio today questioned why others, against whom allegations had been made, could not resign if he could do so simply because there were allegations against him. Arriving to his residence at Rajamalwatta after the special statement made in Parliament on his resignation, he said he had resigned …
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament today (aug 10) that Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake had set a good precedent by resigning from his portfolio. He said no member of the previous government had resigned no matter how serious the charges levelled against them were.
“History and time will decide the position I deserve,” the Minister said, while making a statement in Parliament, on Thursday August 10th. “From now onwards, I will continue to function as a backbencher.” “There is a conspiracy to destroy the government. I will not let them destroy the government and the party. I will protect …
The decision to resign from his position of Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka was made with pride and not with sadness or under pressure, Ravi Karunanayake said in Parliament on Thursday August 10th. Making a special statement, Karnanayake explained that he had no need to purchase properties illegally and said the various allegations leveled against …
The no-confidence motion against former Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, submitted by MPs of the Joint Opposition (JO), will not be taken up for debate as Karunanayake has resigned, the Speaker informed Parliament a short while ago.
By Akitha Perera and Upali de Saram Following a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, Foreign Minister Karunanayake is likely to quit his portfolio shortly, according to sources. A government spokesman said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, had attended the meeting at President Sirisena’s request. Several SLFP ministers have demanded Karunanayake’s …
( Full Text of Statement issued by Former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa on August 9th 2017) “The government has gazetted the 20th Amendment to the Constitution with a view to postponing elections to the provincial councils. The Sabaragamuwa, North Central and Eastern Provinces were to stand dissolved in a few weeks time, …
By Chathuri Dissanayake A Cabinet meeting heated up yesterday when discussing the slow progress made with corruption cases linked to the Rajapaksa administration, with President Maithripala Sirisena firing back at those who called on him to appoint presidential commissions to investigate the charges. Responding to allegations made by a number of United National Party (UNP) …
With a No Confidence Motion in parliament hanging like the Sword of Damocles over him, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ravi Karunannayake on Wednesday met President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to discuss the widespread demand for his resignation for alleged involvement in the 2015 Central Bank bond scam. Details of the discussion between …
BY Faizer Shaheid (The writer is a law tutor and an independent researcher of laws. He holds a postgraduate degree in the field of Human Rights and Democratization from the University of Colombo and an undergraduate degree in Law from the University of Northumbria, United Kingdom) Over the last few weeks, all eyes have been …
By Ajith Alahakoon Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was directly involved in the Treasury bond scams and he cannot absolve himself of the responsibility for them by scapegoating Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake for the biggest ever fraud in the country’s history, a senior JVPer says. Addressing a press conference at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte, Its …
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is likely to sack Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake if he does not resign over revelations of seeming impropriety at a Presidential Commission of Inquiry, a government minister hinted Tuesday. State Minister of Public Enterprise Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said President Sirisena is likely to take a decision on Karunanayake, …
By Saman Indrajith Speaker Karu Jaysuriya told Parliament yesterday that the future course of action with regard to the no-faith motion submitted by the Joint Opposition against Foreign Minister would be announced on Thursday. There were some legal issues pertaining to the motion and its content and the matter had been referred to the Attorney …
By Kelum Bandara In the face of a no-confidence motion against Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, the government is reported to be urging him to step down rather than face defeat in a vote. After the motion was handed over by the joint opposition, government members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) decided to …
A decision on the future of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake will be taken today, Daily FT learns. The Party Leaders are scheduled to meet today at 2.00 p.m. in Parliament to decide on the no confidence motion submitted by 32 MPs. Issues concerning Karunanayake have surfaced it is learnt during a meeting between President Maithripala …
The heat on the United National Party (UNP) will increase this week as the Opposition’s No Faith Motion against Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake gathers momentum. This morning (Aug 8th) House Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will meet Party leaders to decide on a date for the motion filed by the Joint Opposition against Karunanayake to be debated …
By Ranga Jayasuriya It is conventional wisdom that Minister Ravi Karunanayake should have resigned – or failing that be sacked — after those earth shattering revelations that were made at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the bond scam. Instead, he has clung to his portfolio and foul-mouthed the Attorney General’s Department while his …
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held a special meeting with Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake, on Saturday evening. Informed government sources said the Prime Minister would soon have a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena on Minister Karunanayake’s issue.
By Yohan Perera Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking at a public function in Hatton today said this government would not protect thieves, and would remove them, but stressed that there should be room for a transparent investigation. “Today there are so many investigations that ministers are brought before the Attorney General and are questioned. Was …
BY Kavindya Chris Thomas UNP strongman, former Finance Minister and incumbent Foreign Minister in the Good Governance Government, Ravi Karunanayake, provided his testimony before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Treasury Bond issues last Wednesday (2). While it might have been an obvious strategic move, most definitely recommended by his high-calibre attorneys, Minister Ravi …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene It is an exceedingly disconsolate reflection that key Cabinet Ministers of the unity alliance, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice for instance, appear to have a magic cloak around them, affording impunity for acts which should have, to put it bluntly, led to resignations by now. A favorite chorus that …
by C.A.Chandraprema The appearance of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake before the Bond Commission was the talk of the week. No one can fail to notice that there is a major difference in the way Ravi Karunanayake has been treated when compared to how Hirunika Premachandra was treated when it came to her abduction case and …
By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor Minister Ravi Karunanayake appeared Wednesday before the Commission probing the bond scam and his testimony plunged a Government, voted to office on the edifice of fighting bribery and corruption, into its worst embarrassment. During five hours of testimony, he denied any knowledge of how the apartment where he lived …
Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake Saturday denied he was under pressure from President Maithripala Sirisena to resign following his testimony before the commission investigating the controversial bond auctions. Karunanayake said the President had not even spoken to him on the matter since his testimony on Wednesday and there was no question of him being asked to …
By Yohan Perera Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday denied reports which said President Maithripala Sirisena had asked him to resign from his post. “The reports and the rumours that I have been asked to resign from my post is utter nonsense,” he told Daily Mirror on Friday night.
Former Finance Minister and current Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, testifying before the Commission of Inquiry probing the Central Bank bond scams of 2015 and 2016, said he was totally ignorant of the transaction to lease out an apartment for his family from Arjun Aloysius who is implicated in the scam. Mr. Karunanayake was questioned …
By Winston de Valliere It’s a measure of the man’s temperate nature that he accepted the portfolio of Sports Minister although his academic and political track record would justify him being entrusted with tasks at a higher level in the Cabinet. In the 2010 General Election, he received 132,600 preference votes which was the highest …
By Chathuri Dissanayake Amidst mounting public pressure, Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake is set to resign from his ministerial portfolio in the coming days. Following representations made to both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe by both United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members, the leaders are said to have …
By Natasha Siribaddana The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday handed over a No-Confidence motion against Minister of Foreign Affairs Ravi Karunanayake to the office of the Secretary General of Parliament. Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of Parliament, Neil Iddawela confirmed that MPs Bandula Gunawardena, Ranjith Soyza and Mahindananda Aluthgamage on behalf of the JO …
By P.K.Balachandran On the face of it, India’s military strength looks impressive. But what is worrying defense analysts is whether India can fight a war with Pakistan or China for more than 10 or 15 days without seeking foreign help. The doubt arises from the Indian armed forces’ organizational and industrial shortcomings. Its defense industry …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength” – George Orwell “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is”. – Winston Churchill “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance”. – Confucius “It is certain, in any case, …
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake seems to lack a stable memory and, therefore, the President and the Prime Minister should refrain from sending Minister Karunanayake to represent the country. Gammanpila said so while addressing the media at the Dr N. M. …
Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s daughter Onella has made an impassioned plea on her Facebook page asking why it was only her father to blame “in such a huge Government?”. “Just ask yourself? Why only one man’s name comes up all the time in such a huge government?” she asked, making comparison to her father’s …
Parliament yesterday moved a vote to felicitate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on his completion of continuous membership of the House over a period of 40 years and appreciating the selfless and dedicated service rendered by him for the betterment of Sri Lanka in general and Parliament in particular. Conveying his best wishes to Ranil Wickremesinghe …
By Hafeel Farisz and Amali Mallawarachchi Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday defended himself before the Bond Commission insisting that he did not know of any of the transactions entered into by his wife and daughter and their connected companies with regard to the Penthouse Apartment at the Monarch residencies in which he currently resides. In a …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The office of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday accepted a no-faith motion against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake submitted by the Joint Opposition (JO) over his alleged involvement in Central Bank bond scams in Feb. 2015 and March 2016. At the time of the alleged scams, UNPer Karunanayake held finance portfolio. President Maithripala Sirisena …
by Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta and Sarath Dharmasena Foreign Minister and former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday vehemently denied any involvement in the leasing or the subsequent purchase of a penthouse at Monarch Residencies in Colombo 03. He said all those matters had been handled by his family. Karunanayake made the daring denial before the Presidential …
By Chitra Weerarathne The Colombo High Court yesterday imposed five-year RI on the former chairman of the Rambewa Pradeshiya Sabha for accepting a bribe of Rs. 100,000 from a farmer to have him employed in Korea. The former Pradeshiya Sabha member, Rohit Madawe was convicted of all three charges in the indictment. The complainant is …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Proposed constitutional amendment to put off scheduled Provincial Council polls in the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North Central provinces required a two-thirds approval in Parliament, provincial councils and local government minister Faiszer Musthapha said yesterday. Minister Musthapha was responding to a query by The Island at an SLFP media briefing at the party …
By Shamindra Ferdinando State Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle yesterday accused the government of reneging on its much-touted promise to increase women’s representation in local government bodies. State Minister Fernandopulle flayed the government for proposing amendments to local authorities act that would certainly result in the reduction of seats allocated …
By S.S.Selvanayagam The Court of Appeal yesterday issued an Interim Order staying the proceedings of the Jaffna High Court in respect of the death of an Old Boy of St. Patrick’s College at the annual big match between Jaffna College and St. Patrick’s College. The bench comprising Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya and A.L.S. Gooneratne issued this …
by Dr Alavi Sheriffdeen (The contributor is a teacher based in Australia who lost his father and little brother at the Kattankudy mosque massacre in 1990. He has been leading a number of community educational and empowerment projects in the East of Sri Lanka since the war ended in 2009) Every year, when the Month …
Continue reading ‘Re-visiting the Kattankudi Mosque Massacre by the LTTE 27 Years Ago.’ »
By Uditha Jayasinghe Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday remained defiant before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry denying any knowledge of payments made on the Monarch apartment allegedly rented on his behalf and rejecting conflicts of interest with Perpetual Treasuries Director Arjun Aloysius even though he admitted to a longstanding friendship. Karunanayake, who was Finance Minister …
(Full text of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Statement) The manner in which the government privatised the Hambantota port has shocked the nation. Parliament was not allowed to debate the Agreement to privatise one of Sri Lanka’s most important strategic assets. No one knows who did the valuation of this asset. No one appears to have …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The worst thing about Hambantota is Trincomalee. The Chinese are not our neighbours; we have no border with China and thus no deeply inscribed history of incursions and annexation; there is no Chinese minority on the island and China never intervened in our conflicts or supported cross-border terrorism. The real danger about …
By Ranga Jayasuriya This government has routinely blamed the corruption of the former regime for the current economic hardships in the country. Now, how on earth did it manage to behave like nothing had happened after recent jaw-dropping allegations against its former Finance Minister cum incumbent Foreign Minister? Last week, Anika Wijesuriya, a directress of …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene For decades since independence, Sri Lankans were wont to look over the Palk Strait and enviously compare the strides that the Indian legal system had been taking in regard to protection of the Rule of Law. True, serious blimps were evidenced on the radar in regard to practical implementation of good …
Continue reading ‘Octopus-like Tentacles of Corruption Reach Into Highest Levels of Govt’ »
Police have launched an intense manhunt in the Northern province to arrest the killer of Police Sgt Sarath Hemachandra (PS 24330) on Saturday July 22nd 2017 in Nallur,Jaffna. 51 year old Hemachandra hailing from Chilaw was on duty providing security escort on a motor cycle to Jaffna High court judge Manickavasagam Illancheliyan when he was …
By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor President Maithripala Sirisena hurriedly interrupted the Cabinet meeting that was in progress last Tuesday. He rose from his chair and asked ministers whether they could feel something like a tremor that was causing vibration of the floor. He said he could feel such a phenomenon where he sat — …
An unidentified man seized the pistol of a Police officer and opened fire at a vehicle carrying Jaffna High Court Judge M. Ilancheliyan, wounding his security officer. The incident occurred near the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil in Jaffna last evening. Judge Ilancheliyan, who was unhurt, told reporters he was the target of the assailant and there …
by C.A.Chandraprema The brawl that everyone saw taking place within the North Central Provincial Council on TV news bulletins last week was the outward signs of a new political development with far reaching political implications. The mace that was broken in the melee just about symbolised the impact this event would have on the political …
By Tamara Kunanayakam, – former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and Dr. PalithaKohona, – former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York The Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson’s haughty statement at a media briefing in Colombo on 14 July,with the UN Resident Representative at …
Continue reading ‘Why Was Ben Emmerson Allowed to Bully, Threaten and Blackmail Sri Lanka’ »
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene United Nations Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson QC’s warning to the Sri Lankan Government following last week’s mission visit to the country was certainly the most irascible that we have seen from a UN mandate holder in a while. After more than two years of the United Nations’ uncritically accepting sunshiny rhetoric …
Continue reading ‘Ben Emmerson’s Irascible Warning Conveys Dash of Icy Cold Reality to Govt.’ »
By Vijith Samarasinghe Last Friday marked three months since the catastrophic collapse of the Meethotamulla garbage dump in Colombo. Angry victims are blaming the government for the loss of lives and for evicting them from the area without providing proper housing or a means of income. The official death toll of the Meethotamulla disaster is …
Continue reading ‘Three months after the Meethotamulla Disaster in Sri Lanka’ »
Against the worrying background of attempts by extremists to tear Sri Lanka apart on ethnic and religious grounds, the Minister of Coexistence, Dialogue and Official Languages, Mano Ganeshan, has brought out an excellent book showing Sri Lanka as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious island – a vibrantly colorful mosaic which was known in ancient times, quite …
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan A sudden announcement by the government that it has gazzetted the long awaited Office of the Missing Persons (OMP) came in without much ado and at a time when the UN under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman was in town. It’s obvious the high-powered official seemed to have held …
(Text of a Statement issued by Tamil National Alliance Spokesperson M.A. Sumanthiran M.P. on July 22nd 2017) The Tamil National Alliance strongly condemns the attack on Jaffna High Court Judge Illanchelliyan. We pray for Judge Illancheliyan and for the speedy recovery of the Police officers injured in this incident. We urge the Inspector General of …
The launching ceremony for a book titled ‘People of Sri Lanka’ published by the Ministry of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the BMICH this week. The book, which contains the details of 19 ethnic groups living in Sri Lanka as well as their cultures …
(Text of a Press Statement Issued Through the Media Office of the Tamil National Alliance) A meeting was held between the Tamil National Alliance led by R. Sampanthan and visiting United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman today at the UN office in Colombo. Mr. Sampanthan raised concerns related to matters that …
by Shamindra Ferdinando Joint Opposition (JO) parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardena has called for an end to UN interference in on-going constitutional making process in accordance with Geneva Resolution 30/1 adopted in Oct 2015. MP Gunawardena has said that the JO that represented a large segment of people strongly opposed to the current UN initiative …
Ram Nath Kovind was elected India’s new president Thursday, the second time since independence a head of state has been chosen from the bottom of the Hindu caste system. The first Dalit President was K.R.Narayanan, who as the 10th.President of India, served from 1997 to 2002. Kovind won the largely ceremonial position with more than …
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By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka police on Monday detained and questioned an Indian tourist who was wearing a dress with a print of the Buddha on it. Wearing the image of the Buddha remains a sensitive matter in the island where a majority practise Buddhism. In 2014, a British tourist was deported for sporting a …
By Taylor Dibbert Well-known Sri Lankan Political analyst and journalist Kusal Perera has written a book about former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa titled “Rajapaksa”. Freelance Journalist Taylor Dibbert Interviews the author about “Rajapaksa” and related matters. Excerpts- Question: Your book “Rajapaksa” will be released soon. Would you tell us a bit about it? Answer;
By Vishwamithra 1984 “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” ~ William Faulkner Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), although purported to be following the Bandaranaike policies and principles, basically consists of socialized economic principles and hard nationalism bordering on extremism. Its fundamental appeal has been to …
by Maheesha Mudugamuwa The Joint Opposition (JO) consisting of SLFP and UPFA dissidents loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa broke into two factions yesterday after one of its main partners, the National Freedom Front (NFF) opted to pull out of the new constitution making process. NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa has informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in writing …
President Maithripala Sirisena sought clarification from his Cabinet of Ministers on the procedure through which Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson obtained clearance to meet detainees held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Cabinet Co-spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne told the media yesterday. However, he insisted that the Government had not found fault with …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka If you say one thing and do quite another, that’s deceit. If you stick one label on something but sell quite another, then that’s fraud – a criminal act. Going by what TNA’s MP M.A.Sumanthiran has said on the record, that’s exactly what the new Constitution is intended to do. The TNA …
By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka “They are commitments that Sri Lanka voluntarily undertook in the light of 70 years of experience of Transitional Justice since the Nuremberg trials…” -Ben Emmerson QC, UN Special Rapporteur One of the 2 resolutions adopted at the 5th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council on the 18th of …
Full Statement by Ben Emmerson, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, at the conclusion of his official visit Preliminary findings of the visit to Sri Lanka Colombo (14 July 2017), The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Mr. Ben Emmerson, visited …
By Kavindya Chris Thomas Last Thursday (13) Co-Cabinet Spokesman, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, addressing the Cabinet media briefing, said that the Anti-Corruption Secretariat had not delivered on its promises. This was in response to a question which was raised regarding extending the Anti-Corruption Secretariat’s term which expired on 30 June. “The government spent Rs 65 million …
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