(Excerpted From The “Sunday Times” Political Column) I received credible information that there was a plot to kill me using the help of underworld leader Makandure Madush,” former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times in an interview this week He said he had verified the information from “very reliable channels” and found it …

Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Asked President Sirisena To Restore His Full Security One and a half Months Ago After Receiving Crediblle Information Of Plot To Kill the Ex – Def Secy With Help Of Underworld Don “Makandure Madush” But Has Not Received Any Response So Far.’ »

By Sarath De Alwis “The time is out of joint; O cursed spite That ever I was born to set it right!” [Hamlet, William Shakespeare] The war was unendurable. It was mind-blowingly vicious. Suicide bombers made a fine art of painting the earth with blood-soaked human innocence. Babies refused to be lulled to sleep. Grandmas …

Continue reading ‘“Pharmacologist Academic ” Prof. Channa Jayasumana Says In Geneva That There is No Ethnic Problem In Sri Lanka And That The Military Solution Given In Nandhikkadal Is Nothing But a Political Solution.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The unseemly tug-of-war between the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the National Police Commission, with the IGP openly balking to carry out directions of the NPC, must be deplored quite categorically. Putting the credibility of ‘independent commissions’ at risk Indeed, the manner of both parties being summoned by the Speaker …

Continue reading ‘Tug -of -War Between National Police Commission and Inspector – General of Police Due More To Systemic Contradictions Than Egoistic Personality Clashes.’ »

by Rajan Hoole Rains and early gloom harbinger the dying year. Fields are ploughed and sown in readiness for the earth’s renewal and the yield of her bounty. It was at such a time that Rajani was killed by the LTTE 29 years ago. Her questions and aphorisms often challenged our assumptions at their core. …

Continue reading ‘“We Tamils Have Gone To The West, To New Delhi And Geneva In Search Of a Settlement That Eludes Us”.’ »

Roobha, is a Canadian-Sri Lankan Tamil film made by Lenin M.Siva. It is about a transgender and a married man falling in love and the trials and tribulations they face in society. It is to be premiered in Toronto on October 9. She’s enchanting… and then she dances… A runaway train of intensity. A raw …

Continue reading ‘Canadian-Tamil Film “Roobha” Directed By Lenin M. Sivam Is About a Love Affair Between a Transgender And a Married Man’ »

By N.Ram (N. Ram is the Chairman of The Hindu Publishing Group) The Hindu has been adapting to changing times, facing and overcoming a multitude of challenges, earning the trust and affection of millions of people across the country, and flourishing. The Hindu has been adapting to changing times, facing and overcoming a multitude of …

Continue reading ‘India’s Respected English Daily Newspaper “The Hindu” Celebrating 140 Years of Publication Re-commits Itself To The Core Principles of Journalism.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda A request made by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran to defer contempt of court proceedings filed against him was yesterday rejected by the Court of Appeal. Wigneswaran through his lawyer K.Kanag-iswaran PC made an application to defer contempt of court proceedings until the Supreme Court makes an order regarding a leave to …

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal Decides to Go Ahead With Contempt of Court Proceedings Against Northern Chief Minister Rejecting Application By CV Wigneswaran to Defer CA Proceedings Until Supreme Court Order.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Rebel UPFA MP S.B. Dissanayake has reiterated that the army executed some LTTE personnel including one-time LTTE Eastern Commander Thambiraja Thurairajasingham aka Ramesh after they surrendered to the advancing troops. The declaration was made in response to a media query at the residence of former Deputy Speaker and National List MP Tilanga …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Cabinet Minister Re-iterates That Several LTTE Members Including Ex-Eastern Commander Ramesh Were Executed By Army After They Surrendered To Advancing Troops in 2009.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday declared that it was ready to work with India in spite of misconceptions that may have led to New Delhi’s backing for the change of the Rajapaksa government in January 2015. Former External Affairs Minister and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris explained …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Loyalist Opposition Ready To Work With India Despite New Delhi Backing Rajapaksa Regime Change In Sri Lanka In Jan 2015’ »

By Nirupama Rao (The author is a former Foreign Secretary of India who served as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka also) I am a Hindu by birth and by enduring faith. The house that I was born into that my grandfather built, had no special puja room — but the plaster of Paris statue of …

Continue reading ‘Trying To Turn India Into a Land For The Hindus Alone Goes Against Our Idea Of India as a Nation.’ »

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole Today, 15 September, 2018, saw one of the few really intellectual activities in Jaffna at Veerasingham Hall: the first C.W. Thamotharampillai Memorial Lecture. CWT was a legendary Tamil literatist of the nineteenth century credited with discovering some of the oldest extant Tamil literature like the Tolkapiyam and other lost Tamil …

Continue reading ‘” So Press On Mr. Sumanthiran! Your Road Is The Road To Peace And Justice” – Ratnejeevan Hoole’ »

By Sunil Tantirige A house talks…………Memories of a childhood long gone. I have just returned to Toronto from a short trip to Sri Lanka. I have been going back to the old country every year to visit my ailing mom but this trip was different. Let me explain. I grew up in Mount Lavinia, in …

Continue reading ‘The House of a Thousand Memories Talks To Me…………Random Thoughts of a Childhood Long Gone.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena has given marching orders to his ambassador to Austria and five other embassy staff for failing to answer his long-distance telephone calls, officials said Saturday. Ambassador Priyanee Wijesekera was recalled after she failed to answer his calls last week and no responsible officer was there to respond to the President, an official …

Continue reading ‘Lankan Envoy to Austria Priyanee Wijesekera and Five Embassy Staff on Extension Recalled to Colombo Immediately After President Sirisena’s Long – Distance Calls to Vienna Were Not Answered.’ »

Two former ministers who served during the Rajapaksa regime have admitted that LTTE members including Tamils who had surrendered to the Army had been killed. This allegation has been levelled against the Sri Lankan security forces for almost ten years by the war affected Tamil including the Diaspora and the international Human Rights Organisations, and …

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Govt Ex-ministers S.B.Dissanayake and Dilan Perera Admit That Some LTTE Members and Tamil Civilians Who Surrendered to the Armed Forces Were Killed.’ »

By Anurangi Singh Officials of the Financial Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) dropped another bombshell last week, when they filed a B report in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, in a first step to filing legal action against former Minister Ravi Karunanayake, for allegedly making false statements under oath before the Presidential Commission investigating …

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake May Face Legal Action For Allegedly Lying Five Times Under Oath Before Presidential Commission of Inquiry But Ex-Minister Alleges “Travesty of Justice”.’ »

By The “Sunday Observer” Political Editor At 3.30 am on September 10, Admiral Ravindra Wijeguneratne, the country’s highest ranking military official, boarded a Qatar Airways flight bound for Singapore. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was travelling overseas to attend the 208th National Day celebrations in Mexico, according to his Office. The trouble was, September …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena,Ravindra Wijegunaratne and the Alleged Abduction For Ransom Racket By Navy Personnel.’ »

By Manopriya Gunasekara The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) yesterday filed a case against former Finance Minister MP Ravi Karunanayake at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court for giving false evidence to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Central Bank bond scam. The CID giving statements before Court said that MP Karunanayake had intentionally given false evidence …

Continue reading ‘Case Filed Against Ex- Cabinet Minister Ravi Karunanayake by CID Under Sections 188 and 190 of Penal Code for Giving False Evidence Under Oath To the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Probing Treasury Bond Scam.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena summoned an emergency cabinet meeting to defend the country’s senior-most military officer who is facing imminent arrest for allegedly shielding a mass murder suspect, but failed to secure agreement. The noon meeting of the cabinet ended after heated exchanges, sources close to the administration said adding that the President failed in get …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Ministers Refuse to Go Along With President Sirisena’s Effort to Prevent Arrest of Chief of Defence Staff Ravi Wijegunaratne For Allegedly Helping Naval Officer Implicated in Abduction and Murdedr Racket to Evade Arrest.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Continuing controversy over Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravi Wijegunaratne, wanted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with allegedly aiding and abetting Lt. Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, a suspect in two major wartime cases, leaving for Mexico on Sept. 10 has taken a dramatic turn with the Tamil National Alliance …

Continue reading ‘TNA Spokesperson MA Sumanthiran Charges President Sirisena of Interference With the Judicial Process in Letting CDS Wijegunaratne Leave the Country and Says Party will Seek International Scrutiny Over the Issue.’ »

Internationally acclaimed award -winning Sri Lankan Dr.Tanya Ekanayaka’s second solo album will be released worldwide by Naxos Records on September 14th 2018. The album titled “Twelve Piano Prisms” comprises 12 new works for solo piano which evolved in 2016 and 2017.Dr.Tanya Ekanayaka herself performs the works/prisms in the album recorded by Roderick Buchanan-Dunlop and produced …

Continue reading ‘Celebrated Composer – Pianist Dr.Tanya Ekanayaka’s Second Solo Album “Twelve Piano Prisms” To Be Released Worldwide by Naxos Records on Sep 14th’ »

By Suhasini Haidar and Amit Baruah Former Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa is in Delhi to deliver a public lecture on Wednesday on “India-Sri Lanka relations: the way ahead”. Speaking to The Hindu, the former President, who says he is “100%” confident his party will come to power in 2019, proposed a new mechanism …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Says He Could Contest Presidential Elections Despite 19th Amendment and Then Fight it out in Courts But Has Not Decided Whether to Take That Risk in Interview with “The Hindu”.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena should take the responsibility for Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne leaving the country to participate in 208th Independence Commemoration Ceremony of United Mexican States, Sarath Wijesuriya, co-convener of the National Movement for Social Justice told the media yesterday.

Launching a scathing attack on the national carrier, President Maithripala Sirisena today said he was served “unedible cashew nuts” on a flight to Colombo last week. Addressing a farmers’ event in Hambantota this monring, an angry Sirisena asked who approved unedible cashew for the national carrier. “I returned to Colombo from Nepal via New Delhi …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Airlines Served President Sirisena a Plate of Cashew Nuts Which Even a Dog Could Not Eat On A Flight From Nepal to Sri Lanka.’ »

By Priyan Dias Much rhetoric has been used in various media over the years, and recently too, on the subject of patriots and traitors. I feel constrained to express my views as well. Samuel Johnson in his Dictionary (1755) defined a patriot as “One whose ruling passion is the love of his country.” This is …

Continue reading ‘In Sri Lanka the Term “Patriot” is Sometimes Defined as one who Defends Military Heroes Whatever the Charges Against Them and a “Traitor”as One Who Dares to Scrutinize Their Actions.’ »

BY K.S. Udaya Kumar President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva PC who appeared for former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa submitted that the Special High Court has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the action in the case where he is indicted with misappropriation in the construction of the D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial Museum at Weeraketiya. All the …

Continue reading ‘Romesh de Silva PC Appearing for Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Makes Submission That Special High Court Has No Jurisdiction to Hear and Determine Case Where Ex-Def -Secy is Indicted on Criminal Misappropriation Charge.’ »

Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama yesterday authorized the CID to question former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka on the abduction and torture of senior journalist Keith Noyahr in 2008.

By Camelia Nathaniel Former Navy Commander and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne had been summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to give a statement yesterday but he had left the country on an official tour, CID sources said. Speaking to the Daily News a CID official said that Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne …

Continue reading ‘CID Was Informed of Chief of Defence Staff Ravindra Wijegunaratne’s Departure to Mexico Only a Few Hours After He Left the Country.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Permanent High Court-at-Bar set up to hear high-profile financial frauds and corruption cases yesterday served indictments on former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and six others. This is in connection with an incident that the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana was built using public funds amounting to Rs.33.9 million. When …

Continue reading ‘Ex -Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Six others Served Indictments, Released on Cash and Surety Bail, Passports Impounded Over DA Rajapaksa Memorial Monument Construction Case.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena said that he is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on September 24 and he would make a statement to vindicate the Security Forces from all allegations levelled against them. President Sirisena was speaking at the SLFP Nivitigala Bala Mandala meeting held at the Nivitigala public fair premises, on Saturday.

Former Navy Commander and Current Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne Who was scheduled to present himself at the Criminal Investigations Department(CID) Headquarters in Colombo on Monday Sep 10th 2018 morning at 10 am to record a statement has left the country on an earlier flight instead of appearing before Police as required. Admiral …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Navy Chief and Chief of Defence Staff Ravi Wijegunaratne Exits Lanka on Quatar Airways Flight to Doha at 3.33 am on Sep 10th to Attend Mexico National Day on Sep 16th Without Presenting Himself to CID as Scheduled on Monday Morning.’ »

By Darshana Sanjeewa Former Navy Commander and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne had been summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to give a statement today, CID sources said. He was summoned to give a statement with regard to the abduction of 11 youths in 2008 and 2009.

A rampant Sri Lanka outplayed Singapore 69-50 on Sunday (Sept 9) in the final of the M1 Asian Netball Championship at the OCBC Arena to win their first Asian title since 2009. The young Sri Lankan side showed that they had the depth to complement their 2.08m goal-shooter Tharjini Sivalingam with three other players in …

Continue reading ‘Chaturangi Jayasooriya Led Sri Lanka Team With 2.08 m Tall Ace Goal-shooter Tharjini Sivalingam Beats Singapore 69 -50 in Final to Become Asian Netball Champions.’ »

Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka has indicated that it has no plans to change its policy on the languages used in the packaging of its milk products in Sri Lanka. Reacting to scathing comments and threatened governmental action for violating the country’s language policy, Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka said that it has a uniform policy in …

Continue reading ‘Fonterra Brands Refuses to Include Tamil Language on Packages of “Anchor” Butter Sold in Sri Lanka Where Tamil is an Offcial Language with 25% Tamil Speaking Population.’ »

By The Sunday Observer Political Editor In his haste to get somewhere fast, the young MP from Hambantota proved last Wednesday that he could really jeopardise his father’s dreams for the future: “Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”– Mufasa, Lion King September 5, 2018 was supposed to be much more than just a mass …

Continue reading ‘Mahindas Wants to Crown His Eldest Son as his Political Heir but his Plans Are Jeopardised by Namal Himself With his Ill-advised Political Stunts Like the Janabalaya Protest.’ »

By Azhar Razak, Aanya Wipulasena, Indunil Usgoda Arachchi, Rajitha Jagoda Arachchi There was an air of anticipation in Colombo on the morning of September 5. The day had finally dawned of the ‘Janabalaya’ rally organised by the Joint Opposition led by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) which was slated to be the largest protest …

Continue reading ‘Janabalaya Kolombata Comes to Colombo : Crowds,Carnival and Confusion’ »

By Anurangi Singh After three years of investigations and mounting accusations about delayed justice in corruption cases, former Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arguably the most powerful member of the previous administration, will be indicted tomorrow (10), on charges of misappropriating tens of millions in public funds while his brother was President, to build a memorial …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksaand Six Others to be Served Indictments at Permanent High Court at Bar on Sep 10th Over Alleged Misappropriation of Around Rs 40 Million Public Funds For Constructing DA Rajapaksa Memorial in Medamulana.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Northern Province Chief Minister and former Supreme Court Judge C.V. Wigneswaran and three others appeared before the Court of Appeal yesterday over a complaint that they have intentionally acted in contempt of the Court of Appeal order. When the application came up before Justice Janak de Silva, the three respondents Northern Province …

Continue reading ‘Northern Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran Along with Provincial Ministers K. Sivanesan and Ananthy Sasitharan Appear Before Appeal Court Regarding Alleged Contempt of Court Complaint Filed by Another Northern Minister B. Deneeswaran.’ »

By Kamani Alwis Former Child Affairs State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran is to be indicted before the Court of Appeal under Article 157/A 3 for alleged violation of the provisions of the Constitution. According to section 157A (1) of the Constitution, no person shall, directly or indirectly in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, …

Continue reading ‘UNP Jaffna District MP Vijayakala Maheswaran to Be Indicted at Court of Appeal Under Clause 120 of Penal Code for Allegedly Violating Article 157 of Constitution by the IGP as Advised by Attorney – General.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Supreme Court on Wednesday re-fixed for support on September 28, the special leave to appeal filed by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran challenging the Court of Appeal’s Interim Order to prevent Wigneswaran’s decision to remove B. Denishwaran from functioning as the Fisheries and Transport Minister in the Province.

By Camelia Nathaniel The ‘Jana Balaya Kolambata’ protest campaign organised by the Joint Opposition (JO) had failed to get the desired outcome and turned out to be a flop while one person had died and 16 people were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. “One person who had died on admission to the Colombo National …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Municipal Council Deploys Additional Workers to Clean Up the City of Garbage and Litter Left Behind by “Janabalaya Kolombata” Protest Participants.’ »

By Anura Balasuriya and Rathinda Kuruvita Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the Joint Opposition (JO) had been compelled to launch ‘Jana Balaya Colombata’ campaign as the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government had deprived it of the post of the Opposition Leader. Rajapaksa said that the government had recognized the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group consisting …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Says Joint Opposition Organized “Janabalaya Kolombata” Protest Due to Sirisena – Wickremesinghe Govt Depriving JO of Leader of the Opposition Post in Parliament.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake Nearly 3,000 loyalists of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday occupied the Lake House Roundabout in Fort and held a ‘sathyagraha’ after the ‘Janabalaya Colombata’ protest march organised by the Joint Opposition (JO) was wrapped up. The Government members discredited the campaign as unsuccessful as it had failed to garner support from the …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Addressing 3000 Loyalists Engaged in “Satyaraha” at Lake House Roundabout Says -“Join Us To Topple This Govt Before Long”’ »

Full of sound and fury, the Joint Opposition-Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Janabalaya demonstration reached Colombo Fort yesterday, but the protest took on a carnival like atmosphere with no major political speeches or centralized coordination to drive its key messages home. The rally, which was set up to be a launch pad for Hambantota District MP …

Continue reading ‘“Janabalaya Kolombata” Protest Turns Into Huge Merry-making Carnival Due to Lack of Serious Purpose and Planning by Namal Rajapaksa led Organizers.’ »

The “Jana Balaya Kolambata” protest campaign has seemingly come to an end despite claims by Joint Opposition MPs to protest overnight and lay siege to the capital city. JO activists started cleaning up the Lake House roundabout and the roads leading up to the area indicating that they had no plans to continue. The Colombo …

Continue reading ‘“Janabalaya Kolombata” Protest Comes to an End as Demonstrators Commence Leaving Colombo Despite Organizers Claim of Laying Overnight Siege to the City’ »

Despite National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa’s pledge to protest in Colombo over night, large swathes of protesters have already packed up and left the Lake House roundabout, our reporters said. The rest of the crowd, however, are currently holding a candlelight vigil at the Lake House roundabout. As of 10 Pm, none of the …

Continue reading ‘Large Numbers of Protest Demonstrators Walk In Search of Public Toilets as Inadequate Toilet facilities Pose Major Concern.’ »

Sri Lankan MPs, loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Wednesday took part in a massive protest rally in capital Colombo. Businesses, shops and schools closed by noon, resulting in Colombo coming to a virtual halt. The protest titled ‘Janabalaya Colombata’ was spearheaded by Rajapaksa’s eldest son and MP, Namal Rajapaksa. The JO expected over …

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Protest Spearheaded by Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Eldest Son Namal rajapaksa MP Cripples Colombo.’ »

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s supporters kept up a demonstration outside Lake House after a brief march from the Bo Tree junction. Party officials said they planned to stay overnight in Colombo. President Rajapaksa and his former defence secretary brother Gotabhaya spent a brief time with the protesters, but were expected to re-join the crowd later …

Continue reading ‘Police Estimate Crowds at “Janabalaya Kolombata” Rally in Colombo at 50,000 Although Organizers Claim Hundreds of Thousands Joined Protest’ »

The Cabinet of Ministers today decided to empower the Police to shoot unruly protestors with rubber bullets below their knees if they disrupt civilian life in Colombo tomorrow. The decision was made with regard to the protest march organized by the Joint Opposition tomorrow under the theme ‘Jana Balaya Kolambata.’

Opposition activists loyal to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa plan to stay overnight in Colombo after staging protests on Wednesday, party sources said. The Joint Opposition rally spearheaded by Rajapaksa’s legislator son Namal hope to bring 200,000 supporters to Colombo in what they promise will be a show of force greater than their May Day demonstration …

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Supporters Participanting in Protest Plan to Stay Overnight in Colombo After Demonstration Ends.’ »

Parliamentarians and leading activists of the Joint Opposition met in Colombo, a short while ago, to discuss final arrangements for their protest rally in Colombo tomorrow. The meeting, chaired by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was conducted by Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

By Ishara Mudugamuwa Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said that today’s JO protest is a Bili Poojawa (Sacrifice) in the name of MP Namal Rajapaksa to cover up their past wrongdoings. “This protest is aimed at influencing the judiciary and not forming a government,” he said. Addressing the media at the Finance …

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Protest is a “Bili Poojawa” by ‘Namal Baby’ in an Attempt to Escape from Alleged Fraud and Corruption Charges Through Sacrificing his Father’s Supporters Says Mangala Samaraweera.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Mervyn de Silva wrote a brief bio-data on the smaller-sized of the Lanka Guardian notepaper/ letterheads in the last years of his life. It was rearranged into a narrative and appeared on the back cover of ‘Crisis Commentaries: Selected Political Writings of Mervyn de Silva’ published by the International Center for Ethnic …

Continue reading ‘Mervyn De Silva, Journalism and Moscow’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered that information of the three armed forces be not given in connection with ongoing court cases into murders and disappearances, ‘Anidda’ reports. He issued the order at a meeting on August 28 at his Paget Road residence attended by the defence secretary, chief of defence staff and top defence and …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Orders Heads of Defence Services Not to Release any Details to Police About Information Requested by CID to Help Investigate Cases Like Attacks on the Media and Abduction for Ransom Racket.’ »

By Hafeel Farisz Friends and family of 25-year-old Kamar Nizamdeen, who was arrested by the New South Wales Police on Thursday for alleged ‘terrorism’ charges, claimed that Nizamdeen was framed. “He was an open minded Muslim who has been framed by someone with immense jealousy in heart. Jealousy on his accolades, his position and the …

Continue reading ‘Family and Friends of 25 Year Old Sri Lankan Nizamdeen Arrested by Australian Police for Alleged “Terrorism” Charges is Innocent and has been Framed by “Someone”.’ »

Australian law enforcement authorities today announced that the New South Wales student accused of documenting plans in a notebook to assassinate two senior Australian politicians is the nephew of a Sri Lankan cabinet minister. The ABC revealed Mohamed Nizamdeen, 25, is related to Sri Lankan MP Faiszer Musthapha, who is the country’s Sports and Local …

Continue reading ‘New South Wales Student Mohamed Nizamdeen Arrested on Suspected Charges is Nephew of Sri Lankan cabinet Minister Faiszer Musthapha State Australian Media.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando The Joint Opposition has rejected Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s invitation to join a parliamentary group invited by the Lok Sabha as a protest against Jayasuriya’s decision not to recognise the JO as the legitimate opposition. JO parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday told The Island that the grouping wouldn’t help the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe duo …

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Refuses To be In Delegation to India as Mark of Protest Against Speaker’s Refusal to Let JO get Leader of the Opposition Post.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The progress of ongoing criminal investigations into the grisly killing of several Tamil youths following a racket of abduction for ransom, spearheaded ‘allegedly’ (here, I use the term quite deliberately) by a Naval officer and others during 2008-2009 will be the crucible on which this Government and this Presidency’s commitment to …

Continue reading ‘If Full Force of the Law is not Applied Due To Political Interference Against Superior Officers Allegedly Protecting Subordinates in Navy Abduction and Murder Racket it would Be the Last Nail in the “Yahapalanaya” Govt Coffin.’ »

By Maneshka Borham The Naganathan residence on Shoe Road, Kotahena is dark and dreary. Inside, it is as though time has stood still for the once happy Naganathan family, since the abduction of their son, Rajiv Naganathan, almost 10 years ago by a suspected, organized Navy abduction for ransom gang. Since his disappearance, Rajiv’s parents, …

Continue reading ‘Explosive Revelations in Court Implicate Navy Top Brass With Abduction for Ransom and Murder racket Conducted by Navy Personnel.’ »

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Chairperson Dr. Deepika Udagama believes attitudes of the people must change for the country to move forward and adequately address the sufferings of families of disappeared persons. “We should not look at this through a political or racist perspective,” she said, and pointed out that some harbour negative feelings …

Continue reading ‘“If People are not Moved by the Struggles of Families of Disappeared Persons then Something is Wrong with our Country” Says Human Rights Commission Chair Dr.Deepika Udagama.’ »

By Leon Berenger A total of 62,338 Sri Lankans are currently on the country’s blacklist and are prevented from leaving the country, unless they obtain prior Court approval, senior State intelligence sources revealed yesterday. According to the sources, who cannot be named for obvious reasons, the figure includes close to a 30,000 security force personnel …

Continue reading ‘62,338 Sri Lankans Including Nearly 30,000 Security Forces Personnel “Blacklisted” by Authorities to Prevent them Leaving Sri Lanka reveal State Intelligence Circles.’ »

By Manekshaw A mammoth gathering of protestors in Mullaitivu on Tuesday (28) chanted slogans to halt colonization under the Mahaweli System L in the Northern Province being carried out with State patronage. The Northern Provincial Council has been agitating that land powers under the 13th Amendment be granted to it. However, it was evident from …

Continue reading ‘System “L” of Mahaweli Project Being used to Spearhead Colonization of Northern Mainland With “Outsiders” and Not With Sincere Intention to Provide Water to Northern Farmers.’ »

A team of Sri Lankan judicial officers visited the United States recently on a US government sponsored tour. The last item on their itinerary was a visit to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters.

President Maithripala Sirisena will recommended to the Constitutional Council the appointment of Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya as the new Chief Justice. The present incumbent Priyasath Dep retires next month.

Arrangements are in place for the long-awaited arrest of Sri Lanka’s senior-most military officer in connection with an extortion racket and the horrific murder of 11 young men, official sources said. The Colombo Fort magistrate on Wednesday ordered the arrest of Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne after the CID said it had evidence of him shielding the …

Continue reading ‘All Arrangements in Place for Arrest of Ex-Navy Commander and Current Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne for Shielding Chief Suspect in Abduction and Murder of 11 Youths for Ransom Case’ »

It was a lavish, fairy-tale wedding for more than 1,500 guests at one of Sri Lanka’s best known addresses on Thursday (Aug 30) Chatura, the son of Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, and a parliamentarian himself was given in marriage by his father Rajitha Senaratne at a gala wedding ceremony at ‘Temple Trees’ – the official …

Continue reading ‘Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s Son Chatura Senartne MP’s Fairy-tale Wedding Takes Place at “Temple Trees” in a “Maharajah Palace”Decor with More Than 1500 Guests’ »

(Excerpted from the “Sunday Times”Political Column of September 2nd 2018) Wednesday’s protest rally by the ‘Joint Opposition’ has come under heavy focus of leaders of the ruling coalition. Whilst the ‘JO’ wants to induct large crowds, coalition leaders want to do just the opposite — prevent as many from taking part. Indications of who will …

Continue reading ‘Envisaged Protest Rally by Joint Opposition in Colombo On Sep 5th Places Coalition Govt In Tricky Situation.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Public interest in the handling of fraud and crime that prevailed under the Rajapaksa Regime shows a new interest with the action by the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar over two key figures in the past regime. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary, and six others, were noticed to …

Continue reading ‘For Past Three Years Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was Seen as Someone Above the Law Who Could Not be Arrested and Brought Before Courts.’ »

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, yesterday, issued a statement urging people to join the planned Joint Opposition protest in Colombo on Sept 5. Alleging that there are also dangerous and concerted efforts to compromise peace and reconciliation in the pursuit of personal political interests, the war veteran said that it was evident in the ongoing …

Continue reading ‘Ex -Def -Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Issues Statement Urging all Professionals and Intellectuals to Support the “Janabalaya Kolombata” Rally on Sep 5th in Colombo.’ »

By Chitra Weerarathne The Court of Appeal yesterday refused Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara thera, leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the recent judgment of the Court, which convicted him of contempt of court and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for six years. The Court of Appeal recently convicted the Venerable Galagodaatte Gnanasara thera of …

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena Gen Secy Gnanasara Thero Refused Leave To Appeal to Supreme Court Against His Contempt of Court Conviction By the Court of Appeal.’ »

By Kaushi Sendanayake It is not a matter of whether Mahinda Rajapaksa can contest for the Presidency once again or not, as long as whoever becomes the President at the next election forms a Government with him (Mahinda) as the Prime Minister, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. He was responding media queries after appearing …

Continue reading ‘“It Does Not Matter Whether Mahinda Rajapaksa Can Contest for Presidency if Whoever is Elected the Next President Forms Government With Mahinda as Prime Minister” States Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.’ »

A 25-year-old Sri-Lankan named M. Nizamdeen was arrested over suspected terror-related offences in Australia. The Australian law enforcement authorities said he was in Sydney on a student visa, and was arrested after finding “symbolic locations within Sydney” listed as possible targets in his notebook Officers from NSW’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) arrested Mohamed Nizamdeen …

Continue reading ‘25 Year old Sri Lankan Named Nizamdeen in Australia on a Student Visa Arrested in Sydney For Suspected Terror Offences Targeting “Symbolic Locations”.’ »

speaking in Sinhala in Galle All the problems of Tamil People won’t b solved by a new Constitution, but a new Constitution is fundamental. Without this, no issue an be addressed, said TNA Spokesman M. A. Sumanthiran speaking in Sinhala an an event in Galle on Constitutional Reform.

Indian politician Dr. Subramanian Swamy said former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be given the Bharat Ratna award for freeing Sri Lanka and India from the LTTE terrorism. “Just as we have awarded Bharat Ratna to Mandela for freeing his people we should award MR for freeing his people and Bharatiyas from LTTE terror,” …

Continue reading ‘Maverick Indian Politician Dr.Subramanian Swamy wants India’s Highest Civilian Award “Bharat Ratna” to Be Given to Sri Lankan Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa for Freeing His and “Bharatiya” People From LTTE Terrorism.’ »

By B Sivakumar and D Govardan No other political prince in India would have waited so long for the coronation. And when it happened on Tuesday, 21 days after his father M Karunanidhi passed away, Stalin sought to accept the DMK crown with humility and hope, promise and poise. Elected unopposed as DMK president at …

Continue reading ‘Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister “Kalaignar” Karunanidhi’s 65 Year Old Son M.K.Stalin Is Elected President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) Amidst Protests by Elder Brother M.K.Azhagiri.’ »

By Anbarasan Ethirajan of BBC News in Mannar Experts in northern Sri Lanka are trying to identify the remains of dozens of bodies in a mass grave in the country’s former war zone. So far the skeletal remains of more than 90 people have been unearthed in the north-western town of Mannar. The mass grave …

Continue reading ‘Skeletal Remains of More Than 90 Bodies Excavated at Site of What Was Earlier a Co-operative Whole Sale Depot Near Bus Terminal In Mannar’ »

(text of a Press Release Issued by the Tamil National Alliance Media Office on 28.08.2018) The Meeting of the Presidential Task Force on the Development of the North and East took place yesterday (27.08.2018) at the Presidential Secretariat. The meeting was presided over by His Excellency the President. Several ministers and government members of Parliament …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Assures TNA Leader Sampanthan That No Lands Are Being Allocated to Settlers From Outside Areas in the Mullaitheevu District Under the Mahaweli Irrigation Scheme.’ »

By The Sunday Observer” Political Editor It came like a bolt from the blue. All of a sudden, the concerted preoccupation of the Rajapaksa proxy Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Joint Opposition camp is to push the theory that the former President, twice elected and once defeated in presidential elections over a decade, can …

Continue reading ‘“Hopes” Raised About Mahinda Rajapaksa Being Eligible to Contest Presidential Elections Again Appears to be a Diversionary Tactic To Contain Candidate Crisis in Joint Opposition.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan authorities have excavated nearly 100 skeletons at a mass grave in Mannar, located in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, where state armed forces and Tamil rebels clashed in a 30-year civil war. According to local media reports, some locals living in the Tamil-majority province, whose relatives went missing during and after …

Continue reading ‘Nearly 100 Skeletons Including Those of 8 Children Retrieved after 58 Days of Excavation in Mass Grave in Mannar District; “Bodies Were Found Piled up in a Limited Space”.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The port town of Trincomalee in Eastern Sri Lanka is known for its scenic beauty eminently qualified to be featured in the National Geographic Channel. But historically,it has been noted for something very different – its strategic value as a naval base. Trincomalee’s military value had been grasped by world powers from the …

Continue reading ‘Fears of Chinese Expansion and the Strategic Importance of Trincomalee To India and Other Powers Like Japan and USA’ »

China, through top level diplomatic channels, has asked from the Sri Lankan government if a “discomforted neighbour” was behind the protests in Jaffna against the housing project funded by Beijing, Asian Mirror learns. This comes in the wake of the public resistance to the Chinese-funded project to build 40,000 houses in the Jaffna district.

By Manopriya Gunasekara The Special High Court yesterday issued summons to Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and five others to appear before the Court on 10 September over misappropriation of funds to erect the D. A. Rajapaksa statue in Weeraketiya, Madamulana. The case, heard as the second in the Special High Court,was filed under the …

Continue reading ‘Attorney -General Files 49 Charges For Criminal Breach of Trust and Misappropriation of Money Relating D. A. Rajapaksa Memorial Against Ex-Def -Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Six Others; Accused Issued Summons to Appear Before Special High Court on Sep 10.’ »

By Dr Reeza Hameed The Nineteenth Amendment has once again become the subject of controversy, and its current focus concerns the provision in the Nineteenth Amendment that disqualifies the same person from being elected as President for more than two terms. The two-term limit is not a constitutional innovation. A provision imposing a term limit …

Continue reading ‘Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa May Not Seek Election To The Office Of President Again As He Is Disqualified From So Doing Under The 19th Constitutional Amendment.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The United States and Japan have both cast their eyes on the Eastern Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee to counterbalance the presence of the Chinese in Hambantota in the South and Colombo in the West and its growing clout around the Bay of Bengal. The Trincomalee harbor was meant to be a major …

Continue reading ‘While India Retains Contol Over Trincomalee Tank Farm, the USA and Japan Eye Trinco Harbour in a Bid To Counter Balance China’s Clout in the Bay of Bengal.’ »

Senior Army officer Major General (retired) Chagie Gallage had revealed that it was former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka who ordered to take the LTTE uniform off Velupillai Prabhakaran’s dead body. Prabhakaran’s dead body was found from the Nandikadal area on the morning of May 19, 2009, following heavy gunfire. Gallage was a Brigade …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Army Chief Sarath Fonseka Berated Senior Officers For Not Removing LTTE Leader Prabhakaran’s Uniform and got them to Display his Corpse in a Loin Cloth when Lying at Nandhikkadal Reveals Maj-Gen Chaggie Galage.Lying at Nandhikkadal and’ »

No ‘politics’ was discussed at the meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the latter’s residence in Medamula this morning, a highly placed source close to the former President told Asian Mirror. The discussion took place afer Sirisena paid last respect to the former President’s deceased brother, Chandra Rajapaksa, at the …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala and Mahinda Did Not Discuss Politics During the “Warm and Congenial”Meeting with Tea at the Rajapaksa Family Residence in Medamulana.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena visited the Medamulana residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning to pay last respect to Chadra Tudor Rajapaksa, the younger brother of the former President. Sirisena was first greeted by former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. Then former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also joined him.

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Attorney General (AG) yesterday filed indictments in the Permanent High Court-at-Bar against former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and six others including former Chairman and members of the director board of the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC). This is in connection an incident that the D.A. Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in …

Continue reading ‘Fresh Indictment Filed by Attorney – General in Permanent High Court -at – bar Against Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya and Six Others Over Construction of DA Rajapaksa Memorial Monument and Museum at Medamulana.’ »

Sri Lanka’s government may have set a record in the history of Westminster parliamentary system by voting Friday to defeat a crucial de-limitation report it had commissioned and introduced in the House. Minister Faiszer Musthapha also voted against the “Report of the Delimitation Committee for the Delimitation of electorates in Provincial Councils” which he himself …

Continue reading ‘Provincial Council De-limitation Committee Report Defeated in Parliament bu 139 to 0 With Govt MP’s Including Minister Who Presented Bill in Parliament 5 Months Ago Voting Against It.’ »

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Thursday turned down Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s request to boycott the meeting of the Presidential Special Task Force on Northern Development which is scheduled to be held on August 27. TNA Parliamentarians at a meeting held at the Opposition Leader’s office under the patronage of TNA leader …

Continue reading ‘TNA Parliamentarians Reject Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s Call to Boycott the Presidential Task Force on North – Eastern Development.’ »

by Saman Indrajith Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka railed against police Special Task Force (STF) Commandant Senior DIG M.R. Latheef making a controversial statement in Parliament yesterday. The minister used the time allocated to him in the Parliamentary debate to speak on the recent arrests of his political supporters, trying hard to convince that those …

Continue reading ‘Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka Vehemently Criticises Special Task Force Commandant M. R. Latheef in Parliament Describing the Senior DIG as a “Bull in a China Shop”.’ »

By Saman Indrajith Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama informed Parliament that the Attorney General had said that there was no need to present the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement to Parliament. The Minister said so when Ministers Lakshman Kiriella and Arjuna Ranatunga contradicted each other in Parliament yesterday while speaking on …

Continue reading ‘Malik Samarawickrama Reveals in Parliament that the Attorney -General Had Opined There was no Need to Present Sri Lanka – Singapore Free Trade Agreement to Parliament.’ »

By Kavindya Perera Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday recalled the notice issued on former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had been ordered to appear before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on 7 September, as a suspect in the case where he is alleged to have misappropriated State funds to the tune of Rs. 90 …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Chief Magistrate Recalls Notices Served on Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Six Others Over D.A. Rajapaksa Memorial Museum Case by Colombo Addl agistrate as”Illegal” but Impounds Passports of All Seven Suspects.’ »

Former Chief Justice Sarath Silva may have openly violated constitution by presenting himself as legal counsel for ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa who was questioned by police in connection with the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr. Official sources noted that the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID informed the Mount Lavinia Magistrate that Silva was present as part …

Continue reading ‘Has Controversial Ex-Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva Violated Article 110 of Constitution by Presentian Himself as Part of Lawyer Team Looking After Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Interest During CID Questioning About Keith Noyahr Abduction?’ »

by Lakdev Liyanagama Three and a half years after he was ousted from power, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the focus of attention last week. Although some of the reasons for the publicity Rajapaksa generated may not have been to his liking, other events may have reignited presidential ambitions for the country’s fifth Executive President. …

Continue reading ‘If Courts Rule in Favour of Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Presidential Candidacy That Would Change the Course of Politics in Sri Lanka’ »

Plans are afoot to start a United National Party breakaway party under the leadership of the party’s former General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, Asian Mirror reliably learns. Although the new party will not align itself with the SLFP or the Joint Opposition, it will pressurise the government to protect the interests of the UNPers. “It is …

Continue reading ‘UNP Breakaways Planning to Form New Party With Ex- Party secy Tissa Attanayake as Leader and Ranil’s former Pvt Secy Sudath Chandrasekera as Gen-Secy with Alleged Backing of ex-cabinet minister Ravi Karunanayake?’ »

By Colonel R Hariharan The passing away of Muthuvel Karunanidhi, 94, last of the leaders groomed in the Dravidian stable of rationalist godfather “Periyar” EV Ramasamy Naicker, leaves a huge void in Tamil Nadu politics. The leader, endearingly called Kalaignar (pronounced kalainyar, meaning gifted scholar) by his party cadres, was a man for all seasons. …

Continue reading ‘Does M. Karunanidhi’s Son and Successor M.K.Stalin Have The Leadership Skills of his Father To Lead the DMK Party to Victory at the Polls?’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The three years during which Sri Lanka breathed (or was it gasped?) in freedom’ seems to be the rather messily translated refrain which the United National Party at least is trumpeting to all and sundry as this month (August 2018) notes three years of the National Unity government being voted into …

Continue reading ‘Erosion of our Institutions Is so Great That Mere Regime Change or replacing One Bunch of Politicians With Another Wont Get Country Back on the Democratic Track’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island” of August 21st 2018 Under the Heading “Why this hullabaloo?) Mahinda has set the cat among the pigeons, as is his wont. He has got his backers in the Joint Opposition (JO) to say he can run for President again. This argument is not of recent origin, though. …

Continue reading ‘Why Is Mahinda Trying Hard to Become a President With Clipped Powers Instead of Easily Becoming a Prime Minister Empowered by the 19th Constitutional Amendment? – The Island’ »

In a letter to President Maitripala Sirisena with regard to the imprisonment of Bodu Bala Sena general secretary Ven. Galagodaathte Gnanasara Thera, the Mahayanayake of the Kotte chapter of the Siyam Nikaya, the Most Ven. Ittapane Dhammalankara Thera has highlighted several points including the one that if monks who speak on behalf of the people …

Continue reading ‘Siyam Nikaya Kotte Chapter Mahanayake Writes to President Sirisena Saying Gnanasara Thero Spoke For the Country and that Imprisoning Monks Who Speak for the Country Would be Seen As a Challenge to the Entire Bhikku Community’ »

By Manopriya Gunasekera The Presidential Commission to inquire into allegations of large scale frauds and malpractices in SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering Ltd and Mihin Lanka (Pvt) Ltd has issued notices to four persons including former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremesinghe to appear before it.

By Shamindra Ferdinando Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris will soon move the District Court, seeking a clarification as regards President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s eligibility to contest the 2019 presidential election. Prof. Peiris revealed his party’s plan, yesterday, at a media briefing at the Nelum Mawatha Office of former President Rajapaksa. Former …

Continue reading ‘SLPP Chairman Prof GL Peiris Will Move District Court To Seek Clarification From Supreme Court as to Whether Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa is Eligible to Contest Presidential Elections.’ »

By Shavini Madhara Making a statement on the abduction and assault on Nation Newspaper Deputy Editor Keith Noyarh in 2008, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa informed the CID that he could not remember if there was a journalist called Keith Noyarh at the time of the alleged assault incident, the prosecution informed court yesterday. Senior State …

Continue reading ‘Senior State Counsel Reveals in Court that Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Told CID That He Could Not Remember If There was a Journalist Called Keith Noyahr at the Time of the Alleged Abduction’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who served two consecutive terms in office from 2005 to 2015, appears keen on a third, despite a legislation barring him from contesting. “There is an opinion that I can contest again, we need to find out if I am eligible,” he told reporters, on the …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Wants to Find Out Whether He is Eligible to Contest Presidential Elections Again.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando The Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray has denied allegations that he was planning to construct two Buddhist temples in one-time LTTE stronghold Kilinochchi soon after the dissolution of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) run Northern Provincial Council later this year. Cooray, a former MP said so in response to Northern Chief Minister …

Continue reading ‘Northern Chief Minister Accuses Northern Governor of Planning To Construct Buddhist Temples In Kilinochchi After Provincial Council is Dissolved:Cooray Dismisses Allegation as false& Challenges Wigneswaran To Prove it by Identifying Locations.’ »

By Amali Mallawaarachchi Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is not qualified to contest the upcoming Presidential election, Higher Education Minister Wijeyedasa Rajapakshe said yesterday. He said that according to the provisions of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, a former President is barred from contesting any Presidential election. The provisions stipulate that no President can hold …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Will Reject Requests From “Others” On Eligibility of Ex-Presidents Contesting Presidential Poll for Third Time as Only President Sirisena is Entitled to seek Supeme Court Opinion On the Question Says Wijedasa Rajapakshe’ »

Prof. G.L.Peiris, a former Sri Lankan Minister for Constitutional Affairs who is currently one of the leaders of the Joint Opposition (JO), has said that there is no constitutional bar against any person being President of Sri Lanka more than twice, even though the 19 th.Amendment (19A) enacted in 2015 says that a person cannot …

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Would Approach Supreme Court in early September to Clarify Whether 19th Constitutional Amendment Has Debarred Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa From Contesting Presidential Elections or not .’ »

by Jayadeva Uyangoda Political discussions in the country at present are largely dominated by questions around two themes: which individual will win the next presidential election and which political party will win the next parliamentary election. These are no doubt important questions, but there is a more serious political question about what will happen to …

Continue reading ‘Regime Change in Sri Lanka May Cause Unmanageable Political Conflict,Ethnic and Social Polarization and Make Violence Necessary For Both Regime Survival and Regime Resistance.’ »

There is no lacuna or provision in the 19th Amendment and its application for legal arguments to be made that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is eligible to contest in the upcoming 2019 presidential election, a top constitutional expert said, amid frantic attempts by the Joint Opposition to push for a third term for the controversial …

Continue reading ‘Neither Mahinda Rajapaksa Nor Chandrika Kumaratunga Are Eligibele To Contest Presidential Elections for a Third Time Due to 19th Constitutional Amendment says MP and Constitutional Expert Dr.Jayampathy Wickremaratne’ »

By Dr Nihal Jayawickrama One of the declared objectives of the Government in introducing the Bill for the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was to restore the provision that no person who had been twice elected to the office of President by the People shall be qualified thereafter to be elected to such office by …

Continue reading ‘“Former Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa Are Eligible to Seek Election To the Office of President whenever an Election is Held” – Ex-Justice Secretary and Constitutional Expert Dr.Nihal Jayawickrama.’ »

By Spectator The General Secretary and de facto head of the radical nationalist organisation, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Galagoda-aththe Gnanasara thero was recently sentenced to nineteen years imprisonment by the Court of Appeal, to be completed in six years. This follows a previous six-month prison term imposed on him by the Homagama Magistrate’s Court. While …

Continue reading ‘Pressure Mounts on Maithripala Sirisena to Issue Presidential Pardon to Bodu Bala Sena Gen – Secy Gnanasara Thero Convicted for Contempt of Court Offences.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Core elements of the fifty-six page decision handed down by the Court of Appeal this week sentencing General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara to six years rigorous imprisonment for contempt ‘in the face of the court’ constitute a stern warning to unruly individuals (monks or laymen) …

Continue reading ‘Stringent Verdict of Appeal Court Against Gnanasara Thero In Contempt of Court Case Will Be Potentially Strong Deterrent To Those Wishing To Follow Bodu Bala Sena Gen Secy’ »