By Chaturanga Pradeep Twelve Sri Lankan fishermen on board two fishing boats were taken into custody last morning at Tutucorin in Chennai while on their way back passing through the maritime boundaries of India and Malaysia, Fisheries Ministry Assistant Director Lal De Silva said. “Usually fishermen have to pass through the maritime boundaries of India …
by Kelum Bandara President Mahinda Rajapaksa is reported to have told the Cabinet meeting that his discussions with US Secretary of State John Kerry had made him realize that the US had softened its stance on Sri Lanka. According to Government sources the President had said the meetings he had with Mr. Kerry and Indian …
by DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA Forget the state of Denmark—something is rotten in the state of Sri Lanka, and our enemies, the secessionists in the Tamil Diaspora must be laughing, as they well might. Three recent events indicate the future of Sri Lanka. Two are domestic and one, global. Of the two domestic events, one occurred …
By Dasun Edirisinghe reporting from Madhu The reconstruction of northern railway track up to Kankesanthurai and Thalaimannar would be completed by December, connecting the north to the South after 25 years, Indian Government Company, IRCON International, said yesterday. Addressing local and foreign journalists during a visit to northern railway lines, IRCON Additional General Manager V. …
National List UNP MP R.Yogarajan has called for the Chairman of the Delimitation Committee,Local Government bodies Jayalath Dissanayake to be dismissed from his post for ” being present at the inauguration of the Secretariat for the re-election of the President set up by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and declared open by Minister of Economic …
by Zacki Jabbar Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr. Chris Nonis yesterday declined to comment on strong speculation that he had resigned from his post after being assaulted by a powerful government MP while in the US recently. Contacted over the telephone for comment on the incident which had allegedly taken place during …
By Vishwamithra 1984 ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ – a bogus document on mythical promises! “Man seeks to escape himself in myth, and does so by any means at his disposal. Drugs, alcohol, or lies. Unable to withdraw into himself, he disguises himself. Lies and inaccuracy give him a few moments of comfort.” ~Jean Cocteau This is the …
Dr. Chris Nonis, Sri Lankan Envoy to the United Kingdom is likely to continue as High Commissioner in London despite having tendered his resignation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in person. It is learnt that External Affairs minister Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris is currently engaged in trying to persuade Dr. Nonis to “withdraw” his resignation and …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Nothing is known in detail on the one on one talks between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Premier Narendra Modi in New York on the sidelines of the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly sessions. Even the media did not report much, other than recording the meet with the customary bilateral …
By Yoshitha Perera The Leader of Burma’s 969 oraganisation, Ven. Ashin Wirathu Thera and Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera today signed an agreement with the objective of building an Asian region without extremism. The 969 represent the 24 qualities of Buddhism, inclusive of nine qualities of Buddha, six from Dhamma …
By Imran Gowhar Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who has been convicted in the disproportionate assets case, on Tuesday refused to meet the newly sworn-in Chief Minister O Panneersevalm, when he went to meet her at the Central Jail in Parappana Agrahara, where she is lodged since September 27. A prison official said: “Ms. …
By Krishnaprasad & Sruthisagar Yamunan When the matter came up for hearing in front of the vacation bench of the Court, Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh, who also appeared for the State at the Special Court, said that while he received information about his appointment as prosecutor for the appeal as well, no formal communication …
By Franklin R. Satyapalan Attorney General (AG) Sarath Palitha Fernando, who visited the North last week, had been asked by the Jaffna based lawyers for practical, meaningful measures to reconsider the cases pending before the courts in the North filed under Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act and to consider rehabilitation rather than …
By K.K.S.Perera Minister Maithripala Sirisena, who initially made a genuine effort to introduce the NMDP in line with WHO ratified Professor Senaka Bibile’s proposals, recently presented a draft bill in a total deviation from the Bibile proposals. The World Health Assembly at its sittings in Geneva in May 1982, acknowledged Prof Bibile’s contribution widely and …
By Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P. A Presidency Under Threat – 19 Indulgences without Principle When I began this series, over four months ago, the title may have seemed excessive. And even my good friend Dayan Jayatilleka thought I was being unduly pessimistic about the President’s pulling power when I said that the UNP would poll at …
By Malinda Seneviratne Some months ago when there was talk of Harin Fernando giving up his parliamentary seat to come forward as the UNP’s Chief Ministerial Candidate for Uva, there was one rather talkative man who pooh-poohed the notion. ‘Just a media show – he will not contest,’ he was convinced. He offered instead that …
By B.Aravind Kumar O. Panneerselvam, staunch loyalist of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a second time on Monday by Governor K. Rosaiah, followed by the induction of other Ministers. The ceremony was emotionally charged with virtually every member of the new Cabinet breaking down . Mr. Panneerselvam …
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s appeal against Special Court’s conviction order in disproportionate assets case was filed in the Karnataka High Court around 11 a.m on Monday. Her advocates filed the appeal, with a plea seeking suspension of sentence, in the High Court’s registry section. Jayalalithaa’s aide Sasikala, her relatives V.N Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi …
By Krishnaprasad The Special Court, which convicted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her aides in the disproportionate assets case on Saturday, has issued a direction for the confiscation of around 3,000 acres of land and other properties held by six firms “for and on behalf of Ms. Jayalalithaa.” The properties were registered in the …
CHENNAI: At least 16 people committed suicide or died of cardiac arrest across Tamil Nadu after a special court in Bangalore convicted AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in the 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case on Saturday and sentenced her to four years in prison. Two people have been hospitalized with severe burns. Police said three people …
Once a tea stall owner, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa’s trusted lieutenant is set to become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the second time since 2001, when he made his Assembly debut. The 63-year-old leader from Thevar community held two key portfolios of Finance and Public Works in the Jayalalithaa Ministry.
The meeting of AIADMK MLAs on Sunday is said to have unanimously elected Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam as the party’s Legislative Party leader and he is likely to be sworn in as Chief Minister. Raj Bhavan sources said the AIADMK had sought an appointment with Governor K. Rosaiah at 6 pm. This is the second …
Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani is flying back from London to represent AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, who has been convicted in the disproportionate assets case, in the Karnataka High Court, his office said on Sunday. The senior advocate will reach India by Monday. The High Court will then be moved for suspension of her sentence and bail. …
by Sruthisagar Yamunan AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa’s lawyers will file an appeal on Monday against the special court verdict sentencing her to four-year simple imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case and also seek her release on bail. AIADMK Rajya Sabha Member A. Navaneethakrishnan told The Hindu that a bail application would be moved in the …
Sruthisagar Yamunan & Imran Gowhar For AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa, who is known to be an early riser, Sunday at the Parappana Agrahara prison was no different. Her first full day in jail began as early as 5.30 am. Prison officials told The Hindu that the three-time Chief Minister asked the authorities for five newspapers …
By Meera Srinivasan Controversial Buddhist monk from Myanmar Ashin Wirathu, accused of leading an anti-Muslim movement in Burma, on Sunday pledged his support to a hard-line Sinhala-Buddhist group in Sri Lanka which faces similar allegations. Speaking at the convention of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), roughly Buddhist Power Force when translated, Wirathu said he would …
Stressing that a world without extremism was the essence of Buddhism, the founder leader of the 969 organisation of Myanmar, the Venerable Ashin Wirathu Thera said today that his organisation would work with the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) to achieve this goal. Speaking during the BBS convention in Colombo, the venerable thera said some extremists …
The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) yesterday issued an ultimatum to the Government, saying it will not hesitate to push for a change of Government if the current one fails to address a threat faced by Buddhism in Sri Lanka. BBS President, Kirama Wimalajothi Thero, speaking at a BBS summit at the Sugadathasa Indoor Stadium, insisted …
By Imran Gowhar Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who has been convicted in the disproportionate assets case, has been allotted the VVIP Cell number 23 in the Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara. She has been given prisoner number 7402. Sources said the cell is located next to the women’s barrack. Jail authorities said the occupant …
By B. Kolappan & B. Aravind Kumar Every time her political rivals have written her off, Tamil Nadu’s three time Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has made a comeback. And so while AIADMK’s political rivals believe that Saturday’s verdict against Ms Jayalalithaa would be a permanent setback and weaken her hold over the party, political analysts refuse …
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy called the judgment against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa “excellent,” and said that a local Sessions Court had shown tremendous courage in delivering it. Dr. Swamy, who was the original complainant in the case in 1996, said: “She was corrupt and I knew she was corrupt. But ultimately it is a …
(Text of an Editorial Appearing in “The Hindu”of September 28th 2014 Under the Heading “The Long Road to Justice”) The conviction of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case by a Special Court in Bangalore is a significant vindication of a vital constitutional principle — that the rule of law be upheld …
Continue reading ‘Ms.Jayalalithaa Still has Avenues of Appeal Open to her -The Hindu’ »
Despite a turbo charged campaign with lethal weapons from its political armoury, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) faced a humiliating outcome at the Uva Provincial Council elections. It won with a lower majority and faces higher concerns.Lawlessness reigned in the run-up to the September 20 polls. Intimidation and thuggery were rampant. The Police were …
President Mahinda Rajapaksa held talks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York yesterday with the two leaders discussing key issues, including bilateral and regional, media reports said. This was the second meeting between the two leaders after Mr. Modi was sworn-in as India’ Prime Minister in May this year. “The meeting was cordial …
Ven. Ashin Wirathu from Myanmar will participate in the Bodu Bala Sena’s Maha Sangha Council meeting at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium at 1.00 p.m. today. The monk who arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday (26) night is to remain in the country for four days. This is first time the monk has visited a foreign …
By N.Sathiya Moorthy At least some of the spontaneous and sporadic violence accompanying the Bangalore case verdict against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in her native state could have been avoided if the media — both national and regional — had not delayed preparing her party cadres and the rest of the population, the latter …
After the moral victory it achieved at the Uva Provincial Council election, the United National Party convened its Working Committee to appoint new office bearers to several key positions in the party including that of the Deputy Leader. Hambanthota District MP, Sajith Premadasa, who once lost the Deputy Leader position after he unsuccessfully challenged the …
by Dr. Devanesan Nesiah I was a public servant when Rajani was assassinated by an LTTE agent 25 years ago. I took private leave, travelled to Jaffna at my own expense and participated in the 31st day Commemoration. She was a leading member of the UTHR (Jaffna branch) and coauthored, with Dr.Rajan Hoole, Dr. Daya …
By C.A.Chandraprema In the past week after the Uva PC election, there has been much discussion about the results of the Badulla district. The UNP won outright in the electorates of Hali Ela, Badulla and Welimada, and the gap between the UPFA and the UNP was narrowed to virtually nothing in electorates like Uva-Paranagama (197 …
By J. Venkatesan The AIADMK chief, Ms. Jayalalithaa, who stands disqualified as an MLA forthwith because of her conviction and four-year sentence of imprisonment in the Rs. 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case, cannot contest elections for 10 years including 2016 Assembly polls, unless her conviction is also stayed besides stay of sentence. She is the …
By Krishnaprasad & Sruthisagar Yamunan The Special Court in Bangalore on Saturday convicted and sentenced Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to four years in prison and a fine of 100 crores, in the disproportionate assets case. Since the sentence in the case exceeded three years, the special court does not have jurisdiction to grant bail …
Burma’s Controversial Buddhist monk Ven Ashin Wirathu Thero arrived in Colombo on Friday September 26th night as the honoured guest of Sri Lanka’s Bodhu Bala Sena organization.Ashin Wirathu is the leader of Burma/Myanmar’s “969 Movement” that has been conductiong a vitriolic and violent campaign against the Muslim minorities in the country. Bodhu Bala Sena’s Chief …
By Latheef Farook The alliance between anti Muslim Sri Lankan racist outfit Bodu Bala Sena and Burma’s blood thirsty Buddhist Monk Ashin Wiruthu, responsible for slaughtering thousands of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, spells disaster for the island. This extremely dangerous alliance, brought together by their common hatred towards Islam and Muslims, perhaps trained and financed by …
(Text of Letter Sent by the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka to President Mahinda Rajapaksa ) September 25th 2014 His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President, Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 1. Your Excellency, As you are aware, Ven. Ashin Wirathu is the dreaded leader of the 969 Movement in Myanmar. He is also …
by Suresh Nambath & K. Venkataramanan For Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, many of her political crises have emanated from legal tangles. After having decimated the opposition in the Lok Sabha elections earlier in May, she faces her biggest challenge not from political rivals, but a Special Court in Bangalore that will deliver its judgment …
by Jayantha Samarasinghe I visited Jaffna on 20th to participate in the Dr Rajani Thiranagama Memorial events. I visited the Jaffna Medical Faculty at Tirunelvely & found that permission has been denied for the commemoration meeting. The organisers have hurriedly made arrangements at Veerasingham hall near the Police station and I rushed there. The procession …
(Text of Statement Issued by Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Secretary -General M. T. Hasen Ali M.P.) The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has been informed that extremist Buddhist groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena, have organised what they term a ‘great Sangha council’ on Sunday, the 28th of September. In the past such events, most …
(Text of media communique issued by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva) Twenty-two developing countries of the Like Minded Group (LMG) in Geneva, in a joint statement made through its Chair – Egypt, have said the Group “believes that the intrusive mandate given to the OHCHR by Res. 25/1 to …
by K. Thirukumaran Yathum ure yavarum Kelir” – All the world is my world, all humanity is my fraternity:”– Kaniyan Poongkundran-Translated by Rev Fr Xavier Thaninayagam Sakthi is the “Guardian Goddess” of Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar. He has said that Navarathri is a favorite festival of his and that he look forward to celebrate it every …
Continue reading ‘A “Global” Praise: ♫ “Guardian Goddess” and Mother Nature’ »
By Asha Sridhar Tamil will be a compulsory language for all schools in Tamil Nadu from the next academic year. A recent Government notification has brought schools in the State affiliated to all Boards under the purview of the Tamil Learning Act, 2006. This, however, does not include Central government schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas …
By Narayan Lakshman & Suhasini Haidar Even before he touched down on U.S. soil after a nine-year visa ban, a federal court in New York has issued summons against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his role in presiding over the anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat during 2002 when he was Chief Minister of the …
(Text of President Mahinda Rajapaksa address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday September 25th 2014) I congratulate Your Excellency Sam Kutesa on being elected as the President of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. We wish you success and assure you of our fullest cooperation. The theme for this Session, “Delivering …
By Saman Gunadasa Sri Lanka’s ruling United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won the Uva provincial election last Saturday, but its vote plunged sharply, indicating deepening opposition among workers and rural poor toward the government. The UPFA share of the vote fell by 21 percentage points from 72 percent in 2009 to 51 percent. As a …
By Centre for Monitoring Election Violence 25 September 2014: The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) has been informed of 9 incidents of violence after the conclusion of the Uva Provincial Council elections held on 20th September 2014. The incidents reported to CMEV include incidents where UPFA supporters were involved in making threats to and/or …
By Dharisha Bastians The UNP’s popular chief ministerial candidate Harin Fernando has vowed to become a royal pain to the ruling UPFA inside the Uva Provincial Council that was elected last weekend. Fernando told his first post-poll press conference in Colombo yesterday that between the UNP’s 13 members and the JVP’s two members, including its …
By Dharisha Bastians Never before has a winning partyparty licked its wounds so defensively. Never before has a losing side been so jubilant in defeat. The Uva provincial election will be epoch-making in more ways than one. But for bringing his party back with a fighting chance, it is young Harin Fernando who should take …
By United States Tamil Political Action Council WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2014 – The US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) welcomes the 22 September 2014 report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka. USTPAC commends the UN High Commissioner for a robust assessment of the …
Police in Sri Lanka used water canons and tear gas on Sunday to disperse a group of about 3,000 Catholics who were demanding the return of a statue that had been confiscated by police earlier in the day. The statue of St Philip Neri had been erected on government-owned property in Kalutara, across the street …
By Dharisha Bastians Gearing up for a major national election in the coming year, the main opposition United National Party made a series of fresh appointments at its crucial Working Committee meeting held at Sirikotha yesterday. The reinstatement of Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa as the party’s Deputy Leader was the highlight of the Working …
By Uditha Jayasinghe Lending more wind to the United National Party’s wings, MP Ruwan Wijewardene yesterday decided to voluntarily hand over the Chairmanship of the UNP National Youth Front to Harin Fernando, who topped the preferential voter list at the Uva polls. Wijewardene insisted it was a completely personal decision and he would offer up …
(Following is the full statement issued by UNP Leadership Council Chairman and Gampaha district MP Karu Jayasuriya) As usual, the UPFA and its maniacal supporters have resorted to celebrating their narrow win, which they achieved with greatest of difficulties and the help of some most cruel and violent means after violating every possible election law, …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Did it weaken in the battle against UNHRC? It was confusion most confounded, in government circles, on the penultimate day to the Uva Provincial Council polls. Even President Mahinda Rajapaksa looked confused as intelligence reports indicated that the UPFA would not secure a landslide victory as witnessed in the recent provincial …
By Channa Bandara Wijekoon IFFColombo 2014 international film festival concluded with a very positive note leaving Sri Lankan cinema with fresh hopes. IFFColombo offered a golden opportunity for local filmgoers to witness an array of films which induced wisdom in them and made them able to look at life in a different perspective. The film …
By Nalin de Silva All political parties that contested at the Uva Provincial Council elections have claimed victory. This includes Sarath Fonseka, who think that some forty thousand votes that they should have received had been cast to some other political party or parties due to some ‘jilmaat’. Fonseka may be a good soldier but …
By Vishwamithra 1984 “The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” ~Sun Tzu What materialized at the elections held on Saturday, September 20 was the possibility number 3 as reasoned out in my last week’s column: “the Government-backed …
By Meera Srinivasan In September 1989, Sri Lanka’s Northern Province lost one of its most prominent human rights defenders following the death of Rajani Thiranagama, who was gunned down, reportedly by the rebel Tigers. A human rights activist and feminist, Rajani is best known for her contribution to the The Broken Palmyra — a book …
Amidst a division of opinion, Sajith Premadasa is to be re-appointed Deputy Leader of the UNP today. Informed sources said that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in keeping with his pledge to give Premadasa more responsibility would be proposing Premadasa for the vacant post of Deputy Leader at today’s Working Committee(WC), meeting which would be preceded …
After 24 years, the “Yaazh Devi express train travelled from Palai to Jaffna yesterday on the recently-restored northern railway line. The express train made a test run from Pallai to the newly constructed Jaffna Railway Station on Monday prior to resuming services next month after a 24-year gap. The train left Palai at 10:30 a.m. …
By Chitra Weerarathne The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has recently filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, explaining their election manifesto during the recent provincial council polls, in the Northern Province. The affidavit says that the position of the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), of which the TNA is the main constituent, concerning a political …
By Dharisha Bastians UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake resigned from the UNP Leadership Council yesterday, heightening fears that the party was set to suffer yet another internal crisis soon after its electoral gains in the Uva Province over the weekend. Attanayake in a letter to UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he was disillusioned …
By a Special Correspondent Out of 1,428 registered Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the island, no one would find the organization – Gnanam Foundation (GF), UK, listed in there. However, it is actively operating in the island. GF is no relation to another foundation bearing the famed surname of the famed philanthropist, the late A.Y.S. …
By C. A. Chandraprema In The Sunday Island the week before last, this writer posed the question Whether Harin Fernando was going to be the UNP’s new political superstar. (Political Watch 14/9/2014) In the view of this writer, the UNP had managed to get only 25% and 26% of the vote respectively at the Southern …
By Namini Wijedasa The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has agreed to hand over four out of seven berths from the second phase of the Hambantota Port development to a Chinese joint venture that includes a company that is also getting vast tracts of prime property on the Colombo Port City artificial island. Authoritative sources said …
A large, unspecified number of other agreements were signed this week between China and Sri Lanka in addition to the 27 accords that were entered into in the presence of the Presidents of the two countries, authoritative government sources said.“There was another list of agreements that were concluded on the sidelines of the visit,” said …
A gazette notification containing tax concessions to Chinese firms building the Colombo Port City artificial island has been cancelled and a new one granting even broader terms has been issued. This includes a complete, eight-year waiver of corporate income tax for China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), which is the contractor for engineering, procurement and …
The local media corps had a rotten time covering the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Wherever they went, a posse of Chinese journalists elbowed them out of the picture. It started at the airport where local journalists were bundled onto two trucks from which they could take pictures and video footage for …
A reported change of the word “terrorists” to “militants” in a law that will allow land and property owners in the once war-ravaged north and east to reclaim ownership has triggered a controversy. Minister Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), raised issue at Thursday’s weekly ministerial meeting. He alleged that the …
By Ravi Ladduwahetty The government’s ambitious programme of launching the Northern railway line spanning 56 km from Pallai to Kankesanturai on 24 September would be heading for a major disaster with none of the key infrastructure such as railway stations and maintenance staff in place even as of now, a key railway union claimed. “This …
(Text of an Editorial Appearing in “The Island” of September 22nd 2014 Under the heading”A thundering slap”) The people of Uva have given the ruling UPFA a thundering slap plus a reduced majority to rule their province. The government has, in spite of all its polls law violations, election bribes and abuse of state resources, …
(Text of Statement Issued by the United National Party after the conclusion of elections to the Uva Provincial Council) The first salvos of a freedom struggle that eventually brought down imperialist rule in Sri Lanka were heard in the far corners of Uva-Wellassa nearly 200 years ago. Resonating that same heroic spirit, that yearning for …
BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA 1. Analysts, commentators and readers in general should check the results of the 1982 Presidential election. Despite an 8 % growth rate, the Mahaweli program, and the deprivation of Mrs B’s civic rights, the great JRJ Jayewardene won only 52+% of the vote, in what is regarded as a great victory. …
BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA THE MORNING AFTER UVA: GOVT AND OPPOSITION AT THE CROSSROADS Perhaps the fundamental thing about the Uva result is that it demonstrates that the fundamentally democratic system –most importantly the electoral mechanism and the Commission of Elections– is working, notwithstanding the incidents of coercive electioneering. The Uva election achieved certain things …
The ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has won the Uva Provincial Council elections securing the highest number of seats in the two districts during yesterday’s elections, according the results released so far. Accordingly, the UPFA had secured 19 seats including two bonus seats in the Provincial Council while the UNP secured 13 seats and …
A Message to Canadians from Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau Pack your bags,——————–, and bring your big idea for Canada ……………..because you could win a chance to pitch it to me and one of my senior advisors over breakfast in Ottawa, on October 6. But wait, there’s more. If you win, we’re not just going …
By C. A. Chandraprema The reason why Indo-Sri Lanka relations were on a particularly good footing during the Bandaranaike era between 1956-1965 and 1970-1977 is because under the Bandaranaikes Sri Lanka had a foreign and domestic policy that was identical to India’s. During that period, both India and Sri Lanka had the same friends overseas. …
by Manik de Silva The early sixties were a good time to break into journalism for a just-out-of- school teenager as I was at that time. My father spoke to Esmond Wickremesinghe and I was given a kind of `learn the ropes’ job on the then Ceylon Observer under Denzil Peiris. I didn’t expect to …
(Full Text of Prof. Carlo Fonseka’s speech Scheduled to be Delivered at the Rajani Thiranagama Commemoration Meeting in Jaffna on September 20th 2014) There is no other word to characterize her: Dr. Rajani Rajasingham Thiranagama was the NOBLEST of all my pupils. There were others who were cognitively smarter than her, but morally and ethically …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The Scottish people have decided to be stuck in the United Kingdom. They have taken the cue from David Cameron who, in the final round of hectic campaigning for the NO vote, pleaded with them that even if they don’t like the “f…ing Tories,” they don’t abandon the Union. Many a politician …
(Text of an editorial Appearing in “The Hindu”of September 20th 2014 under the heading “Not a simple ‘no’ from Scotland”) It would be prudent not to read Scotland’s ‘no’ to independence as a plain and simple ‘yes’ to continue with the status quo. The latest verdict is very unlike the ‘no’ vote in the 2011 …
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he is “delighted” that Scotland’s referendum returned a no vote to independence from the United Kingdom. “It would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end,” he said. Mr. Cameron defended the decision to go ahead with the poll, saying “it is right to …
Despite failing to win independence in the referendum he brought about, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has nevertheless emerged a winner. Even before voting began, the three main parties in Westminster had already made a last-minute promise to hand over more powers to the devolved Parliament in Edinburgh, Holyrood, if Scots rejected independence. In his …
by Chitravina N. Ravikiran The galaxy of music has lost one of its most glittering stars in the death of Mandolin U. Shrinivas. That his remarkable achievements immortalised him even as a teenager is small consolation for the tragedy of losing him at the age of 45. Every superlative offered to him seemed redundant in …
By Kumbhakarna It was a very pleasant Friday evening. The Chamber Music Society of Colombo, a symphony orchestra was playing film music opposite the World Trade Centre twin towers. Conducted by Lakshman Joseph de Saram, the internationally-known film music composer, (Machan, Bel Ami, Ira Mediyama, Akasa Kusum) the orchestra played in the open air to …
By B.Kolappan U. Shrinivas, who cast a spell on audiences with his Western instrument, the mandolin, died here on Friday. He was only 45. Mandolin Shrinivas, as he came to be known, had been ailing for a while. He reportedly was being treated for liver failure at the Apollo Hospital. He had lately received a …
By Alistair Smout and Angus MacSwan EDINBURGH (Reuters) – Scotland spurned independence in a historic referendum that threatened to rip the United Kingdom apart, sow financial turmoil and diminish Britain’s remaining global clout. A vote for the 307-year union is a relief for millions of Britons including Prime Minister David Cameron, whose job was on …
Scotland will vote to stay in the United Kingdom after rejecting independence, the BBC has predicted. With 29 out of the country’s 32 council areas having declared after Thursday’s vote, the “No” side has 55% of the vote, with the “Yes” campaign on 45%. By 06:00 BST , the “No” campaign had more than 1,737,000 …
Continue reading ‘Scotland Rejects Independence and Votes to Stay in the United Kingdom – BBC’ »
On the Spot Report by Dharisha Bastians in the Uva Province Inside the Nayabedda Estate in Bandarawela, a rosy sunset casts shadows on the large cut-out of a movie-star like politician, poised precariously on the roof of Sivalingam Thangaraj’s home. Until last month, Thangaraj’s hut had no roof and only brightly-coloured plastic sheeting mounted on …
Continue reading ‘UNP Campaign on the Upswing but Moneragala Poll may help UPFA in Uva Province’ »
The birth of the Bodu Bala Sena, an extremist Singhalese Buddhist nationalist organisation in Colombo in 2012 was a significant event. The organisation was formed to enforce Buddhist supremacy in Sri Lanka, mainly targeting Christians and Muslims in the country. The formation of this organisation was a turning point for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, which had …
By C.A.Chandraprema As far as provincial elections go, the UNP seems to be doing much better in Uva than at any previous election since 2005. Due to the much spoken of violence in the Moneragala district, the impression has been conveyed to the rest of the country that the government is facing an uphill struggle …
By P.K.Balachandran A passion for Hindi film music and the Hindi language is commonplace in Sri Lanka. But Jaffna, the stronghold of Tamil nationalism, has been an exception to this rule. The Tamil-speaking North is one place in the island nation, where Hindi films are not shown, Hindi soaps are not watched, and Hindi songs …
Pope Francis’ approval of the votes of the Ordinary Session of the Cardinals and Bishops in favor of canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz attains special significance in the wake of the forthcoming visit of the Holy Father to Sri. Lanka in January 2015. Bl. Vaz was born in Goa, India, in 1651. As a priest …
by Kamaya Jayatissa “When I’m gone, release me. Let me go. I have so many things to see and do.” – Excerpt from ‘Butterfly’ Even today too little is been said about them. Yet, they lived as fighters and died as children in a war they knew nothing about, in a war they had nothing …
By Severin Carrell Alex Salmond urged tens of thousands of yes activists to “get to it” by seizing the extraordinary chance for a “new dawn for Scotland”, as the final batch of polls before the vote confirmed the referendum hung on a knife-edge. To chants of “yes we can”, the first minister urged more than …
As the yes and no campaigns make their final push in the battle for Scotland’s future, minds are turning to polling day. What happens after polling stations close on Thursday? And when will the final result be known? Polling stations in Scotland will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 18 September for the …
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by Paolo Affatato “Don’t force political issues on the Pope, don’t use his visit to Sri Lanka for political ends”: the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, sent out a clear appeal to the Sri Lankan government and the opposition. Francis’ visit to the country (13-15 January 2015) comes right before the presidential elections. Given …
Pope Francis has approved Blessed Joseph Vaz (1651-1711) as Sri Lanka’s first saint, reports from the Vatican said yesterday. Reports said that the Pope had bent Vatican rules to bypass confirmation of a miracle in order to approve Blessed Joseph Vaz as a saint. Francis will now canonise Joseph Vaz, a 17th century missionary, during …
Theme for the Pope’s visit to Sri Lanka was launched at the press conference held today (12th September, 2014) at the Archbishop’s House Auditorium by Rev. Fr, Cyril Gamini, Director, Media Secretariat for the Pope’s visit to Sri Lanka. “Abide in Love”, the theme of Pope Francis’ visit to Sri Lanka has its roots in …
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By Chris Marsden and Robert Stevens The Scottish referendum vote on independence is a historic turning point for Britain and the whole of Europe. With the result of the September 18 ballot too close to call, a recent poll for the first time showing the Yes camp holding a majority triggered a crisis in ruling …
Compiled by KATRIN BENNHOLD with Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura contributing reporting from London and Bernadette Murphy contributing research from Paris. Scotland has been England’s junior partner in the United Kingdom since 1707. But three centuries is no time at all in the view of many Scots, who regularly re-enact 14th century sword battles they had with …
By Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (Text of Speech deliverd by Secretary Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the workshop on Urban Resilience organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme at the Waters Edge Hotel in Battaramulla on 16th September 2014) It gives me great pleasure to address you all this morning at this workshop on Urban Resilience organised …
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran is not cooperating on development work carried out by the Government, and this is affecting the ordinary people in the North. Speaking at a UN Habitat program today, Rajapaksa said that political differences between Municipalities and …