(Text of a Media Advisory Issued in San Francisco by the Center for Justice and Accountability on March 2nd 2020) San Francisco, March 2, 2020: Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Ahimsa Wickrematunge’s request to vacate the lower court’s ruling that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is entitled to common law foreign official immunity for …

Continue reading ‘Slain Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Daughter Ahimsa’s Request to vacate the lower court’s ruling that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is entitled to common law foreign official immunity for acts committed while he was Secretary of Defense of Sri Lanka Granted by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals: Decision clears the way for future litigation against Rajapaksa once he no longer enjoys immunity as a head of state.’ »

Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has said that the decision to co-sponsor Geneva Resolution 30/1 was taken by the yahapalana government under the leadership of then President Maithripala Sirisena. Samaraweera, in a statement issued on withdrawal from Resolution 30/1 and subsequent resolutions extending its mandate in the UN Human Rights Council, has said: “At a …

Continue reading ‘“Backtracking on the resolution sends a very clear message to the people of our country and the world that Sri Lanka does not care for reconciliation, accountability or even democracy” Says Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera MP’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has said at least one thing that rings true in the minds of most Sri Lankan people. It is the lack of belief in the appointment of another Commission of Inquiry by the Government. Her concern was about addressing impunity for past violations …

Continue reading ‘Three hearty cheers Sri Lanka – for withdrawing from co-sponsorship of a resolution that will remain with no change in the agenda of the UNHRC!’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardena There is a dreadfully fractured logic in what the Government of Sri Lanka articulated before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as it withdrew from UNHRC Resolution 30/1 this week. This is playing to the nationalist gallery with an eye to the impending General Elections. It has disastrous consequences for …

Continue reading ‘Articulation of Dreadfully Fractured Logic by Govt at UNHRC While Announcing Withdrawal From Resolution 30/1 Has Disastrous Consequences for the Country’ »

Ahimsa Wickrematunge, daughter of slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, has lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) alleging that CID Director Senior Superintendent of Police W. Thilakaratne and other officers in the Department are colluding with the intent to confer a wrongful and unlawful benefit, favour, or advantage on …

Continue reading ‘Slain Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Daughter Ahimsa Complains to CIABOC About CID Director SSP Thilakaratne Allegedly Colluding with CID Officials to Help Ex- Envoy to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga EXtricate Himself From Charges Regarding the MIG Aircraft Deal’ »

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has assured Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that the existing reconciliation mechanisms established by an Act of Parliament such as the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and the Office of Reparations (OR) would be continued, with appropriate adaptation in line with the Government policy framework. With regard to …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Assures UNHRC in Geneva That Govt Will Continue With Appropriate Adaptation the Existing Reconciliation Mechanisms Like Office of Missing Persons and Office of Reparation’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The Government has decided not sign the $ 480 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement, taking into consideration the recommendations of a four-member Committee that studied it and found some of its features threaten national security and social and economic welfare of Sri Lanka, Cabinet spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday. The …

Continue reading ‘Govt Will Not Sign Agreement With US in its Present Form but is Ready to Negotiate Further Says Bandula Gunawardena; When Asked About SOFA and ACSA, Cabinet Spokesman Says Govt Wont Overturn Signed Agreements’ »

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet yesterday expressed regret over Sri Lankan Government announcing a very different approach to the commitments previously made in UNHRC resolutions, and warned that this “risks setting back efforts to advance reconciliation, accountability and human rights.” In her oral updates to the 43rd session of the UNHRC, …

Continue reading ‘United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expresses regret over Sri Lankan Government announcing Withdrawal from Co-sponsorship of UNHRC Resolutions and warns that this “risks setting back efforts to advance reconciliation, accountability and human rights.”’ »

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, yesterday told the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council that she didn’t believe that appointment of yet another Commission of Inquiry by the Sri Lankan government would address impunity for past violations. On Wednesday Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena said that the government would …

Continue reading ‘“Domestic processes have consistently failed to deliver accountability in the past and I am not convinced the appointment of yet another Commission of Inquiry will advance this agenda” Says UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michele Bachelet at UNHRC in Geneva’ »

By Namini Wijedasa In his open-necked purple shirt, Nishantha Wickremesinghe is chuffed to be seen with his arm around a long-time friend. Businessman Nimal Perera is feting his sixtieth birthday at the Colombo Hilton and the former SriLankan Airlines Chairman is a guest. The party was just weeks ago. On Wednesday, the Fort Magistrate banned …

Continue reading ‘Dirty Money Trail Connected to Airbus Bribe Scandal Reveals Culpability of Sri Lankan Airlines Directors and Links to Key Persons in the Nimal Perera Network’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday refused bail and re-remanded Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga until 11 March, after Police filed a certificate in Court confirming the offence committed by the latter is of a value of more than Rs. 25,000. Counsel for Weeratunga sought bail for him on …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake Refuses Bail and Re-remands Sri Lanka’s Former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga Until 11 March, After Police Filed Certificate Confirming Offence Committed was Valued More than Rs. 25,000.’ »

Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday formally announced Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 30/1 and others adopted after 2015, but assured members the Government is committed to “comprehensive reconciliation”, delivered through a domestic mechanism. Delivering his address to the UNHRC in Geneva, the Minister emphasised that the decision …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Formally Announces Sri Lanka’s Withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 and others adopted after 2015 but Assures UNHRC of Govt Commitment to “comprehensive Reconciliation” Delivered Through a Domestic Mechanism.’ »

Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday’, while informing the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva that Sri Lanka was withdrawing from co-sponsorship of UNHRC Resolutions pertaining to the country, explained that the commitments made by the previous government had contributed to the lapses that resulted in the Easter Sunday attacks in …

Continue reading ‘Dinesh Gunawardena Informs UNHRC That Govt is Withdrawing From Co-sponsorship of Resolution 30/1:Foreign Relations Minister Says Commitments Made to UNHRC Has Weakened National Security in Country and May Have Resulted in the Easter Sunday Attacks in April 2019’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The Geneva 2015 resolution is a hidden tripwire linked to a maze of claymore mines, some buried, some planted in ditches, others nested in trees. When this article appears, Sri Lanka may have nudged that tripwire. There was another, smarter, safer way. The Geneva 2015 resolution was explicitly based on and legitimised …

Continue reading ‘By Unilaterally Withdrawing from the Treacherous Co-sponsorship of the Ghastly Geneva 2015 Resolution, is Sri Lanka Extricating Itself from a Quagmire or Sinking Deeper into a Larger One?’ »

By Chandani Kirinde All eyes will be on Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as he addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council today(Feb 26), in a statement expected to announce Sri Lanka’s decision to withdraw from Resolution 30/1 and others presented after 2015, as well as outline the path ahead on engagement with the UN …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to Announce Sri Lankan Govt withdrawal from Resolutions Passed by UN Human Rights Council in his Address to UNHRC on Wednesday; Will Brief UN Human Rights Commissioner Michele Bachelet on Friday About Govts Future Course of Action’ »

By Jamila Husain Former Army Commander and now Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Daya Ratnayake has criticized the former government for failing to protect the image of the Sri Lanka military in the international arena within the past 5 years which led to Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and his family from being banned to enter …

Continue reading ‘Former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake Commends Govt for Protecting the Image of the Sri Lankan Army in the International Arena by Taking a Very Strong Stand Face to Face With the US Govt Over the Army Commander Shavendra Silva Matter’ »

Amnesty International yesterday wrote to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, requesting that he and the Government take concrete steps to create a safe and enabling environment for journalists and other media workers. The letter, which is also signed by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, calls on the Government to create and environment where …

Continue reading ‘Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters sans Frontiers Send Joint Letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Urging Sri Lankan Govt to Create Safe and Enabling Environment For Journalists and workers in Media’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Successful regional integration — both economic and security — depends on the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) becoming fully functional at the highest levels, Sri Lanka’s former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Emphasising the need for countries in the region to link up both strategically and economically, Mr. Wickremesinghe said …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Proposes an ‘Economic Integration Road Map” Conceptualising a “sub-region” Consisting of the five South Indian states and Sri Lanka to Tap the Total Population of 300 Million People and a Combined GDP of Over $500 Billion.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde UNP MP Eran Wickramaratne has accused the Government of engaging in a witch hunt against professionals – including lawyers, journalists and Police officers – and expressed fears that judicial officials standing up for what is right could be next in line. Speaking during the debate on the Airbus bribery scandal in Parliament …

Continue reading ‘Eran Wickramaratne MP Lambastes Govt Over CID Witchhunt Against Ex-CID Director Shani Abeysekara, “New York Times” Journalist Dharisha Bastians and Former Lake House Chairman Krishantha Cooray By Trying to Implicate Them Falsely in Swiss Employee Fictitious Abduction Case’ »

By Amanda Hodge Three months after Sri Lanka’s feared former security minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa won a shock presidential victory, rights groups say security forces and intelligen­ce agencies have intensified surveillance and intimid­ation of activists and families of victims of his former regime. New York-based Human Rights Watch has called on the new government to end …

Continue reading ‘Heightened Information Gathering and Intimidation by Intelligence Agencies Has Chilling Effect on Sri Lankan Human Rights Activists and Organizations:Fears Grow About What May Happen After Parliamentary Elections’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Sri Lanka has requested a meeting with the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet as the country begins to work towards the closure of a contentious UNHRC Resolution on Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka at the 43rd Session of the Council in Geneva later this week. Official …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Seeks Appointment With UN HUman Rights Commissioner Michele Bachelet in Geneva But No Date Finalised Yet: Dinesh Will Address UNHRC on Wednesday and Announce Govt Withdrawal from Contentious Resolution Co-sponsoring Process’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene When Sri Lanka’s President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa reportedly articulates that, ‘unnecessary judicial interventions are harmful to democracy’ (The Island, February 21st, 2020), one is intrigued. A praxis of bizarre happenings Pray, what would a Presidential definition of ‘unnecessary’ be, it might be ‘necessary’ to ask? That question becomes pertinent in the context …

Continue reading ‘Remnants of the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka can be saved only by individual citizens standing up to what is right and correct in their own way’ »

By E.Weerapperuma Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has displayed his immaturity by blocking the Government’s efforts to obtain loans to settle the soaring debts and his action will cause immense hardships for the masses in the months to come, Information and Media, Higher Education , Technology and Innovation Minister Bandula Gunawardene told a media conference at …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardene Blames Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa’s “immaturity” for Blocking Govt Move to Pass Vote on Account for 367 Billion Rupees; Says If Ranil was Opposition Leader He Would Have Supported VOA to Provide Relief to People’ »

Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardena is scheduled to meet the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to convey Sri Lanka’s decision to withdraw from the co-sponsorship of Resolution 40/1 of March 2019 since it violated the country’s constitution and served only to appease extremist sections and vested interests, the Minister’s Media office stated. The …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Will Lead Lankan Delegation to UN in Geneva and Inform UN Human Rights Council at High Segment Meeting of Govt Decision to Withdraw from Co-sponsorship of Resolutions Pertaining to Sri Lanka That were Passed by UNHRC: Minister Scheduled to Meet UN Human Rights Commissioner Michele Bachelet Prior to Council Session’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The core of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s foreign policy is standing up for Sri Lanka’s sovereign rights. But his cast-iron nationalism is not mindlessly jingoistic or confrontational, disregarding geo-political and economic realities. Gotabaya’s first international move was to reach out to India, which had been unhappy with elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Presidency between 2010 …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Govt is Bracing Itself to Lock Horns with the US and Europe Hoping to get Help from China, Russia and India too but its Strength Would Ultimately Come from its Electoral Base, the Majority Community in Sri Lanka.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardena must have been diplomatically polite when he conveyed the Sri Lanka Government’s displeasure and objections with regard to the travel ban to the United States imposed on the Sri Lanka Army Commander and his family, when he met with the US Ambassador Aliana Teplitz earlier this week. …

Continue reading ‘President Donald Trump intervened in three war crime cases in the US Last Year and Granted full pardons to two Army officers and Restored the rank of a Navy SEAL.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The Government yesterday abandoned a move in Parliament to amend the Vote on Account (VOA) to obtain an additional sum of Rs. 367 billion for Government expenses, as well as increase the limit of borrowing, after the UNP-led opposition refused to support the move. Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told …

Continue reading ‘Govt Abandons Move in Parliament to Amend the Vote on Account (VOA) to Obtain an additional sum of Rs. 367 billion for Govt Expenses as well as Increase the Limit of Borrowing After UNP-led Opposition Refused to Support the Move.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The escalating clash of words (hopefully, not arms) between the Attorney General (AG) and the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the failure to ‘immediately’ file charges against an interdicted High Court judge on the basis of allegedly attempting to fabricate evidence as revealed in leaked phone conversations with a …

Continue reading ‘The Objective and Efforts of the Anti – 19 A Propagandist Lobby to Abolish the 19th Constitutional Amendment Must not Succeed, for the Good of this Long-suffering Land’ »

By Dr. H. M. Gunatilake, Former Director, Asian Development Bank The telephone recordings of Mr. Ramanayake, a Member of Parliament, which revealed deeply entrenched corruption across Sri Lankan society overwhelmingly shattered the confidence about the entire governance system in the country. It also highlighted the utmost importance of reinvigorating dialogue on corruption and empowering people …

Continue reading ‘Democracy and Corruption in Sri Lanka: A Realistic Perspective’ »

By Akitha Perera Pandemonium reigned at the UNP Working Committee Meeting, yesterday, at Sirikotha. Some MPs manhandled others over their disagreements on the symbol to be used by the UNP-led alliance. Following a heated argument UNP senior MP Ravindra Samaraweera, who argued in favour of the Swan symbol, tried to hit his fellow MPs who …

Continue reading ‘UNP Parliamentarian Ravindra Samaraweera Tries to Assault Fellow UNP Working Committee Members who Wanted the UNP -led Alliance to Contest Elections Under the Elephant Symbol But Is Restrained by Others at WC Meeting’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The ‘diplomatic drone strike’, the dramatic US strictures against the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, tells us that Big Brother IS watching. This isn’t the usual suspects, its way out of their league. This is the Big League, the big boys and girls. I have five main takeaways. Firstly, the document …

Continue reading ‘Designation of Army Commander Lt.Gen Shavendra Silva by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Indicates that Contrary to hardline Sinhala ideological identification with President Trump, the US has sent an unambiguous signal that it will move on accountability’ »

(Text of Statement Issued by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on 19 February 2020) The United States of America has prohibited the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva or members of his family from entering that country. Even though we are now in the 21st Century, even members of his family who …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Announces Govt Decision to Withdraw from Co – Sponsorship Process of 30/1 Resolution at United Nations Human Rights Council’ »

(Text if Press Release Issued by the Presidents Media Division) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed all Provincial Councils and Local Authorities to suspend the imposition of any extra levy or raising any existing rates or taxes. Furthermore, these bodies have been requested to review the entire local authority rate and fees structure to simplify it …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed all Provincial Councils and Local Authorities to suspend the imposition of extra levy or Raising the Levels of existing rates or taxes.’ »

The government has decided to immediately withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions 30/1 and 40/1 co-sponsored by the Yahapalanaya Government in 2015 and 2019. A special meeting in this regard had been held last morning at the Presidential Secretariat and attended by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, several senior ministers of the …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Govt Decides to Withdraw “Unilaterally” from UN Human Rights Council Resolutions 30/1 and 40/1 Co-sponsored by Maithripala Govt in 2015 and 2019;Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena wil Inform UNHRC in Geneva Next Week.’ »

By Shehan Chamika Silva Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday reprimanded some of the CID officers while emphasising that the manner in which they acted when Udayanga Weeratunga was arrested and produced in Court in connection with the alleged MIG-27 deal was unusual and questionable because they had failed to follow the procedure laid down …

Continue reading ‘CID Officers Probing Rajapaksa Family Member Udayanga Weeratunga Transferred Out and Fresh Officers Appointed; Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake Reprimands “New” CID for Acting in Questionable Manner in Failing to Follow Correct Procedures and Refuses to Release Ex-Russian Envoy on Bail’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s former President Maithripala Sirisena, who defected from the Mahinda Rajapaksa government to the rival political camp before being elected to office in 2015, has re-joined his former colleague and current Prime Minister Mr. Rajapaksa. Mr. Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on Monday formed an alliance with the Sri Lanka …

Continue reading ‘Ex-president Maithripala Sirisena Who Defected, Contested and Defeated Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2015 Presidential Elections Returns to the Rajapaksa Camp Ahead of 2020 Parliamentary Elections’ »

By Nuwan Senarathne The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ironed out their differences yesterday and forwarded an application to the Election Commission to register a new alliance under the Flower Bud symbol to contest the upcoming parliamentary election. The nine-party alliance to be called the ‘Sri Lanka Nidahas …

Continue reading ‘Nine Party Alliance Named Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya(SLNPS) Formed With Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader and Maithripala Sirisena as Chairman.Basil Rajapaksa – General-Secretary and Dinesh Gunawardena Deputy Leader.Wimal Weerawansa and Dayasiri Jayasekara – National Organizers’ »

By Akitha Perera UNP MP S.M.Marikkar yesterday said, no Sri Lankan should apply for US visa until the US government revoked its decision to prevent the Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and his family members from visiting that country.

An application was filed at the Elections Commission to register a party named Patriotic United National Party (PUNP) yesterday under the ‘heart’ symbol. PUNP comprises a breakaway faction of the UNP that pledged support to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the 2019 presidential election. The application was filed by Sugath Hewapathirana.

(Text of Media Release Issued by Human Rights Watch) Sri Lankan security forces and intelligence agencies have intensified surveillance and threats against families of victims of enforced disappearance and activists supporting them since Gotabaya Rajapaksa became president in November 2019, Human Rights Watch said today. The Sri Lankan government should fulfill its commitments to the …

Continue reading ‘“Sri Lankan security forces and intelligence agencies have intensified surveillance and threats against families of victims of enforced disappearance and activists supporting them since Gotabaya Rajapaksa became president” States Human Rights Watch’ »

By K. Ratnayake Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse ended a four-day trip to India on Tuesday. It was the third visit to New Delhi by leading figures of the Colombo government in the three months since the election of President Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Three days after Gotabhaya Rajapakse won the election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi …

Continue reading ‘The US and India have made it clear to President Gotabhaya Rajapakse’s government that it must toe the US and India’s anti-China line.’ »

By The Sunday Morning News Desk Following the recent arrest of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, after investigations revealed their alleged involvement in the corrupt deal with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, fresh details of the financial trail as well as the complex banking and corporate …

Continue reading ‘Investigation Led by Former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera had Unearhed Vital Evidence About Shady Transaction with Airbus by Sri Lankan Airlines Ex-CEO Chandrasena Last Year but File was Lying Idle at A-G Dept For Months Without Attorney -General Taking Any Action’ »

The Government yesterday conveyed Sri Lanka’s strong objections on the imposition of travel restrictions on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva and members of his immediate family and requested the US Government to review its decision. Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena summoned and conveyed to US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina Teplitz Sri Lanka’s strong …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Urges the US to Review the Travel Sanction Imposed on Lt.Gen Shavendra Silva and Family Members to Visit the US and Re-iterates that there are no Subtantiated or Proven Charges of Human Rights Violations Against Army Commander’ »

By Charumini de Silva Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana says no final decision has been made yet on the three proposals submitted by the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs). Accordingly the three models proposed by the RPCs include outgrower, productivity-based incentives and revenue sharing model. “We are still in the process of …

Continue reading ‘Implementation of President Gotabaya’s Directive to Make Payment of Rs 1000 as Daily Minimum Wage for Estate Workers From March 1st Gets “Delayed”as Regional Plantation Companies Submit Three Alternative Models For Govt Consideration.’ »

By M. Thevarajah On January 14, President Gotabhaya Rajapakse’s office issued a media release declaring that the president wanted the minimum daily wage of tea plantation workers increased to 1,000 rupees ($US5.50), starting on March 1. The announcement was immediately hailed by Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Arumugam Thondaman, a cabinet minister in the new …

Continue reading ‘Claims by Sri Lankan plantation companies that they are running at a loss are false. Many companies gain windfall profits because they also operate as tea auctioneers and exporting businesses.While plantation workers are paid a pittance, senior tea industry directors receive massive salaries.’ »

By The “Sunday Times” Diplomatic Editor United States Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz has been summoned to the Foreign Relations Ministry today to be told of the government’s displeasure over the travel ban on Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Shavendra de Silva, considered a ‘war hero’ in Sri Lanka, and his family. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who …

Continue reading ‘US Ambassador Alaina Teplitz Summoned by Sri Lankan Foreign Relations Ministry For Sunday Meeting To Be Told by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena of Govt Displeasure Over Travel Ban Imposed on Army Commandder Lt.Gen Shavendra Silva and Family’ »

By Maria Abi-Habib and Dharisha Bastians The United States has imposed an entry bar on Sri Lanka’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, citing his alleged involvement in war crimes during the final stages of the country’s civil war. The travel restriction on the general is the first significant international penalty to be imposed on …

Continue reading ‘US Travel Restriction on Gen.Shavendra Silva is the First Significant International Penalty to be Imposed on a Sri Lankan Official over Atrocities Committed During the Country’s 26-year Civil War with the Tamil Tigers.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake With the Ranil vs Sajith debate dragging on we are now moving to a battle on symbols. Ranil is not ready to give the elephant symbol to the new Sajith-led alliance. So we are moving to the heart of the matter. Sajith has picked on the heart symbol, and the polls commission …

Continue reading ‘“Is Sajith Premadasa taking us all to another phase of dirty and crooked politics and governance, which has nothing to do with the heartbeat of expectation of the people?’ »

By Julian Borger in Washington The US has imposed sanctions on Sri Lanka’s chief of army staff, Lt Gen Shavendra Silva, for war crimes committed at final stages of the conflict against the Tamil Tigers in 2009, when up to 70,000 Tamil civilians were killed. The US travel ban against Silva and his family marks …

Continue reading ‘US State Dept Imposes Sanctions on Sri Lanka’s Army Commander; Lt -Gen Shavendra Silva and Immediate Family Members Prohibited From Entering the USA’ »

(Text of Press Statement Issued by US Secretary of State Michael R.Pompeo on February 14th 2020) The Department of State has designated Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Acting Chief of Defense Staff, as required under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations …

Continue reading ‘Public Designation, Due to Gross Violations of Human Rights, of Shavendra Silva of Sri Lanka Under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act’ »

The Government last night took strong objection against the imposition of travel restrictions by the US against Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva and his family to the United States. Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the US Department of State has designated Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Acting …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Objects Strongly to Sanctions Imposed by the US State Dept on Army Chief Shavendra Silva and Family Members Prohibiting Entry to the USA; Urges US to Verify Authenticity of Its Information Sources and Review Decision’ »

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne yesterday said external timelines would only hinder the reconciliation process as they function independent of ground realities. “Timelines evolved externally in achieving stated objectives would only seek to hinder the process of reconciliation since they would be bereft of ground realities,” emphasised Sri Lanka’s …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Kshenuka Senewiratne Says Externally Imposed Timelines Would Hinder Reconciliatin at a One Day Debate in the UN Security Council’ »

By Dr. Prasanna Cooray MSH Mohamed is an iconic figure in cancer philanthropy in Sri Lanka. He, together with his Fight Cancer Team, toiled with great determination and dedication to fulfill the sole ambition of his late son, Humaid, who succumbed to cancer three years ago. His last wish was to equip the Apeksha Cancer …

Continue reading ‘Anti -Muslim Racism Spearheaded by Maharagama Cancer Hospital Director Undermines the Fight Against the Cancer Menace in Sri Lanka’ »

By Kshama Ranawana Could Restorative Justice be the key to healing a deeply wounded society such as ours? That was the discussion that took place on Monday, February 3rd, at the BMICH, where Barry Hart, Professor of Psycho-Social Trauma, Identity, Dignity and Peacebuilding, of the Eastern Mennonite University, USA and Initiatives of Change (IoC) Global, …

Continue reading ‘Restorative Justice Working Along Lines of Forgiveness and Empathy and Concentrating on the Victims just as much as on the Perpetrators’ will Stand a Better Chance of Healing the Sri Lankan nation.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Unarguably, Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) is the most universally respected Asian statesman of our time. He is esteemed from Washington to Havana, from Moscow to Beijing; from East to West and North to South, both for the quality of his mind and his conspicuous practical success as a transformational leader. LKY is …

Continue reading ‘For Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew the Problem of Sri Lanka was the Perspective and Project of “Sinhalese Supremacy Over the Tamils” and the unwillingness or inability of Sinhala leaders to Transcend it’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene One of the stranger if not outlandish manifestations of the upending of Sri Lanka’s legal order is the ongoing tussle between the Attorney General and the Presidential Commission inquiring into alleged incidents of political victimisation of public servants during the previous Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government. A truly extraordinary directive The source of this …

Continue reading ‘If the Attorney General was Weak and Had Obeyed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry ‘directive’ not to Prosecute Karannagoda and Dassanayake in the Abduction and Murder by Navy Case, a Parody of Justice Would have Occurred’ »

The Election Commission (EC) has recognised Sajith Premadasa as the new leader of Our National Front (ONF) or Ape Jathika Peramuna and MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara as its General Secretary, as well as a change in the party’s name to Samagi Jana Balawegaya or United National Power (UNP), with the new acronym widening divisions within …

Continue reading ‘Sajith Premadasa’s New Party “Sammagi Jana Balawegaya” Translated in English as “United National Power”(UNP) will Have the Same Acronym as “United National Party”(UNP);Objection Sent to Election Commission by UNP Legal Secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara.’ »

By Akitha Perera and Chaminda Silva The Election Commission (EC) has approved a request from those supporting Sajith Premadasa to rename ‘Ape Jathika Peramuna’ as ‘Samagi Jana Balavegaya,’ and make MP Ranjith Maddumabandara its General Secretary. The Premadasa faction wants to contest the upcoming general election from ‘Samagi Jana Balavegaya.’ Commissioner General of Elections Commission, …

Continue reading ‘“Ape Jathika Peramuna” Renamed as “Samagi Jana Balavegaya” and Recognized by Elections Commission as a Political Party with Sajith Premadasa as Chairman and Ranjith Madduma Bandara as General Secretary;Moves on to Have the “Heart” as Party Symbol.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The UNP Working Committee yesterday unanimously approved the name of MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara as the General Secretary of the new UNP-led alliance to be formed to contest the upcoming General Elections, but differences over the symbol under which the polls will be contested led to several members walking out of the …

Continue reading ‘Majority of UNP Working Committee Members Want Proposed UNP -led Alliance to Contest Under Elephant Symbol But Sajith Premadasa Refuses and Walks out of WC Meeting with Some of his Loyalists’ »

By Arjuna Ranawana Premadasa is likely to contest the forthcoming election leading a new alliance called the Jathika Samagi Balavegaya (National Unity Force), officials at the Opposition Leader’s office said.

By Ben Travers Bong Joon Ho saved the Oscars. His smile. His crazy hair. The way he walks, and, yes, the way he talks, but especially the way he directs — all of these (literally) winning attributes not only contributed to a history-making 92nd Academy Awards ceremony, but kept it from ranking among the worst …

Continue reading ‘South Korean Film Maker Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” Makes History by Becoming the First Non – English Language Film to Win Prestigious Best Picture Award at Oscars: Also Gets Oscars in Best director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film Categories.’ »

(Excerpted From the “Sunday Times” Political Column) The news came many months after a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the procurement of Airbus A-350 aircraft by SriLankan Airlines and its findings remained in limbo. All of a sudden, the Attorney General’s Department directed the Police this week to obtain a warrant from the Magistrate’s …

Continue reading ‘How much was Actually paid to Terminate Deal to Purchase and Lease Airbus Aircraft by Sri Lankan Airlines? Huge Discrepany in Amounts Shown in Sri Lankan Airlines Board Documents and Memorandum to Cabinet.’ »

Police Special Task Force (STF) yesterday arrested 21 people, including a Colonel and two soldiers, who were excavating a land in Dharmapuram, Kilinochchi in search of gold buried by the LTTE. The Colonel and the two soldiers were providing security to those carrying out the excavation. All three were in army uniform and are members …

Continue reading ‘Group of 21 Persons Including a Colonel and Two Soldiers From Vijayaba Regiment and Two Retired Soldiers Arrested by Police Special Task Force in Kilinochchi While Excavating for Gold Buried by the LTTE’ »

By Imesh Ranasinghe The main opposition United National Party (UNP) challenged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today to present the audit reports of the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ fund to parliament.

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Instructions have been issued by the President’s Office to all permanent ministry secretaries including the Prime Minister’s Secretary, not to accept or entertain any form of communications from the private staff or any other officer of the Prime Minister’s Office, ministry, or state ministry. Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera had …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Secretary Dr.PB Jayasundara Issues Directive Forbidding the Private Staffers of Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers ordering, requesting, or issuing instructions related to any development project or any other government work through letters or telephone calls’ »

By Padma Rao Sundarji Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is on his first visit to India since taking office. He spoke to Padma Rao Sundarji about Sri Lanka’s ship with Pakistan, which India accuses of being involved in cross-border terrorism; proposed changes to Tamil provincial councils instead of giving them greater autonomy under the …

Continue reading ‘“China helped us for the sake of development, that is all. Our war had shattered our country, we needed help to develop; they were ready, so why not? We took their money and developed that area.”- Sri Lankan Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa in Interview with “Hindustan Times”.’ »

In his media statement after talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa here on Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is “confident that the Sri Lankan government will realize the expectations of equality, justice, peace and respect of the Tamil people within a united Sri Lanka.” But the Lankan Prime Minister …

Continue reading ‘Indian Premier Narendra Modi Emphasises Need for Reconciliation with the Tamil People in a United Sri Lanka in his Media Statement After Meeting Mahinda Rajapaksa But Sri Lankan Prime Minister Omits Any Reference to the Issue in Media Release’ »

By Suhasini Haidar Sri Lanka wants India to allow debt repayments by Colombo to be deferred for three years, visiting Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said in order to help the country deal with its massive debt burden. The issue was at the top of the agenda when Mr. Rajapaksa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in …

Continue reading ‘“I am confident that the Government of Sri Lanka will realise the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within a united Sri Lanka. For this, it will be necessary to carry forward the process of reconciliation with the implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka,” – Indian PM Narendra Modi’ »

By Suhasini Haidar On his first visit after being sworn in as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Mr. Mahinda told The Hindu about his hopes for debt-restructuring, and also about projects now on the anvil, although his government will not carry forward the projects agreed to …

Continue reading ‘“The Tamil National Alliance is not interested in talks. They are asking for things, which the majority community in Sri Lanka will not accept.”- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Interview with “The Hindu”’ »

A Sri Lanka court has remanded the ex-Chief Executive Kapila Chandrasena and his wife over a suspected money laundering offence related linked a purchase of a fleet of Airbus aircraft from 2013, who surrendered to police. Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanyake had remanded Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake till February 19, after they …

Continue reading ‘Funds From Singapore Standard Chartered Bank Account in the name of Kapila Chandrasena’s Wife Priyanka Wijenayake Remitted to Several Bank Accounts in Sri Lanka;CID Seeks Time From Court to Record Statements From Holders of Bank Accounts Which Allegedly Received Cash’ »

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana Though I no longer support the UNP, because of its recent unpatriotic stance, I still do not, even in the wildest of dreams, wish for its demise. Unfortunately, this exactly seems to be what the leader and his deputy seem attempting to do. Are they so dumb that they do not …

Continue reading ‘The Elephantine Error of Saith Premadasa was not Allowing Ranil to Contest Presidential Elections as Defeat Would have been a Certainty and it Would not have been Difficult to Dislodge Wickremesinghe After yet Another Defeat.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake While the publicity blitz on coronavirus seems to be settling down, there is now a political and corruption blitz catching on. It is the ‘Voharika Viganana Prahaaraya’ of Forensic Audit Blitz (FAB). As the debate on the FAB gets louder the spread of corruption across the political divide in the country gets …

Continue reading ‘Forensic Audits of Central Bank Treasury Bond Scams Indicate that the Employees Provident Fund and Employees Trust Fund Savings of Hard Working People Have Been Robbed by Both the Cabral-Perpetual and Mahendran-Perpetual “Exercises”’ »

by Dr Nirmala Chandrahasan In a recent article in The Island captioned “Alleged war crimes lame excuse to introduce new Constitution”, the writer puts forward the view that the process initiated by the previous UNF government to draft a new Constitution, with the Parliament constituting itself into a Constitutional Assembly in 2016, was as a …

Continue reading ‘Efforts to Usher in a New Constitution or Engage in Constitution Reform Have Been Going On in Sri Lanka for Several Decades Whereas the UNHRC Resolution was Passed only in October 2015’ »

By Ifham Nizam Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) Spokesman Sajeewa Chamikara says the government has caused grave environmental degradation by allowing racketeers to extract granite, soil and sand with hardly any control Some government ministers had also advised officials to turn a blind eye to environmental destruction caused by ‘development projects’, he alleged.

By Himal Kotelawala Martin Luther King Jr is often cited as a shining example of civility, of benign agitation. His was the kind of allegedly meek, half-hearted protestation the liberal intelligentsia of the West nostalgically point to when confronted with today’s youthful, unabashedly disruptive activism. The world’s collective memory of King Jr has been shaped …

Continue reading ‘“Designating a Particular Areas for Agitation is a Way of Sanitising Protest That Makes it less Effective and to Let Protests take place Outside of the Power Structures that Exist in Society” -Dr.Harini Amarasuriya’ »

By Aditi Khanna London, Feb 6 (PTI) British mercenary pilots helped Indian troops in their battle against the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in Sri Lanka in the 1980s, a new book reveals for the first time. The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) received air support from these for-hire British pilots despite Indian …

Continue reading ‘While Criticising British Mercenary Presence in Sri Lanka Overtly India Used British Mercenary Pilots Covertly to Help The Indian Army Fight the LTTE in Sri Lanka in 1987 Reveals New Book “”Keenie Meenie: The British Mercenaries Who Got Away With War Crimes”’ »

By A.J.A. Abeynayake and Kasuni Rebeca Deputy Solicitor General Thusitha Mudalige yesterday (06) told Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake that part of USD 2 mn received by Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, wife of former SirLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, from Airbus SE of France, had been credited to the accounts of one or two persons living in …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Airlines Ex-CEO and Wife Tell CID they were not aware of the bank account bearing Wijenayake’s name or the account opened under Kapila Chandrasena’s name or subsequent transfers to other accounts.’ »

The UNP Working Committee meeting which was to be held this morning, was postponed to Monday (10). The meeting was postponed after Opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa informed that he could not attend the meeting.

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s crisply yet firmly delivered (and electorally pitch-perfect) Conservative nationalist democratic discourse, the presence as ‘special distinguished guest’ of Russia’s Gen. Salyukov, Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces, the impressive military parade and colourful multicultural display, and on the flipside, the non-rendition of the National Anthem in Tamil, constituted the point-counterpoint of …

Continue reading ‘Lanka Must Not Fall Into Tragic Two-Thirds Trap Again: The Worst Phases of Governance Experienced by Sri Lanka Were Under The Two-Thirds Majority Governments Headed by Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike (1970-77) and J.R.Jayewardene(1977-88)’ »

Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, who were arrested on money laundering charges, were remanded until 19 February by Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake yesterday. The couple surrendered to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last morning and statements were recorded from them before they were produced …

Continue reading ‘Former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake remanded until 19 February by Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake’ »

SriLankan Airlines ex-Chief Executive Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Wijenaike who are wanted in the Airbus bribery case have surrendered to Police, a top official said. “They are now at the CID and their statements are being recorded,” Media Spokesman Superintendent Jaliya Senaratne told EconomyNext on Thursday. Sri Lanka’s Attorney General asked Chandrasena and …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Airlines Ex-Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and wife Priyanka Neomali Wijenayake Surrender to Police:“They are now at the CID and their statements are being recorded,” Says Police Spokesman Jaliya Senaratne SP’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday that those who had received houses in villages built by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) between 2015 and 2019 were yet to receive deeds confirming ownership. The Premier said so in response to a query posed by UPFA MP Anuradha Jayaratne. Premier Rajapaksa said …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa States in Parliament that only 9,604 Houses in 367 Villages were Constructed by the Ptevious Govt Though it was claimed that 65,097 new Houses were Built in 2562 Villages’ »

In his oration at the Independence Square here on Tuesday to mark Sri Lanka’s 72nd.year of freedom from the British, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa clearly outlined the policies he will pursue in the next five years. He said that he will build a composite Sri Lanka where every group (including ethnic and religious groups) will enjoy …

Continue reading ‘By Discontinuing the Singing of the National Anthem in Tamil Along with the Sinhalese Version, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has Once Again Upheld the Primacy and Supremacy of Sinhalese over Tamil Within the Sri Lankan Context- Newsin.Asia’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Police were unable to trace the whereabouts of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, after a warrant was issued for their arrest by the Colombo Fort Magistrate on Monday, following the Attorney General directing that they be apprehended and produced in Court to face charges of …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Sri Lankan airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake Absent From Their Colombo Residence;Police Unable to Trace Their Whereabouts;Travel Ban Outside Sri Lanka Imposed Upon Couple’ »

· (Address by His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the 72nd Independence Day celebrations) Most Venerable Maha Sangha, Other Religious Dignitaries Hon. Prime Minister Hon. Speaker Hon. Chief Justice Hon. Ministers, Ministers of State and Members of Parliament Hon. Governors H. E. the Ambassadors and High Commissioners …

Continue reading ‘“I must serve as the leader of the country looking after all citizens rather than serve as a political leader concerned only about a particular community. As the President today, I represent the entire Sri Lankan nation irrespective of ethnicity, religion, party affiliation or other differences.” – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The Attorney General’s Department yesterday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to obtain an arrest warrant from the Magistrate Court to arrest former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena and his wife due to their alleged links to a $ 2 million bribe from French plane-maker Airbus. This followed investigative material submitted by …

Continue reading ‘1,454,651.24 euros Amounting to US $ 2 Million was Deposited in Singapore bank account of Biz Solutions (account no. 0107130602) on 27 December 2013 by a French company called EADS HQ/SSC FRANCE: Sri Lankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena’s Wife Priyanka Neomali Wikenayake was Sole Shareholder and Director of Biz Solutions’ »

PLEASE JOIN US at an Independence Day event coinciding with the official government event on Feb. 4th, from 9-10.30am, at the Borella Cemetery (Kanatta) roundabout, where we will sing the National Anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil, at the same time it’s being sung at Independence Square, which we can follow on live feed. 📜 …

Continue reading ‘The National Anthem of Sri Lanka Will be Sung in the Sinhala and Tamil Languages at an Independence Day Event Organized By People of the Sri Lankan Nation at the Borella Cemetery Roundabout on February 4th From 9.00 to 10.30 a.m.’ »

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his Independence Day message, called for Sri Lankans to refocus on unity, pointing out that the cohesion that existed between different communities had eroded since Independence.

By Kelum Bandara Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) categorically rejected the idea mooted by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa for him to tie up with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in forming a government subsequent to the upcoming parliamentary polls. Addressing a recent press conference, SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said the country had a bitter experience of …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Podujana Party Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris Categorically Rejects Sajith Premadasa’s Idea of Forming a Coalition Govt Under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa; Says Mahinda Rajapaksa will Continue as PM after Elections Too’ »

The CID, yesterday evening, launched a search for former SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena and his wife, Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake, over a questionable aircraft deal. A senior CID officer said an arrest warrant had been obtained and a special team deployed to look for the suspects. Attorney General, Dappula de Livera, yesterday, directed the CID to …

Continue reading ‘CID Says Search Has Been Launched by Police to Arrest Former Sri Lankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his Wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake After Arrest Warrant was Obtained on the Instructions of the Attorney -General’ »

Preparations are underway to celebrate Sri Lanka’s 72nd Independence Day in Colombo tomorrow with full military pageantry, attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, members of parliament, diplomats and others. Tomorrow’s ceremony, to be held at Independence Square under the theme ‘A Secured Nation – A Prosperous Country’, will be Rajapaksa’s first Independence Day commemoration since taking …

Continue reading ‘Gota’s Govt Ready to Celebrate “Sinhala” Independence Day With an Instrumental Version of the National Anthem Being Played at the End of Ceremony Instead of “Sri Lanka Thaayae” Being Sung in Tamil’ »

A day before the country celebrates her 72nd anniversary of independence, former Minister for National Integration and Official Languages MP Mano Ganeshan made a final hour call to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to allow the National Anthem to be sung in both Sinhala and Tamil at Tuesday’s celebrations, to be held at Independence Square, Colombo.

By Namini Wijedasa Airbus SE hired the wife of a SriLankan Airlines (SLA) executive as a business partner through a dummy company she registered in Brunei. The corporation then paid into this entity’s account US$ 2mn (Rs 362mn) out of a total US$ 16.84mn (Rs 3bn) promised in return for ensuring that the national carrier …

Continue reading ‘Airbus Paid US$ 2 Million Into Bank Account of “Straw Company” Registered in Brunei by Wife of a Former Top Executive Officer at Srilankan Airlines as a Bribe to Ensure Sale of Ten and Lease of One Aircraft’ »

Tourist arrivals from China to Sri Lanka have dropped about 40 percent from January 23 as both countries tightened travel requirements in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, officials said. “A considerable number of travelers have stopped coming to the country from China, as a percentage it could be on average …

Continue reading ‘After Coronavirus Scare ,Tourist Arrivals To Sri Lanka From China Drop 40% Since January 23rd; Steeper Decline Anticipated in February’ »

By Prof. Susirith Mendis I have written about this on a few occasions before. But this is the first time I am venturing to do so since President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected President of Sri Lanka. I reiterate, he was elected President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as five others have been …

Continue reading ‘Let 2020 Be the Last Year in Which we Celebrate Our “Independence” on February 4th.’ »

By Shehan Chamika Silva An arrest warrant was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate today ordering the CID to arrest SriLankan Airlines former CEO Kapila Chandrasena and wife Priyanka Vijenayake over the Airbus deal in 2013. Earlier today, Attorney General Dappula De Livera directed the CID Director to obtain a warrant, arrest and produce former CEO …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Fort Magistrate Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Sri Lankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayaka in Connection with the Airbus $ 2 Million Dollar Bribe Allegation’ »

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday ordered a full inquiry into allegations that the wife of a SriLankan Airlines executive was paid $ 2 million by Airbus through a Brunei shell company to obtain or retain business or advantage in the conduct of business with the national carrier during 2011-2015. “The President has become aware of the …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Orders full Inquiry into Allegations that the Wife of a SriLankan Airlines Executive was paid $ 2 million by Airbus Through a Brunei shell company During the Mahinda Rajapaksa Regime of 2010 – 2015’ »

UNP MP and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday declared that the expert forensic audits on irregularities of Bond auctions and EPF stock market investments have exposed the nexus between two Central Bank Governors Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Arjuna Mahendran with the controversial Arjun Aloysius. Armed with the copies of the five forensic audits which …

Continue reading ‘Dr. Harsha de Silva MP Says expert forensic audits on irregularities of Bond auctions and EPF stock market investments have exposed the nexus between two Central Bank Governors Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Arjuna Mahendran with Arjun Aloysius of Perpetual Treasuries’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Exactly a day after the pomp and the show of India’s celebrations of Republic Day 2020 faded, a young law student standing in the imposing shadow of India Gate in New Delhi, the country’s iconic war memorial,passionately confesses her uncomfortable dissonance with the lavish display. ‘All this passion, where will this …

Continue reading ‘“We Will not Give up our Country to Fascists Without a Fight”: Will Sri Lanka Emulate India in Resisting Through Social Movements the Centralization of Power Under a Strong Man in the Months Ahead?’ »

By Don Manu Why does Sajith Premadasa have that uncanny feeling this Sunday morning of finding butterflies fluttering in his abdomen? Or feel his ire rising to find fish shakin’ a fin to the baila beat of his agitated heart? Why does he fear the shadow that falls before him making him constantly look over …

Continue reading ‘What Option Does Sajith Premadasa Have If and When the UNP led UNF Loses to “Pohottuwa”led by Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2020 Parliamentary Elections?’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana The Attorney General’s Department will proceed with the case against former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and former Navy Spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake — accused in the abduction of 11 youths — unless there is a court order otherwise. This is after the AG wrote to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) inquiring into alleged …

Continue reading ‘Attorney – General Dappula de Livera Will Proceed with Case Against Accused Including Former Navy Chief Wasantha Karannagoda andEx-Navy Spokesman DKP Dassanayake Despite Presidential Commission of Inquiry Order not to do so’ »

From 1,300 Chinese nationals arriving in the country to a mere 100, a sharp drop in daily arrivals is presently recorded, according to Immigration Controller General Pasan Ratnayake. He said daily about 800-1300 Chinese nationals arrived in the country as tourists, businessmen, students and workers. But since January 28, the rate has fallen to about …

Continue reading ‘Number of Daily Arrivals of Chinese Nationals to Sri Lanka Drops Drastically From 800-1300 to 90 -100 Due to Impact of Coronavirus Crisis’ »

By Rajpal Abeynayake It’s such a pity, what social media and media in general is doing to our friends the Chinese, these days. It shouldn’t be that way, particularly in this country. The Chinese have been our friends for thousands of years, literally. But look what the fringe elements in social media are doing these …

Continue reading ‘The Lunatic Fringe in Social Media Has Created an Epidemic of Misinformation, and vilification Demonizing Sri Lanka’s Friends the Chinese Over the Coronavirus Scare’ »

By Aanya Wipulasena Twenty-year-old Anjeleena Stronach wasn’t worried about the hoo-ha people were making over a virus till the teacher in charge of the student group she belonged to sent a message on WeChat. “There will be no bus between Tianjin and Beijing. If you want (to) go back to Sri Lanka you should take …

Continue reading ‘Families of Sri Lankan Students in China Grateful to President Gotabaya and Other Officials Responsible for Bringing Home Their Loved Ones by Air’ »

By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka The book is titled ‘On Public Imagination’ and subtitled ‘A Political and Ethical Imperative’. It is edited by Victor Faessel, Richard Falk and Michael Curtin. It is a Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group publication out of New York and London. The introductory thematic essay is by Richard Falk and Victor Faessel …

Continue reading ‘“Public Imagination: The Challenge of 21st Century Populist and Authoritarian Politics”.’ »

by Shamindra Ferdinando UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa’s Camp, yesterday, January 31, assured that it wouldn’t press for the leadership of the party. Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s Office, No 30, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Premadasa faction’s spokesman Nalin Bandara, MP, admitted that they couldn’t pressure incumbent leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to give up …

Continue reading ‘Sajith Premadasa Faction Acknowledges Failure In Attempt to Grab Leadership of the United National Party From Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The goals of progress that were the key expectations of the call and movement for freedom have been pushed aside as we approach the 72nd anniversary of Independence from colonial rule. The celebrations on February 4 will be hugely affected by the coronavirus that has begun straddling the world, and the call …

Continue reading ‘Is the rise of Sinhala-Buddhist politics to be the material of the next decade of freedom in a country that has forgotten that for nearly half of its 72 years of freedom, it has been a hugely bloody nation?’ »

By Disna Mudalige Thirteen MPs had either not spoken or had spoken only once during debates in Parliament last year, a statistical analysis by ‘Manthri.lk’ website run by Verité Research revealed. The analysis was based on Parliament Hansard reports from January to December last year.

By Chandani Kirinde Amnesty International (AI) said yesterday that Sri Lanka’s human rights record in 2019 was characterised by unrealised Government commitments to pursue truth, justice and reparations, continued impunity for violations and abuses, and compromised freedoms of religion and expression. Speaking at the launch of the human rights organisation’s Human Rights in Asia-Pacific: Review …

Continue reading ‘Amnesty International Concerned Over some of the Statements by the new Sri Lankan Government Indicating that even the Limited but key Gains of Recent Years on the Human Rights Front may be Rolled Back.’ »

Britain’s departure from the eu, says Sir Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative mp, reminds him of an experiment his grandfather once carried out on a pet pike. He put a glass wall in the middle of the fish’s tank, thus halving its swimming space. After ramming the glass, “thunk, thunk” for a while, the fish adapted …

Continue reading ‘Brexit: Britain’s Regulatory-Divergence Dilemma – The Economist’ »

By Victor Ivan From an architectural point of view, Sri Lanka had a parliamentary building near Galle Face which looked majestic and fitting for a Parliament. The affairs of the old Parliament were carried out in this building in an optimum and dignified manner from 28 January 1930, when it was declared open, up until …

Continue reading ‘The Present Parliament is like an Illegitimate Institution With a Majority of MPs who are not Entitled Legally and Ethically to Serve as Parliamentarians.’ »