By P.K.Balachandran The new President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is aiming at getting two-thirds majority in the April 2020 parliamentary elections to be able to bring about sweeping changes in the constitution to strengthen the Executive which was badly crippled by the 19 th.Amendment (19A) brought about by the previous regime. Gotabaya is keen …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Aims for Two-Thirds Majority in April Parliamentary Elections to Either Jettison or Drastically Prune Down the 19th Constitutional Amendment and Strenghen the Executive Presidency.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party on Tuesday urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to “regress into naked majoritarianism”, that in the past gave rise to a conflict, resulting in armed hostilities spanning over three decades. Addressing Parliament, Jaffna district legislator and the Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran said the equal status …

Continue reading ‘“Equal status of peoples belonging to different races, religions, languages and cultures is not dependent on their respective numerical strength”Says TNA Spokesperon MA Sumanthiran MP in Parliament’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the Tamil National Alliance Media Office Incorporating the Transcript of Speech made by Mr. M. A. Sumanthiran MP in Parliament on 07.01.2020) Mr. Speaker, The Statement on Government Policy as laid out by His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the 3rd of January 2020 is one that needs to be …

Continue reading ‘“Regretfully, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Has Articulated his Regressive Position of “Naked Majoritarianism” in his Address to Parliament on Jan 3rd” – M. A. Sumanthiran MP’ »

By W.A. Wijewardena The sick economy President Gotabaya Rajapaksa – now fondly called Gota by everyone – inherited an underperforming economy. It was just like the economy which the previous administration had inherited from his brother some five years ago. As I had presented in this column repeatedly, the economy was turning from bad to …

Continue reading ‘Gota Should Wake up and fight his Economic war to a Conclusion as he did in the Case of his Other Wars’ »

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa says the United National Party will move forward with a new vision and a new outlook. Participating in an event in Galle over the weekend, the Opposition Leader said the Office of the Leader of the Opposition will be transformed into a helpful and people-friendly institution, which will listen …

Continue reading ‘Sajith Premadasa says all UNP Parliamentarians are Committed to give the top most Priority to the Security of the Sinhala Buddhist Motherland, while Protecting all Minority Communities’ »

Police last night arrested United National Party Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake for possession of an unlicensed pistol, after they conducted an extensive search of his official residence at the Madiwela Housing Complex. Issuing a statement last night, Police Headquarters said that officers had also found 127 rounds of 9mm ammunition used for the pistol as well …

Continue reading ‘UNP Gampaha Dist MP Ranjan Ramanayake Arrested for Possessing Pistol Without Renewing License After Police Search His Madiwela Residence For Material Allegedly Embarassing Govt;Cops Seize Laptop, CD’s, DVD’s, Master Copy of “Navariyan”Film and a File on Murder of Ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Duplicitous politicians who engage in constitutional games to hoodwink the public must be clearly exposed for the truly shameful creatures that they are. Chopping and changing the primary text Constitution-making in Sri Lanka has generally been instrumental. Amendments to the nation’s primary text are driven by obvious political agendas. There are …

Continue reading ‘Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s Private Members Bill Seeking to Restore Presidential Powers to Monarchical Status Obscures an Insidiously Dangerous Hidden Purpose of Making Appointments to the Higher Judiciary a Nakedly Political Process’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Jeyaraj’s Jottings (Jeyaraj’s Jottings was a series of short articles written some time ago by me to be posted on my Blog. However due to pressure of work I discontinued the jottings for quite a while. With the advent of the year 2020 I have resumed posting “Jeyaraj’s Jottings”again on my Blog. This …

Continue reading ‘A Beautiful Island Where The National Anthem Is Sung In Two Languages -1’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake We are bang into the New Year. The new session of Parliament has been opened by the President. Parliamentary politics could move to a new swing, with a government not having a formal majority in the House. There is also another political tune at play – that of the National Anthem. President …

Continue reading ‘Will Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon Accept that Singing the National Anthem in a Minority Language and not the Main Official Language Would Build Reconciliation and Help Achieve National Unity?’ »

(The policy statement made by His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the inauguration of the Fourth Session of the 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka.) Honourable Speaker, Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Ministers, Honourable State Ministers, Honourable Members of Parliament, I have this opportunity …

Continue reading ‘“I Pledge that During my Term of Office, I will Always Defend the Unitary Status of our Country, and Protect and Nurture the Buddha Sasana Whilst Safeguarding the Right of all Citizens to Practice a Religion of Their Choice” – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ »

Delivering his first-ever address to Parliament since taking oaths, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sent out a strong message today to all parties representing the legislature on, among other things, his vision for the country, his values as a Rajapaksa family member, the role of minority parties and the importance of constitutional reform. Dressed in a Western …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his First Address to Parliament Emphasises Need for Urgent Constitutional and Electoral Reforms that will Establish a Strong Executive, Legislature and an Independent Judiciary’ »

By Chandani Kirinde and Ashwin Hemmathagama The Tri-Forces Guard of Honour including the 21-gun salute which was to be part of the ceremonial sitting of the new Parliamentary session which begins today was halted on the request of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, official sources said. As part of the usual procedure followed when a new session …

Continue reading ‘Envisaged Tri -Forces Guard of Honour Including 21 Gun Salute at Ceremonial Opening of New Parliamentary Session Cancelled at the Last Minute Due to a Request by President Gotabaya rajapaksa for a Simplified Ceremony’ »

By Chandani Kirinde A Private Member’s Bill to enable the President to hold the Ministry of Defence and any other ministries will be introduced to Parliament by MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe shortly. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution has been published in the Gazette ahead of its presentation to the House, Rajapakshe told Daily FT. The …

Continue reading ‘Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to Introduce Private Members Bill Incorprating 22nd Constitutional Amendment to Enable the President to Hold the Defence Ministry and any Other Ministry by Amending article 43’ »

Wisden magazine, which is considered as the Bible of cricket, has published its T20I Team of the Decade. Wisden magazine has named Sri Lanka’s fast bowler Lasith Malinga as the king of T20 fast bowling.

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDAD) of Switzerland yesterday welcomed with relief the release on bail of the employee of its embassy in Colombo. The Swiss authorities welcomed the release of the employee with a message via its official Twitter account @SwissMFA.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday released on bail Garnier Bannister Francis, the local employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo allegedly involved in a fake abduction case. Francis was granted bail on two personal sureties of Rs 500,000 each. The Court temporarily banned foreign travel of the defendant and asked her passport to be …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Swiss Embassy Employee Garnier Bannister Francis Released on Bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne; Court Bans Foreign Travel and Orders Surrender of Passport;Next Date of Hearing on Jan 9th 2020’ »

Former Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne was granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday. This was when an anticipatory bail application filed by Dr. Senaratne was taken up for consideration. The court ordered that Dr. Senaratne be granted bail on two personal bail bonds of Rs 500,000 each. Banning foreign travel for Senaratne, the …

Continue reading ‘Former Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne MP Who was Arrested by Police Over the White Van Drivers Media Conference Incident While Being in Coronary Intensive Care Unit of Lanka Hospital Granted Bail by Colombo Magistrates Court’ »

Senior Sri Lanka Administrative Service officer with vast experience P.S.M. Charles was appointed as the Northern Province Governor by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday. Charles previously served as the District Secretariat of Vavuniya and Batticaloa. She also served as Director General of Customs and Secretary to the Health Ministry.

By Uditha Devapriya In a country dominated by Cartesian thinking, it’s probably not surprising that a man vilified for the better part of a decade as a Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist, traditionalist, warmonger and opportunist should be celebrated as a martyr today. I remember coming across a particularly unsavoury (and no doubt defamatory) article on the …

Continue reading ‘The man most Responsible for Jathika Hela Urumaya Leader Champika Ranawaka’s Arrest is Patali Champika Ranawaka Himself’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who won the Sri Lankan Presidential election on November 16 emphatically, and formed a government with his brother and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister, appears to have two objectives at this point of time. One is to put together a top-level team which will carry out his political and …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Seems to Have Two Objectives at this Point of Time.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan How do you translate the word ‘juxtaposition’ to Tamil and Sinhala? When a team of art curators set up Sri Lanka’s recently-launched Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), they had many decisions to make, including on questions like this, pertaining to language. The museum does not limit itself to a particular …

Continue reading ‘The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art offers a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s troubled past’ »

By M Manikandan Tamil Nadu’s major opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and BJP’s ally Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Friday attacked the newly-elected Sri Lankan government under President Gottabaya Rajapaksa for suspending the playing of National Anthem of the island nation in Tamil on its Independence day in February. DMK president MK Stalin hit …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Political Party Leaders MK Stalin (DMK) and Dr.S.Ramadoss (PMK) Strongly Criticise Sri Lankan Govt of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for Stopping the Singing of National Anthem in Tamil at Independence Day Event’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake We are moving on to another election year, and what does that mean? It means a helluva lot. Two Hundred and Twenty-Five to be removed, brought back, or a new pack brought in. It is the problem people face with choosing the unwanted. Let’s just look back at the last two national …

Continue reading ‘What stands out today is the monarchic power of family politics, which obtained more than 50 per cent vote in the recent presidential poll.’ »

The National Peace Council has urged the government not to stop the yahapalana practice of singing the national anthem in Tamil at the Feb 04 Independence Day celebrations. The following is the text of NPC statement issued by its head Dr. Jehan Perera: The celebration of Christmas took place without incident and in the manner …

Continue reading ‘National Peace Council Urges Govt Not to Stop the Singing of National Anthem in Tamil at the February 4th Independence Day Celebrations’ »

UNP MP and former Health Minister, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, was arrested by the CID at Lanka Hospital in Narahenpita yesterday. Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalani Perera remanded Dr. Senaratne until Dec 30. The officers of the CID, who took Senaratne into custody around 2.10 pm, informed the Colombo Additional Magistrate of the arrest. When the case …

Continue reading ‘CID Acting on Orders of Attorney-General Arrest Dr.Rajitha Senaratne at Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit of Lanka Hospital; Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalani Perera Goes to Hospital and Remands Warded Ex-Health Minister Until December 30’ »

By Sandun A. Jayasekera The 72nd Independence Day celebrations will be held on February 4 at Independence Square in Colombo on a grand scale, the Public Administration Ministry said, adding that the national anthem would be sung only in Sinhala. These decisions were taken at a meeting held yesterday at the Disaster Management, Local Government …

Continue reading ‘National Anthem Will be Sung Only in the Sinhala Language and Not in the Tamil Language Also at the 72nd Independence Day Celebrations Scheduled for Feb 4 2020 at Independence Square in Colombo’ »

by Bishop Duleep de Chickera The run up to the birth of Jesus was punctuated with pauses. Mary’s pause After the Angel visited her, Mary could not say what she would have liked to have said. Stories that went against established norms and trends were unacceptable. Those around would misunderstand and grow suspicious, even hostile. …

Continue reading ‘Far From Escape or Withdrawal Christmas is a Time of Regeneration. When the Time is Right New Songs Burst Forth Like Springs of Living Water.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said he would summon the IGP and other senior Police officials who were involved in the arrest of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, and inform them on the need to adhere to parliamentary conventions when arresting a lawmaker. The Speaker also said he would request the National Police Commission …

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Perturbed Over Police Disregarding Parliamentary Conventions in Arresting Champika Ranawaka MP; Wants National Police Commission to Hold Inquiry :Will Summon IGP and Senior Officials Involved in Arrest’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana and Manopriya Gunasekara It was nightfall on Wednesday (18) when some 50 armed policemen swooped down on a house at Jayanthipura, Battaramulla in what seemed a major operation. Whilst the constables surrounded the house, others blocked the road. An officer urged the watcher to open the gate. He did and the group …

Continue reading ‘Controversial Arrest and Detention of Jathika Hela Urumaya Leader Patali Champika Ranawaka MP: How it Happened.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The ridiculous claim being parroted by bespectacled and grinning supporters (apparently also lawyers) of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP or the “Pohuttuwa’), that the action of the Attorney General is somehow ‘superior’ to the writ of a Magistrate in the making of arrests of persons in this land, is …

Continue reading ‘Patently Absurd Statements Made in the Arrest of Champika Ranawaka like “there is no issue about not informing the Magistrate because the Attorney General is superior to the Magistrate” Need to be Challenged’ »

By Meera Srinivasan In the widespread resistance to the recently-passed Citizenship (Amendment) Act, many have repeatedly highlighted the omission of Sri Lankans among persecuted communities in the neighbourhood who now qualify for Indian citizenship, for the first time based on their religion. Nearly 1,00,000 Sri Lankan Tamils live in India, mostly in refugee camps across …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa While Addressing Foreign Correspondents in Colombo Replies “Yes” When Asked Whether he Thought Sri Lankan Refugees in India Should Come Back’ »

Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy on Friday departed the Central Bank as previously announced but with much respect and love, according to insiders and industry representatives. Dr. Coomaraswamy assumed duties in July 2016 and many weeks before the 16 November Presidential Election had informed authorities of his intention to step down on 20 December. Previously, Dr. Coomaraswamy …

Continue reading ‘Much Respected and Loved Central Bank Governor Dr.Indrajit Coomaraswamy Departs From Post After Addressing all Members of Staff From Monetary Board Members to Friends Serving Tea.’ »

By M.K.Bhadrakumar Since the setback in Nepal three years ago when the Indian diktat on the contents of a new constitution for that country was brusquely dismissed by that country’s communist leadership, Modi government faces a similar rebuff from Sri Lanka. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa chose a press conference Thursday with the Colombo-based foreign correspondents to …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka does not want to be part of the US-Indian Indo-Pacific Strategy to Contain China While Beijing Intends to step up its Presence in Sri Lanka to Hit Back at India where it Hurts.’ »

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that he did not wish for the alleged abduction incident of a Swiss Embassy employee to sour relations between the two countries. Commenting on the incident, Rajapaksa told a group of foreign correspondents that the matter was a fabrication to discredit his Government and Presidency.

The United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on behalf of the United National Front (UNF) yesterday strongly condemned the arrest of Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka. Issuing a statement Wickremesinghe said the law enforcement authorities did not follow accepted democratic and legal procedures to arrest Ranawaka.

Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri yesterday wrote to the National Police Commission (NPC) informing them that due process was not followed during the arrest of MP Champika Ranawaka. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the NPC, Kumarasiri stressed that he did not believe due process was carried out during the arrest and requested action …

Continue reading ‘Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri Writes to National Police Commission Chairman About Due Process in Accordance to Privileges of an MP being not Followed in the case of Champika Ranawaka MP’s Arrest and Detention’ »

Former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera yesterday filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court saying it was a violation of his human rights to demote him as the personal assistant to the Southern Province DIG.

Former Health Minister and UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne yesterday filed a second anticipatory bail application before the Colombo Magistrate a day after his first. His first application, made on Thursday, was rejected yesterday by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathna.

Switzerland has sent Jörg Frieden, an experienced diplomat who once served as ambassador to Sri Lanka, to explore possibilities for clarifying the security incident at the Swiss embassy in Colombo, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDAD) in Bern said yesterday. Frieden’s visit followed a telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena and …

Continue reading ‘Switzerland sends Former Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jorg Frieden as Special Envoy to Colombo to Lend Further Support to its Embassy and Communicate with Sri Lankan Authorities in a bid to Jointly Explore Possible Solutions to the Current Problem’ »

By Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe The CID has begun probing former Minister Rajitha Senaratne and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation’s former Chairman Dr. Rumi Mohamed over allegations of having deployed two known criminal suspects to concoct a ‘white van’ abduction allegation with the aim of tarnishing the image of Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the election period, …

Continue reading ‘Former Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne and Ex-Chairman of Pharmaceutical Corporation Dr.Rumy Mohamed Being Probed by CID For Allegedly Paying Two Persons to Pose as White Van Drivers Transporting Bodies and Gold at Press Conference to Tarnish Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Image’ »

Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena reaffirmed to his Swiss counterpart yesterday that the rights of the Swiss Embassy employee who is in custody will be protected, and she will be granted all possible facilities. The Minister conveyed these views when he received a telephone call from the Foreign Minister of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, regarding …

Continue reading ‘Switzerland Foreign Minister Ignazuo Cassis Telephones Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardene To Inquire About Arrested Swiss Embassy Employee and Urges Colombo to Expedite Judicial Process in View of the Good Bilateral relations Between Both Countries’ »

By Chameera Elladeniya Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was taken into police custody on instructions by Attorney General Dappula De Livera yesterday (18). Produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday night, former Minister Ranawaka was ordered to be remanded till today(19). The Attorney General has given the arrest order in connection with a case where …

Continue reading ‘JHU Leader Champika Ranawaka Remanded by Colombo Chief Magistrate After Police Record Statement Regarding an Incident in 2016 Where the Then Cabinet Minister Had Allegedly Driven a Vehicle Causing Injury to a Youth in a Road accident and Fled the Spot Letting his Driver Take the Rap’ »

Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) today. He was arrested on the advice of the Attorney General.

By Nuwan Senarathna A month after his presidential loss MP Sajith Premadasa yesterday said he would not spearhead the UNP’s parliamentary campaign as a prime ministerial candidate unless he is given the party leadership as well. Premadasa made the comments when addressing party faithfuls for the first time since his defeat, at a private venue …

Continue reading ‘Designated Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa Refuses to Spearhead UNP Parliamentary Election Campaign as Prime Ministerial Candidate Unless he is Given the Party Leadership Post Also’ »

By Yohan Perera UNP MP Harsha De Silva yesterday proposed an amendment to his party’s constitution in order to make provisions to elect a new leader through a vote. Dr. de Silva who was speaking to the UNP activists in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte said party constitution should be changed to make provisions to elect a …

Continue reading ‘Dr.Harsha de Silva MP wants to Make UNP Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to be Senior Adviser or Mentor of Party if a New Leader is Appointed for the UNP’ »

By Yohan Perera The Bhikkhu wing of the UNP, Eksath Jathika Bhikkhu Peramuna (EJBP), said yesterday 24 MPs who agitated for a leadership change attempted to create unnecessary problems within the party in the context of MP Sajith Premadasa refusing to accept any post. EJBP President Ven. Bopitiye Dhammasara Thera and Secretary Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha …

Continue reading ‘Eksath Jathika Bhikku Peramuna says 24 MP’s are Agitating for Change in UNP Leadership Though Sajith Premadasa Has Informed EJBP that he does not want any post in Party’ »

By Yohan Perera The Swiss Embassy statement that it was not satisfied with the investigations carried out by Sri Lanka on the alleged abduction of its employee would bring disrepute to Sri Lanka, UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara told a news conference today. He claimed that Sri Lankans will face a difficult situation both locally …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Embassy Statement of Being Dissatisfied with Investigations Carried Out by Sri Lanka Over Alleged Abduction of Employee Can Bring Disrepute to Country warns UNP MP Palitha Ranga Bandara’ »

Professing to stand up for party ally MP Patali Champika Ranawaka in the event of any injustice, the United National Party (UNP) today charged that the family of the MP’s former driver were unlawfully detained in the early hours of today (16). Presenting a united face, a host of parliamentarians representing both sides of the …

Continue reading ‘UNP Parliamentarians Allege at Press Conference that JHU Leader Champoka Ranawaka’s Ex -Driver;s Wife, Mother in Law and 18 month old Child were Detained in Galle at 12.45 am and Brought to Colombo in Vehicle Numbered 64 – 8736’ »

The Swiss Foreign Ministry has rejected the Sri Lankan government’s contentions regarding the alleged abduction of one of its local employees Garnier Banister Francis alias Sriyalatha Perera. In a press release on Monday, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) said: “ An employee of the Swiss embassy in Colombo has been taken into custody …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka and Switzerland Versions of Meeting Between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Swiss Ambassador Hanspeter Moch in Colombo Appear to be at Variance With each Other’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka police on Monday arrested a local employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo, who has been at the centre of a diplomatic controversy, for allegedly making a false accusation that she was detained and threatened. The Sri Lankan national, working at the visa section of the Embassy, was reportedly abducted …

Continue reading ‘Swiss FDFA “Criticises” 30-hour Interrogation of its Employee over Three days Despite poor Health and the Public Statements by Senior Sri Lankan Officials Questioning her Account Before the Investigation is Completed.’ »

(Text of Press releaseIssued by Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on 16.12.2019) An employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo has today been detained on the grounds that she allegedly made false statements. T he FDFA is concerned about this development and calls on the Sri Lankan judicial authorities to ensure better protection of …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Ambassador Tells Sri Lankan President at Face to Face Meeting That Switzerland Seeks a Common and Constructive Way Forward to Resolve the Security Incident Concerning woman Employee of Embassy in Colombo’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya After Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s assuming of the office of presidency, a wave of street art sprung up and spread across the country like a bushfire. The official version is that it was spontaneous civic-minded volunteerism by disparate groups of local youth who felt inspired by the unfolding political ‘change’. Mr Rajapaksa’s graduation to …

Continue reading ‘The Street Art Murals Being Painted are Overwhelmingly monotonous, Unimaginatively Uninspiring With the Aura of Sinhala Nationalist Fervour Borrowing Heavily from Nationalistic and Militaristic Narratives of the Past and Present.’ »

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday claimed that given the serious charges levelled against him, he was a bigger victim than the female employee of the Swiss embassy currently embroiled in controversy over her alleged detention and abuse. The President yesterday updated the editors of media organisations on ongoing investigations into the alleged incident reported by the …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Tells Media Editors in Lighter Vein That Given the Charges Levelled Against Him, he was a Bigger Victim than the Swiss Embassy Woman Employee Embroiled in Controversy’ »

(The following is a post by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his Facebook under the heading Switzerland assures continuous support to Sri Lanka) Hanspeter Mock, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka, met me yesterday and assured continued support to Sri Lanka. Whilst conveying warm congratulations on recent electoral victory, the Ambassador especially appreciated my remark – …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Posts Entry on Facebook About his Meeting With Switzerland Ambassador to Colombo Hanspeter Mock’ »

By Chandani Kirinde In a dramatic turn of events, the Attorney General’s Department yesterday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest and charge the female employee of the Swiss Embassy – who is at the centre of an alleged detention – under the penal code for inciting or attempting to incite disaffection against the …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Embassy Woman Employee Garnier Banister Francis Arrested by CID on Directive by Attorney -General and Remanded Until Dec 30th by Colombo Magistrate:Likely to be Charged for Fabricating False evidence and Inciting Disaffection Against State’ »

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stated that he is ready to execute a plan prepared by the party as a whole team without working individually or in groups for the future victory of the party. Wickremesinghe said that all should work together for strengthening the party and to appoint a new look …

Continue reading ‘UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe Makes It Clear that he has no Intention to Lead the Party Forever and Calls For United Plan to Strengthen Party and Move Forward to Face Elections’ »

By Lahiru Pothmulla Ambassador of Switzerland in Sri Lanka, Hanspeter Mock, who called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today commented on the Embassy staffer incident and said Switzerland harboured no intention to do any harm to Sri Lanka. The Ambassador called on President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. “We wish to work together for …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hanspeter Mock Meets President Gotabaya to Clarify Position on Swiss Embassy Local Staffer Incident. “We need to overcome this situation of tension and remove any misunderstanding,” Says Envoy’ »

By Nisthar Cassim President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday drove home the point that it was largely socioeconomics and security and less politics that would ensure true national unity in the country, which he said would rebound next year leading to inclusive prosperity. Speaking for the first time to media editors since assuming office, President Rajapaksa made …

Continue reading ‘“Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development can Provide Solution for True Grievances of the Minorities and not Federalism or Greater Devolution as Promised by Politicians ” Says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at Meeting with Media Editors’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Attorney-at-law Ajith Prasanna faces a high profile trial in the Supreme Court over his controversial comments on a recent live political programme on a private television channel. The Bar Council on Saturday, Dec 14, unanimously decided to move the SC against Prasanna, formerly of the Sri Lanka Army for being critical of …

Continue reading ‘Bar Council to Move Supreme Court Against Ex-Southern Provincial Councillor Ajith Prasanna for Criticising Five Magistrates and Officials of the Police and Attorney – Generals Dept Publicly on a TV Show’ »

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has tasked senior party member Tilak Marapana PC with presenting a note on potential changes to the UNP constitution with regard to the post of the party leader by the end of the week. UNP sources said this was after party seniors met Wickremesinghe and suggested that changes be brought in …

Continue reading ‘UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe Assigns Senior Lawyer Tilak Marapana The Task of Recommending Changes to Party Constitution Regarding the Post of Party Leader’ »

By Meera Srinivasan In the weeks that followed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s big election win, Sri Lanka witnessed some rapid international outreach — both from and to Colombo — reflecting the strategic and geographic prominence of the Indian Ocean island that is home to 21 million people. India was among the earliest to reach out to …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankas Foreign Relations in the First Month Under New Govt Has Seen Proactive Outreach With India, Pakistan and China As Well As Reactive Confrontation with UK and Switzerland’ »

The two persons who participated in a press conference with former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne on November 10 during the run up to the Presidential Election and revealed a story relating to an alleged abduction by ‘white vans’ and the transportation of 7,000 tons of gold, have been arrested by the CID. The two suspects …

Continue reading ‘Two Persons Who Claimed to be “White Van Drivers” who Abducted Persons and Transported Dead Bodies and LTTE Gold in Their Vehicles at Press Conference Conducted by Dr.Rajitha Senaratne Arrested by CID for Questioning’ »

By Sandran Rubatheesan and Shaadya Ismail J Illegal sandmining has rapidly increased in the north on state and private land following the new government’s decision to suspend the licence system for sand transport, prompting a violent reaction from frustrated locals and a warning of public protests. In all the five districts of the north, illegal …

Continue reading ‘Suspension of Licenses for Sand Transport by New Govt Leads to Illegal Large-scale “Day and Night” Sandmining in all Five Northern Province Districts;Jaffna District MP Siddharthan Writes to President Rajapaksa Urging Him to Intervene Immediately’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawrdene In Manila this week, there are chilling reminders of how a ‘strongman’ President with a penchant for bad-mouthing those whom he dislikes and spearheading summary justice against alleged drug traffickers remains popular with his people despite all the hard evidence showing that the country has really not progressed under his rule. …

Continue reading ‘‘Shoot First Ask Questions Later’ Policy of Philippines Strong Man Cum Populist President Rodrigo Duterte Dubbed as “Punisher” Has Not Yielded Good Results’ »

By Gamini Akmeemana The saga of Garnier Banister Francis, the Swiss embassy employee who was allegedly abducted by unidentified men in Colombo and ‘forced to disclose embassy-related information’ under duress, could be likened to a soap opera but for its disturbing implications for all of us who like to live in a free state without …

Continue reading ‘Why is the Swiss Embassy Woman Employee’s Claim of being Abducted and Molested Being Refuted and Why is she Being Made the Target of a Witch Hunt?’ »

By Tamara Kunanayakam -former Ambassador/ Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the U.N. at Geneva “If you know the enemy and know yourself,you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Sun Tzu, The Art War, 5th Century BC The recent dramatic events involving the Swiss Embassy came as a surprise to most Sri …

Continue reading ‘“Exfiltration” of a Top Intelligence Chief From Sri Lanka to Switzerland and an “Abduction” Tale of a Swiss Embassy Employee in Colombo’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Thirty-one State institutions including the Police Department, State Intelligence Service (SIS), Department of Immigration and Emigration, Department of Registration of Persons, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, as well as the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC), will come under the under the purview of the Defence Ministry, according to the subjects and functions Gazette …

Continue reading ‘Thirty -One State Institutions Including Police Dept, State Intelligence Service (SIS), Dept of Immigration and Emigration and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRC) Brought Under Purview of Defence Ministry But No Cabinet Minister for Defence Appointed Due to 19th Amendment Barring President From Holding Portfolio’ »

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in a statement said it is deeply concerned with recent events in the aftermath of the incident in which an employee of the Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka was allegedly abducted, sexually harassed, and questioned by unidentified persons regarding embassy related matters, on or about 27 November.

By P.K.Balachandran Given the tendency among Western nations and the Western media to sling mud at Sri Lanka, especially ahead of a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session, the new Gotabaya Rajapaksa government has decided not to add grist to the anti-Lankan propaganda mill by politicizing the Swiss embassy “abduction” case and the “threatening gesticulation” …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt May Not Politicize Beyond a Point the Swiss Embassy Employee “abduction” Case and the “threatening gesticulation” Case against Ex-Defence Attache Brig.Priyantha Fernando in the UK to Avoid Rupture in Relations With Switzerland and UK’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has put a lid on the controversy over President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s remark that his Government will re-negotiate the 2017 agreement with China over Hambantota port to gain greater control over it and reduce the lease period, which is now 99 years. With the Prime Minister’s statement and …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Xinhua Interview Statement and Assertions by the Chinese side Indicate that the Re-negotiating of Hambantota Port Agreement with China as Stated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa Will Not Happen’ »

The United National Party yesterday said that a committee appointed by Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will decide how to face the upcoming General Election and urged all party members to unite to move forward. “If everyone in the party speaks in one voice and if we go forward to the General Election together we can …

Continue reading ‘UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has Appointed a Committee to Formulate Plan on How to Face Elections and Go Forward Says UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam’ »

BY Shavini Madhara Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne yesterday extended the travel ban imposed on Swiss Embassy employee who was allegedly threatened and kidnapped by a group of unidentified men, from leaving the country till December 12. When the case was taken up before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, the Magistrate also issued an order …

Continue reading ‘Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma Appearing for Woman Employee of Swiss Embassy Who Was Allegedly Abducted by Unknown Persons Tells Court That His Client was Checked by Foreign and Local Doctors and that Two Doctors Have Mentioned in their Medical Report that the Victim Had Been Sexually Abused and Assauted’ »

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday pledged new faces would get nominations at the upcoming General Elections as the second tier leadership of the party gets more authority while parliamentary affairs will be handled by Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa. Wickremesinghe made the comments addressing the UNP Youth Wing members at the party headquarters …

Continue reading ‘“I have handed over the task of handling Parliament affairs to the Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa who has been named as the Leader of the Opposition,” States UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

Thirty-two new State Ministry Secretaries received their letter of appointments from the Secretary to the President Dr. P.B.Jaysundara at the President secretariate on Monday December 9th evening. The new State Ministry Secretaries are; 1 Mr. S. H. Harischandra State Ministry of Water Supply Facilities 2 Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake State Ministry of Urban Development 3 Mr. …

Continue reading ‘Thirty -Two New State Ministry Secretaries Receive Letters of Appointment From Secretary to the President Dr.P. B. Jayasundara’ »

The order barring the female Sri Lankan employee attached to the Swiss Embassy in Colombo from leaving the country was yesterday extended till December 12 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne. Last week Jayaratne issued an order barring the Swiss Embassy employee from leaving the country without giving a statement to the CID. The employee …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne Extends Until December 12th the Travel Ban Imposed Sri Lankan Woman Employee of Swiss Embassy in Colombo.’ »

by Anura Balasuriya Ministers and MPs would have to pay USD 1,000 if they wanted to use the VIP terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport, MP Dilan Perera said yesterday. He said that the relevant circular had already been issued and it was a common practice in other countries.

By Chandani Kirinde The Swiss Embassy employee who claims she was forcibly detained and threatened by a group of unidentified persons in order to obtain embassy-related information from her gave a five-hour statement to the CID last evening. She was accompanied by two Swiss Embassy officials and two lawyers, Daily FT learns. Her statement came …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Embassy Woman Employee Accompanied by Two Swiss Embassy Officials and Two Lawyers Appears Before CID in Colombo and Provides Five Hour Long Statement’ »

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya In what must surely be one of the strangest games of diplomatic brinkmanship to be played out in this country, the Swiss Embassy in Colombo demands an investigation into an alleged ‘abduction’ of one of its local employees. The new government of Sri Lanka – barely ten days into office – having …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Embassy Staffer Incident Must be one of the Strangest Games of Diplomatic Brinkmanship to be Played out in This Country,’ »

The National Investigation Agency on Saturday filed a charge sheet against two Islamic State operatives including the leader of the outfit’s Coimbatore module – Mohammed Azarudeen and his associate – Sheikh Hidayatullah, who were in touch with the April 21 Sri Lanka bombings mastermind – Maulvi Zahran bin Hashim and were planning to carry out …

Continue reading ‘India’s National Investigation Agency Files Charge Sheet Against Two Suspected Islamic State Operatives in Tamil Nadu Who Were Followers of Sri Lankan Jihadist Leader Zahran Hashim and had Disseminated his Speeches Supporting Jihadist Violence’ »

Foreign Ministry maintains Brigadier Fernando entitled to diplomatic immunity The Foreign Ministry yesterday said that the sequence of events concerning the case of Brigadier Priyanka Fernando in the UK including the timing of the judgment showed it was a “politically motivated action”. Releasing a statement following the judgement in the case of Majuran Sathananthan vs. …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry States Former Defence Attache Brig.Priyanka Fernando Was Entitled to Diplomatic Immunity and Describes the Sequence of Events in Case and Timing of Judgement Against Him as a “Politically Motivated Action”’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa If a key political actor or set of allied actors wanted to secure more power, all the while appearing not to be interested in it, how could one go about it? Lessons of 2018 suggest that unconstitutional means don’t secure public support, or at the very least, risk generating swathes of support …

Continue reading ‘The Beautification Project of Painting Murals on City Walls Will Literally Shrink The Public Space Available For Political Dissent Captured in Posters Advertising a Rally, Play, Movement, Gathering, Film or Lecture.’ »

By KIshali Pinto Jayawardene The presenting of a Cabinet Paper by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa this week, proposing the establishment of a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry (SPCOI), under the SPCOI Law (1978) to investigate government officials who had conducted ‘witch hunts’ of other public officials during the time of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition Government as …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Cabinet Paper to Set Up Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry to Investigate Conduct of Govt Officials Under Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Regime Has Sinister Implications’ »

Caroline Jurie from Sri Lanka has been crowned Mrs World at a pageant held in Las Vegas USA on December 06, more than three decades after Rosie Seanayake won a similar title. “I’m so honored to share my heritage and culture on the global stage,” she said in facebook.com post made shortly before the final …

Continue reading ‘35 Years After Rosy Senanayake Became the First “Mrs.World” in Australia, Another Sri Lankan Caroline Jurie is Crowned “Mrs. World” at Beauty Pageant in Las Vegas, USA.’ »

By Padma Rao Sundarji Sri Lankan cricket star Muttiah Muralitharan spoke to Hindustan Times Padma Rao Sundarji over phone from Colombo, dismissing reports that he was offered the post of governor of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Q: Can you confirm media reports that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has offered you – and you have accepted – …

Continue reading ‘“I support President Rajapaksa because he is the right person to lead our country. He is a clever person who will carry out reforms, strike a different path, improve lives and do the right thing” Says Ace Cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan in Interview to “Hindustan Times”’ »

By Gamini Gunawardane Rtd. Snr. DIG I write this piece in great sadness. But I must because if I do not, I feel I would failing in my duty as an former policeman. I am sad for the independence of the Police, Independent Police Commission and the newly elected President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. We were watching …

Continue reading ‘One May Legitimately Ask President Gotabhaya Whether Moving Out Shani Abeysekera no Sooner than he Assumed Power Could be Called ‘Arbitrary’ Too?’ »

By Col R Hariharan The election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President with a clear majority of 52.25% votes, 10.25% more than polled by his younger rival Sajith Premadasa of the ruling United Nationalist Party (UNP), tells many things. Sinhala majority has voted Rajapaksa clan back to power with a strong mandate; on the flip side, …

Continue reading ‘“Despite President Gotabaya’s Correct Rhetoric after Assuming Office, he has to show that he is Capable of Carrying all Sections of Society to Progress in a Safe Environment”’ »

Former Defence Attaché at Sri Lankan High Commission in London Brigadier Priyanka Fernando was found guilty at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court today for committing public order offences over the ‘throat slitting gesture’ in London, 2018. The Brigadier displayed a warning during a demonstration by LTTE activists in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission in …

Continue reading ‘Former Defence Attache at Sri Lankan High Commission in London Brig. Priyanka Fernando Found Guilty Over his “Throat Cutting Gesture” Offence and Fined by Westminster Magistrates Court’ »

By Nimanthi Ranasinghe Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday ordered seven electronic media institutions to hand over the unedited clips of the video footage of the news conference held by former Minister MP Rajitha Senaratne on the alleged abduction of the Swiss Embassy employee to the OIC of the Investigation Unit of the CID. The …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Chief Magistrate Orders Seven TV Institutions to Submit Unedited Clips of Video Footage of Dr. Rajitha Senaratne’s Press Conference about Swiss Embassy Abduction Incident to CID.’ »

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday proposed Sajith Premadasa as the Opposition Leader while putting off final decision on the party leadership. The UNP parliamentary group reached a consensus on the post of the Opposition Leader at Sirikotha. Earlier, Sajith Premadasa loyalists demanded both positions-Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the party.

By Nadira Gunatilleke The Government has made a request to record a statement from former Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne in connection with the details he revealed about so called ‘abduction’ of a local employee attached to the Swiss Embassy in Sri Lanka, Plantations and Export Agriculture Minister and Co-Cabinet spokesman Dr.Ramesh Pathirana said.

By Chandani Kirinde The Government yesterday assured security for the employee of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo who is at the centre of a diplomatic row between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and urged her to make a statement on her alleged forceful detention by a group of unidentified persons, so that investigations into the matter …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena Briefs all Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Their Representatives of the Govt’s Position on the Swiss Embassy Staffer Incident: Reiterates that Inquiries Done by CID so Far Contradict Information Given to Swiss Envoy by Alleged Victim and Emphasises Importance of Hearing From Her Directly.’ »

by Chitra Weerarathne Additional Solicitor General Parinda Ranasinghe, President’s Counsel, yesterday informed the Colombo Special High Court-at-Bar, that the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka had requested the government of Singapore to extradite Arjuna Mahendran to Sri Lanka. Mahendran is the a former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The Presidential Commission, which investigated …

Continue reading ‘Addl Solicitor – General Parinda Ranasinghe Informs Colombo Special High Court-at-Barthat the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka has Requested the Singapore Govt to Extradite Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran to Sri Lanka.’ »

The Swiss Federal Court has ruled that the Tamil Tigers are not a criminal organisation and has acquitted 12 people of charges filed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). In its indictment, the OAG had accused the people of violating the Swiss Penal Code by raising funds for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil …

Continue reading ‘12 Persons Charged with Raising Funds for LTTE in Switzerland From 1999 to 2009 Acquitted After Ruling by Swiss Federal Court that the Tamil Tigers are not a Criminal Organization’ »

(Text of a Press Release Issued by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on 02.12.2019) Following several demarches from the FDFA over the incident concerning an employee of the Swiss embassy in Colombo, State Secretary Pascale Baeriswyl has received the Sri Lankan ambassador to Switzerland based in Berlin, Karunasena Hettiarachchi, in Bern. Ms Baeriswyl confirmed …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Ms. Pascale Baeriswy Summons Lankan Envoy to Switzerland Based in Berlin Karunasena Hettiarachchi Over the Colombo Incident “to explain the purported evidence against the events described by the embassy which the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs had alluded to in its press release”’ »

By Padma Rao Sundarji Newly elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the island nation and India should put behind them the misunderstandings of the past and move ahead. In an interview with Padma Rao Sundarji, Rajapaksa said: “We genuinely want to strengthen our relationship. I have always said that we don’t want to do …

Continue reading ‘“Islamist Terrorism has Become a Global Issue. It is not Specific to India or Sri Lanka. Every Country is Threatened. The Only way to Tackle it is to be very Conscious of it. Our Govt has to be Aware and Give it Top Priority, Especially on the Intelligence Side” – President Gotabaya In Interview to “Hindustan Times”.’ »

China claims that Sri Lanka has agreed to develop the Hambantota port and other on-going China-assisted projects as per the “existing consensus,”, thus virtually opting out of a bid to renegotiate the controversial 2017 agreement on the Hambantota port which had leased it out to China for 99-years. A Chinese embassy statement, put out by …

Continue reading ‘Does the Chinese Embassy Statement Disseminated by “Xinhua” Effectively Mean that China will not Agree to Renegotiate the 2017 Agreement on Hambantotaa Port as Desired by the New Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa?’ »

China and Sri Lanka yesterday agreed to speed up the implementation of large-scale projects and draw up a “new blueprint” for future cooperation following high-level meetings between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Chinese special envoy Wu Jianghao. The large-scale projects will also focus on the Colombo Port City project and the Hambantota Port venture. A Chinese …

Continue reading ‘Chinese special envoy Wu Jianghao Has High Level Meeting With President Gotabaya:Sri Lanka and China agreed to “speed up the implementation of the big economic projects, including the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port according to existing consensus” says Communique’ »

By Chandani Kirinde As exclusively reported by Daily FT yesterday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa prorogued Parliament last night and fixed 3 January 2020 for the start of the new session of the Legislature. The session of Parliament will commence at 10 a.m., the Gazette notification giving notice of the prorogation said. The President prorogued Parliament under …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Prorogues Parliament Under Article 70 of Constitution: He will Declare Commencement of New Session on Jan 3 2020 and Deliver Govt Policy Statement’ »

( Text of Media Statement Issued on December 1st 2019 by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under the Heading “Update on the alleged incident relating to Swiss Embassy staff member”) The Government of Sri Lanka, having taken serious note of the alleged criminal incident concerning a locally recruited staff member of the Swiss …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Refutes Allegations Made By Swiss Embassy Staffer About Being Abducted and Interrogated by Unidentified Persons. Foreign and Defence Secretaries Meet Swiss Ambassador and Brief him with Evidence that Sequence and Timeline of Alleged Incident do not Tally With Actual Movements of Alleged Victim On That Date’ »

By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor The alleged abduction of a Sri Lankan staff member of the Swiss embassy in Colombo has jolted the two-week-old new government. The grave seriousness is in the light of the international implications and the political fallout it portends. “We are taking the matter very seriously. We have ordered a …

Continue reading ‘Diplomatic Sources Tell “Sunday Times” That Swiss Embassy Staffer Was Bundled Into a White Toyota Corolla Car on Gregory’s Road by Five Men who Bound and Tied Her Eyes with Black Cloth and Quizzed her about CID Inspector Nishantha de Silva Threatening Harm if she did not Answer: Victim also Alleges Sexual Molestation During Two hour Ordeal’ »

By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor Chief Inspector Nishantha de Silva, who was head of the Organised Crimes Investigation Division of the CID, fled Sri Lanka on November 24 without official leave. The government has learnt he was Geneva bound and has sought asylum in Switzerland. It has now transpired that two days before his …

Continue reading ‘CID Chief Inspector Nishantha De Silva Who Fled Sri Lanka With Family Has Reportedly Taken Away Copies of Files With Key Data About Important Pending Cases and Investigations Into Crimes and Human Rights Violations Allegedly Committed by Military Personnel Including the Assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunga’ »

(Text of Media release issued by the National Movement for Web Journalists oon 28th November 2019 condemning suppression of web journalists who campaigned for Sajith Premadasa Through Questioning by the CID) The National Movement for Web Journalists protests the attempt to suppress the media and journalists after the new government was elected who acted in …

Continue reading ‘CID Grills Web Journalists who Opposed Gotabaya and Supported Sajith During Election Campaign: National Movement for Web Journalists Issues Statement Condemning Direct and Indirect Suppression of Media Freedom’ »

(Approximate English Translation of Speech made in Hindi by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Welcoming Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa During the State Visit of the SL President to India) November 29, 2019 Your Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Senior officials from Sri Lanka and India, Friends, Ayubovan! Vanakkam! Namaskar! I am pleased to welcome President …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa Tells Narendra Modi About His “inclusive political outlook on ethnic harmony” in Sri Lanka: Indian PM Says Govt of Sri Lanka will carry forward the process of reconciliation, to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamils for equality, justice, peace and respect Including Implementation of 13th amendment.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Switzerland yesterday demanded an immediate and complete investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in which a local employee of the embassy was detained against her will on the street and threatened at length by unidentified men, in order to force her to disclose embassy-related information. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Employee at Swiss Embassy in Colombo Detained Against Her Will and Threatened at Length by Unidentified Men Trying to Force Information Out of Her About Issuance of Visa to CID Inspector Nishantha Silva’ »

By Maria Abi-Habib and Sameer Yasir Fears of a potential crackdown on critics of the newly returned Rajapaksa political dynasty in Sri Lanka are rising just days after the election, as officials and journalists who investigated the Rajapaksas for human rights abuses and corruption began trying to flee the country, officials said. In a case …

Continue reading ‘Fears of Crackdown on Those Perceived as “Enemies of New President and Govt”Loom Large in Sri Lanka with Examination of Computers Used by Journalists,Travel Ban on CID Investigators Probing Corruption and Abduction and Intimidation of Woman Employee at Swiss Embassy in Colombo’ »

A local employee of the Swiss embassy in Sri Lanka has been temporarily kidnapped and threatened by unknown assailants in what the foreign ministry has called a “serious and unacceptable attack”. According to the Sri Lanka news website lankanewsweb.netexternal link, the woman was kidnapped on Monday then held and questioned for two hours before being …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Envoy to Switzerland Summoned to Foreign Ministry in Bern Over Abduction and Threats to Local Employee at Colombo Switzerland Demands “an immediate and complete investigation into the incident” says Ministry Spokesman Pierre-Alain Eltschinger.’ »

Rekindling the allegation of a deep state undermining the Pakatan Harapan government, a deputy minister claimed the decision to charge the 12 for attempting to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was made when Atttorney-General Tommy Thomas was abroad, Malayasia’s Malaysiakini reported. “The deep state exists in more than one institution. The AG …

Continue reading ‘Indictment of 12 Persons on Charge of Attempting to Revive LTTE in Malaysia While Attorney -General was Abroad was a Move by Entrenched “Deep State”Elements to Undermine Pakatan Harapan Govt Alleges Malaysian Lawmaker Sivarasah Rasiah’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe The first Cabinet meeting presided over by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday approved an extensive stimulus package mostly centred on slashing Value Added Tax (VAT) to 8% from 15%, to give relief to major sectors and boost much-needed economic growth. Newly-appointed Cabinet spokesmen Ministers Bandula Gunawardena and Ramesh Pathirana told reporters that the …

Continue reading ‘First Cabinet Meeting Under President Gotabaya Approves Prime Minister Mahinda’s Finance Ministry Cabinet Paper Providing Stimulus Package Focusing on Tax Reform Measures Giving Relief to Major Sectors and Boost Much Needed Economic Growth’ »

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday announced he had recognised Leader of the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Leader of the Opposition. The Speaker said on his Twitter handle @KaruOnline that the appointment was done “upholding established Parliamentary traditions that should not be violated.” The Speaker also said he also empathised …

Continue reading ‘United National Front for Good Governance(UNFGG) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe Recognized as Leader of the Opposition by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on the Basis of “upholding established Parliamentary traditions that should not be violated.”’ »

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday handed over appointment letters to Secretaries appointed to 20 new Ministries at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (Nov 27). Appointed Ministry Secretaries: 01. S. M. Mohamed – Tourism & Aviation 02. R. W. R. Mr. Pemasiri – Roads and Highways 03. J. J. Ratnasiri – Justice, Human Rights and Law Reforms …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Appoints Twenty Secretaries to Ministies.r’ »

Thirty – Five New State Ministers and Two Deputy Ministers Were Sworn in Before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariaton Nov 27th 2019. Their Names and Portfolios are – Chamal Rajapaksa – State Minister of Defence Vasudeva Nanayakkara – State Minister 0f Water Supply Gamini Lokuge – State Minister of Urban Development Mahinda Yapa …

Continue reading ‘Thirty -Five State Ministers and Three Deputy Ministers Sworn in Before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Chamal Rajapaksa the new State Minister of Defence; No Tamil or Muslims Included in this Group of Ministers’ »