(Text of Press Release Issued By Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa) Following the victory of incumbent President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation at last Sunday’s election, the Russian Ambassador in Colombo HE Yury. B Materiy met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his official residence in Colombo on Monday. President Mahinda Rajapaksa took this opportunity to …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Conveys Felicitations To President Putin For His Electoral Victory Through Ambassador Yuri Materiy When Russian Envoy Called On Him.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he would move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe next week, and claimed he had the support of some legislators in the PM’s United National Party (UNP). Declaring that he was close to bringing the government down, Mr. Rajapaksa said: “The UNP’s own …

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Says He Will Move a No Confidence Motion Against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Topple the Current Govt Headed By President Sirisena.’ »

By Nimal Sanderatne The recent communal violence has raised apprehensions on its repercussions on the economy. Although the violence was restricted to three areas in Ampara, Kandy district and Gintota, and its direct impact on economic activities was minimal, the fears of further communal violence has serious implications for the economy. The violence has already …

Continue reading ‘Resurgence of Communal Violence Poses Threat to Tourism, FDI and Balance of Payments’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake As the army begins to withdraw troops from Kandy, President Maithripala Sirisena ended the state of emergency which was imposed in the country two weeks ago to control extremist attacks on the Muslim community in the central hill capital. President Sirisena signed the gazette notification lifting the state of emergency upon his …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Revokes The State of Emergency which He Imposed After The Outbreak of Anti-Muslim Violence’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The ‘abnormal’ has become normal once again as Sri Lanka quietly and almost gently slipped back into a nation-wide State of Emergency, imposed by the Government as a reaction to recent attacks by Sinhalese mobs on Muslim shops and residences in Kandy. Abnormal realities and perilous implications The fragile nature of …

Continue reading ‘Easy Manner In which Sri Lankan Citizens Accepted the Imposition of Emergency rule Without Demurring Provides Much food For Thought.’ »

(“Exclusive” Report in “Sunday Times” of March 18th 2018) On a bitterly chilly wintry morning in the Ukranian capital of Kiev last year, an investigation team from the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) sat down to a conference with officials. Present were the country’s Prosecutor General and top officials of Ukrinmarsh, the state agency that …

Continue reading ‘So -Called “Govt to Govt ” Multi-million Dollar MIG 27 Aircraft Deal with Ukraine During Rajapaksa Regime Was Bogus and No-existent:FCID Intensifies Search for Udayanga Weeratunga’ »

By Sarath de Alwis Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after, And the poetry he invented was easy to understand; He knew human folly like the back of his hand, And was greatly interested in armies and fleets; When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter, And when he cried the little children …

Continue reading ‘If Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Becomes President the Sinhala Majority Would Be Bi-furcated Into the “Heroic: and “Unheroic” With The Minority Communities as the Enemy.’ »

By Jayadeva Uyangoda Racism is a political theme that has attracted a great deal of public attention in Sri Lanka last week. The attacks on the life and property of Muslim citizens in several locations in the Kandy District by Sinhalese mobs has provided the context for renewed public attention on the negative and destructive …

Continue reading ‘Racism has Actually been an Expression of a Widely Shared Political Consciousness in Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese Buddhist Society’ »

by C.A.Chandraprema Even though there is supposed to be an ongoing police investigation into the 2009 murder of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, what we have been seeing for the most part is a series of investigations and arrests in relation to various matters on the sidelines of the murder. One of the first persons …

Continue reading ‘Is the CID Eager To Place The Blame For “Sunday Leader ” Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga’s Murder on Ex Def – Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa?’ »

(Extracts From the “Sunday Times”Political Column of March 18th 2018) Last Tuesday, at the Borella residence of Tiran Alles, a former MP and businessman, a group of politicians met. They were representatives of the ‘Joint Opposition’ and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is led by President Sirisena. Among those representing the ‘JO’ were: …

Continue reading ‘Representatives of Joint Opposition and Govt SLFP Meet At Tiran Alles Residence To Plan Ouster of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister Through No Confidence Motion’ »

By Prasad Purnamal MOre than 100 volunteers helped to rebuild 30 year old Madeena Hotel in Anamaduwa in the Puttalam District, 24 hours after a mob set fire to the eatery following a wave of anti-Muslim attacks in Kandy Mohamed Rahim, or ‘Madeena Mudalali’ to the people of Anamaduwa, was the only Muslim to run …

Continue reading ‘More Than a 100 Volunteers Re-constructed Anamaduwa’s only Muslim Eatery in 24 Hours When It Was Burnt Down in Racist Arson Attack.’ »

By Dimuthu Attanayake The country should accept the verdict of the Government Analyst that the substance found in the food in the Ampara restaurant was a ball of starch, insist a group of Sri Lanka’s top physicians. “We are 100 percent sure that the so-called ‘pill’ was starch, the medical professionals told a media briefing …

Continue reading ‘Over a 100 Medical Professionals Collectively Denounce Canar About “Wanda Pethi” Sterilization Pill And Re-iterate That Govt Analyst Report of Substance Found in Ampara Eatery Being a Ball of Starch” Was Correct.’ »

By Prof.Sudarshan Seneviratne (Text of Talk Felicitating Romila Thapar at “History and the Historian” event honouring the eminent historian on March 15th 2018 inIIC, New Delhi, India.SudharshanSeneviratne. Emeritus Professor. University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.CHS/JNU Alumnus 1973-1980) Good morning friends, It is said, to understand history, first, understand the historian. So, we have gathered this morning …

Continue reading ‘How to Situate History of Humanity Beyond Imagined Communities by De-mythifying the Image of Arya, Dravida or Super Races Narrated in Colonial Historiography’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Whenever violence is unleashed on ethnic minority communities, political leaders from South almost by rote, hold a small group responsibleand reiterate that an overwhelming majority of the majority community have always wanted goodwill and peace among the communities. This was the refrain last week as well, following the anti-Muslim violence that erupted …

Continue reading ‘Why Cant Buddhist Mahanayakes Heading Maha Sangha Sects Stop Their Monks from Spreading Hatred and Promoting Violence against Minority Communities in Sri Lanka?’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam Two judges of the Supreme Court yesterday recused themselves from being members of the bench hearing the writ petitions against the decision of the Bribery Commission to institute proceedings against the former Chief Justice and incumbent superior court judge. When the writ petitions were taken up yesterday before a bench headed by …

Continue reading ‘Two Supreme Court Judge Receuse Themselves From Bench hearing Writ Petitions filed against Bribery Commission Proceedings againsEx- chief Justice Mohan Peiris and appeal Court Judge AHMD Nawaz.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Seven Special Determination petitions challenging the constitutionality of the bill entitled the Judicature (Amendment), a bill to amend the Judicature Act No.2 of 1978 was yesterday fixed for argument on March 19 by the Supreme Court. President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, Gamini Marapana PC, Sanjeewa Jayawardena PC, Manohara de Silva PC and …

Continue reading ‘Seven Special Petitions Filed Against Constitutionality of Judicature Act Amendment Bill Fixed for Argument on March 19 Before Supreme Court’ »

By Meera Srinivasan In an unlikely collaboration, Sri Lankan parliamentarian and rugby player Namal Rajapaksa has offered coaching help to a girls’ rugby team in distant Kashmir. “I have spoken to senior Sri Lankan coach Ronnie Ibrahim, and we want to offer whatever support we can to the young team,” Mr. Rajapaksa, a former captain …

Continue reading ‘Hambantota MP And Sri Lankan Rugger Ex-Captain Namal Rajapaksa Ready To Coach Girls Rugby Team In Kashmir in May 2018’ »

The Joint Opposition (JO) in the Sri Lankan parliament will move a Motion of No Confidence against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the coming week, the JO leader and former Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, told the Foreign Correspondents’ Association here on Thursday. He said that he is confident of getting the motion passed because a …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Tells Foreign Correspondents He is Ready To Align With Maithripala Sirisena if SLFP Led Govt is Formed After Ranil Wickremesinghe Is Removed as as Prime Minister’ »

Tech giant Facebook made no new commitments to filter hate speech on their platform contrary to claims by the Sri Lankan government, official sources said Thursday. President Maithripala Sirisena announced that he lifted a ban on Facebook after it agreed to remove hate speech posted on its platform. “My secretary has discussed with officials of …

Continue reading ‘Contrary To Claims Made By Presient Sirisena Facebook Has Not Given any Guarantees To Sri Lanka That It Wont Allow Its Platform to Be Used to Spread Hate Speech and Incite Violence.’ »

Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera was seen among the invitees who attended an event that took place under President Maithripala Sirisena’s auspices, in Japan. Gnanasara Thera came under severe criticism from many quarters in the wake of the recent racially-motivated violence in kandy. The controversial monk also attended a discussion that …

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena Gen -Secy Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera Participated as “invitee” at Two Events in Japan Where President Maithripala Sirisena was Personally Involved.’ »

Sri Lanka may have blocked access to social media sites such as the Facebook, but the online crackdown appears to have had a flip side with hundreds of porn sites making a comeback. While 6.2 million people using Facebook through Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Sri Lanka could not access their pages, the pornographic sites …

Continue reading ‘Pornographic Sites Featuring Local “Stars” That Were Blocked For Years Are Now Easily Accessible To Sri Lankans After Govt Imposed Restrictions on Social Media.’ »

By Kithsiri Wijesinghe Details are emerging of Sri Lanka security forces and public officials collaborating with ultra nationalist Sinhala Buddhist mobs in a riot against Muslims. Doctors on duty in a government hospital denied treatment to injuries from a severe beating by members of the island’s elite police combat unit, alleges a Muslim official from …

Continue reading ‘Sinhala Doctors at Teldeniya Govt Hospital Refused To Treat Bleeding Muslim Assaulted by Special Task Force Accusing Injured Victim of Being a “Thamby Terrorist”Destroying the Country’ »

By Rohantha De Silva and K. Gamini Anti-Muslim violence initiated by extremist Sinhala-Buddhist groups in the Teldeniya-Digana area of Kandy began on the evening of March 4 and continued for about four days. The death of a Sinhalese lorry driver, following an assault by four Muslims men, was seized on by right-wing Sinhala-Buddhist formations to …

Continue reading ‘“Mahasohon Balakaya”Made A video Three Years Ago In Which its Commander Amith Weerasinghe Says Digana Has Become a “Muslim Country”Without a Single Sinhala Shop’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Rauff Hakeem is the Minister of City Planning and Water Supply in Sri Lanka’s national unity government and the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, a prominent Muslim political party. A lawyer and a senior parliamentarian, he represents Kandy district, which recently witnessed violent attacks by Sinhalese mobs that claimed at …

Continue reading ‘It was not a Sinhala-Muslim clash, it was a Mob Attack on Muslims says Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and Cabinet Minister Rauff Hakeem in Interview with “The Hindu”.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka There is a potential threat of domestic terrorism of a new type. The excellent choice for Minister of Law and Order, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, and the Defence authorities under President Sirisena and Ruwan Wijewardene must coordinate to face this new, existential threat. It was on March 3rd, after Ampara but just before …

Continue reading ‘International Implications of a War Against Muslims Will Be Different To the War Against Tamils Because the Tamils as a Global Community are Less Numerous and Economically Endowed Than the Muslims’ »

By Sanja De Silva Jayatilleka There is an on-going dispute of several months duration which has escaped public attention due to the avalanche of crises that has descended on us Sri Lankans over the last months. This dispute relates to an American company named Trimble Inc. which has offered to do what the Survey Department …

Continue reading ‘Why Should an American Company names Trimble inco Be Allowed to Survey Lands in Sri Lanka At A Higher Cost Instead of our Own and Respected Survey Dept Established in 1800?’ »

The police yesterday raided the office of the ‘Mahason Balakaya’ in Nattaranpotha in Kundasale following the arrest of its leader Amith Jeevan Weerasinghe and ten others who are allegedly responsible for the acts of violence committed in the Kandy area. The police had recovered leaflets and posters promoting racism, violence and six bottles suspected to …

Continue reading ‘Police Raid “Mahason Balakaya”Office in Nattaranpotha in Kundasale and Recover Leaflets and Posters Promoting Racism and Violence and 6 Bottles Suspected Of Being Used as Petrol Bombs.’ »

BY Vishwamithra 1984 “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius There was so much of hope, at least amongst the ordinary folks, that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka would be appointed Minister of Law and Order.The logic behind such hope is quite legitimate …

Continue reading ‘Why was Ranjith Madduma Bandara Appointed Law and Order Minister Instead of the Most Suitable Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka Who is Dreaded by the Rajapaksas ?’ »

By Devaka Gunawardena The recent riots targeting Muslims in Kandy have provoked accusations on many sides. While mainstream conversations focus on what the riots entail in terms of immediate political consequences for the current Government and its tepid response, progressives have also had to reckon with the growing presence of anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence as …

Continue reading ‘Why Does the Sri Lankan State Severely Repress Popular Protest Except in the Case of Racist Mobs?’ »

by Bishop Duleep de Chickera Madness against Muslims The shameful acts of violence against the Muslim community in the Kandyan hills, were possible because the violence unleashed against the Muslim community in Ampara and Aluthgama and several other places had been tolerated for too long. If not, the aftermath of the senseless killing of a …

Continue reading ‘Tragic Narrative in Sri Lanka is About The Violence That thrives on Impunity ;Apart From Ritual of Arrests, some Prosecutions and Bail, There have been no Convictions To Date’ »

Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Tamara Kunanayakam yesterday said recent attacks on Muslims had helped advance the UN-US agenda in respect of Sri Lanka. The attacks coincided with the sessions of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the return of the US Peace Corps to the country and …

Continue reading ‘“Recent Attacks on Muslms Helped to Advance the UN-US Agenda In Respect of Sri Lanka” Says Lanka’s Former Envoy in Geneva ,Tamara Kunanayakam at “Eliya” Press Briefing.’ »

Office of the Missing Persons (OMP) yesterday called for public support to achieve its objectives. OMP Chief Saliya Pieris, in a media statement, said as follows : “The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has officially ‘commenced duties following the appointment of the Chairperson and members by His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena on 28th February 2018 …

Continue reading ‘Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Chairperson Saliya Pieris Calls Upon the People of Sri Lanka To Provide the Strength and Support Required to Achieve the Objectives of the OMP Act’ »

Stephen Hawking, perhaps the world’s best known scientist, has died, a spokesperson for his family has confirmed. He was 76. “It is with great sadness we announce the death of Professor Stephen Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA at the age of 76,” the statement reads. “Professor Hawking died peacefully at his home in Cambridge in …

Continue reading ‘Pioneering Physicist and World’s Best Known Scientist Stephen Hawking Passes Away Peacefully in Cambridge at the age of 76.’ »

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) lodged an official complaint with the National Police Commission yesterday (13) requesting an impartial and transparent investigation into police inaction which it alleges increased the intensity of recent communal clashes in Kandy. Writing to Mahinda Moragolla, Director of Public Complaints Investigation Division, Executive Director of CaFFE, Rajith …

Continue reading ‘Campaign For Free and fair Elections(CaFFE) Complains to National Police Commission About Police Not Taking Action Against Mobs During First Four Days Of Anti -Muslim Violence in Digana.Teldeniya, Ambatenne and Menikhinna.’ »

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Sri Lanka, on Monday said there was no medication or ‘pills’ currently known or available that can permanently make a human being sterile, clearing recent accusations that sterilization pills were used in an eatery in Ampara, in eastern Sri Lanka. Current UN Resident Coordinator a.i. and WHO Representative in …

Continue reading ‘“No Medication or Pills Known or Available That Can Make Human Beings Permanently Sterile” – World Health Organization (WHO) Refutes Canards Spread in Sri Lanka About “Infertility” and “Sterilisation”Pills’ »

By J. Natasha Gooneratne (Text of Key Note Address on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8th 2018 at the Forum on Women in Business & Travel Organized by Air India) I’d like to thank you for having me here today and giving me this opportunity to share my views with you. I …

Continue reading ‘All of us have the Capacity, the Tools of Conscience and Intention to Exert Change and the Power to Empower.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Last week, when I wrote about the looming danger of fringe Sinhala Buddhist extremism, it was all quiet in Kandy, at least on the surface. But, those who were privy to local intelligence should have known about simmering tension in the area after the death of a Sinhalese lorry driver who succumbed …

Continue reading ‘Mind-boggling as to how ‘ Mahasohon Balakaya’ a Fringe Racist Group could Operate an Office in Kandy and very Publicly Propagate Hate Against Muslims for Years’ »

By Sharmini Serasinghe Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted? Proactive, or control a calamitous situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened is not a quality our laid-back bureaucrats and their masters are familiar with. No matter which political hue they belong to, proactive they are not! Instead, they …

Continue reading ‘It was Obvious to Those With Common Sense that Kandy was Waiting to Happen in the Almost Immediate Aftermath of Ampara.’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita Police said yesterday the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) had arrested Amith Jeevan Weerasinghe, alleged to be one of the masterminds of the communal unrest in Kandy and nine others, in predawn raids in Digana and Poojapitiya. The TID also arrested Weerasinghe’s second in command Sureda Suraweera. They are accused of spreading misinformation …

Continue reading ‘Amith Weerasinghe the Alleged Mastermind Behind Anti-Muslim Violence In Kandy and His Associate Sumedha Suraweera Arested in Pre-dawn Raids at Digana and Poojapitiya by the Police Terrorism Investigation Division(TID)’ »

By Camelia Nathaniel The Anamaduwa Police had arrested eight persons yesterday in connection with the burning down of the Madeena Muslim Hotel in Anamaduwa last Saturday/sunday night. The Police Media Spokesman’s office told the Daily News last evening that the police were in the process of recording statements from those arrested.

(Text of Editorial appearing under the heading “The silence of the good people” in the “Sunday Observer” of 11 March, 2018) Last week in Kandy, Sri Lanka witnessed the worst ethnic violence since the atrocities at Aluthgama in 2014. The latter was under a brutal militaristic, undemocratic regime that actively emboldened hardline Buddhist groups for …

Continue reading ‘‘It is a time to show no mercy to those who spread fear and hatred and incite violence against innocent people’ -“Sunday Observer”.’ »

Most Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddharatha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter this week said extremism should be totally wiped out from the country. When the Armed Forces and Police are available to protect and safeguard the public, there is no need for other auxiliary Balasenas or Balakayas to offer them protection. The Prelate said …

Continue reading ‘Malwatte Chapter Sri Siddharatha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera Warns Govt About Extremist Organizations Spreading Communal Division in the Country by Openly Maintaining Offices:” When Armed Forces and Police Are There To Protect Public,There is no need for Auxiliary ‘Balasenas’ or’Balakayas” says Prelate’ »

By M.A.Sumanthiran On March 6 2018, Parliament took up an adjournment motion on the issue of the recent violence taking place in Ampara and later, Digana. Speaking after Minister Rauf Hakeem, I agreed with many of the sentiments the Minister expressed concerning these incidents. However, I did not share the disbelief the Minister professed to …

Continue reading ‘Consensus Across Party Lines in Parliament That a Root Cause for the Violence That Erupted was the Culture of Impunity.’ »

By Bhavani Fonseka (The writer is a senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo and an Eisenhower Fellow) On March 6, President Maithripala Sirisena’s government introduced emergency rule, nearly seven years after it lapsed in 2011. The introduction of emergency was in response to the violence and unrest spreading through parts of …

Continue reading ‘The Inaction, Incompetence and Lethargy During Recent Violence Must Be regarded as the Collective Failure of the Whole Coalition Govt’ »

A Muslim-owned restaurant was attacked in Sri Lanka on Sunday despite a nation-wide police alert against hate crimes after last week’s ethnic riots provoked a state of emergency, officials said. Attackers smashed the “Madeena Muslim Hotel” restaurant in the north-western town of Anamaduwa, 130 kilometres (81 miles) north of Colombo in the early hours of …

Continue reading ‘Muslim Owned Restaurant “Medeena Muslim Hotel” at Anamaduwa in Puttalam District Attacked on Sunday Despite Police Constables being deployed To guard the Locality.’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in an interview with Ceylon Today said he takes pride in saying that he did everything possible to defeat terrorism in his capacity as the Defence Secretary, even though it resulted in projecting him as an evil human rights violator. Excerpts: You have previously said that you …

Continue reading ‘Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Discloses His Readiness to Give Up US Citizenship and Contest Elections If Selected as a Presidential Candidate -Interview With Gagani Weerakoon of “Ceylon Today”.’ »

by Anura Gunasekera In June 2014, in Aluthgama, a minor altercation between a Muslim man and a Sinhalese eventually resulted in a massive conflagration, in the course of which a large number of properties belonging to Muslims had been destroyed whilst several Muslim men had also been killed. There is irrefutable evidence that a racist …

Continue reading ‘Shaven Headed men Wearing Saffron Robes are Accorded Veneration, Reverence and an Unacceptable Degree of Impunity Because they are Buddhist Priests and by Implication Untouchable.’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa Unlike the anti-Muslim riots in Aluthgama four years ago, the horrible violence in Kandy, Digana and surrounding areas was covered in great detail by the mainstream media. As a consequence of dealing with the fallout of the violence over social media, some insights are worth sharing. This is particularly pertinent in light …

Continue reading ‘Dozens of Pages on Facebook Were Anchored to Extremist Buddhist Groups Promoting Falsehoods and Vicious Diatribes Against the Muslim Community and Islam’ »

BY W.K. Prasad Manju Joint Opposition Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara claimed that he has come to know, via intelligence sources, that a powerful Government Minister from the Colombo District had given his blessings to an extremist group known as the Mahason Balakaya to instigate the recent communal clash in the hill capital.

By Leon Berenger in Digana, Kandy The silent tears fall on smouldering embers but it cannot douse the flames of hatred which engulfed the hill station town of Digana that witnessed a bloody cycle of ethnic violence where the minority Muslims was targeted at the beginning of this week. It all began with hate speech …

Continue reading ‘“Devils Force”(Mahasohon Balakaya) Presided Over By Amith Weerasinghe Operating From a Plush Office in Kengalle Was Allegedly responsible for Violence in Kandy’ »

BY Kavindya Chris Thomas, reporting from Digana Two men, separated by several kilometres, two villages and distinguished by their respective religions and ethnicities, faced unnatural similar circumstances during this week of bedlam in the Central Province. Historians may observe and record the contemporary occurrences that led to the week-long racial tension and violence in the …

Continue reading ‘“No Violence in the Names Of Our Children” Say the Families of Victims of M.G. Kumarasinghe and Samsudeen Abdul Basith’ »

by Maneshka Borham The recent unrest in Kandy was not only sudden and unexpected but it also brought the whole district to a standstill for over a week as violence ensued in various areas. The unrest which eventually took a communal turn however all began with a mere personal dispute between a lorry driver and …

Continue reading ‘When Hate and Violence Invaded the Central Highlands’ »

By Jayadeva Uyangoda Another week of political chaos and uncertainty has just passed. There was something new in it – Government paralysis for a few days. When two Ministers publicly admitted that the police had been inactive in controlling rioters in the Kandy District that was no ordinary news. There were also media reports, not …

Continue reading ‘Country Bereft of Leadership With President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Being Locked Up in a Power Struggle Having Political and Personal Roots’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Some months ago, I happened to have a chance conversation with a fellow traveller en route when returning to Sri Lanka. Highly educated in the engineering sciences, he hailed from Mawanella (a town close to Kandy) and after a while, the exchange turned to a discussion on how his village had …

Continue reading ‘Communal Violenc Demonstrates That Country Is Heading For an Uncertain Future’ »

Hundreds of Buddhist monks and activists staged a demonstration in the Sri Lankan capital Friday to condemn anti-Muslim riots that have killed three people and forced the government to declare a nationwide state of emergency. The National Bhikku Front said they organised the silent protest against what they called “communal clashes destroying national unity”., Moderate …

Continue reading ‘Hundreds of Buddhist Monks and Activists Condemn Anti-Muslim Violence in Colombo at Protest Demonstration Organized by National Bhikku Front Against “Communal Clashes Destroying National Unity”.’ »

An upsurge of attacks against Muslims by Sinhala Buddhist militants in Sri Lanka has raised fears of a new round of communal violence. In this Q&A, Crisis Group’s Sri Lanka Senior Analyst Alan Keenan says the Government needs to act urgently to prevent the violence from spinning out of control, by enforcing laws against hate …

Continue reading ‘Violence in Sri Lanka Not Local “clashes” between Buddhists and Muslims, but organised and targeted Attacks by Well-known National-level Groups who made their Intentions Clear Through Media -Alan Keenan of “Crisis” group.’ »

Soldiers and police guarded mosques across Sri Lanka during Friday prayers amid fears of new anti-Muslim attacks after four days of riots that have left at least three dead. Most Muslim-owned businesses in the island nation remained shut in protest at attacks by mainly Buddhist Sinhalese groups concentrated around the central city of Kandy. Armed …

Continue reading ‘Muslims Engage in “Jumma”Prayers on Friday While Police and Army Provide Protection To Mosques Throughout Sri Lanka.’ »

By Kelum Bandara Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Minister Rauff Hakeem yesterday asked the government to issue ‘shoot at sight’ orders to enforce the police curfew in the affected areas. Mr. Hakeem told the Daily Mirror there were lapses initially in dealing with the situation, but the incidents could not be solely blamed on …

Continue reading ‘SLMCLeader/Cabinet Minister Rauff Hakeem asks Govt to Issue “Shoot at Sight”Orders to Enforce Curfew in Violence Affected Areas’ »

Police, giving the first comprehensive update after communal violence erupted earlier this week, said 85 people had been arrested for rioting in Kandy, including the head of a radical group and 10 others accused of spreading extremist views via social media. Speaking at a media conference, police said petrol bombs were hurled at a mosque …

Continue reading ‘85 Persons Including 10 Key Suspects Arrested Over Anti-Muslim Violence in Kandy District Where More Than 200 Houses, Businesses and Vehicles Were Torched in Three Days.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday issued a special statement giving an update on the violence in Kandy, assuring that law enforcement authorities stand ready to quell any unrest and soothing fears of violence spreading countrywide. Speaking in his capacity as Law and Order Minister, Wickremesinghe recapped the incidents that sparked violent clashes in Digana and …

Continue reading ‘Additional Army Deployed in Kandy District Under the Command of Major-General Rukman Dias Who will Coordinate with Police and STF in Efforts to Quell Violence Says Premier Wickremesinghe in Special Statement Made to Parliament.’ »

By Indika Ramanayake and Tharindu Jayawardena The particles that were found in food at an eatery in Ampara, which was earlier rumoured to be sterilizing chemicals, were clumps of flour, the Government Analyst reported to Police. “They were contents of carbohydrates,” Government Analyst A. Weliangage said.

By the “Daily FT” Special Correspondent in Kandy A fresh wave of violence erupted in different parts of the Kandy District yesterday, a full 24 hours after the Government declared a state of emergency to control escalating ethnic tensions and attacks on homes and businesses targeting the Muslim community in Digana and surrounding villages. Fires …

Continue reading ‘Fresh Wave of Anti-Muslim Violence in Different Areas of Kandy District Even After Emergency Declared By Govt Being In Force for 24 Hours.’ »

Regional Development Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today said he was against the appointment of Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara as the new Law and Order Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena this morning. Minister Fonseka told the media in Colombo following an event, that this appointment was made without prior information to Minister Bandara. “Minister Bandara …

Continue reading ‘Field Marshall Sarath Fonseksa Denounces Appointment of Ranjith Madduma Bandara as Law and Order Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena.’ »

Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara received his appointment letter as the new Law and Order Minister from President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday morning at the President’s official residence. Two weeks after assuming duties as the Minister of Law and Order, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe relinquished the post and vested it in Public Administration and …

Continue reading ‘Newly Appointed Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara Directed By Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to Submit Report on Workings of the National Police Commission as his First Order of Duty.’ »

Senior United National Party (UNP) MP, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, has been sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s Minister of Law and Order in the context of the need to have a full time Law and Order Minister given the anti-Muslim riots sweeping Kandy district in Central Sri Lanka.

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The recent spate of attacks on Muslims is the latest manifestation of Islamophobia in Sri Lanka. Such violence cannot but have the effect of radicalizing Muslim youth and marginalizing Muslim moderates. We have come one step closer to the emergence of Islamist terrorism in Sri Lanka. So far we have experienced a …

Continue reading ‘Jathika Hela Urumaya’s Champika Ranawaka’s Role in Promoting Sinhala Buddhist Fundamentalism andthe Launching of ‘Islamophobia’ as an Ideological and Political Weapon.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake As flames engulfed more homes and shops in different parts of Kandy, President Maithripala Sirisena rushed to the hill capital yesterday to meet with religious leaders and Government officials, in a bid to quell the situation. President Maithripala Sirisena, who was due to hold a meeting in Anuradhapura, rushed to Kandy when …

Continue reading ‘“An Opposition MP and His Secretary, Two Recently Elected Local Body Members, A District Organizer and Buddhist Monk From same Political Party Behind Anti-Muslim Violence in Digana and Teldeniya will be Arrested Soon reveals Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A fresh round of violence gripped parts of Sri Lanka’s Kandy district on March 7, a day after authorities declared emergency to quell heightening anti-Muslim attacks in the Central Province. Scattered and sporadic, a series of attacks targeting Muslim-owned shops and other buildings in the suburbs of Akurana and Katugastota near Kandy …

Continue reading ‘Anti- Muslim Violence Erupt Again During Curfew In Akurana and Katugastota in Kandy; Soldiers Deployed To Maintain Peace Watched With “Folded Arms” Sinhala Mobs Attacking Muslim Establishments.’ »

Mobs torched Muslim-owned businesses in a central Sri Lanka district on Wednesday as hundreds of police and troops struggled to restore order after days of rioting. The soldiers poured into Kandy to reinforce police but arson attacks persisted even though the government has imposed a nationwide state of emergency and suspended the internet locally to …

Continue reading ‘Fresh Anti- Muslim Arson Incidents In Kandy Despite Island-wide Emergency and Blocking of Social Media : Grenade Exploded By Attacking Mob Kills one and Injures 11 in Ambatenna .Police Fire on Mob in Menikhinna.’ »

(Text of Statement Issued by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka Condemning the Communal Tensions in Digana, Kandy) The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) is deeply concerned and condemns the circumstances surrounding the prevailing tensions in Digana, Kandy. In light of the unrest, the NCEASL underscores the importance of upholding …

Continue reading ‘National Christian Evangelical Alliance Urges Govt to Uphold the Rule of Law in the Country and Stem the Violence Currently Prevailing in the Kandy Region’ »

By Dr.Lionel Bopage Inciting violence, hatred and threats against other citizens because of their diverse backgrounds is harmful for sustained peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Ridiculing their religious beliefs and destroying their properties is terrifying for the targeted groups and distressing for the law abiding community members. A free nation shows its maturity byallowing …

Continue reading ‘Anti-Muslim violence rears its ugly head again in Sri Lanka’ »

By Mujib Mashal and Dharisha Bastians Sri Lanka’s government imposed a nationwide state of emergency on Tuesday after mob attacks against the minority Muslim population in a central district, violence that has highlighted the country’s fragility as it tries to recover from decades of civil war. The unrest in the district of Kandy began on …

Continue reading ‘Four Mosques, 37 Houses, 46 Shops and 35 Vehicles Damaged in the Anti-Muslim Attacks Up To March 5th in Kandy District according to Central Province Councillor Hidayath Saththar.’ »

By Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne Some analysts say the power struggle between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe ended with both being badly bruised, but the conflict also exposed the limitations of their long-term political strategies. It gave in to the hands of Sinhala Buddhist racism a bogus victory to arouse Sinhala plebeians and …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala’s Open Admission That He Had Saved Gotabhaya Rajapaksa From Arrest and Legal Action Failed To Win Votes for SLFP From Mahinda Supporters at Local Polls.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka on Tuesday declared an island-wide state of emergency to curb heightening anti-Muslim violence in the country’s Central Province. The decision, taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, came in response to a series of arson attacks targeting dozens of mosques and Muslim-owned shops and homes in Kandy. On Tuesday …

Continue reading ‘“Anti-Muslim Sentiment Among Sinhalese Subsided After Tamil Militancy Emerged But Seems to Have Re-surfaced After the War Ended” – Senior Academic MA Nuhman’ »

By Latheef Farook What had happened in Digana on Sunday 4 March 2018 was a crime committed on an innocent Sinhalese lorry driver by three drunken Muslim three wheeler thugs. It is a matter for law enforcement authority to deal with culprits in keeping with the law of the land. Instead, Muslim owned businesses in …

Continue reading ‘“First STF Takes Away From Muslims Whatever They Have To Defend Themselves Including Knives and Then Muslims Come Under Attack From Mobs” – Statement From Affected Muslim Person.’ »

​By Charumini de Silva State Finance Minister Eran Wickramaratne yesterday said the Government will disburse close to Rs.4 billion as a broad debt relief program in the Northern Province this week. “In the 2018 Budget we allocated money to deal with this indebtedness. We allocated a total of Rs.2.2 billion to deal with indebtedness. On …

Continue reading ‘Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to Initiate Several Programs in North on March 11th to Disburse up to $ Billion Rupees For Debt Relief to Northern People Entrapped in Debt by Micro-finance companies.’ »

Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment Minister Harin Fernando today said extraordinary measures were taken to restrict access to certain social media websites and phone messaging applications. In a statement, the minister said these measures have been taken by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) as an extraordinary but temporary response to limit the increasing spread …

Continue reading ‘Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Restricts Access to Certain Social Media Websites and Phone Messaging Applications as an “Extraordinary” Response to Limit Spread of Hate Speech And Encouragement of Violence States Cabinet Minister Harin Fernando’ »

(Text of Statement Issued by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 7th 2018 under the heading “Increasing tensions between the Sinhala and Muslim communities”) Several violent incidents have taken placein Diganaafter a Sinhala truck driver died in hospital following an assault by a group of Muslim men. The police have made some arrests, but they …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa To Initiate Dialogue with National Minded Sinhala,Tamil and Muslim Organizations and Individuals to Turn Back the Tide of Communalism.’ »

By Skandha Gunasekara Eleven Muslim MPs led by Commerce and Industry Minister Rishard Bathiudeen sat in the Well of the House yesterday demanding the Government take actions to protect Muslims. The demonstration was staged during an adjournment debate on the current situation in the country in the aftermath of the Sinhala-Muslim clashes. Provincial Councils and …

Continue reading ‘Eleven Muslim MP’s From Different Parties led by Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen Stage Sit -Down Demonstration During Parliament Sittings Protesting Against Anti -Muslim Violence in Amparai and Kandy Districts’ »

Addressing the House, Tamil National Alliance Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran accused Government leaders of being “spineless” in the face of violence directed against what he called “numerically inferior communities.” “If you can’t stand up for what is right, if you can’t stand for numerically inferior communities in your country, then you have no right …

Continue reading ‘TNA Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran Flays President, Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers For Being “Spineless” in the Face Of Violence Directed Against “Numerically Inferior Communities”.’ »

By Skandha Gunasekara Parliament yesterday altered its agenda for the day to hold an urgent adjournment debate on the recent communal unrest in the country in light of the clashes in the Kandy District. Following a party leaders meeting, it was decided that the scheduled debate on the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Bill, initially debated on …

Continue reading ‘“Gangs Who Destroyed Properties Of Muslim People were not Residents of Digana or Teldeniya But Outsiders Who Entered Those Areas After The Sinhala Man Died” Reveals Lakshman Kiriella’ »

By Saman Indrajith The government deliberately delayed taking action to prevent the spread of communal violence, the JVP said yesterday. Addressing a press conference, held at the party headquarters in Pelawatta, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said: “In the aftermath of the local government election defeat, the government is in a crisis. The Prime Minister …

Continue reading ‘“Prime Minister Took The Ministry of Law and Order To Manage Internal Problems Of the Party and Not To Establish Law and Order in the Country”- Anura Kumara Dissanayake’ »

By Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that the Cabinet of Ministers had decided to impose a state of emergency for a period of seven days if necessary. The PM was addressing Parliament as the government stepped up security at Teldeniya and Digana areas following incidents of ethnic violence. The Cabinet had …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Makes Special Statement in Parliament: Condemns Organized Efforts to Spread racism and Communal Disharmony By Those With Power Hunger to Ride to Power.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena has declared a State of Emergency for one week with effect from mid-night yesterday, to redress the unsatisfactory security situation prevailing over certain parts of the country. The State of Emergency had been declared, while empowering Section Two of the Public Security Ordinance within a limited scope. The President’s Media Unit (PMD) …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Declares State of Emergency Bringing Into Effect Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance for Seven Days’ »

By Daily FT News Desk The Government yesterday deployed 200 Special Task Force (STF) personnel and declared special area curfew in Digana in the Kandy District, after mobs attacked shops and places of religious worship in the Muslim-majority town. Some 27 Muslim-owned shops and businesses and several houses were set on fire, while at least …

Continue reading ‘Muslims in Digana Closed Their Businesses and Stayed at Home on Police “Advice” But Sinhala Mobs Looted and Torched 27 Deserted Shops,;At Least One Mosque and Some Houses Also Damaged.’ »

The Government yesterday condemned hate and misinformation campaigns targeting the Muslim community in particular, as it issued a strong statement of condemnation after Digana, Kandy became the second town to be swept up in sectarian violence in one week. “The Government of Sri Lanka strongly and unequivocally condemns the recent sporadic incidents of violence that …

Continue reading ‘Govt Issues Strong Statement Condemning Communal Violence in Amparai and Digana and The Misinformation Campaign Targeting the Muslim Community.’ »

By Asela Kuruluwansa& Zahra Imtiaz The Army was called in to control the tense situation in Digana yesterday as crowds pelted stones at the Police trying to bring the prevailing situation under control. Military Spokesperson Brigadier Sumith Atapattu speaking to the Daily News said the Police had requested assistance from the Army and that around …

Continue reading ‘Curfew Declared in Kandy District: 200 Sinha Regiment Soldiers and 1000 Special Task Force Personnel Deployed as Police Fail to Control Anti-Muslim Violence.’ »

(Excerpted From the “Sunday Times”Political Column) Pro-Sirisena SLFP members continued their on-off dialogue with a group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) members on forming a new Government under President Sirisena. At issue were a number conditions from the SLPP. Most of these centred on economic policy where the SLPP sought a shift from the …

Continue reading ‘Sirisena and Rajapaksa Have One on One Meeting to Discuss Current Political Situation While Basil Rajapaksa Dodges Telephone Calls from Maithripala and Dudley Sirisena’ »

(Excerpted From Column By “Sunday Times” Political Editor) When the brief but sombre private swearing-in ceremony ended last Sunday, President Maithripala Sirisena made sure those from his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) proceeded to an upper floor at the Presidential Secretariat. There, a worried looking Sirisena said he bestowed the much-talked-of Law and Order portfolio …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Refuses to Appoint Sarath Fonseka as Law and Order Minister Despite Ex- Army Chief Requesting Post in Person and in Spite of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Asking Maithripala Directly and Writing 5 Letters In Support of Field Marshall’ »

(Excerpted From the “Sunday Times”Political Column) In the midst of a Cabinet reshuffle, Sirisena had some bad news for Wickremesinghe at Tuesday’s weekly ministerial meeting. He said the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) should be wound up. The CCEM set up on September 23, 2015, meets every Wednesday at Temple Trees and is chaired …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Upsets Prime Minister Wickremesinghe By a Demand To Dissolve the Cabinet Committe On Economic Management(CCEM)’ »

By Jayadeva Uyangoda Political events that followed the local government election of February 10 as well as last week’s mini cabinet reshuffle have re-energized Sri Lanka’s public discussions on changing the dynamics of current politics. Regular media reporting of actual events as well as the never ending speculation about possible twists and turns in politics, …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe While Promoting Reconciliation in the Country Should Also Seek Reconciliation Among Themselves.’ »

by Manjula Fernando The aftermath of the local government election has been fraught with political tension and the uncertainties of coalition politics.Leading civil society activist and Secretary of the Consultative Task Force on Reconciliation mechanisms, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu says these confusions must not be allowed to overshadow the 2015 mandate for democratic and constitutional reforms.“The …

Continue reading ‘“The country hasn’t given up on the reforms agenda-nor should the government,” – Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu in Interview’ »

By C.A. Chandraprema On January 8, 2009, it was a diplomat in the Indian High Commission who phoned me and said that Lasantha Wickremetunga had been ‘shot dead’. I was out of Colombo at the time and was not able to go to the Kalubowila hospital where he had been brought following the attack. I …

Continue reading ‘Is There a Politically Orchesrated Attempt To Turn “Sunday Leader” Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Murder Inquiry Towards a Different Direction?’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Even as farmers protesting the Rajanganaya Drinking Water Project in Thambuttegama were beaten mercilessly by the police and later arrested en masse this week, law enforcement agencies remained inactive in regard to instigators of communal violence in Ampara, happening uncannily enough in the same approximate time span. What occasions this difference? …

Continue reading ‘Law Enforcement Agencies Crack Down Mercilessly On Protesting Farmers in tambuttegama While Remaining Inactive In Combatting Communal Violence in Amparai’ »

By Mangala Samaraweera We are fortunate to witnessthis moment when the Government led by President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has given life to an important promise made to the people of this nation. The Office on Missing Persons Act was passed in August 2016 and on 27 February, a seven-member commission was announced to …

Continue reading ‘According to Red Cross(ICRC) Figures Over 16,000 Including 5100 Members of the Armed Forces Have Been Reported Missing During Sri Lanka’s Civil War’ »

By Dr. Bodhini Samaratunga Living among them, working in the heart of the north where people struggled to heal and hoped to survive – This is my story. “If you can’t speak Tamil , then you’d better pack your bags and leave!” the Consultant said in a blunt tone to the doctors who were newly-posted …

Continue reading ‘How A Sinhalese Doctor From the South Learnt Tamil On Her Own While Serving In a Northern Hospital After the War Ended.’ »

By Zahrah Imtiaz President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday confirmed the appointments of the seven members to the Office of the Missing Persons (OMP) which was established in September 2017. At a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat, the President appointed President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris as Chairman of the Office with six others also being appointed as …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Appoints Seven Members to Office of Missing Persons(OMP) With Presidents Counsel Saliya Peiris as Chairman;2018 Budget Allocated Rs 1.4 Billion for OMP’ »

Sri Lanka’s former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has attempted to shift the blame to his army commander Sarath Fonseka over the assassination of editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and asked police to investigate on those lines. Responding to an Economynext report published in the latest Sunday Island, the former defence chief said the then army commander Fonseka …

Continue reading ‘Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Points The Finger At Ex-Army Commander Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka Over Murder Of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha wickrematunge’ »

By Ishara Mudugamuwa and Nushka Nafeel Cabinet approval has been granted to empower the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to file cases based on facts revealed by the Commissions of Inquiry. Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said the decision to transfer the power of filing …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Approves President Sirisena’s Proposal Empowering Bribery Commission(CIABOC) To File Cases Based On Findings of Presidential Commissions of Inquiry.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed a three-member panel to speed up investigations into high profile murders and other crimes during the previous regime after slow progress in the past three years. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Rehabilitation Minister D. M. Swaminathan and Prisons State Minister Ajith Perera were named into a committee where four ministers failed …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Appoints Committee Comprising Rajitha Senaratne,DM Swaminathan and Ajith Perera To Speed Up Investigations Into Alleged High -profile Crimes Committed during rajapaksa regime’ »

By Shehan Chamika Silva The Supreme Court today issued an Interim Order preventing the arrest of former Inspector General Jayantha Wickramaratne by the CID, over the ongoing Magisterial Inquiry into the killing of former Sunday Leader Editor late Lasantha Wickramatunge.

By C. A. Chanadraprema In a recent article titled “Yahapalana government as a hyper-debt regime”, Professor Milton Rajaratne of the University of Peradeniya has pointed out that even though the yahapalana government accuses the Rajapaksa government of having imposed an immense debt burden on the country, the present government too has borrowed ‘surprising amounts’ of …

Continue reading ‘Proposed Active Liability Management Bill Will Vest Individuals Who Gave Evidence Before Bond Scam Commission With Unrestricted Power to Borrow and Dispose of Over One TRILLION Rupees.’ »

By Kelum Bandara At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have rebuffed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and stressed the need for centralized decision-making on economic matters. The CCEM takes decisions on economic matters and meets every week.

By K. Ratnayake After more than a week of political wrangling, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe decided to continue the national unity government, in which Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) are partners. Speaking in parliament last Wednesday, Wickremesinghe declared “there is no reason …

Continue reading ‘Intervention by US and India Prevents Break-up of Govt and Compels Sirisena and Wickremesinghe To Continue With Fragile Coalition’ »

(Former Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has issued a statement refuting a news report in the “Sunday Island” of February 25th 2018. The purported report in “The Island” newspaper was originally published in the “ECONOMY NEXT” Website. The same report appearing in ECONOMY NEXT was re-produced in this blog too under a different heading.As such the …

Continue reading ‘“I am in No Way Connected to the Murder of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge” States Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa:Issues Statement Dismissing Malicious Reports as Baseless and Without Foundation.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka With the election result, the Yahapalana coalition Government is like a predator with a poison arrow embedded in its flesh, which has lurched into a quagmire. The end may be a long-drawn and painful process lasting 500 days, but it will neither exit the mire nor recover from the wound. While the …

Continue reading ‘UNP Is Currently Dominated By Politico-Economic Neoliberals Branded as “Toiyyas” who Trash Those In the Rajapaksa Camp as “Baiyyas”’ »

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has strongly opposed the enactment of ‘Active Liability Management Bill’ meant to bypass existing controls in respect of loans obtained from foreign and local sources. Former President Rajapaksa released the following statement headlined Yahapalana govt.’s irresponsible and destructive borrowing spree: “The government has introduced in Parliament the Active Liability Management Bill …

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Condemns “Yahapalana Govt’s Irresponsible and Destructive Borrowing Spree” and Strongly Opposes Enactment of “Active Liability Management Bill”’ »

(Ram Gopal Varma is an Indian film Director, Screenwriter and Producer, known for his works in Telugu Cinema, Bollywood, and television.Varma directed films across multiple genres, including parallel cinema and docudrama know n for their gritty realism and technical finesse, and craft/ Regarded as one of the pioneers of new age Indian Cinema,Varma garnered the …

Continue reading ‘“Maverick” Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma Writes With Frank Emotion about His Interaction with Actress Sridevi Whom he Describes as the “Goddess of Beauty”.’ »

By Barkha Dutt The sudden and mysterious death of Sridevi Kapoor, a Bollywood superstar beloved to millions of Indians and a rare actor who bridged the culture gap between the North and the South, is absolutely a valid news story. For my entire generation, Sridevi was a cult figure. She began acting at the age …

Continue reading ‘Indian Television Channels Diminish Journalism Standards To The Lowest Level In Provising Coverage of Popular Indian Actress Sridevi’s Death in Dubai’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s local government elections, a weary sense of resignation weighs heavier in the scales than lingering (if not hopeless) optimism. As President Maithripala Sirisena dons white and is back again to his accustomed role of preaching morality and the virtues of good living to the restive …

Continue reading ‘Who in this Cabinet Actually Commands Public Confidence? What is the Point of Changing Portfolios Among The Same Discredited Faces ?’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya The latest Cabinet reshuffle was a disappointment. Even some UNP parliamentarians have gone on record calling it a ‘joke’, others mutter the same in private. If anything at all, this is another proof of how indecisive President Maithripala Sirisena has become. He is being dragged here and there by his Maharaja advisers, …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s “Maharaja”Advisers and SLFP Heavyweights Prevented Sarath Fonseka’s Appointment as Law and Order Minister?’ »