One of one meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to take place today, informed political sources said. the meeting comes in the wake of the defeat suffered by the ruling alliance at the Local Government election. The discussion is aimed at striking an agreement between the two main parties to seize …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala and Ranil Will Have One on One Meeting To Discuss Restoration of Coalition Govt Unity and Capturing Power in Certain Councils Through UNP and SLFP Combination’ »

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) is heading for a sweeping victory in the crucial all-island local government elections held on Saturday. It is a victory of far reaching consequence to Sri Lankan nation’s politics in the near term as it is seen as a “referendum” on the performance of …

Continue reading ‘Poor Performance of the UPFA/SLFP Led by Maithripala Sirisena in Local Govt Polls Could Seriously Affect President’s Political Prospects’ »

(Excerpts From the “Sunday Times” Political Column of February 11th 2018) Just this week, a completely unrelated incident was to highlight the sharp and heightening divisions within Sirisena’s coalition. It came after Britain’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris lodged a strong protest with the Foreign Ministry in Colombo over the conduct of Brigadier …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Secretary Kariyawasam in Association With Defence Secretary Waidyaratne Acting on a Directive Issued by Premier Wickremesinghe Suspended Brig. Priyanka Fernando:President Sirisena Furious For Not Being Consulted on Matter.’ »

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), led by President Maithriapala Sirisena, is currently facing a political volcano with the results of the Local Government election. It is learnt that several senior Cabinet Ministers of the SLFP have decided to resign from their ministerial portfolios in the unity government.

(Text of Statement Issued by Former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa following election results of Local Authority Polls being announced) Reports coming in from all corners of the island, indicate that the Sri Lanka Podu jana Peramuna is heading for a historic victory at the local government elections. I wish to express my …

Continue reading ‘Jubilant Mahinda Rajapaksa Calls Upon Candidates of the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Party to Peacefully Celebrate Victory in a Restrained Manner Without Inconveniencing the Defeated Side’ »

The recently formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa seems to have swept a majority of the local government wards in the south at yesterday’s countrywide polls, according to early results that began trickling in late last night. However, in some councils though the SLPP won most of the wards …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda’s Podu Jana Peramuna Leads in Most Elections to Wards in Sinhala Majority Areas With UNP Second and Maithripala’s SLFP a Distant Third; ITAL tops 25 of 34 LG authorities in North.’ »

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s proxy was set for an unexpected landslide victory in Saturday’s local council elections described by private poll monitors as the most peaceful in decades. Unofficial results showed that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was leading in almost all the districts outside the north and the east and was on its …

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Proxy Party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP) Heading for Landslide Victory In Most Local Authorities Outside North and East’ »

By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London In the backdrop of pro-LTTE activists demanding the expulsion of Brig. Priyanka Fernando, Sri Lanka’s Minister Counsellor in London, the veteran army officer defended his action saying it was meant to portray that the LTTE leader was dead, when demonstrators continued to shout “our leader is Prabakaran”. Brigadier Fernando is …

Continue reading ‘Brig.Priyanka Fernando Says his “Throat Slitting”Action was done Twice To Show that LTTE Leader Prabhakaran was Dead and that Everything was now over.’ »

(Excerpts From the “Sunday Times” Political Column of February 11th 2018) The nation today awaits the victor and the vanquished at the local polls which took place yesterday. As the hours tick by, that there will be surprises galore, in the first test of strength for the ruling coalition, has become clearer. One such instance …

Continue reading ‘Split In Coalition Govt Widens as President Sirisena Mounts Anti- Corruption war Against the UNP in SLFP Election Campaign For Local Authority Polls’ »

By Dushy Ranetunge in London The unfortunate incident involving Sri Lanka’s military attaché to London exposes the challenges faced by the Sri Lankan administration, struggling to steer the nation away from the gates of the International Criminal Court. Waving the red flag of Tamil Eelam in the face of the hard line, nationalistic segments of …

Continue reading ‘The Function of the Military Attaché to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London is not to be its Security Guard’ »

By Namini Wijedasa (This article written for “Sunday Times”by Namini Wijedasa two years ago was posted on this Blog then.It is being re- posted now in view of its current relevance -DBSJ) Just three days after last year’s presidential election, someone predicted the Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) bond issue on an online website for stock …

Continue reading ‘All About Arjun Aloysius the Perpetual Treasuries “James Bond” Implicated in the Central Bank Bond Scam’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka THE POWER OF HERE: TAMIL POLITICS ON THE MORNING AFTER Whatever the political configuration in the North and East on the morning after, Tamil politics will remain in the dead-end that it has inhabited for 70 years. This is not because such a sad outcome is inevitable, but simply because it is …

Continue reading ‘Whatever the Results of Local Govt Polls, North -Eastern Tamil Politics Will Remain in the Dead End it Has Inhabited for the last 70 Years’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake If all the loud talk on the poll platforms in these past weeks has given some idea of a major political change after today’s elections, just forget about it. There will be no change. Corruption will remain, and right on top of politics and governance. Those who have promised to eradicate corruption, …

Continue reading ‘All Big Talk About Fighting Corruption is Sheer Bunkum and Corruption Will Remain After Local Govt Polls.’ »

By Dr. Sara Dissanayake The recent incident involving the throat-slit gesture made by Defence Attaché Brigadier Priyanka Fernando in response to the Eelamist protesters in London has, rightly so, stirred much controversy. Developments following the incident also sparked ample debate, prompting the public to take sides under the prevailing circumstances. Instead, this incident compels me …

Continue reading ‘Letting Demonstrators Brandish Tiger Flags in London After Proscribing LTTE in the UK, Exposes Hypocritical double Standards of Britain.’ »

By Yohan Perera State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene today lauded Minister Counsellor (Defence) Brigadier Priyanka Fernando of the Sri Lankan High Commission in UK, for giving a signal to the pro LTTE Diaspora members whom he said are not genuinely interested in the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.

By Indika Ramanayake Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake said that they would not be conducting an inquiry the actions of the Defence Attache of the Sri Lankan High Commission in UK Brigadier Priyanka Fernando after he was spotted making a throat slitting gesture towards protesters who thronged the Embassy office in the UK.

By Skandha Gunasekara The country’s authorities were in the dark regarding the planned arrest of wanted former diplomat, Udayaga Weeratunga, despite two separate teams of officials travelling to the country for his extradition. A highly-placed police source said that Interpol had only issued a Blue Notice – which is used to collect additional information about …

Continue reading ‘“Arrested” Uthayanga Weeratunga Is Released as a Free Bird While Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake Sends Police Official Team to Escort the Ex-diplomat From Dubai to Sri Lanka’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita Police are not doing enough to protect the black tortoise (gal ibba) and the flapshell tortoise (kiri ibba) being slaughtered for the consumption of Chinese construction workers and tourists, says Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR).

By Shamindra Ferdinando An irate President Maithripala Sirisena has rescinded government decision to suspend Brigadier Priyankara Fernando, Minister Counselor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London following allegations that he acted in a threatening manner during a protest staged by some pro-LTTE groups outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Rescinds Govt Decision to Suspend Minister Counsellor at London High Commission and Lambastes Foreign Ministry for not Consulting him about Brig.Priyankara Fernando.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake Government institutions have engaged in continuous “window dressing” of financial records to under report national debt and bypass borrowing limits imposed by debt management regulations, Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe revealed yesterday. Taking the balance sheet of the Finance Ministry as an example, Wijesinghe said data presentation has been manipulated to avoid presenting …

Continue reading ‘Govt Institutions Continuously Engage in “Window Dressing” of Financial Records to Show Reduced National Debt Figures and By pass Borrowing Limits Reveals Auditor-General.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “Our nation–Tamil Eelam! “Our leader–Prabhakaran!” shrieked the demonstrators brandishing Tiger flags outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on the 70th Independence Day of our country. Defense Attaché, Brigadier Priyankara Fernando, can be seen on video, watching the demonstration. What does the Brigadier see? The Tiger flag, with the crossed rifle-butts …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry By Suspending Brigadier Priyankara Fernando Has Taken the Side of Demonstrators Brandishing Tiger Flags on Independence Day Outside Our Mission in London’ »

The Minister Counsellor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London was allowed to resume duties on a Presidential Directive today after being suspended from his duties following a video footage, Army Spokesperson Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said. The video footage showed him behaving in an offensive manner was emerged and circulated on social …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Countermands Foreign Ministry Order Suspending Brig.Priyankara Fernando and Issues Directive Restoring his Minister Counsellor (Defence) Post at London High Commission’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has queried whether the UNP-SLFP coalition wanted to deprive him of civic rights for bringing the nearly 30-year war to a successful conclusion. Had they been trying to find fault with me for rapid development after the eradication of terrorism, Rajapaksa asked a cheering crowd at Dravindra Seth …

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Challenges UNP-SLFP Coalitio To Strip Him of His Civic Rights and Warns Govt That It Wouldn’t be an Easy Task.’ »

The government yesterday suspended Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, Minister Counsellor (Defence) attached to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London following allegations that he had acted in a threatening manner during a protest staged by some pro-LTTE groups outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on the Independence Day.

Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has issued a statement from the US, in response to a news item published in the newspapers based on a statement made by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, that questioning of Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunge at the Dubai airport, while he was on his way to the …

Continue reading ‘Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Says Statements Made Against Him By Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne About Udayanga Weeratunga are Baseless Allegations’ »

By Saman Indrajith The SLFP wouldn’t endorse moves to deprive anyone of his or her civic rights, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told Parliament yesterday. Amaraweera was referring to the recommendation made in the PRECIFAC that section 81 of the Constitution be amended to provde for scrapping civic rights of a politician for life if he or …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena -led SLFP Opposes UNP Leader Wickremesinghe’s Proposal to Strip Civic Rights of Politicians Guilty of Serious Crimes.’ »

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday sought credit for the arrest of bond scam suspects and insisted it was possible because the Government had protected judicial independence, as well as promoted investigations and called for greater resources to be allocated for investigations concerning the previous administration. UNP General Secretary and Public Enterprise Minister Kabir Hashim …

Continue reading ‘UNP Claims Credit for Arrest of Treasury Bond Scam Suspects Arjun Aloysius and Kasun Palisena and For Removal From Office of Arjuna Mahendran and Ravi Karunanayake’ »

By Prof. S. W. R. de A. Samarasinghe The local government (LG) election scheduled for coming Saturday is notable for four main reasons. One is the doubling of members to be elected. The second is the introduction of a mixed system that combines wards and a list. The third is the introduction of a women’s …

Continue reading ‘Four Reasons as to why the Feb 10th Local Govt Polls are Important.’ »

By Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday asked the political parties represented in Parliament whether they would support amending the Section 81 of the Constitution to deprive a person found guilty of serious crimes of his civic rights. Commencing the adjournment debate on the bond commission report and the presidential commission report on serious …

Continue reading ‘Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe Wants to Amend Section 81 of Constitution to Enable the Removal of Civic Rights of Persons Convicted for Serious Crimes.’ »

Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena were re-remanded till February 16 by Fort Magistrate Court yesterday. They were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on 4 February, charged under the state property act in connection with the Central Bank Bond scam investigation. The individuals, along with former Central Bank …

Continue reading ‘PTL Owner Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena Arrested by Police in Colombo and Re-remanded Until Feb 16th.Ex- Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran In Singapore Ordered To Present Himself to Police in Colombo and Face Charges.’ »

By Gamini Akmeemana He never compromised in his art and this iron will reflected in his death, too. He wanted the simplest of funerals and got his wish. There were no political speeches and no lobbies vying to hijack his body. True to his secular beliefs, Dharmasena Pathiraja the ‘materialist’ (as he called himself) did …

Continue reading ‘To my Mind, Dharmasena Pathiraja’s Name Ranks Alongside That of Lester James Pieris.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said fighting corruption was the self-defence of a nation. Speaking at the 70th Independence anniversary celebrations at Galle Face, the President said, “Strengthening the attitude for anti corruption and implementing it is the self defence of the nation to ensure its progress.” The text of President Sirisena’s speech: “Today, we celebrate …

Continue reading ‘“Critical to Ensure Reconciliation of Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher Communities to Build the Nation” – President Sirisena’s 70th Independence Day Message’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As furious competition for votes in the forthcoming local government elections reaches fever-pitch, hostility (real or contrived as the case may be) between the bedraggled actors that strut on Sri Lanka’s political stage has become positively noxious. Braggadocio and shifty evasion We may look in vain for inspiring policy driven speeches …

Continue reading ‘The Supreme Arrogance of Corruption and Imperviousness to Rule of Law That Distinguished the Rajapaksa Presidency Cannot Be Allowed To Return.’ »

By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor With just five days to go for the local polls, a joke doing the rounds on mobile phones this week is about an old American, a Russian and a Sri Lankan talking to God. When will my country come out of the recession asked the American and god replied …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena’s Trail of Contradictions and Bizarre Remarks Raise Concerns About His Credibility as President.’ »

By C.A.Chandraprema Ravi Karunanayke, the beleaguered Assistant Leader of the UNP suffered another serious setback to his political career last week when his party asked him to step down from his party positions until he was cleared of the charges which emerged against him as a by-product of the bond commission hearings. There would naturally …

Continue reading ‘When Ravi Karunanayake Gave Rs 50 Million For the Maithripala Sirisena Election Campaign No Questions Were Asked About Where He Got The Money From.’ »

The owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited, Arjun Aloysius and its CEO, Kasun Palisena, both kingpins in the LKR 11,450 million Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) bond scam of February 2015, were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Sunday. These are the first arrests in the scam. They were whisked away to the …

Continue reading ‘Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) Owner Arjun Aloysius and PTL Chief Executive Officer Kasun Palisena Arrested By Police and Taken to Criminal Investigation Dept( CID)Headquarters for Recording of Statements About Treasury Bond Scam’ »

By Shehan Chamika Silva Filing the first ‘B’ report in Court on its investigation into the CB bond scam, the CID on Friday cited former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, Perpetual Treasuries Ltd., (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius, PTL Chief Executive Officer Kasun Palisena and PTL as suspects in the main magisterial inquiry. Appearing for the …

Continue reading ‘CID Files “B” Report In Courts Over Treasury Bond Scam Citing Central Bank Ex- Governor Arjuna Mahendran, Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Owne rArjun Aloysius and PTL Chief Executive Officer Kasun Palisena as Suspects’ »

By Camelia Nathaniel The CID had taken into custody the former Crimes OIC of the Mount Lavinia Police on a 48 hour detention order over the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge which took place nine years ago. CID sources told the Daily News that the then Crimes OIC of the Mt. Lavinia Police, …

Continue reading ‘Mt.Lavinia Police Ex- Crimes OIC Arrested for Questioning Over Concealing Evidence In Lasantha Wickrematunga Murder; Arrest of Former IGP,DIG and SP Also Imminent.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s local government elections, scheduled to be held on February 10, have elicited the interest of a national election, and with good reason. This is the first time the country will go to the polls in about three years since the President Maithripala Sirisena–Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe combine rose to power …

Continue reading ‘A Scenario Where Mahinda Rajapaksa Stages a Comeback, Would be of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government’s Own Making.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Last week, leader of the opposition and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R. Sampanthan, had two diplomatic meetings in Colombo with leaders of two Asian countries, who were on state visits to Sri Lanka, and a third with the Colombo based political section head of the European Union. What’s noteworthy about the …

Continue reading ‘TNA Leader Sampanthan on a Fools Errand Trying To Finalize a New Constitution After the LG Polls While Fissures Between UNP and SLFP Widen Daily’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Henry Kissinger and Oliver Stone, who had very little in common, are both credited with originating the saying “ just because you are paranoid it doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you” and its variation which goes “even if you are paranoid you can have real enemies”. The same goes for …

Continue reading ‘He May be a “Garrulous Gasbag” But I Believe Rajitha Senaratne is Telling The Truth That Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Will be Arrested and Jailed After Feb 10th”’ »

by Maheesha Mudugamuwa The SLFP yesterday said under the current circumstances a new Prime Minister should be appointed, replacing incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe after the conclusion of local government polls on Feb. 10. Addressing the weekly SLFP media briefing at party headquarters in Colombo, SLFP Spokesman State Minister Dilan Perera said such a move would be …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Wont Be Stripped of his Civic Rights But Ranil Wickremesinghe May be Replaced as Prime Minister Says SLFP Spokesman Dilan Perera’ »

By Dr. Chandrika Subramaniyan The guessing game is finally over. Rajinikanth, the State’s super star, has officially announced his entry into politics and named it as ‘spiritual politics’. He has declared that he will form his own party, which has raised the eyebrows of many people. However, his entry is unlikely until the next Assembly …

Continue reading ‘Rajinikanth vs Kamal Haasan: “Star Wars” Erupt In The Political Space Of Tamil Nadu State.’ »

By Ajantha Kumara Agalakada The one-day Parliamentary debate on the Bond Commission’s report and the PRECIFAC report scheduled on February 6, is simply a ‘gimmick’ instead of a fruitful one, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday. In an interview with media personnel at his official residence, the President said this was a debate which should have …

Continue reading ‘UNP Ministers Under Whose Purview the Police,CID and A G Dept Function Are responsible For Not Taking Legal Action Against the Rajapaksas States President Sirisena’ »

By Ajith Siriwardana United National Party (UNP) MP Ravi Karunanayake said yesterday whatever the President or the Prime Minister said during this election period should not be taken seriously. He said that was a matter to be considered after the election.

By Yohan Perera Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake, the film-star-turned politician, said today it was too late for UNP assistant leader Ravi Karunanayake to step down because the damage had already been done to the party. He said what the Bond Commission said in its report about Mr. Karunanayake had tarnished the image of the UNP …

Continue reading ‘“UNP Will Lose the Floating Votes at Local Polls Because Ravi Karunanayake Has Tarnished the Party’s Image Badly Says Filmstar -Politician Ranjan Ramanayake’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Health Minister and Cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne alleges that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate for the next presidential election, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has fled the country fearing arrest in the wake of ongoing judicial investigations into acquisition of MiGs from Ukraine under controversial circumstances. Dr. Senaratne said so …

Continue reading ‘Arrangements Have Been Made To Arrest Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa When He Returns On Feb 12th Says Health Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka It was Marx who made the characteristically acerbic remark that “the incredible flatness of present-day bourgeois society is best measured by the height of its greatest intellects”. He was referring to Jeremy Bentham. The fact that the key ideologue and propagandist of the Yahapalana government is Mangala Samaraweera speaks to the pathetic …

Continue reading ‘Essential Difference Between President Maithripala Sirisena, Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By Chameera Elladeniya Deputy Power and Energy Minister Ajith P Perera yesterday stressed that Perpetual Treasuries Director Arjun Aloysius who was involved in the Central Bank Bond issue, was a close confidante of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Perera told the press yesterday that Arjun Aloysius was not a member of United National Party and this …

Continue reading ‘Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Director Arjun Aloysius Was a Close Confidante of Former President Mahinda rajapaksa Alleges Deputy Power Minister Ajith P Perera.’ »

United National Party General Secretary Kabir Hashim said that until the Attorney General or Bribery Commission reach a decision on taking legal action against MP Ravi Karunanayake, he should step down as UNP’s Assistant Leader. “There are no findings against any member of the United National Party including Mr. Ravi Karunanayake in regard to the …

Continue reading ‘“Steps Would Be Taken To Ensure That Ravi Karunanayake Should Not Exercise Any Duties as an Assistant Leader of the United National Party ” States UNP General – Secretary Kabir Hashim.’ »

By Mahinda Aluthgedara President Maithripala Sirisena said that he will in future continue on a correct political vision no matter what obstacles he would have to face, and carry out his duty as President for the betterment of its people. He said that when he initiates action against corruption and the corrupt for the betterment …

Continue reading ‘The UNP Should Be Held Responsible For Delay In Taking Legal Measures Against the Rajapaksas for Corruption During the Previous Govt Period Says President Maithripala Sirisena.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “Where a class abdicates its moral right to leadership, it is already doomed and must surely die.” – – Mervyn de Silva, Ceylon Observer Magazine Edition, May 1967 The UNP Establishment has just raised the stakes. It is proclaiming from every platform that if it wins the upcoming local government election it …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa is Making a Comeback Just as Churchill, de Gaulle, Indira Gandhi and Vladimir Putin Did.’ »

By Kelum Bandara Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly told his Cabinet Ministers that he would implement the recommendations of the Tilak Marapana committee on the bond scam. It is learnt that the Committee has recommended that MP Ravi Karunanayake should step down from his post as the Assistant Leader of the party and refrain from …

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Refuses To Step Down From UNP Assistant Leader Post And Refrain From Political Activity Depite Party Wanting Him To Do So.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have indicated that it will be proper if UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake steps down from his post as the assistant leader of the party. This was revealed by the Prime Minister, when he presided over a meeting with the leaders of the parties aligned with the UNP.

President Maithripala Sirisena has backtracked on his rhetoric to ditch his senior coalition partner, the United National Party (UNP), and ruled out any rapprochement with the Rajapaksa-faction of his own party. Addressing a political rally in his home constituency of Polonnaruwa, Sirisena said he knew that Rajapaksa loyalists within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Backtracks On Earlier Announcement Of Ditching UNP and Forming New Govt With all 96 MP’s Elected On UPFA Ticket’ »

By Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha ( Full Text of Dr P R Anthonis Memorial Oration Delivered at Sasakawa Hall by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha on January 22nd, 2018) “Teach us to care and not to care,Teach us to sit still” (T.S.Eliot) T. S. Eliot’s exhortation in ‘Ash Wednesday’ seems particularly appropriate when we consider the life of Dr. …

Continue reading ‘“I Fear The March of Folly will Continue and Our politicians Will Continue to Lead us Down the Road to Disaster”.’ »

By Kelum Bandara Former MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, who served in the COPE during the previous Parliament, in an interview with the Daily mirror spoke about the bond scam in the Central Bank and of other happenings in the political front. Following are excerpts of the interview done with Prof. Wijesinha. Q As a member …

Continue reading ‘Sujeeva Senasinghe and Rosy Senanayake Were Contracted By Ranil To Disrupt The Previous Parliament COPE Committee Proceedings On Treasury Bond Scam Alleges Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha’ »

By The “ECONOMY NEXT ” “Political Correspondent Our political correspondent examines how Sri Lanka’s ex-defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has avoided arrest despite being implicated in the murder of Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga and several other crimes. Economynext’s political correspondent says both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe may want Gotabhaya to remain a free man, …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe For Different Political Reasons Are “United” In Preventing Arrest of Ex- Defence Secretary For Allegedly Committing Serious Crimes.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene These days, it seems that President Maithripala Sirisena lights matches with relish, igniting political fireworks that go off virtually every day of the week in a dazzling display of verbal pyrotechnics. Mostly aimed at the United National Party (UNP) his squirming coalition partner in Sri Lanka’s governing ‘unity’ alliance, these onslaughts …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Keeps Igniting Political Fireworks That Go Off Virtually Every Day Of The Week In a Dazzling Display Of Verbal Pyrotechnics’ »

Renowned Film director and screenplay writer Dharmasena Pathiraja popularly known as “Pathi”has passed away at a private hospital in Kandy on Sunday Jan 28th. The 74 year old film maker made waves in Sri Lankan cinema through films like “Bambaru Avith”, “Eya dan Loku Lamayek”, “Soldadu Unnaha” and “Ponmani” etc Educated at Dharmaraja College, Kandy, …

Continue reading ‘Renowned Sri Lankan Film Maker Dharmasena Pathiraja of “Bambaru Avith” Fame Passes Away in Kandy At The Age Of 74’ »

BY Methmalie Dissanayake Incidence of politicians interfering in the schools admission process is not so uncommon in Sri Lanka. No matter how shameful it may seem, if you have a letter from a politician and bundle of currency notes you can gain many things in this country. Political interference came to a climax when a …

Continue reading ‘Whole Country Awaits Justice For Badulla Girls School Principal R.Bhavani Who Was Bullied Into To Kneeling Before The Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake’ »

By Namini Wijedasa The operations of bank accounts of all 28 companies within the Perpetual Group– associated with Arjun Aloysius, a key suspect in the controversial Central Bank bond scams—have been frozen with immediate effect by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), authoritative sources told the Sunday Times. …

Continue reading ‘Bank Accounts of 28 Companies Within Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Group Associated With Arjun Aloysius Frozen With Immediate Effect By Financial Intelligence Unit of Central Bank’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon The Commission which has held former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa responsible for causing colossal losses to the Government through the abuse of power, has given a detailed account of how former Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa allegedly misused Gama Neguma project money. The PRECIFAC, in its …

Continue reading ‘Deviating From Accepted Norms, Basil Rajapaksa Has Had a Security Detail of 84 Military and 68 Naval Personnel From Januaary 10th 2010 to Jan 10th 2010 Says PRECIFAC Commission Report’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he is willing to form a new government, if all 96 members elected to Parliament from the UPFA at the last 2015 general election, stand with him. “Some who have formed a new coalition are saying they will join if an SLFP-led Government is formed. I am telling them, if …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Ready to Form a New SLFP -led Govt if all 96 MP”s Elected from the UPFA in 2015 General Election If They Come and Stand With Him.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that Parliament will be summoned on February 8 to debate the two respective reports of the presidential commissions on the issuance of treasury bonds and the serious acts of fraud, corruption and abuse of power, state resources and privileges. “As Ministers and MPs are engaged in the local polls propaganda …

Continue reading ‘Probe Report Recommends That Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Civic Rights Be Removed For Life Reveals Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena Friday blamed the undue delay in prosecuting high profile criminal suspects of the former regime on inefficient state attorneys and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Speaking to local media heads at the President’s House in Colombo, Sirisena said he wanted indictments prepared by the attorney general’s department by a panel of …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Accuses Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and Attorney – General Jayasuriya of Delaying Prosecution of Ex – Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Although Investigations Are Over in Certain Cases.’ »

By Muditha Dayananda While claiming that a coalition of VIP ‘robbers’ both in the government and the opposition had managed to delay the debate on the bond commission report and the PRECIFAC report, President Maithripala Sirisena today challenged them to hold the debate on the bond commission and PRECIFAC report before February 10, prior to …

Continue reading ‘A Govt -Opposition Coalition of “VIP Robbers” Involved in the Treasury Bond Scam Met at a Borella Residence and Devised a Debate Postponement Plot Alleges President Sirisena.’ »

State properties and institutions have been sold without informing the cabinet of ministers in the past three years, during the current administration, President Maithripala Sirisena has told heads of media insitutions. Large sums that should have come to the Treasury had gone to private companies in a systematic matter, a statement released by his office …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Tells Media Heads that State Institutions and Properties Have Been Sold Without the Knowledge of Cabinet for the Past Three Years’ »

(Text of Statement issued by the Minister of Finance and Media, Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP. on January 25th 2018 under the heading ” March to freedom or return to fear?) The National Unity Government ushered in through a historic and revolutionary election in January 2015 has recently marked three years in office. As the Government …

Continue reading ‘” Rajapaksa Regime and its Fellow Barbarians at the Gates Once More” – Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera Warns Sri Lanka Before Local Govt Polls’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday threw down the gauntlet in Parliament challenging it to debate the bond report before the pending local government elections and reiterating his commitment to punish any wrongdoers found guilty of bond irregularities. Speaking at an election rally in Panadura, President Sirisena in strident tones called for Parliament to have at least …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Challenges Parliament to Debate the Bond Commission Report Before Local Govt Elections’ »

The Attorney General’s Department is in the process of studying the possibility of instituting legal action against former Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith and several other persons. They are alleged to have been involved in misappropriation of public funds and serious acts of fraud.

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said the current government has failed to identify the real challenges facing the country and instead had made the defaming of Mahinda Rajapaksa as its only challenge and objective. Addressing a meeting in Gampaha town organised by the Siyane Vidvath Sansadaya Scholars’ organization through Skype from US, he said the …

Continue reading ‘Defaming of Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only Challenge and Objective of the Current Govt States Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’ »

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake in a statement today thanked President Maithripala Sirisena for appointing the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the bond issue after the formation of the good governance government and through its final report for absolving the UNP, the Prime Minister and especially him from all allegations levelled. He released the statement to …

Continue reading ‘Text of Statement Released to Media By Ex-Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake After Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Denies Opportunity to Make Special Statement in Parliament’ »

by Vidushan Premathiratne On 8 January 2015, the people of this country exercised their true democratic grit to dispel the rule of President Rajapaksa and his family. The right of the people was exercised in a clear wave of hope to end corruption, inequality and establish justice, which most thought was diminished under the Rajapaksa …

Continue reading ‘Is Time Running Out For President Maithripala Sirisena, Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ex-minister Mahinda Rajapaksa?’ »

By K. Ratnayake Sri Lankan media outlets ran headlines last week reporting that President Maithripala Sirisena walked out of the weekly cabinet meeting last Tuesday. According to these reports, Sirisena threatened to discontinue the coalition government because some members of his main partner, the United National Party (UNP), had publicly criticised him. Prime Minister Ranil …

Continue reading ‘Facing Political Instability and Intensifying Class Tensions President Sirisena Is Preparing for Dictatorial Forms Of Rule.’ »

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardena Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) which had held former President Mahind Rajapaksa responsible for allegedly causing a financial loss to ITN had recommended filing of legal action against him.

Communist Party General Secretary and former COPE Chairman D. E.W.Gunasekera yesterday asked former Minister Ravi Karunanayake to be ready to wear the prison uniform for giving false evidence before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which probed the alleged bond scams. Gunasekera said so, answering to a query raised by a journalist about a statement made …

Continue reading ‘Ravi Karunanayake Will Have to Go To Jail and Wear Prison Uniform for Giving false Evidence says Former COPE Chairman DEW Gunasekera.’ »

Text of a statement by Women Action Network (WAN) Released: 22.01.17 under the heading “Women Action Network Condemns Attacks on Woman Candidates A woman candidate who was involved in election campaign activities in Wellawaya area of Monaragala District has been admitted to the hospital in a serious condition after she was brutally attacked.In Arayampathy Selvanagar …

Continue reading ‘Moulavis Niyas Siddiqi Siraj and Murshid Abbasi Verbally Attack Muslim Women Candidates and Their Family Members in Election Campaign Speeches in Puttalam.’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa Google in Sri Lanka now defaults to Sinhala. Whenever you access a Google Form, the interface by default is in Sinhala. Whenever you use Google Maps, road, place and now even names of famous buildings, are rendered in Sinhala. Search for Chunnakam, close to Jaffna, and Google Maps translates the place name, …

Continue reading ‘Google and Microsoft are Engaged in Systemic and Sustained Discrimination Against Tamils and the Tamil Language in Sri Lanka.’ »

By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha President Sirisena’s query, from the Supreme Court, as to whether he is entitled to a six-year term, was both sad and silly. It was sad because it suggested that he was anxious to go on for longer than the reduced period laid down in the 19th Amendment, for which he had …

Continue reading ‘Attorney General has Again Proved Himself Totally Unfit for the Exalted position into which he was Catapulted’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Elections in this country are acrimonious. And it does not take an astrologer to predict that the unity government would never be the same if the current trend of mutual recrimination continues. As if recent verbal barbs directed against each other by the lower-rungs of the two main constituent parties of the …

Continue reading ‘UNP MP S.M. Marikkar Demeaned the President in an Ill-advised and Below -the -belt Attack at a Political Rally in Colombo’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena has directed IGP Pujith Jayasundera to conduct an immediate investigation into complaints of alleged harassment caused by Uva Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake to a female school principal in Badulla recently. The President has also asked the Uva Governor to take over the functions of the Uva Province Education Ministry temporarily, to …

Continue reading ‘Police Supposedly Probing Incident of Tamil School Principal Being Forced By Uva Chief Minister Dassanayake Take The Victimised Woman to Hospital to Find Out If She is of a Sound Mind And Then Try to Make Her Accompany Them to Chief Ministers Home’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “…questioning honestly and reflecting upon the truth of what has been lived through, what has been done.” – Nadine Gordimer (Living in Hope and History: Notes from our Century) The 19th Amendment was the greatest achievement of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration. President Maithripala Sirisena played an active role in making it happen. He …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena is a Weak and Brittle President, but Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Would be an Infinitely Worse one, a Dictatorial Racist, a Deadly Cross Between Benito Mussolini and Donald Trump’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene An interesting pro-accountability exercise took place in Sri Lanka this week which went largely unnoticed due to political distractions. These doltish distractions ranged from a ‘withdrawal of a withdrawal of’ a long forgotten excise notification forbidding women to buy liquor to ominous grandstanding by leaders of the coalition government even as …

Continue reading ‘Truly Sri Lanka is the Most Poignant Example of that Immortal Warning, ‘whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.’’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Who or what is the main political problem facing Sri Lanka today? The answer you give will reveal where you are on the ideological spectrum, and will in turn have determined your answer. Here are the answers that form the political spectrum of our society: 1. The UNP is the main problem. …

Continue reading ‘The SLFP now Seems Doomed to be the Junior Partner of Either the UNP or the JO-SLPP, Unless it is Able to Reunify the SLFP’ »

(Text of a media release issued by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 21st 2018 headlined “The role of the yahapalana opposition”) There is a yahapalana government as well as a yahapalana opposition in this country. After the August 2015 parliamentary election, the UNP Speaker refused to recognize the Joint Opposition which had over 50 …

Continue reading ‘“We Have In This Country An Incompetent “Yahapalana” Government And An Equally Incompetent “Yahapalana” Opposition Comprising the JVP and TNA Says Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By C.A.Chandraprema The Supreme Court determination that President Maithripala Sirisena could hold office for only five years according to the 19th Amendment, was one of the most significant political developments to take place after the yahapalana government was formed in 2015. It appears that all this while, the President has been operating on the assumption …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena vs Ranil Wickremesinghe: Who Has the Upper Hand In the Current Confrontational Crisis Of the UNP-SLFP Coalition Govt?’ »

By Suresh Perera With the government under flak for the inordinate delay in prosecuting persons accused of bribery and corruption and complex financial crimes, the establishment of a proposed special High Court to expedite cases relating to charges under the specified ambit is now on the cards with the draft legislation finalized, authoritative sources said. …

Continue reading ‘Special High Court With Three Benches Comprising Three Judges each to Be Set Up Under Article 105 Of Constitution To Expedite Hearings of Cases Involving Bribery,Corruption and Complex Financial Crimes.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde The Commission of Inquiry into the Central Bank Treasury Bond issue has come down hard on the conduct of the Central Bank’s former Governor Arjuna Mahendran, accusing him of misleading the Prime Minister on the bond sale that took place in February 2015, as well as interfering with the decision-making processes at …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran Accused of Misleading Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and of Knowigly Acting Improperly and Wrongfully” In Treasury Bonds Sales Commission of Inquiry Report’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena Saturday announced taking over economic management responsibilities which had been with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the past three years. In a surprise move that is certain to further sour relations between him and his coalition, Sirisena said he will manage and guide the economy through an special council he had set …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Drops Bombshell By Announcing a “Take-over” of Economic Management Responsibility That Was Entrusted to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe for the past Three Years.’ »

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Siriisena said he is taking over the economy from this year, though for three years the United National Party of Prime Minister Rani; Wickremesinghe was allowed to manage in the latest escalation of tensions between the two. Three months ago he had had appointed a National Economic Council for the purpose, …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena To Take Over Responsibility of Managing the Economy From the UNP and Wants Domestic Investors to rally Round Him and Strengthen the Economy.’ »

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has intervened in a growing spat of angry outbursts among coalition partners – the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) – urging both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to rein in both sides on the eve of the local council elections next month. This …

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Brings About “Political Ceasefire” Between UNP and SLFP By Urging President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe To Rein In Both Sides’ »

By Namini Wijedasa On Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s request, the Cabinet has instructed the Housing Ministry to entertain an unsolicited proposal for the re-development of Torrington Flats on Thimbirigasyaya Road by a company in which Mr Senaratne’s younger brother is a director. In November, the Housing Ministry put forward its own proposal to the Cabinet …

Continue reading ‘Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne Gets Cabinet to Instruct Housing Ministry to Accept Unsolicited Proposal For Re-developing Torrington Flats by Sky Mount Holdings (Pvt) Ltd of Which his Younger Brother Maheel Senaratne is a Director’ »

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a panel to study the bond commission report, but the man put in charge of the initiative has triggered another unsavoury case of conflict of interest. The man who was forced to resign his law and order portfolio after he defended the controversial Avant Garde company in …

Continue reading ‘Tilak Marapana Whose Brother Gamini Marapana Represented Perpetual Treasuries at Bond Commission Probe Appointed By Premier Wickremesinghe as Head of UNP Panel To Study Bond Commission Report and Recommend Action’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham President Maithripala Sirisena’s emotional outburst and the subsequent storming out of the Cabinet meeting at Presidential Secretariat by earlier in the week, infuriated by the public criticism levelled against him by United National Party (UNP) Members of Parliament, is glaringly demonstrative of the increasingly heightened political conflict between the main partners of …

Continue reading ‘Can Maithripala Sirisena Avoid Becoming a Lame Duck President?’ »

By T. Farook Thajudeeen The CID told the Mount Lavinia Magistrate that their investigations into the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunge had uncovered an alleged attempt by the Mount Lavinia Police and the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to destroy vital evidence of the killing,

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his address to the nation, said the government had frozen the financial assets worth Rs.12 billion of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd, and therefore the Rs.9.2 billion undue profit made by it in the bond transaction could be recovered from it. He said the government would take steps to implement recommendations made …

Continue reading ‘Govt Freezes 12 Billion Rupees Worth Financial Assets of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd and Will Recover Rs 9.2 Billion Undue Profits Made Through Treasury Bond Scam Announces Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’ »

The presidential commission of inquiry which probed Treasury bond scams has determined that the then CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran provided ‘inside information’ to Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owned by his son-in-law Arjun Aloysius and acted in collusion with that company. The commission has recommended the Attorney General and other authorities consider whether PTL has used, …

Continue reading ‘Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran Provided “Inside Information” To Perpetual Treasuries Ltd Owned By His Son In Law Arjun Aloysius and Acted In Collusion with that Company – Bond Commission Report’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday directed the Attorney General, Jayantha Jayasuriya, the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy and DG Bribery Commission Sarath Jayamanne and other officials to immediately act on the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the alleged Bonds scam. The President’s meeting with the top law …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Instructs Attorney -General, Central Bank Governor and Bribery Commissioner To Take Immediate Action On Recommendations Made By Presidential Inquiry Commission.’ »

by Zacki Jabbar Denying that President Maithripala Sirisena had threatened to quit the National Unity Government at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Ministers Rajitha Senaratne and Dayasiri Jayasekera said yesterday that the President had only expressed displeasure at vilifying remarks against him by some UNP parliamentarians. Fielding questions during the post cabinet Press Briefing at the Information …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena May Have Gone To Answer a Call of Nature After Leaving the Cabinet Meeting Says Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera’ »

By Hemantha Warnakulasuriya President Maithripala Sirisena seems to be happy that unlike other Presidential Commissions which took several years to complete their probes and ultimately produced reports which were not worth the paper they were written on, the Bond Commission completed its task within a very short period of 10 months and produced a report, …

Continue reading ‘Fact To Be Proved Is Whether Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Was Involved In The Bond Scam?’ »

AT THE time, it was seen as an astonishing victory. In retrospect, it was also something of a Pyrrhic one. Few expected Maithripala Sirisena to defeat the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential election of 2015. After all, Mr Rajapaksa, although increasingly authoritarian, had presided in 2009 over the defeat of the separatist Tamil Tigers, …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena May Soon Be Viewed As a Lame Duck -The Economist’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena said in Elpitiya that operation number two has begun on the bond commission report as he instructed the Attorney General and other stakeholders to proceed with legal action based on the report.

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama President Maithripala Sirisena will definitely contest at the next presidential election in the event the executive presidency is not abolished and the constitution is not changed, State Minister of Finance, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said today. He told the weekly Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) news briefing that President Sirisena would definitely be …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Will Contest Next Presidential Poll as SLFP Candidate if Present Constitution Remains Unchanged and Executive Presidency Is Not Abolished.’ »

By Yohan Perera Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had instructed UNP Ministers and MPs not to make controversial statements dragging President Maithripala Sirisena anymore. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had given the instruction at the UNP Working Committee meeting at the party headquarters Sirikotha this morning.

By Thilini de Silva and Ranjan Katugampola Artiste Samanalee Fonseka and ten other women yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court against the government’s decision to withdraw the gazette issued to lift the ban prohibiting women to purchase liquor or to work in liquor stores. The petitioners sought a court order …

Continue reading ‘Artiste Samanalee Fonseka and Ten Other Women File Fundamental rights Petition in Supreme Court Against Re-imposition by Govt of Ban On Women Purchasing Liquor or Work in Liquor Stores.’ »

The independent think Tank “Verite Research” has stated that the recent cabinet decision of not permitting women in Sri Lanka to purchase liquor is unconstitutional as it basically violates Article 12 of the constitution. The Colombo based think tank in a statement has pointed out that the Constitution guarantees that all persons are equal under …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Decision to Ban Women from Purchasing Liquor is Unconstitutional States Think Tank “Verite Research”’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake An emotional President yesterday walked out of the Cabinet meeting after voicing disappointment over criticism levelled against him by some United National Party lawmakers. President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday told the Cabinet that he was not an “ungrateful or inhuman” person who has forgotten the help he received during the presidential election. The …

Continue reading ‘“Why are you Attacking Me?Are You Instructing Them To Attack Me? – President Sirisena Asks Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Directly at Cabinet Meeting’ »

By Sandun A Jayasekera and Ajantha Kumara Agalakada A deeply dejected and disappointed President Maithripala Sirisena stormed out of the Cabinet meeting this morning after making an emotional speech over the personal attacks levelled at him by the certain members of the UNP, a senior Cabinet Minister said. President naming those UNP Parliamentarians, who are …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Makes 35 Minute Emotional Speech About UNP Members Attacking Him at Cabinet Meeting , Tape Records It and Storms Out’ »

Colombo district UNP MP S.M. Marikar today slammed President Maithripala Sirisena and even described him as a ‘pickpocket President’. Addressing a meeting in Colombo, he said the President had let down former president Mahinda Rajapaksa after partaking in a hopper meal with him. The MP charged that the same conspiratorial activity was being mooted to …

Continue reading ‘UNP Colombo District Parliamentarian SM Marikar Calls Sirisena a “Pickpocket President” Who is Trying to Backstab the UNP in the same Way he let down Mahinda rajapaksa After Sharing a Hopper Meal.’ »

By Dharisha Bastians President Maithripala Sirisena has continued to be at the receiving end of strong criticism, even after the Supreme Court put an end to speculation about the duration of his term on Sunday (14). The Presidential Media Division confirmed that the five-judge bench of the Supreme Court which held a public hearing on …

Continue reading ‘Attorney -General’s Interpretation of 19th Constitutional Amendment Before Supreme Court is “Rather Odd” and Confuses Me Says CPA Executive -Director Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu.’ »