By Saman Indrajith Protecting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was advantageous to the government and, therefore, it would not let him come in harm’s way, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said so in response to a question raised by MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena, who called upon the government to provide ample …

Continue reading ‘Chandrika has 61 Policemen for Security but Mahinda Given 154 Policemen: “Protecting Mahinda Rajapaksa is in our interest. We need him. We will not let anything happen to him,” Says Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’ »

By Manekshaw “I would rather obey a fine lion, much stronger than two hundred rats of my own species” – Voltaire Turbulent weather prevailed in the Northern and Eastern Provinces in the past two weeks with the Department of Meteorology alerting the people in the two Provinces of a stormy atmosphere. Special meetings were also …

Continue reading ‘Suresh Premachandran Led EPRLF Aligning With Anandasangaree Led TULF For Local Authority Poll Angers ACTC/TNPF Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.’ »

By Saman Indrajith The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday called for adequate security for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who would attend election rallies in the run-up to the local government polls.

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake With the long delayed elections to Local Government bodies due in the latter half of next February, Election Politics are gathering momentum. Although the polls are for local bodies, covering of all local bodies in the country, and being the first widespread electoral exercise after the major political changes in 2015, with …

Continue reading ‘Undivided UNP Has Clear Advantage In Facing Local Authority Polls due to the Divided SLFP Being Fragmented Between the Government and Jint Opposition.’ »

Simmering tensions within the top leadership of Sri Lanka’s police came to a head at a meeting called by Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka this week with senior officers demanding action against the Inspector-General. A dozen Senior Deputy Inspectors of General (SDIGs) were summoned by Ratnayaka to his ministry to discuss the grievances they …

Continue reading ‘Serious Revolt Within Police: 12 Senior DIG’s Want Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake To take Action Against IGP Pujitha Jayasundara.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham A major controversy has broken out over the recent visit by Rahul Gandhi, the soon- to-be president of Indian Congress Party, to the famous Somnath temple, located on the shores of the Arabian Sea on the southernmost part of Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi’s home state Gujarat. The visit in the run-up …

Continue reading ‘BJP Tries To Create Hindu Chauvinist Controversy Over Rahul Gandhi’s Visit To Somnath Temple In Gujerat’ »

By Ajith Alahakoon and Akitha Perera The JVP yesterday called for the immediate resignation of President Maithripala Sirisena as the Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation. The JVP also called for the resignation of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D. M. Swaminathan and National Co-existence Dialogue and Official Languages Minister Mano …

Continue reading ‘JVP Wants President Sirisena to Resign National Integration Minister Post Along With Ministers DM Swaminathan and Mano ganesan for Under Utilising Allocations To Their Ministries.’ »

By C.A.Chandraprema In the wake of the recent ‘Maaveerar Naal’ celebrations in the north, The Island staffer C.A.Chandraprema spoke to Arun Tambimuttu about the direction that Tamil politics has taken in recent times and the implications for the future. Q. The 1.5 million or so Tamil people living in the north and east have known …

Continue reading ‘“By Electing Tamil Nationalist Parties, Tamils Ended Up Being Outside The Govt And Isolating Themselves” Says Arun Tambimuttu In Interview’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Attorney General yesterday alleged that former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has obtained an Interim Order by suppressing and misrepresenting material facts of the incident. Deputy Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne appearing on behalf of the Attorney General raised objections for delivering an ex-parte order regarding the writ petition filed by former Defence …

Continue reading ‘Ex -Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Obtained Interim Order From Appeal Court By Suppressing and Misrepresenting Material facts States Deputy Solicitor -General Viraj Dayaratne’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The Prime Minister wants to know why the media is criticizing the present government and why it isn’t criticizing the Rajapaksas on whose watch journalists were killed. Perhaps that is because the media recalls that two prominent journalist were killed when the Rajapaksas weren’t anywhere near the room at the top, but …

Continue reading ‘If Ranil and Chandrika Can Be Given the Benefit Of The Doubt For The Killings of Richard and Sivaram Then Why Cant the Rajapaksas Be Exculpated For the Killing of Other Journalists?’ »

(Text of an Editorial Appearing in “The Island” of December 7th 2017 Under the Heading “Scribes drowning in crocodile tears”) No sooner had Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe raked newspaper editors over the coals, the other day, for their absence at a UN-organised press freedom event than Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera followed suit. Echoing …

Continue reading ‘Why Journalists in Sri Lanka Dont Want To Be Lectured On Media Freedom By the Politicians of Sri Lanka -The Island’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam The Court of Appeal yesterday extended until 15 December the Interim Order preventing the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) from acting on the Certificate (B Report) under the offences against the Public Property Act in the Magistrate’s Court against former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The bench, comprising justices T.B. Dehideniya (CA President) …

Continue reading ‘Interim Order Preventing Action Under The Public Property Act by Police FCID Against Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Extended Further Until Dec 15th by Court of Appeal’ »

By David Brewster Geopolitical rivalry between big powers sometimes yields odd results. The latest development in growing strategic competition across the Indian Ocean region is India’s purchase of what has become known as the ‘world’s emptiest international airport’ in Sri Lanka, maybe just to keep it empty. Hambantota Dreaming The small fishing town of Hambantota, …

Continue reading ‘India Acquires World’s Emptiest Airport at Mattala for US $ 300 Million To Checkmate China From Establishing Naval Base in Hambantota Harbour.’ »

by Champika Fernando In an unprecedented development, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera last night ordered nine players heading to India for the limited-over leg of the current series to turn back as they were leaving the country without his approval. At the time of his intervention, the players had even boarded the flight to Delhi and …

Continue reading ‘Nine National Cricket Team Members On Their Way to New Delhi Compelled To Disembark From Plane at KIA By Sports Minister Jayasekera Because He had not Authorised Selection.’ »

by Shamindra Ferdinando The British High Commission has declared that Lord Naseby’s recent statement in the House of Lords pertaining to accountability issues in Sri Lanka doesn’t reflect UK’s stand. The British HC said so in response to The Island query whether the BHC had discussions with the Foreign Ministry here or the Tamil National …

Continue reading ‘Lord Naseby Statement In House of Lords About Civilian Casualties in War Does Not Reflect The Official Position of The UK On Sri Lanka States British High Commission In Colombo.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka If the talks between the official SLFP and the JO-SLPP conclusively fail, it will be because the SLFP (MS) is unwilling either to leverage the bond scam report and de-couple the PM from the governing coalition, or to vote against the “fast track liberalization and globalization” (i.e. free-market fundamentalist, neoliberal) Budget and …

Continue reading ‘Political Rapprochement Between President Maithripala Sirisena and Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa is Not Impossible’ »

By NEIL GENZLINGER Shashi Kapoor, one of India’s best-known actors, who appeared in more than 100 films in the 1970s and ’80s alone, died on Monday in Mumbai. He was 79. India’s president, Ram Nath Kovind, announced the death on Twitter. Mr. Kapoor had been in poor health for years; a nephew, the actor Randhir …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Indian Actor Shashi Kapoor Hailing From the Famous Kapoor Clan of Hindi Cinema Passes Away at the Age of 79’ »

I By Ranga Jayasuriya Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a gifted deal maker. His two- term presidency was a classic case of successful deal making: He got Velupillai Prabhakaran to prevent Northern Tamils from voting in 2005 and by virtue of that won his first term as the President; he cajoled the JVP to support him, …

Continue reading ‘Instead Of Surrendering To The Rajapaksas President Sirisena Should Boldly Take The Fight to The Joint Opposition’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday alleged that an influential section of the media was working overtime to bring back the Rajapaksas to power regardless of the irreparable losses caused by the previous administration to the media. Delivering the keynote address at a UNESCO Conference on Regional Cooperation to Promote Freedom of Expression …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Accuses Some Media Organizations Of Trying To Bring the Rajapaksas Back To Power at The Expense Of Democracy.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan When Sri Lankan author Anuk Arudpragasam recently received the DSC Prize for South Asian literature, the honour shone the international spotlight on the country’s gruesome civil war, yet again. Except that this time, it was a novel that drew attention to it. A Story of a Brief Marriage is Mr. Arudpragasam’s debut …

Continue reading ‘Literary Authors Writing in English,Tamil and Sinhala Offer Different Perceptions of the ethnic Conflict and Civil War in Sri Lanka.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Twenty two persons arrested in connection with recent ethnic clash in the Gintota area have been charged under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No 56 of 2007. Law enforcement sources told The Island that the Act had never been used before. Law and Order and Southern Development …

Continue reading ‘22 Persons Arrested In Connection With Gintota Communal Violence Charged Under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act no 56 of 2007’ »

By Suren Raghaven (Suren Raghavan Ph D, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies and currently a Resident Research Scholar at the University of Colombo) Democracy is a dangerous game. Especially, if it is played by those with bloody minds and muddy hands. This is not because such attempts may …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickemesinghe Seems to be Destined to go Down in History as the UNPer who Destroyed his Party and its Liberal Image in Just 100 Days’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A recent speech made by President Maithripala Sirisena has made many who backed his presidential bid in 2015 nervous. In his address at a public meeting near Kurunegala in the North Western Province, Mr. Sirisena, for the first time, launched a frontal attack on the United National Party (UNP), with which the …

Continue reading ‘Possibilty of President Sirisena Working With Ex-President Rajapaksa Seems an Impossibility at this Point Of Time’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Vultures are circling high above in the skies as they watch what appear to be the struggling death throes of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe unity alliance with delight. Fury in Sri Lanka’s hamlets Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa hypocritically thunders on the twin dangers of the sale of national assets and the betrayal of …

Continue reading ‘Both the UNP and Sirisena led SLFP Have Failed To Lift the Country out of the Rajapaksa Morass of Communalism and Corruption’ »

Sri Lanka will investigate the sale of over five thousand billion rupees in treasury bonds by the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said describing it as the “biggest pyramid scam” in the country. Making a special statement to parliament on Thursday, the Prime Minister said over 90 percent of the 5,147 billion rupees …

Continue reading ‘Probe to be Launched Into Rajapaksa Regime’s Alleged “Biggest Pyramid Scam” of Privately Selling Treasury Bonds 5,147 Billion Rupees From 2008 to 2014: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Announces in Special Statement in Parliament’ »

Below is the full text of the order given by Judges L T B Dehideniya (P/CA) and Shiran Gooneratne in response to the petition filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the case over the latter having allegedly spent a sum of Rs 90 million from State funds to erect the D.A. Rajapaksa museum …

Continue reading ‘Full Text of Interim Order Issued by Court of Appeal In the Matter of Application Seeking Writ of Certiorari and Prohibition By Ex – Def Secy Gothabaya Rajapaksa’ »

The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province, C.V.Wigneswaran, has allayed a fear among the Tamils that the government in Colombo is planning to arrest and prosecute those who had organized or participated in observances relating to the Great Heroes‘ Day of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on November 27. The …

Continue reading ‘Northern Chief Minister Wigneswaran Tells Tamil People Not to take Seriously the Threat By State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene’s to Prosecute Those Commemorating Dead LTTE Cadres.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Two years and three months after the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) formed the National Unity Government, doubts are being raised as to whether the two parties can continue to co-habitat for the duration of the present Parliament. The doubts have credence, for despite the President …

Continue reading ‘Can the UNP and SLFP withstand the problems arising from within and outside and continue to work together?’ »

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka An article in an English language daily this week stated that Sri Lanka is hoping to “project itself as a model of post-war reconciliation and reconstruction” in order to “obtain international support for its economic development plans”. It went on to indicate when and how Sri Lanka began to work …

Continue reading ‘Time To Present Sri Lanka’s Case More Accurately and Comprehensively and Re-negotiate the 2015 Geneva Resolution in the UN Human Rights Council.’ »

By Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne The discussion to work together with the Mahinda group started within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by the President because of the desperation of Sirisena to make the SLFP significant for the coming elections. The President wants to go out of politics with the honour of recreating the SLFP …

Continue reading ‘SLFP Maithri Faction Surrendering to Joint Opposition Demand and Severing Links with UNP Will Be Political suicide For President Sirisena.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake “Dakkoth Padmavathi – Aaley nokara baree”👑’If one sees Padmavathi – One cannot but love her’❣️ This popular Sinhala song coming from Tower Hall days is based on the legend of Padmavathi, a princess from Sri Lanka – Singhal-dip, known for her captivating beauty who was married to Ratan Sen, the ruler of …

Continue reading ‘Do The “Hindutva” Fanatics Conducting Hate Campaign Against “Padmavathy” Film Starring Deepika Padukone Know That the Legendary Princess was From Sri Lanka (“Singhal-Dip”)?’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Additional Solicitor General Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe PC appearing on behalf of the Attorney General raised objections for delivering an Ex-Parte order regarding the writ petition filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Court of Appeal (CA) yesterday upheld the petition filed by former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, with an Interim Order preventing police from acting under the Public Property Act. The Interim Order will be effective until December 6. The CA issued this Interim Order preventing police from acting under the Public Property …

Continue reading ‘Two Judge Bench of Appeal Court After Ex-parte Proceedings Upholds Petition Filed By Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Issues Interim Order Effective Until Dec 6th Preventing Police From Acting Under Public Property Act’ »

By Sanchith Karunaratna The Court of Appeal issued a stay order on the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) preventing any action against former Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa over public properties following court proceedings today (29). Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal seeking an interim order preventing …

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal Issues Interim Order Preventing Action By Police FCID Against Gotabhaya Rajapaksa But Recalls Ex- Def Secy’s writ Petition for Further Hearing on Dec 6th.’ »

By Kavindya Chris Thomas A collective of retired senior military officers yesterday (27) took to the public arena, opposing the alleged Governmental move to arrest former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Under the banner of ‘War Heroes for the Nation’, representing a collective of retired senior officers of the tri-forces, speaking at a press briefing yesterday, …

Continue reading ‘Collective of Retired Defence Officials Known as “War Heroes For The Nation” Led By Maj-Gen.Kamal Gunaratne and Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara Wants President sirisena To Stop Move to Arrest Ex-Def Secy Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’ »

Sri Lanka’s Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe announced in parliament Tuesday that President Maithripala Sirisena was strongly opposed to liberalising the shipping and freight forwarding sectors proposed in the 2018 budget. Samarasinghe lambasted Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera for announcing in his maiden budget a proposal to remove the ban on foreign ownership of shipping and freight …

Continue reading ‘Shipping Minister Samarasinghe Lambastes Finance Minister Samaraweera for Liberalising Shipping and Freight Forwarding in Budget Without Consulting Him;says President Sirisena Opposes Liberalising Shipping Too.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka THE DEADLY IGNORANCE OF THE SINHALA ALT-RIGHT (Part 2) “May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies. ”—Voltaire Gotabhaya is perhaps the most able person in public life today; one capable of replicating in Sri Lanka, a Mahathirian Malaysia. I have worked with President Premadasa and …

Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Must Be Defended and Saved From Both His Domestic and Foreign Enemies as Well as His Obscurantist Sinhala Alt-right Friends and Allies’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam The Court of Appeal today reserved for tomorrow its order on issuing notices on the respondents and whether to grant an interim order on the Writ petition filed by former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Bench comprised Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya (President/CA) and Shiran Gooneratne.

While claiming that there should be a philosophy for the rulers to develop the country in addition to a clear proramme to implement it, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Sunday said ‘there should be leaders who should have a backbone to implement the programmes at a time when the challenges exist in the society.’

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka “The [Security] Council reiterated that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,” reaffirming the need for all States to combat, by all means, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.” (‘Four peacekeepers killed in two deadly …

Continue reading ‘Time for the UN to Recognize That Their Estimate Of 40,000 Killed is Totally Wrong: All Evidence Points To a Figure of Around 7000-8000.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had told UNP MPs not to get distracted by the ongoing discussions between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Joint Opposition. Wickremesinghe had said the discussion was an internal matter within the SLFP camp and the UNP had nothing to do with it. “We had a discussion with the PM …

Continue reading ‘UNP Needs Only 7 More MP’s to Retain Majority In Parliament if SLFP Maithri Faction Pulls Out of Govt and Aligns With Joint Opposition.’ »

By Shiromi Abeysinghe Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday warned the UNP Parliamentary Group to refrain from criticizing President Maithripala Sirisena. The UNP Parliamentarians were specifically informed not make any statement in public which would harm the consensus of the unity government.

by Saman Indrajith Kalutara District UPFA MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena brought in a sprat, a red onion and a green chilli to the Chamber to be displayed during his speech during the third reading stage debate on budget 2018 under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs yesterday. Abeygunawardena said the prices …

Continue reading ‘UPFA Kalutara District MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena Displays a Green Chilly, Red Onion and Brown Sprat in Parliament to Draw Attention To High Rise in Price.’ »

by Saman Indrajith Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha yesterday told Parliament that he was not responsible for the delay in holding local government elections. Denying his alleged involvement in a petition before the Court of Appeal to delay elections, the Minister said that the LG delimitation Gazette was flawless and that he …

Continue reading ‘Local Govt Minister Faiszer Mustapha Denies Having Links to Case Dubbed as “Musthapha Vs Musthapha Case”.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday filed motion in Court of Appeal moving that the writ petition which challenged the legality of Gazette Notification on the Delimitation committee Report be dismissed and to refuse the extension of the Interim Order on the next hearing date. The Attorney General in the motion also requested …

Continue reading ‘Attorney -General Files Motion In Appeal Court Seeking Dismissal of Writ Petition Challenging Legality of Gazette Notification.’ »

By Yohan Perera The United National Party (UNP) was ready to work with anyone willing to uphold Good Governance and to mutually strengthen electoral prospects, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe made this remark at the UNP Bala Mandalaya meeting in Nawalapitiya last morning. “The UNP is willing to work with anyone …

Continue reading ‘UNP Ready To Work With Anyone Willing to Uphold Good Governance Declares Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka THE DEADLY IGNORANCE OF THE SINHALA ALT-RIGHT (Part 1) “Ignorance never helped anyone yet!” — Karl Marx The crisis is escalating and proliferating daily. It is a crisis of the Yahapalana model and strategy. It is a crisis created by UNP’s unacceptable cosmopolitan neoliberalism with its program of foreignization of the economy, …

Continue reading ‘For the Sinhala Ultranationalists, ‘The Nation’ (‘Jaathiya’) is the Sinhala Nation, and the State is a Sinhala Buddhist State.’ »

By Yohan Perera Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked the Kilinochchi District Secretariat to stop work on the restoration of LTTE cemetery in Kilinochchi, sources close to the PM said today. They said that the Ministry of Development Policies and Economic Affairs had instructed the Kilinochchi Pradeshiya Sabha to stop work.

By Gagani Weerakoon President Maithripala Sirisena seems to have reached a decisive juncture since announcing his decision to become the common candidate in November 2014 by joining hands with United National Party. While there were many hiccups since then, both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe displayed a commitment towards continuing the political marriage …

Continue reading ‘Chandrika Kumaratunga Asked By Nimal Siripala De Silva “Whether it is Not Better to Unite With the Rajapaksas as we are Already Dealing With International Fraudsters”?’ »

By MirudhulaThambiah This week was full of interesting events happening in the political arena, and one of it is the debate on Northern Education Minister Dr. Kandiah Sarveswaran refusing to hoist the national flag at an event held at a school in Vavuniya. In history there had been such events when Tamil National Leaders have …

Continue reading ‘“Those Who Want To Take Legal Action against Me Must Consider Why I Took This Stand” – Northern Province Education Minister Sarweswaran Who Refused To Hoist The National Flag Explains His Position.’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama The Government informed Parliament on Saturday that Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faiszer Musthapha had gone abroad without keeping the Prime Minister or the Leader of the House informed but would be present in Parliament today to respond to the brewing issues of the petition filed against holding local government …

Continue reading ‘Local Govt Minister Faiszer Musthapha Goes Abroad Without Informing Prime Minister Wickremesinghe or Leader of the House Kiriella’ »

Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) Commission has ordered the release of key documentation relating to the ‘missing’ findings of the Commission of Inquiry Report into the death of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress founder and Minister M.H.M. Ashraff and fourteen others on September 16, 2000 in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mi-17 helicopter crash. …

Continue reading ‘Right To Information (RTI) Commission Orders Search for the Reportedly “Missing” Commission of Inquiry Report on SLMC Leader MHM Ashraff’s Death’ »

By T. Withanawasam in Gintota Sinhalese and Muslim residents of the Gintota area met at the Welipiti Mosque last Wednesday and shared Kiribath with each other and members of the Armed Forces and Police. It should have been an unremarkable event except that just days before, clashes between Sinhalese and Muslim mobs had caused extensive …

Continue reading ‘Muslim and Sinhala Residents Of Violence Affected Gintota area in a Reconciliatory Demonstration Meet at The Welipitimodera Mosue and Eat Milk Rice Together Along with Police and Security Personnel’ »

by C. A. Chandraprema Virtually everything said in this column about the local government elections and the possibility of the yahapalana government postponing them with a Puthukudiirippu-Maritime Pattu style operation by petitioning courts came true last week with the Appeal Court issuing a stay order on the local government delimitation gazette. Every political maneuver that …

Continue reading ‘Arresting Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Over the DA Rajapaksa Memorial In Medamulana Will Amount To a Political Witch Hunt.’ »

Fence mending talks between sections of the SLFP loyal to President Sirisena and former President Rajapaksa in time for the local elections are continuing according to informed SLFP sources.

by Saman Indrajith The Joint Opposition yesterday pledged its unconditional support to President Maithripala Sirisena in his endeavor to hunt down those responsible for the treasury bond scam. JO frontliner MP Bandula Gunawardena said that his group would stand in defence of President Sirisena against those who had launched a scathing attack when he (President) …

Continue reading ‘Joint Opposition Wants President Sirisena To Take Action Against Those Responsible For The Treasury Bonds Scam And Offers Unconditional Support To Him.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The misplaced ecstasy of those who greeted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s appearance before the Commission of Inquiry into the Treasury Bond Issuance early this week with cries of ‘Bravo”, (including former President Chandrika Kumaratunga), was equaled only by the palpable agony of those who watched the unfolding scenario with disbelief. Need …

Continue reading ‘Drama Before Inquiry Commission Aggravated By Behaviour of Attorney-Generals Dept Counsel’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe returned from a four-day Indian visit to battle a deepening rift between his party and President Maithripala that threatens to undermine their unity government. The troubles erupted as Wickremesinghe left on Tuesday. State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe called a press conference at the United National Party (UNP) headquarters to express disappointment in …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Returns From Indian Trip To Defuse Rising Tensions Between President Sirisena and UNP Parliamentarians.’ »

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka Following Sri Lanka’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held at the Human Rights Councils in Geneva on the 15th of November 2017, and the adoption of its Report on the 24th, a draft outcome document called “Draft report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review”, which includes recommendations was …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka accepts UPR recommendation for Accountability Mechanism with Special Counsel’ »

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena hit back at the senior partner in his coalition Friday suggesting that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government could be more corrupt than the previous regime. In a scathing attack on the United National Party (UNP), an emotional Sirisena said it was easy to break up, but difficult to reunite and …

Continue reading ‘If the UNP Makes The Mistake of Exceeding Even The Corruption Of The SLFP Regime Then the People Will Not Approve it Warns President Sirisena Hitting Back at UNP Criticism.’ »

Simmering tensions within Sri Lanka’s governing coalition came to a head in parliament Thursday with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party firing what it called the first salvo against the President. Two backbenchers from the United National Party (UNP) blamed President Maithripala Sirisena’s faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) for delaying local council elections.

President Maithripala Sirisena said today if allegations were made against him when he was taking decisions against fraud and corruption, he would give up all positions and join the people to take that fight forward. He told a public meeting in Nikaweratiya that the SLFP candidate was defeated in 2015 because the SLFP government did …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Says He Is Ready To Give Up All Positions and Join The People To Take Forward The Fight Against Fraud and Corruption.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Leader of the Opposition and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan, participating in the final debate of the second reading of the Budget in Parliament last week, made an impassioned plea to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to extend his fullest support and cooperation to the current constitution making process. Describing the …

Continue reading ‘Futile To Expect Mahinda Rajapaksa To Give Up His Political Scheming Based On Ethno-Majoritarianism.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka [In honor of Fidel Castro -1st death anniversary Nov 25th] ******************************** “Nationalism is not our essential idea, although we do love our homeland dearly. We consider ourselves internationalists…” (Fidel Castro, Economy 98, July 3rd 1998 speech) “…We’re not very nationalistic. We’re patriots but we’re not very nationalistic…” (Fidel Castro, Talks with US …

Continue reading ‘Why Sri Lanka Needs A Leftist Alternative To Accomplish Important Tasks That Cannot be Undertaken By the UNP,SLFP, JO, SLPP or TNA.’ »

By Dharisha Bastians in Gintota The bright red SUV screeched to a stop at the Gintota Thuparamaya Purana Raja Maha Viharaya for the second time on Saturday (18), creating a buzz of excitement among scores of villagers assembled in the temple’s expansive garden at sundown. As the hybrid vehicle gleamed in the fading light, a …

Continue reading ‘Sinhala-Muslim Communal Violence Raises its Ugly Head Again In the Gintota Area Of Galle.’ »

By Saman Indrajith Leader of the Joint Opposition (JO) Dinesh Gunawardena, raising a Point of Order, requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to investigate and find out whether State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe’s recent remarks on President amounted to a violation of Standing Orders. Gunawardena said Senasinghe had, on Tues-day at a press conference, criticized the conduct of …

Continue reading ‘Dinesh wants Karu To Investigate Whether Sujeewa Senasinghe Violated Standing Orders By Publicly Criticising President Sirisena’ »

By Ratnasiri Malalagama and Nandana Nanneththi Sinhala-Buddhist thugs unleashed a series of violent assaults on Muslims in Gintota area near Galle, capital of southern Sri Lanka, last Friday night. Three mosques were targeted and about 50 buildings, including houses and business places owned by Muslims, were damaged by club-wielding gangs. They set fire to properties …

Continue reading ‘Buddhist Monks Called For Sinhalese To Assemble at Thuparamaya Temple in Gintota From where the Mob Attack On Muslims was Launched On Nov 17th.’ »

By Skandha Gunasekara A defensive International Trade State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe yesterday said that he was disappointed with President Maithripala Sirisena for using the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) into the Central Bank Bond scam as a tool to sling mud at the UNP. Addressing a media briefing at the UNP headquarters, the Minister said …

Continue reading ‘“President Sirisena Who Was Elected To Office With The Help Of The UNP Is Using The Commission To Sling Mud At Our Party” Laments State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka It was amusing to see Mr. Sampanthan of the TNA ascending to his full moral height in the Budget debate and making an impassioned oratorical appeal to Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, while sitting in (rising from) the seat that rightfully belongs to Mahinda and which Mr. Sampanthan has no moral (or arithmetical) right …

Continue reading ‘Govt Must Ask Northern Chief Minister To Remove Provincial Education Minister Sarveshwaran For Refusing to Unfurl The Sri Lankan Nationa Flag Or Dissolve Northern Council if Chief Minister Refuses To Do So’ »

A cross section of society including politicians yesterday hailed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for voluntarily appearing before the Commission investigating into the Central Bank Bond issue They said that the Prime Minister deserves a special appreciation for setting an example to the country by appearing before the Commission. “The Prime Minister’s appearance before the Commission …

Continue reading ‘Bravo!Bravo!Bravo! – Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga Hails Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe For His Brave Decision to Testify Before the Presidential Inquiry Commission.’ »

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka The nation waited with bated breath as the PM, in his capacity as Minister in charge of the Central Bank, was called before the Bond Commission. The people of Sri Lanka had seen the ferocious efficiency with which the inquiry was conducted by the representatives of the Attorney General’s department, …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister’s Replies at Inquiry Commission Are Of Great Use to All Who Want To Learn How To Avoid Blame.’ »

By Sarath de Alwis Twenty years ago in 1998, Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda writing in the periodical ‘Frontline’ traced our peculiar path of progress in the 50 years of independence. In about 40 days we will reach the 70th year of independence as a post-colonial nation state. The adjective ‘modern ‘is evaded for good reason. We …

Continue reading ‘In 40 Years of Public Life, Ranil Wickremesinghe Has For The First Time Conceded A Thin Trace Of Fallibility.’ »

By Dr.Nihal Jayawickrama The lengthy article by Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC on constitutional reform published in the newspapers recently appears to contain several errors of fact and of law. I have no wish to argue with the former Minister of Justice on his views on the legality of the current constitutional reform process in which …

Continue reading ‘Former Justice Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayawickrama Points Out Errors of Fact and Law in Recent Article on Constitutional reform By Ex-Justice Minister Dr.Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.’ »

By Vishwamithra 1984 “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” ~Albert Schweitzer The influence of Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (SWRD), Junius Richard Jayewardene (JR) and Rohana Wijeweera (Wijeweera) on the local political theatre is unmatchable. The great puppeteers of local political minds, they excelled in their chosen …

Continue reading ‘SWRD Bandaranaike,JR Jayawardene and Rohana Wijeweera:Three Powerful Personalities Who Changed The Political Landscape of Sri Lanka’ »

By Shehan Chamika Silva, Yohan Perera and Hafeel Farisz Testifying before the Bond Commission, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe today said he had directed former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahedran to consider issuing Treasury Bonds by way of public auctions in accordance with the Economic Policy of the Government but expected that he would comply with …

Continue reading ‘Replies Provided By Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to Questions Posed By Justice KT Chitrasiri , Justice Prasanna Jayawardena and Attorney – General Jayantha Jayasuriya at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Nov 20th 2017’ »

By Dharisha Bastians Officers from the Attorney General’s Department assisting the Bond Commission were in breach of statutes governing the conduct of presidential commissions of inquiry, lawyers for an aggrieved Central Bank official charged yesterday, warning that findings of such commissions have been quashed by the Supreme Court for far lesser infractions. Counsel for Central …

Continue reading ‘Flawed Process Adopted at Treasury Bond Inquiry May Lead to Findings of Presidential Commission Being Quashed by Supreme Court Warns Lawyer Sumanthiran.’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the bond commission Monday that the former regime had kept big-ticket government expenditure out of the budget to project a robust balance sheet to the International Monetary Fund. Defending his decision to scrap the system of private placements and go for public auctions of bonds, Wickremesinghe said it was difficult …

Continue reading ‘No Answer From Attorney-General Jayasuriya When Prime Minister Wickremesinghe Asks Him What Happened to the Investigation File on Corruption Complaint Against Mahindananda Aluthgamage MP.’ »

Attorney-at-law Dinesh Vidanapathirana has requested Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy to withdraw the termination of services order issued in respect of S. Pathumanapan following the release of report on the Communication Information Analysis pertaining to the Treasury bond investigations. The following is the text of the letter: I write with reference to my client …

Continue reading ‘Central Bank Officer Pathumanathan Who Filed Fundamental Rights Petition in Supreme Court Interdicted as Directed By Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Senior Additional Solicitor General Dappula de Livera strongly objected to President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran, MP, representing S. Pathumanapan, a Central Bank employee recently interdicted over his alleged involvement in the treasury bond scam, at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into controversial transactions in Feb. 2015 and March 2016. SASG de Livera, …

Continue reading ‘MA Sumanthiran PC Opposes Attorney-Generals Dept Assisting Presidential Inquiry Commission After Participating in Investigations Into Alleged Treasury Bond Fraud’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Will the Local Government election prove to be the “great fall” of the Humpty-Dumpty coalition, or will all the Queen’s horses and all the Queen’s men be able to put Yahapalana Humpty together again? And how many of the UNP’s Humpty-Dumpties will survive the stress-test of the local authorities’ election? Will the …

Continue reading ‘Three Political “Sins” Committed by the “Official” SLFP Led by President Maithripala Sirisena’ »

The Island political correspondent, C.A. Chandraprema, was threatened yesterday by Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera while the former was at the funeral of Ven. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera’s mother in Narammala.After paying his last respects to the remains of the monk’s mother. Chandraprema was speaking with a Nayake Thera when Gnansara Thera accosted him, demanding to know whether …

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena Gen Secy Gnanasara Thero Accosts Island Political Correspondent Chandraprema at a Funeral and Threatens him Saying “He Can Box his Ears” ( Mata PuluwanThamusage Kana Palanna).’ »

By C.A.Chandraprema The incident at Gintota in the Galle district appears to be at least on the face of it, a private dispute that got out of hand. The Aluthgama incident in 2014 was also sparked off in a similar way. When things begin to go wrong, the very elements seem to conspire to get …

Continue reading ‘Sirisena’s Game Plan is to Destroy All Possible Contenders Within and Outside the Govt By the Time of the Next Presidential Election’ »

By Niranjala Ariyawansa The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), probing the controversial Central Bank Treasury Bonds issue, has summoned Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya to question Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe when the Commission meets tomorrow. Attorney General Jayasuriya, when contacted by Ceylon Today, said that a communiqué had been sent, asking him to lead the Prime …

Continue reading ‘Attorney – General Jayasuriya To Lead Evidence of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe at Bonds Scam Inquiry Commission Due to “Respect of Protocol as PM is the Second Citizen of Country”.’ »

By Sarath de Alwis We live in times of moral complexity. Whose deed is more pernicious? Burglar raiding the vault or the cop who wipes off the burglar’s fingerprints? Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry today. The Commission, according to a news report has summoned Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Alleged Treasury Bonds Scam “Bond Boondoggle” Is Comparable to the “Watergate” (USA), “Profumo” (UK) and “Spectrum”(India) Scandals’ »

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka On Tuesday, 14th of November 2017, Dinesh Gunawardena introduced a resolution in Parliament requesting that in view of Lord Naseby’s revelations in the House of Lords on the number of civilian deaths during the last stages of the war, “Sri Lanka should take action to pursue this matter with Britain’s …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankans Want Above All, Justice Based On Truth Not False Allegations’ »

By Don Manu Three years ago this week, Maithripala Sirisena fled the ramparts of the Rajapaksa Temple Tree citadel to furtively emerge the following day at the New Town Hall to announce his decision to play David to Mahinda’s Goliath. Only three days earlier, on November 18th 2014, he had attended President Rajapaksa’s 69th birthday …

Continue reading ‘Three Years After Maithripala Sirisena Crossed Over From The Rajapaksa Regime To Become The Common Opposition Presidential Candidate’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene A fracas has arisen over a recent investigative news report (Associated Press) finding credible claims of Tamil torture victims that they had been raped and branded by Sri Lanka’s security and policing agencies. Not something to be dismissed with a casual shrug Let me be unequivocal on this point. Take the …

Continue reading ‘Use of Torture For Interrogation of “Ordinary Criminals” or ” Suspected Terrorists” by Law Enforcement Agencies in Sri Lanka Is a Fact.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in the “Sunday Observer” of November 19th 2017 Under the Heading “PM:Facing The Nation”) In how many countries would heads of governments go before a high-level investigation to provide information that would help in that probe? Tomorrow (Nov 20) Sri Lankans will see a new chapter in our Republic when, for …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Goes Before Presidential Commission of Inquiry Into The Central Bank Bond Transactions To Provide Information That May Help Investigations.’ »

By Manekshaw Veteran Journalist, S.M. Gopalaratnam, popularly known as Gopu and known by his initials as SMG, is no more. Gopalaratnam passed away at the age of 87 on Wednesday (15) at his residence in Batticaloa. Beginning his career in journalism in the early fifties in Virakesari he later joined Jaffna’s regional daily Eelanadu as …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Tamil Journalist SM Gopalaratnam Known as “Gopu” and “SMG” Passes Away in Batticaloa at the Age of 87.’ »

The tense situation that developed in Gintota on Friday night has completely been brought under control with law and order restored in the area, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka said. The Minister, in a special statement, extended his gratitude to all parties that acted responsibly to avoid a bloodbath. He said that additional Police …

Continue reading ‘Military,Special Task Force, Anti – Riot Squad and Additional Police Battalions Deployed in Gintota Have Brought Situation Under Control Says Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake.’ »

Several buildings have been set on fire and damaged in the Gintota area in Galle yesterday, following a commotion among the communities living in the area. According to the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council, the incident had begun on Thursday when a man identified as a Sinhalese had knocked a man who …

Continue reading ‘200 Police and 100 STF Personnel Deployed and Curfew Imposed in Galle After Eruption of Sinhala-Muslim Violence in Gintota Area;7Arrests, 3 Hospitalised,Mosque Attacked, Houses Set Ablaze’ »

By Skandha Gunasekara “All friendships and other relationships must be forgotten when one is a member of a watchdog committee such as the COPE. That is why we all signed the COPE report and agreed with its recommendations. There are those who only attempt to sling mud as politicians. It has become a norm to …

Continue reading ‘UNP Puttalam District MP Hector Appuhamy Wants The Telephone Logs of all 225 MP’s to be Examined To See Whether They had Communications with Arjun Aloysius.’ »

A woman who was deported from Sri Lanka for having a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm says she had to leave Facebook after being abused by extremists. Naomi Coleman, 41, from Coventry, won compensation on Wednesday after being detained in the country for four days, in April 2014. Following her deportation, she says …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Buddhist Extremists Abuse British Buddhist Naomi Coleman On Facebook Saying she should Die and Go to Hell’ »

A woman who was deported from Sri Lanka for having a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm has won compensation. Naomi Coleman, from Coventry, was detained for four days in April 2014. Granting her compensation of 800,000 Sri Lankan rupees – about £4,000 – the country’s Supreme Court said her treatment was “scandalous and …

Continue reading ‘British Practising Buddhist Naomi Coleman Who was Detained in Sri Lanka For Having a Buddha Tattoo Awarded compensation By Supreme Court’ »

By Himal Kotelawala Testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the controversial bond issuance yesterday, a CID official said that former Director of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. (PTL) Arjun Aloysius had telephoned several members of the second Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) investigating the matter during the period of its tenure in 2016. According to …

Continue reading ‘Disclosure of Telephone Calls Between Arjun Aloysius Before Presidential Inquiry Commission: With Ravi Karunanayake-84;Sujeewa Senasinghe-62; Mela Karunanayake -320;Harshana Rajakaruna -23;Hector Appuhamy -23.’ »

By Saman Indrajith Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan yesterday asked former President Mahinda Rajapaksa not to stir communal unrest in order to come back to power. Participating in the final day of the second reading debate on Budget proposals in Parliament, the Opposition Leader also requested Rajapaksa to support the new Constitution. Former President Rajapaksa’s position …

Continue reading ‘Leader of the Opposition Rajavarothayam Sampanthan Asks Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Not to Stir Up Communal Unrest in Order to Come Back to Power.’ »

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before a panel investigating alleged irregularities in government bond sales, the panel’s chairman said on Thursday. Appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena after demands from opposition lawmakers, the panel has been looking into a central bank bond deal that some government critics said raised government borrowing costs. Chairman …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe To Appear Before Presidential Commission Of Inquiry On Issuance of Treasury Bonds on November 20th.’ »

By Sanjayan Rajasingham (The writer is an Attorney-at-Law and a lecturer at the Department of Law, Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna.) Every country has two Constitutions: a “Legal Constitution” and a “Political Constitution”. To win a referendum and to introduce a new Constitution, Sri Lanka must change both. The focus for the past two …

Continue reading ‘For The Referendum To Succeed Advocacy and Practice of Constitutional Reform Must Shift to the Terrain of Sinhala-Buddhist Nationalism.’ »

By Nirmala Kannangara Forensic audit report had highlighted the alleged fraudulent methodology followed when acquiring three properties; Ranmuthu Hotels Ltd, No: 112, Galle Road, J.C. Ramanayake of 108, Galle Road and Ceylinco Insurance PLC of 134, Galle Road for the expansion of Grand Hyatt Regency in 2013. ________________________________________ Ranmuthu Hotels • According to the report, …

Continue reading ‘Alleged Misappropriation of Public Funds By Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Former Chief of Staff Gamini Senerath Along With Piyadasa Kudabalage and Neil Hapuhinna’ »

By Kelum Bandara Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray Reginld, in an interview with the “Daily Mirror” spoke about constitution making, social conditions and attitudes of politicians in the north. Following are excerpts of the interview. Q: As the Governor of the Northern Province, how do you view the demand for power sharing in this province? …

Continue reading ‘Northern Governor Reginald Cooray Thinks The Northern Provincial Council Has Become a Failure’ »

Saudi Princess Amira Bint Aidan Bin Nayef has revealed that children, especially the orphans, from countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Djibouti, Somalia, Nigeria, Romania and Bulgaria had been bought and rented as sex slaves in Saudi, Dhaka Tribune reported on Sunday. Giving exclusive statements to the French Newspaper Le Monde, she has said …

Continue reading ‘Saudi Princess Amira Bint Aidan Bin Nayef Reveals that Children Particularly Orphans From Sri Lanka are Bought and Rented as Sex Slaves in Saudi Arabia.’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando The UNP has stepped up pressure on President Maithripala Sirisena to abolish the executive presidency without further delay or face the consequences. Key government strategist MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, PC, spearheading the new constitution-making process and Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith Perera yesterday emphasised that their post-presidential election understanding …

Continue reading ‘UNP Steps Up Pressure On President Sirisena to Abolish Executive Presidency without Further Delay or Face the Consequences’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Energy ties between India and Sri Lanka, plagued by controversy right from the time they were mooted in 1987, came under severe stress between the middle of October and the first week of November this year. Had it not been contained by mature and deft diplomatic action by India and a spirit of …

Continue reading ‘Attempts to Create Trouble Between India and Sri Lanka By Exploiting the Fuel Shortage Issue Thwarted by Mature and Deft Diplomatic Action.’ »

Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake today denied reports that he had a secret meeting with former President’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath who was remanded today. Minister Ratnayake issuing a media statement in this regard said this was a baseless and malicious allegation as he had no intention of meeting a suspect in a …

Continue reading ‘Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake Denies Reports About a Secret Meeting With Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath Wanted By Police for Alleged Embezzlement of Rs4 Billion from Public Funds.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Three suspects, including former President’s Chief of Staff, Gamini Sedara Senarath were yesterday ordered to be remanded till November 15 by Colombo Fort Magistrate for allegedly missing public funds by illegally investing Rs.4 billion from the Rs.18.5 billion approved by the Cabinet for a hotel project in 2012. The Colombo Fort Magistrate …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Ex- Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and Two Others Allegedly Involved in Illegal 4 Billion Rupee Investment Remanded Till Nov 15th After Surrendering to Court Through Lawyers.’ »

By C. A. Chandraprema The banning of the Lanka e News website indicates a new development in the internal politics of the yahapalana coalition government. Lanka e News is foremost among the website that worked to bring Maithripala Sirisena into power. What distinguished Lanka e News from the other websites that also were on the …

Continue reading ‘Banning Of Lanka e-News Website Brings Out Simmering Conflict Between President Sirisena and The United National Party Into the Open.’ »

By The “Sunday Times”Political Editor A well-known Sinhala adage refers to the plight of those who went to seek solace at a temple but found the roof collapsing on their heads. That in essence appeared to be the dilemma of a high-powered three-member United National Party (UNP) delegation which had a meeting with President Maithripala …

Continue reading ‘Senior Ministers Mangala,Kabir and Malik Protest to President Sirisena Over Premier Wickremesinghe Testifying Before Presidential Inquiry Commission’ »

by Gagani Weerakoon Clad in a carefully chosen blue and green tie, Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera entered the Chamber at 3.05p.m. on Thursday (9) to present Budget 2018, which was themed, ‘Blue-Green Budget; the Launch of Enterprise Sri Lanka’. “It is ‘Blue’ because we plan to integrate the full economic potential of ocean …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena May Appoint Mangala Samaraweera As Acting Prime Minister If Ranil Wicremesinghe Steps Down as Premier.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Can sheer bumbling incompetence bring down a Government? This may be a far from rhetorical question in the months ahead. However what propels this query at this point is not simply the arch tragi-comedy of Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis this week. This had its funny moments with snake charmers and musicians …

Continue reading ‘Minister Responsible for Fuel Crisis Tragi-comedy Should Have Resigned Or Been Asked To Resign Forthwith.’ »

The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by a Senior Manager of the Central Bank, complaining about the intimidation, threats and insults he suffered at the hands of senior officials of the Attorney General’s Dept, came up on Friday (10) before a Bench comprising Justices Sisira De Abrew and Vijith Malalgoda. Previously, two judges including Justice …

Continue reading ‘Counsel MA Sumanthiran Objects On Conflict of Interest Grounds to ASG Farhana Jameel Appearing for All Respondents in FR Petition Case Filed Against Attorney-General’s Dept by Central Bank Senior Manager’ »

By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka On Wednesday, 15th of November at 2.30 pm, Sri Lanka will come under review at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and will have to account for its conduct, answer questions posed to it by other countries, and decide which recommendations it accepts. A sample of questions posed in …

Continue reading ‘Vasantha Senanayake Instead of Harsha de Silva Could Have Led Sri Lanka Delegation for Universal Periodic Review At Geneva’ »