By Thulasi Muttulingam (This Article written in 2015 is being re-posted now in view of the verdict issued by the three -member trial – at- bar bench in Jaffna on March 27th 2017. Vidya Sivaloganathan’s family has obtained justice for now) Vidhya Sivaloganathan’s family remembers her as sensitive and soft. She had recently cried when …
Continue reading ‘Vidhya Sivaloganathan’s Family in Pungudutheevu is Waiting for Justice’ »
by Percey Kuruneru Thirteen UPFA members of the North Central Provincial Council resigned from the party to join the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday. Former Chief Minister of the NCP SM Ranjith Samarakoon, addressing a press conference, at his party office in Anuradhapura announced the decision of 13 UPFA councilors to join the SLPP.
By Chandre Dharmawardana The proposed constitution has provoked much debate, but mainly within the framework of traditional thinking with emphasis on a few issues like “Unitary and Devolved power, the place of Buddhism, or the executive presidency. In my view, these ignore the most urgent issues that Sri Lanka will face in the next decade, …
Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province is ready to accommodate Rohingyas stranded in the island and facing threats from radical Buddhist monks, says C.V.K.Sivagnanam, Chairman of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC). On Thursday, an NPC member, M.K.Shivajilingam, had made a Special Mention in the Council condemning the hounding of 31 Rohingyas, mostly women and children, in …
The Colombo District Court this afternoon rejected the petitions submitted seeking the reinstatement of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Two former Central Committee members of the SLFP; Aruna Priyashantha and Asanka Srinath filed the petition seeking to reinstate former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Chairman of the SLFP.
Five Anuradhapura District Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Provincial Councillors of the North Central Province (NCP) have decided to join the Podu Jana Peramuna. The Podu Jana Peramuna was formed by former Foreign Affairs Minister G.L. Pieris and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 2, 2016.
In a potentially far reaching slashing of peoples’ everyday freedoms, a council of state officials appointed the by President Maithripala Sirisena is to decide what food is ‘essential’ for people, and ban imports of foods that does not match their opinion. According to a statement from the President’s office a National Economic Council “expects to …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Sri Lanka’s longstanding commitment to the UN as well as the EU not to implement the death penalty will save those who had been sentenced to death on Wednesday for gang rape and murder of 18-year-old student Vidya. The Trial-at bar, which heard the Vidya murder case in Jaffna sentenced seven of …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The Joint Opposition yesterday revealed that the English version of the recently ratified Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act differed from the Sinhala text. JO parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardena said that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had endorsed it without verification. The Speaker’s failure to detect the mistake had resulted in the Government Printer …
By Dharisha Bastians Police have made no arrests yet in the monk-led attack on a United Nations safe house on Tuesday, which forced authorities to relocate 31 Rohingya refugees, mainly women and children who had fled persecution in Myanmar, into the high security detention centre in Boosa for their protection. The mob calling itself Sinhale …
Lawyers appearing for the convicts in the Vithya Sivaloganathan rape and murder said they would file an appeal at the Appeals Court within 14 days. The lawyers insist their clients – who were sentenced to death by the Jaffna High Court yesterday – were not guilty of the rape and murder of Vithya.
by Hemantha Randunu and Dinasena Rathugamage The Trial-at bar, which heard the Vidya murder case in Jaffna sentenced seven of the accused to death yesterday. The bench comprised High Court Judges Shashi Mahendran (President), Anna Lingam Ravi Shankar and Manickawasagar Illancheliyan. The 332 page verdict was read out by the President of the Trial-at-bar and …
Three SLFP members of the Eastern Provincial Council obtained the membership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by Prof. G.L. Peiris today. They claimed that the SLFP is destroying the country after joining with the United National Party (UNP). Accordingly, Provincial Councilors W. D. Weerasinghe, T. M. Jayasena and Chandra Thevarapperuma joined the …
By S.S.Selvanayagam Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva today filed fundamental rights violation petition challenging the enactment of Provincial Council Elections Amendment Bill. He takes Attorney General, the Speaker as well as the Chairman and members of the Elections Commission to target charging that at the Committee Stage all the operative Clauses of the published …
By Kalathma Jayawardhane The Joint Opposition today charged that the government was committing several mistakes in the rules and regulations with regard to the elections, in an attempt of postponing elections. JO Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena told a news conference that the government was influencing on the democracy as well as the election procedure of …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Have you ever known a government that benefited from the postponement of elections; one that didn’t pay with heavy interest for such postponement? Why buy time when time isn’t working in your favor? There is a way of dislodging a government that seeks to entrench itself as long as it can, not …
By Chathuri Dissanayake Levelling a scathing criticism against the Buddhist monks that engaged in demonstrations against a group of Rohingya refugees, Co-cabinet spokesperson and Senior Government Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday said strong action should be taken against the protestors and police team which failed to take appropriate action. “If anyone has attacked a refugee safe …
Seven accused in the gang rape and murder of schoolgirl Shivaloganathan Vidya (18) have been sentenced to death by a three judge Trial-at-Bar. The verdict was announced a short while ago at the Jaffna High Court. Vavuniya High Court Judge B. Sasi Mahendran is President of the Trial-at-Bar. The other members of the bench are …
(Text of Press Release Issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Over the “protest”incident concerning Rohingya Refugees comprising men,women and children at a UNHCR Refugee shelter in Sri Lanka) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is alarmed and concerned by yesterday’s incident at a refugee shelter housing mostly women and children …
(Text of Statement made by the Minister of Finance and Media, Hon. Mangala Samaraweera, MP., on the Rohingya Refugees in Sri Lanka) 27 September 2017 I would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms, the attack against Rohingya refugees – refugees who were under the care of UNHCR,yesterday in Mount Lavinia,by a group of …
Sri Lanka’s government Wednesday said a handful of Buddhist monks behaved like animals when they led a mob attack against Rohingya refugees, including 16 small children and seven women. Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said the government condemned in the strongest possible terms the Tuesday’s storming of a UN safe house where 31 Rohingya refugees were …
A small group of Buddhist monks belonging to an extremist Sri Lankan nationalist organization on Tuesday attacked houses of Rohingya Muslim refugees in the outskirts of the capital, forcing the police to arrest the “illegal immigrants”. The 31 refugees, including women and children, were sent away to the detention camp at Boosa in South Sri …
Radical Buddhist monks stormed a United Nations safe house for Rohingya refugees near Sri Lanka’s capital Tuesday and forced authorities to relocate the group, officials said. Saffron-robed Buddhist monks led a mob that broke down gates and entered the walled multi-storied compound as frightened refugees huddled together in upstair rooms, a police official said. “We …
By Vishwamithra “The greatest enemy of clear language is insincerity” ~George Orwell The separation occurred soon after the cessation of the war. In the immediate aftermath of the end of the war, the Rajapaksas had nothing short of praise and flattery for General Sarath Fonseka, the man who led his forces to a victorious end …
By Gomin Dayasri Among the merry pack at Temple Trees in the final days of the Rajapaksa regime, on whom would you place an honest gentleman’s tag! Say Lalith Weeratunga, a worthy recipient. The image of a ‘gentleman’ is hard to locate but once found, grows in stature to acquire another, the honour of ‘Mr. …
Continue reading ‘Decline and Fall of the Scrupulously Honest “Mr.Clean” Lalith Weeratunga’ »
Rural Development Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday rejected reports that he was not included in the UN Delegation headed by President Maithripala Sirisena to New York. The Field Marshal said he couldn’t go to the US because his visa was denied. “I could’ t go to the US because my visa was rejected. This …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The report of the Steering Committee could be said to be the draft Constitution in embryo and must be understood as such. However unsatisfactorily rendered it addresses two of the oldest, most vital questions in our contemporary history and indeed that of any state. One is the ethno-national question and the other, …
By Risidra Mendis It was a fun filled occasion for people but certainly not for the animals of the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala, when it was declared open to the public by Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, a few days ago. Night time at the zoo is usually quiet as the …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Given Sri Lanka’s recent history as one of the main sources of refugees during the three decades of ethnic conflict and the JVP’s 1988-1989 insurgency, the recent protests against the Rohingya refugees are downright hypocritical. However, they are incorrigible too, for despite all the bluster by ultra-nationalist monks, Sri Lanka currently hosts …
To his foes, Ataullah is a reckless amateur who has brought untold misery to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya after launching an insurgency in Myanmar. But to supporters of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), their leader is an intrepid fighter who left a life of luxury in Saudi Arabia to defend the stateless group …
By S.S. Selvanayagam Senior Counsel contended in the Supreme Court that former actress turned politician Geetha Kumarasinghe’s candidacy should have been objected to at the time of her nomination or by way of an election petition. President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, with Sugath Caldera and Niran Anketell, made his submission for Kumarasinghe. The divisional bench …
Sri Lanka’s customs authorities have stumbled on a bottomless gold mine as more smugglers resort to stuffing their bottoms with gems and precious metals, an official said Monday. The latest discovery came on Sunday when a Coimbatore bound passenger was found with his rectum stuffed with seven gold biscuits and six gold chains with a …
By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka 68th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China The 72nd UN General Assembly which President Maithripala is currently attending, has already gained notoriety around the world, because unusually, one of its member states threatened to totally destroy another. Ahead of it, on the 18th of September, President …
By Don Manu Perhaps, it signalled the beginning of the end for the ingrained respect the people of Lanka have long held sacrosanct in their hearts for the sacred saffron robe. Last week, as monks took to the streets to ask the public their money to tinkle and jingle in monks’ begging bowls as alms, …
By Shaahidah Riza President’s Counsel and member of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), parliamentarian Jayampathy Wickramaratne spoke to Ceylon Today about the salient points pertaining to the Interim report, of the steering committee, which centred on the Constitutional Assembly of Sri Lanka. Emphasizing on the need to include the word Aekiya Rajya in the …
by Victor Ivan Translation by K.A.N. Perera While attending a public discussion on the renaissance movement, a participant approached me and shared his opinion on the intellectual poverty of the Sri Lankan people as a nation and asked me whether it would be possible for me to investigate this and clarify the historical context of …
Continue reading ‘Reasons for Intellectual Poverty of the Sri Lankan People as a Nation’ »
By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya As the US government engages in the complicated process of approving its budget for Financial Year 2018, we are told that the Trump administration had requested US$ 3.4 million in foreign assistance for Sri Lanka. Readers could be forgiven if they thought it was a typo in the news reports they read. …
Continue reading ‘Why is Sri Lanka Getting Entangled in the “War Games” of Nuclear Powers?’ »
By Gagani Weerakoon Reporting from New York The success of the United Nations depends upon the independent strength of its members. To overcome the perils of the present, and to achieve the promise of the future, we must begin with the wisdom of the past. Our success depends on a coalition of strong and independent …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “At a time when national borders are vanishing, the borders in our own mind need to be erased in the interests of serious inquiry and discussion.”—Mervyn de Silva, The Age of Identity, 1993 As in life, there are no guarantees in politics. One can only avoid the most obvious mistakes and cultivate …
By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor Hopes of elections this year to three Provincial Councils – North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern – were buoyed by last Tuesday’s announcement of the Supreme Court determination, but evaporated just hours later. Ruling coalition leaders, not in favour of PC polls, adopted other counter measures that will now cause …
By Chandani Kirinde It is not unusual for any govt with a two-third majority in Parliament, to trespass on Constitutional provisions meant to safeguard the Fundamental Rights (FR) of the people and keep the Legislature in check. On Thursday (21), in Parliament, there was a classic example of this when the ‘Yahapalana’ Govt. decided that …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardena Applying Marx’s denunciation of historic personages repeating themselves ‘first as tragedy, second as farce’ to grotesque financial scandals in Sri Lanka is a tad adventurous. But there is no question that one satire follows the other, tragically and farcically, with little respite. In the interests of sanity Close upon Arjun Aloysius, …
A verbal battle, where strong words were exchanged in the lobbies of Parliament, raised eyebrows among opposition MPs. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who is also the official Government spokesperson, and former Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake lambasted Minister Rauff Hakeem, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader. “This is a shameful thing to do,” lamented Senaratne.“You don’t …
by Anura Gunasekera About 2,600 years ago, Gautama Buddha, the first Buddhist thero and, unarguably, one of the noblest human beings to have trod the soil of this planet, following a vision derived from a spiritual awakening on conclusion of several difficult years of physical and mental hardship, walked the roads of his land, barefoot, …
by C.A.Chandraprema The scenes in Parliament on Wednesday last week made Parliamentary history. Never before have we seen anything like the horse trading that went on at the last moment to get the amendments to the PC Elections Bill passed. When the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress wanted the proportion …
A new project for water supply to Jaffna utilizing rainfall into the Vadmarachchi Lagoon with a surface area of 78 sq. km. was announced on Friday by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Policy Development Office. “The Project envisages making use of 20% of the annual rainfall in to the Vadamarachchi Lagoon with a surface area of …
In a dramatic turn of events, Former UNP Parliamentarian Joseph Michael Perera stormed into a UNP youth wing meeting in Ja-ela, chaired by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, and lashed out at the organisers for sidelining him. Perara’s main allegation was that the organisers failed to give him a speech at the event, although he …
Actress-turned politician Geetha Kumarasinghe has accused her police bodyguards of gross negligence leading to a gas stove fire that caused her severe burns nearly three weeks ago, officials said. In a statement to police after recovering from burns suffered at her home in the Welikada police area at the beginning of this month, Kumarasinghe said …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The Supreme Court’s order on the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution was one that wholly supported the democratic rights of voters. It clearly stated that any move by the government to postpone the Provincial Council polls – even to have them all on a single day – should be approved by …
By Himal Kotelawala A senior Attorney General Department official assisting the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the controversial bond issuance yesterday suggested that Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran had interfered with due process in the 27 February 2015 treasury bond auction, thereby influencing its outcome. Mahendran denied the allegation, claiming that bids were accepted …
by Saman Indrajith The government will not accept any asylum seeking refugees from any country to Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said. The PM has also said the decision not to permit any refugees was taken in line with the Yahapalana government’s foreign policy. The Prime Minister said so when he was asked …
By Abhijit Singh Last week’s Indian Ocean conference at Colombo generated much enthusiasm in India’s strategic circles. Organised by the India Foundation (a prominent Delhi think tank aligned closely with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government) in collaboration with the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, the meeting drew participants from across the …
Attorney General’s Department counsel assisting the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the bond scams yesterday deplored aspersions cast upon them by the senior counsel for former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran on Wednesday. Following is the text of the Statement made by Counsel of the Attorney General’s Department, Additional Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda: “On 20th …
By Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta and Sarath Dharmasena Arjuna Mahendran admitted before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the bond scams yesterday that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked him to accept the post of Governor of the Central Bank. Mahendran, giving evidence before the Commission of Inquiry, said he thought it was on the evening …
By S.Venkatnarayan Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) founder Arvind Kejriwal is now busy wooing Tamil film actor Kamal Haasan to enter politics. He flew down to Chennai today for lunch with the actor. Kamal Haasan’s youngest daughter Akshara received him at the airport. Kamal Haasan, 63, recently confirmed that he is considering …
by Vamanan (R.Govardhanam passed away in Salem,Tamil Nadu on Sep 18th 2017) R Govardhanam was neither an M S Viswanathan nor a K V Mahadevan in prolificacy of melodies, but it was the tacit conviction among Tamil film music connoisseurs that he was an equally gifted composer who came up with entrancing songs. Some, like …
Continue reading ‘Govarthanam ♫ The unsung maestro of Tamil Cinema Music’ »
by Gehan Gunatilleke The concept of extradition features prominently in the recent debate over Sri Lanka’s Enforced Disappearance Bill. Opponents of the Bill claim that it enables the extradition of Sri Lankan citizens to foreign countries with no jurisdiction over offences committed in Sri Lanka. These claims are likely ill advised. Yet they probably stem …
By Saman Indrajith The Steering Committee, tasked with drafting a new constitution has raised the hackles of some of its members by proposing that the term, ‘unitary state’ be done away with. The Steering Committee interim report submitted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to the Constitutional Assembly yesterday states that people in the south are …
The Steering Committee of Sri Lanka’s “Constitutional Assembly” presented its Interim Report to parliament, which, apart from being the country’ legislature, also functions as the “Constitutional Assembly” charged with the responsibility of drafting a new constitution for Sri Lanka. The Steering Committee consists of the leaders of all political parties represented in parliament and is …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Nearing the delivery of an election promise of the Unity Government, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Steering Committee (SC) Ranil Wickremesinghe tabled an interim report promising the country to present a better Constitution, which will help develop the nation, keep Sri Lanka intact and cultivate peace and harmony among …
By Saman Indrajith The SLFP yesterday insisted that the executive presidency had to be retained if the unitary character of the state was to be safeguarded. Addressing a press conference held in the Parliament complex, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said a president with certain executive powers was essential for the …
By Saman Indrajith The JVP says that the new constitution to be introduced should abolish the executive presidency if democracy is to be strengthened. JVP leader and Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake said so, expressing views after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had presented the Interim Report of the Steering Committee before the Constitutional Assembly …
Continue reading ‘JVP Wants Executive Presidency to be Abolished in New Constitution.’ »
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauff Hakeem has requested Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, PC to summon Colombo based Myanmar Ambassador over on-going violence directed at Rhohingya people in that country. Minister Hakeem has made four recommendations in respect of the situation there. The following is the text of …
By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana Sri Lanka’s future depends on the ability which the UNP and the SLFP possess to reach an agreement on the fundamentals of the new Constitution, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the Constitutional Assembly today. The Prime Minister made this remark while presenting the interim report of the steering committee …
Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today said the government has openly insulted the judiciary and flouted the Constitution by introducing changes to the Provincial Councils Election Bill through the backdoor. Issuing a statement, he said these changes have been made when the Supreme Court (SC) had given a clear ruling that the extension of the terms …
(Text Of Statement made in Parliament on September 21st 2017 by Leader of the Opposition and Trincomalee District MP Rajavarothayam Sampanthan) Hon Chairman, It is not my intention at present to comment on the matters contained in the Interim Report submitted by the Hon Prime Minister or the annexures tabled therewith. These matters will be …
By Gehan Gunatilleke It is most unfortunate that further confusion and misinformation is being disseminated on the issue of extradition. In an article appearing in the Island today (21 September), it is claimed that extradition under the Torture Act applies only to non-Sri Lankans, whereas extradition under the Enforced Disappearances Bill applies to Sri Lankan …
The passage of a law to bring directly elected provincial council members has cut down campaign costs, paving the way for campaign financing laws, while expanding female representation, State Minister Eran Wickramaratne said. Half the members of provincial councils will be elected on the basis of geographical seats instead of the current districts where candidates …
The Sri Lankan parliament on Wednesday passed the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Bill to give 25% reservation for women in the Provincial Councils in the country, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, M.A.Sumanthiran said. Currently, women’s representation in the nine provincial councils is only 4.1%, although women are 51% of the Sri Lankan electorate, and Sri …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “Fuggetaboutit…” – Johnny Depp, ‘Donnie Brasco’ It is old news that those who regard themselves as Sinhala nationalists always preferred the district to the province as the primary unit of the devolution of power. What is amazing though is that they do not recognize that this is no longer an issue in …
By Gehan Gunatilleke There is a lot of misinformation about the extradition clause in the Enforced Disappearance Bill. I would just like to point out that this clause is identical to the clause that we already have in the Torture Act of 1994. It was passed during the CBK government when Prof. G.L. Peiris was …
Sri Lanka’s parliament voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to amend the Provincial Council election Act giving greater representation to women, but also effectively delayed polls to three councils. MPs voted 154 in favour and 44 against the controversial piece of legislation that came two days after the Speaker announced that the Supreme Court effectively shot down a …
By Himal Kotelawala The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the controversial bond issuance yesterday declared that despite former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s foreign citizenship he is indeed compellable to testify in the ongoing proceedings. Making a special statement with regard to media reports on a submission made on Tuesday, Commission Chairman K. T. Chitrasiri …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “This is the only deal.” – Colin Farrell as Sonny Crockett in ‘Miami Vice’ At the heart of the Constitutional Question is the crux of the continuing Sri Lankan crisis. And that is what may be variously called the Tamil Question, the Tamil issue, the Tamil problem, the Tamil national question, the …
By Himal Kotelawala Testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the controversial bond issuance yesterday, former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said he had recommended public auctions over private placements for treasury bonds taking into account the “stunningly large” amounts required by the Government for March 2015. This decision, he claimed, reflected Government policy …
By Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta and Sarath Dharmasena Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Yasantha Kodagoda, PC, yesterday revealed to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the alleged bond scams that data pertaining to calls taken from two mobile phones used by former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, for a period of 11 months, had gone missing. …
By Sarath Dharmasena and Shyam Nuwan Ganewatta Former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran’s Counsel Romesh De Silva, PC, yesterday told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI), probing the alleged bond scams that his client couldn’t be compelled to give evidence before CoI as he (Mahendran) was a Singaporean. President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Mahendran Governor of …
Former presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga and TRC’s former director general Anusha Palpita were today released on bail by Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga. They were earlier sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment after they were found guilty of misappropriating Rs.600 million belonging to the TRC and using it to distribute ‘Sil Redi’ during the …
A special nocturnal zone would be opened at the Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens for three days from 22, September, Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said yesterday. The zoo will be opened on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Entrance fee for adults is Rs. 200 and for children Rs.100. “The opening …
Sandasen Marasinghe and Camelia Nathaniel Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed parliament that he was notified by the Supreme Court that several clauses of the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution were inconsistent with the Constitution and it required a referendum to legally establish the proposed Bill. Hence, he told parliament that following a referendum, the said …
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa made history yesterday by raising a question for the first time after he became an MP in the current Parliament. Rajapaksa, known for his stoic silence during Parliamentary proceedings, asked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe when the Local Government election will be held. Rajapaksa’s first question came two years after the current …
Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka Tuesday said he had been denied a visa to attend the UN general assembly because of unresolved war crime allegations against the military. The war-time general, who is now minister of regional development, said he was due to travel to New York this week, but he was the only …
By W.A. Sunil Despite government threats and a campaign of intimidation, 22,000 workers at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in Sri Lanka are continuing to strike. The stoppage, which began last Wednesday, has disrupted power supplies in several areas of the island. The unions covering technical engineers and superintendents have also threatened to join the …
The sacked junior minister of Tourism and Christian Affairs Arundika Fernando joined former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s faction Tuesday, a week after he was told by the government that he will not be reinstated. Fernando, who was called a rock star by his parliamentary colleagues after he rocked the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction of …
By C. A. Chandraprema The news that the judiciary had determined a referendum was necessary if the 20th Amendment was to be passed into law was out in the public domain by Friday last week. The purpose of the 20th Amendment was firstly to extend the terms of the existing PCs until around October 2019 …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Narratives of horror in Myanmar’s restive Rakhine State and the squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh where nearly 400,000 Rohingya refugees live in subhuman condition after being chased out by the Burmese Army’s scorched earth campaign are distressing. Ethnic violence in Rakhine first erupted soon after Myanmar’s military junta relaxed its grip on …
By Yohan Perera The government has decided not to take up the debate on the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances on September 21, Parliamentary Affairs and Lands Minister Gayantha Karunathilake said on Monday. He also said this decision was taken during the UNP Parliamentary group meeting which met Monday …
By Chathuri Dissanayake The parliamentary debate on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed indefinitely, senior ministers have confirmed. Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the debate on the constitutional amendment is to be postponed until President Maithripala Sirisena returns from New York. «The 20th Amendment will not be debated on Wednesday …
By Norman Palihawadane Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday ordered Director General of Health Services Dr Jayasundara Bandara to transfer Acting Chief Medical Officer of the Welikda Prisons Hospital Dr Nirmali Thenuwara to the National Hospital, Colombo immediately. A spokesman for the Health Ministry told The Island that the Minister had ordered the transfer of the …
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was said to be one of the colourful Presidents in the Asian region, amidst having to face political attacks from his opponents, said that he did his best for the country and he could defend himself on that. He also pointed out the presence of the …
By P/K.Balachandran Reflecting the sharp communal divide in the country, Sri Lankan Muslims and Buddhists have been holding counter demonstrations in the island nation, opposing each other’s stand point on the Rohingya Muslim issue in Myanmar. Both communities see the tragic events in Myanmar as a Muslim-Buddhist issue and not as a humanitarian or a …
By Sanja De Silva Jayatilleka At the on-going September 2017 sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, the UK has written to the President of the Council to assert that a long standing dispute it has with the Mauritius cannot be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) because “those States must have consented …
(Excerpts From the Political Column in the “Sunday Times” of September 17th 2017) Plans are on the drawing board for the two coalition partners – the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) – to contest each other at an upcoming Provincial Council or Local Government election. It is most likely …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Having switched their allegiance to the Joint Opposition (JO), former Deputy Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Arundika Fernando and State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Priyankara Jayaratne yesterday said that more SLFPers would desert the government this week. They said a group of SLFP MPs would vote against …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday said that it had received an assurance from President Maithripala Sirisena that the controversial International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances Bill wouldn’t be taken up for debate on Thursday (21) The Bill is to give effect to the ‘International Convention for the …
President Maithripala Sirisena says all future elections will be held on the first-past-the-post system. The President says action will be taken to conduct the next parliamentary and provincial council election under that system. President Sirisena said so addressing a group of North Central Provincial Councillors and SLFP Parliamentarians in Colombo on Saturday.
by C.A.Chandraprema With just 15 days to go for the Sabaragamuwa, North Central and Eastern provinces to automatically stand dissolved, the coming week will be a make or break period for the yahapalana government. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution is to be taken up for debate on Wednesday. The Supreme Court we believe has …
(Excerpts From the Political Column in the “Sunday Times” of September 17th 2017) Ahead of the polls the SLFP’s Central Committee has endorsed President Maithripala Sirisena’s move to field candidates on the UPFA ticket. The bulath kole (Betel leaf) is their symbol. Sirisena has chosen to take a tough line against party parliamentarians whom he …
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, on Friday, launched the Colombo International Book Fair, which is an annual mega book exhibition featuring local and international authors and publishers. Chairman of Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association, H. Premasiri, speaking at the launch said that over 400 international and local book stalls would be open at the exhibition …
By C.A.Chandraprema The Office of Missing Persons Act was gazetted into operation last week by the President. This is one of several institutions to be established ‘to deal with the past’ in terms of the UNHRC resolution that the Yahapalana government co-sponsored with the Western powers in October 2015. Even though it is described as …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The Order by the Commission of Inquiry into the issuance of Treasury Bonds by the Central Bank declining to compel Arjun Aloysius, principal shareholder and director of Perpetual Treasuries (Pvt) Ltd to give evidence before it, raises interesting points of law for consideration. Indeed, its effect has wider ramifications beyond the …
by Jolly Somasundram “I have done some service to the State”. – Shakespeare: Othello The Sept. 10 editorial in the Sunday Island titled “Lalith Weeratunga” is timely, reflective and balanced. It ironises on the predicament faced by an honest and efficient SLAS Officer Lalith Weeratunga, the former Secretary of President Rajapaksa, (a Secretary to the …
by Tisaranee Gunasekara “Ill at ease in the tyranny, ill at ease in the republic,In the one I longed for freedom,in the other the end of corruption.” Czelaw Milosz (To Raja Rao) “All fear punishment, all fear death, comparing oneself with others, one should neither kill nor cause to kill.” That was Siddhartha Gautama, the …
By Joshua Kurlantzick Burma is essentially run by one of the world’s most lauded humanitarians — a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a democracy icon. Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads the party in charge of the government, suffered more than two decades of repression, including a long house arrest, rather than leave the country …
Sri Lanka’s independent Election Commission may be compelled to hold three provincial council elections this this year in the likely event of the Supreme Court this week insisting on a referendum on the proposed 20th amendment to the constitution. Legal sources said the three-judge bench headed by chief justice Priyasath Dep was expected to give …
By Shivanthi Ranasinghe The reaction to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s (GR) new movement, “Eliya”, is revealing. On one hand,an invitee-only 1,000 guest function became an open event as many people just turned up and insisted on remaining. Finally, an audience of about 2,500+ in three halls watched the whole two and half hour event in rapt attention …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The judgement by the High Court, Colombo on the “Sil Redi” issue, apart from the sentence of imprisonment on the former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeeratunga and the former Director General of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) Anusha Pelpita, is showing signs of moving to a major encounter between the forces …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake While the fight against corruption gained new strength, the political strategies of the defeated forces of corruption have taken a new stride in political organisation, with the launch of the “Eliya” movement, which does not bring much light as the name indicates, but throws out the so far uncertain candidate for political …
Dozens of Buddhist monks loyal to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa begged from office to office in Colombo today seeking cash to pay fines slapped on two former top officials convicted on corruption charges. The monks walked one behind the other with two women leading them and asking bystanders to donate only cash. Usually, monks on …
By Sandun A Jayasekera President Maithripala Sirisena’s daughter Chaturika, said at the launch of the book authored by her titled, “Janadhipathi Thaththa”, that she had no intention of entering party politics but would use politics for community service, women empowerment and social justice. “So many people, including my friends keep asking me when I enter …
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has alleged that the former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and former Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Anusha Pelpita had been penalised for carrying out the previous government’s instructions issued in terms of Article 9 of the Constitution to foster and protect Buddhism. The following is the …