By Cyril Wimalasurendre President Maithripala Sirisena assured the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas in Kandy on Thursday (06) afternoon that there was no draft constitution. If a new Constitution was to be drafted it would be done only in consultation with the Maha Sanga and other stakeholders, President Maithripala Sirisena told a group of …
By Saman Indrajith A government’s move to remove the Universities of Colombo and Peradeniya from the purview of University Grants Commission (UGC) and turn them into profit earning institutions was disclosed at a recent meeting of the parliamentary watchdog committee – COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), according to sources. The proposal was discussed at the …
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank yesterday suspended the business activities of controversial primary dealer Perpetual Treasuries for six months, effective immediately. The Central Bank, releasing a statement, said it was acting in terms of the regulations made under the Registered Stocks and Securities Ordinance and the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance.
By Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that courts issuing orders banning garbage disposal would lead to further spread of disease such as dengue and deaths of patients. Responding to a question raised by JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake, the Prime Minister said that there was no proper place to dump garbage collected …
By Chitra Weerarathne The Supreme Court yesterday granted interim relief to 34 petitioners from Bopitiy by ordering that no garbage be dumped within the Muthurajawela bird sanctuary till July 20, the next date of calling of the fundamental rights violation petition against alleged pollution of the sanctuary. The petitioners are Rev. Father Ananda Withana of …
By Devin Jayasundera For the last three months, Kamalnath, 26, has been arriving to work in Chunnakam two hours late, leaving two hours early and spending his free time at a friend’s home in Nallur. He works at his family’s fancy goods store, retailing beauty accoutrements like bangles, hairpins and the latest fairness creams. Chunnakam …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “A single spark can start a prairie fire.” (Mao) “I am alone with the people.” (Mao) Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe is the target of a fire-hose of criticism. What I find most interesting is where this criticism is coming from and the larger truth it obscures. The criticism comes from a network of …
Continue reading ‘In Defence of “The Lone Patriot” Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’ »
Sri Lankan President Maithripala has announced four major appointments mafe by him on July 3rd 2017. President Sirisena revealed details of the new appointmets to the world at large through his twitter account. The names of the new Army Commander, Defence Secretary, Secretary to the President and Eastern Province Governor were publicised by the President …
By Meera Srinivasan The Sri Lankan army on Monday returned 54 acres of land in the fishing village of Myliddy in Jaffna peninsula to its original residents, after occupying it for nearly three decades. Consequently, about 200 families living in welfare centres for the war-affected and with friends and relatives returned to where they lived …
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya yesterday called on Sinhala mothers to produce more children and ensure the protection of Buddhism and the Sinhala race.
By Anura Balasuriya reporting from Trincomalee The only thing the incumbent government did was to talk, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. It was trying to cover up its failure by blaming others, he added. Addressing a mammoth Joint Opposition (JO) rally at the Town Hall grounds in Trincomalee, the former President said not a …
The Asgiriya Chapter of the Siyam sect on Saturday vehemently protested against the proposed new Constitution at a meeting the Mahanayake of the Chapter Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratne and other senior monks had with a group of Buddhasasana Task Force representatives at the Asgiriya temple. The Asgiriya senior monks led by the Mahanayake declared …
By Meera Srinivasan For a long time, Sri Lanka was a leader in the region in two key areas – public health and civic conservancy. But over the last year, the country is facing a major challenge in both, the most visible manifestation being the recent dengue epidemic that has claimed over 200 lives. One …
The government is attempting to incorporate into the law of Sri Lanka the provisions of the ‘International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances’, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says. “Countries like the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, never even signed this Convention. Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and India signed it …
By Bishop Duleep de Chickera The initial shock at the response of a high ranking minister to comments made by a citizen on a recent talk show, soon shifted to a realisation of its seriousness. During the show Lakshan Dias, an attorney at law,presented some dataon violence against some Christians and their places of worship. …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has challenged Health Minister and co-cabinet spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne’s recent declaration that the SAITM (South Asian Institute of technology and Medicine), Malabe, won’t be nationalized under any circumstances. Responding to Dr Senaratne, newly elected GMOA Secretary Harith Alutge emphasised that remedial measures taken to resolve …
Continue reading ‘GMOA, ,Health Minister and the SAITM Crisis: A Brief History’ »
By Shamindra Ferdinando Anti Corruption Front (ACF) has alleged the Secretariat tasked with examining public complaints and direct them to relevant institutions, including the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) or the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) was closed down on June 30. Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon on behalf of the ACF told …
By Namini Wijedasa The Supreme Court has dismissed a Fundamental Rights (FR) application by a mosque president and a principal of a madrassa in Panadura, arguing their right to proceed with building a religious school–which residents and Buddhist monks vehemently demonstrated against–was violated. President of the Board of Trustees of the Wekada Jumma Mosque, M.J.M. …
The United States had “a detailed coordinated plan” with the Indian and Sri Lanka Governments for its Navy to rescue trapped displaced persons in Puthukudiyiruppu during the final stages of the separatist war, according to Ambassador Robert Blake, then Washington’s envoy in Colombo. However, the Sri Lankan Government killed the idea for fear that Erik …
Shrinking space for human rights voices and dissent, and concerns over the terms of engagement between government and civil society A statement by concerned human rights and democratic rights activists and organisations 27th June 2017, Colombo As individuals and organisations committed to human rights and democratic freedoms, and the rights of freedom of expression and …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardena However much they may genuflect to the concept of free speech, Sri Lanka’s politicians are quite unable to shake off a constitutional dislike of that theory in abrasive practice. Remarkably clever traits of politicians ‘Yahapalanaya’ Ministers appear not to be different to their predecessors in office in that sense, excepting of …
By Manekshaw Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) leader and Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian Mavai S. Senathirajah became the first high profile Internally Displaced Person (IDP) to return last week to his house in Mavittapuram, in the Jaffna peninsula, after a lapse of 27 years. The ITAK, being the foremost Tamil political party founded by late …
By Meera Srinivasan Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu handed over as many as 16,000 books to the iconic Jaffna public library on Thursday. The collection will be kept at the ‘India Corner’ in the library, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated during his maiden visit in 2015. “The titles cover topics …
by C.A.Chandraprema Even though police teams are supposedly scouring the country for him, the monk Galagodaatte Gnanasara has not been arrested as this goes to press. He is supposed to appear in courts tomorrow but it seems unlikely that he will. He has evaded two court appearances already and if he was going to make …
By Hafeel Farisz Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in an interview with the Daily News spoke on the recent controversy involving him and issues pertaining to minorities among others. Excerpts: Question: In a recent interview with the BBC, you said that there were “four minor incidents” (sulu siduweem) regarding attacks on Churches. …
By SANJA DE SILVA JAYATILLEKA This evening at the ICES Colombo we saw a very powerful movie: DEMONS IN PARADISE, directed by Jude Ratnam. I am so very grateful that the director invited us to attend its first screening in Sri Lanka. I hope it gets shown and discussed everywhere. Dayan Jayatilleka always said that …
By Chaturanga Pradeep Introducing amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), does not mean that the Act will be repealed or replaced by a new Act and there will be nor room left for the country’s security to be jeopardized, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said.
By Dhaneshi Yatawara Following a statement made during a TV talk show highlighting attacks on a religious minority group, human rights lawyer Lakshan Dias faced allegations raised by the Justice Minister on the grounds of creating religious disharmony. Commenting on the situation Attorney-at-Law Dias said that his opinion was based on the facts of a …
Well -known lawyer and Human Right Defender Lakshan Dias has flown out of his motherland to an undisclosed destination for reasons of personal safety,it is learnt. The outspoken lawyer had been receiving threats from different quarters after stating in a TV forum that over a 190 incidents of violence,harassment and intimidation against Christians and christian …
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the government had not yet decided whether it would go for a brand new constitution or adopt provisions that did not necessitate a referendum. The PM said so, speaking at the National Conference on Constitutional Reforms at BMICH in Colombo. The conference was held as a …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Former Minister Piyasena Gamage yesterday sought Supreme Court’s permission to intervene in an appeal filed by Galle district Parliamentarian Geetha Kumarasinghe. Piyasena Gamage who received the seventh highest number of preferential votes on the UPFA Galle District list further sought an order to dismiss the appeal filed by Geetha Kumarasinghe. This intervenient …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Wartime Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday told The Island that President Trump had unceremoniously ended a two-decade long tradition of hosting an iftar meal at the White House during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, while the US repeatedly told Sri Lanka how to proceed with post-war reconciliation process here. The previous …
By Bandula Jayasekera A foreign ministry colleague told me, “One could never find any fault with Saman. It is not possible for me to see him dead. I am not going to his house. ” I returned from Kurunegala early last Sunday, wanting to visit his house to pay my last respects to him and …
Continue reading ‘Saman Kelegama was A Patriot Who Worked for the Betterment of Sri Lanka.’ »
By P.K.Balachandran The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), which is the principal constituent of the ruling Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province, is demanding a probe into complaints about the working of departments directly under Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran. “There are complaints against departments directly under the Chief Minister. That is why …
By Meera Srinivasan Developments unfolding in Sri Lanka over the last few weeks look ominously similar to those in 2013-14, when a surge in targeted attacks against minority Muslims and Christians went unchecked by the Rajapaksa administration. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, an umbrella organisation for civil society groups, has recorded 25 attacks on …
By Andrew Fidel Fernando Graham Ford has stepped down as Sri Lanka coach, ending his second tenure with the side after 15 months. SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said the decision had been arrived at mutually, “after careful consideration and deliberation”. Ford’s relationship with SLC was understood to have been strained due to what he felt …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The yahapalana government won the elections on a promise of democracy and prosperity. Now it seems to assume that its modest achievements in restoring democracy should serve as an excuse for not delivering on the economy. That is a dangerous misgiving which threatens the sustainability of on-going democratic reforms in the long …
By Shamindra Ferdinando National Unity Alliance (NUA) leader Azath Salley has alleged that President Maithripala Sirisena deprived Ravi Karunanayake of the finance portfolio as a result of UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema’s intervention. Salley strongly regretted President Sirisena giving into Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Samarawickrema’s demand. Salley named Minister Samarawickrema in the wake of …
By Ahilan Kadirgamar The recent no-confidence motion in Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) in Jaffna, moved by a section of the Council members against Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, has brought the deep divide in Tamil nationalist politics to the fore. The turbulence lasted a week, after he called on two ministers to resign on …
By Kapila Fernando Sri Lankan police violently assaulted university students occupying the health ministry on Wednesday and have now broadened the crackdown, arresting the protest leaders. The government has also threatened to take action against the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and doctors who launched an “indefinite strike” to protest against the police attack and …
Sri Lanka’s striking doctors have sent a fellow medical officer to hospital with a broken nose on the same day they refused to treat thousands of other patients in a bid to spite the government. Doctors discussing the current crisis over private medical education began punching each other both literally and figuratively with one of …
By Gagani Weerakoon Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa left to Pakistan last Monday afternoon to participate, as the guest speaker, at an event held at the Pakistan National Defence University. Speaking at an event organized by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Global Village Space (GVS) Rajapaksa said terrorism is against the spirit …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Certain things are immeasurable and beyond definition. Love, for instance. Such things are however often recognizable, either in the joy or sorrow they create. And yet, there are instanes when we don’t see it at all or if we do, we call it something else. There’s love whose dimensions we don’t …
Continue reading ‘A Note of Tribute to my Father, Eric Cooray, On His 80th Birthday’ »
Government doctors called off their three-day work stoppage Saturday shortly after a consumer protection organization threatened to invoke the wrath of gods on them and socially ostracize the striking medical officers. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) said they decided to “temporarily suspend” the trade union action after continuing a strike across all state-sector hospitals …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardena In a country where people seldom challenge the political leadership of the day preferring instead to pay homage to blatant sycophancy, a refreshing contrast emerges from the ‘boy from Rathgama’ (as he identifies himself), one of Sri Lanka’s leading cricketers, Lasith Malinga. Monkeys and Parrots As someone entirely and quite unashamedly …
By C.A.Chandraprema The events that people saw unfolding last Wednesday proved beyond a shadow of doubt what this writer said in the last two columns – that the latest spate of anti-Muslim violence unleashed by the Bodu Bala Sena has been orchestrated by elements within the yahapalana government that are trying to win over a …
by N. Sathiya Moorthy All is well that ends well – or, so goes the old adage. For the ruling Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the Tamil-majority Northern Province, it could well be just that and nothing more. The current truce between TNA leadership of R Sampanthan and Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran …
By Don Manu Ah, just when one had wondered whether the absconding monk, that fugitive of justice, had renounced the pleasures of the world and sought refuge in some quiet corner of some dense thicket to meditate upon the wise counsel of the Buddha and seek alone his own path to redemption and not lead …
A Task Force, functioning under President Maithripala Sirisena, has queried the Finance Ministry on how approval was granted to establish an ethanol distillery in Batticaloa, contrary to government policy. The Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention (PTFDP) functions under the purview of President Maithripala Sirisena. The PTFDP has asked the Finance Ministry Secretary to explain …
By Damith Wickremsekara Individuals or groups trying to provoke religious or ethnic hatred on social media are to be monitored and action taken against them by the Criminal Investigations Department, a senior official said. Law and Order Ministry Secretary Jagath Wijeweera told the Sunday Times the decision was taken following a meeting with the police …
By Methmalie Dissanayake The manner in which the university students who were engaged in a protest march against SAITM on 21 June was the ‘most brutal’ attack carried out by any Government against the student movement in the entire history of this country, Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. He said in a statement that …
BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA The impassioned, strongly worded statement just recently issued by the Asgiriya Chapter meant that the writing is on the wall. But there is more than one thing written on the wall, and there is also something written between the lines. What the writing on the wall clearly says is that we …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Police investigating Wednes-day’s Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) ‘raid’ on the health ministry arrested three key student leaders yesterday as the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) strike against the heavy handed use of the police to oust the protesters, entered its second day. Among the suspects taken into custody are Ven Thampitiye …
By Prof. Asoka Ekanayaka Emeritus Professor A,N,I. Ekanayake has written an open letter to Justice and Buddha sana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe about the recent comments made by the minister regarding recent incidents of harassment against Christians in Sri Lanka. The full text ofof the letter is as follows – June 22, 2017 Hon Dr Wijeyadasa …
By K. Ratnayake A factional clash that erupted last week between Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leadership ended yesterday after a political compromise. Wigneswaran, a retired supreme court judge, became the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) chief minister after being appointed as the TNA’s leading candidate …
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga is being investigated by Sri Lanka’s cricket board after comparing the country’s sports minister to a monkey, the BBC reported. Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told Sri Lanka’s players they were too fat after they failed to reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals. Malinga, 33, responded by saying he did not care for …
By Dr.Prasanna Cooray Shivers were sent down the spines of the good governance aspirants when President Maithripala Sirisena, in most unwelcome manner, removed Sajeeva Samaranayake, Deputy Chairman National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). It is understood that no reason has been cited for his removal in the letter of expulsion. The NCPA comes under the Ministry …
By PK Balachandran The anti-Muslim Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), has several serious cases against him relating to hate speech, blasphemy against the Quran, instigation of violence, and contempt of court. And yet, he has been evading arrest for long periods, and when arrested, …
Violence and discrimination against minority Christians is widespread in Sri Lanka with the support of state officials and institutions at the local level, a think tank that analysed data over two decades has said. “The figure suggests that, for the past two decades, on average, an attack has taken place against a Christian person or …
By DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA The entire discussion or debate about the BBS, Gnanasara Thero and extremism is missing something. The discussion confuses ultra-nationalism, chauvinism, Islamophobia and extremism with the real issue: incitement to violence. Whether an ideology is extremist or not is one issue, but it is an issue that is difficult to resolve. What …
By P.K.Balachandran Even as the spat between Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran and the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) leader R.Sampanthan ended in a compromise on Monday, with both sides abandoning brinkmanship, new issues have been raised to muddy the political waters in the Tamil-majority province. writes P.K.Balachandran in Daily Express On Monday itself, Chief …
by Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka Making his submission in a long speech at the most recent parliamentary debate on Geneva called by JO leader Dinesh Gunawardene, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe made a seriously inaccurate interpretation of the Resolution adopted by majority vote at the May 2009 UN Human Rights Council 11thspecial session on Sri Lanka. The …
Northern province chief minister Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran who earlier demanded that all the armed forces should be withdrawn from the North is now singing a different tune after the majority of Northern provincial councillors have indicated they have no confidence in him as chief minister. Wigneswaran who pompously and pugnaciously who earlier declared “Army Go, …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “The humanist’s article of faith embraces a human heritage. All literature is part of that…” –Mervyn de Silva (1972) The recent death of Prof. Siri Gunasinghe led to a rich discussion of the question of Sinhala — and Ceylonese/Sri Lankan — culture. Sri Lanka (and earlier Ceylon) has witnessed not only a …
By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana While rejecting the allegations made by UN Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges, Monica Pinto in her report to United Nations Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka’s judicial system, the government today said the report was a violation of the country’s sovereignty. “We are surprised by the allegations made …
Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday rejected media reports accusing him of providing refuge to Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagodatte Gnanasara Thero. The Minister, rejecting support of the BBS General Secretary, said: “There is no reason for me to give refuge but I have been accused by the media of harbouring him. …
by C.A.Chandraprema The Bodu Bala Sena press conference held last Friday without the missing Ganansara, was very interesting in many respects. The statement made by Dilanthe Vitanage, its self styled ‘CEO’ was especially important. The most vital part of what he said was that it was Champika Ranawaka and Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera who had …
By Zahrah Imtiaz The Illankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has withdrawn the petition of No-Confidence submitted to the Governor, against Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran. Wigneswaran yesterday ceded to the call of the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and agreed to permit two ministers to continue to work, until the fresh probe is …
Opposition and TNA leader R Sampanthan has written to Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran that the no-confidence motion against the latter will be withdrawn. The former has assured the latter that there will be no punitive action against two ministers. In his letter to the Chief Minister dispatched yesterday Samapanthan said that he had …
Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran on Monday backed down from his earlier insistence that the two Ministers against whom he had ordered a fresh probe, have to go on leave till the pendency of the inquiry. This is expected to pave the way for a compromise with his opponent, R.Sampanthan, the leader of …
By Meera Srinivasan Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province C.V. Wigneswaran will continue in the post following an understanding with Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan, days after a large bloc of governing council members withdrew support. On Monday, the Chief Minister agreed to reverse his controversial directive to two provincial ministers that Mr. …
The spat between the Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil majority Northern Province, C.V.Wigneswaran, and the senior-most leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R.Sampanthan, continued on Sunday, with Sampanthan refusing to accept Wigneswaran’s latest condition for restoring normalcy. Wigneswaran had asked Sampanthan to give a guarantee that …
Leader of the opposition and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader Rajavarothayam sampanthan has urged his revolting Chief minister of the Northern Province, Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran to abide by the advice and political guidance of Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK)’s c president Mr. Somasundaram Senathirajah known popularly as “Mavai”Senathirajah in matters concerning the current crisis prevailing …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Chief Justice has nominated a fuller bench comprising five judges of the Supreme Court to hear an appeal filed by Galle district parliamentarian Geetha Kumarasinghe. A five-judge-Bench headed by Chief Justice Priyasath Dep will hear this appeal in due course.
By Shamindra Ferdinando Police headquarters yesterday announced the arrest of 14 persons, including some members of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) in connection with ongoing investigations into communal violence. Addressing the media at the Information Department, police spokesman DIG Priyantha Jayakody said that eleven Sinhalese, two Muslims and a Tamil had been arrested so far by …
By Cyril Wimalasurendre The General Secretary of the National Bhikkhu Front (NBF) told the eleventh convention of the Front in Kandy on Saturday (17) that many who died in the recent floods and landslides in Ratnapura and Southern Sri Lanka had their fingers cut to remove gold rings. Venerable Wakamulle Uditha Thera, Secretary General NBF …
Controversial Northern province chief minister Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran who has lost the confidence of at least 22 out of 38 Northern provincial councillors is in a fighting mood and is planning to defy the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) and Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK)leadership said informed Jaffna sources yesterday. TNA leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan and ITAK president …
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran yesterday accused ‘Colombo’ of a plot to oust him from office as the Chief Minister of the Northern Province. Standing on a podium set at the entrance of his residence in Jaffna yesterday, the former Supreme Court Judge told a sea of supporters congregated there …
By Kelum Bandara Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan said yesterday Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran had created an unnecessary crisis by opting to take action against two provincial ministers not found guilty of any allegation. He said this in reference to the no-confidence motion submitted against the CM by the …
by Tisaranee Gunasekara “…the inexplicable actually happens.” Tadeusz Borowski (This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentleman) When Philip Pullman’s provocatively titled book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, came out, it was greeted by the British public not with death-threats, lawsuits or mob-violence, but words. In his own response to the book, …
by Radhika Coomaraswamy Padmini Coomaraswamy (Pathma Sinnamma), known to many as the wife of former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Sathy Coomaraswamy gently passed away a few weeks ago. She was the only elder Coomaraswamy left in a country that has lived with so much hatred and bitterness. I sometimes want to shake a fist at …
Continue reading ‘A Tribute to Padmini Coomaraswamy My “Pathma Sinnamma”’ »
Thousands of police backed by Information Technology carried out a major search operation across the country yesterday (Saturday) and arrested over 650 wanted persons, but the high profile fugitive Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) leader, Galagodaatte Gnanasara, was not among them. Police said in a statement that they completed the four-hour operation at 3.00 a.m. on …
Tamil National Alliance(TNA) and opposition leader Rajavarothayam sampanthan has written to Northern Province chied minister Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran urging him not to take any action against the two Provincial ministers who were exonerated of charges by the board of inquiry appointed by Wigneswaran to probe allegations of corruption against the NPC board of ministers. The …
By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole Last night (June 15th) as I went to Jaffna Town to pick up some dinner at the Indian shop Amul, the shopkeeper was concerned whether they should open today in response to the Tamil Makkal Peravai (TMP, Tamil People’s Great Front) call for the closure of all shops in support …
Continue reading ‘Crisis of Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran’s Own Making’ »
The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), which is the largest constituent of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), is confident of passing the proposed No Confidence Motion against the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran. Jaffna District MP M.A.Sumanthiran told newsin.asia on Friday, that the ITAK has the numbers with 15 having signed the memorandum submitted to …
Two of the ousted Ministers in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province have reportedly refused to accept Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran’s fresh condition to defuse the political crisis gripping the Tamil-majority province. In his discussion with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Supremo, R.Sampanthan, Chief Minister Wigneswaran had said that he will allow P.Sathiyalingam and B.Deniswaran to continue to …
Tamil National Alliance(TNA) and opposition leader R.Sampanthan is currently engaged in negotiations with Northern province chief minister C.V. Wigneswaran to bring about a “Settlement” Between warring factions of the TNA. TNA Jaffna district MP. Sivagnanam Sreetharan and Mannar Dist MP Charles Nimalarajan have exerted pressure on Sampanthan to talk to Wigneswaran and arrive at an …
The political conflict in Sri Lanka’s Tamil majority Northern Province, which escalated dangerously on Thursday, appeared to be heading for a workable compromise as the day wore on. But efforts to arrive at a compromise ran into trouble in the evening when the Jaffna unit of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) insisted that it …
By Meera Srinivasan High drama ensued in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province on Thursday after a large bloc of members of the Provincial Council wrote to the Governor, expressing “no confidence” in Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. Their move comes in the wake of the Chief Minister’s call to two provincial ministers to resign and to two …
By Shehan Chamika Silva Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today issued arrest warrant against Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera for not appearing before court over two of his on going cases at the Fort Magistrate’s Court. When the two inquiries into the allegations of defaming Quran and assaulting on a Jathika Bala Sena media conference …
By Ayesha Zuhair Exactly three years have lapsed since the Aluthgama riots – a seismic event in the history of Sri Lanka’s troubled ethnic relations. June 15 and 16, 2014 saw mobs in a well-organised manner, unleash collective violence on Muslim-owned businesses and homes in Aluthgama, Beruwala, Dharga Town, Welipenna and Matugama in the district …
Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray is expected to “officially” inform Northern chief minister C. V. Wigneswaran that he has lost the confidence of the majority of Northern province councillors in general and those elected from the majority of Councillors elected from the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) in particular. The Governor has officially requested the Northern chief …
In a surprisingly swift move, 21 of the 30 members of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) on Wednesday petitioned provincial Governor Reginold Cooray for permission to move a No-Confidence Motion against Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran. In all probability, the Governor will accede to the request and the motion may be moved on Thursday, an MP from …
In a dramatic and politically significant twist a no confidence motion is being mooted against Northern province chief minister Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran by several Northern province councillors belonging to the Tamil National Alliance(TNA). At least 21 signatures have been obtained so far in this regard it is learnt. The TNA has 30 of the 38 …
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran is likely to be removed from office soon by the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) which fielded him as the chief ministerial candidate of the political formation known as the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) in September 2013. It is learnt that the ITAK is seriously contemplating the removal of Wigneswaran as chief …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera filed a Fundamental Rights petition at the Supreme Court today, seeking an Interim Order preventing Police from arresting him over several allegations. Filing a Fundamental Rights petition through a counsel, Gnanasara Thera sought an Interim Order preventing the Organized Crimes Prevention …
By Roosindu Peris Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the government should stop acting in a way that would cause racial conflict in the country. He added that certain politicians in the government have been acting in a way which has caused racial tension within the people. MP Wimal Weerawansa further conveyed his opinion on …
Issuing a chilling warning about the power the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) holds to mobilise the Buddhist community to resort to extremes if needed, the organisation’s spokesperson Dilanthe Vithanageaccused the Police of lying about the BBS connection to a youth who was recently arrested. “We strongly deny that the youth arrested by the Police is …
Leader of the joint opposition group in Parliament and Colombo District MP Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena has submitted an adjournment motion in Parliament calling for the repudiation of the “biased report of the office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka of 10 February 2017” and the repudiation of the “United Nations …
Police in Sri Lanka have arrested a key figure from an extremist Buddhist organisation blamed for a series of hate crimes against Muslims that has drawn international censure. The 32-year-old man from the radical Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or Buddhist Force, is the first suspect to be arrested in connection with arson attacks against Muslims …
By Meera Srinivasan The Sri Lankan government will soon release a list of persons who surrendered to the Armed forces in final phase of the country’s civil war, President Maithripala Sirisena assured families of disappeared persons in Jaffna on Monday. His promise comes 112 days after hundreds of relatives of missing persons, said to be …
By S.S. Selvanayagam Senior Counsel brought to the notice of the Supreme Court that Former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan is being kept in remand custody for more than one and a half years and that his client has little or no access to relevant documentation. Counsel also brought to the notice …
Parliamentarian and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement yesterday cautioned the Government not to create unrealistic expectations following Sri Lanka regaining the GSP Plus concessions from the European Union. Following is the full text of his statement. “The European Union restored GSP+ to Sri Lanka on 19 May 2017. The EU has three GSP …
By S.S.Selvanayagam Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was not present at the Court of Appeal yesterday (12), being represented instead by a senior criminal lawyer who told the Court that his client had stayed away as he faced a threat to his life. The Contempt of Court matter against him …
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Parties in the Tamil National Alliance including EPRLF, TELO and PLOTE have demanded the dismissal of four Ministers in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) who were charged with mass scale corruption. A special committee appointed by the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran has recommended to remove Agriculture Minister Ponnuthurai Ayngaranesan and Education Minister Thambyrajah Gurukularajah …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera was absent in Court today for the hearing of the alleged offensive behaviour inside the Homagama Magistrate’s Court case, citing that he has received death threats. The Court of Appeal observed that Court will have to issue warrant against the accused …
Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was pnce again absent from court when the case concerning his alleged contempt of court charge was taken up by the court of appeal on Monday June 12th 2017. The court of appeal was informed by the Senior Lawyer representing Gnanasara Thero that his client …
By Neville de Silva in London London-born Ranil Jayawardena whose father is of Sri Lankan origin, was re-elected from the Conservative Party to the British parliament from the North East Hampshire constituency with a healthy majority of almost 28,000 votes. Jayawardena who first won this seat at the 2015 general election got 65.6 per cent …
An updated draft of a new Constitution has incorporated several new features but a cloud of uncertainty hangs over how soon political parties would be able to reach any consensus. Main among them are the two principal partners in the Government – the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP). Each …
President Maithripala Sirisena has taken away some of the functions of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and assigned them to Tilak Marapona, the new minister of Development Assignment. The cash-rich Employees Trust Fund (ETF) which was under the Prime Minister was also taken away and given to Marapona who will now be responsible, among other things, …
By Asanthi Warunasuriya A spate of incidents in the recent past targeting Muslims has spread fear among residents in Aluthgama of a repeat of the June 2014 riots. Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe assured there would never be another communal riot in this country again. However, residents of Dharga town in …