By Anuranghi Singh The duties, functions, departments and statutory institutions that fall under the newly assigned ministries were gazetted in an Extraordinary Gazette last Friday, affirming earlier reports but there were a few surprises as well. Ravi Karunanayake has been entrusted with National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board while Minister of Mass Media and …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The profound disgust felt by citizens of this country towards elected representatives on both sides of the political divide is without a doubt. This week’s adjournment debate in Parliament on the deaths and misery caused by recent catastrophic floods in the country reinforces that disgust. Reducing Sri Lankans to beggars What …
A Northern Provincial Council (NPC) minister yesterday stepped down from his portfolio until allegations of corruption, abuse of power and misuse of funds were fully probed. Education, Sports and Cultural Affairs Minister T. Gurukularaja conveyed his decision to the President of his party- the Illankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK)- Mavai Senathraja yesterday. He said the …
The Plastic rice rumour that spread like wild fire in Sri Lanka has started spreading in India too. Moreover there are allegations of plastic sugar too. The Southern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana have been prone to such allegations of plastic rice and plastic sugar. Furthermore there are rumours about plastic eggs …
Thirty -one year old Ranil Jayawardena of Sri Lankan origin was re-elected as Conservative Member of Parliament for the North East Hampshire Constituency in the current elections to the UK House of Commons. Jayawardena who polled 37,754(66%) votes obtained a majority of 27,772 over his nearest contender Barry Jones from the Labour party who obtained …
By P.K.Balachandran A cheerless domestic situation, both political and economic, has put the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by President Maithripala Sirisena at crossroads. Its members are wondering whether they should stick to Sirisena or respond to the call of former Sri Lankan President and former party chief, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to rally round him …
Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today denied allegations of any connection with the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or the recent attacks aimed at Muslim owned shops. In a facebook post, Rajapakse strongly condemned the false rumours linking his name with the BBS and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in connection with the atrocious burning of Muslim …
By Kumar Sangakkara This was a great victory for Sri Lanka and a much-needed one. It meant a lot to the Sri Lanka team to chase down that very stiff total and to do it with such ease will have been hugely satisfying. There is no doubt, Sri Lanka would have had a few worries …
The government is attempting to delay the local government elections by using Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera to divert attention from the real issues, the joint opposition said today. JO spokesman Gamini Lokuge told a news conference that the government was reluctant to hold the elections because it knew it would be defeated.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Chief Vaiko (Vaiapuri Gopalswamy) was denied entry into Malaysia today due to his alleged links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), The Asian News international (ANI) reported. The MDMK Chief was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur Airport and questioned for several hours on his alleged links with the …
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said that no one really expected Sri Lanka to win by beating India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Group B encounter, Indian Media reported today. Addressing the post- match conference held in London last night, Mathews has said he hoped that the victory may just bring back smiles in …
Sri Lanka staged a superb run chase to stun India and keep alive their Champions Trophy challenge as Kusal Mendis inspired a famous seven-wicket victory over the holders on Thursday. Needing 322 to avoid a second successive Group B defeat, Sri Lanka powered to a memorable triumph at The Oval thanks to key contributions from …
The Sri Lankan government, on Wednesday said the police were continuing search operations to hunt for a controversial Buddhist monk who was wanted for making alleged hate speeches and attacks against the minorities in the island country. Cabinet Spokesperson, Rajitha Senaratne said according to information, the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, Galagodaatte Gnanasara …
by Zacki Jabbar Health Minister and Co-Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne says it is possible that one of his ministerial colleagues is hiding the Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera, who had gone underground, after a court warrant was issued for his arrest recently.
By Sandun A. Jayasekera Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister, Rajitha Senaratne said today a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Bodu Bala Sena leader Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera and CID detectives have been deployed to take him into custody over allegations of inciting religious and racial hatred. Responding to a journalist at yesterday’s weekly …
by Hemantha Randunu Former Army Commander Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake was questioned by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry proving serious acts of fraud, corruption and abuse of power, state resources and privileges for more than three hours yesterday on dismantling of old machines at the former Cement Factory at Kankesanthurai and selling them as scrap …
By Vijitha Yapa If asked who is the single individual in politics whose life affected me most, the choice with no hesitation would be Lalith Athulathmudali.I live in Claessen Place and he moved in to Paget Road as Minister of National Security and was my rear neighbour, once removed on the left. (Interestingly President Sirisena’s …
by Norman Palihawadane Sri Lanka’s only female Olympic medalist, Susanthika Jayasinghe says that she has received offers from both Sri Lanka and abroad for her silver medal following recent media reports. “They have offered as much as Rs 250 million. I too did not know the medal would be worth that much,” Jayasinghe told The …
By Ajith Alahakoon and Kushan Subasinghe Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera told Parliament yesterday that the Sports Act would be amended to bar sportspersons from selling their medals won at international events. While moving a motion in respect of the Sports Act for debate, the Minister said that the winners at international games had to be …
(Text of Speech made in Parliament by Jaffna District MP Mathiabaranam Abraham Sumanthiran During the Adjournment Motion Debate on June 6th 2017) 06.06.2017/ 4.48 – 5.03 [4.48 p.m.] ගරු එම්.ඒ. සුමන්තිරන් මහතා (மாண்புமிகு எம்.ஏ. சுமந்திரன்) (The Hon. M.A. Sumanthiran) Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for this opportunity to speak at this Adjournment Debate. As I …
(Text of Speech made in Parliament by Leader of the Opposition and Trincomalee District MP Rajavarothayam Sampanthan During the UNHRC Resolution Debate on June th 2017) 06.06.2017/3.47 ගරු රාජවරෝදියම් සම්පන්දන් මහතා (විරුද්ධ පාර්ශ්වයේ නායකතුමා) (மாண்புமிகு ராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தன் – எதிர்க்கட்சி முதல்வர்) (The Hon. Rajavarothiam Sampanthan – Leader of the Opposition) Mr. Presiding Member, this Resolution has …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “It’s just a kiss away Kiss away, kiss away” – ‘Gimme Shelter’, The Rolling Stones As in the fairy tale, a dramatic transformation occurred when Minister Mangala Samaraweera planted a smooch, on his successor Ravi Karunanayaka’s cheek. Except that the transformation occurred in the kisser, Mr. Samaraweera. A transformed Mr. Samaraweera seemed …
By Kelum Bandara Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, prior to his departure to Japan, spoke to Daily Mirror about the current situation of the country in the aftermath of the Cabinet reshuffle and his plans for future politics. He shared the following: Question: How do you look at the current political climate in the context of …
Text of Nobel Lecture Recorded on June 4th 2017 by Bob Dylan who was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature) When I first received this Nobel Prize for Literature, I got to wondering exactly how my songs related to literature. I wanted to reflect on it and see where the connection was. I’m going …
By Yoshitha Perera The Colombo High Court today served indictments on UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa and two other directors, Sujani Bogollagama and Senani Samaranayake of Gowers Corporate Services (Pvt) Limited on charges of money laundering involving a sum of Rs.30 million transacted through the company. The Colombo High Court later released them on the previous …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Last week, I argued why a fringe ethno-religious extremism articulated by the Bodu Bala Sena should be tackled forthwith with intensity and pro-actively. Now the lead monk of the BBS, Galabodaatte Gnanasarathera, who has been absconding has admitted himself to a hospital, his lawyers informed Court. The BBS is a malign force. …
South Korean Actress Lee Young-ae, popularly known as ‘Changumi’ in Sri Lanka has donated around US $ 50,000 (Roughly Rs.7.6 million) to support flood relief efforts in Sri Lanka, a statement said. She has become a household name in Sri Lanka because of her role as ‘Changumi’ in the tele-drama ‘Sujatha Diyani’ serialized in Sri …
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday said the government’s unpreparedness and slow response had aggravated the situation during the recent natural disasters which caused widespread destruction in eleven districts. Declaring the recent flooding as the worst that hit the country after the boxing day tsunami of 2004, leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna …
By A.J.A. Abeynayake Additional District Judge Colombo Chamath Madanayake on Friday, rejecting the position taken by the Attorney General that Namal Rajapaksa MP had no provision under the statutes to seek compensation from the officers of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), allowed the petition filed by Rajapaksa seeking Rs. 200 million compensation from the …
By Chathuri Dissanayake Launching a fresh line of defence against the criticism levelled at his ministry for its delayed response, Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadharshana Yapa came out strongly saying that had his officials not responded in time the death toll would have been much higher. Highlighting the need to bring in new laws …
Adventure-seekers and intrepid globetrotters looking to blaze new trails in Southeast Asia will want to consider adding Sri Lanka to their travel bucket list, after the country claimed the title of leading destination and leading adventure tourism destination for Asia over the weekend. At the World Travel Awards Asia and Australasia 2017, which were held …
By Darshana Sanjeewa Following President Maithripala Sirisena’s intervention, Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe has decided to put on hold her decision to auction the silver medal she won in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She told Daily Mirror that an officer from presidential secretariat had informed her over the phone that the President would look into the …
(Text of Editorial appearing in “The Island” of June 5th 2017 Under the Heading “A crying shame!) The yahapalana government has not only stooped so low as to sell the family silver, unable to keep the economy afloat otherwise, but also driven a world famous athlete to consider selling her Olympic Silver medal. Susanthika Jayasinghe …
Sri Lanka’s only female Olympic medalist, Susanthika Jayasinghe, says that she will have to auction her silver medal as she is without funds to look after her two children. Jayasinghe said the incumbent government had stopped paying her salary for working as an adviser to the Sports Ministry. She had been an advisor at the …
By Sapumal Jayasena The world famous Fa-Hsien rock cave at Pahiyangala in Kalutara district is under threat of facing a landslide in the future. Fa-Hsien is a massive rock cave in which about 3,000 people had lived. It is considered the biggest rock cave in Sri Lanka. It was a human habitat in prehistoric era …
By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya While the government was swift to release money for relief and compensation for those affected by the recent floods, the tendency of politicians and bureaucrats has been to blame the victims for the disaster. Officials have attributed it to illegal constructions along river-bank reservation areas, and people’s refusal to comply with directives …
By Gagani Weerakoon Disaster Management Minister, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, who was criticized and trolled on social media for his continued failure to make an appearance during the severe stage of natural disaster came for the weekly Cabinet media briefing and had to face a host of questions from journalists. Denying allegations that his Ministry was …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The very idea that more law is needed to effectively operate relief to affected persons hit by natural disasters in Sri Lanka, as put forward by some bright ministerial sparks in recent days, is an asininity which needs to be peremptorily dismissed. Have we lost all propriety? Let us be very …
Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake has accused “black sheep in the United National Party (UNP)” of ousting him from the Finance portfolio and charged “they have not even come through the popular vote.” He said he had raised the matter with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and declared that his good performance to revive the economy had …
The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) yesterday extended its landslide warnings in seven districts affected by the adverse weather, as the death toll increased to 224 with 78 missing. A 24-hour landslide warning was issued last afternoon for the Divisional Secretariats of Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle, Kalutara, Matara, Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya. NBRO officials said the …
By Meera Srinivasan Tamil poet Abdul Rahman, who passed away on Friday, had a huge fan following in Sri Lanka, where he maintained close links with contemporary poets and scholars over the last 40 years. “I first met him in 1975 in Colombo, when he came for a Kaviyarangu (poets’ meet) organised by Radio Ceylon,” …
By Gananath Obeyesekere In an earlier article written in 2007 I wrote a protest regarding the huge allocation of land in Uva-Vellassa to a foreign company Booker Tate, lands that should have been given to residents of the area for cultivation purposes. Owing to public protests this land allocation project had to be abandoned. I …
By Namini Wijedasa and Sandun Jayawardena Last week’s disasters in several districts of the country highlighted just how unprepared Sri Lanka still is to handle such situations. The local authorities found themselves with little or no resources–no power generators, no communications equipment, no boats, lifejackets or other equipment essential to deal with flash floods and …
By Chrishanthi Christopher The Government plan to launch a sugar company in Bibile has drawn protests from environmentalists who say that, the cultivation of sugarcane will use up the ground water, depriving people of their source of legitimate drinking water. A Cabinet paper has reportedly been passed for the project due to commence in early …
by Nirmala Kannangara The Brigadier who has allegedly ordered the contingent of army personnel to fire live bullets to disperse the Rathupaswela peaceful demonstrators had been sent to the Sri Lankan mission in Turkey two months after the incident, as a reward for his ‘bravery’ in aiding and abetting the then administrators, it has been …
by Tissa Vitarana When celebrating the 112th Birth Anniversary on June 6 of Dr.N.M. Perera, one of the few great visionary statesmen produced by our country, one can only marvel at his commitment and his many predictions that have come to pass. When the “Pancha Maha Balawegaya” approached him to be their leader and become …
Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka says Jaffna will be a semi-desert within the next 50 years owing to global warming. Addressing the media at his ministry yesterday, Minister Ranawaka said: “The Northern and Eastern provinces will face a severe drought situation in the coming years. At this rate due to global warming …
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) questioned former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for over three hours over the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr yesterday. The former Defence Secretary was questioned whether he was aware of the abduction of the senior journalist as he was in charge of the security apparatus at the time of the incident. …
By S.S.Selvanayagam The Court of Appeal this week granted time till 30 June for the intervenient petitioner as well as the respondents in the Jaffna university student murder case to file objections. Sinnathurai Vijayakumar, the father of one of the deceased students, was granted a little over a month to file objections with regard to …
By T.Ramakrishnan Tamil poet S. Abdul Rahman, popularly known as ‘Kavikko,’ passed away in Chennai in the early hours of Friday after a brief illness. He was 79. He is survived by a son and a daughter. The funeral will take place tomorrow, according a family member. Born in Madurai on November 9, 1937, Abdul …
UNESCO has informed the government of Sri Lanka that it would be compelled to remove several archeological sites in Sri Lanka from the world heritage list as they have not been maintained properly, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said UNESCO has recently warned that Dambulla cave temple and Galle Fort would have to be removed …
Sri Lanka’s navy and local residents rescued a pod of about 20 stranded pilot whales off the island’s northeastern coast on Wednesday, an official said. Navy spokesman Lt Commander Chaminda Walakuluge said sailors with the help of residents pushed the whales back in to deeper waters after they washed up on the Sampoor coast near …
By A.H.M. Azwer (Former MP / Minister) Deaf, dumb and blind – this is the slumbering mood of the present government towards the anti-Muslim attacks unleashed throughout the island. It is sweeping the landscape like a Tornado. Aghast! That inflammatory and vitriolic speeches now going viral on the social network internationally delivered by that Ven. …
The Heads of Mission of the European Union, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland, on Thursday strongly condemned incidents of hate crimes in Sri Lanka and called for prompt action to be taken against the perpetrators. In a statement released by the European Union in Colombo, it said that the Heads of …
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka yesterday called upon the IGP, Attorney General and the government to take immediate action to arrest the increasing trend of attacks against racial and religious minorities. “The state must decisively act against all parties who advocate hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence, BASL said in a …
by Maheesha Mudugamuwa The total death toll from last week’s disasters is thought to be around 300 with the government deciding to consider 95 persons who have gone missing also as dead, State Minister of Public Enterprise Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene says. Minister Abeywardene was addressing the SLFP weekly media briefing at party headquarters in …
Wednesday’s shuffle of portfolios at the junior ministers’ level, and the earlier shuffle at the cabinet level, have together placed Sri Lanka’s economic and foreign policies firmly in the hands of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. On Wednesday, financial expert and Wickremesinghe loyalist Eran Wickramaratne was made State Minister of Finance to assist the new Cabinet …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera was not present in Court today regarding a Contempt of Court action filed against him for allegedly behaving offensively inside the Homagama Magistrate’s Court. President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva appearing on behalf of Gnanasara thera tendered a medical certificate to Court …
By Pradeep Ramanayake While participating in last week’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) forum in Beijing, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe walked a tight rope: seeking economic and other benefits from China while maintaining close relations with its rivals, the US and India. The forum was held amid heightening tensions between China and the …
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has on Wednesday May 31st 2017 appointed and re-appointed four new State Ministers and four new Deputy Ministers into his government. All of whom took their oaths before the President The Four State Ministers are – 1. Eran Wickramaratne – State Minister of Finance. 2. Wasantha Senanayake – State Minister …
The death toll by Sri Lanka’s devastating floods and landslides reached 202 by Wednesday morning while 96 people are still missing, the Disaster Management Center said.63 people are injured and seeking treatment in state hospitals while over 600,000 people have been affected. Severe rains and strong winds which lashed out across Sri Lanka since Friday …
By Sharmini Serasinghe When it comes to applying the rules of democracy in a country like ours, there ought to be a caveat included for the likes of Mr. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara, viz. freedom of speech! I refuse to dignify this man with revered titles such as ‘Thera’ or ‘Reverend’, since as a Buddhist, I …
By Uditha Jayasinghe Newly appointed Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday sought a conciliatory and supportive relationship with the private sector pledging to work on their behalf and negotiate trade agreements with focus on Sri Lankan interests. Attending his first official event as Finance Minister, Samaraweera delivered the keynote at the inauguration of the “Sri Lanka …
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has left the island for medical treatment in the United States, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
by Maheesha Mudugamuwa The death toll rose further yesterday after recovery crews began reaching remote corners cut off during the last several days when heavy rains followed by landslides and deadly floods overwhelmed many areas of the country’s southwest in the worst disaster in more than a decade. At least 193 people had died in …
Newly-appointed Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe yesterday said negotiations for a Public Private Partnership to salvage the debt-ridden Hambantota Port will resume this week under his leadership. “I will take control of negotiations. It’s under my subject, I will not allow anyone else to discuss the deal,” he said speaking to media yesterday. According …
By Priyanka Sharma Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards have introduced a category, titled ‘Internationally Acclaimed Actress Award’, and its first recipient is fresh global star Priyanka Chopra. Priyanka’s name doesn’t come as a surprise as the actor has been creating waves internationally ever since her maiden American TV series Quantico premiered in 2015. Recently her Hollywood …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Until the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, Sri Lankans used to take solace, rather erroneously, that we were safe from the worst of natural calamities. Since then tables have turned; now if not a deadly landslide or a flood, at least a rubbish dump would wreak disaster a few times a year. …
By A Cricket Follower from Moratuwa Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) boasts of a pompous slogan which reads: “One nation, one team”. Are we to believe that, very soon, this will be made to read: “One nation, one team, one religion? Early this week, Sri Lanka Cricket President, Thilanga Sumathipala, dabbled in a subject, that not …
Cabinet has decided to stop all vehicle imports for ministers and ministries for this year due to the disaster situation, Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe said today. Addressing media Samarasinghe said the President had directed that funds allocated to purchase the vehicles be used to provide relief for those affected by the disaster. …
While institutions under his purview were grappling feebly with the rising death and destruction from floods and landslides, Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa was in Mexico–talking about how Sri Lanka has put in place a programme to “minimise casualties, damage to infrastructure, and economic losses” in natural calamities. “The Ministry of Disaster Management has …
By Chandani Kirinde To say it is ironic would be an understatement, that, on a day the country is faced with a huge natural disaster, the Govt appeals for international assistance to deal with it, while presenting to Parliament a Supplementary Estimate for a hefty Rs 369 million, of which, a large component will be …
The Chennai police has invoked the draconian Goondas Act on a group of activists who recently took out a rally at Marina Beach to commemorate the civilian victims of the Eelam war. While such protests violating prohibitory orders are treated as a civil issue, city police commissioner A K Viswanathan on Monday issued orders to …
Thousands of troops battled Monday to get relief supplies to nearly half a million people displaced by the island’s worst flooding for 14 years, which has killed 180 people. The military said a lull in torrential monsoon rains allowed it to deploy aircraft, boats and ground troops to evacuate people from flooded areas, deliver essentials …
By P.K.Balachandran India’s swift delivery of relief supplies and personnel to flood and landslide-hit Sri Lanka has re-affirmed its position as Sri Lanka’s most relevant neighbor, and also its primacy as a power in the South Asian region. IndianNavy saving precious lives making sure no one is left behind #FloodSL @narendramodi @MEAIndia @SushmaSwaraj @DrSJaishankar @indiannavy …
BY Dr. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA [This is a revised version of the Introduction to the book HOLDING OUT. The Prologue is by Asoka Handagama.] HOLDING OUT: Memoirs of a Political Prisoner in Sri Lanka 1986-1988 is, at its simplest, the story of a woman political prisoner from the South of Sri Lanka. The AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT …
By Manjula Fernando Threatening to expose the ‘notorious creatures’ that have taken over the Central Bank, the new Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake said he will look into enhancing commercial diplomacy to usher the country towards economic prosperity, moving away from the present Human Rights centric foreign policy of Sri Lanka. “I don’t think the government’s …
By Don Manu It was, probably, the shortest sathyakriya – the assertion of truth – ever undertaken by any man in search of martyrdom. But when injustice protests its innocence and demands its continuance in the outer precincts of the Sri Dalada, it’s no wonder the flaky timbre of resolve to wantonly assert the potency …
BY PANCHAMEE HEWAVISSENTI In an interview with Ceylon Today, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara said several recent incidents have compelled him to live in hiding as there is an attempt to assassinate him after arrest. The Thera further said he had to keep changing his hideouts for the protection of his life as he has hardly …
The nationwide despair over the deadly deluge grew yesterday as the death toll from the monsoonal floods and landslides topped the 150 mark, making it the worst natural disaster in the country since the 2004 tsunami. Officials last night put the number of dead at 151 with 111 missing or unaccounted for following torrential rain …
Continue reading ‘Dangerous Monsoon Deluge Brings Death, Destruction, Displacement and Despair.’ »
By Duruthu Edirimunni Chandrasekera Newly appointed Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s demand to bring institutions such as the Development Lotteries Board, National Lotteries Board, Mahapola Scholarship Fund, SriLankan Airlines, Hingurana Sugar and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under his purview has come under fire by three donor agencies, government sources revealed. The World Bank, International …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Caught between the grinning devil of Rajapaksa racism and the incompetent (if not corrupt) deep blue sea of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe unity alliance, Sri Lankans are increasingly being left helpless. Is this not obscene conduct? With the passing of each day, examples abound of this odious dilemma. It is the height of …
By Norman Palihawadana Bodies of 111 persons believed to have died in floods last week haven’t been found yet, senior police and military officers said yesterday. By yesterday evening, authorities reported the recovery of 151 bodies in flood affected areas in the South, Kalutara and Ratnapura. About 50 people had been injured and about a …
The Government has come under fire from civil society groups and Muslims for its failure to act fast in checking attacks on mosques and shops owned by Muslims in recent weeks. This was also debated in parliament on Tuesday, with Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake blaming police sluggishness for the state of affairs, when …
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN NEW DELHI, May 27: The Hindu, a leading conservative newspaper, today carried an investigative report that exposes the shady deals the late Jayaram Jayalalitha’s confidante VK Sasikala and a host of her relatives have been involved in to enrich themselves during the former’s longish reign as Tamil Nadu chief minister. The …
The Disaster Management Ministry exposed its unpreparedness to deal with a disaster situation, admitting it lacks stocks of basic items such as blankets, life jackets, umbrellas, torches or even boxes of matches to distribute in such situations. In response to this week’s flood havoc that crippled the nation, the Ministry of Disaster Management was in …
Flood waters were receding Saturday with only few showers in the worst affected areas where a military-led relief operation reached all marooned villagers as the monsoon death toll hit 113. The authorities stepped up sending cooked food and other essentials to tens of thousands of people who were forced out of their flooded homes in …
By Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe (Text of Speech by Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe at the Launch of an anthology of short stories “Testimonies of Silent Pain” in the Sinhala and Tamil Languages by “the Social Architects” on May 21st 2017) It gives me great pleasure to join you – young women and men writers – as you …
By P.K.Balachandran India has deployed, with amazing swiftness, three naval vessels to bring relief material to flood and landslide-hit Sri Lanka. INS Kirch, a Kora Class Corvette, arrived in Colombo early on Saturday. Two more naval vessels, INS Shardul and INS Jalashwa, the former a tank carrier, and the latter a landing craft, are expected …
BY PANCHAMEE HEWAVISSENTI The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against the warrant issued for the arrest of its Chief, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera. The BBS warns that Gnanasara Thera could be assassinated in a manner……similar to that of the underworld bigwig Samayan, who was killed by …
BY PANCHAMEE HEWAVISSENTI An arrest warrant has been issued to apprehend General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera on allegations of obstructing the Police in the exercise of their duties in addition to making hate speeches in several places and thereby creating conditions for a potentially violent communal backlash. Police …
While the Sri Lankan Police officially announced that an Island – wide manhunt has been launched to apprehend ” Venerable” Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero the political grapevine hummed that the Ethno Religious Fascist Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary was being housed in a secret location with the support of a top cabinet minister. Police headquarters …
By INDRANIL MUKHERJEE Jude Ratnam is worried how his film might go down with his fellow Sri Lankan Tamils. And he has a point. “Demons in Paradise”, which is premiering at the Cannes film festival, tells of the bloodbath that drove some Tamils to take up arms in the three decade-long insurgency that tore the …
by Maheesha Mudugamuwa The government last evening placed the number of people dead and missing due to raging floods and earthships caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country on Thursday and Friday at 91 and 110, respectively. Deaths were reported from Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Gampaha and Matara Districts. The government deployed armed …
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday instructed his government and rescue officials to provide immediate relief to the people affected by devastating floods and landslides as the death toll reached 55. m the floods and several landslides which had been reported across the island country following 48 hours of rains and landslides. Tri forces …
By S.S. Selvanayagam The Court of Appeal yesterday (24) ordered Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thero to be produced in Court on the next date with a medical certificate as he was not present in Court and his counsel informed Court that he was ailing. When the Contempt of Court case …
By Panos Mourdoukoutas When it comes to Sri Lanka, China has an ambitious agenda. It wants to turn the island nation into a trading and military outpost in the Indian Ocean. And it has a good plan in advancing that agenda, including the shoring up of Sri Lanka’s major ports. That’s something Sri Lanka and …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Brigadier Anura Deshapriya Gunawardene was arrested yesterday for allegedly ordering troops in 2013 to open fire on a group of people protesting against the contamination of their wells at Rathupaswela. The infantryman was produced before Gampaha Chief Magistrate D.A. Ruwanpathirana and remanded til May 31.
Despite a clear cut directive being by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena that the General – Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena be taken into custody for inciting communal hatred and instigationg anti-Muslim violence, the Police force headed by Inspector -General of Police Pujith Jayasundara is unable to arrest and detain the “Venerable”Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara …
The General- Secretsry of the Ethno -Religious Fascist organization known as the “Bodu Bala Sena” (Buddhist Power Force) Ven Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero is to be arrested and charged for instigating and conducting a systematic campaign of attacks against Islamic places of worship and Muslim owned business establishments in Sri Lanka. The decision to take …
By Roisin O’Connor James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore has died aged 89, his family has confirmed. In a statement posted on the actor’s official social media accounts it was revealed that Moore had passed away in Switzerland after a “short but brave battle with cancer”. Moore was the third actor to play British secret …
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Contrary to speculative reports in sections of the media that President Sirisena is acting on his own withoit consulting Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the envisaged cabinet re-shuffle scheduled for Monday May 22nd 2017, it is learnt reliably that the important decision to bring about changes in the allocation of certain portfolios as well as re- …
An operation was launched yesterday to apprehend those responsible for firing at a Police vehicle in Pallai, a senior police officer said. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Eastern Province and Acting SDIG Northern Province (NP), Sumith Edirisinghe said officers investigating Friday’s shooting at police officers in Pallai, Kilinochchi, have uncovered several vital clues, …
By Kelum Bandara The United National Party (UNP), the key party of the government, has finally consented to the proposed Cabinet reshuffle to be scheduled for Monday. Initially, the UNP had opposed any changes to the portfolios assigned to its members. However, the party leadership had given the green light for a change in the …
By Manekshaw On 27July 1975 the news of the assassination of former Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah had spread in the Peninsula like wildfire forecasting a darker era to unfold with untold misery. Late Alfred Duraiappah who gave Jaffna a facelift with new infrastructure facilities remained a popular Mayor despite him being considered a ‘traitor’ in …
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Is Tamil superstar Rajinikanth toying with the idea of entering politics to fill the vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics caused by actress-turned-politician Jayaram Jayalalithaa’s death six months ago? Last Sunday (May 14), Rajinikanth met his fans after a gap of eight years. The biggest Tamil movie star since M G Ramachandran …
The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province, C.V.Wigneswaran, has said that his administration would not like industries coming up in the province to use locally available resources and would want them to deploy resources procured or purchased from outside the province. “In working out our industries we would prefer not to use our …
By Meera Srinivasan After 20 years in India, wearing a “refugee” tag that led her from one camp to another, it was only in December 2016 that Edward Selyn, 55, returned home. Until a few days ago, she was among a group of people seated under a tent in Mullikulam village in Mannar, in Sri …
In an effort to boost the development drive in the North, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called upon all local politicians and civil society activists to join the efforts of the Government to bring in investment to the Northern Province. “We would like to start infrastructure development now. Rebuilding, resettlement and reconciliation is going on. …
By Meera Srinivasan Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally on May 12 with Sri Lanka’s hill-country Tamils, on the second day of his two-day visit to the country, was a success, if you went by conventional markers such as the crowd he drew or the cheers that arose from it. But its real outcome is …
By “Sunday Times” Political Editor President Maithripala Sirisena, gave mixed signals, not unusually, when he vetoed his own demarche not to chair Cabinet meetings until he carries out a re-shuffle of Ministers. Last Monday morning, he directed the Cabinet Secretariat to summon the weekly ministerial meeting the next day, Tuesday. Officials hurriedly telephoned ministers to …