By Meera Srinivasan Opposing the Sri Lankan government’s terms for a controversial Chinese-funded port and investment zone in the southern district of Hambantota, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday said the projects displaced people and harmed the environment. Days after his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang, Mr. Rajapaksa said: “My request …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Wants Chinese Funded Projects in Hambantota Implemented Without Displacement of People and Harming Environment’ »

The Chairman of leading rice mill owner Araliya Rice, Dudley Sirisena, yesterday promised to maintain the bulk rice price at Rs. 90 and reduce prices after the third week of February, offsetting fears of a shortage. President Maithripala Sirisena’s sibling, speaking on behalf of all mill owners in the country, gave a personal guarantee that …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Brother and Leading Rice Miller Dudley Promises Reduction of Rice Price After February 3rd Week.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Two years after Sri Lankans made an emphatic point by voting for change, which President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe personified at that time, the national unity government they brought to power seems trapped in the politics of survival. In the early hours of January 9, 2015, Sri Lanka witnessed …

Continue reading ‘Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt Seems to be Trapped in the Politics of Survival’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The Sri Lankan Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya on Wednesday petitioned the Court of Appeal for a retrial of the Nadarjah Raviraj assassination case by a judge and not a jury, and under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), not ordinary law. The Colombo High Court had acquitted the five persons accused of killing …

Continue reading ‘Attorney-General Petitions Court of Appeal for Re-trial of Raviraj Assassination Case by a Judge Without Jury and Under PTA.’ »

The European Commission proposed that a significant part of the remaining import duties on Sri Lankan products should be removed by the European Union in exchange for the country’s commitment to ratify and effectively implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour conditions, protection of the environment and good governance. It added in a statement …

Continue reading ‘European Commission Recommends Restoration of GSP+ By European Union In Exchange for Lanka Implementing 27 International Conventions’ »

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says, in a media statment, that Sri Lanka has regained the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, known as GSP Plus. He says regaining the GSP Plus was possible due to the government’s commitment to the protection of human rights and the restoration of democracy. “This is a victory not only for the …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Regains GSP Plus Due to Govt Protecting Human Rights and Restoring Democracy Says Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’ »

By Dharisha Bastians The well-frequented Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) in Fort was the scene of tension and demonstrations yesterday, as National Freedom Front Leader, and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa was arrested by the special police unit on charges of misusing Government vehicles and causing losses to the tune of Rs. 41 million to the …

Continue reading ‘Wimal Weerawansa Arrested and Remanded For Alleged Misuse of Govt Vehicles While Supporters Chant”Hail to the Leader who Saved the Nation”.’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam The wife of slain MP Nadarajah Raviraj filed a case in the Court of Appeal against the ruling of the Colombo High Court in her husband’s murder case. Appellant Sasikala Raviraj seeks the Court of Appeal to set aside the High Court’s acquittal of the accused. She filed her appeal on the …

Continue reading ‘Assassinated MP Nadarajah Raviraj’s Wife Sasikala Files Appeal Seeking Colombo High Court Acquittal Order to be Set Aside by Court of Appeal’ »

By Meera Srinivasan It was the Christmas weekend last year. Praviinaa Raviraj woke up and looked at the newspapers. ‘All accused released’, the front-page headlines screamed. Beneath was a photograph of her father Nadarajah Raviraj — a Tamil legislator killed in 2006 — alongside that of three naval intelligence officers, celebrating with their families, following …

Continue reading ‘Murdered TNA Parliamentarian Raviraj’s Family Still Waiting for Justice After Acquittal of Persons Charged’ »

By Dharisha Bastians ​* PM presents revised CTA policy to Cabinet. * Revisions make confessions to police inadmissible as evidence. * Suspects to be produced before magistrate within 48 hours. *Persons arrested under CTA to get same access to legal counsel guaranteed under general law. * Detainees can only be held four months in custody …

Continue reading ‘Premier Ranil Presents to Cabinet Draft Counter Terrorism Law With “Progressive Provisions” to Replace Draconian PTA.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake The political interests of opposing parties prevented the country from adopting a new Constitution, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga said, claiming that previous attempts were botched by the United National Party for political gain. “What Ranil Wickremesinghe rejected then is what he is trying to bring about now. He opposed the constitutional changes …

Continue reading ‘Chandrika Kumaratunga Says Consultation Task Force Was Not Mandated to Provide Recommendations or Solutions’ »

Despite President Maithripala Sirisena’s promise to never run for office again Minister S.B. Dissanayake yesterday said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would field Sirisena as the candidate for the Presidential Election in 2020. Speaking to the media, Dissanayake claimed that President Sirisena is yet to give his opinion about being the SLFP candidate …

Continue reading ‘SLFP will Field Maithripala Sirisena as Presidential Candidate in 2020 Declares S.B. Dissanayake’ »

by Priyadhashana Liyanage Chairperson of the National Lotteries Board Shermila Perera yesterday said that lottery agents would not be paid anything more than the current four-rupee commission. She said she would not give in to that unreasonable demand. She said that neither President Maithripala Sirisena nor Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe nor Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake …

Continue reading ‘4 Rupee Commission Goven to Sweep Ticket Agents Wont be Increased Says Lotterie Board Chairperson Shermila Perera’ »

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the Hambantota dispute is “not an issue that can be resolved by baton-charging or tear gassing protesters or having them assaulted by thugs and remanded.” “There are real issues relating to the financial benefits that will accrue to the country from this deal, and issues of control and sovereignty …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa says Hambantota Issue Cannot be Resolved by Baton Charging,Tear Gassing, Assaulting with Thugs or Remanding Protesters’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTFRM) released their final report last week. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), a number of INGOs and social justice warriors loved it, who would have thought?, while the government tied itself into knots trying to respond to the report. Although the report comprises a …

Continue reading ‘Talking About Foreign Judges is a Waste of Time Because President Sirisena Wont Let That Happen’ »

By P.K.Balachandran An international award won by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake could not have come at a more appropriate time. Even as the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government is being badgered from all sides for alleged non-performance, London-based magazine The Banker has declared Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake as the Best Finance Minister in the Asia-Pacific region …

Continue reading ‘“Banker” Selecting Ravi Karunanayake as Asia-Pacific Regions Best Finance Minister Boosts Morale of Maithri-Ranil Govt’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced his New Year resolution a little too prematurely, days before 2017 dawned when he pledged to bring down the government. Last week, his self-anointed cronies put up a good show in Hambantota, though he himself kept way from the scene so that he would not offend the Chinese. …

Continue reading ‘Any Future Involvement By Mahinda Rajapaksa In Politics Would Be Disastrous For The Country.’ »

A flash news across Tamil television channels on Monday evening that the Central government has shifted Pongal holiday from ‘compulsory holidays list’ to ‘restricted holidays list’ has made leaders of political parties fume in anger and, in one voice, they demanded compulsory holiday for Pongal festival. AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, DMK working president MK …

Continue reading ‘Indian Govt Removing Tamil Festival “Thai Pongal” from Compulsory Holidays List Angers Tamil Nadu Political Parties’ »

By Ajith Alahakoon and Kushan Subasinghe Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had presented the ‘Super Ministry’ draft bill yesterday under a different title as Sri Lanka Sustainable Development bill, the Joint Opposition said. As soon as the bill was presented Leader of the House, Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella said it would be taken …

Continue reading ‘“Super Ministry”Bill Presented By Prime Mniister Differently as Sustainable Development Bill Charges Joint Opposition’ »

By Harischandra Gunaratna State Minister of International Trade yesterday accused Rajapaksa brothers of instigating their supporters in Hambantota to disrupt a ceremony to mark the launch of an industrial park on Saturday by disseminating false information. The protest was organised by the Joint Opposition. Addressing the media at the Government Information Department, Sujeewa Senasinghe said: …

Continue reading ‘“Rajapaksa Brothers Instigated Violence in Hambantota;Droves of Men in Yellow Robes Who Were Not Monks”-Sujeewa Senasinghe’ »

by Anura Balasuriya The government has removed 35 policemen from the security contingent deployed for the protection of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa with effect from Sunday (08). When contacted for comment the former President confirmed that 35 men had been removed from his security team. Courtesy:The Island

By Manel Fonseka One year ago the week from 8 to 14 January was declared National Integration and Reconciliation week “for the first time in history by President Maitripala Sirisena”. The week was to be “celebrated every year … supported by the State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation AHM Fowzie and the Chairperson of …

Continue reading ‘Manouri Muttetuwegama Chaired Reconciliation Task Force Report Must be read by All Concerned About this Country and Its Long Suffering People’ »

By Methmalie Dissanayake In addition to being gripped by unfavourable weather conditions, Sri Lanka is now facing a rice shortage, at least according to the authorities. The Department of Agriculture said only 250, 000 hectares were cultivated during the last Maha Season, when 800, 000 hectares are cultivated annually. Considering this situation, the government has …

Continue reading ‘Rice Price Crisis Due to “Mill Owner Mafia”Buying Paddy At Rs 23 Per Kilo and Selling at Rs 95 Per Kg as “Super Rice” After Processing’ »

By P K Balachandran The Tamil National alliance (TNA), which is the official Opposition in the Sri Lankan parliament and the ruling party in the Northern Provincial Council, will continue to support the ongoing process to draft a new constitution for Sri Lanka despite internal dissensions. The TNA, which met twice last week, decided to …

Continue reading ‘TNA To Continue Supporting Current Constitution Making Process Despite Doubts Of a Favourable Final Outcome’ »

(Text of Actress Meryl Streep’s Speech at the 74th Golden Globes Awards Event Held on January 8th 2017. Ms. Streep received the Cecil B De Mille Award at the function) Please sit down. Thank you. I love you all. You’ll have to forgive me. I’ve lost my voice in screaming and lamentation this weekend. And …

Continue reading ‘Actress Meryl Streep Flays Donald Trump at 74th Golden Globes Awards Event: Full Text of Speech.’ »

Here are the movies and TV shows that received the top awards in 2017 at the 74th Golden Globes Movies Best picture, drama: “Moonlight” Best picture, comedy or musical: “La La Land” Actress, drama: Isabelle Huppert, “Elle” Actor, drama: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea” Actress, comedy or musical: Emma Stone, “La La Land” Actor, …

Continue reading ‘Top Winners at the 74th Golden Globes Awards Event Held on January 8th 2017’ »

BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA As it enters Year 3, the Yahapalana government’s crisis-management option seems to be a return to the worst follies of Mrs. Bandaranaike and JR Jayewardene. It is planning to restore the Criminal Justice Commission, frame the Rajapaksas (including Gotabhaya) and remove their civic rights. This is combination of a Felixian instrument, …

Continue reading ‘Reconciliation Task Force Report Recommends In Effect Internationally Supervised Legal Lynching of Armed Forces And Its Wartime Political Leadership’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday told his detractors and Doubting Thomases that the National Unity government will stay to fulfill the mandate it received two years ago on this day. He further said that he is not worried about statements or actions of those who are wanting to topple the government …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Admits that Some MP’s in his Govt have Doubts about Getting Elected Again in 3 Years’ »

By Chris Kamalendran Nonagenarian and internationally acclaimed film director Lester James Peries’ and his wife Sumitra Peries’ days at the residence they have occupied for more than 47 years may be numbered after its owner sold it to a property developer without their knowledge. The couple had been living in the house on Lester James …

Continue reading ‘The House on Rent that Lester James and Sumitra Peries Lived in for 49 Years Sold to a Property Developer Without The Elderly Couple Being Informed’ »

by Norman Palihawadane At least ten MPs of the Joint Opposition (JO) would be taken into custody during the next couple of days for staging protests in Hambantota in violation of a court order banning demonstrations, a senior police officer said yesterday. Police said those MPs had led protests and participated in a march violating …

Continue reading ‘At Least 10 Opposition MP’s to be Arrested for Instigating Violence and Leading Attack on Policemen in Hambantota During Protest Banned by Courts’ »

by Dasun Edirisinghe The Hiru TV drone, which recorded and transmitted aerial pictures of the Hambantota protest and police crackdown on Saturday, had been launched about two kilometres away from the place where Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other dignitaries were present, News Director of Asia Broadcasting Corporation Sudeva Hettiarachchi said yesterday. Hettiarachchi argued that …

Continue reading ‘Ranil’s Security Personnel Seize Hiru TV’s Drone Aerially Filming Police Crackdown in Hambantota and Remove Memory Chip’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene From the reports of the Disappearances Commission in the 1990’s to the findings of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (2011) to the most recent report of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation (2017), it has been a long and undeniably hopeless ride for Sri Lanka’s victims. Throughout that process, which …

Continue reading ‘Confining Country’s Post -war”Crisis of Justice” to Ethnic Dimension Alone is Unforgivably Blinkered.’ »

By Nimal Sanderatne Much was expected of the Unity Government’s two year regime but too little achieved. There have been improvements in governance but economic policies have been uncertain, confusing and ineffective. Economic Performance The economic performance in the last two years has been disappointing. Compared with an annual average economic growth of 6.4 percent …

Continue reading ‘Two Year Economic Performance of Govt With Reckless Budgets of 2015 and 2016 Has Been Disappointing.’ »

BY Methmalie Dissanayake, Kavindya Chris Thomas and Upatissa Perera Police unleashed the water cannon treatment to break up a mob, which included the newly-formed Buddhist Monks Organization to Protect the Magampura-Hambantota Harbour, Parliamentarians Udaya Gammanpila, Dullas Alahapperuma and former Uva Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, that launched a protest demonstration at the inauguration ceremony of the …

Continue reading ‘23 Injured,52 Arested as Police Crack Down On Demonstrators Violating Court Order to Protest Against Hambantota Port Deal With China’ »

By the “Sunday Times” Political Editor The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) wants to retain the executive presidency and has decided that Maithripala Sirisena should be the party’s candidate at the 2020 presidential election. The unanimous decision came at a meeting of SLFP ministers just after last Tuesday’s weekly ministerial session. It was summoned by …

Continue reading ‘SLFP in Govt Wants to Retain Executive Presidency and Nominate Sirisena as Candidate in 2020 Presidential Poll.’ »

By Namini Wijedasa An Italian company that was reported to be investing in a US$ 75 million (Rs 11 billion) tyre production plant in Sri Lanka under the Board of Investment (BOI) has distanced itself from the project. Marangoni is only involved indirectly in the possible US$75 million investment in Sri Lanka, the company says …

Continue reading ‘Italian Marangoni Company “Distances” itself from Envisaged Tyre Manufacturing Plant at Wagawatte, Horana for Which Ranil Laid Foundation Stone’ »

The “world’s tallest Christmas tree” that Sri Lanka built has still not been evaluated by Guinness World Records. The reason: The application was lodged in the wrong category. It was 10.07am on August 18, 2016, when Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga cut out a square of earth on Galle Face Green and laid the …

Continue reading ‘Blunder in Submitting Application Results in Guinness Book of Records Not Recognizing World’s Tallest Christmas Tree at Galle Face.’ »

By C.A.Chandraprema The government got off to a very bad start in 2017. Probably for the first time in living memory, we began the year with a strike – that of sweep ticket sellers who claimed that their commission has not been increased despite the increase in the price of a sweep ticket. Their cry …

Continue reading ‘2017 Begins Inauspiciously for Sisrisena- Wickremesinghe Government’ »

by Tisaranee Gunasekara “There are times – they mark the danger point for a political system – when politicians can no longer communicate, when they stop understanding the people they are supposed to be representing.” Ian Kershew (Hitler) The adage is common to many cultures, the condition it refers to a universal one. Madness is …

Continue reading ‘2016 Darkened by Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt Emulating the Worst Errors of Rajapaksa Regime’ »

The eighth death anniversary of The Sunday Leader Founder Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge, which falls on Jan 8th 2017 , will be marked with a service at his graveside. Family, friends, former colleagues and others, including those from political and diplomatic circles, will gather at Borella Kanatte at 9 a.m. on Sunday 8th to mark the …

Continue reading ‘Memorial Service to Mark Murdered Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Eighth death Anniversary on January 8th 2017’ »

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya Recent media reports revealing that a $13.7 million USAID programme for ‘democracy and accountability’ is to be implemented by a private US company alleged to have links to the CIA, raise several questions regarding the nature of the government’s relationship with the US. A leading newspaper cited on its January 2, 2017 …

Continue reading ‘US Company With Alleged CIA Links to Help Implement Democratic Governance and Accountability Project in Sri Lanka’ »

BY SMRITI DANIEL Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest national park, was once a warzone. The fighting between the Sri Lankan state and the militant separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that began in the 1980s had spilled over into these wild lands. Wildlife researchers Anjali Watson and Andrew Kittle remember hearing stories …

Continue reading ‘Saving Leopards Is Hard in Sri Lanka, Especially with All the Landmines’ »

By P K Balachandran The emission scandal in which German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) was embroiled since September 2015, put paid to its project to set up an assembling facility in Sri Lanka, which was to come up this month. Explaining the circumstances in which the VW plant project was called off, Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha …

Continue reading ‘Vehicle Assembly Plant in Kuliyapitiya Re-named as “Western Mobile”Expected to Turn out 1500 Diesel Cars in First 3 Years’ »

By Lahiru Pothmulla Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said today said he had no confidence in the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTF) appointed by the Prime Minister. He said the CTF, which recommended the inclusion of at least one international judge on every bench set up to hear allegations of war crimes and the …

Continue reading ‘“No one can make us do things for the sake of reconciliation and impartiality”says Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’ »

Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva issued a personal clarification regarding the Volkswagen deal, in which he detailed why plans with that car manufacturer did not go ahead. In a evidence based, fact-filled message posted on Facebook the Deputy Minister said, ‘1. Given I was responsible for the initiation of this project I would like …

Continue reading ‘Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva Issues Personal Clarification About What went wrong With the Volkswagon Vehicle Plant Agreement’ »

By Namini Wijedasa Volkswagen has further confirmed to Times Online that it has not licensed any Sri Lankan company to assemble cars locally. Spokesperson Katrin Hohmann said: “Again, we’d like to state that the Volkswagen brand is constantly evaluating market opportunities on a worldwide basis. There are no decisions for Volkswagen brand investments in Sri …

Continue reading ‘Spokesperson Hohmann Confirms Volkswagen Has Not Licensed Any Lankan Company to Assemble Vehicles Locally’ »

By Nisthar Cassim *Rajapaksa regime borrowed $ 183 billion to build Magampura Port but debt servicing hit crisis level with Rs. 9 billion loss per annum since 2014; Revenue only Rs. 2 billion per year *Malik and Ravi say Rajapaksa and Joint Opposition have no right to oppose new investment, exports and job creation after …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Ministers Ravi Karunanayake and Malik Samarawickrama Refute Criticism of Joint Opposition Against Hambantota Port Agreement with China’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The state must release private land occupied by its armed forces, address lingering concerns of militarisation, enforced disappearances and livelihood opportunities in order to move ahead on its promise of reconciliation, a Sri Lankan task force has observed. The government-appointed Consultation Task Force (CTF), comprising civil society members such as activists and …

Continue reading ‘Consultation Task Force Wants Hybrid Court With Foreign and Local Judges Though Maithri and Ranil Not in Favour of International Role’ »

By Namini Wojedasa There is no involvement of German carmaker Volkswagen AG in the project to set up an assembly plant at Kuliyapitiya in the Kurunegala district, a spokesman for the German Embassy said today. “SENOK Trade Combine (Pvt) Ltd. and BOI are the parties of the contract signed on 13th August 2015,” said Dr. …

Continue reading ‘No Volkswagen AG Involvement in Kuliyapitiya assembly Plant Clarifies German Embassy’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando The Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTFRM), headed by attorney-at-law Manouri Muttetuwegama, has called for full participation of foreign judges and other personnel including defence lawyers, prosecutors and investigators in transitional justice mechanism to address accountability issues. The eleven-member committee stressed that foreign participation was required as those who had suffered …

Continue reading ‘11 Member Reconciliation Task Force (CTFRM) Wants Foreign Personnel Participation in Transitional Justice Mechanism’ »

By Namini Wijedasa The original framework agreement for the Hambantota port privatisation had envisaged Sri Lanka leasing out the facility to a single Chinese company for nearly 200 years, Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has revealed. In a letter to a committee of secretaries negotiating the Hambantota deal with China Merchant Port Holding Company …

Continue reading ‘Govt Wanted to lease out Hambantota port to Chinese company for nearly 200 years Reveals Ports Minister Arjuna Ranatunga’ »

By Kalana Senaratne (Eminent Legal luminary Christopher Gregory Weeramantry has passed away at the age of 90. This article written in “The Island” of November 23rd 2008 in honour of Judge weeramantri’s 82nd Birthday is being re-published here as tribute to an illustrious son of Mother Lanka. The writer who was once a researcher at …

Continue reading ‘Lanka’s Eminent Legal Luminary C.G.Weeramantry Traversed the Peaks of Legal Landscapes Nationally and Internationally’ »

By Dharisha Bastians Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday pooh-poohed an allegation that he was involved in creating the Bodu Bala Sena made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week, counter-alleging that it was his brother former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was the true patron of the extremist Sinhalese movement accused of targeting religious and ethnic …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Scared of His Brother Could not Stop Gotabhaya Create Extremist Bodu Bala Sena Reveals Rajitha’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said here on Wednesday, that the Palaly airport in the northern district of Jaffna, will be developed as a “regional airport,” to serve not only Sri Lanka, but also South India. India has been pressing for the development of Palaly as an international airport to improve communication …

Continue reading ‘Palaly Airport in Jaffna Will be Developed as a “Regional Airport” to Serve Sri Lanka and South India Announces PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

BY SAPUMAL JAYASENA A new breed of scorpion identified in Sri Lanka has been named after popular historical bandit of Sri Lanka Saradiel. Many do not know that the research which led to the discovery was due to study of species of scorpions. That creature did not have such an attractive name. The two inch …

Continue reading ‘Newly Discovered Non – venomous Scorpion in Sri Lanka Named “Charmus Saradieli” After Legendary Bandit Saradiel’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “Yes, finally the tables are starting to turn Talkin’ bout a revolution…” – Tracy Chapman 2016 was the year, in which we lost Fidel and Muhammad Ali. Fidel was the Muhammad Ali of politics; Muhammad Ali was the Fidel Castro of sports. We also lost David Bowie, Prince and above all, Leonard …

Continue reading ‘Neither President Sirisena nor His Representative Could Attend Fidel Castro’s Funeral Due to “Failure” of Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry’ »

By Lahiru Pothmulla Former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa MP, said yesterday that he was not a backstabber and would only topple the government when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was in the country and not when he was abroad. In response to the prime minister’s remark that Mr. Rajapaksa could do whatever he wanted to after he …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Says He is not a “Backstabber” to Topple Govt While Premier Ranil is Away in Switzerland’ »

By W. A. Sunil Political tensions between the Sri Lankan government and the country’s provincial councils over its new foreign investment measures have deepened in recent weeks. Known as the “Development (Special Provisions) Act,” Colombo’s planned legislation aims to institute a range of measures that will encourage more foreign investment. If adopted, the legislation will …

Continue reading ‘Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka Oppose Govt Move to Centralise Economic Development Through Ministry of National Policy and Economic Affairs’ »

By Dharisha Bastians Facing a barrage of criticism over its decision to lease the Port and 15,000 acres for proposed industrial zone in Hambantota to a Chinese company, the Government yesterday defended the deal saying it would help to turn around white elephant projects in the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s hometown. Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne …

Continue reading ‘Govt Will Sign Agreement with Chinese Company Over 15,000 Acres in Hambantota on Jan 7th Despite Political Protests’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday unveiled a new plan for the country entitled ‘Balagathu Lanka’ aimed at enduring national progress and individual prosperity by expanding export markets and attracting massive foreign investment. The broad framework, dubbed by the Premier as “the forerunner of development”, outlines a sustainable development economic program harnessing local …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Reveals “Balagathu Lanka”(Powerful Lanka)Plan to Make Country Progress Economically Through Expanding Exports and Investment’ »

By PK Balachandran Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has cancelled Wednesday’s visit to Jaffna. A spokesman of the President told Express that “unscheduled meetings” in Colombo led to the cancellation. “But he will be visiting Jaffna on January 25 or any other suitable date before that,” the spokesman added. In Jaffna he was to have …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Facing Political Crisis Cancels visit to Jaffna due to “unscheduled meetings” in Colombo’ »

BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA “It wasn’t a happy time, believe me!…their humanitarian paratroopers, human rights combined with the right of intervention as the sole means of assistance, the full-bellied Western fortress giving moral lessons to those starving the world over…the cult of national, racial, sexual, religious and cultural identities seeking to undo the rights of …

Continue reading ‘Unlike Their International Counterparts Sri Lankan Civil Society Has Failed to Publicly Commemorate Fidel Castro.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Eight Members of the Sri Lankan parliament belonging to the Pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa Joint Opposition have written to President Maithripala Sirisena appealing to him to scuttle the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Framework Agreement signed between the government and the China Merchant Ports Holding Company on the management of the Hambantota port. The MPs, led …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan opposition asks President Sirisena to scuttle Hambantota port deal with Chinese company’ »

Venerable Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera was yesterday advised by the Additional Magistrate of Colombo Dulani Amarasinghe, to reduce the volumes of the loudspeakers when chanting religious stanzas, early morning between 5.00 a.m. and 6 a.m. at his temple at Polhengoda. One should engage in religious practice without disturbing the neighbours, she said. The complainant is Milinda …

Continue reading ‘Milinda Moragoda Files Courts Complaint Against Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera For Disturbing Neighbourhood with Loudspeakers in the Morning’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita Last week a group calling themselves ‘alt-right Sri Lanka’ started following me on Twitter. Apparently they want to make Gotabaya Rajapaksa President and as Donald Trump would say they made me feel ‘sad’. It’s especially ‘sad’ because the last few years have been good for ethnic nationalism. In the United States Richard …

Continue reading ‘Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Symbolizes all the Wrong Moves Made by the Sinhala Nationalist Movement in the Past years’ »

By Dharisha Bastians In a strange falling out, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has threatened to take legal action against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his statements to the Colombo-based foreign media last week alleging that the untitled-1hardline group was created by the Opposition and Western Governments to ensure his defeat. The hardline group has …

Continue reading ‘Bodu Bala Sena Alleges Mahinda Led Govt was Behind Anti -Muslim Violence in Aluthgama and Pepiliyana’ »

By PK Balachandran The much-hyped Sri Lankan constitution making process has hit a serious snag. President Maithripala Sirisena has told the Buddhist high priests in Kandy that he would once again consult the masses on the nature of the constitution, setting aside the report of the Public Representations Committee done after an exhaustive island-wide survey. …

Continue reading ‘Constitution Making Process Seriously Undermined as President Sirisena “Surrenders” to Pressure From Buddhist Clergy Hierarchy’ »

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana The sudden and unexpected transfer, based on promotion, of the director of the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), with immediate effect, to Monaragala District last week had raised eyebrows in many political circles, Daily Mirror learns. The FCID director, SSP Anura Premashantha who was promoted to the rank of Deputy …

Continue reading ‘Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division Crippled as FCID Director Premashantha is Transferred “Suddenly” as Monaragala DIG by IGP Jayasundara’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya We are entering the New Year with many self-contradictions. In politics, at least one stands out. Consider this for instance: The government has mooted a plan for a super-minister who would lord over all others and provincial councils in affairs related to economic planning and foreign investment. The relevant bill which needed …

Continue reading ‘Metamorphosis of Wigneswaran From Respected Supreme Court Judge to Darling of Eelam Lobby’ »

By Aparna M Sridhar ‘I don’t know music, I am a mere instrument’: Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna’s death on November 22 took away a much loved light-heartedness and effortlessness of both being and musicality that one does not always associate with classical music. One of South India’s most enduring modern day music legends, the man who …

Continue reading ‘Remembering Music Maestro Dr.Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna’ »

By Pheba Mathew At a time when the AIADMK’s propaganda secretary M Thambidurai has requested VK Sasikala to become the chief minister of the state, a new group has been formed in support of Jayalalithaa’s niece, Deepa Jayakumar. The group, started by an AIADMK cadre Rangaraj (37), was formed on Sunday in Trichy and has …

Continue reading ‘AIADMK Cadres Opposing Sasikala Form “Puratchi Malar Deepa Peravai” with 10 Lakhs Members to Promote Jayalalithaa’s Niece Deepa as her Successor’ »

By Rakesh Mehar| With late TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s friend-turned-political-heir VK Sasikala being appointed the General Secretary of the AIADMK, senior party leaders have begun appealing for her to take the post of CM as well. While Revenue Minister RP Udayakumar issued the call first, senior leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai released a …

Continue reading ‘Hasty Moves to “Crown” Sasikala Immediately as Chief Minister Due to Legal Advice That She May be Acquitted of Corruption Charges’ »

by Zacki Jabbar Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that he was still in the saddle, but former President Mahinda Rajapaksa could please himself by doing what he wanted in his (Wickremesinghe’s) absence. Speaking in lighter vein during a function at Temple Trees yesterday morning, to ring in the New Year, the Premier, who was …

Continue reading ‘“Mahinda Rajapaksa Can Play While I am Away in Swtizerland” Says Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By PK Balachandran India and Sri Lanka registered “significant” progress in resolving the vexed fishing issue at the Fisheries Ministers-level talks here on Monday, the Sri Lankan Minister for Fisheries, Mahinda Amaraweera, told newspersons after the talks. An Agreement was reached on a wide range of issues when the Indian Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries …

Continue reading ‘European Union’s Tough Stance on Illegal Fishing Strengthens Colombo in Talks with New Delhi About Indian Poaching in Sri Lankan Waters.’ »

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya With the Maithri-Ranil ‘unity government’ approaching the end of its second year in office in an increasingly acrimonious co-habitation, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is gearing up for a come-back. He’s in combative mode, claiming that the ‘real SLFP’ is with him, that he opposes the government’s ongoing privatization and hopes to restore …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Gears up for Comeback as Co-habitation Acrimony Increases Within Maithri-Ranil Govt’ »

By C.A.Chandraprema It was perhaps supremely fitting that we ended 2016 with a scandal involving a key cabinet minister and the Angoda mental hospital. This scandal became public for the first time due to a video posted on SlVlog.com by journalist Darshana Handungoda who explained the whole sordid episode in great detail with a powerful …

Continue reading ‘Was Champika Ranawaka’s Ex-Valet Given Electric Shocks in Angoda Mental Hospital Because Minister “Wanted” his Attractive Korean Wife?’ »

By Ajantha Kumara Agalakada President Maithripala Sirisena said the decision taken to spend large sums to provide vehicles on rent basis to 58 Parliamentarians who were holding the Chairmanship posts of Regional Development Committees would not be implemented. Speaking to the Daily Mirror he further said a decision would be taken to implement a new …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Stops Scheme to Provide Vehicles on Rental Basis to 58 MP’s Serving as Regional Development Committee Chairpersons’ »

By P K Balachandran Given the billowing controversy over the Sino-Sri Lankan Framework Agreement (FA) on Hambantota port in south Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is all set to seek some significant amendments in it. He proposes to do so by appointing his own representative in the negotiating team. The Sunday Times reported …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Appoints Sarath Rajapathirana to Negotiation Team to Amend Agreement Giving Hambantota Port to China.’ »

Dhanya Rajendran & Ramanathan S. The road to the AIADMK headquarters was dotted with khaki uniforms, of both policemen (at least 2000 of them) and some government workers, ostensibly members of unions with strong ties to the party. There were also the blue-uniformed workers of the state transport department, amidst a sea of white – …

Continue reading ‘Sasikala Conveys Subtle Message Through Successful Maiden Public Speech to Party that she is There to Stay’ »

Two days after VK Sasikala took charge as AIADMK’s General Secretary, calls have once again renewed for her to take over immediately as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In a letter issued to the media by the AIADMK party office, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and AIADMK Propaganda Secretary M Thambidurai wrote, “When the country is …

Continue reading ‘“Pressure” Mounts on “Respected Chinnamma” Sasikala From AIADMK Ministers to Take Over as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’ »

Having lived under Late Chief Minister Jayalalaithaa’s shadow for over 30 years, all eyes were on Sasikala, the newly appointed AIADMK General Secretary, as she stepped into the party headquarters in Chennai on Saturday. But as Sasikala formally took over Jayalalithaa’s mantle, there appeared to be a distinct change in her appearance, transforming from one …

Continue reading ‘Sasikala Tries to Re-invent Her Appearance Like that of Jayalalithaa by Changing Attire and Hair style’ »

Two days after the AIADMK General Council passed a resolution in favour of VK Sasikala taking the reins of the party as its General Secretary, the friend and closest aide of former CM Jayalalithaa arrived at the party HQ to give her first ever public speech. As Sasikala made her way to the party HQ …

Continue reading ‘“Sinnamma” Sasikala Makes First Public Speech as she Formally Takes Charge of AIADMK Party’ »

By P K Balachandran The resignation of the popular Sri Lankan politician and State Minister for Local government, Priyankara Jayaratne, from the Council of Ministers on Friday, complaining of harassment by Ministers of the coalition partner United National Party (UNP), has touched off rumors of ten other ministers from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) …

Continue reading ‘Will More SLFP Ministers Exit from Maithri-Ranil Govt Like State Minister Priyankara Jayaratne?’ »

By C.A.Chandraprema The exchanges between the the UNP and the SLFP (Sirisena faction) became shriller as the year came to a close. Usually, the run up to Christmas and the following days up to the dawn of the New Year and about two weeks into the New Year is a lean period for the media …

Continue reading ‘Will Maithripala Give Ranil the Same “Hoppers Treat”he gave Mahinda in 2014?’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardena Consternation accompanied by fervent chest beating on the part of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in regard to the acquittal of suspects (including three Navy intelligence officers) charged with the murder of TNA parliamentarian and lawyer N. Raviraj in Colombo in 2006, is an instructive lesson in regard to the evils …

Continue reading ‘Dispassionate Trials at Bar Without Juries Needed to Prevent Verdicts in Cases with an “Ethnic Dimension” Where “Sinhala”Juries Acquit “Sinhalese”Accused’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Secretaries to the Ministries of Fisheries of Sri Lanka and India met in New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the fishing issue bedeviling relations between the two countries. On January 2, the Agriculture cum Fisheries Minister of India, Radha Mohan Singh, and the Fisheries Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Amaraweera, will meet in …

Continue reading ‘Fisheries Ministry Secretaries of India and Sri Lanka Meet For Talks Ahead of Ministers Meeting on Jan 2nd 2017’ »

By Dharisha Bastians Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday vowed to make it his mission to topple the National Unity Government and regain power in 2017, nearly two years after he was ousted in a shocking election upset. During a meeting with Colombo-based foreign correspondents, the former President said that even though the National Unity Government …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Vows to Topple Maithri-Ranil Govt and Regain Power in 2017’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said here on Thursday that he has no plans to visit India although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended an open invitation to him when he was here in March 2015. Resident foreign correspondents who met Rajapaksa asked him if he would visit India also since …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa has no Plan to Visit India Despite Narendra Modi Inviting him to Visit Any time.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Two years after he was unseated, former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the first time explicitly stated his intent to make a political comeback, saying he wants to “topple” the current government in 2017. While the National Unity government, led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has a …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Mocks New Delhi Silence Over China’s Role in Sri Lanka Saying “India is Like a Mouse now”.’ »

By Vijith Samarasinghe November 21 marked the second anniversary of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s defection from former President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government to contest the January 2015 presidential election as the opposition’s “common candidate.” Sirisena, who was Rajapakse’s health minister and secretary of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), defeated the incumbent and formed …

Continue reading ‘Inside Story About Maithripala Sirisena Defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015 Revealed in Book by Malith Jayathilake’ »

By P K Balachandran Two leading Tamil politicians of North Sri Lanka, both belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), are squabbling over a controversial statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Mullaitivu town which was found destroyed on Monday. TNA Member of Parliament Dr.Sivamohan had installed the statue recently, with the money given to him by …

Continue reading ‘TNA Provincial Councillor Suspected of Destroying Mahatma Gandhi Statue Erected by TNA Parliamentarian in Mullaitheevu Town’ »

By L. Pieris With last week’s release of a taped conversation between Editor of The Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, there has been a buzz of speculation as to who released the tape and why the tape was released at this particular time. The contents of the tape, the tone and …

Continue reading ‘Did Mahinda Rajapaksa “Leak” Taped Conversation with Lasantha Wickrematunge to Show the World They had been “Good Friends”?’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka It was perhaps the biggest Sri Lanka related news story of the year that is about to end. It should have been picked up by the international media but unsurprisingly it wasn’t – though it would have been, once. More shocking however is that it made the local media but the biggest …

Continue reading ‘LTTE,Indian Govt and the Important Revelation About Tamil Nadu Political Leaders Missed by the Media’ »

By P K Balachandran Female staff of the Sri Lankan parliament are barred from entering the Public Officers’ Box if they are wearing a sleeveless blouse, according to a report in The Sunday Times of December 25. “A trilingual notice freshly placed on the door to the Public Officer’s Box in Parliament stipulated the dress …

Continue reading ‘“Cultural Puritanism”in Sri Lanka Results in Females Wearing Sleeveless Blouses Being Forbidden to Enter Parliament Public Officers Box’ »

By Dharisha Bastians Dock workers at the Hambantota Port ended a nine-day strike yesterday, shortly before a deadline issued by the Government for employees of the port management company to return to work elapsed but Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe assured that steps would be taken to increase security at the facility ahead of its lease …

Continue reading ‘Govt Instructs Navy to Open New Camp Near Hambantota Harbour as Requested by Chinese Firm’ »

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The International Labour Organization (ILO) would be informed about the Hambantota Port issue, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. Addressing the media at the public awareness campaign launched by “Viyath Maga” Organisation in Battaramulla, the former President said it was the first time that the Navy had been used to disperse a …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa to Inform International Labour Organization About Navy Being Used to Disperse Hambantota Port Workers Protest’ »

by Shamindra Ferdinando Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday thanked Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne and the navy for swiftly regaining control of the Hambantota port last Saturday in the wake of striking workers preventing a Japanese car carrier leaving the port. The premier said that he had instructed VA Wijegunaratne to protect two foreign …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Thanks Navy Commander and Navy for Regaining Control of Hambantota Harbour Swiftly.’ »

Following talks among the Ports and Shipping Ministry, Magampura Port Management Company (MPMC) and striking workers, the nine-day work stoppage was called off yesterday. The ministry said the protesters had resumed work in the wake of Minister Arjuna Ranatunga’s ultimatum to discontinue them unless they reported to work by 2.00 pm.

By N.Ram Ranil Wickremesinghe, 67, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for a fourth term and leader of the United National Party (UNP), is the spearhead of a complex game-changing project where the stakes are extremely high. The project is to see through Parliament, and then through a referendum, a major constitutional change that will put …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Speaks Out On Progress of New Constitution Project’ »

By Dharisha Bastians The Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Sri Lanka’s deep south has never been a stranger to controversy. It was the epicentre of a new headache for the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government last week, after some 400 striking dock workers attached to a private company set up to manage the port in 2012 seized …

Continue reading ‘Most Workers on Strike at Hambantota Port Belong to Namal Rajapaksa’s “Nil Balakaya”Movement’ »

By Norman Palihawadana, Pradeep Samarakoon and Roshan Gunasekera Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that he had requested President Maithripala Sirisena not to terminate the protesting workers of the Magampura Port in Hambantota and the latter had assured that the matter would be discussed with the Prime Minister. The former President said among the protesting …

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Rajapaksa Asks President Sirisena not to Terminate Employment of Protesting Workers of Hambantota Harbour’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake Switching to damage control mode after Hambantota Port was classified “Risk Plus” by insurers, Ports Minister Arjuna Ranatunga yesterday sought to reassure international shipping lines of the Government’s fullest support, while giving striking employees an ultimatum to report to work today or risk losing their jobs with a new ship expected to …

Continue reading ‘Ports Minister Ranatunga Ready to Sack Strikers as Insurers Classify Hambantota as “Risk Plus” Due to Harbour workers Strike’ »

By Norman Palihawadane Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith had given permission for the erection of the world’s tallest Christmas tree at Galle Face, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told The Island yesterday. “Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and I explained to the Cardinal that not a single cent of government funds would be spent on the …

Continue reading ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Has Given Permission to Erect World’s Tallest Christmas Tree at Galle Face -Ravi Karunanayake’ »

By Dharisha Bastians Foreign merchant vessels will rethink docking at the Hambantota Port after protesting dock workers seized a Japanese ship and sprevented it leaving the harbour for four days, local shipping agents said yesterday. Tressel Silva, Operations Manager for ABC Shipping, the local agent for the Japanese owned vessel seized by workers, said another …

Continue reading ‘Foreign Vessels may Hesitate to Dock at Hambantota Port After Seizure of Ships by Workers’ »

by Raja Waidyasekera The Hambantota Port employees are continuing their sathyagraha, which enters the eighth day today, at the main entrance of the harbour. They say that they will not end their protest in spite of threats to thier lieves. They demand the cancellation of the sale of the port to a Chinese company and …

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by Sirimantha Ratnasekera The Navy Commander assaulted a journalist at an agitation in Hambantota Magampura harbour since the latter had broken through a perimeter defence line set up by the Naval ratings, Director General of Department of Government Information Ranga Kalansuriya said yesterday. Dr Kalansuriya said the journalist had breached basic ethical conduct. “A journalist …

Continue reading ‘Information Dept Chief Kalansuriya Says he Condemns “High-handed Action” of Navy Chief Wijegunaratne Assaulting Journalist’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the ruling UNP-SLFP coalition has not yet unveiled its constitutional reform proposals though it is asking other political parties to express their views. Former President Rajapaksa has said the government should make public its position without further delay. Addressing a gathering at Palatuwa, Matara, former President Rajapaksa …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Emphasises Importance of Opposing Efforts to Divide Country on Ethnic Lines Through Referendum’ »

The Defence Ministry has launched an investigation into the alleged attack on a journalist by Navy Chief Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijeguneratne, the Sri Lanka Navy confirmed yesterday, even as local media watchdogs and activists called for legal action against the Commander. Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alawi told Daily FT that the Defence Ministry had initiated …

Continue reading ‘Defence Ministry Launches Probe into Navy Chief Ravindra Wijeguneratne’s Alleged assault on Journalist’ »

By Laksiri Fernando Mahinda Rajapaksa issued a statement on “Constitutional Reform Programme” recently (4 December 2016) referring to the six Sub-Committee reports submitted to the Constitutional Assembly (Parliament), without enlightening the public of ‘what was exactly wrong’ or ‘what should be revised’ in respect of the recommendations that they have submitted. This was not worthy …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Statement on Constitutional Reforms is an Exposure of his Political Duplicity’ »

By P.K. Balachandran Leaders of Tamil Nadu, across the political divide, privately but effectively supported the Indian government’s policy of opposing efforts by the US and Norway to rescue Velupillai Prabhakaran so that his Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lived to fight another day, says Shivshankar Menon, India’s former National Security Adviser (NSA) in …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Politicians Supported New Delhi’s Policy of Opposing Attempts by USA and Norway to Rescue Prabhakaran and LTTE says Indian Ex-Foreign Secretary’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka’s internal war which ended in May 2009, had cost the country around US$ 200 billion according to India’s former National Security Adviser and Foreign Secretary, Shivshankar Menon. In his book Choices: Inside the Making of India’s Foreign Policy, Menon says that this estimate does not include the “opportunity cost” to Sri …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Relied on Turncoats Like Douglas Devananda and his EPDP Instead of Promoting a Moderate Tamil Leadership’ »