By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday appealed to the Sinhalese-Buddhist majority in the island nation to realize that the minorities have a problem and solve it if they want to live happily. “The Sinhala Buddhist community in this country will be able to live happily only after solving the issues pertaining to …
by Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Friday (15) night took in to custody Warrant Officer 1, Premananda Udalagama from the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) in connection with the murder of The Sunday Leader founding Editor, Lasantha Wickrematunge.
By The Sunday Times Political Editor Storm clouds are building over Government’s main partners on the impact of the Value Added Tax (VAT) which has dealt a blow to a large segment of Sri Lankans. The pro-Maithripala Sirisena Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), or the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), segment is unhappy over the …
By Rasika Jayakody A few weeks before the release from prison of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, in 2012, MP Namal Rajapaksa, one of the most influential members of the previous government, made a very interesting statement in an brief interview with a vernacular newspaper. The parliamentarian, who did not hold any official ministerial or …
By C.A. Chandraprema That this government has tied itself up in knots not only locally but internationally as well became apparent last week, when the former head of state Mahinda Rajapaksa – now the central personality of the opposition – was the only important to politician to send a proper letter congratulating the newly appointed …
By J. Angelus Rarely does a day pass by without the clicks, scrolls and stares of social media. Among the 3.4 billion people around the globe who access the internet, nearly 2.3 billion are found active on social media sites. Specially, youngsters seem to have developed an unbreakable bond with them. Social media provides different …
Continue reading ‘Exploring the World Through Social Media is not as Good as it May Seem’ »
The United Nations has urged Sri Lanka to stick to its commitments on accountability. Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General on Tuesday responding to a question posed on Sri Lanka, recalled that there were agreements between Sri Lanka and the international community and Sri Lanka should stick to those agreements. “There are issues between …
(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island”of July 14th 2016 Under the heading “Of that Piscatorial issue”) Finding a solution to the problem of illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters has become a Sisyphean task owing to the wrong remedies being applied. It looks as if the process of solving the piscatorial issue would drag …
By Harischandra Gunaratna The Movement for the Protection of the National Zoo (MPNZ) yesterday said that there were moves by certain elements with vested interests to have the Dehiwala Zoological Garden closed. Media Co-ordinator for the movement Shantha Jayaweera said the objective of those elements was to reduce the size of the present Zoological Garden …
By P.K.Balachandran COLOMBO: In a perceptible shift of emphasis from human rights and war crimes accountability to economic development, the United States on Tuesday asked Sri Lankans to eschew divisive politics and work for the economic development of all on the grounds that democracy and post-war reconciliation can be brought about only through equitable economic …
World renowned author, winner of the Booker Prize and the 13th greatest English novelist according to the TIME Magazine, Salman Rushdie sits down with Hafeel Farisz of the “Daily Mirror” for his first interview with the Sri Lankan media. Rushdie, currently a Professor and Distinguished Writer at the New York University, speaks of his controversial …
by Zacki Jabbar With the government sending conflicting signals on the use of foreign judges in the proposed domestic war crimes tribunal, three senior American officials arrived in Colombo yesterday. The UNHRC, U.K. and the U.S have emphasised that the credibility of investigations into allegations of war crimes against government forces and the LTTE especially …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe yesterday dismissed as irrelevant a statement made by Jaffna District MP M. A. Sumanthiran at a recent Congressional hearing on behalf of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in respect of foreign judges in a judicial mechanism to inquire into war crimes. Minister Samarasinghe was …
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Namal Rajapaksa was arrested by the police Financial Crimes Investigations Division (FCID) yesterday and remanded till 18 July. Namal Rajapaksa was asked to appear before the FCID on Monday to make a statement over some missing funds. He was questioned over the misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs. 70 million. …
By Chaturanga Pradeep Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said he had to ask the government whether it was now happy after arresting his son Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, Mr. Rajapaksa who was arrested by the FCID today over an inquiry of allegedly misappropriating Rs. 70 million worth of funds belonging to ‘Krish Company’, was later remanded …
By Uditha Jayasinghe and S.S. Selvanayagam A Supreme Court order suspending VAT increases delivered yesterday created confusion among the private sector and left the Government rushing to provide explanations ahead of ensuring that the relevant legislation is passed in Parliament next week. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe released a statement just hours after the verdict assuring …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The Joint Opposition last week appointed a 50-member ‘shadow cabinet.’ Alas, even before the ink dried in appointment letters, its members thought it was a big joke. Many wanted out, and ‘Shadow Urban Planning and Water Supply Minister’ Lohan Ratwatte (of Joel Pera fame) resigned. Thus the grand plan flopped before it …
Continue reading ‘Shadow Cabinet of Joint Opposition Dissolves Into a Joke Before It took Off’ »
By C.A.Chandraprema After the talks on VAT with the representatives of regional chambers of commerce broke down earlier this week, anti-VAT hartals broke out in the Ratnapura and Hambantota and it appears as if things will build up into a countrywide showdown if the government does not take a step backwards. In places like Ja-ela …
Continue reading ‘Armed Forces are now ” Encircled ” in the same way the LTTE was in April 2009’ »
By P K Balachandran Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday reiterated his opposition to the appointment of any foreign judge in the Judicial Mechanism that is to be set up to try war crimes cases as per the October 1, 2015 resolution of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Presidential Secretariat sources told Express. …
by Shamindra Ferdinando Acknowledging that there had been divergent views in respect of having foreign judges in a domestic judicial mechanism to probe alleged war crimes, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday emphasised that a solution acceptable to the majority of stakeholders could be reached. Minister Samaraweera said the four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) wanted foreign …
The Joint Opposition group of MP’s loyal to Ex – President Mahinda Rajapaksa today appointed a shadow cabinet of 50 ministers. The shadow cabinet is led by ex-president and Kurunegala district MP Mahinda Rajapaksa who has been appointed shadow Prime Minister and also given the shadow portfolios of Defence, Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs. Dinesh …
By T.Ramakrishnan The episode of the exit of former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Arjuna Mahendran and the appointment of his successor Indrajit Coomaraswamy has not created any bitter feeling between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Cabinet spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne said on Wednesday. Answering questions of THE HINDU at …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Friday (July 1) welcomed a hard-hitting statement, issued by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, in respect of war time and post-war accountability issues in Sri Lanka. The Human Rights HC reiterated the call for international participation in the proposed war crimes …
By Saman Indrajith Parliamentary watchdog committee (COPE) meeting yesterday turned tense as UNP members tried to exonerate former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran from the Treasury bond sale scandal, while others spoke against it. Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe and two other senior members of the Auditor General’s Department made a presentation to the COPE members …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka One belt, one road’, China’s blueprint to tie together Asia and Europe into one vast trading network, could reshape geopolitics and the world economy – The Economist (UK), June 30, 2016 One gets a different perspective watching the global and national scenes, while on a ‘hybrid’ trip to China with my wife …
(Full text of the speech by Central Bank Governor Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy when he addressed employees of the Central Bank on July 4) The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is one of the great institutions in this country and I am acutely aware that a primary responsibility, arguably the primary responsibility of the Governor is …
By Uditha Jayasinghe A confident Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy yesterday promised to “give his absolute best shot” to restore the institution’s credibility, increase transparency in the bond market and stabilise macro-economic fundamentals to achieve growth in Sri Lanka. Giving his evaluation on Sri Lanka’s post-independence economic fortunes, Dr. Coomaraswamy noted that for the …
By Rathindra Kuruwita Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy was appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank on Saturday. A number of my friends, who campaigned for the removal of former Governor Arjuna Mahendran, have convinced themselves, and are now trying to convince others, that the new appointment was a victory of President Maithripala Sirisena. According to …
The Central Bank’s new Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy yesterday pledged to lead by example and listed three guiding principles for his staff while sending a clarion call to politicians that good economics is critical for their and country’s success. Speaking to Central Bankers after accepting the letter of appointment from President Maithripala Sirisena, Dr. Commaraswamy …
By DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA The issue of the appointment of Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy as the Governor of the Central Bank is a defining one. It is an issue on which one has to stand up and be counted. It is a moral issue; one which concerns the kind of Sri Lanka one wishes to have. …
By By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka has fulfilled only 11 percent of the pledges it had made to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in September 2015, and only 20 percent of the commitments it had made to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) in 2011, according to a study by the Colombo-based think tank …
BY SHAAHIDAH RIZA Cracks have already begun to appear in the Joint Opposition camp over the appointment of Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy as the new Governor of the Central Bank. Calling the new Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy a Tamil separatist, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP, Udaya Gammanpila questioned the wisdom of …
By RangaJayasuriya President Maithripala Sirisena finally brought a stalemate between him and the Prime Minister to an end, appointing respected economist Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy as the Governor of the Central Bank. His decision would have averted potential uncertainty in the financial market as it opens today (Monday). Making the appointment, the President has called the …
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appointed Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy a renowned diplomat and economist, as the Governor of the Central Bank — ending weeks of speculation over who will take the post. The move which climaxed a behind-the-scenes drama this week had pitted the two key players of the Government – the United National Party (UNP) …
By C. A. Chandraprema As we go to press, the multiple crises in the country were threatening to spill out onto the streets with the private bus services due to launch a countrywide strike tomorrow (Monday) demanding a hike in bus fares and several health sector unions led by the GMOA going on strike the …
President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy as the Governor of Central Bank, President’s Media Division announced Coomaraswamy, a former central banker and economic affairs director at the Commonwealth Secretariat, was picked after “consulting all parties relevant”, President Maithripala Sirisena said on Twitter. A tweet by President Maithripala Sirisena also stated as follows – …
By Dharisha Bastians A political tug-o-war over the appointment of the Central Bank Governor continued yesterday, with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe making a public statement that the controversial incumbent Arjuna Mahendran could not be removed from office since the charges against him had never been proved. “We are not protecting anyone. If the charges are …
by Norman Palihawadane Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma was admitted to Meegahatenna Hospital after an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide yesterday. The Deputy Minister who had been protesting opposite the Matugama Zonal Educational Office as ten students had been denied admission to Grade 1 of the Matugama Meegahatenne Primary School suspended …
By C. A. Chandraprema In this country, a court case rarely attracts much attention unless it has to do with something like murder or rape – preferably both. In a nation that has been discussing matters of corruption and graft and illegal money making, it is certainly surprising that a court case involving irregularities in …
By Dharisha Bastians President Maithripala Sirisena announced from his official Twitter account yesterday that a new Central Bank Governor would be appointed over the next few hours, ending weeks of suspense and political deadlock about the potential reappointment of the controversial incumbent, Arjuna Mahendran. But the announcement only sparked more drama and hectic guessing games, …
Continue reading ‘Who Will Succeed Arjuna Mahendran as Central Bank Governor of Sri Lanka?’ »
By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, told the 32 nd. session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Wednesday, that the Lankan armed forces will release, by 2018, all lands they had seized from civilians during the 30 year war. “Last week the military released another 701 acres of land …
By M. A. Sumanthiran M.P. The issue of poaching by Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan waters has over the years become an increasingly contentious one, seriously threatening the livelihood of Sri Lanka’s fishing community. Fishers being among the poorest communities in both Sri Lanka and India, it is an issue of national concern to both …
(Text of Statement by Mr. Mangala Samaraweera,Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka & Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation during the presentation of the Oral Update on the Implementation of the HRC Resolution A/HRC/RES/30/1 by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the 32nd Session of the Human Rights Council on 29 June …
By Asoka Jayasinghe Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran has become a controversial figure in the recent past. Many Opposition parties made several allegations against him and demanded that he should be replaced. The following is a translation of an interview given by Mr. Mahendran to the Sunday Lankadeepa. The English translation is reproduced here from …
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, prior to his oral report that is to be released today (29), said he ‘remains convinced’ that international participation in the accountability mechanisms would be a necessary guarantee of the independence and impartiality of the process in the eyes of victims, as …
By Upul Joseph Fernando When Sir John Kotelawala was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, he arranged a banquet for the British Bank Governor at the Temple Trees for which the Central Bank Governor at that time N.U. Jayawardena was also invited. While the dinner was in progress, Sir John suddenly flew into a rage …
By T.Ramakrishnan The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), till recently seen as friendly towards Colombo, is now turning increasingly critical of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government. After R. Sampanthan and Mavai S. Senathirajah, another prominent TNA leader, M.A. Sumanthiran, has raised criticism against the government. Mr. Sumanthiran, who was in the U.S. early this week, told the Congressional …
By PK Balachandran Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (EU),much to the disappointment of Sri Lanka, has forced the Lankan government to seek closer economic ties with India, China and the rest of Asia. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced in Galle on Sunday, that the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrama, …
by By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka is to send this week its Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, Malik Samarawickrama, to New Delhi to speed up negotiations on the proposed Indo-Lanka Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA). This announcement was made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickemesinghe as part of his package of measures to meet …
by Saman Indrajith Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises Sunil Handunnetti (JVP) threatens to resign from the post if he feels the members of the committee are being influenced by outside forces trying to clear Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran of wrongdoing in the alleged bond scams. Handunnetti told The Island on Friday that …
By C.A.Chandraprema In a landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme Court last Friday, the country’s highest court shot down a disputed coal tender with it being said in open court that the ‘conscience of the court was shocked’ by the conduct displayed by certain individuals involved in the process. The Norochcholai power plant requires 2.25 …
By Taylor Dibbert Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera recently spoke at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs in Oslo. Mr. Samaraweera has again presented a very optimistic assessment of the current state of affairs in the war-torn island nation. The foreign minister is right to note that recent political developments have presented the country …
by Saman Indrajith Expressing optimism that the ongoing COPE investigation will help clear his name, Central Bank Governor, Arjuna Mahendran said that he returned from overseas to serve his motherland, and the President would decide whether he should continue in his job or not. He confirmed that he has decided not to seek an extension …
By Chandani Jayatilleke A senior Deputy Governor currently serving in the Central Bank is likely to be appointed to head the bank, as incumbent Governor Arjuna Mahendran has decided not to seek a re-appointment until the conclusion of investigations. Deputy Governor P. Samarasiri is currently the front-runner for the post, top Central Bank sources told …
By Sudharshan Seneviratne (Complete text of speech titled “IMAGING INDIA AND STRATEGIZING INDO-SRI LANKA SYMBIOSIS” delivered at the India-Sri Lanka Relations in the 21st Century seminar. BCIS. Colombo, 16th June 2016 .Sudharshan Seneviratne is a – Former Professor of Archaeology (Peradeniya), Former Director General Central Cultural Fund and Former High Commissioner to India ) Having …
In what seemed like a scene from a Sinhala film two “honourable” members of Parliament entered into fisticuffs within the “hallowed”precincts of the house by Diyawanna Oya on Tuesday June 21st. Joint Opposition Kandy District MP Mahindananda Alutgamage and UNP Gampaha District parliamentarian and deputy minister Ranjan Ramanayake not only exchanged blows in Parliament but …
By Jon Schuppe Muhammad Ali, the silver-tongued boxer and civil rights champion who famously proclaimed himself “The Greatest” and then spent a lifetime living up to the billing, is dead. Ali died Friday at a Phoenix-area hospital, where he had spent the past few days being treated for respiratory complications, a family spokesman confirmed to …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Aiyathurai Nadesan serving as Batticaloa correspondent of the Tamil daily ”Virakesari” was shot dead in broad daylight in the heart of Batticaloa town by assassins belonging to the Eastern breakaway faction of the LTTE on May 31st 2004. His killer was believed to be none other than Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan who was …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (This is an article written and posted by me ten years ago on May 26th 2006 under the heading “Life and Times of Kandiah Ulaganathan – (“Col” Ramanan)”. It is being re-posted here to denote the tenth anniversary of Ulaganathan alias Ramanan’s death) Kandiah Ulaganathan known to the world as “Col” Ramanan …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (This is an article written and posted by me ten years ago on May 16th 2006 under the heading “Navy –EPDP Kill Thirteen Civilians in Allaipiddy – Velanai”. It is being re-posted here to mark the tenth anniversary of the killings. No one has been prosecuted or convicted for the killings so …
By Dharisha Bastians in Aranayake The wails of Prema Adikari, 58, mingle with the howls of a small brown dog as they both stare at the muddy remains of a collapsed house on the hill through sheets of rain falling in the area again Thursday morning. A red collar made of twisted string is still …
By C. A. Chandraprema Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s term of office ends in June this year. There have been calls from opposition politicians as well as good governance activists for the government to investigate alleged malpractices in the issuance of treasury bonds during his tenure before reappointing him for another term. One of the …
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The death toll from the Aranayake landslide in the Kegalle District could rise to 135, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Media Spokesman Pradeep Kodippili told The Island yesterday. He, however said the figure had not been confirmed officially. According to the latest figures issued by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC): disaster have left …
Canada is willing to assist the Sri Lankan Government to set up a robust accountability mechanism to investigate and address serious violations of international law during the war, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Issuing a statement on the seventh anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka, the Canadian Prime Minister said …
BY RONOJOY SEN May 19 decided the fate of two of the most powerful women politicians in India: Jayalalithaa and Mamata Banerjee. While Mamata expectedly returned to power in West Bengal, albeit by a larger margin than expected, Jayalalithaa became the first chief minister in Tamil Nadu in three decades to buck anti-incumbency. Though there …
Poised for a successive term in office with her party establishing clear leads in over 125 seats, AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday said her party had managed the “historic” win despite absence of an alliance and hailed people’s faith in her. Making a victory speech from her Poes Garden residence amid a …
By Mahinda Rajapaksa Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a hard hitting statement yesterday blasted the authorities for releasing hardcore LTTEers numbering a few hundred, while armed forces personnel were being arrested and held continuously without bail. “My government did not try to exact revenge from LTTE cadres captured at the end of the war. We …
by Maheesha Mudugauwa Mudslides set off by torrential rains rushed down rain-soaked hills in two districts, sweeping away scores of houses and killing at least 40 people in three villages during the past two days, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday. More than 100 others are missing. Sixteen people were killed by a landslide at …
By Chandra Jayaratne Civil Society breathed a sigh of relief post “January 8th 2015 Change” and looked forward to commitments of Transparency, Good Governance, Rule of Law and Ethical Conduct of Leaders, returning, being respected and strictly complied with in governance. The resignation midterm of the last Governor was indeed good news. The expectations were …
By Bandula Jayasekara For whatever reason, I never wanted to climb Siri Pada better known as Samanala Kanda (Butterfly Mountain/Peak). I wouldn’t call it Adams Peak because it was Robert Knox who called it that. Knox could have called it Butterfly Peak instead, because Adam was nowhere near this peak. I once went to climb …
Continue reading ‘My Reasons for not Wanting to Climb Sri Pada Mountain Again.’ »
by Shamindra Ferdinando Against the backdrop of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government calling off Victory Day Parade held annually to celebrate Sri Lanka’s triumph over the LTTE, Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has organised a war heroes’ commemoration at Panagoda Army Cantonment tomorrow (May 19) at 3.15 pm. Minister Ranawaka will make a …
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Communist Party (CP) leader D.E.W. Gunasekera on Monday urged President Maithripala Sirisena not to extend the term of the Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran, which is scheduled to end in June, without a thorough investigation into alleged bond scams during his tenure. Former Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Mangala Samaraweera had written a letter to Mahinda Rajapaksa last weekend. In this open letter he had mentioned that war crimes had taken place during the war. While Mangala was accusing Mahinda of war crimes, Mahinda completed his visit to Uganda and returned. Mahinda went to Uganda to attend the swearing-in …
By Rasika Jayakody Media Ministry Secretary Nimal Bopage ran into a storm recently when he sent out a press communiqué cautioning the media over the term ‘Joint Opposition’. Even the highest echelons of the political sphere were perturbed over Bopage’s press conference as they thought the move would boomerang on the government, in some way …
By Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu It is now seven years since the end of the war and the onset of a post-war situation. In that time the roots of conflict were not addressed but sustained and even reproduced. In the North and East, people observed that things may have looked better, but felt worse. There and throughout …
By Vishwamithra1984 “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts… perhaps the fear of a loss of power.” ~John Steinbeck It’s time we stopped talking about corruption and started taking some serious action! Commissions and committees have outlived their usefulness. The people are tired and sick of the pace at which these various bodies, whether they are …
By P.K.Balachandran The governments of Sri Lanka and India will begin discussions on replacing coal by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the 500 MW Indo-Lankan power plant to be set up at Sampoor in Eastern Sri Lanka, the Lankan Power Secretary, Dr.Suren Batagoda, told Express on Tuesday. “ At the moment, the changeover to LNG …
By Dr.Steve Creech “India seeks Sri Lanka’s help to stop Indians fishing illegally in Sri Lankan waters”. This isn’t quite how the Indian press worded Narendra Modi’s request to Maithripala Sirisena when they met in New Delhi on Friday. The headlines in the Indian media said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pushed for a permanent …
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convert the Sampur Power Station in Trincomalee from a coal power plant to one powered by liquified natural gas (LNG). Modi has responded positively to Sirisena’s suggestion, and asked his officials to discuss the issue promptly with their …
By Dasun Edirisinghe Army security provided to former Defence Secretary Lt. Col. (Retd.) Gotabhaya Rajapaksa too would be removed in stages according to the government’s policy decision to hand over the VIP security to the police commandos, the Defence Ministry said yesterday. Addressing the media at the Government Information Department, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said …
By Nirmala Kannangara Director General, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) continues to be in the public eye, aligning himself as he does, with successive governments in order to safeguard his position. This is despite the numerous malpractices he has allegedly been involved in over the years. It is surprising indeed that the good …
By T.Ramakrishnan In a strange coincidence, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan will participate together in a public event on Saturday, which marks the 40th anniversary of the Vaddukoddai resolution. The two leaders will be in the ancient Indian city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh to take part in …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Last week, ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa travelled to Uganda to grace the inauguration ceremony of President Yoweri Museveni, who was sworn-in for his fifth term. It could have been a bitter sweet moment for MR, who like his host, dreamt of being the President for life and amended the constitution to that effect, …
By P.K.Balachandran Contrary to reports emanating from Tamil Nadu, the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) is not building St.Anthony’s church at Kachchativu on its own, but is doing so at the written request of the Bishop of Jaffna, the local parish priest, Fr.Jeyaranjan, told Express on Sunday. Bishop Rev.Dr.Justin Gnanapragasam had made a verbal request to …
By T. RAMAKRISHNAN The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on Sunday dismissed reports that it planned to build a naval facility on the Katchatheevu islet, which was ceded by India to Sri Lanka during the June 1974 bilateral agreement. Talking to The Hindu, SLN Commander Vice-Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne termed “baseless” the reports that the Navy had …
By P.K.Balachandran The Indo-Lankan project to build a 500 MW coal fired power plant at Sampoor in Eastern Sri Lanka is on, despite opposition from an influential section of the Lankan government, reliable sources told Express on Sunday. “Reports about the project being abandoned had come out in the past too, but these proved to …
by Madura Ranwala A TNA MP has taken delivery of a tax free luxury vehicle, a used Land Rover Diesel STA/Wagon Sports ABIO Dynam SDV6, this week by underestimating the real value of the vehicle and paying only Rs. 1,750 as Customs Declaration fee. It is the second luxury vehicle cleared so far by parliamentarians. …
The construction of a new church on the island of Kachchativu has been stopped by the Sri Lankan Government after India raised issues over it. Navy Commander Ravindra Wijegunaratne told the Sunday Times construction work had been suspended until the issues were resolved. He said the Navy had been asked to undertake the construction by …
by Tisaranee Gunasekara “Have you learned nothing from history?” Freud (The Future of an Illusion) In the US, Donald Trump, the orange-haired billionaire whose claim to fame includes a string of spectacular business failures, is about to become the official nominee of the Republican Party. In the UK, Sadiq Khan, the son of immigrant parents …
by Sujeeva Nivunhella in London Pro-LTTE activists in the United Kingdom got it mixed up and protested at the wrong venue in the belief that visiting President Maithripala Sirisena was attending the Anti Corruption meeting at Marlborough House. This was, in fact, a separate conference initiated by the Commonwealth Secretariat for Non Governmental Organization Group …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene In a notably pungent observation at the close of her mission visit to Sri Lanka this month, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Mónica Pinto took pains to remind Sri Lanka’s Constitutional Council of one fact. This was that the Council, set up with great …
Poetry took centre stage last evening as Thiyagaraja Arasanayagam was awarded the Gratiaen Prize 2015 for his unpublished manuscript ‘White Lanterns – Wesak 2011’. The annual prize recognises the best work of creative writing in English by a Sri Lankan resident and comes with Rs. 200,000 in award money. This year’s judging panel for the …
By Mangala Samaraweera (Text of an open letter written to Ex – President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera) My dear Mahinda, I still vividly recall the first time I met you. It was at the SLFP Party Headquarters on Darley Road in June 1988, which I attended in my capacity as the …
By Dharisha Bastians Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s much-hyped trip to Uganda this week was plunged into controversy after documents emerged showing the former leader had requested the Government to pay his travel expenses and facilitate his visit to the African country. The ex President was invited to attend the inauguration of the controversial Uganda President …
By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya The ‘controversy’ surrounding Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga was revived again with the recent visit of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to Thailand. A photo uploaded on the web by Weeratunga of himself standing beside his relative Rajapaksa during this visit, has gone viral. This episode led to renewed allegations …
By Dharisha Bastians Maithripala Sirisena travelled to London yesterday to attend an International Anti-Corruption Summit organised by the British Government. The summit is aimed at ‘driving out the culture of corruption wherever it exists’. Some of the world’s most corrupt political leaders will flock to London this week, an irony that was not lost on …
By Malinda Seneviratne After the late Lalith Athulathmudali was killed in April 1993, many pointed fingers at the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa whose wrath the murdered man had earned by breaking away from the United National Party along with Gamini Dissanayake and others to form the Democratic United National Front (DUNF). President Premadasa vehemently denied …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Recently the government received a report from the Intelligence sector. The report stated that Basil Rajapaksa had secretly held discussion with several Major Generals of the Army. As soon as this report was received the government became perturbed. Generally, if Army officers are to meet not only politicians of the Opposition, …
By A. Patabendige It was the Speaker of a rainbow coalition House that said at an International Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting at Lusaka, Zambia (and not Geneva, SL’s Everest in submission) that SL “is one of the countries with a robust and strong democracy, Parliamentary democracy”. On 6 May 2016 SL’s people had a close …
By Kumudu Kusum Kumara If Sri Lankan university academics turned a blind eye to ragging and student violence as they are accused of by some, the reasons for that could be complex. Ragging and student violence in Sri Lankan universities have been linked to student politics to which the teachers’ politics also has been linked …
By P.K.Balachandran The Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) is building the second St.Anthony’s church in Kachchativu at the request of the Bishop of Jaffna, Rev.Dr.Justin Gnanapragasam. The foundation stone of the church was laid on Wednesday after it was blessed by the Vicar General of the Jaffna Diocese, Rev.Joseph Das Jebaratnam, in the presence of the …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka This May Day I resisted the siren song of being participant-observer (engaging in “participatory action research” as the late GVS de Silva termed it), and preferred to stay home, surf the three channels that provided live coverage of the main May Day mobilizations, track the newscasts on all channels, and peruse the …
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by Dasun Edirisinghe State Minister of Highways Dilan Perera yesterday said the SLFP would win the forthcoming local government election together with party strongmen and people who gathered at Kirulapone and Galle May Day rallies. Addressing the media at the party headquarters on Darley Road, Perera said SLFPers who had attended the two May Day …
By Vishwamithra1984 “What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?” ~E. M. Forster On to your right is the vast expanse of the deep blue sea. From the South-East tip of this island country, Arugam Bay, all the way up …
by Norman Palihawadane Jaffna police yesterday arrested five members of the criminal outfit known as “Aavaa”Group, involved in serious crimes in the Jaffna District. Two hand grenades in the possession of the suspects were recovered. Leader of the group, Kumaresaratnam Vinothan (21) from Inuvil also known as ‘Aavaa,’ had been taken into custody on January …
By Ranga Jayasuriya London has elected its first Muslim and non-White mayor, Sadiq Khan, a son of a Pakistani immigrant bus driver, who will now be the first Muslim mayor in a Western Capital. World’s media was effusive, noting how politics in the UK’s metropolitan hub has over the time transcended race, religion and the …
By Sumanasiri Liyanage Media was unusually attentive of May Day 2016 mainly because of the assumption that May Day 2016 would be critically decisive for the future of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Although he has been out of power for 16 months, it seems that the politics in Sri …
By P K Balachandran The Public Representation Committee (PRC) set up by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to ascertain the views of the public on constitutional reform, encountered sharp differences on ethnic lines. Express learns from reliable sources that the Sinhalese, Lankan Tamils, Muslims and Plantation Tamils of Indian origin held different and conflicting …
By T.Ramakrishnan India’s assistance for the Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka may be finalised in a high level meeting between the two governments next month. India’s help has been sought for development of infrastructure or amenities in the sites that form part of the Ramayana circuit. About a dozen places have been identified as part …
By P.K.Balachandran The alarming rise in crime in Jaffna peninsula since Eelam War IV ended in 2009, is attributed to a variety of factors, but one of the principal causes appears to be the absence of Tamil-speakers, especially ethnic Tamils, in the local police force, says M. A.Sumanthiran, Jaffna district MP and spokesman for the …
By T.Ramakrishnan Special Rapporteur Juan E. Mendez seeks transparency on “the reasons and evidence on which a detention order rests.” The United Nations has expressed concern over the reported manner in which the Sri Lanka government has arrested of former activists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in recent weeks. U.N. Special Rapporteur …