By C. A. Chandraprema The scenes outside the Homagama Magistrate’s court highlights more than ever the need for the speedy passage of the Kathikawath Bill that is before parliament. Registered bhikku Ven. Galagodatte Gnanasara Thera was arrested and remanded in relation to several charges including contempt of court amidst chaotic scenes outside the courthouse with …
By Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday, in Parliament, lashed out at the media, accusing them of promoting racism. “You don’t talk big because your hands are not clean. What are all doing with regard to racism? I mean all newspapers. I am asking the electronic and print media. What do you have to say …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday lambasted the media, accusing mainstream newspapers of turning a blind eye to racism and conducting a witch-hunt against the Police Department. Issuing a scathing statement in Parliament, the Prime Minister charged that the media was hailing the Embilipitiya courts while condemning the Homagama courts, for their actions.Wickramasinghe …
By Dharisha Bastians He’s back! After a year in the shadows, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, the controversial monk who leads the radical Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena, is front and centre of the news cycle again. He is storming into courtrooms, insulting Government lawyers and threatening, allegedly in foul language, the woman who has been searching …
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that the government hadn’t ruled out foreign involvement in the proposed war crimes investigation. The PM said so in answer to a Channel 4 News query. Asked whether there wouldn’t be any foreign involvement as declared by President Maithripala Sirisena last week, Wickremesinghe said the President had not ruled …
By Vishwamithra 1984 Leadership in politics has been a subject many psychologists and social scientists have attempted to analyze, dissect and write about over and over again. These analysts and writers have ascribed strong leadership in politics to many a politician and history alone stands as the sole judge as to the validity and legitimacy …
By Sarath de Silva Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayae yesterday ordered Officer-in-Charge of Homagama Police to arrest those who had been involved in unruly protests at the court premises as well as outside on Tuesday over the remanding to Ven. Galabodaatte Gnanasara thera on a charge of contempt of court.
By Upul Joseph Fernando The Sinha Le organization organized an Adhishtana Pooja recently opposite the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic). The media reported that those present at this pooja carried a National Flag sans the symbols that signify the minorities in this country. Earlier, the distorted content of the National Nlag surfaced …
by Dasun Edirisinghe A tense situation prevailed near the Homagama Magistrate’s Court yesterday over the remanding of Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera for contempt of court. Hundreds of Buddhist monks accompanied by laymen surrounded the court asking for the release of Ven. Gnanasara Thera. They attempted to storm the court premises …
By P.K.Balachandran The involvement of foreign judges, prosecutors and investigators is a must for a credible Sri Lankan probe into war crimes charges, said Keith Harper, US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. In a terse but strong tweet on Tuesday, Harper said: “Credibility of any accountability mechanism requires involvement of …
By Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that his government would not leave room for the making of any more Bhikkus like Talduwe Somarama or Mapitigama Buddharakkthitha. The Prime Minister, participating in a debate on agreements Sri Lanka entered with several other nations at the time of adjournment, condemned the conduct of …
By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has told Lankan security forces personnel that Lanka was answerable to the international community regarding charges of human rights violations during Eelam War IV, and that any attempt to dodge the issue would lead to the country’s isolation from the rest of the world. But while saying so, …
By Dharisha Bastians The Tamil National Alliance yesterday expressed disappointment over the delays in formulating a mechanism to draft a new constitution for Sri Lanka, and urged the Government and all Sri Lankans to seize the historic opportunity to change the country’s Governance culture. Addressing a media briefing at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo …
By Dharisha Bastians Pandemonium reigned outside the Homagama Magistrate’s Court yesterday, after the court ordered the arrest and remand of controversial Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero on contempt of court charges. Gnanasara Thero was escorted to the Welikada Remand prison under Special Task Force (STF) protection, after riot police squads were deployed …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama The Government informed Parliament yesterday that Yoshitha Rajapaksa the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been inducted into the Sri Lanka Navy bypassing mandatory educational qualifications of the GCE Ordinary level and had been sent for extensive training in the United Kingdom and Ukraine at state expense. Chief Government Whip Gayantha …
Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera was remanded till February 9 by Homagama Magistrate’s Court a short while ago on Tuesday January 26th.He was arrested this morning when he surrendered to the Homagama Police. The Homagama Magistrate issued an arrest warrant against Gnanasara Thera yesterday on three charges including threatening a state official, …
By Hafeel Farisz I am not a Sinha-Ley Muslim. Won’t ever be. I had no problem with the concept of being a Sinhala-Muslim during my childhood. In-fact I often used to think Ven. Mahinda Thera included us — the minorities, in his poems and Anagarika Dharmapala in his, what I assumed were, anti colonialist speeches. …
By Stanley Samarasinghe & Shahida Riza Court of Appeal yesterday (25) issued an interim order against Minister of Megapolis Champika Ranawaka, preventing him from acquiring a plot of land owned by Minister Daya Gamage. President of Court of Appeal Vijith Malalgoda and Justice Devika de Livera took this decision after considering an appeal by Gamage …
(Text of Media release Issued by Human Rights Watch) (New York) – The Sri Lankan government should fulfill its commitments to the United Nations Human Rights Council by ensuring that foreign judges and prosecutors play a significant role in the mandated accountability mechanism for wartime abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. On January 21, 2016, …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Last week, this newspaper reported that some hotels in the Mirissa Bay area were refusing to serve Sri Lankans on the purported ‘uncivilized’ behaviour of local visitors. The report quoted a humiliated customer as complaining of being turned away from several places, when he ordered a simple cup of coffee. Since people …
By Chandeepa Wettasinghe In his continuing campaign for abstinence, President Maithripala Sirisena called upon the residents of the Northern Province to stop consuming alcohol. “There is more alcohol distributed here in the North than elsewhere in the country. Alcohol is worse than weapons of war. It destroys lives,” he said, at the ceremonial opening of …
by Dasun Edirisinghe The government has lent credence to a non-existing human organ racket here and deprived the country of foreign exchange by imposing an ill-conceived, blanket ban on kidney transplant operations on foreigners in Sri Lanka, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) says. GMOA Secretary Dr. Nalinda Herath said the end result of the …
The National Government’s move to fast track the process for a new Constitution for Sri Lanka has been placed on temporary hold. A debate on the resolution for this purpose, moved by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, due in Parliament on Tuesday, January 26 has been cancelled. A new date is yet to be fixed and …
By C.A.Chandraprema When the party leaders met last Tuesday, it was decided not to hold the debate which was scheduled for January 26 (Tuesday this week) on the prime minister’s resolution to set up a Constitutional Assembly until the prime minister returns from his trip to Davos. It is to be hoped that this postponement …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emerged smiling into television cameras this week following summons issued by Sri Lanka’s Presidential Commission on Serious Fraud et al (PRECIFAC), his jibes were clear. ‘So there were rogues in our time’ he said, ‘…there were rogues in the past as well and rogues also, …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Wartime Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, recently evoked memories of India’s disastrous intervention in Sri Lanka. Gandhi reiterated unsubstantiated war crimes accusations at an event to mark President Maithripala Sirisena’s first year in office. Gandhi was in Colombo a few days before Indian Foreign Secretary, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, arrived, in Colombo, …
By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has rejected the UN Human Rights Council’s demand for foreign involvement in the judicial mechanism to be set up to investigate and try war crimes charges against the Lankan armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). “I will never agree to international involvement in this …
By P.K.Balachandran The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has refuted Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran’s contention that it has reneged in its commitment to secure for the Tamils of Sri Lanka the right to self determination. Wigneswaran had told TNA members in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) earlier this week, that the TNA had pledged itself …
By Azzam Ameen BBC Sinhala, Colombo The president of Sri Lanka has said foreign judges and prosecutors should not be involved in an investigation into allegations of war crimes. In a BBC interview, President Maithripala Sirisena said the country did not need to “import” specialists. Both the army and the Tamil Tiger rebels are accused …
An Interview with Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka BY T. RAMAKRISHNAN in Colombo IT was a Sunday afternoon, and the 64-year-old Maithripala Sirisena was in no mood to relax. He had a series of meetings earlier. After his appointment with Frontline in a hall of his official residence sporting the portraits of Marx, Lenin …
By P.K.Balachandran President Maithripala Sirisena’s own party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), in conjunction with the breakaway Joint Opposition Group (JOG) led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has stalled Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s move to change the country’s constitution. On January 9, the JOG stopped parliament from debating and voting on Wickremesinghe’s resolution to …
By P.K.Balachandran Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran on Wednesday strongly denied that the Tamil Makkal Peravai (TMP), which he heads, is a political organization in competition with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). But at the same time he pointed out that the TNA has reneged on its commitment to securing for the minority Tamils the …
By Nisthar Cassim in Davos, Switzerland Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday urged participants at a forum in Davos in Switzerland to base their operations in Sri Lanka to serve South Asia and beyond. Speaking at an investment forum held in Davos ahead of the World Economic Forum, the Prime Minister acknowledged that 2016 would be …
by Upul Joseph Fernando Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa suddenly broke silence last week and emerged into the scene through the media. Giving interviews to the media, Basil stressed the need to establish a new political party. As a prelude to his future dream or plan, both Basil and his brother Mahinda participated at a meet …
Twenty –two out of a total Thirty Tamil National Alliance Northern provincial Councillors have revolted against what is perceived as the duplicitous political conduct of Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran. The 22 Councillors including two provincial ministers are signatories of an urgent letter sent to Mr. Wigneswaran that he should present himself for an important meeting with …
Actress Asin Thottumkal on Tuesday exchanged wedding vows with electronics company Micromax founder Rahul Sharma in a closely-guarded ceremony. The couple married as per Christian rituals at the Dusit Devarana hotel here in the morning, and another celebration is in the pipeline later in the day. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, the best man and the …
By Prof.G.L.Peiris The Resolution on the making of a Constitution for our country, moved in Parliament by the Prime Minister on 9th January, has given rise to public debate on a wide range of issues which need to be addressed in earnest if the professed objectives are to be attained. I.Causes for Concern (a) Absence …
Continue reading ‘Resolution on the Making of a Constitution and Causes for Concern’ »
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “What Sri Lanka’s national crisis—and it is clear that the unresolved ethnic issue is the core of that crisis—has ultimately achieved is that it has compelled us to come to terms with our identity.” –Mervyn de Silva, (Marga lecture, 1985, in ‘Crisis Commentaries’ p.72) The crucial and challengingly complex task facing Sri …
By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka is on the way to becoming a maritime security hub in the Indian Ocean, as regional and extra-regional naval powers eye the island nation for striking partnerships to ensure their maritime security. Lanka itself has signaled its wish to acquire a Blue Water navy to exploit its strategic position in the …
By Gagani Weerakoon Soured relationships between the top echelons of the Executive reached highest levels recently with Head of the State President Maithripala Sirisena calling off his participation in two important events in the penultimate hour. The discomforts, if there were any, were not made obvious by President Sirisena or Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for …
By Dr.Jayadeva Uyangoda Sri Lanka has once again entered the uncertain path of drafting and adopting a new constitution. Not surprisingly, political opinion is becoming increasingly divided and even acrimonious over a variety of issues. The most contentious at present is the process of constitution making. The content of the new constitution is next in …
by P. Krishnaswamy Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesman and Jaffna District Parliamentarian, M. A. Sumanthiran is of the view, given the fact that Tamils have repeatedly given overwhelming mandates to the party to work for a just solution to their problems, it would be appropriate that a lasting solution to the issue comes from the …
By P.K.Balachandran The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’ Tamil-majority Northern Province has called for a new constitution which will be based on the principle of shared sovereignty between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority within a united Lanka. Giving the keynote address at a seminar on constitution making in multi-ethnic societies in Jaffna on …
By Gandhya Senanayake Making a statement regarding the formation of the new Constitution in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today stated that the new Constitution would not change the unitary nature of the country. He further added that some were alleging that the foremost place given to Buddhism and the unitary nature of the …
By Mahinda Rajapaksa (Text of a speech made by former President Mahinda Rajapksa at the Abeyarama Temple in Narahenpita) Venerable members of the MahaSangha, clergymen of other faiths, party leaders, members of parliament and local government institutions, and other distinguished guests, Steps have been taken by the government to initiate the process of promulgating a …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe has criticized the media over its conduct during the Rajapaksa regime. In other words, is blaming the victim for the rape. At the Thai Pongal festival in Jaffna, he accused the media of ‘going shopping’ for the infamous 18th Amendment and warned the media not to spoil the …
By P.K.Balachandran Astrology and occultism have been a double-edged sword for former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Belief in them has led him to heights of success as well as depths of disaster. Currently, an astrological prediction is threatening to deny Rajapaksa the Colombo mansion he is desperate to occupy because astrologers had predicted that …
By C.A.Chandraprema The much anticipated constitution making process was kicked off the Saturday before last by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with a resolution presented in parliament for the appointment of a Constitutional Assembly to draft a new constitution. What would have been cause for some hope that this attempt at constitution making would be more …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene One year into the appealing rhetoric of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration, it is heartening to see Sri Lanka’s artistes and scholars, whose peoples’ movements were pivotal to the change of power last year, becoming increasingly stern in their tone and tenor. Critical voices to be heard This critical approach must not be …
by Thulasi Muttulingam Thai Pongal, the agrarian festival of the Tamils, will be in full flow around the country today. It is a festival celebrated not only in Sri Lanka and India, but all over the globe where Tamil populations are concentrated. It is essentially a festival of thanksgiving by farmers after their first harvest …
by Mahendran Thiruvarangan More than six years after the war’s end, a particular line of thinking has come to the forefront in Tamil nationalists’ defence of their politics around national self-determination. I would broadly describe this philosophy as liberal pluralism. Predicating the politics around state re-formation primarily, if not solely, on ethnicity or culture, it …
Continue reading ‘Liberal Pluralism, Tamil People’s Council and the New Constitution’ »
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera faced strong resistance from his cabinet colleagues towards his proposal to shut down Sri Lanka’s diplomatic mission in Bagdhad at the weekly ministerial meeting yesterday, Daily FT learns. After heated exchanges during the meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena decided to defer the decision to shut down the Lankan Embassy in Baghdad pending …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Southern extremists are now attempting to gain undue political advantage of the recent visit by the Norwegian Foreign Minister who was on a brief visit to Colombo. These extremists used anti-Norway slogans in 2004 and 2005 elections to gain victory. Norway was invited to mediate in the Sri Lankan peace process …
Sri Lanka’s demoralised cricket team faces an investigation into alleged “scandalous behaviour” during its dismal tour of New Zealand, including drinking parties and squabbling, the sports minister said on Tuesday. Dayasiri Jayasekera said he had been handed photos of national players attending all night parties just before crucial matches against hosts New Zealand, who achieved …
By C.A.Chandraprema Summing up President Maithripala Sirisena’s first year in power, Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said at a Ports Authority function that he (Sirisena) formed a government and has had no peace thereafter; and that he has not seen another leader as beset by problems as President Maithripala Sirisena. Minister S.B.Dissanayake speaking at the SLFP’s first …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Victory never falls from the sky. In politics victories are produced when the conditions for meaningful and effective struggle mature and more importantly those who struggle are empowered by single minded determination, unity of purpose, coherence, coordination and synergy in action, and visionary leadership. It is said and not without cause …
By Upul Joseph Fernando When the then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe lost the Local Government elections in 2014, he proceeded to America to study at a university and also to deliver lectures. Before he left to United States Ranil told a media conference in Colombo that he was going over there to learn tactics to …
By Harsha Gunasena I have been a columnist for the Sinhala monthly publication Samabima. In early 2013, I along with the fellow columnists, were criticised by a Buddhist monk that we were writing against the Sinhala extremism but not against Tamil or Muslim extremism. I have responded to the criticism by stating that we were …
By P.K.Balachandran Former Sri Lankan Attorney General and constitutional expert, Shiva Pasupathy, has “rejected outright” Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran’s invitation to join the Tamil Makkal Peravai (TMP) as his personal representative on the sub-committee on constitutional reform, sources close to Pasupathy told Express on Monday. Australia-based Pasupathy, who had gone to Jaffna on a …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Recently Mahinda Rajapaksa had called an astrologer to Abhayaramaya Temple and inquired about the horoscope of Maithripala Sirisena. Mahinda is of the view that a bright time would dawn on him by April 2016 to form a government. He has related his future dream to all his friends and members in …
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Three speeches last week revealed our future. Each concerned an aspect of this island’s fate.Together they show the whole. The Prime Minister announced that the country will have a new political system next year. That change has to be understood within a geopolitical and geo-strategic context signalled in two speeches, by an …
BY Gagani Weerakoon The internal clashes in Maithri-Ranil Yahapalana Government has reached a point where it has put the fate of Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake hangs in the balance with several senior Cabinet colleagues openly criticizing him. In addition, it proved that every effort taken by Karunanayake to pacify his party colleagues have backfired adding …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray One year ago, around the time of Christmas, there was tension in the country. The people were about to vote in a Presidential Election which would decide the destiny of the country, one way or the other. Today, one year later, we are celebrating Christmas and enjoying the festive season without …
Continue reading ‘The Ranil Wickremesinghe factor in 2016 and beyond’ »
By P K Balachandran The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province has formed a new “non-political” organization which observers see as the first step towards splitting the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which he represents in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC). The outfit, christened Tamil Makkal Peravai or Tamil Peoples’ Assembly (TPA), was formed …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) threw a tantrum when the government proposed to abolish duty free duty vehicle permits granted to certain categories of public servants. After the threat of a strike by the doctors, the government backtracked. Since there is hardly any link between doctors’ duty free car permits and …
A new political front has been launched in Jaffna on Saturday December 19th 2015 with Northern Province chief minister Canagasabapathy Visvalingam Wigneswaran at the helm. The new front known as “Thamil Makkal Paeravai” in wamil and “Tamil Peoples Council” in English is viewed as a political alternative to the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) which is regarded …
By Rasika Jayakody ‘Captain Tissa’, a chauffeur of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was not an unknown figure to the upper rungs of the previous government because of the strong link he had with the former first family. When ‘Captain Tissa’ constructed a house near Medawelikada Road, Rajagiriya, some years ago, the former President, along with …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Close to one year since the change in political leadership in Sri Lanka, glaring peculiarities of bad law-making decisions have begun to cling to this Government much like an unpleasantly persistent odor. Almost without exception, each and every draft law presented to the House displays a manifest lack of clear-headedness. Such …
Continue reading ‘From Abuse of Power Under Mahinda to Incoherence in Power Under Maithripala?’ »
Police yesterday thwarted an attempt by Parliamentarian Vadivel Suresh to carry two cans of kerosene into Parliament, allegedly to carry out his threat to set himself on fire in protest against the Government’s failure to address the plantations sector wage dispute.
By Taylor Dibbert There was another high-level U.S. visit to Sri Lanka this week. State Department Counselor Thomas Shannon visited the island nation from December 14-16. The highlight of his trip seems to have been the formal announcement that the first “U.S.-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue” will be held in Washington this February. The dialogue will …
By P.K.Balachandran The Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-dominated Northern Provincial Council (NPC) C.V.K.Sivagnanam, says that he is determined to overcome obstacles to sending relief to flood-ravaged Tamil Nadu. While Indian diplomats told Sivagnanam that India has a policy of not accepting foreign aid for disaster management, a section of the Jaffna Tamil media, allegedly instigated …
By C. A. Chandraprema Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a compensation plan would be implemented for 44 media persons who were killed due to political reasons under the former regime. He said that President Maithripala …
Continue reading ‘Points to Ponder Over Paying Compensation to Slain Media Persons’ »
By Yohan Perera The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) had become a meaningless institution as it had not used a single cent out of the funds allocated for it by the Central Government, Opposition MP Douglas Devananda told Parliament today. Mr. Devananda who is an MP representing the Northern District of Jaffna said the funds allocated …
By Sandun A Jayasekera Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Rajitha Senaratne today admitted that his daughter-in-law was studying at SAITM and added that not only her but that many of his relatives were studying there. He said the Health Ministry permitted to facilitate clinical training for students at the Malabe private Medical College following a court …
By Don Manu Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe must ask himself a few simple questions: Has he as a member of parliament availed himself of any generous hospitality in the past extended to him and his family by the controversial Avant Garde chairman, the arms dealer Senadhipathi whom he has been defending so vigorously in public …
By P.K.Balachandran The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province on Tuesday expressed opposition to the Lankan government’s plan to introduce “Grama Rajya” as the unit of devolution of power. Presenting the Northern Provincial Council’s budget for 2016, Wigneswaran said that as per a circular sent by the Central Government, under the proposed “Grama …
OPTIMISM was in abundance in Sri Lanka following the surprise results of a presidential election at the beginning of the year. After the long civil war, after a decade of government by the self-aggrandising Rajapaksa family, opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena swept to power at the head of a coalition of Sri Lanka’s two main parties, …
By Upul Joseph Fernando When President Maithripala Sirisena was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly sessions, United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, visited him. When Kerry sought his leave after a lengthy discussion, Maithri asked him a pertinent question: “How are you going to balance China and India?” asked Maithri. …
Race Course Police in Coimbatore have registered a case against actor Simbu and music director Anirudh on Saturday based on a complaint filed by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) with the Commissioner of Police seeking action against them for composing a song which denigrates women. Comments criticising Simbu and Anirudh were also posted …
(Text of a Press Statement Issued by the Tamil National Alliance on Proposed Penal Code Amendment regarding Hate Speech) The Tamil National Alliance is deeply concerned about the proposed Penal Code (Amendment) Bill placed on the Order Paper of Parliament on 11 December 2015. The said Bill was placed on the Order Paper by the …
By Taylor Dibbert Just days ago, a Tamil political prisoner being held in Jaffna Prison commenced a hunger strike. Similar hunger strikes have taken place this year, although this behavior doesn’t appear to have changed the government’s calculus in a significant way. This issue has been a source of ongoing debate and tension. The Sri …
The collective of trade unions has called off the strike planned to commence today following discussions with the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday. The co-convener of a collective of Government, semi-Government and private sector trade unions, Saman Ratnapriya said they are in favor of several changes made to the budget proposals as noted in the …
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Facing down perhaps the biggest challenge to Budget 2016 Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday offered an olive branch of sorts to trade unions that included a salary increase and concessions on industry related charges. Wickremesinghe delivering a special statement to parliament that included a slew of promises after discussions with trade unions …
BY Mirudhula Thambiah Chunnakam water crisis has turned into a never ending dispute which has dragged on for over a year. Northern Provincial Council (NPC) expert committee Final Report, independent medical experts pointed out is impugned. Early this year when the Chunnakam water issue aggravated further, due to continuous protests by the people of the …
The marriage of the UNP-SLFP coalition government seems to be on the rocks with internal clashes that were kept under the carpets so far, reaching a threatening level of going out of control. The government seems to have started counting its days with relationship between government hierarchies and its Finance Minister getting sour and the …
By Ranga Jayasuriya No matter his excesses, ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be remembered as the political leader who defeated terrorism that blighted this country for three decades. His predecessors failed in doing that for many reasons: All of them were constrained by geo-political reasons, but, the earlier leaders — especially J.R. Jayewardene, whose efforts to …
By P.K.Balachandran Super Power United States as well as Regional Power India are none too happy with the political conduct of C.V.Wigneswaran, the Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority Northern Province. US and Indian envoys have directly conveyed to him their concern that his unhelpful and radical posturing could jeopardize the Lankan government’s bid to …
By C.A.Chandraprema Yesterday, the government held last minute talks with the trade unions with a view to heading off strike action on Monday. The GMOA apparently had not been invited for this meeting. The only way for this meeting to succeed would be for the PM to cave into all the demands of the unions. …
By P.K.Balachandran The Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-dominated Northern Province, C.V.Wigneswaran, has assured India that the differences in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will be ironed out and that unity will be maintained to enable the Tamils to secure their rights in Sri Lanka. This assurance was given to the Indian High Commissioner in …
By Udaya P. Gammanpila “When Chandrika returned to the party after working against it, the party embraced her with both hands and elected her as the leader. Only I am subject to all sorts of harassments. If I had an aristocratic background, I would not have faced any of these harassments”. This was told by …
Continue reading ‘UPFA Loyalists Reject President Sirisena Due to his Betrayal of the Party’ »
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Euphoria in regard to the Cabinet decision this week that Sri Lanka will sign the International Convention on Enforced Disappearances must be tempered by several factors. First, a sober appraisal makes it evident that though we have ratified a bewildering array of such treaties, a huge gap exists between international commitments …
by Tisaranee Gunasekara “The black cells will dry up and die Or sing with joy and have their way.” Jorge Luis Borges (Cancer Cells) Last week Beijing went into shutdown mode. Children were housebound, factories and worksites closed and cars disallowed on roads. The reason for this three day state of emergency was not a …
Pandemonium reigned in Parliament as some Opposition MPs lashed out at UNP Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman, who brought up the death of national rugby player Wasim Thajudeen and alleged that some of those responsible for killing had been elected to Parliament. MP Rahuman, whose seat had been allocated at the opposition, was participating in …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa will be summoned soon by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) to explain payments amounting to over Rs. 156 mn to the SLAF for using fixed wing aircraft …
By Dharisha Bastians Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday outlined the broad framework of Sri Lanka’s new constitution that his Government will begin drafting next year, with devolution of power, electoral reform and the replacement of the executive presidential system forming the three main focus areas for drafters of the country’s new supreme law. Delivering the …
By Saman Indrajith Strikes, pickets, demonstrations and trade union actions could not topple a government and that was a task only people were equal to, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament yesterday. Participating in the committee stage debate on budget proposals under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations, …
A Bill prohibiting mechanized bottom trawling was filed again in parliament last week by M. A Sumanthiran, Member of Parliament. The Bill calls for the amendment of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No 2 of 1996. The Bill was first presented by Sumanthiran on 21st of April 2015. Following this, however parliament was dissolved. …
By Reeza Hameed Today marks the death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. It is an appropriate time to ponder over the man and his message. The edifice of Islam is built upon the basic belief that ‘there is no god save Allah, and Muhammad is His apostle’. It is a statement that is whispered into the …
Continue reading ‘Pondering Over Prophet Muhammad and his Message’ »
Basil Rajapaksa, the former Minister of Economic Development and powerful brother of ex President Mahinda Rajapaksa was indicted today on multiple criminal charges ranging from bribery and corruption to misappropriation of public funds. Mr Rajapaksa who left the country immediately after the defeat of his brother at the January 8 Presidential election was arrested on …
by Saman Indrajith Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday told Parliament that Sri Lanka would not enter into the controversial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India. It would sign a totally new economic partnership agreement, he added. The agreement would be on economic and technological partnership and it was being formulated, the Premier said making …
by Shamindra Ferdinando Only Mahinda Rajapaksa was equal to the task of eliminating the LTTE through military means Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to Italy Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, PC, said yesterday. He had, therefore, backed Rajapaksa at the 2005 presidential election, he added. The UNP had been in the grip of the LTTE and the country in …
By Todd Schneider Constructing a good budget is like building a good house. The foundation needs to be solid, high-quality materials make a big difference to durability, and careful craftsmanship will bring both stability and confidence to weather future storms. Similarly, budgets needed to be well grounded and credible, built with care to ensure both …
Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Budget: Devil is in the Details and some Proposals Raise Questions’ »
By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has alleged that among those LTTE cadres expected to be released soon by the government are two hard core undercover operatives responsible for executing all major attacks in Colombo and its suburbs. Rajapaksa said one of them was known as Morris, the kingpin of LTTE terror project …
By Chitra Weerarathne A domestic aide of Justice Sarath de Abrew, the Judge of the Supreme Court, has told a Judicial Medical Officer that she was sexually assaulted by Justice de Abrew at his residence. The complainant had told the doctor that the petitioner threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident, the Additional …
By Dayan Jayatilleka “Daesh [ISIS] is a two faced monster”– French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian “Sri Lanka to launch a special court to probe war crimes”, screamed an AFP story. Lead stories of the DailyFT and The Island of Dec. 1st quoted ex-President Kumaratunga as saying the Special Courts would start in January, armed …
By Upul Joseph Fernando The United National Party (UNP) Government that was installed in office in 2001 after toppling the Chandrika Kumaratunga Government was blessed by the Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) of India. It’s no secret how the UNP was brought to power. Similarly, it’s an open secret that Chandrika grabbed three ministries of the …
By P.K.Balachandran In a major diplomatic triumph, the government of Sri Lanka has succeeded in persuading Saudi Arabia to reopen the case in which a 45 year old Lankan mother of three was to be “stoned to death” for adultery. The Lankan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr.Harsha de Silva, told parliament here on Tuesday, …
By Dr. Devanesan Nesiah We daily read and often hear of “war heroes”, and of our duty from protect them from any charges of misconduct. This is one of the few issues on which there is virtual consensus among Sinhalese political leaders. Even non-Sinhalese political leaders seem to be reluctant to directly challenge this position. …
by Zacki Jabbar Former President and current Chairperson of the Office For National Unity and Reconciliation, Chandrika Kumaratunga says that a survey carried out by her has revealed that 68 percent of the Sinhalese are for a political solution to the ethnic issue. Kumaratunga revealed, in Colombo last week, that except two others in her …
By Reeza Hameed Many Muslims I have spoken to are opposed to the death sentence imposed on the unnamed Sri Lankan housemaid in Saudi Arabia. The death penalty, in my view, is not in consonance with the spirit of Islam. According to a Hadith in the compilation of Prophetic traditions known as the Mishkat al-Masabih, …
by N Sathiya Moorthy For a megapolis, Chennai is possibly among the few cities the world over to have evolved on its own and otherwise, without a substantive source of water. With the historicity of the city’s Madras/Chennai twin-names from less than 400 years borrowing from only folklore, the accidental evolution of ‘Madras’ factory on …