Wishing Everyone a Very Happy New Year. Best Wishes To All For 2019- D.B.S.Jeyaraj
Wishing Everyone a Very Happy New Year. Best Wishes To All For 2019. D.B.S.Jeyaraj.
Archive of entries posted on December 2018
Signboards in Chinese Funded Development Projects Exclude Tamil Language and are Only in Chinese,English and Sinhala: Official Languages Minister Mano Ganesan Takes Up Issue With Chinese Embassy.
By Yohan Perera Minister of National Integration, Official Languages and Social Progress Mano Ganesan requested the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka to ensure the inclusion of Tamil language in signboards erected at Chinese funded development projects. He said the signboards had been written in Chinese, English and Sinhala only.
The Cuban Revolution Unlike All Other Revolutions “did not devour its own children”.
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka January 1st 2019– 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution Jan 1st marks the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution; 60 years of the revolutionary Cuba that we have known. The Cuban revolution was a pure revolution, the purest revolution we have seen. By pure I do not mean a revolution that was …
The Rise and Fall of Mahinda Rajapaksa Within a Period of Six Weeks
By Don Manu If the year 2018 began with a bang for Mahinda Rajapaksa when his ghost-led Pohottuwa party swept the local polls in February, the year ended for him with a whimper stuck in the sinking sands of his fluctuating political fortunes. Whatever his royal astrologer may have predicted of the rosy things to …
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Does Mahinda Rajapaksa Have “Dual Membership” By Being Both a De-jure Member of the UPFA and a De-facto Member of the “Pohottuwa” Party?
By Gamini Weerakoon It may be good times for some people and bad times for others. But, undeniably, it is interesting times for most of us watching antics of politicians though not necessarily a blessing. Close on the heels of the rowdy Sri Lankan parliamentary ‘comedies’ that brought this island into focus in the international …
US Authorities Disclosed Details of Legal Cases Against Ex-Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya to Prevent Purported Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Restoring Cousin’s Immunity to Avoid Prosecution.
Sri Lanka’s October coup that brought former president Mahinda Rajapaksa briefly back to power may have backfired on a close relative, ex-ambassador to Washington and fugitive from justice, Jaliya Wickramasuriya. The prospect of a Rajapaksa government in Colombo prompted justice authorities in Washington to publicly disclose money laundering and visa fraud charges against Wickramasuriya, a …
Political expediency is a peculiarly bitter sauce which, if tolerated for the gander, must equally be so for the goose.
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As a foreboding New Year by way of the Gregorian calendar dawns for Sri Lankans, the choices before us (at least, politically) are not felicitous by any stretch of the imagination. Atavistic demons conjured up by opportunists A cynic may question, ‘when were the choices ever felicitous during the past five …
Well-Entrenched Democracy Restored in Sri Lanka After Violation of Constitution by President Maithripala Sirisena.
By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, December 28: Sri Lanka saw cataclysmic political events in 2018. Democracy, which was introduced way back in 1931 and was thought to be well and truly entrenched in Sri Lanka, was put in danger in October-November when President Maithripala Sirisena dismissed Prime Minister Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and dissolved parliament in brazen …
Armed Forces Win Hearts and Minds of People in the North By Rescuing Thousands of Families Affected by Incessant rains and Resultant Floods.
BY RAJITHA JAGODA ARACHCHI & RASULA DILHARA GAMAGE Continuous rains in the northern part of the country during the past few days inundated large areas of Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Jaffna. Overall, 123,178 people belonging to 39,669 families were displaced by the bad weather. Meanwhile, 474 houses had been fully damaged and another 4,522 houses …
President Sirisena Retaining Control of the Police By Bringing it Under Defence Ministry Likely to Cause Friction With the Commonwealth of Nations.
President Maithripala Sirsiena has allocated all state media institutions to the ministry of Finance and Media ending speculation that he may keep some of them under his direct control as the country heads for an election year. In an Extraordinary Gazette notification dated December 24, but published Saturday, the President listed the two state television …
Mahinda’s Hurried Backdoor Power Grab and the Gotabhaya Factor
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former President and current Kurunegala district MP Mahinda Rajapaksa was interviewed regarding the present political situation by Kelum Bandara of the “Daily Mirror” last week. One of the questions posed to Mahinda in the interview was – “There is perception among some that you took over the Government entering through the backdoor despite …
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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Many of us fought like hell to give you the second chance you got, but you don’t seem to have learnt your lesson.
By Sharmini Serasinghe Sri Lanka is politically bankrupt! The two main players in Sri Lanka’s political arena – the UNP and the SLFP – have outlived their lifespan. Further, each time they form new coalitions and their identities and symbols are changed more frequently than their underwear, the average voter is left so utterly confused, …
How Is Maithripala Sirisena Able To Continue as Executive President after The Supreme Court Found Him Guilty of Intentionally Violating the Constitution and Fundamental rights Sri Lanka’s Citizens?
By Don Manu Today on the presidential throne of Lanka, there sits a man who gambled with the nation’s heirloom of democracy and endangered the people’s sovereign inheritance, who gambled with the nation’s economy and imperiled it, on Manuwho gambled with the nation’s international image and sullied it, who placed his bets and waged his …
Ranil Nominates 36 Names Cabinet Ministers But Maithripala Reduces it to 28 Only; Six Names Dropped are UNF’s Palitha Range Bandara, Ravi Samaraweera, D.M. Swaminathan and Sarath Fonseka and SLFP’s Piyasena Gamage and A.H.M. Fowzie
By the “Sunday Times”Political Editor President Maithripala Sirisena has rejected a request by the United National Party (UNP) to re-activate the onetime ‘National Government’ with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and thus enlarge the Cabinet of Ministers. It was made on Saturday night by a four-member UNP delegation led by the then Prime Minister …
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Political Fate Regarding Parliamentary Membership and Leader of the Opposition Post Hang in the Balance as Speaker Jayasuriya Facing Conundrum Seeks More Time.
By a “Sunday Observer” Staff Reporter Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa found himself in another political conundrum this week when his new appointment as the Opposition Leader was challenged in Parliament and his parliamentary membership too appeared to be at risk. While the country grappled with a prolonged political deadlock since October 26 following Rajapaksa’s appointment …
President Sirisena Refers Appeal Court Judges Deepani Wijesundara and Kumudini Wickramasinghe to the Constitutional Council(CC) To Be Appointed as Supreme Court Judges After CC Had Already Approved Justices Gamini Amarasekara and S. Thurairajah fir the Two Vacancies in SC
By Anurangi Singh President Maithripala Sirisena had referred two other names to the Constitutional Council (CC) seeking approval to be appointed to the Supreme Court. The CC has been called upon to consider the names of two Court of Appeal judges, Deepali Wijesundera and Kumudini Wickremasinghe for the vacant posts in the Supreme Court. The …
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Seeks More Time to Decide On Who Should be Recognized as Leader of the Opposition.
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday postponed his decision on whether MP Mahinda Rajapaksa would be Opposition Leader despite the request for the appointment of a Parliament Select Committee. Extending the period to deliver his decision, Speaker Jayasuriya informed the House he has received letters from a group of lawmakers seeking a committee to …
From Molamure to Jayasuriya: “Honourable” Speakers of Sri Lanka
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Parliamentary proceedings of Sri Lanka known formerly as Ceylon have been the focus of my interest from a fairly early age. It began when I was in the Upper-fourth D class (Grade seven) at St. Thomas’ College Mt.Lavinia in 1966. Our English teacher Mrs. Fernando advised us at the beginning of the …
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Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s Heroic Defiance of Maithripala and Mahinda
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj “The Speaker represents the House. He/she represents the dignity of the House, the freedom of the House and because the House represents the nation, in a particular way, the Speaker becomes a symbol of nation’s freedom and liberty. Therefore that should be an honoured position, a free position and should be occupied always …
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Three Non – Cabinet Ministers Along With Seventeen State and Seven Deputy Ministers Sworn in Before President Maithripala Sirisena.
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appointed three non-Cabinet Ministers, 17 State Ministers, and seven Deputy Ministers at a ceremony held in the Presidential Secretariat in the evening. United National Party Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva was appointed as the Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, while Ajith P. Perera was appointed as Minister of Digital …
Tamil National Alliance Makes Written Submissions to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Outlining Several Reasons as to why Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa Should not be Recognized as Leader of the Opposition.
(The Tamil National Alliance has made written submissions urging the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya not to recognize Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition. The TNA Outlining several reasons fir taking up yhis position has requested that a Parliamentary Select Committee be appointed to go into the matter and arrive at a final …
Two Naval Intelligence Officers Sitting Among Litigants at Fort Magistrates Courts While Being Supposedly on Duty at Welisara Base Were Arrested By Police On Suspicion of Conspiracy to Murder Chief Investigator Nishantha Silva the Key Witness in Case Against Navy Personnel on Ransom and Murder Charges.
Sri Lanka’s police detained two navy intelligence officers at the Fort magistrate’s court Wednesday amid fears of a threat to the life of a key detective investigating the abduction and killing of several people allegedly by navy officers. Police spotted two navy men identified as N. M. W Janaka (38190) and A.S.N. Tony (103183) sitting …
Twenty -nine Cabinet Ministers Headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Sworn in Before President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s Office on December 20th.
Twenty -nine ministers headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were sworn in as members of the new cabinet on Thursday December 20th .The new Ministers took their oaths before President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s office in the morning. The list of Ministers and portfilios are : 01. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe – Ministry of …
Leader of the Opposition Rajavarothayam Sampanthan Raises Issue of Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Eligibility to Remain as a Member of Parliament Due To Leaving the Party Through Which he was Elected and Joining a new Party.
By Meera Srinivasan Following a crisis marked by two competing claims to the office of the Prime Minister, R. Sampanthan — Leader of Opposition since 2015 — on Wednesday challenged the Speaker on his naming of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the position. Referring to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s announcement on Tuesday, following a request made …
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition is Challenged by Rajavarothayam Sampanthan Who Says He is the Opposition Leader Unless Speaker Decides Otherwise and Removes Him.
By Ashwin Hemmathagama The appointment of MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader was challenged yesterday in parliament by ITAK MP Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, who held that he is the Opposition Leader unless the Speaker decides otherwise and removes him. According to MP Sampanthan, the Speaker will have to remove him from the post before appointing …
Newspaper Report Published on Nov 12th 2018 States Mahinda Rajapaksa Formally Left the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Joined the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna to Contest Elections Scheduled for January 5th 2019:31 Other MP’s Followed Suit.
( The following news item was published in the “Daily Financial Times” of November 12th 2018 under the heading “MR takes SLPP membership” relating to the joining of SLPP By Mahinda Rajapaksa,Namal Rajapaksa and 31 others from the SLFP-UPFA. There was also a picture of a smiling Mahinda with SLPP chairman GL Peiris and SLPP …
Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama Wants Maithripala Sirisena to Resign Immediately Because the Supreme Court has Ruled That the President has Violated the Constitution.
By Sirimantha Ratnayake SLFP Vice President and Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama says that President Maithripala Sirisena should resign from his post immediately. “The Supreme Court has found that President Sirisena violated the Constitution. One who has acted in contravention of the Constitution should not hold that position. He can be impeached any moment and …
Have Mahinda Rajapaksa and son Namal Along with Over 40 SLFP/UPFA Parliamentarians Who Joined the SLPP a Month Ago, Forfeited Their MP Seats According to Article 99 (13) (a) of the Constitution?
By Disna Mudalige, Camelia Nathaniel and Amali Mallawaarachchi Questions were raised in Parliament yesterday over the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader. The Speaker, listening to arguments of both sides of the House, said he will give his ruling on the Opposition Leader’s post on Friday. At the commencement of the …
Eyebrows Raised Over Basil Rajapaksa’s Recent Declaration that More than 50 MP’s from SLFP/UPFA Including Mahinda Rajapaksa Who Took SLPP Membership After Nov 9th Have Not Been Given Party Membership Yet.
By Shamindra Ferdinando Many an eyebrow has been raised over former Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s recent declaration that SLFP/UPFA lawmakers hadn’t received Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) membership. Addressing a gathering at Maharagama over the last weekend, the chief architect of the SLPP claimed that the party was yet to take SLFP/UPFA lawmakers to …
It Was Satisfying For Many To Watch The Lushly Mustachioed Former Strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa Exit The Stage With a Scowl Having Failed To Usurp The Premiership – The Economist
ALL’S WELL that ends well, or so Shakespeare would have it, when a seeming tragedy turns into a heart-warming story of persistence and redemption. Such was the relief that Sri Lanka felt on December 16th, as seven weeks of political turbulence ended like a summer squall. After a period when the country had first two …
Wijayamuni Zoysa, Lakshman Seneviratne and Indika Bandaranayake Cross Over In Parliament From SLFP -UPFA to the Govt Complaining of Step Motherly Treatment Under President Sirisena.
By Ashwin Hemmathagama UPFA lawmakers Gamini Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Lakshman Senewiratne, and Indika Bandaranayake crossed over to join the Government soon after Parliament was convened yesterday for the first time after UNP MP Ranil Wickre-mesinghe was reappointed as Prime Minister. Explaining the reasons which compelled the three of them to leave the United People’s Freedom …
Speaker Nominates Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition But May Appoint Select Committee Following Protests to Ascertain Whether the Kurunegala District Parliamentarian is Eligible to Remain as Opposition MP
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Speaker Karu Jayasuriya nominated MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition soon after Parliament convened yesterday, but responding to protests from Parliamentarians, said he would decide whether to appoint a Select Committee to look into the validity of the appointment. Filling three other important positions in Parliament, Speaker appointed United …
Mano Ganesan, Rishad Bathiudeen and Malik Samarawickrama Accede to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Request and Volunteer Not to Become Cabinet Ministers to Help Prime Minister Limit Cabinet to 30 Ministers.
By Chathuri Dissanayake Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday made an open request to United National Party Parliamentarians to voluntarily give up Ministry portfolios, in a bid to limit the Cabinet to 30 members. Initially, only Party senior Malik Samarawickrama offered to step down, but seeing there were no volunteers, Party leaders who form the United …
Speaker Recognizes Mahinda as Leader of Opposition But UNP,TNA and SLMC Raise Questions About the Legality of Rajapaksa Being Opposition Leader and MP and Describe him as “Stranger in the House”.
By Saman Indrajith Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday informed Parliament that he recognised Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition. He also recognised UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera as the Chief Opposition Whip. However, UNP and TNA opposed the recognition of Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader and called him the leader of a …
Tussle Between President and Prime Minister Delays Cabinet Formation with Wickremesinghe Resisting Sirisena’s Demands that Media and Law and Order Ministries be Allocated to Him.
Sri Lanka’s reinstated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe marked his first day back in office Monday with a hostile president resisting his nominations to a new cabinet. Party officials said Wickremesinghe was battling to form a government as Maithripala Sirisena insisted that he wanted to retain media and the law-and-order portfolios. Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) …
Formation of New Cabinet Delayed as President Sirisena Wants The Police Dept and Two State Media Institutions to be Under His Direct Purview.
Triggering a fresh controversy, President Maithripala Sirisena has demanded state media institutions, making the negotiations over the appointments of a new Cabinet even harder. Sirisena has reportedly informed the UNP that he would place two state media institutions under his direct purview.
Ranil Wickremesinghe Addressing Mammoth UNF Rally at Galle Face Unveils Plans to Form New Alliance Named National Democratic Front To Contest Elections Seeking Two-Thirds Majority to Abolish Executive Presidency
By Uditha Jayasinghe and Nuwan Senarathna Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday led from the front by calling on the public to give a two-thirds majority to a coalition led by the United National Party (UNP) at the next general election to abolish the Executive Presidency and outlined plans to form a new coalition titled the …
“If People Including NGP Persons and some MP’s want to Assassinate me I will Order the Army and STF to Go away and Open the Gates Myself For them to Come and Burn me and my House Down” – Says President Maithripala Sirisena.
(Text of Speech Made by President Maithripala Sirisena to a Gathering of UNF representatives after swearing in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister on December 16th 2018) The January 08, 2015 Presidential election was an extraordinary people’s victory achieved through a challenging election campaign. In that victory, the people of the country had many of their …
Beginning of UNP’s Undoing Could Happen Very Soon and Very Rapidly if “Tainted” Ravi Karunanayake is Appointed Finance Minister.
By Ranga Jayasuriya After an uphill battle by the people,who are not necessarily the fans of the United National Party, a good deal of activism by the civil society, lawyers and online chatter; and finally an unanimous Supreme Court verdict that ruled the dissolution of Parliament as illegal and ultra-vires, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in …
New Govt in Formation to Seek Parliamentary Approval for Vote on Account as Interim Measure First and Follow It Up By Presenting Full Budget in January 2019.
Sri Lanka will prepare an interim budget to keep the government ticking from January 2019, after a new cabinet of ministers is appointed, United National Party legislators said. “We expect to appoint a cabinet of ministers within 48 hours,” UNP legislator and former state minister for finance Eran Wickramaratne said. “We will talk with party …
Intense Internal Struggle Between Mangala Samaraweera and Ravi Karunanayake To Become Finance Minister May Result in Ranil Wickremesinghe Retaining Portfolio Himself Or Allocating it to Another Person.
Heavyweights Mangala Samaraweera and Ravi Karunanayake are alleged to be fighting over the key Finance Ministry portfolio whilst political analysts claim it would not be a surprise if either fails to secure it. Karunanayake is keen to regain the once lost portfolio though he also briefly held the Foreign Minister title. Given the speculation, sections …
President Sirisena Re-appoints Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister and then Tells him and UNP that in his Opinion Ranil Should Not Have Been Appointed Premier Again.
President Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday, told newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other UNP MPs at a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, that he was still of the view that Wickremesinghe should not have been appointed Prime Minister. A media statement issued by the President Secretariat, yesterday quoted President Sirisena as having said: “When I …
“We will have discussions with the Tamil National Alliance and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to bring about a political solution in which all citizens can live in harmony in a unitary state” – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
(Text of special Ststement Issued by recently removed and subsequently re-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe after being worn in by President Maithripala Sirisena) The full statement is reproduced below: Special Statement made by the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka 16th December 2018 It is a pleasure to me to address you once again as …
Batticaloa Bids Farewell To Its Beloved Prince!
By Arun Tambimuttu Prince Gunararasa Casinader, former MP for Batticalo, passed away on December 12, 2018 at the age 92. Prince Casinader is much more than a popular personality, as far as Batticaloa is concerned he was an institution for more than half a century. As an educationalist, civil society leader and legislator, he served …
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Status Quo Restored in Sri Lanka as President Sirisena Who Removed Prime Minister Unconstitutionally on Oct 26 , Swears in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Premier on Dec 16th at Auspicious time of 11.16 am
United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on Sunday, ending a 51-day power tussle in the island nation that had crippled the government. Mr. Wickremesinghe, 69, was administered the oath of office by President Maithripala Sirisena, who had sacked him on October 26 in a controversial …
Unanimous Supreme Court Ruling Severely Admonishes Attorney -General Jayantha Jayasuriya For Trying to Confer “Royal Prerogative Power” on the Sri Lankan Head of State Despite the Executive President Not Being Above the Law.
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court shooting down President Maithripala Sirisena’s premature sacking of parliament will have far reaching consequences for him as well as future leaders, according to the landmark judgment. The cogently written judgments also demolished the state Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya and chided him for trying to confer “royal prerogative powers” on the Sri …
Mahinda Rajapaksa Holds Multi – Religious Worship at His residence Before Signing a Letter Quitting Seven Week Long Controversial Prime Minister Post Conferred on Him on Oct 26
Sri Lanka’s crisis looked over on Saturday as strongman Mahinda Rajapakse bowed out of a power battle that had crippled the island nation for seven weeks and sent it heading for a possible debt default. Rajapakse held a multi-religious service at his home where he signed a letter backing down from the post of prime …
Attempted extra-constitutional capture of political power by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26th 2018 did not come upon us in a vacuum
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As former President Mahinda Rajapaksa ignominiously retreated following the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal delivering a richly deserved lesson on constitutional propriety to President Maithripala Sirisena, the nation faces sobering questions close to the dawn of a new year. Betrayal of the electoral compact Euphoria in preventing the President …
If Mahinda Rajapaksa Wants to Regain Power He Must Confess His Sins to the Country, Seek Penance and Go Before the People in a Lawful, Free and Fair Election says Sajith Premadasa.
All the Rajapaksas combined failed to defeat the independence and integrity of our legislature and judiciary, and he resigned from a position he has not held for the last one month. Today, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s efforts to gain power through the backdoor have failed, UNP deputy leader, Sajith Premadasa said. “I challenge Mahinda Rajapaksa to win …
Mahinda Rajapaksa Lashes Out at Tamil National Alliance In His “Farewell”Speech Saying the UNP Has Been Taken Hostage by the TNA and that the Tamil party Holds the Remote Control in Parliament.
(Text of English translation of a speech made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his Wijerama Mawatha residence on 15 December 2018) Most venerable members of the Maha Sangha, Clergymen of all religions, Members of Parliament, Ministers, and dear friends, The Supreme Court has delivered a judgement against the holding of the general election that …
Mahinda Rajapaksa Signs a “Resignation Letter” At His Residence After Clinging On to Power For 7 Weeks As the First and Only Purported Prime Minister in Commonwealth History
Sri Lanka’s disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has signed what was called a ‘resignation’ letter at his residence in the capital Colombo, ending an extraordinary saga in the country’s parliamentary history where he clung on to power despite suffering no-confidence motions. Rajapaksa was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Rajapaksa Prime Minister on …
President Sirisena Offers Prime Minister Position to Karu Jayasuriya, Sajith Premadasa, John Amaratunga and Daya Gamage To Deprive Ranil Wickremesinghe But UNP Stalwarts Stand Firmly Behind Party Leader Who will be Taking Oaths for the Fifth time as Premier
By the “Daily FT” Special Political Correspondent Lord Denning M. L., the 20th Century British Judge and Jurist, in his famous book ‘The Family Story’, remarked: “Every Judge, on his appointment, discards all politics and all prejudice. You need have no fear. The Judges of England have always in the past – and will – …
The judiciary at three levels of its being has asserted its mettle against unconstitutional political ambition and unbridled militarism.
By Wijith de Chickera In a palpable blow felt around the body politic, three courts have delivered a trifecta of punches to the coup’s solar plexus. It is not a full, final or binding ruling. But it is a first step towards something solid, stable, and altogether salutary – or so it seems. And there …
Three Senior Sri Lankan Academics File Petition in Supreme Court Seeking Legal Action Against Ex- Chief Justice Sarath Silva For Allegedly Making Critical Statements About Judiciary Amounting to Contempt of Court.
A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court yesterday against the former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva over Contempt of Court. Senior Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Prof. Hewa Waduge Cyril, and Senior Prof. Prashantha Gunawardena filed the petition.
Purported Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa To Quit After 7 Weeks; Harin Fernando Confirms Ranil Wickremesinghe will Be Sworn in as Prime Minister at 10 am Before President Sirisena on Sunday Dec 16
By Chathuri Dissanayake and Nuwan Senarathna President Maithripala Sirisena-appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday decided to quit, ending seven weeks of political turmoil in the country, as ousted Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe readies to retake his oaths yet again tomorrow. Rajapaksa, whose appointment for the post was disputed from the beginning, decided to ‘resign’ as Prime …
Appeal Court Ruling Restraining Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others From Functioning as Prime Minister and Ministers Upheld Unanimously by Three -Judge Bench Of Supreme Court Headed By Eva Wanasundara.
By S. S. Selvanayagam Supreme Court yesterday granted special Leave to Appeal the petition filed by MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 others against the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal but declined Interim Relief. The bench comprised Justices Eva Wanasundera, Buwaneka Aluvihara and Vijith K. Malalgoda. Justice Vijith K. Malalgoda dissented in granting …
Maithripala Sirisena in Telephone Conversation with Ranil Wickremesinghe Agrees to Re-appoint Ousted UNP Leader as Prime Minister on Sunday December 16th.
UNP sources say ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be reappointed Prime Minister on Sunday. This follows a telephone conversation between President Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe that took place a short while ago.
In the Aftermath of Two Adverse Supreme Court Rulings, Mahinda Rajapaksa Likely to Relinquish His Claim of Being Prime Minister and Step Down After an Address to the Nation.
By Maria Abi-Habib and Dharisha Bastians Sri Lanka’s political crisis appeared to edge toward a resolution Friday when one of the two men claiming to be the country’s rightful prime minister agreed to step down. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa planned to relinquish his claim to be prime minister in an address to the nation on …
Despite the Supreme Court Slap to The Head of State, Sirisena’s Opponents May Not Be Able to Write The President Off So Easily -The Economist
NOT FOR the first time in recent weeks, Sri Lankans held a collective breath on the afternoon of December 13th, as citizens gathered outside the Supreme Court in Colombo, the capital. When seven judges eventually faced the packed crowd in Room 502, their decision was unanimous: President Maithripala Sirisena had breached the constitution last month, …
Mahinda Rajapaksa Ready to Move Back To Opposition and Let Ranil Form Govt But President Sirisena Refuses to “Take a Step Back” and Insists He “Would Not Govern Country With Ranil Wickremesinghe Under Any Circumstances”.
By Nuwan Senarathna Indicating no change in his stance, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he would only make a decision after observing the proceedings of the Supreme Court on the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal today, according to the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarians. The Appeal filed against the Interim Order …
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe Asks President Sirisena to Respect the Supreme Court Verdict and Immediately Establish a Govt That Has the support of Parliament.
Jubilant United National Party (UNP) members, led by MP Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday, called on President Maithripala Sirisena to respect the Supreme Court judgement and immediately establish a Government that has the support of Parliament. UNP leader and MP Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a Twitter post minutes after the landmark judgement, said he hoped Sirisena will “promptly …
Seven Judge Bench of Supreme Court Led By Chief Justice Unanimously Rules in 87 Page Judgement That Parliament Cannot be Dissolved Until Four and a Half Years of Its Five Year Term is Completed.
By S. S. Selvanayagam In a landmark judgement, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court yesterday unanimously ruled that the Gazette dissolving Parliament, issued by President Maithripala Sirisena on 9 November, was unconstitutional, and Parliament cannot be dissolved until four and a half out of its five year term is completed. In the much-awaited judgment, …
Justice Sisira De Abrew Gives Different Reasons For His Ruling While Concurring With Chief Justice and Other Five Judges in Delivering a Unanimous Supreme Court Verdict That President Sirisena’s Gazette Proclamation on Nov 9th Dissolving Parliament was Unconstitutional and Illegal and Had No Force in Law.
By S.S. Selvanayagam, Farook T. Thajudeen and Shehan Chamika Silva A fuller Bench of seven Supreme Court (SC) Justices today unanimously ruled that President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve parliament on November 9, before the completion of four and half years, was unconstitutional and illegal. The highly anticipated judgement, delivered before a packed court of …
Seven Judge Bench of Supreme Court Headed by Chief Justice Perera Rules Unanimously in a Landmark Verdict That Dissolution of Parliament and Scheduling of Elections Gazetted By President Sirisena was UnConstitutional and Unlawful .
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court today ruled in a landmark judgement that President Maithripala Sirisena’s Gazetted decision to dissolve Parliament and hold snap elections was unconstitutional and unlawful. Chief Justice Nalin Perera delivering the verdict said that if the President wants to dissolve Parliament before four and half years, as stipulated by the Constitution there should …
Concerns Rise Over Possible “Biased” Rulings as Three -Judge Supreme Court Bench Headed by Eva Wanasundara Along With Buvaneka Aluvihare and Vijithkumara Malalgoda Is Set To Hear Appeal by Mahinda Rajapaksa Against Appeal Court Interim Order On Friday Dec 14th
Controversial Supreme Court judge Eva Wanasundera is set to hear an appeal by her law-college pal Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday raising concern among opposing petitioners who fear bias. The appeal filed against a Court of Appeal interim order restraining Rajapaksa and his purported cabinet exercising the powers of their offices is to be taken up …
Seven Judge Supreme Court Bench Headed by Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice To Issue Crucial Ruling at 4 PM On Dec 13th on President Sirisena Ordering Dissolution of Parliament and Holding of Elections
By Meera Srinivasan In a crucial verdict that could possibly end Sri Lanka’s current political impasse, the Supreme Court will, at 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, rule on President Maithripala Sirisena’s November 9 move dissolving Parliament and calling for snap polls. The judgement will be delivered by a seven-judge bench, seven weeks after Sri Lanka …
Bogus UNP -TNA Pact Written In Sinhala With Ranil’s English and Sampanthan’s Sinhala Signatures Being Circulated: UNP Threatens Legal Action Against Podujana Peramuna.
By Zacki Jabbar The UNP said yesterday that it would institute legal action against the Podujana Peramuna for circulating a false agreement that the UNP had purportedly entered into with the TNA. UNP MPs Ashu Marasinghe and Mujibur Rahuman, addressing the media at Temple Trees, yesterday evening, challenged the authors of the false agreement to a …
Ranil Wickremesinghe Re-iterates in Parliament His Commitment Towards Achievement of a Political Solution Within an Undivided Country, Abolition of Executive Presidency and Strengthening of Provincial Councils.
By Saman Indrajith Ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday, told Parliament that he would strive to find a political solution to the ethnic problem within an undivided country. Addressing Parliament soon after a motion of confidence in him was passed Wickremesinghe said: “The words of former US President Abraham Lincoln that “government of the people, …
Quo Warranto Writ Application Case Filed by 122 MP’s Against Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others to be Taken Up for Argument in Court of Appeal on Jan 16th 2019.
The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed Quo Warranto writ application filed by 122 MPs challenging the appointment Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Cabinet for arguments on January 16, 2019. The Court directed all respondents to file written objections by January 4 while the petitioners were directed to file their counter objections by January 11.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Informs President Sirisena Officially That Ranil Wickremesinghe MP Has The Confidence of the House Following a Motion of Confidence Being Passed With 117 Parliamentarians Voting in Favour..
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Following the Vote of Confidence yesterday, confirming UNP MP Ranil Wickremesinghe as having the confidence of Parliament, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has informed President Maithripala Sirisena of the results officially. In his letter to President Sirisena, the Speaker explained the background to the Motion and the channel followed in the House. “The Motion …
Sajith Premadasa Moving Vote of Confidence In Parliament Tells President Sirisena to Stop wasting Time and Allow Country to Return to Normalcy Without Further Delay by Appointing Ranil Wickremesinghe Who Has the Confidence of the House as Prime Minister
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa yesterday appealed to President Maithripala Sirisena to end the Constitutional standoff by accepting MP Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, and allowing the country to return to normal without further delay. Moving the Vote of Confidence yesterday in Parliament, to prove MP Wickremesinghe commands the confidence of Parliament to function …
Ranil Wickremesinghe Proves Conclusively That He Has the Confidence of Majority in Parliament By Winning Vote of Confidence with 117 To 0: UPFA Boycotts and JVP Abstains But TNA Votes Together With UNF
By Ashwin Hemmathagama Reasserting his majority in Parliament, UNP leader MP Ranil Wickremesinghe won the Vote of Confidence yesterday in Parliament, receiving 117 votes with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) declining to participate. The motion showed MP Wickremesinghe commands the confidence of Parliament to function as the Prime Minister. UPFA lawmakers continued to boycott the …
Appeal Court Overrules Preliminary Objection By Respondents And Denies Plea to Cancel Interim Order Issued in Quo Warranto Case Against Purported Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and His Cabinet.
By S.S.Selvanayagam The Court of Appeal yesterday overruled the Preliminary Objection raised by the Respondent on the non-compliance of Rule of the Court involving a technical issue. The Court fixed the Petition for Argument on 16, 17 and 18 January 2019, and directed the Respondents to file their Objections on or before 28December, and the …
President Sirisena Wants UPFA Parliamentarians to Create Public Opinion in Favour of Conducting a Referendum If the Supreme Court Rules Adversely on the Question of Dissolving Parliament and Holding Elections
By Kelum Bandara President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have asked for creation of public opinion on the conduct of a referendum on dissolution of Parliament, in case the Supreme Court rules out. At the meetings of the parliamentary group of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that …
Coup Supporters have Relied upon Illegality and Dishonesty to try to put Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Prime Minister’s Post.Let’s Hope They Don’t Succeed.
By Taylor Dibbert Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues. The attempted coup is a huge mess. No one knows how the imbroglio will end, although the coup has been failing. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the project to illegally put Mahinda Rajapaksa in the prime minister’s post will fail. But the fact that coup …
When JR Introduced Executive Presidency in 1978 LSSP Leader Dr.N.M. Perera Raised The Prophetic Question “What Would Happen If Presidency Goes to a Madman?
By Ranga Jayasuriya In 1978, when the all-powerful executive presidency was introduced, LSSP stalwart N.M. Perera asked what would happen “if the presidency goes to a mad man”? The manifest limits of due process and absence of checks and balances against the behaviour of the incumbent has raised that pertinent question once again. Sri Lanka …
How Ex-Navy Chief and Chief of Defence Services Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne Became Remand Prisoner No 9550 At High Security Section in Welikade Jail.
By Shamindra Ferdinando An ongoing high profile case before the Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake into the then Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne allegedly helping Lt. Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, a suspect in the alleged wartime abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youth, to flee the country in early last year, took a dramatic …
Petition Seeking Writ of quo Warranto To Disqualify Ranil Wickremesinghe as Member of Parliament Filed at Court of Appeal by Co-chair of Women for Justice Sharmila Roweena Jayawardene Gonawela.
A petition was filed at the Court of Appeal yesterday seeking a writ of quo warranto to disqualify UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from being a Member of Parliament, declare that his appointment as a member of Parliament was void and state that he had no right to continue to hold office as a member of …
“Public Interest” Case Filed on Behalf of Thakshila Jayawardena in Court of Appeal Wants a Panel of Doctors from Angoda Mental Hospital to Examine and Determine Whether President Maithripala Sirisena is of a Sound Mind.
President Maithripala Sirisena Monday faced a new challenge from an unexpected source questioning his mental condition to govern the country as a political crisis triggered by him dragged without any sign of resolution. A public interest case was filed by a woman activist identified as Thakshila Jayawardena who argued that “irrational” behavior of the president …
Wimal Weerawansa MP Tells Media That President Sirisena Will Convey a “Special Request” Through Attorney -General Jayantha Jayasuriya to Chief Justice Nalin Perera That the Supreme Court Makes a Ruling as early as possible in the Parliament Dissolution Case.
By Nuwan Senarathna In a bid to end the country’s current political deadlock, President Maithripala Sirisena will today make a special request to Chief Justice Nalin de Silva through Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya for the Supreme Court’s decision on the Gazette dissolving Parliament to be issued as early as possible, MP Wimal Weerawansa revealed yesterday. …
How the Political Crisis Caused Since Oct 26 Affects People In Rural Moneragala District – Abrupt Halt to Financial assistance, Subsidies, Pensions and Free School Uniforms.
By Meera Srinivasan For Chandrani Mendis, the political crisis gripping Sri Lanka since October 26 has had a specific cost — her pension for November. “After my husband died, I had been receiving 250 rupees (roughly ₹100) a month as an allowance, but they stopped it last month,” said the 60-year-old, seated in her modest …
Sri Lankan History That is Taught to Children is Extremely Sinhala-centric, with Only a Few Paragraphs Mentioning the Jaffna Kingdom and the Tamil People.
By Awahnee Mendis In Grade 3, my Social Studies textbook described Sri Lanka as being a multicultural country, where people of all ethnicities lived together in harmony. What is ironic, and what my eight-year-old self didn’t realise, is that this was what I was being taught while the country was in an ethnic civil war. …
Historic Plaque Acknowledging Contribution of DS Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake and Bulankulame Disawe in Constructing Iranamadu Reservoir Removed and Replaced With New Plaque Bearing President Sirisena’s Name.
The plaque which acknowledged the contribution of late Prime Minister, D.S. Senanayake, and Ex-Prime minister Dudley Senanayake and the opening of the completed Iranamadu Tank in 1954 by then Agriculture Minister Bulankulame Disawe Dud has been completely destroyed and replaced with a plaque bearing the name of President Maithripala Sirisena. The construction of the Iranamadu …
If Courts Green-lights Dissolution,The Crisis Will be Resolved in a Peaceful Democratic Catharsis of a General Election. If Not, The Issue Won’t Go Away.
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Quite obviously I haven’t the slightest notion of what the Supreme Court verdict will be, unlike my friend Eran Wickremaratne who announced publicly (and rather curiously) that he doesn’t have the slightest doubt about it. However I do know, as a political scientist, what the implications and consequences will be if it …
There is One Family That Is Most Frequently and Overtly Associated With Racism – THE RAJAPAKSAS
By Sanjana Hattotuwa Mahinda Rajapaksa issued two press releases on December 3. One in Sinhala, the other in English. The press release was in response to the interim stay order issued by the Court of Appeal, basically putting Rajapaksa out of the job he was unconstitutionally appointed into and hasn’t to date demonstrated any capacity …
How Can Fresh Elections Resolve Current Crisis and Bring Political Stability if the Same Set of MP’s who Cause Mischief are Elected or Appointed to Parliament Again?
By Gamini Weerakoon Dissolution of Parliament followed by elections is the magic potion that can cure the raging political crisis in one dose, is the belief of the Rajapaksa faithful. If an election can be held within a short time, it may resolve the current political impasse. But to hope for an election to end …
President Sirisena’s Implied Criticism of the Judiciary by Comparing Constitutonal Crisis to a Dispute Between a Senior Buddhist Prelate and Village Temple Monk Deserves Strong,Unequivocal Condemnation.
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene President Maithripala Sirisena’s implied criticism of the Sri Lankan judiciary when speaking at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention this Tuesday, referencing himself as the Mahanayake (seniormost prelate) of a Nikaya (chapter) being educated by the head monk of a village temple invokes strong and unequivocal condemnation in no uncertain …
Why Did Not Anyone Tell President Sirisena That his Powers were Curtailed and he Could Not act according to His whims and fancies?
By Dr Nihal Jayawickrama The President appears to believe that he still possesses the full executive powers he derived from the Constitution when he was elected to his office in January 2015. Three months later, he sat during a tumultuous session in Parliament and witnessed the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, introduced …
President Sirisena Admits Openly That Mahinda Rajapaksa was Unable to Secure a Majority in Parliament Because the “Payment” Demanded by MP’s to Support the Newly Appointed Prime Minister Could Not be Paid as they Were Very Very High
Mahinda Rajapaksa failed to secure a majority in parliament because MPs demanded over 500 million rupees each to defect, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday acknowledging that his power grab had backfired. President Sirisena in a video interview with the Daily Mirror admitted that the man he controversially installed as Prime Minister on October 26 did …
Immunity Conferred on the Executive President is only on his Person and not on his Acts or Actions States K.Kanag Iswaran PC Before Seven Judge Bench of the Supreme Court.
By S.S. Selvanayagam President’s Counsel K. Kanag Iswaran yesterday countering the arguments of the respondents and the intervernient petitioners underlined the fact that the immunity conferred on the Executive President was only on his person and not on his acts or actions. Kanag Iswaran PC appearing for TNA Leader R. Sampanthan said this before the …
The Democratic Party Winning Control of Congress at Recent US Mid-term Elections Will Bring Added Scrutiny on Sri Lanka With More Intensive Congressional Review of Recent Actions By President Sirisena and Prime Minister Rajapaksa
By Robert.O. Blake (Ambassador Robert Orris Blake jnr served as the US envoy in Colombo from 2006 to 2009.) The current political impasse in Sri Lanka marks an important opportunity for Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa to think about the consequences of their current actions for future support from the United States and others for a …
Ranil Wickremesinghe Says the President Seems to be Ignoring the Legislature and Emphasises the Need to Establish a “New” Parliament to Scrap the Executive Presidency Through a Referendum
By Yohan Perera United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday stressed the need to establish a new Parliament to scrap the Executive Presidency through a referendum. Wickremesinghe made these proposals at a seminar organised by the Professionals for Democracy held at the Galle Face Hotel last morning. “The citizens of this country have …
Destiny of 21 Million Sri Lankans Placed in the Hands of Seven Supreme Court Judges Who Will Determine Whether Country Will Have Stable Govt or Would Slide Into Anarchy.
With all political efforts to clear the month-long political and constitutional logjam having failed, Sri Lankans are waiting with bated breath to hear the Supreme Court’s rulings on the divisive issues involved. The destiny of the 21 million citizens of Sri Lankan is now in the hands of seven judges of the apex court. Their …
President Sirisena Keeps Away From Tourism Awards Event Fearing Boycott by Tourist Industry Leaders and Issues Circular Prohibiting All State Institutions From Using Private Hotels for State Functions.
President Maithripala Sirisena pulled out of Sri Lanka Tourism Awards ceremony last night following reporters that tourism industry leaders are planning to boycott the event against the President’s participation. Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said Sirisena was invited for the event on the basis that he is the head of state.
President Sirisena Wants To Correct Questionable Areas of the 19th Amendment which he claims Was Passed in Parliament Due to his Relentless Courage and Unwavering Commitment.
President Maithripala Sirisena issued a statement this evening saying he would take necessary measures to “correct” questionable areas of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The statement soon after the Supreme Court postponed the hearing of the petitions against the dissolution of Parliament until tomorrow.
If Dissolution of Parliament is Ruled Out by Supreme Court Then Power Struggle Will Intensify With an Impeachment Motion Against President Sirisena Becoming Highly Likely.
By Kelum Bandara The United National Party (UNP) along with the like-minded parties such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), was upbeat when the Court of Appeal issued an order restraining the Cabinet and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa from functioning. However, it flew out of the window as President Maithripala Sirisena even discarded its appeal, …
If Pushed to the Wall, Maithripala Sirisena Says He is Ready to Resign Presidency and Return to his Polonnaruwe Farm After Making an Address to the Nation
President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he would resign from Presidency after making a State of the Nation Address if he was pushed to the wall, MP Mano Ganesan said. According to the MP, the President has said this during the meeting which was held with United National Front (UNF) party leaders Monday night.
Parliament Ignores Sirisena’s Request for Another No Confidence Vote Against Mahinda Rajapaksa and PreparesInstead to Impeach President Soon and Remove His Civic Rights.
Sri Lanka’s parliament Wednesday defied a hostile president and decided not to proceed with a de facto no-trust resolution against the disputed government and instead moved closer to an impeachment. Maithripala Sirisena had asked the largest single party, the United National Party, to bring another resolution reconfirming the previous no-trust votes against Mahinda Rajapaksa and …
“Piyasena, Machang Umbata Dan Saneepada? Piyasena Machang, Waren Chandeta”( Piyasena Machang are you feeling better now? Piyasena Machang , come and face the Vote)-Geetha Kumarasinghe Challenges Piyasena Gamage in Battle of Bentara-Elpitiya
Former MP Geetha Kumarasinghe yesterday accused MP Piyasena Gamage, who has sworn in to fill the vacant position left by her in Parliament, of not allowing her to work at least a month in her constituency. Addressing a meeting in Elpitiya today she said that she was elected to Parliament as a member after polling …
Notwithstanding Modification by the 19th Amendment, The Directly Elected Presidency is the Apex of our State Form, our State System and Structure— not the Parliament.
By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka “…The General [de Gaulle] devised a strong executive presidency in 1958, and introduced direct elections to it four years later, precisely in order to remove power from the hands of political parties and bring stability to French institutions…the original source of French presidential legitimacy: the direct mandate of the people, introduced by …
Sri Lanka Has Neither a Prime Minister Nor a Cabinet of Ministers For the First Time in Island Nation’s 70 Year Post -Independence Parliamentary History.
For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, the country has no Prime Minister or a Council of Ministers. Given the deep seated conflict between President Maithripala Sirisena and ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the stalemate over who should be Prime Minister is not likely to end anytime soon. After the Court of …
Maithripala Sirisena Launches Thinly -Veiled Attack On Judiciary Which Delivered Landmark Rulings That Stayed Moves by President to Appoint Mahinda as PM and Dissolve Parliament.
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena launched a thinly veiled criticism of the country’s judiciary after it delivered landmark judgements frustrating his moves to sack parliament and install what the largest party in parliament calls a “rogue government.” In his first public reference to the conduct of the courts, Sirisena told a convention of his Sri …
Ranil Wickremesinghe Tells Maithripala Sirisena Not to ” Act Like Hitler and Other Dictators” and Take ” Subjective Decisions”Pertaining to the Constitution.
By Meera Srinivasan Observing that President Maithripala Sirisena must not take “subjective decisions” pertaining to the Constitution, Sri Lanka’s deposed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said: “Don’t be like Hitler and other dictators.” “The Prime Minister is decided by parliamentary majority. The President cannot say this is what I want. All we are saying …
President’s Counsel K.Kanag-Iswaran States Before Supreme Court That ” the Constitution was not Clay in the Hands of Contesting Parties to be Moulded as they saw Fit”.
By S.S. Selvanayagam President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran yesterday contended that the Constitution was not clay in the hands of contesting parties to be moulded as they saw fit and the specific content of constitutional language sets the limit of interpretation which must aspire to give constitutional unity and harmony. Counsel Kanag-Iswaran, appearing for R. Sampanthan, …
Ranil Wickremesinghe Emphasises That Only He Commands the Confidence of the House and Has the Majority of MP’s to Form a Legal Stable Govt as Prime Minister.
By Chathuri Dissanayake United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday insisted that only he commanded the majority in the House needed to form a government, reiterating the need to return to the constitutional framework before the country could opt for elections. “Only the UNF (United National Front) and I can command that majority today,” …
Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others file Appeal Before Supreme Court Seeking Stay Order by SC on Court of Appeal Interim Order
By S.S. Selvanayagam Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 others yesterday filed appeals in the Supreme Court petitioning it to set aside the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal against them functioning in their respective offices. The Court of Appeal on Monday (3) issued an Interim Order restraining Rajapaksa and 48 other respondents from functioning …
President Sirisena Re-iterates at SLFP Special Convention That He Wont Appoint Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister Even if all 225 MP’s in Parliament Seek Ranil’s Re-instatement.
Vowing that the current political crisis would be resolved in one week, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday defended his decisions since 26 October, insisting he had no alternative but to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister, charging he had caused much destruction to the country. Speaking at a special Sri Lanka Freedom Party …
Dangerously Self-serving Maithripala Sirisena Should be Compelled to Make a Dignified Exit as President Before He Causes Further Irreparable Damage To Our Country.
By Sharmini Serasinghe When Maithripala Sirisena addressed the nation in 2015 after being sworn in as the Executive President of Sri Lanka with 6.25 million of us having voted for the man – a political nonentity – we did so with the sole purpose of getting rid of his megalomaniacal predecessor, Mahinda Rajapaksa and his …
Text of Interim Order Issued by the Court of Appeal Regarding the Fundamental Rights Petition Filed by 122 Members of Parliament Seeking a Writ of Quo warranto Against Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others Functioning as Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers Respectively
(Text of Interim Order Issued by the Court of Appeal Regarding the Fundamental Rights Petition Filed by 122 Members of Parliament Seeking a Writ of Quo warranto Against Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others Functioning as Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers Respectively) In the case at hand before this …
Arsalan Khawaja Brother of Aussie Cricketer Usman Charged with Fraud and Perversion of Justice for Causing Wrongful Arrest of Sri Lankan PhD Student at New South Wales University Mohamed Kamer Nizamdeen as a Suspect With Terrorist Links
By Michael Mcgowan The brother of Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has been charged with attempting to pervert justice and forgery after he allegedly used fake documents containing a terror plot to kill senior politicians to “set up” his colleague over a personal grievance. Police confirmed on Tuesday that Arsalan Khawaja had been formally charged after …
Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal Temporarily Restrains Controversially Appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa and His Purported Cabinet from Functioning as Prime Minister and Ministers Respectively.
By Meera Srinivasan Mr. Rajapaksa plans to move the Supreme Court against the order. Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal on Monday temporarily restrained controversially installed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his purported Cabinet of Ministers from functioning in their respective offices. The interim order follows a quo warranto petition filed by 122 MPs on November …