Talks between President Maithripala Sirisena and United National Front leaders last night remained at a stalemate, with the latter losing confidence in discussions. “We are not going to see him again,” Senior United National Party Member Lakshman Kiriella told Daily FT, terming the meeting “unsuccessful”. “There is no point in discussing with him,” a frustrated …

Continue reading ‘Talks Between President and United National Front(UNF) Reach Impasse as Sirisena Adamantly Refuses to Re-Appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister Even After Appeal Court Stay Order.’ »

Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said his camp was not in agreement with the Court of Appeal and would appeal the Interim Order before the Supreme Court today. “We are not in agreement with the Interim Stay Order issued by the Appeal Court suspending the functioning of the Cabinet of Ministers. We will be …

Continue reading ‘Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa to Appeal to Supreme Court Against Interim Order Issued by Court of Appeal Restraining him from Functioning as Prime Minister.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake The Court of Appeal yesterday issued an interim order restraining Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed to the post of Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena, and his Cabinet of Ministers from functioning in office. The stay order is in force until the final hearing and determination is given. The order, latest in …

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal Issues Interim Order Restraining Sirisena Appointed Prime Minister MahindaRajapaksa and His Cabinet Ministers From Functioning in Office Until Final Hearing and Determination by Court.’ »

By Yohan Perera The status quo that existed before October 26 can be restored now following the interim order given by the Appeal Court as it is given against an individual and not against a post, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Mr. Wickremesinghe expressed this sentiment during a public rally in Galle last evening. “The …

Continue reading ‘After Appeal Court Ruling, Ranil Speaking at Public Rally in Galle, Asks Mahinda to Leave in the Name of God Saying “Palayaw Palayaw Sathara Waram Deviyange Namayen Palayaw”.’ »

By Maria Abi-Habib and Dharisha Bastians A Sri Lankan court issued an order on Monday temporarily preventing the disputed prime minister from holding office, the latest twist in a political crisis that has paralyzed the island nation. The Court of Appeal ordered Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet to appear on Dec. 12 and …

Continue reading ‘Appeal Court Orders Disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Purported Cabinet Ministers to Appear in Court on Dec 12th and Explain on What Authority They Claim to Hold Office after Parliament Passed Two Votes of No Confidence.’ »

(This legal opinion was prepared in response to a request made by Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne, P.C, Member of Parliament By Gehan Gunatilleke,University of Oxford , Dinesha Samararatne, University of Colombo,Kalana Senaratne, University of Peradeniya and Asanga Welikala, University of Edinburgh) Since 26 October, Sri Lanka has been in an unprecedented political, economic, and constitutional crisis. …

Continue reading ‘Legal Opinion Regarding Current Constitutional Questions Like Appointment and Removal of a Prime Minister and Dissolution of Parliament.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Despite the undeniable shock caused to Sri Lanka’s democratic system on October 26th 2018 as a result of President Maithripala Sirisena’s swearing in of a new Prime Minister lacking a majority in the House, several unmistakable positive factors have emerged since then. Those ‘legal experts’ who led the President up the …

Continue reading ‘Political Tomfoolery has Tarnished the Country’s Reputation But Institutional Strength and Civil Rebellion has Risen like the Proverbial Phoenix’ »

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya While the complicated situation that has arisen in parliament today is unprecedented, the origins of this logjam could perhaps be traced back to the period when the yahapalana government was formed. The present instability could be seen as part of a continuum starting with the creation of a ‘National Government’ in January …

Continue reading ‘Regardless of who the Prime Minister Is any Govt Formed will be Unstable With Parlia Hobble Along Until a Fresh General Election’ »

By Romesh Madhushanka A three member committee has been appointed by Governor of Northern Province Reginald Cooray to investigate a financial fraud allegedly committed by former Minister of the Northern Provincial Council Ananthi Sasitharan.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, yesterday, that if the Opposition had allowed President Maithripala Sirisena to conduct a general election, political stability would have been restored in the country. Full of the statement issued by Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa “It is only in Sri Lanka that you will find political parties agitating against the holding of …

Continue reading ‘Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says Political Stability Woud Have Been Restored in the Country if President Sirisena Was Allowed to Conduct a General Election in the Country.’ »

By The “Sunday Times” Political Editor Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa faces removal next week after just six weeks in office, with Parliament set to approve a motion this coming Wednesday for his ouster. The motion has been agreed to by President Maithripala Sirisena during consultations with Opposition parties, provided it does not describe his dissolution …

Continue reading ‘With Defiant Mahinda Refusing to Resign Voluntarily, President Sirisena Prepares to Remove his Appointed Prime Minister Rajapaksa After Parliament Passes Motion on Dec 5th/’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena appeared to have softened his hardline position and was seeking a face-saving exit from the political crisis of his making, according to legislators who had closed-door talks with him. The president was acutely aware of the consequences should the Supreme Court this week hold that his November 9 sacking of parliament was …

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Fearing Adverse Supreme Court Ruling Could Bring About Legal Consequences Desperately Seeks Face -Saving Exit From the Political Crisis of his Own Making Before Dec 7th.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake President Maithripala Opinion Sirisena is obviously enjoying the new game that both he and so-called ‘Prime Minister’ Mahinda Rajapaksa has introduced to Sri Lanka. Boycott is the new political game in our threatened Democracy. It is the Boycott Keliya. Members of the so-called Government are enjoying this game that ensures them of …

Continue reading ‘Maithripala and Mahinda Have Started “Varjanaya Sellama”( Boycott Game) Where MP’s Get Their Monthly Salaries and Perks Like Fuel &Telephone Allowances, Subsidized Food at Parliament Restaurant but Just Keep Away From Chamber.’ »

By Sanjana Hattotuwa It is a month after Sri Lanka learnt of a new Prime Minister over SMS. In the catastrophic, chaotic four ensuing weeks, some of us maintain that Mr. Wickremesinghe is the sole, legitimate Prime Minister. This is widely perceived to be a position that is a consequence of either being partial to …

Continue reading ‘Clear Propensity in November of Twitter and Facebook Users, in their Millions, to Gravitate Towards Content that holds the President, Rajapaksas and the SLPP in a very Critical Light.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The history of madness is the history of power.” Roy Porter (A social history of madness: The world through the eyes of the insane) The current crisis is a contestation about the nature of Sri Lanka and her future. Will the country continue along the path of democracy or will she re-embrace …

Continue reading ‘Leaders Like Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa who have Neither Shame nor Justice can Plummet to the Lowest of Depths, Because for them Everything is Permissible’ »