By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Last Saturday (November 20) saw a group of self-styled political activists create a ruckus and disrupt a public meeting in the Scarborough area of Toronto City in Canada. The incident -though distorted and misreported in sections of the media – received wide publicity in Sri Lanka. Moreover it has generated a multi-faceted debate …
Continue reading ‘Turmoil in Toronto as “Tigers” Target TNA Meeting’ »
by D.B.S.JEYARAJ In the ‘Political Pulse’ column of 10 November titled ‘Tiruchelvam QC and Sabry PC: A tale of two resignations,’ I had written to some extent about former Local Government Minister Murugeysen Tiruchelvam known as M. Tiru or Tiru. Interestingly much of the feedback I received displayed great interest and curiosity about M. Tiruchelvam. …
Continue reading ‘Murugeysen Tiruchelvam: Former Chief Political Strategist of the ITAK/FP’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Popular Tamil cinema actor Gemini Ganesan whose 101st birth anniversary falls on November 17th is regarded widely as the greatest romantic lover in Tamil cinema . In a career spanning more than five decades Gemini Ganesan made his mark in Tamil films as the romantic hero par excellence. In fact he was dubbed …
Continue reading ‘“Kaadhal Mannan” Gemini Ganesan: On- screen Romancer and Off-screen Casanova.’ »
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Has the law been forgotten to such an extent in Sri Lanka that individuals who happen to antagonise the politically (or militarily) powerful are being summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on the basis that they have offended repealed laws? Does no one know what laws are in force in …
By Meera Srinivasan In Chundikulam village, located on the eastern tip of Jaffna Peninsula, farmers are facing a peculiar challenge. They are unable to access their lands in which they have recently sowed vegetables. “Border stones of the Department of Wildlife Conservation have sprouted on our plots,” said S. Arunthavaraja, a resident, pointing to a …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Former President Maithripala Sirisena has struck hard on warnings of being deprived of Civil Rights by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. In his recent statement, President Gotabaya was clear on observing the policies laid down in his Saubhagya Dekma manifesto. He recalled how the Yahapalana government had given no importance to the war heroes, …
By Radhika Coomaraswamy The piercing sound of the nadaswaram filled the air. A soul-rending call, expressing the constant yearning of the human spirit, I would hear echoes of it in dark spaces in New York in the sound of the tenor saxophone. It was “ther” day at the Nallur Kandasamy temple and musicians came from …
(Text of a Press Statement Issued by the Global Tamil Forum in London on 25 November 2021) Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation together with Global Tamil Forum (GTF) representatives (the “Delegation”), had many significant engagements in the US between November 15 – 22, articulating Tamil people’s concerns to key US Government policymakers and Members of …
By Ranga Jayasuriya A glorious day passed without much funfair. Two years ago on November 16, 6.9 million Sri Lankan voters elected as their executive president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the wartime defence secretary cum the presidential brother. Younger Gotabaya Rajapaksa was anointed as the candidate of the newly formed Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) by …
By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is planning to visit New Delhi at the earliest, to seek from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urgent help to tide over the economic crises in the island, especially the part concerning foreign debt repayment. According to sources, a request has been made for an appointment with Modi. …
By Samantha Power Mangala Samaraweera was a remarkable public servant and one of the most remarkable individuals I have ever known. He was also a courageous leader, who dedicated his life to pursuing his vision for a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-lingual Sri Lanka that would, as he described it, “guarantee equal rights, justice and dignity …
By Rajpal Abeynayake President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected not despite his lack of political experience, but because of it. On the campaign trail, he was seen as the outsider who was not tainted by politics. He was Defence Secretary, but that was a public office, not a political office. The outsider element became especially important …
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Emphasising that the policy of the Government is to direct agricultural activity in the country entirely towards the use of organic fertilisers, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the officials who do not agree with it are free to leave. “Stressing the need for officials to seek solutions for the protesting farmers within …
BY Buddhika Samaraweera President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed Agriculture Director General (DG) Dr. Ajantha de Silva to take necessary steps to import specialised chemical fertilisers and pesticides required for vegetable cultivation, in limited quantities, for a limited period, owing to the lack of organic and liquid fertilisers for the same, and the prevailing rains, The …
By Kishali Pinto Jaywardene There is a certain sense of sanctimonious humbuggery on our part when we raise our hands to the heavens to scorn the sight of mass crowds on Colombo’s streets agitating against policies of the Government which have dire impact on Sri Lanka’s poor. Responsibility of the State for unjust policies That …
By Gamini Weerakoon (The writer is a former editor of The Sunday Island, The Island and consultant editor of the Sunday Leader) Frank Sinatra in his smooth, melodious and pugnacious style of delivery described how a strongman would want to accomplish his tasks: ‘Doing it my way’. This American singer and actor, considered as being …
The Government has decided to back down in the dispute over the Chinese organic fertiliser shipment that was found to be contaminated. Preparations are underway to resolve the dispute by paying 75 percent of the claim by the Chinese company. This amounts to US$ 6.7 million. The Government has also decided to buy fresh stocks …
The Government is to extend the local councils’ term by one year without elections, the Sunday Times learns. Accordingly, the terms of 340 local bodies — 24 municipal councils, 41 urban councils and 275 Pradeshiya Sabhas — will be extended after their mandated four-year term expires in April next year. The term of another local …
By Lakshmi Subramanian Sri Lanka’s 30-year civil war ended in 2009, with the killing of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. More than decade later, the Sri Lankan government led by the Rajapaksa family is still battling allegations that the final days of the war witnessed mass murders. Prabhakaran’s younger son, then …
By Victor Ivan The Government’s Budget clearly indicates that the Government does not have a pragmatic vision at all for overcoming the crisis facing Sri Lanka other than its greed for holding on to power. The Government seems to be contemplating that it would be able to overcome the crisis facing Sri Lanka if the …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayke The beginning of November is known for its Remembrance Events — All Souls, Poppy Days and in our political past the Suriyamal Day too. But as we move to mid-November it marks the highlights of Political Power. Who could forget the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka, by 69 …
By Ruwani Fonseka While acknowledging that the economic situation in Sri Lanka is worse than in previous years, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka is not alone in facing such a crisis. He made this statement during an interview on Ada Derana’s Hyde Park programme yesterday (18). “Sri Lanka is not alone in …
By Charumini de Silva Cinema stakeholders hailed the Government’s decision to officially grant ‘industry’ status, but said they were awaiting more clarity on the move, as details on how it would benefit them were yet to be disclosed. The proposal to this effect was jointly submitted by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj ( Former Sri Lankan President and Current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was born on November 18th 1945. This Article written last year is being reposted here without any Changes to denote Mahinda’s 76th Birth aniversary this year) Mahendra Percy Rajapaksa known to the world as Mahinda Rajapaksa has been sworn in as Prime …
Continue reading ‘Fascinating Features of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Early Life.’ »
Text and pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai The Tamil month of “Kaarthigai” is dedicated to devotion and purity. “Kaarthigai Deepam” or “Vilakkeedu” as it’s popularly known was recently celebrated by the Hindus, which fell on the day of the “Kaarthigai” star. “Kaarthigai Deepam” is celebrated by lighting of ghee or coconut oil lamps and clay lamps …
By Aseem Chhabra At the beginning of Jai Bhim, police officers are shown separating a group of suspects based on their caste. Those who are from the dominant castes are asked to leave, while others who are Dalits (formerly untouchables) or belong to tribal communities are asked to stay back. Later, police file false charges …
By Dinasena Ratugamage The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) has misused the annual allocations from the government for a long time, Governor of the province, Jeevan Thiagarajah alleged on Tuesday in Vavuniya. The NPC had not spent the annual budgetary allocations it received from the government and there were many irregularities in the way money was …
By Sumudu Chamara On 12 November, the Government presented what, in economic terms, can be referred to as a recovery Budget, in a context where the country has just started paying attention to and supporting the revival of sectors that did not receive adequate attention last year. In other words, unlike in the pre-Covid-19 pandemic …
By Arusha Cooray (Arusha Cooray is a Professor of Finance at James Cook University, Australia. She served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Norway, Finland and Iceland.) Sri Lanka is currently facing an unprecedented set of economic challenges: a large and increasing public debt, rising fiscal and current account deficits, foreign exchange shortages and declining investor …
Continue reading ‘The “Trapped” Economy of Sri Lanka: Is There a Way out?’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The controversial appointment of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero as chair of the ‘One Country, One Law’ (OCOL) Presidential Task Force (PTF) by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has created a political furore. The purported OCOL objective of the PTF as well as the alleged unsuitability of Gnanasara Thero to …
Continue reading ‘Tiruchelvam QC and Ali Sabry PC; A Tale of Two Ministerial Resignations’ »
By P.K.Balachandran Relations between Sri Lanka and China were excellent between 2010 and 2015 when the pro-China Mahinda Rajapaksa was President. During this period, China constructed the US$ 1.1 billion Hambantota port, an ultra-modern container terminal in Colombo, a state-of-the-art airport at Mattala, and had begun constructing the US$ 1.4 billion Colombo Port City. But …
By Rajpal Abeynayake So, Ali Sabry didn’t resign after all. But he did resign to the inevitable. What was Minister Ali Sabry’s purported wish to resign his ministerial portfolio all about? To be charitable to Mr. Sabry, he could not have expressed the desire to resign on a matter of principle. It appeared he just …
(Veteran musician, singer and actor Lakshman Wijesekera has passed away at the age of 73. This article was posted on this Blog first on March 13th 2018.It is being re-posted without any changes here as tribute to the ever popular Lucky Aiya.) by Prof.Theodore Warnakulasuriya Open University of Sri Lanka. “Some people come into our …
BY Dr. Sakuntala Kadirgamar (The writer is the Law and Society Trust’s Executive Director) “We are not a monarchy. We are a republic.” Justice Minister President’s Counsel (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry’s words were heartening to read and to hear. However, it is worth reminding Minister Ali Sabry PC that if presidents in Sri Lanka foolishly …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene There was little doubt that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s off the cuff quip that, ‘there is nothing to give, we may only have to take’ (from Sri Lankans) when quizzed by reporters as to what relief the 2022 National Budget promises to the citizenry, would soon return to haunt him. Public …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Sri Lanka has just achieved a world record. Its national Budget has been presented in Parliament by a foreigner. Yes, yes – A Dual Citizen. Are you sure this Budget is not really meant to help US President Joe Biden to get over his problems? We must wonder whether our American/Sri Lankan …
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj The appointment of militant Buddhist monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero as Chairman of the ‘One Country, One Law’ (OCOL) Presidential Task Force has shocked the country in general and the Sri Lankan Muslim community in particular. The controversial Gnanasara Thero is the General-Secretary of the Buddhist organisation Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) – meaning …
By Azzam Ameen Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa, delivered his inaugural budget speech today (12). This is the 76th budget of an independent Sri Lanka and it is also the second budget of the incumbent Government. Key takeaways from the Minister’s speech are detailed below: Annual Warrant for State expenditure to be made a Quarterly …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (The appointment of Bodu Bala Sena(BBS) General- Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanaasara Thero as chairman of the Presidential Task Force on “One Country,One Law”(OCOL) by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has caused much controversy.It is being widely criticized. The appointment has also blatantly exposed the nexus between the President and the BBS.Gota’s BBS connection received …
By Shamindra Ferdinando The government has amended a controversial Gazette dated Oct 26, 2021on the appointment of Presidential Task Force (PTF) headed by Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara to examine the implementation of ‘One Country, One Law’ principle and prepare a draft Act following strong objections by Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC. SLPP National List lawmaker Sabry …
BY Pamodi Waravita The 76th Budget reading for the financial year (FY) 2022 will begin in Parliament today (12) at 2 p.m., with a focus on transforming Sri Lanka into a manufacturing-based economy. “The Budget aims to utilise Sri Lanka’s geopolitical location and address the ongoing loss of foreign income to the country, whilst planning …
By Robin Gomes In an official Gazette notification on October 07 by the government of Sri, the Western Province’s Urban Development Authority (UDA) has decided to take over a part of the land of the Muthurajawela wetlands, situated some 30 km north of the capital Colombo, near the western coastal city of Negombo. Cardinal Malcolm …
By Ruwani Fonseka A new gazette has been issued for One Country One Law task force, where amendments have been made by taking into account the views and opinions held by various parties.
By Ruwani Fonseka Questioning President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to appoint Bodu Bala Sena Secretary General Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to lead the One Country One Law Task Force, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said that he suspects the President is attempting to split the country by causing racial differences and unrest. …
BY Pamodi Waravita Representatives from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are due to leave for the US this week for discussions with the US State Department officials regarding the proposed new Constitution, The Morning learnt. It is learnt that TNA representatives will be at these discussions in the US from 13 November.
By Ruwani Fonseka Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam said in Parliament today (09) that his privileges as an MP have been violated as the Eastern Province Governor has allegedly spoken ill of him, and that serious action should be taken against those who “name call” in Parliament. “The Governor of Eastern …
BY Pamodi Waravita The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), the Colombo University’s Academic Federation, the Faculty of Medicine Teachers’ Association (FMTA), and the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday (9) condemned the appointment of Narahenpita Abayarama Temple Chief Incumbent Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera as the Chancellor of the University of Colombo. The FUTA said …
BY Pamodi Waravita Discussions are underway to restore the original intention of the Extraordinary Gazette which appointed the Presidential Task Force for “One Country, One Law”, as the current one, although it is unclear at this point whether or not the Gazette will be amended in that process, The Morning reliably learnt. “The Gazette did …
By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana Zahran’s wife had confessed that her husband had met the intelligence officers several times prior to Easter Sunday attacks, SJB MP Harin Fernando told Parliament today. Whilst making this disclosure, MP Fernando requested the Public Security Minister to table a copy of the statements given by Zahran’s wife to …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, yesterday (7) said that he had offered to give up his portfolio over the appointment of Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera as the head of Presidential Task Force (PTF) to study the “One Country, One Law’ concept. Minister Sabry said so when The Island asked him whether he …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene As Sri Lanka’s farmers abandon their rice fields, burning effigies of politicians and shouting their agonies to the heavens over the deprivation of fertiliser, elsewhere a desperate man breaks into the government-run Sathosa to steal three packets of milk doubtless for his family. These vistas of desperation have not been seen …
by Anura Gunasekera Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, pardoned after serving one and half years of a six-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for Contempt of Court, has been appointed the Chairman of a Presidential Task Force, mandated to study the implementation of the “One Country, One Law” concept, as well as to examine amendments prepared by the Ministry …
(Text of Address by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the ceremony to declare open 1,500 completed roads on the same day at the Mandaduwa Stadium in Weeraketiya on 2021-11-06) A year ago, I laid the foundation stone for the National Programme of Developing 100,000 Km of Roads Project. At the end of the year, we completed …
Justice Minister Ali Sabry submitted his letter of resignation, from his membership in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), his parliamentary seat, and the justice portfolio, to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last Friday (5), The Sunday Morning reliably learnt. The President had, however, refused to accept the resignation letter. Highly placed sources told The Sunday Morning …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Many supporters of Rajapaksa governance have begun to turn away from this family leadership in national governance. Amidst the hugely rising cost of living – or will it soon be the cost of dying – there is also the issue of One Country, One Law that is pushing the political swing. President …
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (6) called on the youth of the country to have faith in the Government, and to continue with the work they had started. The President made the request at the event held to launch 100,000 km of roads that were developed by the Government in Weeraketiya. The event was also attended …
By Skandha Gunasekara The Presidential Task Force (PTF) for the “one country, one law” initiative took heavy flak ever since its appointment, with many asserting that it would be counterproductive in the aim of uniting communities. On 27 October, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a presidential task force chaired by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and comprising …
By Bhavani Fonseka (The writer is an Attorney-at-Law and a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives) The recent appointment of a task force mandated with law reform headed by a controversial Buddhist monk has raised concerns from multiple fronts. Yet, considering recent trends in Sri Lanka, this should not come as a surprise. …
By Col. R. Hariharan Happenings in Sri Lanka during the month of October 2021 can be summarised as “politics of majoritarianism, security, and scams”. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is known for goal-oriented action. But two of his recent decisions, the abolition of the use of chemical fertilisers, and introducing “one country, one law”, are having ripple …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) is now twenty years of age . The premier political configuration of the Tamil people in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka came into being on October 22nd 20, a few weeks ahead of the 2001 December Parliament election. Much water has flown down on either side …
Continue reading ‘How and Why the Tamil National Alliance was Formed Twenty Years Ago’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj In my article ‘SWRD’s flirtation with federalism’ published in these columns on 29 September 2021, I had referred to the pact signed by the then Prime Minister Bandaranaike and Tamil political leader Chelvanayagam in 1957. What I wrote then was as follows: “The agreement signed by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and S.J.V. Chelvanayagam in …
Continue reading ‘JR Jayewardene’s Infamous Kandy March Against the Banda-Chelva Pact’ »
The US Department of Defense in a report presented to the US Congress has placed Sri Lanka among a group of Countries where the Peoples Republic of China may establish a military facility or base to enhance support for Chinese power projection in the naval, air, ground, cyber, and space spheres. The Pentagon report “Military …
By Ruwani Fonseka The Head of the State Intelligence Service has become a thug, as he wants a Priest to be arrested over something that was discussed in Parliament, said Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harin Fernando. He made this statement during a press conference held yesterday (04).
By Ruwani Fonseka Claiming that he is not a politician that acts upon the instructions of the intelligence chief, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa said that his loyalty to the Sri Lankan Catholic community is obvious due to his close connections with Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. He made this statement yesterday (04) after paying …
The inner light Text and Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai “Deepavali” is a celebration and joy and wisdom, and will be celebrated on the 4th of November 2021 around the world, with great pomp and enthusiasm. “Deepavali” is popularly known as the “Festival of Lights”. It is celebrated with sweets, savouries, firecrackers, greetings, gifts and lights. …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “This country still has a Sinhala police, a Sinhala army. If after today a single Muslim or some other alien lays a hand on a single Sinhalese, let alone a robe, it will be the end of all these creatures” – Monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, pre-riot speech in Aluthgama – 15 June …
By Azzam Ameen In a letter addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has pointed out that the preparation of draft legislation and the study of existing legislation which the One Country One Law Task Force has been directed to perform are tasks of a serious nature involving several institutions …
By Ruwani Fonseka If the Hippo Spirit vessel docks in Sri Lanka after it has been denied entry into the Port and tries to unload the consignment of Chinese organic fertiliser, it would be considered as some sort of terrorist act, says Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Prof. Udith Jayasinghe. He made this statement …
(This article appeared in the Asia section of the “Economist print edition under the headline “BJP v Bollywood) If bollywood is India’s secular religion, then the Khans—Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh—are its holy trinity. The three actors, who are unrelated, have for three decades sat at the top of India’s colossal Hindi-language film industry, their …
by Jehan Perera President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a presidential task force to take forward the concept one country, one law that proved to be an effective slogan at the election campaign that won him the presidency in 2019. Of course, those were different times. At that time the country was still trying to recover …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda An appeal filed by former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya challenging Court of Appeal’s decision to dismiss a writ petition filed regarding his diplomatic immunity has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court further refused to issue a writ of Mandamus directing the Minister of Foreign …
By Ajith Siriwardana The ‘Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law’ was a golden opportunity to make the social issues discussed by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation a reality, Head of the Task Force Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera said today. He told during a virtual press conference of the Presidential Media Centre that …
By Meera Srinivasan The Indian High Commissioner in Colombo on Monday assured Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen that he would convey their concerns over bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait to both New Delhi and Tamil Nadu and look at some immediate measures to address the problem. A delegation of fisher leaders from …
By Shamindra Ferdinando President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, the only Muslim among the Cabinet ministers, is likely to quit the justice portfolio over the recent appointment of Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera as the head of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) to make recommendations in respect of ‘One Country, One Law’ concept. Well-informed sources say Sabry, who …
By Azzam Ameen No citizen should be subjected to any difference or discrimination before the law on the basis of their race, religion, caste or any other factor, according to the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for ‘One Country, One Law’ Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera. He made these remarks while addressing the first media …
By Harini Amarasuriya (The writer is a former senior lecturer at the Open University of Sri Lanka [OUSL] and is currently an MP representing the National People’s Power) One of the most prominent slogans the current Government, and particularly, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, used during election campaigns was “one country, one law”. At first glance, the …
By Chris Kamalendran Justice Minister Ali Sabry said he was unaware of the setting up of the “One Country, One Law” Presidential Task Force headed by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda-aththe Gnanasara Thera. Mr Sabry told the Sunday Times he was not consulted on the setting up of the Task Force. “I …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Interestingly enough, this week’s Presidential appointment of a controversial monk who once served a jail term for contempt of court, as head of a Presidential Task Force to suggest law reform to bring about ‘one country, one law’ no less, has provoked freewheeling ridicule rather than fury in Sri Lanka. An …
By Lucien Rajakarunanayake It’s time to cheer. We have a Sand Dune – not in a desert – but on the beach of the Port City. A great Veli Keliya Vella. Isn’t it truly great to see Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa – with Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunge lodged behind him – riding an All Terrain …
by Sujeeva Nivunhella A demonstration has been organised by LTTE sympathisers in the UK opposite the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is scheduled to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). The Sunday Island reliably learns that the organisers of the protest have invited people from all over the UK …
By Azzam Ameen The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) has stated that it is shocked and dismayed by the establishment of the Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law under the leadership of what it refers to as a controversial individual. While stating that the citizens of Sri Lanka have been living for many …
By Camelia Nathaniel The Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law held its inaugural meeting yesterday. According to the Chairman of the Task Force Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, an official statement will be made next Monday following the discussions.
By Ruwani Fonseka An employee of the Save the Pearl organisation told the Fort Magistrates Court on the 27th that he was tortured to implicate Hejaaz Hizbullah. Speaking to The Morning, an informed source confirmed that the above practice has been ongoing by the Terrorist Investigations Department (TID) for a long time, and this was …
By Ruwani Fonseka The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has issued a statement saying that it is deeply shocked and disturbed by the appointment of the latest Presidential Task Force (PTF) mandated to implement the ‘One Country, One Law’ concept, including the drafting of a law to give effect to it, headed by Galagodaaththe Gnanasara …
By Dr.Jayadeva Uyangoda (Jayadeva Uyangoda is Former Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka) What has Gotabaya Rajapaksa achieved when he enters his third year in office as Sri Lanka’s President on November 18? A not-so-attractive record of failures in governance. President Rajapaksa has also …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj This article was written in 2015 to mark the Twenty – Fifth Anniversary of Muslim Mass Expulsion From North by the LTTE.It is being re-posted without any changes to denote the 31st annivrsary of the tragic event The Investigation launched by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has …
BY Pamodi Waravita A number of civil society groups and Opposition parties have condemned President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s appointment of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera as the Chairman of the new Presidential Task Force (PTF) for “One Country, One Law”. “The appointment of Gnanasara Thera to this PTF ridicules the mandate …
By Norman Palihawadane and Nishan S. Priyantha Monies taken in the form of commissions by forfeiting people’s welfare will never do any good to those who take them, says His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. “The biggest malady our society is afflicted with is the commissions earned by politicians through various deals. They take commissions from …
Firebrand Opposition Parliamentarian Harin Fernando yesterday flayed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the selection of the Chair of a key task force, which the Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP described as his “One Country One Crazy Law”. Issuing a statement following President Rajapaksa’s decision to appoint the controversial Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Leader Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero …
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has set up a Presidential Task Force to make proposals to implement the ‘One Country, One Law’ concept and named the controversial Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) leader Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero as its Chairman. The task force will study the implementation of the concept ‘One Country, One Law’ within Sri Lanka and …
By Hamid Mir In 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told an aide that he would “use a bullet” on Jamal Khashoggi if the journalist, who was then living in exile, didn’t cease his criticism of the Saudi government. Ultimately, a team of assassins killed Khashoggi during his visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul …
BY Buddhika Samaraweera National Catholic Centre for Social Communications Director Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando and several others who attended a recent online forum, in which allegations related to the Easter Sunday terror attacks on 21 April 2019 were made against State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay, are likely to be summoned …
By Ruwani Fonseka An extraordinary gazette has been issued to appoint a 13-member Presidential Task Force (PTF) to study the implementation of the concept “One Country, One Law” and prepare a draft Act. The task force is chaired by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara. It consists of Prof. Dayananda Banda, Prof. Shanthinandana Wijesinghe, Prof. sumedha Siriwardana, N.G. …
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Following requests from China, the Government has agreed to send the organic fertiliser samples from the China-based Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd., which have been found to contain harmful bacteria on two previous occasions, to a third party and to retest their quality. Promoting the Production and Regulating the Supply of …
By Bhavani Fonseka (The writer is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s maiden speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September this year contained several ambitious statements. In particular, the following lines in his speech raised the hopes of some: “Fostering greater accountability, restorative justice, and meaningful …
BY Buddhika Samaraweera The Catholic Church has said that instead of naming former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Nilantha Jayawardena as a state witness in the cases pertaining to the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 21 April 2019, he should be prosecuted for not having prevented the said …
By Ruwani Fonseka A complaint has been filed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) against Reverend Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando by the Director-General of the State Intelligence Service Major General Suresh Salley. The complaint was filed today (25) in regard to multiple malicious statements made in reference to Maj. Gen. Salley. The Morning spoke to …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Pandora Papers are a series of papers being continuously published since October 3rd 2021 by the Washington based International Consortium of Investigative Journalism(ICIJ).The ICIJ is a worldwide network of 280 Investigative journalists and more than 100 Media organizations from many different countries spanning the globe. The Pandora papers are based on 11.8 …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj United National Party Leader and National list MP Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed concern over the continued detention of Wanni District Parliamentarian, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader and former Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been a MP without a break since July 1977, said in Parliament on 4 October that …
Continue reading ‘Rishad Bathiudeen Targeted in Witch Hunt After his Fall From Rajapaksa Grace’ »
By Asiri Fernando The communities in the North and East are often disproportionately affected by most crises that impact Sri Lanka. The current crisis caused due to a sudden ban on the use of chemical fertiliser and the continued fisheries dispute regarding poaching by Indian fishing vessels add to the woes of these communities. Many …
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene Under cover of a seductively glittering propaganda blitz that laws are being ‘modernized,’ is the Government ferociously bent on a pursuit of turning even the remnants of Sri Lanka’s civil liberties safeguards on its unsteady constitutional head? Withdrawals of indictments and privileging the police This is a question that legitimately arises …
Catholic Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said last Saturday (23) that His Holiness Pope Francis had written to him asking what assistance or action the Archbishop requires from the Pope regarding the investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019. He revealed this during a discussion held yesterday (24) with Sri Lankans living …
By Asiri Fernando Several Indian businesses have expressed interest in investing and carrying out the proposed renewable energy projects earmarked in the Northern Province, The Sunday Morning learnt. It is reliably learnt that one of the Indian investors interested in the renewable power generation projects in the North is Adani Green Energy, with plans afoot …
By Skandha Gunasekara Regional plantation companies (RPCs) were reducing the pay of workers by reducing the number of working days, in an effort to reduce the cost following the gazetting of Rs. 1,000 as the minimum daily wage, trade unions (TUs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) told The Sunday Morning. The move was pushing an already …
BY RUWANI FONSEKA Two members of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) party were bullied by Government MP’s during a meeting held by the Ministry of Forest and Wildlife, said ITAK MP M A Sumanthiran. This was brought up in Parliament yesterday (22) just as Sumanthiran stood up to deliver his speech.
(Text of an Editorial appearing in the “Daily Financial Times”of October 21st 2021 under the heading “The Politics of Hate”) A new report published by Amnesty International this week is a damning indictment against the Sri Lankan state that continues to countenance – and promote – consistent discrimination, harassment and violence against the country’s Muslim …
(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island”of October 22nd 2021) His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has once again demanded that the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI), which probed the Easter Sunday terror attacks be fully implemented. The PCoI has not revealed the mastermind behind the carnage; it has only cursorily dealt with …
By Lucien Raajkarunanayake The schools will fully reopen on Monday. The trade unions, parents and children will certainly consider this a special day for education in Sri Lanka. It’s best not to think too much about the last two days, with very low presence of children and teachers in most of the smallest schools in …
BY Buddhika Samaraweera If anyone tried to come to power on the blood of innocent people, they would not be able to enjoy that power for too long, said Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, in reference to the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 21 April 2019 and the probe into it. During …
By Asiri Fernando The Attorney General (AG) had refused to appear for State Minister Lohan Rattwatte in the case related to the fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by eight prisoners of the Anuradhapura Prison who were allegedly intimidated and threatened by Ratwatte, The Morning learnt. The AG had appeared for the Prisons Commissioner General and …
By Ruwani Fonseka Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Party has formed branches in Sri Lanka, according to the Save Our Motherland Unity Organisation Secretary Chirantha Amarasinghe. Such statements, along with demands to remove Sri Lanka from the Akhand Bharat Map within 7 days, were raised by the Organisation outside the …