By Victor Ivan The picture of Sri Lanka is still not clear; it is in a state of chaos. Apparently the most difficult phase of the balance of payments crisis is moving towards a point where it could be resolved for the common good of the country; but the most difficult era of this crisis …

Continue reading ‘It seems that the political strategy of the leader of the opposition is to politically destroy President Ranil Wickremesinghe, his main political rival by making him a political prisoner dependent on the Pohottuwa party.’ »

By Jamila Husain The police have launched extensive investigations over the involvement of some politicians who had encouraged some ‘protester’ groups to overthrow the government by forcefully occupying Parliament and preventing a vote to elect a new President following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July. Highly placed sources told Daily Mirror that …

Continue reading ‘Police Launch Investigation Into Alleged Role of Politicians in Encouraging Protest Groups to “overthrow the government by forcefully occupying Parliament and preventing a vote to elect a new President following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July”.’ »

BY Ambika Satkunanathan Undeterred by the economic crisis, the Government continues its attempts to enact regressive, repressive, and counterproductive laws, the most recent being the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill. Lack of legal definitions Persons to whom the proposed law applies include former combatants, individuals who have “engaged in extreme or destructive acts of sabotage” (“members …

Continue reading ‘The danger of the proposed ‘Bureau of Rehabilitation: Arbitrary detention and torture by another name?’ »

By Neville De Silva President Wickremesinghe’s first official visit as head of state was on a sad occasion here in the United Kingdom. The country was mourning the death of a much beloved Queen who had been the longest reigning monarch in England and had endeared herself to her subjects so much that many people …

Continue reading ‘If the country needs the help from the diaspora which President Wickremesinghe is trying hard to attract, then he should be given the political strength to challenge the Rajapaksa cabal’ »

While there is so much of poverty in the country, with loss of employment, loss of income malnourishments, children going to schools have been disrupted, certain people continue to steal and rob the country. It was recently exposed about exorbitant prices being paid to import of coal and petroleum into the country said Mr Eran …

Continue reading ‘“We will ask the petroleum minister to give an explanation to the country as to why the government imports the Russian oil at a higher price from a third party when there is an opportunity to import at a lower price directly from Russia.” – Eran Wickramaratne MP’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Due to the severity of the economic crisis and the lack of household finances, there has been an increase in the number of children being admitted by their families to children’s homes in the Northern Province. Statistical data provided by the Child Care and Probation Department of the Northern Province has revealed …

Continue reading ‘246 Children Admitted by Parents in Northern Province to Child Care Foster Homes; increase in numbers due to current economic crisis, which has resulted in parents facing financial instability being unable to provide for their children.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Was there then no essential difference between the ruler and the ruled?” Salman Rushdie (The Enchantress of Florence)> Sri Lanka, unravelled and unravelling, is mesmerised by a new wonder: the Lotus Tower. When that monumental symbol of Rajapaksa folly was opened to the public last week, people thronged to pay the entrance …

Continue reading ‘While President Wickremesinghe blunders and the opposition exists in a parallel universe where their electoral victory is written in the stars, the Rajapaksas are back to weaving their web of lies and deception.’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesperson MP M.A. Sumanthiran PC yesterday (25) observed on social media that the demarcation of high-security zones (HSZ) two days ago in Colombo was not a new practice, charging that such illegal demarcation has been conducted over many thousands of acres of lands in the North and East …

Continue reading ‘MA Sumanthiran PC Citing Mavai Senathirajah vs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge (SC FR 646/2003) Case says Interim Order Issued by Courts in 2006 Upholds TNA Position Challenging the Legality of Setting up High Security Zones’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera Certain senior officials of the Ministry of Health are working to allocate expensive and acutely scarce pharmaceutical drugs and other medical supplies received as donations from various parties, due to the prevailing shortage of such, to specific patients with connections to the former who are being treated in certain hospitals, The Morning …

Continue reading ‘Senior Health Ministry Allegedly Allocating expensive.acutely scarce pharmaceutical drugs and other medical supplies received as donations from various parties to specific patients with connections to themselves being treated in certain hospitals,’ »

BY Buwanajee Coralage The Trade Union Co-ordination Committee (TUCC) and the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) yesterday (25) challenged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to expand the holding capacity of prisons in the country, stating that they will continue their protest movement on an even larger scale over the coming days, and that a substantially larger number of …

Continue reading ‘Trade Union Co-ordination Committee (TUCC) and the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) challenge President Ranil Wickremesinghe by Asking him to expand the holding capacity of prisons in the country and stating that they will continue their protest movement on an even larger scale in the coming days,’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera said that he would not take any notice of the criticism and sarcasm on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, regarding his participation in an event to mark the Saudi National Day on Friday (23). Commenting on the social media posts …

Continue reading ‘Infamous Anti- Islam Monk Gnanasara Thero Participating in Saudi Arabian National day Celebration as Special Guest of Saudi Ambassador is Widely Criticized but Bodu Bala Sena Gen Secy Remains Unfazed’ »

By S. Murali Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as S. P. Balu or SPB, was an Indian musician, playback singer, music director, actor, dubbing artist and film producer who worked predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. Affectionately called as ‘Balu’ in his friends’ circle, SPB …

Continue reading ‘S.P. Balasubrahmanyam won the Guinness World Record for recording the highest number of songs by a singer:Sang over 40,000 songs in 16 languages’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene Whatever the motivations for the Ranil Wickremesinghe Presidency to drag the Official Secrets Act (1955) out of cold storage and employ its provisions to declare certain places as ‘High Security Zones,’ that decision is both foolish and counter productive. Waving of the red flag to an enraged bull The Wickremesinghe …

Continue reading ‘Using the Archaic Official Secrets to Demarcate Some Areas as High Security Zones: is there fear that the ‘Aragalaya’ may spirit away ‘secret documents’ from places declared as High Security Zones?’ »

Any offence committed in the newly declared High Security Zones (HSZ) will enable police to take up the case in the High Courts, a senior official of the Public Security Ministry said. He said the measure was taken to ensure that administration was continued without interruption. “All locations declared as HSZs are required to maintain …

Continue reading ‘The Bar Association of Sri Lanka says the Official Secrets Act’s Section 2 oes not provide the Minister the authority to designate a sizable portion of the country as a High Security Zone; BASL declares it will carefully review the provisions and take necessary legal measures to protect people’s Fundamental Rights’ »

By Yoshitha Perera Police have detained 83 demonstrators, including Eranga Gunasekara, national organiser of the Socialist Youth Union (SYU), the youth front of the JVP, during a protest march yesterday. Members from the National People’s Power (NPP) along with the SYU yesterday staged a protest in front of the Lipton roundabout demanding the release of …

Continue reading ‘Police use tear gas and water cannonsto disperse protesters in Maradana; Video on Social media shows Eranga Gunasekara, national organiser of the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) and a Buddhist monk being beaten by cops;83 Protesters Arrested,’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana A “National Council” (NC) with a key responsibility of guiding short, medium, and long-term national policies and representing all recognised political parties in Parliament was passed this week without a vote. Opposition parties though, were critical that the government had diluted the NC and that its original purpose has been lost. Prime …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister’s Motion to set up “National Council” representing all recognised political parties in Parliament passed without a vote but Opposition Parties are Critical of Govt’s move’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly said seven Sri Lankans, who were held by the “invading Russian forces since March” in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, had been rescued from “torture chambers”. Mr. Zelenskyy drew attention to the “seven citizens of Sri Lanka”, who were “students of Kupiansk Medical College”. “Back …

Continue reading ‘Ukraine President Zelensky’s Announcement about Rescuing 7 Sri Lankans Held as Captives by Invading Russian Forces Shocks Sri Lanka and Entangles Colombo and Moscow in a Potential Diplomatic Wrangle’ »

The Speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament on Friday (sep 23) presented the first list of Members of Parliament, who have been nominated to the ‘National Council’, which had been established according to the proposal presented by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Presenting an amendment, the chief Government Whip said that the ‘National Council’ chaired by …

Continue reading ‘First List of MPs Representing Recognized Political Parties in Parliament Nominated to the “National Council” released by Speaker; Second list of nominees to be announced shortly, Number of MPs in Council Restricted to 35 or less’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says anyone spending half a day with outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and new PM Liz Truss will be exhausted. He said that the late Queen Elizabeth II looked exhausted after meeting Johnson and Liz Truss two days before she passed away.

By Victor Ivan “The Aragalaya had a sensitive heart, but it lacked a mature brain and intellectual prowess” In what sense does the Aragalaya become important to us? What expectations has it generated? Has it been successful in achieving them? It can be considered as the biggest and the most popular uprising that erupted since …

Continue reading ‘If the Opposition had adopted a policy of supporting Ranil at least on a short-term basis with the view to overcoming the crisis facing the country, it would have been possible undoubtedly, to bring about a positive change in the Country’ »

BY DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA 1. The last time the Sri Lankan citizenry suffered materially in a manner remotely similar to the current suffering was in 1970-1977. The leader of the day never led the nation again. It took 17 years and her rebellious daughter, who was not associated with the suffering of the past and …

Continue reading ‘A 25-point common framework for a re-founding of the center-left.’ »

Several areas in and around Colombo have been declared as High Security Zones by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Accordingly, areas around the Parliament Complex, Supreme Court Complex, High Court Complex in Colombo, Magistrate Court Complex in Colombo and Attorney General’s Department, Presidential Secretariat, President’s House, Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters and Police Headquarters have been declared as …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Designates Several areas Within and around Colombo as High Security Zones by Gazette Proclamation; Public Gatherings and Protest Demonstrations Banned Within HS Zones;Parking Restricted’ »

(Text of Speech made by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran M.P. in Parliament on 22nd September 2022) Thank you Hon. Deputy speaker for the opportunity to speak a few words at today’s debate. The Hon. Minister for aviation was here for a moment ago, I want to raise a matter with regard to Palali air …

Continue reading ‘Archaeology Dept’s Illegal Attempts to Construct New Structures in Krunthoormalai and Allocate Land in Koneshwaram Temple area to “outsider”traders must be stopped immediately states TNA MP Sumanthiran in Parliament;also requests Palaly Airport taxes to be Waived as in the case of Mattala’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The “Repeal PTA” mobile signature collection campaign reached Colombo’s Galle Face yesterday (22), after travelling across the country from Kankesanthurai, resulting in an argument with the heavy police presence in the area about the purpose and result of the gathering at the iconic venue. Organised by the youth organisation of the Tamil …

Continue reading ‘The “Repeal PTA” mobile signature collection campaign Vehicle that began its Journey from Northern Kankesanthurai reaches Galle Face Green; Several Politicians from Different Parties other than the SLPP address Multi-ethnic gathering;Opposition MPs Argue with Police Over Attempts to Obstruct Campaign’ »

(Text of Speech made by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran M.P. in Parliament on 22nd September 2022) The Government is now facing a challenge in the UN Human rights council, Hon. Minister of Justice is here, and that’s good, I want to refer to some matters that concern him as well. In September 2015, the …

Continue reading ‘How can you withdraw from the UNHRC 30/1 resolution that you yourself co-sponsored and agreed to when you were the Justice Minister and the Incumbent President the Prime Minister in Sep 2015 ? MA Sumanthiran MP asks Justice Minister Dr.Wijedasa Rajapakshe.’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Denying news reports to the contrary, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Leader Mavai Senathirajah yesterday (21) said that the party has not taken any decision nor requested the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader and Trincomalee District MP R. Sampanthan to resign from his Parliamentary seat. Speaking to The Morning yesterday, Senathirajah noted …

Continue reading ‘ITAK President “Maavai” Senathirajah Refutes Media Reports of Party Pressure being Exerted on TNA Leader Sampanthan to Resign as Trinco MP; “We have not taken any decision nor do we request our Leader to resign. We cannot remove him either,” says Maavai’ »

By Ananth Krishnan and Meera Srinivasan China has offered Pakistan’s visiting Army Chief technical help as the country deals with record floods, but did not announce any substantial financial assistance which its “all-weather” ally has been seeking. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, facing financial stress, have been engaged in long-running talks with Beijing for assistance, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka keeps pressing China for a $4 billion loan but talks dragging on for several months appear to have not yielded an agreement. Rather than restructure Sri Lanka’s existing debt, Beijing has indicated it would prefer to instead extend new loans to an already heavily indebted economy.’ »

SJB, MP Eran Wickramaratne warned the new President and the government not to get caught up in corruption, theft and irregularities and said that if they get caught up in them, the country will never be able to be rebuilt. Speaking in Parliament today (21) he also emphasized the importance of being careful about officials …

Continue reading ‘“Beware of officials who mislead the parliament with distorted figures” Eran Wickramaratne tells the President and Govt. “Launch investigation on excise tax leakage during yahapalana regime” suggests SJB MP’ »

BY Buwanajee Coralage In Sri Lanka, all fruitful initiatives for national growth have always been blocked by antiquated cultural arguments, claimed State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage while addressing Parliament yesterday (21). “A country needs to uphold its culture and religion, but not at the expense of its growth. The so-called preachers of Buddhism are …

Continue reading ‘“A country needs to uphold its culture and religion, but not at the expense of its growth. The so-called preachers of Buddhism are not aware of its philosophy” says Tourism State Minister Diana Gamage’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray In many ways, the economic collapse of Sri Lanka became a near certainty in the weeks after Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected President. In hindsight, it is clear to all that his government’s number one priority was consolidating their power and punishing those it saw as their enemies. Its next priority was …

Continue reading ‘Though Mangala has left this earth, his radical centrist ideology still exists in the hearts of the Sri Lankan youth and clear-minded citizens. And if our country is to truly ever thrive again, Mangala’s ideology must be protected, it must blossom, it must become our national ideology.’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah The People’s Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists at The Hague, the Netherlands, yesterday (19) issued an indictment against the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), which it found guilty over the murder of editor and Attorney-at-Law Lasantha Wickrematunge. Judge Eduardo Bertoni, who is part of the panel of judges of the Tribunal, …

Continue reading ‘The People’s Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists at The Hague in Netherlands issues indictment against the Govt of Sri Lanka (GoS over the murder of editor and Attorney-at-Law Lasantha Wickrematunge in 2009.’ »

By Caroline Davies After the majestic funeral pomp and military spectacle, unsurpassed in the nation’s living memory and watched across the world, the final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II would belong only to her family. Night had fallen as she was laid to rest next to the Duke of Edinburgh in the George VI Memorial …

Continue reading ‘Farewell Queen Elizabeth II: Ceremonial splendour in London gives way to a quiet burial in Windsor as Britain says goodbye to its longest-reigning monarch’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah A letter signed by the political parties of the North and the East opposing the demographic changes in the Trincomalee District will be handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe upon his arrival from the UK. Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK) Leader and MP C.V. Wigneswaran, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Leader Mavai …

Continue reading ‘Six Tamil Parties to Submit Joint Letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe about Alleged Attempts by Eastern Province Governor to Engineer Demographic Changes Affecting the Tamil people in Trincomalee District’ »

For the millions who watched on June 2nd 1953—for it was the first time in history that a British coronation had been televised—the most moving part of the ceremony came near the end. It was then that the imperial state crown, encrusted with 2,868 diamonds and weighing more than a kilogram, was placed on the …

Continue reading ‘Queen Elizabeth was vested with a sacred duty to hold together a country which, in the ensuing decades, became more diverse, fissiparous, irreverent and distracted than it had ever been before. And so she did!’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah While appreciating the stance taken by United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery Tomoya Obokata regarding the labour conditions of plantation workers at the ongoing 51st UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session last week, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mano Ganesan noted …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan Notes Appreciatively that upcountry Tamil Sri Lankans are, as a minority ethnic community are being gradually given due recognition by the international community.’ »

(Excerpted from the Political Column spearing in the “Sunday Morning”of September 18th 2022) USAID Chief Power during her brief visit to Sri Lanka met with President Wickremesinghe, Opposition legislators, farmers, civil and business communities and the PTA was also a focal point in her discussions. Wickremesinghe and Power had a one-on-one meeting as well. When …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe and USAID Chief Samantha Power Have One on One Meeting Prior to Official Meeting but US envoy Juiie Chung Exerts Pressure and gets “permission” to sit in one what was Supposedly a one on one Conversation.’ »

The President’s Office has directed state institutions to ensure that no citizens should starve due to lack of food and children should not be victims of malnutrition. A circular has been sent out to ministries, provincial council chief secretaries, district and divisional secretaries to implement a series of decisions and an accelerated national multi-sector combined …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Issues Directive to set up an accelerated national multi-sector combined programme to ensure that no citizens should starve due to lack of food and children should not be victims of malnutrition;president’s Office sends out Circular to ministries, provincial council chief secretaries, district and divisional secretaries for Implementation’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene Hawks may cry till the cows come home (to horribly malign that popular idiom) but as another ‘Geneva session’ takes place with the customary trumpeting, a few home truths must be recognised, as unpalatable as those may be. Geneva promises defeated by action at home Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister who also …

Continue reading ‘State agents are acting with impunity against public figures with no fear of popular reprisal. That signifies a change in the methods of the Deep State. Evidently, all pretences have been dropped. What we are up against now is a fully fledged police state and these words are not used lightly either.’ »

By Victor Ivan After Ranil Wickremesinghe became the President, the dominance the Aragalaya had gained over the Government was suppressed by the police and the security forces without causing loss of lives or major injuries to the protestors. If it was not done, the authority of the Government would have collapsed completely, and the country …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka having a president of the calibre of Ranil instead of Gotabaya can be considered an accidental outcome of the Aragalaya, which is beneficial for the country’ »

(Excerpted from the “Ceylon Politics”Column in “Ceylon Today” by Gagani Weerakoon) Channa Wickremesinghe, younger brother of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, hosted a party for State Ministers who recently assumed duties. A majority of the invitees were in attendance. As the night grew many State Ministers who attended the wine and dine session appeared overly inebriated. A …

Continue reading ‘Inebriated State Minister from Political Family pulls out Personal Pistol and Shoots in air Bringing Part of the Ceiling down Injring one at Party hosted for new State Ministers by President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Brother Channa Wickremesinghe’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A Sri Lankan court on Friday named former President Maithripala Sirisena a suspect in a case pertaining to the 2019 Easter terror bombings and directed him to appear in court this October. The Magistrate Court in Colombo’s Fort area gave the orders in response to a private plaint filed by Fr. Cyril …

Continue reading ‘Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena named as a suspect by Colombo Magistrate Courts in a case pertaining to the 2019 Easter terror bombings; Mr. Sirisena asked to appear in Colombo court in October’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon President Ranil Wickremesinghe said if Parliament fails to reach an agreement on electoral reforms, he will hold a referendum and ask the country which system they prefer. He said he will convene Parliament to state unequivocally that they must agree on electoral reform, despite the fact that the parties are arguing among …

Continue reading ‘Tamils Detained Under Prevention of Terrorism Act to be Released soon, President Ranil Wickremesinghe tells Samantha Power, Administrator, US Agency for International Development (USAID);“We have agreed on a formula that will set off the period in detention against the judgement, and since they have all had more than ten years, no judgement will be more than ten years”says Ranil’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka will revive its Free Trade Agreement with India and upgrade it to a “a comprehensive economic and technological partnership”, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said, signalling Colombo’s willingness to revisit a stalled pact. Addressing the Sri Lanka India Society on Thursday, Mr. Wickremesinghe said his government would take steps for better …

Continue reading ‘‘We will revive and upgrade the Free Trade Agreement with India into a comprehensive economic and technological partnership’ states Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Gagani Weerakoon Addressing the first ever graduation ceremony of the National Defence College in Colombo, President Wickremesinghe said the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean has turnedSri Lanka into the regional ‘punching bag’. He pointed out that there are around 17 ports operated by the Chinese in the Indian Ocean and they are all commercial …

Continue reading ‘Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean has turned Sri Lanka into the regional ‘punching bag said President Ranil Wickremesinghe while addressing the irst ever graduation ceremony of the National Defence College in Colombo’ »

By Saman Indrajith The Frontline Socialist Party, on Tuesday, said that people had no option but to take to the streets to chase out the incumbent government. “The government has not learnt that people engage in protests because they no longer can put up with hardships. We have no other option but to beat off …

Continue reading ‘Frontline Socialist Party Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda tells Press Conference that “people had no option but to take to the streets to chase out the incumbent govt”; Jagoda says “Ranil Wickremesinghe says that he has no home to go. He should not go home, he should be sent to a prison for the crimes he had committed”’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah A fresh draft resolution on Sri Lanka, which was co-sponsored by the Core Group of countries on Sri Lanka at the ongoing 51st United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session, noted the need for power devolution, the conduct of polls, addressing the plight of missing persons, replacing the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary …

Continue reading ‘Newly drafted resolution on Sri Lanka, co-sponsored by the Core Group of countries on Sri Lanka, Comprising the UK, Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the US presented at the ongoing 51st United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva’ »

By Shavindra Fernando It was on October 22 in 1981 in Colombo. I was 22, the youngest of the Sri Lanka Press Corps of around a dozen reporters, who were afforded an audience with the Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh in Colombo. I was a reporter for the Ceylon Daily Mirror of …

Continue reading ‘How a 22 Year old Sri Lankan Journalist Became Famous in his Family Circle as “The boy who shook hands with the Queen of England, and the Duke of Edinburgh”.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray World champions they are not. In times gone by, Sri Lankan teams secured silverware on the world’s premier cricketing podiums. But not since 2014 when they won the Asia Cup. Since then, not even close. The glory days of the 1990s and the first decade of the new millennium were stuff …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup Winning Cricket and Netball Teams Embody the Resolve of a Nation that has seen Adversity, Suffered untold Horrors and yet Overcame all Challenges, Smiling Through it all.This Self-belief is in Sri Lankan DNA’ »

Originally pencilled in as the host, it was fitting that Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup even if the championship was held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The debilitating economic crisis in the island-nation meant that Sri Lanka had to shift the continental tournament’s base to the UAE but even in the desert sands, …

Continue reading ‘WELL WON::Even in the desert sands, Dasun Shanaka’s men felt at home and during Sunday’s final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka defied the odds to defeat Pakistan by 23 runs. -THE HINDU’ »

By Sanja De Silva Jayatilleka The Sunday papers in Colombo gave a heads-up on the new resolution (currently at the stage of the ‘Zero Draft’) on Sri Lanka reportedly being negotiated at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, revealing that “the Zero Draft resolution seeks to recommend action against political leaders and state …

Continue reading ‘Outgoing UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michele Bachelet’s Up to date Report on Sri Lanka presented to the Human Rights Council on Sri Lanka concludes that the current administration “appear[s] to reflect a continuity with the past.”’ »

By Meera Srinivasan India on Monday voiced concern over the “lack of measurable progress” in Sri Lanka’s promised political solution to the long-pending Tamil national question, while making an unusual reference to the crisis-hit island nation’s “debt-driven” economy in the context of its current crisis. In its statement at the 51 st session of the …

Continue reading ‘India Voices concern at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva over the “lack of measurable progress” in Sri Lanka’s Committed political solution to the ethnic issue “through full implementation of 13th Amendment of the Constitution, delegation of powers to Provincial Councils and holding of Provincial Council elections at the earliest”’ »

By Mirudhula Thambiah Sri Lankan Muslim expatriates yesterday (11) voiced disappointment over the current implementation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against muslims in Sri Lanka, and stressed that they would take up the human rights violations in relation to this rigid law at the 51st United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions scheduled …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Muslim Expatriates’ Council will Take up issue of Prevention of Terrorism Act(PTA) related Human Rights Violations Affecting Muslims in Sri Lanka During UN Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva’ »

By Meera Srinivasan China must cooperate with Sri Lanka in its debt restructure process, Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Sunday, while assuring Colombo of the U.S.’s support. Sri Lanka, which opted for a preemptive sovereign default in April amid a rapid downturn, must negotiate with its …

Continue reading ‘“The United States stands ready to participate in the restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debt. It is imperative that all of Sri Lanka’s creditors, most notably the People’s Republic of China cooperate in this process openly and on comparable terms with each other.” Says Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera National People’s Power (NPP) MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and former MP Hirunika Premachandra accused the prison authorities of mistreating actress Damitha Abeyratne, who was arrested and then placed in remand custody for allegedly forcibly entering the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo during the massive public protests in July. Dr. Amarasuriya, after visiting the …

Continue reading ‘NPP Parliamentarian Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and former MP Hirunika Premachandra accuse prison authorities of mistreating actress cum “Aragalaya” activist Damitha Abeyratne after visiting her at Welikada Jail’ »

By Dinitha Rathnayake Several key activists of the “aragalaya” are in Geneva, Switzerland to participate in the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The UNHRC will hold its 51st regular session starting today (12) until 7 October at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Social activist Shehan Malaka, Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage, …

Continue reading ‘Several key “Aragalaya” activists Arrive in Geneva to voice out against what they claim is Govt repression and raise awareness about the arrest of Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) Convenor Wasantha Mudalige. During UN Human Rights Council Sessions’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene It is entirely fitting that, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, while swearing in an obscene number of State Ministers including those who assaulted peaceful protestors at the Galle Face Green on May 9th 2022, had the profound gall to issue a directive this Friday instructing the ‘frugal’ manner in which state funds …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s political leadership must learn that, by forsaking the lessons that the first wave of protests have taught us, they risk second and third waves of far deadlier agitations.No one can say that they were not forewarned.’ »

By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka When President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose political support base the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and its allies secured a two-thirds majority in Parliament and leveraged it to pass the hyper-centralising 20th Amendment to the Constitution, Sri Lanka had its most unipolar political moment since 1977-’78, which resulted in two civil wars …

Continue reading ‘The SLPP-led coalition is shattered and now the SLPP itself has suffered a schism. The ruling party, no longer a ruling coalition, is barely clinging to a simple majority in Parliament. In a clearly positive development, a significant centre-left space has reopened in Sri Lankan politics.’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana The arrest of a prominent ‘aragalaya’ activist and a contentious debate on malnutrition among the country’s mothers and children saw sparks fly between the government and opposition benches in Parliament this week. The arrest of award-winning actress Damitha Abeyratne, who had been at the forefront of the ‘aragalaya’ (struggle), saw opposition MPs …

Continue reading ‘Sparks fly in Parliament as Opposition Raised the Issue of \ The arrest of award-winning actress Damitha Abeyratne who had been at the forefront of the ‘aragalaya’ (struggle),’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has brought us to a crisis that seems worse than what the politicians did by bringing us to bankruptcy. It is the process of recovery – with that shaky pledge of US $ 2.9 billion in four years, to overcome the unprecedented economic turmoil.Among the IMF aims …

Continue reading ‘The International Monetary Fund (IMF) may be the new divinity, saint, aacharya, sacred preacher or teacher in this fight against corruption in Sri Lanka.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued on Behalf of the Ilankai Thamilarasu Katchi (ITAK)Youth Front, Justice for All and the Alliance of Trade Union & Mass organisations) An island-wide signature campaign has been launched calling for the repeal of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) brought in 1979 as a temporary provisions Act for six …

Continue reading ‘Island-wide signature campaign calling for the repeal of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to Commence from Kankesanthurai in the North to Hambantota in the South’ »

By M.M.Zuhair At a time when the country is increasingly dependent on the assistance of foreign countries to tackle the deepening economic crisis and the steeply rising cost of living, the Government must objectively address the human rights concerns alleged against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) commencing sittings in Geneva. …

Continue reading ‘How can the Government delegation to UNHRC now refuse UNHRC mechanism to gather evidence of human rights violations in Sri Lanka having in 2019 allowed foreign agencies to investigate 21/4 Easter Sunday attacks?’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has emphasised that all authorities should make every effort to utilise public funds spent by the Government in a frugal and efficient manner, taking into account the severe economic difficulties that the Government has to face in the current economic and social climatallocated e of the country. President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Imposes Strictures on all 37 newly Appointed State Ministers in a bid to Utilise Public Fubds Frugally amidst Economic Crisis; separate Expenditure Head will not be Allpcared to State Ministries’ »

By Meenakshi Ganguly South Asia Director h-Human Rights Watch On Thursday, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed 37 new ministers to his government. In the latest alarming indication that his new administration is not committed to protecting human rights, ending impunity, or upholding the rule of law, three of the appointees are implicated in serious …

Continue reading ‘Appointment of Lohan Ratwatte,Sanath Nishantha and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyan as State Ministers Critized by Human Rights Watch; all three are allegedly implicated in Human rights Abuses charges HRW’ »

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the Ministry of Public Administrations & Home Affairs to declare September 19 a day of mourning in view of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. A statement from the president’s office said on Friday September 09 that the national flag will be hoisted at half-mast.

By Suhasini Haidar India announced a day of National Mourning on Sunday, September 11, to mark the passing of the Queen of United Kingdom, Elizabeth II. The government announced the day of mourning on Friday, adding that President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent condolence messages to the U.K. royal …

Continue reading ‘India announces a day of National Mourning on Sunday, September 11, to mark the passing of the Queen of United Kingdom, Elizabeth II;As per the protocol, the National Flag would be flown at half-mast on Sunday and there will be no official entertainment that day.’ »

(Text of Editorial in “The Guardian” headlined “The Guardian view on the death of Queen Elizabeth II: the end of an era”) News of Queen Elizabeth’s death was not wholly unexpected. She lived to the great age of 96. After enjoying markedly good health for so long, the oldest monarch in British history had recently …

Continue reading ‘“The Queen’s life spanned the entire history of modern Britain. She was born when Britain ruled a global empire of some 600 million people. She died when Britain was a medium-sized northern European country with an uncertain future”- The Guardian’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera A request by Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa from Leader of the House Minister Susil Premajayantha to take necessary steps to release actress and activist Damitha Abeyratne ignited a heated debate between the Opposition and Government in Parliament yesterday (8). Abeyratne, who was arrested by the Police on …

Continue reading ‘Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa Urges Release of Actress cum Aragalaya Activist Damitha Abeyratne and Ignites Heated Argument in Parliament with Prasanna Ranatunga,Namal Rajapaksa and KPS Kumarasiri’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka on Thursday appointed 37 State ministers, including one from the Rajapaksa family, as President Ranil Wickremesinghe expanded his government amid efforts to set the country’s battered economy on a recovery path. Barring a few, all newly appointed ministers, including some tainted by allegations of corruption and violence, are from the …

Continue reading ‘Barring a few, all newly appointed State ministers, including some tainted by allegations of corruption and violence, are from the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) or its long-time allies.’ »

By Caroline Davies Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, has died at the age of 96. Prince Charles, 73, heir to the throne since the age of three, is now king, and the Duchess of Cornwall is now Queen Consort. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral …

Continue reading ‘Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history dies peacefully at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96.;Prince Charles, 73, is now King, Charles 111 and the Duchess of Cornwall is now Queen Consort.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Court of Appeal today issued notices on Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarian Sanath Nishantha to appear in court on September 13 over two contempt of court cases filed by two lawyers. The lawyers Vijitha Kumara and Priyalal Sirisena had filed these applications against Puttlalam District Parliamentarian Sanath Nishantha for committing …

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal issues notices on Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarian and Newly Appointed State Minister Sanath Nishantha to appear in court on September 13 over two contempt of court cases filed by two lawyers.’ »

37 State Ministers were sworn in before President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat in the morning of September 8th 2022. Sri Lanka Freedom Party Parliamentarians Jagath Pushpakumara, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake and Lasantha Alagiyawanna have taken oaths as State Ministers before the President The Sworn in State Miisters and the portfolios assigned Jagath …

Continue reading ‘37 State Ministers Sworn in Before President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sep 8th; Rajapaksas Begin Return to Govt with Shasheendra Rajapaksa becoming Irrigation State Minister;Majority of ministers are from the SLPP.’ »

(Text of Speech made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the 76th anniversary celebrations of the United National Party (UNP held at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium on September 6th 2022). “We have gathered today for the party’s anniversary celebrations, for the first time, after the Covid-19 pandemic. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to …

Continue reading ‘“ I am facing a different situation to what other UNP leaders had to face I have no UNP government. I have no UNP parliament team..Today, we have to all come together in governing this country and with the support of several other parties, including the SLPP”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

The next objective of the “aragalaya” (struggle) should be to build new leaders to be sent to Parliament, stated “aragalaya” leaders. Dr. Pathum Kerner, a prominent figure amidst the “GotaGoHome” campaign, which sought to hold former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa accountable for his perceived mistakes, said that the next struggle should be to build new leaders …

Continue reading ‘“The Next Objective of the “Aragalaya” (Struggle)Must be to Build a new Leadership and send 100 Brand New Faces to Parliament” suggests Dr. Pathum Kerner of “Gota Go Home”Protest Fame’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The Basil Rajapaksa faction…were demanding positions as state ministers…with perks and privileges (including) one private secretary, one media secretary, and three coordinating secretaries. All are entitled to separate vehicles… State ministers are also entitled to five office staff members, three vehicles, and other perks and privileges enjoyed by the ministers.” – The …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe’s tax proposals constitute a commendable first step. These are probably the most progressive taxation measures proposed by a Lankan administration in decades’ »

Sri Lanka had no practice of revealing International Monetary Fund programs to parliament early and tax changes can only be revealed to the parliament at the time of implementation, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Sri Lanka has had 16 IMF programs in the past after balance of payments trouble was triggered by Sri Lanka’s …

Continue reading ‘Central Bank Governor States that there is no Practice of Revealing IMF programs to Parliament early; “Memorandum of Economic Policies signed between IMF and Finance Minister “has never been tabled in the parliament to my knowledge and has not even been submitted to the cabinet” says Dr.Nandalal Weerasinghe’ »

By Yohan Perera Highlighting that a ‘Devani Aragalaya’ (A second struggle) will be launched for a systems change shortly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said the parties will finalise an agreement on the proposed National Council. Speaking during a gathering held to mark the 76th anniversary of UNP, the President said Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had informed …

Continue reading ‘“We will begin a ‘Devani Aragalaya’ (Second Struggle)to bring in vast reforms shortly. I won’t live to see the country reaping the harvest of these changes. However I intend to build a better nation for the future generations”says President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

The United National Party’s (UNP) 76th anniversary was held yesterday (6) at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the first time in 28 years that the UNP celebrated its anniversary with its leader as the President of Sri Lanka. “Let’s Build Together” was the theme of this year’s UNP anniversary, …

Continue reading ‘United National Party’s 76th Anniversary celebrated with the theme “let us Build Together” at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo with Party Leader President Ranil Wickremesinghe Presiding over Ceremonies’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Linking Sri Lanka’s past record on human rights record to its current economic crisis, the U.N. Human Rights Chief on Tuesday said “impunity” for human rights abuses, economic crimes, and corruption was the “underlying” reason for the country’s collapse. A report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, released days ahead …

Continue reading ‘Undedrlying Reasons for Sri Lanka’s economic Collapse are past impunity for human rights abuses, economic crimes and Corruption ’ says UN Human Rights Commissioner Michele Bachelet in UNHRC Report’ »

By Max Colchester and David Luhnow Liz Truss became Britain’s third prime minister in just over three years on Tuesday, taking power in a nation that faces a toxic brew of looming recession, high inflation, a historic energy price shock, and a sinking currency. Ms. Truss, 47, met Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral, Scotland, to …

Continue reading ‘“As strong as the storm may be, I know that the British people are stronger,” says Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss in a brief address to the nation as Country faces looming recession, high inflation, a historic energy price shock, and a sinking currency.’ »

Declinism, that dull fear of Britain’s sunset, has shaped the country’s post-war politics. It propelled Harold Macmillan’s wish to enter the European Economic Community, the eu’s precursor, and fuelled Margaret Thatcher’s economic revolution. And now it has helped Liz Truss into Downing Street. On September 5th Ms Truss was declared the winner of the ballot …

Continue reading ‘“What kind of prime minister will Liz Truss be? Britain’s new Leader is a small-state conservative in a big-state era”-The Economist’ »

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe recently told a forum of Members of Parliament that the crisis-led hardships must be faced by the rich as well, not just by the poor. “If the economic difficulties faced by low-income groups increase, such groups may take to the streets and because of this, riots may occur in …

Continue reading ‘Central Bank Governor Dr.Nandalal Weerasinghe Tells Sri Lankan Parliamentarians that Rich people must bear hardships caused by the Economic Crisis and not Poor People alone ;low-income groups should be protected and money should be allocated for social security networks.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Ahead of the UN Human Rights Chief’s latest report on Sri Lanka, and a likely resolution at the coming session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Sri Lankan government reiterated that it would not accept any external mechanism on war-time accountability. Addressing a media conference in Colombo on Monday, Minister …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan govt reiterates that it would not accept any external mechanism on war-time accountability; “But external mechanism, we are not agreeable… because our Constitution does not allow that,” Says Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, without elaborating on the constitutional provisions that prohibit it.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Watching Mikhail Gorbachev at the World Festival of Youth and Students in the Summer of 1985, I had a thought which I later recorded in an article in the Sri Lankan newspapers. I felt, and wrote, that “at last we have a Soviet leader we do not have to be embarrassed about”. …

Continue reading ‘Mikhail Gorbachev was a tender-minded tragic figure who by his inexplicable confusion and conversion assisted the suicide of the Soviet Union as a superpower.’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake Ranjan Ramanayake’s refusal to accept any official position shows a commitment to independent action after gaining limited freedom from imprisonment. The limited freedom that Ranjan has received with no civic rights is in fact a huge insult to one who has been an active politician elected to parliament by the people with …

Continue reading ‘Ranjan Ramanayake’s release and the cases against him on Contempt of Court certainly raises many issues about how our legal system covers or addresses the subject of Contempt.’ »

In what could be called a spontaneous outpouring of gratitude, huge number of Sri Lankans from all walks of life came together and filled the Grand Marquee to thank India for all of the support extended to Sri Lanka towards overcoming the economic obstacles the country has been facing. In attendance was The High Commissioner …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankans from different Walks of Live Gather in Large Numbers in an Expression of Gratitude to Thank India for all of the support extended to Sri Lanka towards overcoming the economic obstacles the country has been facing in Recent Times’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene For a President once feted as a war hero, to creep back stealthily to a country that he fled from in panic as the angry public roared outside his gates less than two months ago, is classic filmfare. Losing the dignity of citizenship But this is not the stuff of celluloid. …

Continue reading ‘Life may have resumed as normal for many. But the poor are squeezed just that little bit more and worse is anticipated, all in the name of economic reforms to return Sri Lanka from bankruptcy. On its part, the State has regrouped, predictably using all the formidable weapons in its arsenal.’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s interim budget, with ambitious goals of significantly increasing government revenue and reducing public debt by 2025, was passed by Parliament on Friday (2) in a vote where many in the opposition chose to abstain. National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake asked for a division …

Continue reading ‘President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Succeeds in Getting interim budget passed with 115 Majority; 120 MPs from Different Parties Vote for while 5 from JVP and ACTC vote against.Most MPs Abstain or are Absent’ »

By Marianne David “We have to adopt multiple approaches to get more efficient State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs),” said LIRNEasia Chairman Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, in an interview with The Sunday Morning, outlining ways in which SOE reforms could be carried out to enable Sri Lanka’s recovery. While welcoming the move to establish an SOE Restructuring Unit as …

Continue reading ‘“We have to adopt multiple approaches to get more efficient State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs),” says LIRNEasia Chairman Prof. Rohan Samarajiva; outlines ways in which SOE reforms could be carried out to enable Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.’ »

By Asiri Fernando Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) will be given a security detail in accordance with the Constitution following a threat assessment, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles said yesterday (3). “He will be offered a security detail from the Police and the Army in accordance with the privileges of an Executive President. Sri …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be given a security detail from the Police and the Army in accordance with the privileges of an Executive President says Public Security Minister Tiran Alles’ »

By R.K.Radhakrishnan Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Colombo’s Bandaranaike International airport exactly the same way he left the country seven weeks ago—under cover of darkness and shrouded in secrecy—aided by Sinhalese politicians who closed ranks. Just past midnight on September 3, a Singapore Airlines flight brought the former President back to his …

Continue reading ‘Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrives in Colombo’s Bandaranaike International airport under cover of darkness and is whisked away in a heavily guarded convoy of vehicles after Sri Lankan Ministers garland and welcome him back,’ »

Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday returned to the country from Thailand, nearly two months after he fled the country following a massive uprising against his government over the island nation’s worst-ever economic crisis. Mr. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country on July 13 after months-long mass public demonstrations demanding his immediate resignation on …

Continue reading ‘Ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa Returns to Sri Lanka From Thailand by Singapore Airlines Flight; ariives at Katunayake Airport amidst tight security ;welcomed by SLPP MPs ,ministers and ex-ministers who take him to Colombo in a motorcade’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Citing media reports of a Chinese firm investing in a sea cucumber farm in Pungudutivu, off Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, local fishermen have raised concern over its potential impact on their livelihoods, marine ecosystem, and land. “We recognise the need for investment in our war-affected region, but the sea cucumber …

Continue reading ‘Envisaged sea cucumber farm project with Chinese Investment in Pungudutivu off Jaffna Peninsula Causes local fishermen to raise concerns over its potential impact on their livelihoods, marine ecosystem, and land.’ »

(Text of speech made in Parliament by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran on 01st September 2022 during the interim budget debate) நன்றி பிரதித் தவிசாளர் அவர்களே, எனக்கு முன்னதாக பேசிய அமைச்சர் யாழ்ப்பாண பிரதேசத்திலே வெங்காய உற்பத்தியைப் பற்றிச் சொன்னார், மண்ணெண்ணெய் அவர்களுக்கு கொடுக்க வேண்டும் என்று பேசினார், ஆனால் இன்றைக்கு இரண்டு மாதங்களுக்கு மேலாக மண்ணெண்ணெய் இல்லாமல் அவஸ்தை படுகிறார்கள். விவசாயிகள் நீர் இறைக்கிற இயந்திரத்திற்கு மண்ணெண்ணெய் …

Continue reading ‘“Why has President Wickremesinghe signed the three Detention orders under the PTA in Sinhala instead of Signing in English as he normally does? Is there a change in personality? Is he appealing to some sections in the country by signing in Sinhala and that too on detention orders? -MA Sumanthiran’ »

An IMF mission led by Peter Breuer and Masahiro Nozaki visited Colombo from August 24 to September 1, 2022 to continue discussions on IMF support for Sri Lanka and the authorities’ comprehensive economic reform program. At the end of the mission, Messrs. Breuer and Nozaki issued the following statement: “The Sri Lankan authorities and the …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Reaches Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund subject to the approval by IMF management and the Executive Board in the period ahead:IMF will Provide a new 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) amounting to US$2.9 billion’ »

By Imesh Ranasinghe Sri Lanka has only reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prior to a staff-level agreement for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), stated former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Deputy Governor Dr. W.A. Wijewardena, clarifying a report by Reuters published yesterday (31 August). …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka has reached only a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prior to a staff-level agreement for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) states former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Deputy Governor Dr. W.A. Wijewardena’ »

by Uditha Jayasinghe Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a preliminary agreement on an emergency loan to the crisis-hit country and a formal announcement will be made on Thursday, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The debt-laden island nation had sought up to $3 billion from the global …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Reaches Preliminary Agreement with the International Monetary Fund(IMF); Formal Announcement likely to be made on Thursday Sep 1st’ »

Few moments better encapsulate the hope and hubris of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure binge, than the inauguration of Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port City in 2014. Xi Jinping, China’s president, attended in person, nodding approvingly as a project manager introduced the $15bn plan to build a high-tech offshore financial centre with a …

Continue reading ‘“Sri Lanka will be a critical test of Chinese willingness to co-ordinate with other lenders. The hope now for Sri Lanka is that Zambia’s deal has set a precedent for China to co-ordinate with other creditors”- The Economist’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The Jaffna University Students’ Union has lashed out at the Chinese envoy in Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, for extending support to the Sri Lankan government’s stand on the war crimes issue that is to come up for discussion at the UN Human Rights Council’s session in September. In an article sent to the …

Continue reading ‘Jaffna University Students’ Union Lashes out Against Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong at Media briefing;signing of agreement between Jaffna Agriculture faculty and Chinese Agricultural institute indefinitely postponed;Chinese envoy’s visit to Jaffna cancelled.’ »

The two great heroes in Mikhail Gorbachev’s pantheon were 19th-century socialist thinkers, Alexander Herzen and Vissarion Belinsky, whose main concerns were the dignity of the individual, and whose books he knew almost by heart. When they appeared on the Russian stage, in Tom Stoppard’s trilogy “The Coast of Utopia”, he went to see them. At …

Continue reading ‘Mikhail Gorbachev who ended the cold war was the last leader of the Soviet Union and the architect of its dissolution’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is a consequence of the corruption over two Rajapaksa regimes, said former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, admitting she is “thrilled” by the aragalaya or people’s movement that overthrew them recently. “When our systems have crashed and been destroyed consciously, how do you change things…the only way to change …

Continue reading ‘“I would say that the 225 MPs are hanging on by force. They do not have the people’s mandate anymore……… I fully agree that all 225 MPs must go and a new government with new faces and the right kind of vision must come to power.”- Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga in Interview with “The Hindu”’ »

By V.Thanabalasingham Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from the post of Prime Minister on May 9. On June 9, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa resigned as a Member of Parliament. Following a mass uprising on July 9, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the Presidential Palace, flew abroad, and resigned from there. These three “9ths” have secured a permanent …

Continue reading ‘The political class as a whole is not going to let people’s power decide as to how they should act. Even though the opposition parties speak in support of the ‘Aragalaya’ movement, they still support the govt’s current repressive measures in their heart of hearts.’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday rolled out sweeping reforms and relief via the mini-Budget to appease crisis-hit vulnerable groups as well as kick-start recovery in the economy. The interim Budget was replete with reforms, especially in the public sector and included mandatory exit by December by all Government and semi-Government employees who are over 60 years …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe rolls out sweeping reforms and relief via mini-Budget to appease crisis-hit vulnerable groups;“I am well aware of the difficulties faced by many due to the ongoing crisis.That’s why I decided to cut some of the capital expenditure and find room to provide enhanced support for vulnerable communities,” Ranil Tells Parliament.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Sri Lanka’s interim budget presented by President cum Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in parliament here on Tuesday, is intended to lay the foundation for a progressive economy even as it provides a buffer to the poor who are bearing the brunt of the current unprecedented economic crisis. “The Interim Budget is basic to …

Continue reading ‘President cum Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Presents Sri Lanka’s interim budget which is intended to lay the foundation for a progressive economy even as it provides a buffer to the poor who are bearing the brunt of the current unprecedented economic crisis.’ »

By Jehan Perera The ruling party has requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe to facilitate the return of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the country and his appointment as prime minister. The former president left the country when large numbers of protestors who had been actively protesting against the economic collapse and corruption in the country took …

Continue reading ‘The ongoing crackdown on the protest movement needs to cease. Its excessive nature is discrediting the government in the eyes of the international community as well as within the country. The blame for this is falling squarely on the president’ »

By Nisthar Cassim Saddled with nearly half a trillion rupee accumulated losses and $ 1 billion in debt and dues, SriLankan Airlines Group is to be restructured inviting foreign operators to take up 49% equity stake and management to ensure the national carrier no longer becomes a burden on the public. Ports, Shipping and Aviation …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Airlines Group to be restructured by inviting foreign operators to take up 49% equity stake and management;Govt Unable to fund Loss making National Carrier any longer’ »

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday in Parliament defended the decision to increase electricity tariffs, citing spendthrift generation plans and unsuitable policies adopted by successive governments pushed for the inevitable upward adjustments. Speaking during an adjournment debate on electricity tariff hike, he pointed out that electricity users would not have been shocked if timely …

Continue reading ‘Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera defends decision to increase electricity tariffs, citing spendthrift generation plans and unsuitable policies adopted by successive governments pushed for the inevitable upward adjustments.’ »

By Col R.Hariharan (The writer is a retired military intelligence specialist on South Asia associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies) The controversial visit of China’s “spy ship” Yuan Wang-5 to Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port from August 16 to 22 is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most commented news story, next only to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s …

Continue reading ‘Indian Media had analyses of how Yuan Wang-5 berthing in Hambantota would compromise the security of India’s naval bases and satellite and missile launch sites The plain truth is Yuan Wang-5 is capable of carrying out all these actions even without docking in Hambantota port.’ »

By Asiri Fernando Sri Lankan politicians need to come together to form a credible government that can regain international confidence to lead the country to recovery, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader and Opposition Member of Parliament Mano Ganesan told The Sunday Morning. The trilingual member from Colombo stressed that the silver lining during the current …

Continue reading ‘“We want the 13th Amendment to be fully implemented. We want Sri Lanka to be constitutionally recognised as multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-religious in nature. My view, which is now picking up support, is that Sri Lanka should be a secular state.”- TPA Leader Mano Ganesan’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Crisis and turmoil are probably the opposite of sun and sand. The very whiff of these words associated with a country in the news deters most travellers from visiting even the most beguiling of destinations. The discerning traveller, however, spots opportunity, for not all crises are equal. Some can, in fact, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka is in an economic crisis, there’s no reason to deny it. And yet, Sri Lanka stands firm, unbowed and continues to smile despite trade imbalance, shortage of fuel, gas and fertiliser, and other hardships.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The 1970s-1980’s Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) playbook wielded with consummate skill by his uncle Junius Richard will not work in modern-day Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe must be categorically told. Absurd actions of the State In fact, the comedy of errors where well-known sports champions to well-meaning citizens who provided food …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe must be categorically told that the 1970s-1980’s Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) playbook wielded by his uncle JR Jayewardene , will not work in modern-day Sri Lanka.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sharply reacting to recent remarks of the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, on the controversial visit of a Chinese military vessel from August 16 to 22, the Indian mission in Colombo said they “violated basic diplomatic etiquette” and “gave away” the purpose of the vessel’s visit. In a strongly worded Twitter thread …

Continue reading ‘Indian High Commission in Colombo Responds Strongly to Chinese Envoy’s Article in Sri Lankan Media Saying “His violation of basic diplomatic etiquette may be a personal trait or reflecting a larger national attitude”’ »