BY

RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) plunged yesterday into a deeper crisis when 17 of its 29 local government members defected to the UPFA to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming Presidential Election, former Senior Vice President of the party told a news conference in Colombo.

Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila said that they would be unveiling the name of the new party and its leader soon. “Our party is founded on policies that are our foundation. We have suddenly strayed towards an alliance with the United National Party and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. There is a void in society for a Buddhist political party,” he added.

Continue reading ‘17 of 29 Local Councillors from Jathika Hela Urumaya Join Udaya Gammanpila in Supporting President Rajapaksa’ »

By Ananth Palakidnar and Mirudhula Thambiah

The Jaffna District Development Coordinating Committee meeting yesterday turned into a battle field in the presence of Chief Minister C.V.Wignesawaran when Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members crossed the floor to attack EPDP leader and Minister Douglas Devananda.

Trouble sparked off when slain LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabakaran’s relative MK.Sivajilingam was on his feet arguing with Devananda. During the clash, five EPDP members and three TNA members were reportedly injured, reports from Jaffna said.

Unable to bring the situation under control, Chief Minister Wigneswaran walked out of the meeting as members attempted to hurl chairs at each other.

Continue reading ‘5 EPDP and 3 TNA Members Injured as “War”Erupts Between Both Parties at Jaffna District Development Coordinating Committee Meeting’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

“If Sirisena wins poll, President and his brothers may try to retain power by resorting to compliant Court or military…” – International Crisis GroupMahinda’s fears must be doubled and trebled in his march towards the Presidential Election. The reason is that Chandrika is behind Maithri. Mahinda having won the 2005 Presidential Election ousted Chandrika from the SLFP leadership on her birthday. Hence, Mahinda fears that Chandrika will not only destroy his political future but also of his kith and kin. That was why even international organizations predict that Mahinda will not give up power even if he is defeated

Last week it was revealed that Mahinda Rajapaksa had met the Bishops’ Conference and assured that he would step down gracefully if he was defeated at the 8 January Presidential Poll in view of the Pope’s visit. However, this assurance looked to have been given at a time the International Crisis Group report was released. The Bishops’ Conference stressed the need to have a peaceful atmosphere in the country for the Pope’s visit.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Fears Chandrika will Destroy his Political Future and of his Kith and Kin if Maithripala wins.’ »

By Dharisha Bastians in Divulapitiya

Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena has challenged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a debate on good governance and democracy.

Speaking at an election rally in Divulapitiya last night, Sirisena urged his former boss to debate him in a neutral setting, before a panel of independent judges.

“I will come to the debate without a single piece of paper in my hands. I will teach him about good governance and democracy. I will teach him how civilised leaders rule,” a fired up Sirisena charged.

Both candidates had to be ensured security at the chosen debate venue, he said.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena Challenges Mahinda Rajapaksa to a Public Debate on Democracy and Good Governance’ »

By

Vishwamithra 1984

“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature made them.”
~ Bertrand Russell

The present Government and its coalition partners are held in so much suspicion and contempt, the obvious question that is being asked by every reasonable man and woman today is: “even if we win, will they allow our candidate to be declared the winner?”

It is a very reasonable question to ask and equally reasonable to prepare the voter, supporter and activist of the Opposition for the uphill task of upholding the law of the land to compel all officials, from the Election Department to the Police to be fair and balanced when dealing with the intricate process of balloting, counting and declaration of the winner- new President.

When undertaking any task, big or small, being ready has no substitute. Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst is a very reasonable demand from any new recruit. When talking about elections, what appears most significant in the process is, other than campaigning itself, actual voting (balloting) and counting. And when people refer to their suspicions and doubts, they are in fact referring to polling and counting.

Ever since Independence, almost all our elections, whether they were General, Presidential or By Elections, have been marred by rigging, some minor and others bordering on outright and unbelievably mass-scale frauds committed in broad daylight with regard to polling and by nightly maneuvers, especially initiated by the current regime.

Continue reading ‘“Even if we win, will they Allow our Candidate to be Declared the Winner?” Is the Question Facing Opposition Supporters in Sri Lanka.’ »

We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of His Holiness Pope Francis on our soil on the 13th January 2015 as the Vicar of Christ and the Successor of Peter. It is with great joy that we welcome our Holy Father into our midst.

Already by the simplicity of his life, his sense of evangelical poverty and Christ-like compassionate love, specially for the poor and the suffering, the Holy Father has become a much revered and loved spiritual leader of the whole, world. The Pope’s visit therefore, is a great blessing not only to the Church in Sri Lanka but also to the whole Nation. All preparations are underway and are progressing smoothly to welcome the Holy Father.

Continue reading ‘Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka Confirm Visit of Pope Francis by “Getting Ready with Great Joy to Welcome the Holy Father”’ »

by
Zacki Jabbar

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday lashed out at President Mahinda Rajapaksa saying that he was talking as if she had contributed nothing to the war against the LTTE.

Kumaratunga told a news conference at her residence in Colombo that when she left office in 2005 around sixty five percent of the territory under the control of the Tamil Tigers including Jaffna, which at that time was its nerve center had been captured.

“We drove the LTTE out of Jaffna in December 1995 about one year after I became president. By the time I left office in 2005, sixty five percent of the land extent under Prabhakaran’s control had been liberated,” she said, adding that the present government had cleared only the remaining 35 percent occupied by the Tamil Tigers.

Continue reading ‘Chandrika Kumaratunga Claims her Govt had Liberated 65% of the Land Under LTTE Control when she left office in 2005.’ »

As the promoters of the pioneering venture National News Agency Ltd, declared that their effort would remain independent and apolitical, Sri Lanka’s first mass media outlet aimed at the country’s 1.9 Mn Muslim community was unveiled yesterday (16) in Colombo-and Muslim Media Forum, an influential Muslim community voice in Sri Lanka called the effort a ‘historic event.’ “This is indeed a historic occasion. We are totally apolitical, inclusive and not in any way divisive. From today, the voice of Lankan Muslims will extend to electronic and online methods as well”, Senior President’s Counsel Faiz Mustafa said in Colombo.

Mustafa was addressing the launch event of the non-profit National News Agency Ltd, the operator of Sri Lanka’s first mass media outlet exclusively focused on the country’s Muslim community. The National News Agency would operate the Tamil language Serendib TV Channel (the first ever TV channel to totally focus on Lankan Muslims), Tamil language daily newspaper ‘Serendib’ (the first ever daily Tamil newspaper for Lankan Muslims), and Serendib Radio Channel (the first ever radio channel for Lankan Muslims), all exclusively aimed at the Muslim community of Sri Lanka. Also present at the launch of Serendib TV, newspaper and Radio Channel at Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo were Basil Rajapaksa (Economic Development Minister), Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce), Karu Jayasuriya (Member of Parliament), M Imtiaz (Chairman, National News Agency Ltd, operating firm of Serendib TV and media), Bin Saleh Al Dawood (Representative of World Muslim League), A. J. M. Muzammil (Mayor of Colombo), Faiz Mustafa (Senior President’s Counsel), Rauf Hakeem (Minister of Justice) as well as many members of the diplomatic community in Colombo.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Newspaper,TV Channel and Radio Station Named “Serendib”Launched in Sri Lanka to Focus Exclusively on the Muslim Community.’ »

By Suhada Walisinghe from Bonn, Germany

The Criminal Court in Berlin convicted two women and eight men of Sri Lankan origin, living in Berlin last Friday (12) of illegally collecting funds for the LTTE.

The duration of imprisonment ranged between six to eighteen months. The names of the accused and their prison terms are as follows:

Continue reading ‘Eight men and Two Women of Sri Lankan Origin Convicted by Berlin Criminal Court for Collecting Funds for LTTE in Germany.’ »

By

Sudha Ramachandran

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s plans to return to power as Sri Lanka’s president for a third successive term has run into trouble. With less than a month to go before the vote, Rajapaksa is ahead of his rivals but joint opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena is closing in and could unseat him in a free and fair election.

Until recently, Sirisena was Health Minister in the Rajapaksa government and General-Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the party Rajapaksa heads and which leads the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). Sirisena’s defection from the government on November 21 to be named the joint opposition candidate took the government by surprise.

The opposition’s decision to pit Sirisena against the president is a political masterstroke. Both appeal to the same constituency – nationalists among the island’s ethnic majority, the Sinhalese-Buddhists.

Sirisena can “eat into the Sinhala-Buddhist vote, which is Rajapaksa’s main constituency as well as draw support from the SLFP,” Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director of the Colombo-based Centre for Policy Alternatives told The Diplomat.

Continue reading ‘High-Stakes Battle with an invigorated opposition Challenging Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

Sri Lankan Tamil politician and Member of Parliament Seenithambi Yogeswaran has said the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), an amalgamation of Tamil parties, will announce by this month-end its stand on the January 8 presidential elections.

Talking to reporters on Saturday, Mr. Yogeswaran, who was here to attend a conference organised by the Hindu Makkal Katchi, said the TNA wanted to keep the cards close to its chest because it did not want its decision to influence the outcome of the elections.

He said that as both President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is seeking third term, and Maithripala Sirisena, the joint opposition candidate, were anti-Tamils, the TNA would take a stand after they released their manifestos.

Continue reading ‘TNA Parliamentarian Yogeswaran Tells Indian Media that both Candidates Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena are Anti-Tamil’ »

By

Chathushika Wijeyesinghe

The Democratic People’s Front had already announced its support for the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the January Presidential Election. In a wide ranging interview with the Dailymirror DPF leader Mano Ganesan claimed that the Tamils may not support President Mahinda Rajapaksa as he had failed to change the mindset of the majority community following the end of the war.

Excerpts:

Q;As the leader of the Democratic People’s Front (DPF) what is your stance on the common candidate (CC)?

We are part of the campaign of the common candidate (CC). In fact we are the only Tamil party which is on stage with Maithripala Sirisena as at date.

We are discussing the CC in the aftermath of UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake crossing over to the UPFA.

Tissa is my friend. But I am disappointed. When my own brother crossed over I was very distressed. At that time, Tissa discussed of high values and ethics in politics to console me. I don’t understand why he did this to his party and that too at a crucial hour.

Maithri faced distress in the SLFP. But Tissa did not have any issues in the UNP. His issues were small. Some describe this as tit-to-tat. But I don’t think so. He is no match for Maithri. Tissa is more of an administrative official category and Maithri is a political leader. Therefore he is our common candidate today. He will restore democracy. We trust him.

As the leader of Democratic People’s Front, my contribution to his successful campaign is unique. We will directly muster nearly 200,000 Tamil votes in the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Kandy districts.

And we will influence another large number of Tamil votes in the Nuwara-Eliya, Badulla, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts. Colombo is my home. But I am not regional but national. I am heard in the north and east too.

Continue reading ‘“I have all the Credentials to be President but I Cant Because I am an Ethnic Tamil”-DPF Leader Mano Ganesan’ »

BY

Shalika Wimalasena

Last surviving member of the first Presidential Election, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara told Ceylon Today that his Party forced him to contest that election although he did not want to do so.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q:
You are the only living candidate of Sri Lanka’s first presidential election. Tell us how you became the presidential candidate.

A: The Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) decided to contest it. But I was undecided. The reason was, I was undecided about contesting against Hector Kobbekaduwa. But I bowed to the Party decision.

Continue reading ‘Vasudeva Nanayakkara the Only Living Candidate who Contested Sri Lanka’s First ever Presidential Election Talks about 1982.’ »

By Col R Hariharan

After President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his surprise challenger Maithripala Sirisena, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), who quit his office as Minister, filed their nominations for the Presidential election on January 8, 2015 the contest has become exciting.

Maithripala’s move came as a boon to the opposition parties who were struggling to find a common strategy to stop the Rajapaksa juggernaut rolling for a third term in office. The opposition United National Party (UNP) and a few other SLFP leaders and Bandaranaike family loyalists led by former President Mrs Chandrika Kumaratunga quickly got together to name Sirisena (full name: Palle Watte Gamaralalage Maithreepala Yapa Sirisena) as the common opposition candidate of the National Democratic Front.

Undoubtedly, Sirisena’s “betrayal” has queered Rajapaksa’s calculated strategy to get elected for a third term as President. Ever since he got reelected as President in 2009 he made his move with an eye on a third term. First he gained two thirds majority the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) coalition in Parliament in the 2010 election.

He managed to get the constitution amended to lift the restriction on holding the office of the president for more than two terms. He also managed to enlarge the Executive President’s powers to appoint the head of judiciary and the election commissioner by getting the constitution amended.

While this was as planned, his popularity rapidly declined after the Rajapaksa family firmly ensconced itself in positions of power to control finances and dispense favours. The Party took a backseat, leading to widespread corruption, lawlessness and cronyism. Opposition and critical media were hounded and xenophobia nurtured. To cut down his losses the President advanced the presidential election by two years.

Continue reading ‘Can The Comparatively Less Known Sirisena Compete With Rajapaksa Hailed As a National Hero For Defeating LTTE And Eliminating Prabhakaran?’ »

by

Liyanage Amarakeerthi

phenomenon of Common Candidate resulted from a certain ethical reflection on the part of politically conscious Buddhists

The Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena (MS) is not just a person. He is a symbol as well. Different people have different interpretations of this symbol. The supporters of the Rajapakasa regime are the poorest interpreters of this symbol. For them the Common Candidate is a conspirator supported by the West. As Gunadasa Amarasekara has put it, the Common Candidate is a conspiracy of the West whose handmaid is a group of Buddhist monks led by Rev. Maduluwawe Sobhita and Aturaliye Rathana.

The aim of the West is to destroy the nationality of Sinhala people. For these uncritical defenders of the regime Rev. Sobhita and Rathna are evil monks equal to the robe wearers who assassinated former prime minister SWRD Bandaranaike. All these conspiracy theories have now lost their power of persuasion partly because that line of thinking has become so one-dimensional that it captures none of the complexities and nuances.

The response to the Common Candidate by the ideological supporters of the current regime shows one thing important to note: They do not have any fresh ideas and they have fallen into a kind of ideological slumber after the ending of the war in 2009. They have failed to create a mode of thinking suitable for the post-war Sri Lanka. That failure itself is a major cause of creating the Common Candidate – a fact the regime is still to recognize.

After the conclusion of the war, the ideologues of the regime fell into an ethical slumber in addition to the intellectual one. That is why they failed to produce an internal critique of the unprecedented corruption and waste of public resources by the regime, specially the ruling family. For that reason, all the stories of corruption narrated by the Common Candidate Movement have become extremely appealing. In fact, they are stories of horror that can instantly make people hate the regime.

Continue reading ‘Common Candidate Phenomenon is the Result of an Ethical Reflection on the part of Politically Conscious Buddhists.’ »

By

Sumanasiri Liyanage

Lightning, thunder and heavy afternoon shower are very common in these days in Negombo. As my bus moved through Katunayake-Colombo highway that borders the Negombo lagoon, I see a reflection across the lagoon what is happening over the lagoon in the sky. It is scary, but beautiful. I browsed through my ipad for latest news in pre-election time.

What is happening in the Sri Lankan political landscape is scary and ugly. In the course of one month two main bourgeois parties, the UNP and the SLFP have lost their secretaries general. News of Opposition member crossing over to the government is followed by reports of crossovers from the government. This tit for tat politics shows either two parties are basically no different as far as respective policies are concerned or politicians have no real concerns over policies and ideologies they preach in public so that crossing over is not ideologically constrained.

Continue reading ‘Current Presidential Election is an Elitist “Game”Between the UPFA and Opposition in which the People have no Significant role to Play’ »

By

Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

Enemies of the President’s Promise 23

Sneezy 4

Mahinda Samarasinghe was appointed by Cabinet to chair an Inter-Ministerial Committee to implement the Human Rights Action Plan, and wanted me to serve on it as well as on a smaller Task Force that would push things forward. Nishan told me the Minister had wanted to appoint Mohan to chair the Task Force but I told him, and the Minister too, that I would only serve on the Task Force if I were in charge. I added to the Minister, without mentioning names, that I had had enough of being appointed to committees that never met.

The Minister did not commit himself, but at the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee he announced that he had asked me to convene a Task Force to take things forward. He did say that even though I could be difficult – a bloody nuisance, added Mohan, in a loud whisper – he knew I would get things done. It was obvious from this that they had discussed the matter and Mohan had not been pleased. But I was able to go ahead, and we managed to move swiftly with regard to many matters, with excellent cooperation from most Ministries.

I was wary about Mohan by this stage because of my experience with regard to the Inter-Ministerial Committee to implement the interim recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. He had been appointed to chair this when the recommendations came out late in 2010, but there was no sign of any progress at the time the Darusman Committee issued its report in April 2011. I told the President this and, when he claimed that the Committee had made much progress, I said I thought it had never met.

Continue reading ‘Mohan Peiris was the Wrong Man to Entrust with the Human Rights Action Plan.’ »

By

Sarath de Alwis

“A thing may be too sad to be believed or too wicked to be believed or too good to be believed; but it cannot be too absurd to be believed in this planet of frogs and elephants, of crocodiles and cuttlefish.” G.K. Chesterton.

This observation of the poet, philosopher and essayist of Victorian times captures the quintessence of the political debate of the past week. It was week that produced many “manipulative pieces of persuasive art.”

I begin by reiterating that the movement for a just society headed by the Venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero and the movement for a ‘Pivithuru Hetak’ (an ‘untainted dawn’) promoted by the ecclesiastical oratory of Athuraliye Rathana Thero form the dynamo that propels the Maithripala Sirisena movement.

Madam Chandrika had the pumpkin converted to a glass carriage with a few SLFP mice fleeing to become horses ready to gallop. Cinderella Maithripala made a single deviation from the fairytale script. Cinderella had a hopper before leaving the castle. Who is Prince Charming?

Continue reading ‘Maithripala is Cinderella and Chandrika the Fairy Godmother but who is Prince Charming?’ »

By

Rasika Jayakody

Strategy meetings are taking place almost on a daily basis at the private residence of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on the progress of the political campaign of Maithripala Sirisena, the Common Candidate of the opposition.

At the strategy meetings, according to highly placed sources of the opposition, detailed PowerPoint presentation are being done with relevant statistics pertaining to the present campaign while analyzing its trajectory vis-à-vis the Presidential campaign in 2010- in which Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was the common candidate.

The leaders of the Common Opposition and other key figures who attend these meetings are of the views that the Common Candidate of the opposition stands a strong chance to win the presidential election which is taking place early next year. They believe that the popularity level of Maithripala Sirisena is higher than that of Sarath Fonseka when he contested the presidential election in 2010.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Meetings Draw Large Crowds but Opposition Campaign is Unable to Address Village Level Voters so far.’ »

By

Shehan Daniel

Sentiment will replace significance as the country prepares to bid farewell to two of its most prolific and iconic cricketers who will be playing their final limited-over games at home when Sri Lanka take on England in the final One Day International of the seven-match series at the R Premadasa Stadium today.

For much of their careers, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have shadowed each other, one outdoing the other only for the other to pull one back, and in similar fashion, days after Sangakkara played his final limited overs game at ‘home’ in Kandy, Jayawardene will do the same in Colombo.

Jayawardene, who has already retired from two out of the three formats this year, has hinted that he will call it quits from 50-over cricket at the end of next year’s World Cup, with Sangakkara stating he will do the same, though he may possibly prolong his Test retirement.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan fans Wallow in Sentiment as Sanga and Mahela Play in their Final One day International on Home Turf.’ »

The much-anticipated business forum to be addressed by the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has been rescheduled for 23 December at 10:30 a.m. at the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

It was previously planned for 17 December at TajSamudra Hotel.

The duo will address the business community in this interactive forum titled ‘Let’s Unite,’ with a special theme of ‘Boosting Growth in a Stable Policy Environment’.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala and Ranil will Address “Let’s Unite”Business Forum Re-scheduled for December 23rd at Cinnamon Lakeside.’ »

By

Malinda Seneviratne

‘We are not in the business of issuing character certificates to those who cross,’ JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. The past few weeks have seen a lot of politicians crossing party lines. These moves have been received with jeers and cheers, depending on whether the person left or arrived, respectively. Interestingly, if you took names of the ‘movers’ and the names of those who either praised or vilified the move out, it would be as though people are using the same script.

If rhetoric and self-righteous chest beating is all that these crossovers are about, it would be silly to take them too seriously. They do matter, however. They keep contenders and campaigns in the news. They are used to portray ‘sway’ even if they don’t exactly translate into the numbers that movers and backers toss around. On the other hand if people do get swayed by those who are up for sale what does it say about the voter? Not much, unfortunately.

Continue reading ‘The Political Immorality of Eleventh Hour Crossovers’ »

Let us act decisively in the name of generations to come: declaration by university academics on the 2015 Presidential election

The presidential election has been announced and each of us will be called upon to exercise our vote as citizens of this country on the 8th of January 2015. It is our considered view that our country is at a historically important juncture at this moment and our decision at this election will have crucial implications for future generations.
Continue reading ‘Let us act decisively in the name of generations to come: declaration by university academics on #PresPollSL’ »

By

Alan Gardner in Pallekele

“Sanga! Sanga! Sanga!”

pic via: twitter.com/KumarSanga2

The chanting began as Kumar Sangakkara moved into the 90s. Between the end of the 30th over and the start of the 41st, Sangakkara had faced just 15 deliveries for 15 runs, and the crowd was becoming impatient. But for one chance, spurned by England, Sangakkara had batted imperiously. His subjects had come to see a coronation and Sangakkara was not about to disappoint.

“Sanga! Sanga! Sanga!”

The noise echoed up into the sky as the sun began to set behind the hills. Sangakkara, the Man of the Match, was talking to the media but the throng remained outside the building, jostling for a glimpse. He came down to greet them, smiling, arms open. Moments later, he was being ushered back inside by lackeys and soldiers, fearful he would be mobbed. Sanga love can be hard to control.

Continue reading ‘Kandyan King of Sri Lanka Cricket – Kumar Sangakkara – Lays Down Crown in Grand Style with Unbeaten century.’ »

BY

DILANKA GUNATHILAKA

pic via: facebook.com/hirunika.e.premachandra (Oct-2014)

Provincial Councillor Hirunika Premachandra said that the citizens of this country deserve a free, fair and just society and therefore she has decided to lend her support to the Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena to achieve it.

Excerpts of that interview:

Q:
You won the first place in the Western Provincial Council election contesting on the UPFA. So why did you decide to quit the UPFA?

A: My father and the other fathers alike, who were brutally killed, have up-to-date, not been afforded even basic justice. The people of the country need a free and fair society. I support the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena based on these two objectives.

Continue reading ‘“I am not Afraid. I am not a Person who Changes Decisons…… I am Prepared to face Mudslinging” -Hirunika Premachandra.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Jayantha Dhanapala-pic courtesy of: Elliott School of International Affairs

India should have an open mind about Chinese projects in Sri Lanka unless the island was seen conferring special favours on China, which is yet not the case, former diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala said.

Mr. Dhanapala, widely acclaimed as a top diplomat who played a key role in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy engagement during the war, spoke to The Hindu recently, and shared his views on a host of issues including Sri Lanka’s relationship with India and China, political developments such as the January 8 presidential polls and the ongoing campaign in Sri Lanka seeking abolition of executive presidency.

On India voicing concern over an apparently growing Chinese presence in Sri Lanka, Mr. Dhanapala — who has held key posts in Beijing, Washington and Geneva — said: “Little Sri Lanka, when it wanted to develop its economy, offered a project of the Hambantota harbour to India who decided for very good economic reasons not to accept it, and so they went to China. Now if you can show me any economic project which has conferred special favours on China, which it has not conferred on other countries let alone India, then I would concede there is a tilt towards China. But that is not yet the case,” he said.

Continue reading ‘“String of Pearls” Theory of US must be Viewed with Suspicion as USA can Set up Chna against India in the Region warns former UN diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala’ »

by

Anuradha Samuwel

pic : facebook.com/amtattanayake

Health Minister Tissa Attanayake says that the most dangerous thing in the UNP was the Party was under various cliques and decisions regarding the Presidential Election were not taken by the Party Working Committee or Advisory Committee of the G-20 group appointed to handle the Presidential election.

Excerpts:

Q:
Why did you quit the UNP and join the government?

A: I have rendered a yeoman service to the UNP as General Secretary. I remained in the party in the midst of defeats and safeguarded the party. But some incidents and the decisions of the UNP in the recent past did not satisfy me.

Continue reading ‘“Chandrika, Malik, Ravi and Mangala are in a Plot to Liquidize the UNP”- Health Minister Tissa Attanayake’ »

BY

CASSENDRA DOOLE

Udaya Gammanpila

Former Deputy Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Udaya Gammanpila, says that the JHU decided to join hands with anti-nationalist forces such as Chandrika, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Wickramabahu Karunaratne and Mano Ganeshan. As a result he left the Common Opposition since he could not work with such elements according to his conscience.

Excerpts:

Q:
Why did you leave your party and join the government?

Continue reading ‘“Maithripala is a Good man but is now a Prisoner of ‘Bandit Queen’ Chandrika and Anti-Democratic Ranil” -Udaya Gammanpila’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that those who had accused him of using retired military personnel in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s campaign had conveniently forgotten Sarath Fonseka entering politics while still holding office as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Fonseka held the rank of General at that time.

Defence Secretary said that President Rajapaksa had promptly accepted the former army commander’s letter of resignation when the latter declared his intention to contest the 2010 presidential election.

The Defence Secretary was responding to Opposition allegation that he was using retired service personnel in President Rajapaksa’s campaign.

Continue reading ‘“If Former Terrorists Can Engage in Politics why Cant I use Ex-Military Services Personnel for Election Campaign”? asks Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’ »

by

Tissa De Silva

I was a keen observer who participated at the May Day rally and meeting at Nugegoda.

The meeting was graced by Ministers Tissa Vitharana, D. E. W, Gunesekera, and Vasudeva Nanayakara and CP Secretary Raja Collure. All of them talked of equal rights to all people of all backgrounds and vocally supported the 13th Amendment. They were all for a Sri Lanka with no Class system.

But when the last speaker who was the only speaker in Tamil took the floor,I noticed in disgust that the media present, who were given a special space together with the Ministers on the podium, removing the microphones etc from the Tamil speaker’s table.

A few seconds before Vasudeva Nanayakkara Minister for Social Integration and Tri-Lingual policy of the government was boasting about the work he had done in these field. But He too failed to stop the action of the media, in downright insult to the Tamil Language.

Continue reading ‘Blatant Discrimination Against “Tamil” by Media Despite Leftists like Vasudeva, DEW, Tissa Vitarana and Rajah Collure Being Present.’ »

Kalutara District Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne has stated that Hirunika Premachandra is back in the country.

pic via: facebook.com/hirunika.e.premachandra

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya, Senaratne has said that the Western Provincial Council Member who left the country over threats to her life has returned to the island and that she will take part in the election campaign for the common candidate of the opposition.
Continue reading ‘Hirunika Premachandra who Fled Sri Lanka with her Mother in fear of her life has now returned Discloses Dr.Rajitha Senaratne’ »

BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

Sri Lanka appears to face an easy choice: continuity or change; stay where we are and the way we are or turn a new page. That, however, is an illusion.

The truth is that Sri Lanka faces two ghastly choices: death by continuity and stagnation or death by uncontrollable radical reform; death by claustrophobic, even suffocating centralization or death by centrifugal downward spiral.

The uncritical supporters of the Rajapaksa status quo do not see the first danger. They see a linear progression in material modernization, which either does not require an accompanying political, educational and cultural modernization or they assume that modernization of the material base will inevitably, inexorably bring the other desired modernizations in their wake.

The uncritical supporters of the Combined Opposition see no benefit from the material modernization. For them it is all a sham and a financial shakedown. For this school of thought, any kind of change is better than none, and this upcoming Presidential election is the last chance for democratic change possibly in our lifetime, so any risk is worth taking.

Continue reading ‘Punishing Mahinda for Succeeding in War Against LTTE while Rewarding Ranil and Chandrika for Failing.’ »

A resident from Chunnakam in Jaffna returned home on Friday after more than 25 years in a detention camp, residents said.

S. Vairavanathan was arrested at Armour Street in Colombo soon after a bomb blast in 1990. He was 28 then.
Continue reading ‘Terrible Travesty of Justice! Vairavanathan Arrested in 1990 Kept Under Detention in Hambantota for 25 years Without anyone Knowing.’ »

By

Indika Sri Aravinda

Hirunika Premanchandra and her mother, a former advisor to the President, Sumana Premachandra have fled the country following threats to their lives, a coordinating secretary of Premanchandra said.

The security of Hirunika Premanchandra had been withdrawn after she declared that she will back the common opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

In addition, her mother’s position as Presidential advisor had also been cancelled.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader just before she went into hiding, Hirunika had said that there was an attempt to take over her house in the Ministerial Housing Scheme at Jawatha where she and her mother reside.

Continue reading ‘Hirunika Premachandra with her Mother Sumana Flees Sri Lanka due to Threats to Life after her Defection from Govt.’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

One of the events that enlivened the political scene last week was the split in the JHU with Udaya Gammanpila breaking ranks with his party and going back into the government. This sudden development which obviously has come as a surprise to the JHU shows the ferment within that party over the decision to break away from the UPFA. There is no doubt at all that the party that is closest to the ideology that the JHU represents is the UPFA.

The reasons that caused the JHU to break away from the UPFA are basically the same as the cause for Maithripala Sirisena to break away from the SLFP. Had Sirisena been given the premiership, he would not have broken away. Likewise, if Champika Ranawaka had not been removed from the power and energy ministry, he too would not have broken away from the UPFA.

In both these instances, the reasons for breaking away were really personal and had nothing to do with matters of policy or ideology. This is of course not to say that everything was just hunky dory within the UPFA coalition. Some ministers have hardly any power or responsibilities. At times the heads of the institutions under them have been appointed not by them but by ‘higher authorities’.

Continue reading ‘If Sirisena was made Prime Minister and Ministry of Power and Energy not Taken Away from Ranawaka both would not have Defected from UPFA Govt.’ »

Western Provincial Councillor Hirunika Premachandra and Mother Sumana Fly to Singapore Citing Security reasons

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UPFA Parliamentarian and party organizer for Kolonnawa Duminda Silva scoffed at claims made by supporters of Maithripala Sirisena to the effect that ‘terror stalks the electorate’. He was responding to allegations made by recent defector to the Opposition camp and former Chairman, Kotkawatte-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Prasanna Solangaarachchi.

Prasanna Solangaarachchi told reporters in Colombo a few days ago that armed groups were roaming Kotikawatte and Mulleriyawa areas every night in Defenders and the lives of opposition’s activists are under threat. Sollangaarachchi is known to be a staunch supporter of Hirunika Premachandra’s father, the late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

With Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra leaving the country citing “security reasons” and Solangaarachchi claiming there is a plot to assassinate him, the Opposition alleges there is a state of “terror” in Kolonnawa – which is unleashed by ruling party politicians.

Continue reading ‘Armed Gangs in Defenders Prowl in the Night in Kolonnawa Electorate but Duminda Silva MP Denies there is “State of terror”.’ »

By
Namini Wijedasa

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has blocked public access to the asset declarations of all presidential candidates till after the January 2015 election.

“The public can request for them after the elections,” the Elections Commissioner told the Sunday Times yesterday. “We are not letting anyone see them till then.” Legal experts said his decision was an administrative move that did not have any basis in law.

All 19 candidates –including President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the New Democratic Front’s Maithripala Sirisena — have filed their declarations of assets and liabilities with the Elections Department, Mr. Deshapriya said.

Continue reading ‘All 19 Presidential Candidates Including Mahinda and Maithri Reveal their Assets but Elections Commissioner Conceals them from Public Scrutiny’ »

What’s in a name? It’s not about a rose, but about Western imperialism in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s name that was cited as the reason for the objection against his nomination for the January 8 presidential poll.

Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne

If President Rajapaksa’s name reflected Western imperialism, the objection against the nomination of common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena said he was mentally unfit.

These were the two objections when nominations were received on Monday at the Elections Department in Rajagiriya.
Continue reading ‘Comrade Bahu Objects to Mahinda being Nominated Because his names Percy and Mahendra Symbolise Western Imperialism and Indian Power’ »

The ‘star of the week’, the United National Party’s former General Secretary Tissa Attanayake was on board the SriLankan Airlines airbus A 330 with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, wife Shiranthi and son Yoshita when it rolled out from the runway of the Bandaranaike International Airport last Tuesday afternoon.

For Attanayake, who had been an Opposition politician until much less than 24 hours earlier, it was a signal honour. There are more than a 100 ministers and deputies in the Rajapaksa Cabinet and even MPs who are yet to be included in his official entourages for travel abroad. By simply switching loyalty, he propelled himself to the top rungs of the UPFA and found a place in the presidential entourage and the cabinet of ministers later.

Though he did not have an electoral base and is on THE UNP’s National List, UPFA members argued they have lost a General Secretary (Maithripala Sirisena, SLFP) and gained one – a quid pro quo of sorts. Thus, Attanayake appeared buoyant that he was accompanying Rajapaksa for religious ceremonies at Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupathi, some 138 kilometres from Chennai but located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of lord Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini, a holy water tank. The temple complex comprises a traditional temple building, with a number of modern queue and pilgrim lodging sites. The special flight landed 75 minutes later in Cochin from where Rajapaksa and family were flown by helicopter to a hotel in the town area. Others went by road.

Continue reading ‘The Personal Turning Point in the Political Transformation of Tissa Attanayake’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

The biggest boost that the joint opposition got last week was the defection of P.Digambaram and (to a much lesser extent) V. Radhakrishnan from the government. There may not be an actual shift of votes in the Nuwara Eliya district because of these defections as Digambaram was elected on the UNP list in any case. As for Radhakrishnan, he was elected to parliament as a member of the CWC at the parliamentary election in 2010 and within a few months he fell out with Thondaman because he was not given a deputy minister’s post. Later he joined the Up-Country People’s Front.

So even though Radhakrishnan is now a leading figure of the Up-Country People’s Front, his moving out may not necessarily mean that the CWC will lose a chunk of its votes since what he had was only one preference in the CWC block vote. As for the Up-Country People’s Front which Radhakrishnan subsequently joined, they do not have an elected representative in this parliament, but they did have a fairly strong base in the Nuwara Eliya district until recently.

The Up-Country People’s Front contested independently in the Nuwara Eliya district in 1994 and 2004 and won one seat on both occasions. They got 23,400 votes in 1994 and 49,700 votes in 2004 which gives us a rough idea of their strength in the district. This however may not mean that the Up-Country People’s Front will have 49,000 votes to take away from the UPFA list. The reason why they got a high of 49,700 votes contesting separately in 2004 could be because of the erosion of support for the unsuccessful UNP government that took office in December 2001.

The CWC contested the 2004 parliamentary election on the UNP ticket and therefore the Tamil vote disappointed with the CWC and the UNP may have gone to the Up-Country People’s Front. The last time the strength of the UCPF was tested was at the Central Provincial Council election in 2013 when they got 23,455 votes in the Nuwara Eliya district (contesting separately) and won one seat. So one may assume that this represents their block vote in the district.

Continue reading ‘Up Country Tamil MP’s Digambaram,Radhakrishnan and Perumal Rajadurai Cross Over but Arumugam Thondaman Remains with Govt’ »

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Friday turned 64 and made the occasion a memorable one by dishing out his latest flick Lingaa to frenzied fans who turned up to witness their matinee idol deliver famous punchlines after about four years.

pic: facebook.com/LingaaTheMovie

The actor was out of town, his publicist said without divulging details.

However, it was Lingaa all the way as the hit combination of Rajinikanth-K.S. Ravikumar joined once again in what is expected to be a treat for the star’s avid fans.
Continue reading ‘Super Star of Tamil Cinema, Rajnikanth Celebrates 64th Birthday by Releasing his Latest Action Thriller Movie “Lingaa”’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

If Mahinda Rajapaksa is defeated which I hope will happen, I think the party will rally around Maithreepala Sirisena

University don turned parliamentarian Rajiva Wijesinha was in the news recently for having crossed over from the government to the opposition and for having appeared on Al Jazeera with the head of the Global Tamil Forum Suren Surenthiran where he made some utterances that have been given various interpretations. In this interview, he speaks to C. A. Chandraprema about his Al Jazeera interview, and his support for Maithripala Sirisena.

Q. You seem to have ruffled feathers in Colombo with your interview on Al Jazeera. I have heard you (and many other people) saying much worse things about the Rajapaksas. It would appear that the reason for people to be upset about what you said would be that you seemed to be telling Surenthiran that what he was saying (about Rajapaksa being taken to the International Criminal Court like Charles Taylor or Milosevic after he loses the election) was ‘precisely the kind of nonsense that will lead to an undesirable result at this election’. You also said that the GTF should have the sense not to try to interfere in this election ‘because they will pervert it’. That may have been interpreted as your telling Surenthiran not to say such things because his statements will skew the election result in favour of the government and defeat the ‘common goal’.

A. I said that in direct contradiction to what Suren Srenthiran was saying. When I said that I believe the army fought a very good war both Surenthiran and the lady doing the interview started shouting at me to which I responded by saying that ‘I am not concerned about the prejudices of the international community’. I also said that at the rate the government is going our forces will suffer if Mahinda Rajapaksa is re-elected because Mahinda Rajapksa’s foreign minister has utterly betrayed the record of our forces. No answers have been made to the allegations made against us, there have been blanket denials, and there has been no analysis to show that the allegations made are false. Only I have done that. Mahinda Rajapaksa says that I nodded my head to what Suren Surentiran said about taking him to the Hague after the election. But I have said very clearly that there is absolutely no case (against Sri Lanka).

Continue reading ‘“If Mahinda Rajapaksa is Defeated which I Hope will happen, I Think the Party will Rally Around Maithripala Sirisena”- Rajiva Wijesinha’ »

by

Lucien Rajakarunanayake

History was made last Monday, with the acceptance of the nomination of Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek the mandate of the people for a third term as Executive President; the first Sri Lankan to seek a third term in this office.

Nomination Day is always one with much thrills and excitement for the politicians involved, their parties and supporters, and the public. It is especially so for the leading candidates in the fray. Yet, the major thrill of the day was easily gained by the current national president and UPFA candidate, Mahinda Rajapaksa, by welcoming Tissa Attanayake, the General Secretary of the United National Party, the main party in the alliance that opposes him, into the folds of the UPFA.

It was a crossover of considerable importance in the current politics of Sri Lanka, not merely a tit-for-tat for the departure of the SLFP’s General Secretary to be the “common candidate” against him, whose commonality remains in question; but one of much wider impact, for the campaign of the UPFA and Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Continue reading ‘Crossover of Tissa Attanayake is of Considerable Importance in the Current Politics of Sri Lanka and a “Bombshell” to the UNP.’ »

By

C. Fernando

One of the biggest assets that is being brandished about by the Common Candidate is his “Maithree” i.e., Compassion.

The Common Candidate also claims proudly that he follows Mahatma Gandhi’s principles on “Avihinsa” (non-violence towards all living beings).

I would like all Animal Lovers and Compassionate People in this “Dharma Dveepa” to note that it is this very same Common Candidate who, in January 2012, gave the orders over and above President’s unique No-Kill Policy on Dogs which was declared in June 2006, to resume killing dogs.

Mercifully, his murderous plan was halted by the President.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala did not show any “Maithree” or Compassion Towards Animals when he ordered the killing and Incarceration of Hundreds of Dogs.’ »

By

Somapala Gunadheera

Millions of cut-outs and posters of the President, exhibited all over the island, have become a problem, a nuisance and a headache not only for him but also for many others. In fact, no advantage has accrued to the President from their exhibition. Not even a baby in this country needs the help of a poster to identify him.

Although his opponent might have a better use of them, he has astutely refrained from putting out a poster. He has thus nullified an investment costing crores of rupees made on his adversary, and turned it into to his own advantage.

Everyone knows that it is a violation of the law to exhibit propaganda material during the pendency of an election. In that background a contestant who abuses the atmosphere with his propaganda material, while his opponent remains idle, suffers a damage to his vote base at the very beginning of the contest.

Continue reading ‘Millions of Cut-outs and Posters of the President Being Exhibited have Become a Problem, a Nuisance and a Headache.’ »

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Western Provincial Council member Udaya Gammanpila yesterday returned to the UPFA’s fold to back President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election bid, after resigning as the JHU’s Deputy General Secretary. He warned that in the event of Maithripala Sirisena securing the presidency the country would be plunged into an unprecedented crisis.

Gammanpila said he had been left with no option but to quit the JHU as his priority was to safeguard Sri Lanka’s interests. Commenting on opposition presidential candidate Sirisena having separate electoral pacts with the UNP-led Opposition and the JHU, Gammanpila pointed out the serious discrepancies in the two agreements.

Gammanpila, addressed the media at SLFP headquarters at T. B. Jayah Mawatha.

The JHU rebel said that he didn’t want to contribute in any way to a project which was inimical to the national interest.

Continue reading ‘Udaya Gammanpila Reveals Truth about Jathika Hela Urumaya Never Endorsing the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.’ »

By
Maheesha Mudugamuwa

Investment Promotion Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapha yesterday told the media that if the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) backed the government either directly or indirectly, he would not remain in it because the interests of his community had to be safeguarded first of all.

He was speaking at a media briefing at the SLFP headquarters yesterday.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary and Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the government had not offered money to induce or prevent crossovers.

Continue reading ‘Investment Promotion Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapha Threatens to Quit Govt if Bodu Bala Sena Backs it Directly or Indirectly.’ »

by

Izeth Hussain

A plague on both your houses

– Shakespeare

There is much glib talk nowadays about the formation of a national Government after the January elections. It is based on the facile assumption that the coming together of the two major parties, the UNP and the SLFP, together with some minority ethnic parties, would amount to a national Government. But most Tamils don’t accept either of our two major parties as national parties: they see them rather as Sinhalese ethnic parties in all but name. As for the Muslims, they don’t unequivocally accept them as national parties either.

The late Mr.Ashraff, the founder of the most important Muslim Party, the SLMC, established its rationale on the ground that all Sri Lankan political parties are in reality ethnic parties. The SLMC could conceivably join a supposed national Government but that would not be because it has swallowed the rhetoric about a national Government. It would really be an instrumental tactic arising out of the fact that the most effective way of securing the legitimate interests of the Muslims is by joining the Government of the day. As for the TNA, joining a national Government seems most unlikely.

Therefore a supposed national Government will really be a Government in which power is decisively exercised by the two major Sinhalese ethnic parties, the UNP and the SLFP. Can such a Government be properly described as a national Government? One problem is that our minorities constitute not a minuscule but a very substantial proportion of the Sri Lankan population. Depending on whether or not the Sinhalese Catholics and other Christians are included in the category “Sinhalese” – there are Sinhalese Buddhists who would not agree with that categorization – the supposed national Government will represent no more that 70% to 75% of the Sri Lankan population. A Government in which one ethnic group, the Sinhalese, is dominant and does not allow a real sharing of power by a quarter or more of the people cannot be called “national”.

Continue reading ‘Source of Sri Lankan Tragedy is that the will of the Majority has Always been the will of the Sinhalese Ethnic Majority.’ »

Multiple sources of the government and the opposition confirmed that Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra’s move to cross over to the common opposition ‘quickened’ Udaya Gammanpila decision to break ranks with the JHU.

While it is widely believed that a businessman-Parliamentarian who is officially representing the opposition acted as the “broker” of the crossover, Hirunika Premeachandra’s presence in the common opposition has also been a major reason for Gammanpila’s exit.
Continue reading ‘Hirunika Premachandra’s Dramatic Entry to Opposition Ranks made Udaya Gammanpila Exit Hastily from the Maithripala camp.’ »

By
Dharisha Bastians

The 8 January 2015 presidential election is a feeding frenzy for international conspirators and the LTTE rump. The candidacy of Maithripala Sirisena is not part of the democratic attempt to effect change through a multi-party, pluralistic electoral process. He is Washington’s pawn in the grand geopolitical struggle for influence between the US and China.

The Sirisena candidacy project is the brainchild of vengeance-seeking, power-hungry ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga and former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. He challenges President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s bid to remain in power for a third unprecedented term in order to ensure Sri Lankan troops and the Commander-in-Chief is tried in The Hague for crimes of war.

President Rajapaksa must be re-elected to continue to protect the motherland, liberated from the clutches of terrorism only five short years ago. A victory for his opponent would not only endanger Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, but bring the Government’s mega development drive to a grinding halt.

The longevity of the Rajapaksa legacy, therefore, must be ensured. It has become imperative in the ‘national interest’.

Once upon a time, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Pied Piper. His words, like the Piper’s, enchanting music in the Grimm fairytale, had a hypnotic quality. In droves, the people followed him. He was their liberator, their mighty king, their salvation and their savior.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Image Loses Its Magic as Support Rapidly Erodes for Govt in Past 20 days’ »

(Text of Statement Issued by the United National Party on december 11th 2014)

The arrogance and extravagance of the Rajapaksa family regime is all too visible in their latest jaunt to Tirupati in South India. The trip was scheduled in the heat of the election cycle, when the forces opposing his rule are agitating for change and the end to the plunder of this state by a single family.

Undoubtedly, President Rajapaksa needs divine intervention at this Presidential election. He will have to look to the heavens to try to win back the favour of the people, who have tired of his nepotism, corruption and self-serving administration.

But as the opposition in this country we are obligated to query where the money came from for the President’s recent devout excursion. Who is incurring the enormous costs of the president and his entourage of lackeys who travelled to Tirupati on a special aircraft hired from SriLankan Airlines?

In addition to the enormous costs of chartering a plane, there is a larger loss of revenue from the aircraft being removed from its normal schedule. Paying passengers are left stranded in numerous airports and SriLankan Airlines is being forced to incur those costs as well.

Continue reading ‘Where is the Money Coming from for the Multi-billion Dollar Election Advertising Campaign of President Rajapaksa?-UNP’ »

Mired in controversies over the ownership of the original storyline, the Rajinikanth starrer ‘Lingaa’ will hit theatres at 1 a.m. on Friday.

The Madras High Court Bench in Madurai on Thursday permitted ‘Rockline’ Venkatesh, producer of the movie, to release the movie on Friday on condition that he should deposit Rs.5 crore in cash besides providing bank guarantee for an equal sum to the credit of the Registrar (Administration) of the Bench.
Continue reading ‘Rajinikanth-starrer ‘Lingaa’ to hit theatres at 1 a.m.’ »

by Sameera Ahmed

On a typical evening, Pycrofts road looks like any other busy main road in Chennai. As motorists and other vehicles speed past an inconspicuous-looking building and pedestrians hurry home on a typical Friday evening, quite a few of them instantly gaze up and a look of amazement passes fleetingly on their faces.

Some of them point out into the sky, while others come to a complete stop outside the building. Some even get down and enquire and as they do, hundreds and hundreds of feathery-little green parrots perched on the terrace of the building and on wires adjacent to it take flight.
Continue reading ‘A man who has created a sanctuary for parrots in the midst of bustling Chennai’ »

By

Nabeela Hussain

Deputy Minister of Resettlement and one time second in command of the LTTE, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman spoke to Dailymirror on the coming Presidential Election, his opinion on the constitutional changes and the reformation of the LTTE.

Q:hat is your opinion on the promises made by Maithripala Sirisena on the abolishment of the executive presidency, the establishment of independent commissions and the change in electoral systems?

This is not possible. They’re agreement is alright, but practically they can’t implement it. The executive presidency, is a promise made by everyone. Even Chandrika when she was campaigning for her second term promised that she would abolish the executive presidency when she was elected. But she didn’t do that. The people who are making these promises are backed by her now.

Continue reading ‘“Executive Presidency must be Retained to Fully Implement the 13th Amendment for the Tamil People”-“Col”Karuna’ »

By

Chamara Sampath

Addressing his maiden propaganda rally in Anuradhapura, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today that he needed only a cup of coffee to lure Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to the UPFA.

He said, “It is not a big problem when one leaves the party to welcome another, Tissa Attanayake joined our party soon after having a cup of coffee with me. If they take someone from us we will retaliate by taking someone from them. We took the secretary and we can also take Ranil. Only one cup of coffee would be necessary for that. They attempted to give dollars and take our members. We won’t spend money in that manner”

He said Tissa Attanayake was not taken by giving money. He said he had only had a cup of coffee with him.

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Claims he can Entice Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to the Govt with One cup of Coffee just as he did with Tissa Attanayake.’ »

Jathika Hela Urumaya Deputy Secretary and Legal Advisor Udaya Gammanpila announced his decision to leave the JHU and support Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next presidential election, just three weeks after resigning from his Ministerial portfolio in the Western Provincial Council.

On November 18, he and General Secretary of the JHU Patali Champika Ranawaka resigned from their ministerial portfolios and several days later the JHU extended its support to the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Continue reading ‘Jathika Hela Urumaya Stalwart Udaya Gammanpila who Jumped from Mahinda to Maithri has Jumped Back to Mahinda From Maithri.’ »

Former General Secretary of the United National Party Tissa Attanayake has been sworn in as the Minister of Health after crossing over to the government to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Attanayake crossed over to the government on Monday (8).

He replaces the former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, who defected to the opposition to become the common candidate of the opposition for the next presidential election. Following the defection of Sirisena, the post of the Minister of Health has been vacant while Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake was the Acting Minister of Health.

Continue reading ‘UNP Defector Tissa Attanayake Replaces SLFP Defector Maithripala Sirisena as “Honourable” Minister of Health.’ »

Subramania Bharati wrote his way into people’s hearts. On the occasion of his birth anniversary – December 11, CHITRA BALASUBRAMANIUM throws light on Bharati, the journalist and the writer.

by Chitra Balasubramanium

BHARATI’S GREATNESS was multi-faceted. Though renowned as a gifted poet, he had also achieved great heights in the field of journalism. Whether as Ettayapuram poet, or as Tamil teacher in Madurai Sethupathy School, Bharati’s genius had always had strong leanings towards writing and journalism. He lived his life with the motto “Writing is my mission”.
Continue reading ‘Bharati’s poems and works are capable of creating a sense of upliftment and values whenever they are recalled’ »

By

Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

Enemies of the President’s Promise 22
Sneezy 3

Basil had told me that I did not need to worry about the Peace Secretariat being closed because I had another position too, that of Secretary to Mahinda Samarasinghe’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights. That was correct, and for anyone else that would have been a full time job. But the wider dimensions of the work we did, and in particular the need to coordinate work with regard to the North, had been facilitated by my position at the Secretariat, with the authority to coordinate responses from a range of Ministries.

In theory the Ministry had a coordinating role with regard to humanitarian assistance but, during the course of that year, Basil had ensured that was eroded. The Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance, which Minister Samarasinghe had chaired, hardly met in 2009, and its role was taken over by a Task Force for the North which Basil chaired. That did not initially include any Tamils, which was typical of the command structures Basil enjoyed, though after some protests Minister Douglas Devananda was included.

Continue reading ‘From the Peace Secretariat to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights’ »

By
Shihara Maduwage

Prof.GL Peiris-pic by: Nisal Baduge-courtesy: Daily Mirror

In an interview with the Daily Mirror Prof. G. L. Peiris, the Minister of External Affairs, spelled out the reasons why the country needs an executive presidential system and responded to the allegations and criticisms leveled against his ministry.

Q:What are your reasons for maintaining that the country needs an executive presidential system?

The need of the hour is a strong and effective government. It is abundantly clear that terrorism could have never been eradicated from this country in the absence of a strong executive. During the war, the nature and the gravity of the threat was very obvious to everyone – the general atmosphere of intimidation which prevailed in the country. Today the threat is equally serious but not so obvious.

Q:On what basis do you say that?

Continue reading ‘Opposition Alliance is a Cauldron of Confusion without Coherent or Consistent Policy-Prof.GL Peiris’ »

by

Dasun Edirisinghe

Opposition Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena yesterday assured that he would not enter into any pact with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) or any other party to get their support for the Jan. 08 election.

Addressing the heads of print and electronic media at the Solis Hotel, Pitakotte, Sirisena said that they had met some members of the TNA to discuss the presidential election, but hadn’t entered into any agreement with them.

Sirisena said that he had not signed a separate agreements with the JHU or the UNP contrary to claims to that effect by former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, who joined the government on Monday.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena Denies signing any Individual Pact with the TNA,UNP or JHU’ »

By

Kavindya Thomas

Minister of National Languages and Social Integration, Vasudeva Nanayakkara stated he will take his own life, if the executive presidential system was not abolished during his lifetime.The statement was made at a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday (10).

During the briefing, he said the abolishment of the executive presidential system was essential and the executive powers should be bestowed upon the Parliament as a whole, since that was where the democratically elected representatives were in action.

Continue reading ‘Vasudeva Nanayakkara to Commit Suicide if Executive Presidency is not Abolished During his Lifetime.’ »

By
GP Shukla

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday offered prayers at the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.

After an overnight stay in the sacred town, he took part in the Suprabhata seva in the temple in the wee hours of the day. Despite being entitled for the Mahadwaram entry, he preferred reaching the temple through the Vaikuntam queue complex along with his entourage.

While the temple priests honoured him with the Silk vastram of the deity, the authorities presented him with the New year diary, calendar and memento of the Lord.

The President’s son Yoshita Rajapaksa, who accompanied him, also participated in the Thomala seva.

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa with Son Yoshita Seeks Blessings of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala in India amidst Unprecedented Security Arrangements’ »

Two newly appointed deputy ministers of President Mahinda Rajapaksa Government yesterday relinquished their ministerial portfolios two days after incumbent handed over nominations to run for presidency for a third time.

Deputy Minister of Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Velusami Radhakrishnan submitted his resignation today, just hours after Deputy Minister of National Languages and Social Integration Udeiappan Palani Digambaram tendered his resignation.

Both deputy ministers have expressed support to the President’s challenger, common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the presidential elections on 08 January.

Continue reading ‘Two Up Country Tamil Deputy Ministers Elected from Nuwara Eliya District-Digambaram and Radhakrishnan-Resign Posts to Support Maithripala.’ »

(TEXT OF OVERVIEW IN BRIEFING RELEASED BY INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP ON FORTHCOMING SRI LANKAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS)

Sri Lanka’s presidential election, scheduled for 8 January 2015, looks set to defy the predictions of many and be a true competition. As such, the polls threaten risks and promise opportunities for long-term stability and post-war reconciliation. The sudden emergence of a strong opposition candidate caught many, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa, by surprise.

Running on a platform of constitutional reforms to limit executive power and restore independent oversight bodies, the opposition coalition led by former Rajapaksa colleague Maithripala Sirisena seems set to pose the first strong challenge to Rajapaksa in nearly a decade. Amid a restrictive climate for civil society, for Tamils and for religious minorities, the risk of serious election-related violence merits close international attention and active efforts to prevent political instability, including the possibility of extra-constitutional means by Rajapaksa to retain power.

Continue reading ‘If Sirisena Wins Poll, President and his Brothers may Try to Retain Power by Resorting to Compliant Courts or Military – ICG’ »

(Text of Media Release Issued by the International Crisis Group)

Colombo/Brussels | 9 Dec 2014

Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential election promises more competition than was initially anticipated. But with that comes a great risk of violence. Long-term stability and post-war reconciliation can only be achieved through a peaceful election resulting in a government committed to serving the interests of all Sri Lankans.

Surprising many observers, Sri Lanka’s 8 January presidential election between incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa and his former ally Maithripala Sirisena looks set to be a close contest. Promising to abolish the executive presidency and revive parliamentary democracy, the opposition offers a different vision from that of the government, which is increasingly entrenched in power.

In its latest briefing, Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election: Risks and Opportunities, the International Crisis Group examines the challenges facing Rajapaksa and the opposition, and how domestic and international actors can mitigate the risk of political instability.

The briefing’s major findings and recommendations are:

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election: Risks and Opportunities-International Crisis group’ »

By

Vishwamithra 1984

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
~Edgar Allan Poe

I have a hope. Sometimes, it goes beyond that and becomes an expectation. The hope is that this country will once again be one in which every citizen is equal; a country in which members of one ethnic group, both individually and collectively, will feel totally and completely equal to the others, embracing each other not out of forced reconciliation but genuine emotion and feel.

Those hopes, aspirations and expectations have been dashed over and over again. But the dream continues.

Continue reading ‘“I have a Dream……….. I have a Dream of Seeing Maithripala Sirisena as the next Executive President………. I have a Dream….’ »

By
Dharisha Bastians

Anticipated crossovers failed to materialise at common candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s first official campaign rally in Kandy yesterday, but the Opposition is promising more defections in the week ahead.

pic via: facebook.com/maithripalas

Four vacant seats were left for would-be crossovers from the Government at the rally and garlands were ready to welcome them into the Opposition fold.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala at Inaugural Kandy Rally Wears Narendra Modi Type Suit to Conceal Bullet Proof Vest Underneath’ »

By Stephen Collinson and Evan Perez

Washington (CNN) —

The CIA’s harsh interrogations of terrorist detainees during the Bush era didn’t work, were more brutal than previously revealed and delivered no “ticking time bomb” information that prevented an attack, according to an explosive Senate report released Tuesday.

The majority report issued by the Senate Intelligence Committee is a damning condemnation of the tactics — branded by critics as torture — the George W. Bush administration deployed in the fear-laden days after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The techniques, according to the report, were “deeply flawed,” poorly managed and often resulted in “fabricated” information.

The long-delayed study, distilled from more than six million CIA documents, also says the agency consistently misled Congress and the Bush White House about the harsh methods it used and the results it obtained from interrogating al Qaeda suspects.

The report is reigniting the partisan divide over combating terrorism that dominated Washington a decade ago. Democrats argue the tactics conflict with American values while leading members of the Bush administration insist they were vital to preventing another attack.

It contains grisly details of detainees held in secret overseas facilities being subjected to near drowning, or waterboarding, driven to delirium by days of sleep deprivation, threatened with mock executions and threats that their relatives would be sexually abused.

Continue reading ‘C.I.A. Brutally Tortured Al Qaeda Suspects Reveals US Senate Intelligence Committee Report’ »

By PETER BAKER

WASHINGTON — A long-awaited Senate report condemning torture by the Central Intelligence Agency has not even been made public yet, but former President George W. Bush’s team has decided to link arms with former intelligence officials and challenge its conclusions.

The report is said to assert that the C.I.A. misled Mr. Bush and his White House about the nature, extent and results of brutal techniques like waterboarding, and some of his former administration officials privately suggested seizing on that to distance themselves from the controversial program, according to people involved in the discussion. But Mr. Bush and his closest advisers decided that “we’re going to want to stand behind these guys,” as one former official put it.

Mr. Bush made that clear in an interview broadcast on Sunday. “We’re fortunate to have men and women who work hard at the C.I.A. serving on our behalf,” he told CNN’s Candy Crowley. “These are patriots and whatever the report says, if it diminishes their contributions to our country, it is way off base.”

Continue reading ‘President George Bush and C.I.A. Ex-Officials Rebut Senate Intelligence Committee Torture Report’ »

Details of the CIA’s “enhanced interrogation” techniques, considered by many to be torture, are set to be revealed in a long-awaited report.

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s report is expected to find that such interrogations failed to yield life-saving information.

The techniques were used on al-Qaeda terrorism suspects in the years following the 9/11 attacks on the US.

Security was increased at US facilities around the world ahead of publication.

Embassies and other sites were taking precautions amid “some indications” of “greater risk”, a White House spokesman said.

The Senate committee’s report runs to more than 6,000 pages, drawing on huge quantities of evidence, but it remains classified and only a 480-page summary will be released.

Continue reading ‘Despite Brutal Torture Methods ,CIA Failed to Extract Life saving Information from Suspects -BBC’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

A list of names of likely defectors who were to follow Maithripala Sirisena to the Opposition when the latter made his exit from the government has now been publicized through the social media.

Though some made their exit others did not. Among those names was Minister Gunaratne Weerakoon. Now, the minister claims that the United States Ambassador in Colombo Michele J. Sison promised to offer him a bribe if he was to cross over to the Opposition.

Ambassador Michele Sison

This allegation was made on the eve of the departure of Sison, who had completed her tenure of office here.

When Minister Weerakoon made this charge on Sison, the latter had been met by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who met her prior to her departure. Also External Affairs Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris had met her. Both the President and the minister had expressed their gratitude to Sison for her efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries during her stay here.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Playing with Fire by Accusing US Envoy Michele Sison of “Trying to Bribe” for Presidential Poll Propaganda.’ »

By

Chamitha Kuruppu

The Government’s major catch on nominations day, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake threw spokes in the wheel of the common Opposition at his first press conference since crossing over yesterday and strongly denied claims he had defected for cash.

Attanayake, who was addressing the media at Ape Gama in Battaramulla yesterday, indicated that the main opposition United National Party was divided about fielding former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena as common candidate instead of Ranil Wickremesinghe or Sajith Premadasa.

Continue reading ‘UNP Defector Tissa Attanayake Refuting Charges of Crossing Over to Govt for Money says his Conscience Cannot be Bought’ »

By

Marisa Wikramanayake

Sri Lanka should look towards the East for a model on development as Malaysia successfully did, according to the latter’s iconic former leader Dr. Mahathir Mohamed.

“These are very interesting times for Sri Lanka because it is accelerating its development,” Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamed said during his keynote at the Hambantota Conclave 2014 held at the BMICH in Colombo last evening.

The event was organised by the Urban Development Authority and the Board of Investment and showcased the potential investment opportunities to an audience of over 350 business people.

Continue reading ‘Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamed Suggests Sri Lanka Follow Malaysia as Development Model’ »

by

Shamindra Ferdinando

One-time commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya has returned home from South Africa, where pro-LTTE groups campaigned against him being at the Association of Military Christian Fellowships: Global Interaction 2014. The event was held at the naval base, Simonstown

Weerasooriya, formerly of the Artillery regiment was accompanied by his wife, Dilhani and Dilshan Wickremaratne, the brother of UNP MP Eran Wickremaratne. The delegation was representing the Assembly of God.

South African Tamil Federation (SATF) pressed charges against Gen. Weerasooriya with the Commissioner of the Special Unit for Foreign Crimes in South Africa over alleged violation of human rights during an early part of the conflict. The group alleged that Gen. Weerasooriya, too, had been responsible for 70,000 to 100,000 deaths of Tamils during the conflict

Continue reading ‘Ex- Army Commander Gen.Srilal Weerasooriya Returns to Sri Lanka after South African Tamil Federation Attempt to Charge him for Alleged War Crimes.’ »

By

Dushy Ranetunge in Havelock Town

It was a sunny Thursday morning in Havelock Town, as my wife and I opened the front gates of my property to take our vehicle out to go on some errands. Before us were a line of vehicles blocking the private road.

Maithripala Sirisena had come to town. Havelock Town. I explained to a gentleman who was about to park yet another vehicle that this was a private road, and if he was to park, I would regard it as trespass and will have to let out the air of his tyres.

He obliged and removed the vehicle, but there were just too many and I could no longer leave the blocked private road.

It seems the commotion was over the opening of a campaign office for Mr Sirisena and several neighbours expressed their displeasure as to what was going on.

My wife and I then walked to the property in which Mr Maithripala Sirisena, Mr Ravi Karunanayake, Athuraliye Rathana Thero, and Rajitha Senaratne were standing, surrounded by a large crowd.
Continue reading ‘Maithripala’s Minions “Invade” a Private Road at Havelock Town in Colombo and Intimidate Protesting Residents.’ »

UPFA Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra had been asked to return her official vehicle while she was returning home from the press conference yesterday -where she extended her support to common candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

At the same time, the special police security , which was given to her after father’s sudden demise, was also withdrawn with immediate effect. No explanation was given as to why her security was withdrawn.

Continue reading ‘Special Police Protection Given to Hirunika Premachandra After her Father’s Murder Withdrawn After Defection-Asked to Return Official Vehicle also.’ »

It has now been revealed that opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe knew his General Secretary Tissa Attanayake’s defection since last week and ignored repeated requests to prevent him from joining the government especially at this juncture.

“He is joining the government, anyway. Don’t worry about the matter anymore. Let him go,” the UNP National Leader has told his close associates last week, when they informed him of the UNP General Secretary’s defection.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Knew Tissa was going to Cross Over but did not try to Restrain him saying “Let Him Go!’ »

By

Rathindra Kuruwita

The clearing up of forest land and distributing it among powerful businessmen and political henchmen has been increasing since the end of the war in 2009 as large swathes of land which were unusable in the past became available for farming and development. While development is essential, especially in the war affected areas, unplanned activities, ignoring all environmental laws would bring about negative developments which outweigh the benefits greatly.

We have seen that such development activities – clearing forest lands and allocating the land to mass agro and tourism projects – increase incidence of human-elephant conflict, destroy the livelihoods of farmers and devastate catchment areas essential for the future sustainability of water sources.

Mullaitivu forests destroyed

It has been revealed that over 6,000 acres of Andankulam Forest Reserve and Kokilai Sanctuary have been cleared and distributed among henchmen of powerful politicians under the pretext of creating the Mahaweli L Zone.

Continue reading ‘Over 6000 Acres in Aandankulam Forest reserve and Kokkilai Sanctuary in Mullaitheevu District cleared to be given to Companies and Political Affiliates.’ »

By

Sumanasiri Liyanage

I live in Negombo. In 1956, this citadel of the UNP that was at that time supported by the Church was captured by LSSPer, Comrade Hector Fernando, a medical doctor by profession. When Lanka Samasamaja Party that is the oldest political party in Sri Lanka celebrates its 79th anniversary this month, the party seems to be in total disarray with two factions openly fighting with each other.

A majority of the LSSP Central Committee has decided to support Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next presidential election while the minority wanted to back opposition candidate. When the decision was taken, it was not clear who the opposition candidate would be. Elsewhere (VameHanda) I called the former LSSP (M) and the latter LSSP (R). It is imperative to note that letters M and R do not stand for Marxist and Revolutionary respectively. I used them for Mahinda and Ranil (at that I thought Ranil Wickramasinghe would be the main opposition candidate).

I am extremely sad to see that the party that contributed immensely to Sri Lankan political culture has deteriorated to this extent that not a single member of the central committee of the party stood against both factions of the party on the basis of its past Trotskyite tradition.

Continue reading ‘For Revival of Divided LSSP a 3rd Faction Fortified with Colvin’s “Unge Deshapalanaya saha Ape Deshapalanaya “Must Emerge.’ »

By

Chathushika Wijeyesinghe

Hirunika Premachandra, Western Provincial Councillor and daughter of slain politician Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra joined the common opposition to support Maithripala Sirisena. She said that her decision to support Mr. Sirisena was made of her own accord.

pic via: facebook.com/hirunika.e.premachandra

Ms. Premachandra who was elected from Kolonnawa with a massive 139,034 votes said it was difficult for her to stay in the same party with the people who were responsible for her father’s’ death. She also said that many SLFPers were discontented with the current set up and that there would be more to follow her.

Excerpts

Q:At what point did you decide to join Maithripala?

Continue reading ‘Slain Bharatha Lakshman’s Daughter Hirunika Premachandra Discloses how Maithripala and Rajitha Stood by Her Family’ »

Striking a chord for good governance and transparency, presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena submitted his asset declaration form to Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday.

“Copies of my asset declaration are also available at my campaign office which is open to all members of the public, if they wish to peruse it,” Sirisena told media personnel at the Opposition leader’s office in Colombo yesterday, after he handed over his nomination.

Sirisena also returned what he said was hundreds of thousands of rupees worth of fuel vouchers provided to him by the Ministry of Health, when he held the portfolio.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena Declares his Assets Openly and Returns all Fuel Vouchers Allocated to him as Health Minister’ »

Presidential candidate and incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa told supporters his campaign was based on policies rather than personalities, soon after submitting his nomination for the 8 January election yesterday.

“This is a journey based on a political philosophy, this journey is not about individuals and personalities,” he said.

Continue reading ‘“My Journey is Based on a Political Philosophy and not on Individuals or Personalities”-Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

It’s official: Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa and Pallewatte Gamaralage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena will face off in one of Sri Lanka’s most decisive post-war polls on 8 January 2015.

In a day marked by political defections and dramatic scenes, both candidates arrived separately at the Elections Secretariat in Rajagiriya yesterday to submit signed nomination papers to rubber stamp their candidacies to be the eighth executive president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda vs Maithripala is the Main Challenge but 19 Candidates in the Fray for Jan 8th Presidential Poll.’ »

Pledging her support to common opposition Maithripala Sirisena, popular UPFA Western Provincial Councillor Hirunika Premachandra defected from the ruling party on nomination day.

Pic via: twitter.com/azzamameen

Premachandra said that she could not in good conscience remain with the Government.

“If he wins, the country wins,” Premachandra said of Sirisena, soon after arriving at the Opposition Leader’s office at 5:30 p.m. for a press briefing yesterday.

She was accompanied by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and welcomed by UNP Communications Director Mangala Samaraweera. Flanked by Kumaratunga and UNP MPs Rosy Senanayake and Chandrani Bandara, the former ruling party council member noted that she remained a member of the SLFP.

Continue reading ‘Hirunika Premachandra Extends Support to Maithripala-“Left President but not the SLFP” says Popular WPC Councillor’ »

In a tit-for-tat maneuver President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday managed to poach the main Opposition UNP’s General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake on nominations day.

Together with Jayantha Ketagoda, a member of Sarath Fonseka’s Democratic Party, Attanayake was greeted at Temple Trees by a host of former UNP ministers and SLFP strongmen, including Nimal Siripala De Silva and Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

The pair partook of lunch with the ministers and President Rajapaksa at the official residence following their defection.

“They took our general secretary, now the UNP General Secretary has come to us,” a buoyant President Rajapaksa told supporters outside the Elections Secretariat after he submitted nomination papers yesterday.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Buoyant After Enticing UNP Gen Secy Tissa Attanayake and Democratic Party MP Jayantha Kettagoda on Nomination day.’ »

The teaser of the Ajith-starrer Yennai Arindhaal has recorded over 2 million hits in 48 hours making it the highest for any South Indian film.

Trisha Krishnan and Anushka Shetty are the female leads in the movie directed by Gautam Vasudev Menon.
Continue reading ‘Teaser of “Ennai Arindhal” Tamil Film starring Ajith gets 2 Million Hits in 48 Hours on YouTube’ »

BY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

It wasn’t just another Sunday. On the eve of the day that nominations closed and the Presidential race began in earnest, I had a one-on-one luncheon conversation with President Rajapaksa and a late teatime discussion with Maithripala Sirisena, at the invitations of the incumbent and a key personality of the challenger’s camp, respectively. While I shall not divulge the contents of either conversation, I can however, share my impressions.

pic via: facebook.com/PresidentRajapaksa

pic via: facebook.com/maithripalas

Most important is that contrary to the lurid propaganda about dictatorship and even Nazi fascism that accompanied the 18th amendment, Sri Lanka remains a vibrant democracy and the race for the top spot in the country is a real one. This was made possible by a simple expedient that I had been canvassing ad infinitum et ad nauseam: the introduction of a viable Opposition candidate in place of Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The two candidates seem roughly evenly poised. Thus is a balance restored. They are both strong personalities, each in their own distinct ways.

Continue reading ‘Eating Lunch with Mahinda Rajapaksa and Drinking Tea with Maithripala Sirisena on the Same Sunday’ »

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has announced that UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has joined the government.He made this revelation while speaking to media after handing over his nomination papers at the Elections Secretariat.

pic via: twitter.com/PresRajapaksa

It is reliably learnt that the government has assured a national list seat for Attanayake at the next parliamentary election. It is also tipped that he will be appointed as Health minister immediately in a tit for tat move as the portfolio was held by the SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena who defected to become the common opposition candidate in the Presidential elections.

The defection is seen as a counter strike by the Rajapaksa regime.

The Govt has effectively struck back by enticing the General secretary of the UNP in the same manner in which the opposition succeeded in making the SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena cross over from the Govt.

Continue reading ‘Govt in “Tit for Tat” move for Defection of SLFP Gen Secy Maithripala Sirisena gets UNP Gen Secy Tissa Attanayake to Resign from Party andCross over’ »

By

Gomin Dayasri

A born again Chandrika is phenomenal.Found wanted nowhere and is being sought after everywhere. Maybe, the reason why she is Always late and Never on time [Reply:Yes, why hurry?]– Her signature tune that is not pleasant to those who have to wait in vain; probably choreographed to provide an awe element;holds the key to the doing or undoing of her candidateSirisena; her silhouette or shadow. Sirisena is the SLFP bride that eloped on the eve of the wedding without the retinue.

Coming out of retirement on her persuasion,best on a stump, single handedly toppled a UNP regime of 18 years; holds the record for the largest majority secured at a presidential election. Takes on another Giant; is Chandrika looked upon as a demigod in the SLFP, an Annebeth Chase daughter of goddess Athena in the G.K. Rawling’s novels? Indeed the daughter of two much loved prime ministers among the rural folk.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena is the SLFP bride that eloped on the eve of the wedding without the retinue.’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

None of the predecessors of Mahinda Rajapaksa did anything substantial to uphold the independent media in the country. Country’s media have withered away under successive governments since Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s left-leaning United Front administration ‘nationalized’ the Lake House and effectively turned it into a mouthpiece of the government.

Subsequent leaders went further, helped by a succession of compliant editors, unleashing the state media on its political opponents, civil society and diplomats, in an unending series of sickening personal attacks and character assassinations.

Chandrika Kuamratunga’s Media Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake, during her early years of the presidency, held some promise and wanted to broad base the ownership of Lake House, to transform it into a truly independent entity.

However, with his death, which was followed by the appointment of Mangala Samaraweera as media minister, the sojourn ended. Samaraweera took the state media to the extreme; not only did he destroy its last remnant of independence, he also eroded its financial viability (by appointing drones of his hacks to the Lake House). He made Lake House a disgusting place, now seeing his banter on media freedom; I am reminded of the cheapness of our time and our politics.

Continue reading ‘No one else has been more Meticulous in Dismantling the Free Media in the Country than Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

By

Neeraj Chauhan

NEW DELHI: The CBI has approached Interpol to expedite its request to question Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) of LTTE for the assassination of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.

Sources said Interpol’s help has also been sought to convince Sri Lanka to assist in the case and reply to the judicial requests (letters rogatory), which have been pending for years.

CBI feels the case has been held up for very long and should be wrapped up quickly after getting all information from Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘India’s CBI seeks Interpol Help to Gain Custody of Ex-LTTE Leader “KP” -now in Sri Lanka -and Formally Interrogate him.’ »

By
Atul Aneja

China has started a major water supply project in Sri Lanka, using its “soft power” to deepen its relationship with Colombo.

The China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) has launched the $230-million enterprise — the largest ever undertaken by the Sri Lankan government, Xinhua quoted an official as saying.

The Chinese company had been earlier involved in the construction of the $ 1.2 billion Lakvijaya coal fired power plant in Sri Lanka. Once completed, the new project will yield clean drinking water that would benefit 600,000 people, spread in 42 villages, in an area not far from Colombo.

Continue reading ‘China Starts $ 230 Million Water Supply Project in Sri Lanka Using”Soft power”to Strengthen Relations with Colombo.’ »

By Don Wijewardana

With less than a month to go to the polls there seems to be many outstanding issues that either candidate needs to address to convince the 11 million voters that he is the better man for the job. There are of course the diehards on either side who will not change but it is the swing voter who could make the difference that needs to be convinced.

pic via: facebook.com/BBCSinhala

In this, President Rajapaksa is at an advantage with established credentials while the common candidate is yet to prove his. In case he wins it will mark a watershed in Sri Lankan politics. If President Rajapaksa wins, it offers him a longer reign allowing the opportunity to establish how he wants history to remember him. Leading up to the elections there are some key issues both candidates need to address.

The common candidate

More we look closely at the common candidate, his credentials, the programme and the MOU recently signed, the more we find that things won’t gel.

Maithripala Sirisena seems a nice guy. Apart from that there is nothing that distinguishes him to be the candidate to replace charismatic Mahinda Rajapaksa. Sarath Fonseka as the commander who led the army that defeated the ‘invincible’ LTTE had much better appeal for the task.

Continue reading ‘Apart from Being a “nice guy” there is Nothing in Sirisena that Distinguishes him to be the Replacement for Charismatic Mahinda Rajapaksa’ »

By

Don Manu

Once again in a considerable display of the contempt with which they hold the masses’ intelligence, both the radical JVP peddling its Marxist prattle, and the Bodu Bala Sena hawking its counterfeit Buddhist ware, have deemed it fit to engage in their tried and tested, fluently employed double speak to con the people into believing that they alone are the sole guardians of the nation’s morals and her sovereign laws; and what they profess to say is what they will actually do.

Consider how, as self-acclaimed possessors of high principles and cherished values, their individual duplicity has made these two diametrically opposed parties unite as strange bedfellows conjugating in a room denied light.

Continue reading ‘Doublespeak in Presidential Poll: Pseudo-Marxist Prattle of JVP and Counterfeit Buddhism of Bodu Bala Sena’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

That Navin Dissanayake defected to the opposition last week was hardly surprising. From the time Karu Jayasuriya went back to the UNP, Navin’s days in the UPFA were more or less numbered. With a father-in-law who was the deputy leader and later the Chairman of the Leadership Council of the UNP, Navin would never have been completely trusted by the UPFA leadership. Yet, to his credit, it has to be said that Navin was one of the 17 UNP defectors of 2007 who managed to win a seat in parliament contesting on the UPFA ticket in 2010.

He came first among the UPFA’s two Sinhala MPs in that Tamil majority district. (the top three slots in that district will always be taken by Tamil MPs under the proportional representation system.) That is not a bad achievement at all given the fact that when the 2010 parliamentary election was held, Navin’s father-in-law was the deputy leader of the UNP. If he managed to swim upstream against the natural mistrust that the SLFP voter would have entertained about him, that displays certain abilities.

Continue reading ‘Entry of Rajitha Senaratne, Navin Dissanayake, Wasantha Senanayake and Hunais Farook will Rejuvenate the UNP.’ »

Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his party, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, have decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election next year.

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his party the All Ceylon Makkal Congress will Support Mahinda in Election,’ »

By REBECCA BUNDHUN

GALLE, Sri Lanka — These days, Sri Lanka is often called the next Bali.

Tourism has more than doubled since the 26-year civil war on this teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean ended in 2009, with 1.27 million visitors arriving last year. And some of those foreigners have been buying vacation homes, especially along the island’s southern coast, even though changes to property laws in 2013 made such purchases more complicated and costly.

The shoreline near Galle, Sri Lanka. Foreigners are said to own the majority of the 110 miles of beachfront around the island’s southern tip, which includes the Galle area. courtesy: Credit Chaput Franck/Hemis.fr, via AFP

For many, the decision to buy was not a snap judgment.

Matthew Harragin, a retired stockbroker from Britain, and his wife, Sue, an artist, first visited the country 15 years ago on vacation.
Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Southern Coast From Bentota to Hambantota Turning Into Vacation Home Paradise for Foreigners’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

The signing of the joint opposition MOU at the open air theatre in the Viharamahadevi Park last Monday was a damp squib. In normal circumstances, if a presidential election has been announced and the leader of the UNP was contesting that election, and it was known to the public that the UNP presidential candidate will be signing an MOU with other political parties in Town Hall, the whole area would have been a sea of heads and traffic would have come to a standstill.

Yet when the common candidate signed the MOU with several political parties and up to 35-40 other organizations, the open air theatre was not even full. And even the apathetic and indifferent looking crowd that was present was there only because the UNP leader was present. If not for Ranil’s presence, the only people there would have been the signatories! Clearly that is not an auspicious start.

Continue reading ‘Fielding Maithripala as Common Candidate Instead of Ranil to Challenge Mahinda was a Huge Mistake being felt Already’ »

By
Mark Woods

Pope Francis is due to visit Sri Lanka, but the timing is proving controversial.

pic courtesy of: ucanews.com

The visit is scheduled for January 13, only five days after the Sri Lanka goes to the polls in an election which sees President Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking an unprecedented third term. It will see the canonisation of Sri Lanka’s first saint, the Blessed Joseph Vaz.

However, the Pope has been unwittingly co-opted into electioneering for him thanks to the digital manipulation of campaign posters. One had superimposed photos of the president and the Pope to depict them smiling at one other with the caption: “Blessings of the Holy Father; You are our president, victory for you.”
Continue reading ‘Pressure is mounting on the Vatican to delay a planned visit by Pope Francis to Sri Lanka in January.’ »

By

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

Enemies of the President’s Promise 21
Sneezy 2

The reason Mohan gave for the Secretary of Defence being annoyed with me in June 2009 was a matter that was to prove an enormous bone of contention over the next few years, namely the claim advanced by some in Sri Lanka that there had been no civilian casualties during the war. This was obviously nonsense, and it never occurred to me that any such claim was serious. I assumed that what was meant was we had not inflicted civilian casualties deliberately, which I firmly believe to have been government policy throughout the conflict.

I had seen this illustrated in the East when Daya Ratnayake, who subsequently became Commander of the Army – after he had survived, with Gotabhaya’s support, an attempt by Sarath Fonseka to have him prematurely retired – came to brief me on the campaign in that arena of the war. He had been responsible for the strategy there, and I had called him up to find out details of this after Human Rights Watch had given excessive publicity to a report it had prepared on the conflict in the East, in which they claimed there had been indiscriminate attacks on civilians.
Continue reading ‘“Mohan Peiris said Defence Secy was Annoyed with me for Admitting there were Civilian casualties During War”’ »

The official countdown for the January 8 presidential election gets under way with tomorrow’s nominations where more than fifteen candidates will be in the fray. That the political battle will be between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his main rival Maithripala Sirisena, the main contenders, is all too well known. What remains to be known are the allegiances of at least some of the other candidates.

That they will ‘back’ one of the two main contestants is of great interest in what is politically termed “dummy candidates.” It is only their stated stances after nominations that would highlight who they are in support of.

The “dummy candidates” are fielded to enable their backers to seize maximum benefits that are afforded to candidates in terms of election laws. Among others, they are entitled to have two agents at every polling booth, assign counting agents and more importantly obtain free slots on state television networks to explain their policies. An example in point is the candidature of attorney Namal Rajapaksa who will represent the Apey Jathika Peramuna (AJP) or Our National Front with the telephone as his symbol.

Continue reading ‘More than 15 Persons Including “Dummy Candidates” In Presidential Poll:”Namal Rajapaksa”Contests From “Apey Jathika Peramuna”Under Telephone symbol’ »

Ranil Wickremesinghe and Rajavarothyam Sampanthan at May Day procession in Jaffna, May 1, 2012-TamilWin pic

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had met a Tamil National Alliance delegation and held secret discussions on Tuesday at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, according to reliable sources.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan and parliamentarians M.A. Sumanthiran, Democratic People’s Front Leader MP Mano Ganeshan, Malik Samarawickrema and MP Mangala Samaraweera are believed to have taken part in the discussions to muster support for the Common Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Mano Ganesan

Continue reading ‘TNA Leader Sampanthan has Secret Discussions with Opposition Front Leaders Inclding Ranil and Chandrika at Taj Samudra Hotel Claims “Sunday Observer”.’ »

By

Rasika Jayakody

The presidential election is expected to enter into a crucial stage after tomorrow (08), with its two main candidates – President Mahinda Rajapaksa and common candidate Maithripala Sirisena – planning to accelerate their election campaigns following the final date of nominations. Although the common candidate held his first election rally in Polonnaruwa last weekend, his election symbol was not finalized at that time and it made some impact on the final outcome of the rally.

However, Sirisena is yet to conduct his first rally with the election symbol- “swan” – which was also the symbol of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka when he contested the presidential election in 2010.

Last week we revealed as to how the common opposition took lead in the headline-making game in the mainstream media, outsmarting the propaganda mechanism of the government. This week too, it maintained its success to a certain level, especially with the cross over of former Minister Navin Dissanayake and the revelations he made about alleged cash offers and corruption charges against the government.

Although the common opposition made headway in the battle that takes place in front of the eyes of the media, it is yet to overcome challenges that are still rampant at ground level.

Continue reading ‘Too Many Joint Opposition Front”Cooks” Spoiling the Common Presidential Candidate Sirisena “Soup”’ »

By

N Sathiya Moorthy

It looks as if campaign fever for the January eighth presidential poll is yet to pick up a full fortnight after it all began. At this rate, the poll might conclude without the campaign reaching the conventional climax and the nation getting a new President or a President for a new term possibly without the usually high 75-per cent turnout.

Strange are the ways of politics. It’s thus an irony that President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while in office, has been able to create a contestant from within his camp, not once but twice. The last time round, it was Sarath Fonseka, his trusted army commander who not very long earlier had shared the laurels of the LTTE war victory with him. This time, its’ Maithripala Sirisena, who was a veteran Minister in his government, until the day he unilaterally declared his nomination as the common Opposition candidate.

Stranger still are the ways of political alliances. The long and purportedly strong array of leaders on the Opposition dais with a few more undecided yet on joining them, there is a make-believe that they have in them to upset President Rajapaksa’s electoral apple-cart. They had thought so the last time round. The voter felt otherwise.

Continue reading ‘It’s Rajapaksa vs Mahinda’s Army Chief in 2010 and it’s Rajapaksa vs Mahinda’s Cabinet Minister in 2015’ »

By

Prasad Gunewardene

Last Tuesday Youth Affairs Minister, Dulles Alahapperuma, advised former President Chandrika Kumaratunga to follow the footsteps of the first Executive President, Junius Richard Jayewardene, to learn how to behave after retirement. He said Jayewardene led a peaceful life in retirement and kept away from politics. Yes… the minister is correct to a certain extent. However, JR advised his successors in the UNP in silence and gave directives at crisis times.

Dulles is a friend of mine. He is a leftist from his youth. He is also a fine journalist. During his journalistic days, as a leftist he was very critical of the capitalist UNP. At that time I was covering the UNP and J.R. Jayewardene from 1975. I moved closely with Jayewardene and studied his way of life in person and politics. From him I learnt to command and separate the indisciplined from the disciplined. He was a witty politician and an astute leader. JR was quiet even at turbulent times. He never shirked. Not even when the grenade exploded before him in the Parliament committee room, which killed Keerthi Abeywickreme and seriously wounded Lalith Athulathmudali. The grenade bounced on his table before it exploded. Prime Minister R. Premadasa seated on his right was slightly injured. And so was Minister Vincent Perera on his left. JR watched everything without moving an eye lid and ordered, ‘rush them to hospital’ and left the scene of the explosion with Anandatissa de Alwis.

Continue reading ‘How President Jayewardene Manipulated Prime Minister Premadasa into Submitting his Letter of Resignation’ »

By

Maheen Senanayake

“Heads of Local governments including Pradeshiya Sabha Chairmen are being front-lined by powerful government ministers to spearhead violence against opposition members,” alleged Manjula Gajanayake, National Co-ordinator for the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV).

“We arrived at this assessment after analyzing several incidents. We can cite at least three notable instances when Pradeshiya Sabha members and chairmen are alleged to have been involved in violence against opposition members including blatant thuggery in the presence of hundreds of people and in broad day light,” he further said.

“One such incident occurred yesterday when Jayathilake Bandara, a well known artiste, was attacked in Eppawala during a rally and meeting held to abolish the executive presidency. Onlookers identified several Pradeshiya Sabha Members among the attackers,” he said. “Many have taken video shots of the incident which have been provided to the police.”

Continue reading ‘Elements Led by Pradeshiya Sabha Heads Backed by Govt Ministers Engage in Violence against Opposition While Police Does Nothing.’ »

By

Raja Pakshikaya

The entire nation, it seems, has been caught up in the frenzy of an election which, despite the various Opposition claims of stifling democracy, are being held nineteen to the dozen. And, surprise, surprise, the Opposition has found a ‘common’ candidate, Maithripala Sirisena — from our own party, the SLFP!

My heart goes out to Sirisena. He is a decent man, which is why he was able to rise through the ranks of our party and become its general secretary and stay in that office for ten years.

It speaks for our party too that it gives the common man his due place. He is now the common candidate but my question is, what does he have in common with those who are promoting him?

Continue reading ‘What Does Common Candidate Sirisena Have in Common with the Lady and Gentlemen Promoting his Candidacy?’ »

Several political appointees working as heads of diplomatic missions are being recalled, apprently to handle various aspects of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election campaign, authoritative sources said.

They include Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, High Commissioner in Canberra; Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Ambassador to Japan; Bandula Jayasekera, Consul General in Sydney; Lakshman Hulugalle, Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra; and Udayanga Weeratunga, Ambassador to Russia.

Continue reading ‘Several Politically Appointed Heads of Missions Being Brought to Sri Lanka at State Expense to work for President Rajapaksa in Re- Election Campaign’ »