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Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) led by Joseph Stalin early this week alleged that the Northern Education System is highly politicized and there is large-scale misuse of power. The Union has now taken up the issue with Northern Governor Reginold Cooray who had promised to call up Provincial Education Ministry officials on 26 June for an explanation regarding the allegations. Ministerial level representatives as well as CTU will be present at this meeting. In a statement released early this week, CTU’s General Secretary Stalin pointed out that education in the North has been highly politicized with politicians and those holding responsible positions in the Education sector ruining the system. “Politicians and education directors are acting against rules and regulations and thereby ruining the administrative system of […]

Choice of candidate a significant factor in defeating Gotabaya Kumar David Gotabaya’s candidature for the presidency has been announced with much fanfare. All the backward forces of Sri Lankan society gathered at a great event organised by an elitist-chauvinist outfit called Viyathmaga in a resplendent hall to greet their new champion. Narrow nationalists and Sinhala chauvinists were there; leaders of the Joint Opposition attended; a sprinkling of the Dead Left deserted geriatric beds to put in a showing. Vasudeva did not attend but tied himself in knots saying one thing and then another according to the Daily Financial Times; goodly numbers of businessmen salivating for spoils were there. Understandably some fed up with Ranil’s pluperfect incompetence, stunned by Sirisena’s treachery and mystified by the venality […]

Sanjana Hattotuwa I was around 25 when the ceasefire agreement by the United National Front government, with Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM, was freshly inked. Some of the most visible checkpoints in Colombo, for the first time in my life, were removed. I was part of a group of journalists who were the first to go up North on the newly re-opened A9, to meet with the LTTE; journalists in the North – including some of the first on the ground to use digital video and photography to document inconvenient truths – as well as activists in the region. Our minibus was regularly checked by young boys, facial hair just barely evident, cocking T-56s, and absolutely fascinated with the workings of the CD player. I remember […]

The new bridge that was opened by the premier. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who created a world record through unfettered borrowings, should tell the country how he proposes to make his claim to reduce taxes by 20% a reality, if he is returned to power. During the Rajapaksa era, Sri Lanka’s debt burden zoomed to Rs. 7,391 billion, which meant a ‘record’ of pushing up the country’s borrowings three-fold, he noted. “Now the people have to repay this enormous debt”. The premier was addressing a meeting after opening the new Ranwala, Aswatte bridge on Friday. In 2005, when Sri Lanka celebrated her 58th year of independence, the country’s debt was Rs. 222 billion. After that Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected […]

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday requested Britain to have London-based LankaeNews Editor Pradeep Sandaruwan Senadheera arrested or sent back to Sri Lanka. He made the request during a 30-minute a meeting with British High Commissioner James Dauris whom he summoned to his Paget Road residence. Among those present at the discussion were the President’s Coordinating Secretary Shiral Lakthilaka and Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne . The website has been blocked since November last year by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), headed by Presidential Secretary Austin Fernando. The ban was imposed after the website published articles critical of Mr Sirisena. Information obtained under the Right to Information Act by the website Groundviews revealed that the President’s office issued a letter to the TRCSL Director General […]

By Manekshaw Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe travelled to Jaffna last week and when the Sri Lanka Air Force VIP helicopter touched down at the Jaffna Municipal Council grounds, he was received by one of the leading business magnates in Jaffna T. Thuvarakeswaran who is the brother of the late UNP Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran and the brother in law of State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe descended from the SLAF chopper amidst heavy showers and tight security, to once the location of the Jaffna Municipal Council, where stood a building very much similar to the Jaffna Public Library building in architecture. However, the LTTE demolished the majestic Jaffna Municipal Council building, which even housed a cinema, by detonating dynamites, when there were moves by the […]

Gota A Devout Buddhist, Vegetarian, Feeds Flesh To Pet Sharks By Suranimala Umagiliya – The mainstream Sinhala media is awash with news of Gotabaya Rajapaksa being the front runner from the Lotus Bud party at the next Presidential election. That sums up the pathetic state of the media. The fourth estate must educate and guarantee the citizens right to information. Such information must be disseminated with great responsibility. Information presented with clarity will educate the masses in making judicious decisions concerning their future and that of the next generation. Gotabaya for President? Sri Lankans must be out of their minds or plain looney to even give it a second thought. Here is a man who is suspected of grave crime dodging appearing in Court to clear himself. An educated public will insist that he goes through a legal […]

Commissioners of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) held their third session with families of the disappeared in the war-affected district of Mullaitivu yesterday, as it sets about designing its operations and approach to tackling one of the biggest caseloads of enforced disappearances in the world. The Commissioners’ arrival in a region that was the final theatre of battle between the LTTE and Government forces in 2009, was also met with protests by families of the disappeared who have engaged in roadside demonstrations for the better part of a year, demanding answers about missing loved ones. The protestors claimed they lacked confidence in the OMP because it had not shown results on its operations to find missing persons. They did not want to be hoodwinked […]

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s senior-most defence official, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, faces imminent arrest following allegations that he shielded the main suspect in the abduction and murder of 11 children. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told the Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that Admiral Wijegunaratne during his term as navy commander had repeatedly protected the chief suspect known as “Navy Sampath.” The magistrate told the CID that there was no impediment to arresting anyone obstructing the course of justice. The court has also called for a parallel case against those blocking the arrest of the main suspect. Former navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda’s aide, Hettiarachchi Mudiyanselage Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath, is the main accused in the abduction and murder of 11 children between 2008 […]

For years, the British Council Colombo Library has challenged the traditional perception of a library. While being home to the best selection of books and learning resources in Colombo the venue is also well known as a gathering space for artists, thinkers and thought leaders. On June 3 the British Council Library will reopen as a space that embodies this role it plays as both a repository of knowledge and convener of people and ideas. To celebrate, an open day will present an exciting programme of events that capture the library’s vibe- ‘It all happens here’! The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities. In Sri Lanka, they have been active for almost seven decades in the spaces of […]

Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran Boycotts Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Visit to North And Sends Letter With Demands To the Govt Instead of Facing PM Directly. By Manekshaw Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe travelled to Jaffna last week and when the Sri Lanka Air Force VIP helicopter touched down at the Jaffna Municipal Council grounds, he was received by one of the leading business magnates in Jaffna T. Thuvarakeswaran who is the brother of the late UNP Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran and the brother in law of State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe descended from the SLAF chopper amidst heavy showers and tight security, to once the location of the Jaffna Municipal Council, where stood a building very much similar to the Jaffna Public Library building in architecture. […]

A progress review meeting was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Kilinochchi District Secretariat to evaluate the progress of the development projects carried out in the area. Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, Ministers D.M. Swaminathan, several other Ministers, Parliamentarians, Provincial Council members and state officials participated. Here the Prime Minister noted that the Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts will be incorporated to the country’s overall development process. He issued this pledge when he addressed public officials at a discussion held at the Kilinochchi Kachcheri during his visit to the Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts to review the progress of development work yesterday. The Prime Minister said the development strip encompassing Hambantota, Kandy and Moneragala would be extended to Jaffna to incorporate […]

Rajapaksa Ordered Helicopters, Sirisena’s Attempt To Implicate Ranil Falls Flat It was Mahinda Rajapaksa and no one else that called for and used a helicopter to fly to Hambantota the day after he lost the Presidential Election in January 2015, according to sources close to the Rajapaksa family. ‘Sirisena took oaths on the evening of January 9th and until then Mahinda Rajapaksa was the President of the country. As was usual practice he had asked a member of his security detail, Captain Tissa Wimalasena to call for helicopters,’ sources pointed out, stating that Sirisena was distorting facts and making unfair accusations. Although Sirisena claimed ignorance and hinted that it was Ranil Wcikremesinghe who was responsible for this, he is on record having stated on April 09, 2016 […]

The CID yesterday (31), informed Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that former Navy Commander and current Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunawardene was connected to the disappearance of Lieutenant Commander Prasad Hettiarachchi, a suspect charged with the abduction and disappearance of 11 children. Attorney Achala Seneviratne, appearing for the aggrieved parties, questioned the CID on the progress made in their investigations into Hettiarachchi’s disappearance. The CID told the Court, “We have been seeking public help with regard to the disappearance of Prasad Hettiarachchi. We had sought such help through the print and electronic media. Following statements given by his wife it has been proved that on the day that he was ordered to give statements, he had been present at the Navy Headquarters. […]