29th November 2014

“Ask this question from the President” – Nimal Siripala de Silva Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and Leader of the House, Nimal Siripala De Silva refused to speak on behalf of the government regarding the JHU’s decision.“You should ask this question from the president,” he said before hanging up. “Doors open to put country above positions” – Gayantha Karunathilake Galle District United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Gayantha Karunathilake pointed out the JHU’s decision to leave the government on principle had been made as the UPFA government had failed to honor its promise to abolish the executive presidency. He said the UNP saw the JHU’s move as a positive initial step in a wide-ranging effort to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa and abolish the executive […]

Deputy Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Udaya Gammanpila, in an interview with Ceylon Today, says the JHU will give the government another chance. Excerpts:By Shalika Wimalasena Q: Can you outline the JHU’s present stand? A: We always take the side of the people. We gave up positions in the government to ensure the people’s success. We don’t have any hatred towards the government. Q: Did the government ill-treat the JHU? A: No. We were treated well. This is not a move taken due to disappointment over treatment. Q: You will soon have to use public transport if you continue this. A: It doesn’t matter. Minister Champika and I don’t own private vehicles. Q: Why do you still say that you will remain in […]

By Lakshmi Jayakody The Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) may be dissolved, as its Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Councillors have decided to launch a political coup against the local body’s ruling party. The EPC members representing the SLMC have pressurized the SLMC leadership to leave the government. Reliable sources, speaking to Ceylon Today, said the upcoming EPC budget was likely to be defeated and it was likely that the EPC would be dissolved. The EPC budget is to be taken up for reading from 1-5 December. The All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC) members; M.M.S Amir Ali, Sibli Farook and M. S. Zubair who were part of the UPFA have left the… .. Alliance and currently function as independent members in the council. The ruling party […]

Government fears dissolution of PCs By Zahrah Imtiaz The Joint Opposition yesterday said the government would not convene any meetings in the Provincial Councils (PC) until after the Presidential Election, as they fear that Councils would face dissolution if they were to meet. “The government has postponed the Uva Provincial Council meeting and they say it is because it is ‘too cold’ to hold a meeting. Looks like Uva is suffering from a fever and several more PCs are going to catch it,” Opposition’s common candidate, Maithripala Sirisena, said. He said the government would try its best to postpone meetings of all PCs in order to avoid major crossovers in the local bodies. The meetings of two other PCs are expected to be postponed. Sirisena, […]

By Niranjan Rambukwella – Out of every rupee spent by our government, 56 cents are directly controlled by members of the Rajapaksa family. Analysis of budgets over the last five years reveals that the share of the budget controlled by the Rajapaksa family, viz Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa MP and Nirupama Rajapaksa MP, increased 16 percent – from an already gargantuan 40 percent in 2010 to an eye-watering 56 percent this year. The chart below tells the story. Also, over half the budget is personally controlled by Mahinda Rajapaksa alone – see the table below. Its also worth remembering that the chair of the primary body charged with ensuring that no hank-panky occurs, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, is Sarath Amunugama MP – a minister who serves at […]