President gives chief prelates assurance following meeting President Maithripala Sirisena has given the chief prelates an assurance on the Constitution making process following a meeting held with them in Kandy today. A meeting between Maha Sangha (chief prelates) led by Maha Nayaka Theros and President Maithripala Sirisena was held today at the President’s House in Kandy.  The Maha Sangha presented their ideas and proposals on the political, social, economic and religious matters, to the President during this meeting. They presented a list of proposals related to these matters, the President’s office said. The Maha Nayaka of Malwathu Chapter of the Siyam Maha Nikaya Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero, Maha Nayaka of Asgiri Sector Most Venerable Varakagoka Sri Gnanarathana Thero, and Maha Nayaka of Ramagna […]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) today insisted that the process to draft a new Constitution must move forward. TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran told Parliament that the two main political parties in the country joined hands for the purpose of drafting a new Constitution.  He said that when Parliament decides something no one from outside can override that decision.  The Chief Prelates of the three main Buddhist chapters had this week decided there is no need for a new Constitution in Sri Lanka. The Chief Prelates reached the decision following a discussion between them. Sumanthiran said that the process to draft the new Constitution is of utmost importance and must continue. He also said that the public can decide through a referendum what is the best […]

The new Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has vehemently denied allegations that the tri-forces committed war crimes. Speaking to media after officially assuming duties as the Army Commander said the Army works with discipline and dedication. Lieutenant General Senanayake said certain persons are levelling various baseless allegations. The Commander said without discipline and dedication there can be no army adding that wearing a uniform alone doesn’t make one a solider. He noted groups levelling allegations have not witnessed a crime but they speak of something they have heard adding that he, as a person who has been with the army knows the army did not bow down. The Commander noted the army is prepared to face any charge. Lieutenant General […]

By Cyril Wimalasurendre KANDY – The ruling (UPFA) Tamil members of the Central Provincial Council will hereafter function as an independent group. The independent group has been named ‘Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA). President of the alliance will be M. M. Ram. The new alliance says it will be an independent body representing the Tamil community in the plantation sector of the Central hills. The group complains that the issues of the plantation sector community remain unsolved although the Tamil members of the Provincial Council representing the community are in the ruling coalition. The problems of housing, employment and education have not been addressed by the Central Provincial Council, the newly formed alliance says. Saraswathie Sivaguru was elected the Secretary of the alliance. A team of […]

by Thambu Kanagasabai, Toronto, June 27, 2017 Northern Provincial Council is [NPC] a creation under the Indo-Ceylon Accord of 1987 and the 13th Amendment to the constitution, all of which are of Indian and Sri Lankan Government’s making without the backing  and endorsement of the large majority of Tamils and the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.  NPC has legislative powers over various matters including agriculture, education, health, housing, local government, planning, road transport and social services. Police and land powers assigned to the NPC are not devolved by the successive Sri Lankan Governments who have simply refused to do so, fearing that it will lead to separation, which is just paranoid only.  With Central Government enjoying powers through a Governor and Parliament to dismiss […]

National Unity Essential for Sri Lankan Government’s Survival JEHAN PERERA Monday, July 03,2017 COLOMBO: Unless the government shows that it is capable of delivering results soon, the slow progress of problem solving at the ground level will continue to erode public support for the government. The weak performance of the economy is on the minds of most people. The expected job creation through industrial growth has not materialized nor has there been technological improvement that could raise the level of incomes of agricultural and fishing families. Instead of rising standards of living they experience the rising cost of living. In the case of the North and East where the bulk of the war affected people live, the discontent is even greater. They bear a double burden. […]

New initiatives to be launched on August 30th, the International Disappearance Day. The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), in association with many mothers, relatives and friends of the Tamil victims of enforced disappearance in the island of Sri Lanka, recently held demonstrations around the world. Following the demonstration outside the United Nations in New York, a memorandum was handed over to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. For over 114 days, the relatives and friends of the victims of Enforced Disappearances have staged a continuous protest by the roadside in Kilinochchi in the North Eastern part of the island, demanding that their children and family members be brought back home or an investigation be conducted with the participation of international experts about the fate […]

agreed on the basic contours Four minority parties, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by Mano Ganeshan, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by Minister Rauf Hakeem, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Rishad Badiudeen and Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) led by Douglas Devananda submitted a common set of proposals to the Constitutional Assembly Steering Committee. The TPA formed in 2015, consists of the Democratic People’s Front, National Union of Workers and the Upcountry People’s Front. This Union largely represents the Tamils, mostly Indian origin Tamils, living outside the North and East provinces. The SLMC and the ACMC are the voice of the Muslim majority and the EPDP represents mainly the southern Tamils. While they have slightly differing views on electoral reforms, religion and […]

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) in its very name suggests something approximating, if not exceeding, a show of force. Specifically, and paradoxically, Buddhist Force! Last week the BBS said it would very possibly be sooner or later registering its own political party to fight for the ‘Buddhist Cause’ because political parties cannot be depended on to achieve that end, whatever that might be. The BBS enjoyed impunity under the Rajapaksa regime and now it would seem that the BBS has a champion in Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. BBS Chief Executive Officer Dilantha Withanage has reportedly told UCANEWS that the BBS recently discussed with Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya the possibility of registering a political party to contest the forthcoming elections.” Besides the BBS, there’s the Sinhala […]

probe hits a snag Ministers question legal standing of committee A fresh problem has arisen in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) after two ministers had refused to cooperate with the three-member committee appointed by Chief Minister, C.V. Wigneswaran to probe allegations of corruption. Accordingly, the two ministers have questioned the legality of the three-member committee appointed by the Chief Minister. Minister of Fisheries and Transport, B. Deniswaran speaking to the Nation alleged that the committee appointed had no legal standing. “We are willing to be questioned and we are willing to cooperate. But we have our doubts over the legal standing of the committee,” Deniswaran said. All four ministers had earlier agreed to cooperate with the committee. However, Deniswaran said that after recent unrest within the NPC, […]