Day: 15 June 2015

Zeid wants mechanisms in place by September

Karu

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein says he expects mechanisms for accountability and reconciliation to be in place in Sri Lanka ahead of the September session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Making a statement on the opening day of the 29th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva today, Al Hussein said that the new Government in Sri Lanka has passed a constitutional amendment which, if implemented appropriately, brings renewed hope for democracy and the rule of law. He said that the Office of the…

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Ananthy Sasitharan in the Eye of a Controversial Publicity Storm Again

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By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife, If once I be a widow, ever I be a wife!………” The lady doth protest too much, methinks” – William Shakespeare :Hamlet Act 3,Scene 2. Politicians are a breed thriving on publicity –negative or positive. Their preference is to bask in the limelight always. They crave attention almost all the time and love to be the cynosure of all eyes. It is said in lighter vein that politicians want to be the bride in a wedding, baby in a…

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TNA not greedy for ministerial portfolios

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By S.Gurunathan Tamil National Alliance Batticaloa District Parliamentarian, C.Yogeswaran categorically said that the TNA was not greedy of ministerial portfolios in the present government or even in the next government to be formed following the next parliamentary polls until the political aspirations of the Tamils were fulfilled. “We should respect the immense sacrifices made by our people during the three decades of civil war. Therefore, we cannot accept the portfolios for prestige reasons,” Yogeswaran said, while he was addressing a public meeting at Kiran, Batticaloa last Friday (12). “Thousands of…

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Indian leadership must answer – Ananthy Sasitharan

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Northern Provincial Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan has requested the former Congress regime leaders in India to reveal the true situation with regard to the surrender of the LTTE cadres including her husband Elilan at the last phase of the war in Wanni in 2009. NPC Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan at a special media briefing held at her residence on Friday in Walakkamparai in Vaddukottai said the former Congress regime Minister P.Sivasithamparam, former Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and President Pranab Mukherjee who was at that time a Minister of the Congress…

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Mahinda Rajapaksha finally admits there were corruption during his presidency.

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Tissa Vitarana, the leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja party and the former senior minister has obtained a promise from Mahinda Rajapaksa that there will be “no corruption” under a future Rajapaksa government. In an interview with Ravaya newspaper Vitarana said; “I admit that there were issues of corruption. We have already discussed the matter with Mahinda. He has assured that he will stop all corruption if he comes back to power.” Mahinda Rajapaksha  finally admits there were corruption during his presidency. Now, will he admit that investigations into that his…

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MR Rally: Rajitha-Udaya battle numbers

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By Shaahidah Riza and Lankesh Gooneratne Cabinet spokesperson, Minister of Health and member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Rajitha Senaratne stated that only 25 SLFP MPs attended the Pro-Mahinda Rally on Friday (12) though the Pro-Mahinda faction claimed the figure was 62. Senaratne who also rubbished claims indicating the attendance of an enormous crowd, added that the people were with the President. “There were 212 buses in which people were transported there. There were over 200 vans. The stage was erected at the centre, not at the rear…

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Strengthen President Sirisena Who Holds The Key To Future Good Governance

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By Jehan Perera – The opposition political rally held by supporters of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week in Matara is being described as the largest such rally so far. Over 75 opposition parliamentarians amounting to one third of the numbers in Parliament attended the event. The SLFP contingent amongst them who constitute the vast majority, attended the rally in defiance of the decision taken by the SLFP hierarchy including President Sirisena that no member of the SLFP should take part in a campaign to bring back the former President…

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President says ready to follow SWRD path of sacrifice

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The sacrifice made by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in the course of political and social transformation is again required by the country, President Maithripala Sirisena said. “I am dedicated to make the changes the country requires placing even my life at stake,” he said. “Every politician worldwide who made political transformations had to face challenges, even sacrificing their lives. I am dedicated to gain the required social, economic and political transformation in the country by uniting every social and political force, without being afraid of any challenge,” he said. The President made…

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UNP unmasks Mahinda!

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Hard-hitting statement alleges Rajapaksa ruled for years with lies and after being overthrown he is still spreading hatred and mistrust for cheap political gains UNP denies closure of 59 Army camps but points finger at former President Warns people will teach Rajapaksa his final lesson at the next election; hints additional bribery and corruption by former regime will be exposed Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa The UNP yesterday launched a scathing attack on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, warning him not to create hatred and suspicion among ethnic groups and mislead masses with his wild…

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225-member parliament; next polls under PR Jumbos stick to their guns … demand dissolution of Parlament

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The Cabinet on Friday approved the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution with the number of parliamentary seats increased to 237 from the current 225, but the UNP now insists that it is strongly opposed to a bigger Parliament. In a statement issued on Saturday, the UNP said: “Since 2002, the UNP has been of the view that the number of parliamentary seats shouldn’t be increased under any circumstances. There is no change in our stand.” The statement dealt with the Working Committee meeting held at Sirikotha on Friday evening. The UNP also reiterated…

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The 7 deadly sins in rebel litany against Prime Minister Ranil by Rajapaksa

Karu

If you need to get a pretty good idea of how donkeys behave in the wild breathing freedom’s intoxicating air, look no further than to the unbridled antics of a privileged few who make regular visits to Delft Island, where, deaf and blind to the pressing needs of those whose interests they claim to represent, they selfishly indulge in asinine romps that cause near irreparable damage to the fragile ecosystem and threaten the well being of its inhabitants. It is patently clear that the Rajapaksa rebels, enjoying the freedom of…

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Who is blocking implementation of the 19th Amendment?

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The Government’s reported proposal this week that the Constitutional Council under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution should proceed to sit in the absence of the three non-political appointees to the body speaks to the farcical if not the frivolous intent underlying recent constitutional reforms. Non-political appointments must be made Pray, how different would this body then be from the Parliamentary Council which, under the maligned 18th Amendment to the Constitution, was mandated to examine nominations to key public sector positions and the constitutional commissions on public service, police etc prior…

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Who’s delaying the probe? Champika threatens to reveal names

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Hidden hand in Jaffna protests   Rajitha scoffs at Mahinda’s antics Cutout craze comes again with all the boast  Dwindling CWC turns to the deities  Rajapaksa loyalists  seeking SLFP nominations Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka threw a challenge at a recent ministerial meeting — expedite investigations into the cases he mentioned within a week or he would go public and name those behind the delays. The meeting was chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena. The cases he identified, where investigations are now underway, are the floating armoury case involving Avant…

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