A question was asked from the former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his final breakfast meeting with media heads last year. ‘Who is your real opponent, Maithripala Sirisena, Ranil Wickremesinghe or Chandrika Kumaratunga?’ He did not hesitate in responding: ‘Chandrika!’ This became the lead story in all newspapers the following day. The headline in almost all newspapers was ‘Chandrika is my real opponent!’ or else versions of that same line. What happened next is interesting. The Maithripala Sirisena campaign quietly sidelined Kumaratunga. It must be remembered that it was this lady…
Read MoreDay: 31 July 2015
Champika challenges MAHINDA to debate on bribing LTTE
Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who accused former President Mahinda Rajapaksa of bribing the LTTE at that time, challenged him to prove his innocence if possible. Addressing an election meeting, Mr. Ranawaka, who is contesting the upcoming election on the UNP ticket, said he would challenge Mr. Rajapaksa to make an announcement on the allegation regarding the bribing of the LTTE with money. He alleged the Rajapaksas used the ‘white van culture’ to achieve their personal gains and all would be be exposed before the people. he said…
Read MoreI will not engage in political propaganda supporting TNA
I will not engage in any political propaganda supporting the TNA candidates, instead take a neutral stance, NPC Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran said in a communiqué issued in that context. He said that the General Elections was announced when he was on a tour abroad and many a people question about his stance now. “Ten candidates are vying for seven seats in the Jaffna Electoral District while nine candidates are contesting for six seats in the Wanni Electoral District. Hence, there is a contradictory situation among the candidates within the…
Read MoreChild Poverty: Who are the Poorest Children in Sri Lanka?
The UN General Assembly has adopted the following definition of child poverty, on 10th January, 2007 – “Children living in poverty are deprived of nutrition, water and sanitation, access to basic healthcare services, shelter, education, participation and protection, and that while a severe lack of goods and services hurts every human being, it is most threatening and harmful to children, leaving them unable to enjoy their rights to reach their full potential and to participate as full members of the society”. As the definition points out, measuring child poverty can…
Read MoreMaithri: From Waterloo to Watershed?
Maithri: From Waterloo to Watershed? Politics & Society by Prasad Gunewardene The general belief in the country is that most of our politicians are comedians. Most of our politicians do act like comedians time and again. In the previous regime Mervyn Silva was outstanding. He tied a government official to a tree. Later, it was told that the victim performed that act himself. Mervyn staged a drama both inside and outside the Rupavahini Corporation. Finally he won the award titled ‘Minister of Public Affairs and Public Relations’ for his outstanding “public…
Read MoreNew report names torture camps and perpetrators + Executing surrendered LTTE suspects and sexually violating them
Sri Lanka: New report names torture camps and perpetrators BY ATHULA VITHANAGE Shocking details of sexual torture has been exposed in a report identifying many torture camps and several officers who carried out the systematic persecution of Tamils through torture, rape, illegal detention and killings. In compiling its latest report, “Still Unfinished War: Sri Lanka’s Survivors of Torture and Sexual Violence 2009-2015”, International Truth & Justice Project (ITJP) records details of more than 40 torture sites while naming over 60 rapists and torturers. ‘This is by no means a comprehensive…
Read MoreGovernment will not comment on alleged UN document
The Government today refused to comment on a document a British television station claims could undermine international investigations into the war. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maheshini Colonne said the Government was aware of the British ‘Channel 4′ news report on the document but will not comment on such media reports. Channel 4 News reported this week that it has been supplied with the leaked UN document which it claim could pre-empt and undermine September’s Human Rights Council discussion on a UN’s long-awaited investigation into crimes committed at the end of Sri Lanka’s 26-year civil…
Read MorePolice look for Mahinda’s UPFA candidate over abduction and assault
Matale police are looking for Matale District Mahinda’s UPFA candidate and former Deputy Minister Lakshman Wasantha Perera and a group of his supporters for allegedly abducting a man and assaulting him for launching a campaign against the proliferation of ethanol and printing a set of posters to be pasted in public in that regard. The police said the victim had been assaulted allegedly at the UPFA candidate’s house. It is alleged that the supporters of the politician had arrived in a car and abducted the victim near a printing press…
Read MoreThree Committees To Probe MR Ads On ITN
By Easwaran Rutnam An investigation launched by the Ministry of Mass Media and Parliamentary Affairs has revealed that the State owned Independent Television Network (ITN) had violated regulations in place when accepting advertisements for the last Presidential election under the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. ITN Chairman, Prof. Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake told The Sunday Leader that three separate committees had been appointed to investigate the allegations against the former management of ITN. He said that a committee appointed by the Media Ministry, a committee appointed by ITN and a Presidential Commission had…
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