By Upali Cooray – Since the end of the war against terrorism in Sri Lanka the people’s expectations of a peaceful country to live in was achieved to a great extent in 2009, but unfortunately no government so far has been able to douse the flickering embers of nationalism and ethnocentrism though six years have passed since. With the present government’s attempts in implementing the UNHRC resolution it co-sponsored with the US in which the ultimate goal is said to be reconciliation among all communities living within the country, there…
Read MoreDay: 18 February 2016
Rajapaksa held the view that he should be the President for life.
National Integration and Reconciliation State Minister A. H. M. Fowzie said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political life was destroyed after he brought the 18th Amendment. All former Presidents retired after their second term. but, former President Rajapaksa got the 18th amendment passed to remain in the power for a third term. He(Rajapaksa) held the view that he should be the President for life. But the people rejected this. Minister Fowzie made these observations addressing the media on the current situation of the country, in Colombo yesterday. “My self and…
Read MorePresident invites expatriates to return home
President Maithripala Sirisena extended an open invitation to all Sri Lankan people, who went to Germany as refugees during the conflict era, to return to the motherland to enjoy the freedom as now Sri Lanka has been turned into a country, where all people can live freely. The President extended this invitation responding to a question by a journalist at the media briefing held following the official talks with the Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, today (17). The President commended the assistance given by the Government of German for the…
Read MoreChina Still In The Lead Despite Regime Change Construction of a building in Sri Lanka
Despite many speculations by various parties, China still seems to be leading the race in Sri Lanka’s donor funding framework. Being responsible for well over US$ 487 million disbursements in 2015, China is still maintaining its position as the leading funder for development and infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. Many raised concerns over the former regime’s close association with the government of China, and now with the change of regime, many expected that the new government would not be able to continue the relationship that China had with the former…
Read MoreWho is hiding files of Rajapaksas in AG’s Department?
Who is hiding files of Rajapaksas in AG’s Department? The Attorney-General’s Department disappeared from the Gazette notification in the lists which were in the Gazette relating to the respective ministries, when the ministers were sworn in after the 2010 general election. When the media inquired about it from then Justice Minister John Seneviratne, the minister said he too was searching where it was located in the Gazette notification. But John was unsuccessful in all attempts to locate the AG’s Department in the Gazette. Alas! President Mahinda Rajapaksa had taken it…
Read MoreTULF moots Indian model
By Ananth Palakidnar The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has suggested incorporation of the Indian Model and the South African Bill of Rights into the proposed new Constitution for Sri Lanka as a solution to the ethnic problem. The proposals effectively dispel fears of many who… …expected the TULF to adopt a hard-line federal approach to proposals for incorporation in the Constitution. TULF General Secretary and former Parliamentarian V. Anandasangaree has reiterated that a federal solution will be the best but considering emerging scenarios the TULF feels that the Indian Model…
Read MoreCM Wigneswaran raises objections over Palaly airport expansion
Northern Province’s Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran has raised objections over the renovation of the Palaly airport in the Northern Province, one of the many large infrastructure projects proposed in Sri Lanka with the funding of the Indian Government, The Hindu newspaper reported. He has conveyed his position to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a meeting early this week in which chairperson of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Governor Reginold Cooray and Ministers of the Northern Province took part. The meeting…
Read MoreUK committed to help Sri Lanka strengthen democracy
The British Government says it remains committed to help Sri Lanka strengthen democracy in the country. The UK High Commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris said the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK’s visit to Sri Lanka this week is a reflection of the important and long standing Parliamentary relations that the two Parliaments enjoy. The UK Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA UK) participated in a three day workshop in Sri Lanka on ‘Sectoral Oversight Committees for Members of Parliament’. The workshop, which ran from 15th to 17th February, was…
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