By Easwaran Rutnam Former LTTE fighter and leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan has been assured a Ministerial post if he wins the Parliamentary election. Pillayan, who is currently in remand prison, is contesting the polls in the East on the TMVP ticket in some areas and under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is some areas.Sources close to Pillayan told Daily Mirror that he has been assured a Ministerial post by the SLPP if he is elected to Parliament. However, the SLPP has…
Read MoreDay: 31 July 2020
KP and former LTTE Eastern Commander Karuna Amman are working for the SLPP.
Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka today accused the Government of using Kumaran Pathmanathan, alias KP, a key LTTE leader, for its election campaign. Speaking at an election rally today, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya candidate at the Parliamentary election said that KP is carrying out the election campaign of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in Kilinochchi. Pathmanathan is wanted in India over the murder of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Ranawaka said that both KP and former LTTE Eastern Commander Karuna Amman are working for the SLPP. Patali Champika Ranawaka…
Read MoreEconomic mismanagement by Gotabaya Rajapaksa govt is the main cause for the suffering people were undergoing and not the Coronavirus pandemic says UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe
by Zacki Jabbar Former Prime Minister and leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe is hoping there will be a high voter turnout at the forthcoming general election, which, he believes, will prove advantageous to the UNP. “The higher the number of votes cast, the better for the UNP,” Wickremesinghe said in an interview with The Island, while travelling across the country to address a series of public meetings. Asked how the UNP would perform with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya vying for a share of its vote base he said, “We…
Read More“Do we want this ‘new normal’ of unchecked power, ‘authoritarian leadership’ and militarisation to facilitate or ensure economic growth and the sustainable development of our country? – Friday Forum.
( Text of a Media Release Issued by the ” FRIDAY FORUM” on 29th July, 2020 Under the Heading “VOTING IN THE ELECTIONS 2020: FOR PUBLIC OR RULERS’ WELFARE?) On August 5th 2020, we as citizens will choose the people who may join the President in governing this country for the next five years, if a Parliamentary system of governance under the present 1978 Constitution continues. Parliament has not functioned for 4 months- well beyond the limit set by the Constitution- so we do not know what will happen after…
Read MoreTamils Desiring a Silk “Verti” May Lose Even Their Cotton “Verti”.
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Rajapalsa regime is all out to get a two-thirds majority in Parliament through the forthcoming elections on August 5. The avowed objective of such a steam -roller majority is to promulgate a new Constitution or enact Constitutional amendments unilaterally. According to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP) ideologue Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris a strong Governmemt is necessary to bring about Constitutional changes without relying on smaller political parties.”Pohottuwa” theoretician Gevindu Cumaratunga explains that such a huge majority is required to adopt a new Constitution that would reflect the historic…
Read MoreTGTE never showed any remorse over child soldiers: Lord Naseby
The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), which has started legal action in the UK to lift the proscription on the LTTE, has never shown any remorse over child soldiers, Lord Naseby, the President of the All Party British Sri Lanka Parliamentary Group said yesterday. Speaking during the debate on Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 in the House of Lords of the UK, Lord Naseby said the TGTE started a legal action in the courts in the UK to lift the proscription on the LTTE on Wednesday. He said, “I want to focus,…
Read MoreSajith vows to stamp out ultra-nationalism
By Ruwantha Nithulgaspitiya Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa said, under his watch, there will be no room for the emergence of any form of ultra-nationalism, extremism, religious violence and terrorism. He emphasised that a SJB Government will totally eliminate all type of extremism and terrorism. “I am ready to face any kind of probe into charges directed against me for having misappropriated funds belonging to the Central Cultural Fund. I cannot be intimidated through the spread of canards and innuendos. During my official term as the Minister of…
Read MoreSri Lanka’s parliamentary elections will shape its political future—likely for the worse and validate the Rajapaksas’ Buddhist nationalist agenda at the expense of minorities.
Sri Lanka’s upcoming parliamentary elections will serve as an indicator of the island’s future political direction, potential executive power buildup, and future geopolitical stance. With complications from the coronavirus pandemic, during which the Sri Lankan election commission has struggled to ensure that voting will be free, fair, and safe for all, the twice-delayed election may favor President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s party, allowing it to strike down a significant constitutional amendment and move Sri Lanka further into China’s orbit of influence. The parliamentary elections will have far-ranging impacts on Sri Lanka’s politics,…
Read MoreWiggy plays SLPP card against TNA
Leader of Thamizhi Makkal Tesiya Kootani or the Tamil People’s National Alliance C.V. Wigneswaran says the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) wants the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to bag the northern and eastern electorates at the upcoming election. The former Chief Minister of the Northern Province said so addressing the media in Jaffna on Wednesday (29). The former Supreme Court justice alleged that senior SLPP members Dinesh Gunawardena, Keheliya Rambukwella et al had recently claimed that SLPP would win electorates outside the North and East and TNA the North…
Read MoreJVP vows to fight moves to abolish 19A
Will join opposition forces in new Parliament to block any repeal of 19A Says repealing 19A will roll back democratic gains Cites independent commissions and CC scrutiny of senior State-level appointees as positives Expresses concern about too many ex-military personnel appointments under new administration Wants more robust COVID-19 Govt. support for companies and employees By Chandani Kirinde Senior member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and former Gampaha District MP Vijitha Herath said that the Party would not allow the repeal of the 19th Amendment to Constitution and would join…
Read MoreSri Lankans nationals won’t be allowed to enter Kuwait
Kuwait has included Sri Lanka in the list of countries whose nationals won’t be allowed to enter the State. Others on the list include Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Iran and Nepal. Kuwait’s cabinet yesterday said it will allow citizens and residents to travel to and from the country, starting 1 August. Last month, Kuwait announced it would partially resume commercial flights from August, but does not expect to reach full capacity until a year later, as its aviation sector gradually recovers from a suspension sparked by the COVID-19 crisis.
Read MoreIn 1995, under the Liam Fox agreement, both the main parties agreed to introduce Federalism.
Karuna is doing politics for the Rajapaksas. We ask TNA to join hands with us to form the Government and accept portfolios as the Tamil parties in the estate sector and the Muslim parties do. Q Pragmatism and a new innovative economic model are concepts you espoused for a long time. You said the SJB follows them. Does it mean that you have become the policy maker for them? In 1995, under the Liam Fox agreement, both the main parties agreed to introduce Federalism. We stood for the unitary status. By…
Read MoreMahinda can make fools dance to his tune and educated men listen to him
Mahinda’s aggressive subordinates in politics must be told that ‘violence’ and ‘thuggery’ have no place in present politics. We like Mahinda Rajapaksa for many reasons. The veteran politician can turn the tide when the ships are down. He can make fools dance to his tune and educated men listen to him. This upcoming election is vital for him because this is the second time he is contesting a poll after losing ‘power’ at the Presidential Elections in 2015. He could be one politician who has the knack to keep voters with…
Read MoreWiggy’s expresses fears over safety of ballot boxes
Some Jaffna dailies have given prominence to a report about a meeting between former Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran and Swiss embassy officials in Jaffna on Monday (27) The former CM has voiced concern about the safety of ballot boxes as vote counting would start only on 06 August. He told the Swiss Ambassador that there could be anti-democratic activities if the military was called into provide security. On A9 road, there were 20 military road check posts, the retired justice pointed out. He said he thought that heavy military…
Read More