The current political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka calls for a new strategy in the political course of the Tamils and other minorities. People have been provoked to revolt against the state because of its short sighted policies and the corrupt practices of politicians that have led to a rapid decline in the economic situation. The recent Covid-19 outbreak aggravated the crisis by affecting production, export trade and tourist arrivals, adding to the massive debt problem. When the disaster began to affect the urban population causing shortages of gas,…
Read MoreDay: 7 May 2022
Southern protests and Northern Tamils
The physical contribution of Tamils in the North and the East seems to be proportionately less, in spite of the majority of them having been against Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) even before it was elected to power The people in the South played the spectators’ role when the Tamils were subjected to more inhuman sufferings by the government. They did not see our problems from a human point of view and called our people terrorists. That frustration might have rooted deeply in the minds of our people The political impasse…
Read MoreYesterday’s ‘Hartal’ a change from racial and religious politics
In the face of our country’s unprecedented political and economic crisis -a result of government corruption and mismanagement- which led to the near bankrupting of the country, a majority of trade unions, agricultural workers unions and civil society, came together to call for a ‘Hartal’ on May 6. The adverse effects of the Covid pandemic hastened the financial crunch which was already in the making. Today large numbers of ordinary people have taken to the streets demanding the government resign. The resistance of the president, his government headed…
Read MoreJVP Leader’s accusations prompt Colombo HC Lawyers’ Association to seek clarification from AG
Focus on CID and FCID probes during yahapalana administration In the wake of corruption allegations directed at politicians, officials and others, the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association has written to Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam, PC, seeking specific information as regards investigations undertaken by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The following is the text of the letter addressed to the AG by the Secretary of the association Sarath Ekanayake and its President Laksman Perera: “We are writing to you on behalf of the Membership of the…
Read More‘Save Sri Lanka’ launches online petition against govt. demanding int’l intervention
An online petition, initiated by ‘Save Sri Lanka,’ to be forwarded to the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, attributes Sri Lanka’s present plight to bad economic decision making, poor fiscal planning and management as well as rampant corruption by politicians and government officials. As stated in the petition, for the first time in its history, Sri Lanka has failed to honour debt repayment and declared bankruptcy. In response to this crisis, the Sri Lankan government is currently negotiating to restructure existing foreign loans and seek additional…
Read MoreAmong Allegations Stated in the No Confidence Motion Against President Rajapaksa is that he has continuously made decisions based on the counsel of a soothsayer W.M. Gnanawathi alias ‘Gnanakka’,while also using public funds to construct her temple and provide her with military protection.
By Chandani Kirinde The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday handed over two No-Confidence Motions, one against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and another against the Government, to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The No-Confidence Motion against the Government was handed over after weeks of speculation on whether the Opposition can muster enough votes to get it passed. The motion was signed only by members of the SJB even though the party has been in talks with other groups opposed to the Government to get them to vote for the motion. Yesterday…
Read MoreSo Called “Independent” MP’s From the SLPP Led Govt are Fooling the People and Secretly Supporting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Reacting to the election of Government MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya as Deputy Speaker of Parliament yesterday (5), the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegeya (SJB), as well as the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), claimed that the MPs formerly of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government camp and who now sit independently in Parliament are still secretly supporting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa whilst fooling the public. SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said in Parliament yesterday that the façade of opposition put up by these independent MPs had disappeared. “During the…
Read MorePresident declares State of Emergency
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a State of Emergency, the President’s Office said. The State of Emergency, which takes effect tonight (Friday), gives the security forces sweeping powers to maintain law and order. Issuing a gazette notice, the President said that he is of the opinion that by reason of a public emergency in Sri Lanka, it is expedient, so to do, in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community. The gazette says…
Read MoreThree Years After The 2019 Easter Bomb Attacks
By Father S.J. Emmanuel – Rev. S.J. Emmanuel On Today Tuesday 23rd. April 2019, for the national day of mourning in honor of all the victims of the evil forces let loose on 2019 Easter Sunday, a great Feast day, when Christians proclaimed and celebrated victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ, I wrote an appeal to all people of Sri Lanka, with the title – Forces of sin and death striking at those celebrating victory over them: A Question of conscience to followers of all religions – It was published in the Colombo Telegraph…
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