Day: 14 June 2022

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake There are reports of big celebrations in California. They have heard that Basil – the Crowman or Kaputu-kaak – Rajapaksa has decided to retain his US citizenship, and come there for a holiday. His wife had already left for a big family celebration.Retaining US citizenship, especially when one’s home country, Sri Lanka, is going through its hardest time that anyone can remember, is certainly a cause for great pride and joy to SL-Americans. There are bound to be celebrations in California, like what took place in Washington…

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Foreign Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris yesterday said that the government was seeking the understanding of the UN Human Rights Council regarding the challenging social and economic situation in Sri Lanka. “We undertake to engage in the multiple tasks before us and to honour legitimate commitments,” he said addressing the 50th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Prof Peiris said that Sri Lanka is an active participant in the multilateral framework and has continued its close engagement with the international community and the Human Rights Council to…

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By Rajan Philips – Rajan Philips “I can’t go as a failed president” – Gotabaya Rajapaksa “I am the crisis Prime Minister” – Ranil Wickremesinghe “Our family is better at politics than at governance” – Basil Rajapaksa It is now a month after Ranil Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister. Apart from his plethora of statements, endless announcement of committees, and the eccentric suggestion for a whole new ‘youth parliament,’ there is no change in the country’s day to day economic life. It is no exaggeration to say that without India’s almost daily shipment…

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The United Nations (UN) has urged Sri Lanka to advance reconciliation and justice for all communities. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet told the UN Human Rights Council at its 50th Session today that the Sri Lanka Government must ensure immediate relief for the most marginalized and vulnerable groups and prioritise social protection as it negotiates a recovery plan. “I hope efforts will focus on deeper institutional reforms to ensure greater transparency and accountability in governance, reduce inequalities and advance reconciliation and justice for all communities,” she…

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In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam clarified his speech in Parliament last week, stating that he denies and is flabbergasted by the comments made by the Prime Minister about his involvement in the massacre of 600 policemen in 1990. The letter was sent to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today (13). “I am flabbergasted and shocked by the statement the Hon. Prime Minister has made in Parliament, alleging me, having connivance with the present parliamentarian Hon. Sivanesathurai Chandrakandan (Pillayan), in the…

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Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital has decided to donate his salary arrears for the purchase of essential medicines for the country. After agreeing last week to settle his overdue wages before 10 July, the Ministry of Health has issued Dr. Sihabdeen a cheque of over Rs. 2.67 million as payment of arrears, which he is donating to alleviate the shortage of medicines in the country. Speaking on the matter, Dr. Sihabdeen said that he has suffered the highest level of defamation of character due to racism. He…

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SJB Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, speaking over a private news channel on Sunday, said that when he spoke to the Japanese Ambassador on emergency aid for Sri Lanka, he first wanted the island to fulfil two conditions: Have  an all party Government and an agreement between the Government and the Opposition that they would honour commitments made in a prospective Japanese aid offer. De Silva’s statement is an indictment on the SLPP Government co-led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (SLPP) and UNP leader and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, in contrast…

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