Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva)

The 18th Amendment to the Constitution which was presented before the Parliament for voting today on 8th September has been passed with a two-thirds majority. It was passed with 161 Parliamentarians voting for the reforms and 17 against. UNP, the main Opposition party members were not present in the House during the voting time.

However UNP Parliamentarians, Lakshaman Senevirathne, Abdul Cader, Manusha Nanayakkara, Earl Gunasekera, Nimal (Nilwala) Wijesinghe and Upeksha Swarnamali (Paba) crossed over to Government side and seated themselves in the Ruling Party before the voting. They pledged their support to the 18th Amendment.

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News courtesy: Ada Derana

Parliament has no right to get the 18th Amendment to the Constitution passed in Parliament, said United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe while marching with protestors towards Parliament from Siri Kotha in Kotte.

Meanwhile, our correspondent says the protestors have been stopped at Bangalawa Junction in Kotte after protestors burnt an effigy with six faces and several arms and a protestor had thrown a burning piece of jute cloth towards the watching policemen.

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday opened the two storied ward complex at the Maharagama Cancer Institute in memory of his mother Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake and First Lady’s mother Vilolet Wickremesingne.

This project was funded by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family members and philanthropists.

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Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva)

Gampaha District United National Party MP and actress Upeksha Swarnamali popularly known as ‘Pabha’ expressed her support to the government on the 18th Amendment to the constitution a short while ago. Meanwhile Nuwara Eliya District UNP MP and former journalist J. Shree Ranga and Kurunegala District MP Nilwala Wijesinghe also have decided to extend their support to the 18th Amendment. All these three Opposition MPs were elected to the Parliament after contesting the last General Election under UNP ticket.

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News Courtesy: The Hindu

The Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka and former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, sought India’s assistance in reviving agriculture and fisheries in the Vanni region, pointing out that “until the region returns to normalcy and commences food production and fisheries, Sri Lanka will continue to have problems.”

“It will affect the food supply and also have an impact on cost of living,” Mr Wickremesinghe told The Hindu in Chennai.

Mr. Wickremesinghe, who had a detailed discussion with agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan on these issues, said: “India’s technical knowledge and its advances in agriculture… will help not only the people of Vanni region but the whole country.”

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News courtesy: Ada Derana

The Constitutional Amendments are in three stages. It is not wise to criticize them without looking at the whole process. What will be taken up on Wednesday is the second step to take the country forward, said Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) leader Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

The JNP is fully supportive of the Constitutional Amendments (CA) being brought before Parliament on Wednesday, said Mr. Weerawansa addressing the media at party headquarters in Battaramulla this morning (Sept. 06).

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A Lankan born Queenstown skydive pilot, Chaminda Senadhira was killed along with eight other skydivers when their plane crashed in Fox Glacier in New Zealand. The plane crash is reported to be the worst in New Zealand aviation for almost 17 years.

Originally from Sri Lanka Mr. Senadhira had moved to Germany when he was 7 and then to New Zealand at the age of 22 to train as a pilot.

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Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva)

Another twenty seven (27) new houses constructed under the Second Phase of Api Wenuwen Api housing programme were ceremonially handed over to the war heroes and their families by President Mahinda Rajapaksa (today) on 5th September at Thorayaya in Kurunegala.

To mark the occasion, President Rajapaksa handed over the first key of those houses to the widow and children of a fallen war hero of Sri Lanka Navy, Officer T.M.R.K Tennakoon who made his utmost sacrifice for defending the motherland while serving in the battle front in 2007.

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TC – By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga condemned the 18th Amendment proposed by the government saying it is a “horrendous move” and that she could not agree with it in any way.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Kumaratunga said that being “a total democrat,” she believes that rulers must not grab power, but on the contrary make it even more democratic. Kumaratunga said she had been firmly committed to abolishing the Executive Presidency and tried to do so in 2000 along with the devolution package, since the position was extremely dangerous to democracy. “Abolishing of the Executive Presidency was also included in the package,” she said,

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Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva)

President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid homage to the Muthiyangana Rajamaha Vihara in Badulla this morning on 04th September. President met the Chief Incumbent of the Viharaya, Venerable Murutthadeniye Dhammarathana Nayaka Thero and took part in religious observances. Later Venerable Thero placed the sacred relic casket on President Rajapaksa’s head to bless him. Laying white sand at the Vihara Maha Maluwa of the temple was also held with the initiative of President Rajapaksa.

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Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva)

President Mahinda Rajapaksa played few cricket strokes to inaugurate the newly built Indoor Cricket Stadium in Badulla by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) this morning on 4th September. He thoroughly enjoyed playing cricket without opposition players while opening the venue for public in a grand style.

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DM Online – By Kelum Bandara

Parliament will have a full day’s debate on the controversial 18th Amendment to the Constitution from 9.30 am to 7.00 pm on September 8.

The decision was taken at the party leaders’ meeting held in the parliamentary complex with Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in the chair yesterday.

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