Category: Local News

Speculation is rife in political circles as to which prominent MP or State official of the previous regime will next be incarcerated.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s new political and public relations office was opened at Nelum Mawatha, Battaramulla this morning.

Pablo de Greiff, the UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, has said that Sri Lanka should not be hasty in trying to meet its commitments to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in regard to issues of transitional justice.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Yoshitha and four others including Nishantha Ranatunga, Rohan Weliwita were remanded until February 25 by the Kaduwela Magistrate over the alleged financial irregularities at the CSN.

Senior Solicitor General Jayantha Jayasuriya was sworn in as the 29th Attorney General of Sri Lanka before President Maithripala Sirisena a short while ago.

Just over a year after a new leader was elected and Sri Lanka’s business ties with China came under close scrutiny, Colombo is reversing course by resuming a stalled port project and naming Beijing as the front runner for a new special economic zone.

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera was further remanded till February 16 when he was produced in the Homagama magistrate’s court today.

The US government has proposed a $31 million (Rs 210.49 crore) financial aid to Sri Lanka to encourage reconciliation efforts and support anti-corruption activities as the Island nation is undertaking major reforms after the historic political transition.

The United Nations will not force Sri Lanka to accept a role for international judges in investigating possible war crimes during the 26-year Tamil insurgency but any process must be impartial and independent, the U.N. human rights chief said on Tuesday.

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, who was granted bail by the Homagama Magistrate in the Contempt of Court case, was further remanded until tomorrow (10) for allegedly threatening Sandhaya Eknaligoda.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka was sworn in as a national list MP of the United National Party (UNP) a short while ago.

“If Nishantha Malli was in the company of good guys, he (Nishantha) would not have to face to such a scenario. The law should be equal to everyone.

The Maha Nayakas of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters have informed visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein that the UN should not unduly interfere with the attempts made by the government to address its issues through a domestic mechanism.

The UNP Working Committee has decided to appoint Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to Parliament through the United National Front (UNF) National List slot

No response has been received in respect of the request made by the Joint Opposition to have a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena says.

The United Nations human rights chief on Sunday traveled to the north and east of Sri Lanka to assess the country’s progress in prosecuting alleged war crimes.