Category: Local News

Commonwealth Secretary-General Mr. Kamalesh Sharma called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this (Nov. 11) morning. […]

Billionaire James Packer will visit Colombo this week to lobby the Sri Lankan government over his plans for a five-star resort. The Crown chairman is expected to meet key government officials and potential joint venture partners on Wednesday. […]

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Monday he will attend a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka despite his Indian counterpart pulling out amid pressure for a boycott over alleged war crimes by Colombo. Key said his presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week did not imply support for the Sri […]

A jinx appears to be affecting the brand new luxury vehicles imported for CHOGM, with at least three top-of-the-line Benz S-400 cars suffering damage last Friday, while being moved around inside the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre grounds. […]

“You are unique in that you repre sent the voices, aspirations, visions, and ambitions of your fellow citizens in each of the countries represented here. You also portray their present and their future. It is in this backdrop, we take pride in hosting this Peoples Forum associated with CHOGM, held in Asia, for the first […]

The 9th Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF9) was inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapakse. today (Nov. 10) at the Magampura Ruhunu International Convention Centre (MRICC) in Hambantota. Speaking at the Forum President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the theme of the Forum, “Inclusive Development – Stronger Together” is very appropriate as it signifies that united, we could achieve […]

External Affairs Ministry Additional Secretary Rodney Perera said international participation at CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka at summit level will be no less in comparison to the level of participation at any previously held CHOGM summits. […]

– by Shenali D Waduge – To those that do not know of Britain’s colonial crimes in their eyes Britain is the epitome of justice, equality, the nation that rears gentlemen of breed and holds the seat of democracy. To those that are aware of British mass murder as ordered by British Governments, the scale […]

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka on Friday denied refusing visas to a delegation from an international human rights group ahead of a Commonwealth summit in Colombo, saying its permission had not been sought for the overseas visitors. Sri Lanka hosts the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next week and human rights groups have urged a […]

Veteran actor and former Southern Provincial Council member  Cyril Dharmawardana (67) passed away today (November 8) at the Melbourne Peter Mac Hospital in Australia after battling cancer for the past couple of years, industry sources said. […]

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday (07) ceremonially declared open the Magam Ruhunupura International Conference Hall in the port city of Hambantota. […]

A final call on Manmohan Singh’s trip to Colombo to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be taken by the Prime Minister himself, the Ministry of External Affairs, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, even as opinion was divided in the Union Cabinet and the Congress Core Group. […]

(Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday he will demand that Sri Lanka investigates allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses when he visits the country for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders next week. Cameron said he wanted to “shine the international spotlight on the lack of progress” in the Indian […]

SLTB bus drivers and conductors will be barred from using their mobile phones while on duty from today (November 7) the Transport Minsiter, Kumara Welgama stated. […]

Next week, the Prime Minister and I will travel to Sri Lanka for the latest Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The 53 Commonwealth countries together represent two billion people – nearly a third of our world’s population – and some of its fastest-growing economies. Despite its significance, most discussion of the summit has centred on […]

A senior government official yesterday said that precautions would be taken to thwart possible protests against some of those delegations coming here for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next week. […]