Category: Local News

Youth Parliament to meet under the patronage of President

The maiden sessions of the Youth Parliament is scheduled to be held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 12th January at the National Youth Centre in Maharagama. A Youth Prime Minister, Speaker, Cabinet and Youth Parliamentarians will be selected following the results of the polls conducted for the Youth Parliament were released. The […]



MINISTERIAL POST CAME TO ME AND I DIDN’T REFUSE IT: VASU

November 29, 2010: The ministerial post came to me and I didn’t refuse it, says Vasudeva Nanayakkara, the new Minister of National Languages and Social Integration. Addressing the first convention of the Joint Workers’ Union of the State Distillery Corporation, which was suspended, in Kalutara yesterday, Vasudeva said that with the ministerial post came more […]



Sri Lanka-Pakistan ink four agreements: Bilateral ties strengthened

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari who is on a four day visit to Sri Lanka called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa and held bi-lateral talks at the Presidential Secretariat last evening. Before the commencement of the talks between the delegations,a One-on-One Meeting took place between the Sri Lankan President and the visiting President of Pakistan for […]



Seniors kicked up in jumbo cabinet

President Rajapaksa holding the hand of wounded JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti, trying to listen to what was being said amidst the din at the Parliament canteen where the customary Budget tea party was hosted. Pic by Gemunu Wellage Veteran ministers given big posts but little power UNP infighting worsens: Young MPs slam Ranil while Sajith […]



53,407 affected by floods, risk of landslides if rain cont.

53,407 persons belonging to 13,520 families are facing distress due to heavy rain and flooding affecting several Districts in the island. It has been reported that two people have died while another five have been seriously injured due to the severe weather conditions in the past few days. While a total of 61 houses have […]



UNP MP Jayasekera has phone confiscated in Parliament

The mobile phone of UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera was confiscated in Parliament today after he attempted to play a speech made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa which he had recorded on his phone, during today’s Budget debate. Mr.Jayasekera who was participating in the debate had recorded a speech made by the President during an election rally […]



President meets Indian Minister: India gives $ 416 m for Northern Railway

A Credit Agreement for USD 416 million for the construction of the Northern Railway line was signed between India and Sri Lanka at Janadipathi Mandiraya yesterday, in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and India’s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. Exim Bank of India Managing Director Nadeem Panjetan signed the agreement for the Indian […]



Udul Premaratna further remanded

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convenor Udul Premaratna was further remanded till December 10th by the Colombo Magistrates’ Court today. Mr. Premaratna had been arrested and remanded for forcibly entering the Ministry of Higher Education premises and damaging government property. […]



Budget – 2011 Private Sector friendly

The 2011 Budget has given many concessions in the form of tax reduction, tax removal, tax holidays etc., which would encourage the private sector to expand their activities and create confidence for investment and open up new ventures. This was stated by the Managing Director and CEO of the Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC., Mr. Kishu […]



UNP rejects senior ministers

United National Party (UNP) Colombo District MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakse told Parliament yesterday the appointment of Senior Ministers contravened the Constitution because it did not permit the creation of such posts. He said as a result the opposition would not recognize the newly created posts of senior ministers. Mr. Rajapakse said however by using his executive […]



A HILARIOUS BUDGET, FEW SOLDIERS HAVE A THIRD CHILD: SARATH FONSEKA

November 25, 2010: Few soldiers have a third child, says former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. He made these comments while leaving after the hearing of the white flag case was postponed yesterday. “The hilarious budget has stated that a grant of Rs. 100,000 would be granted to the third child of a soldier. Not one […]




STOCK MARKET HAS CRASHED: DR. HARSHA; NO CONNECTION WITH BUDGET: DR. RANJITH

November 24, 2010: The stock market has crashed, says Dr. Harsha De Silva, the United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian commenting on the budget, while Dr. Ranjith Bandara, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foundation, says that there is no connection between the downturn of the Stock Market and the Budget. “The performance of the stock market […]



Champika:will recover cost from heavy users

The high cost of thermal power generation would be recovered from high energy consumers, said Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka in Parliament yesterday. The minister said electricity rates should be stabilised despite fuel price hikes in the world market only through such an exercise rather than by resorting to popular short term methods. […]



‘Help us bring the communities together’

‘The message to my people is that I am concentrating on development work. I want to make Sri Lanka a hub for the development of knowledge, energy, commerce, naval transportation, and aviation. To achieve that, our people must stay together, rally round the government and achieve it — for the people. To the international community, […]