After last week’s protest opposite the UN offices here by a government minister, Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) has joined subjecting UN to criticism. The UNP leadership aspirant and senior legislator Sajith Premadasa blamed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of acting in contravention of the UN charter for appointing a panel to […]
Former Minister and Leader of the SLFP (M) Mangala Samaraweera spoke to Daily Mirror on the metamorphosis of President Rajapaksa, the diplomatic crisis faced by the country and his serious consideration of joining the UNP. Q:What is your view on the manner in which the government handled the appointment of the Panel of Experts, by […]
The Government yesterday decided to reduce fuel and kerosene prices in the Jaffna Peninsula following the Cabinet meeting in Iranamadu, Kilinochchi. The price of petrol which earlier stood at Rs 119 a litre is reduced to Rs 115.60. Diesel price has come down from Rs 75.50 to Rs 73.60 and kerosene formerly sold at Rs […]
Creating a new history President Mahinda Rajapaksa Inaugurated the Cabinet Meeting on the verge of Iranamadu tanks at Killinochchi. This is the first time in Sri Lankan history the Cabinet of Ministers hold their meeting out of Colombo. The Cabinet last month has decided to hold its weekly Cabinet meeting at district level ones a […]
As one of the key measures to deal with liquidity constraints confronted by a few registered finance companies (RFCs), the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) introduced a Credit Guarantee Scheme in January 2010. Under such scheme, RFCs and specialized leasing companies (SLCs) are entitled to obtain loan facilities from banks against their real estate […]
The police women and child’s bureau has received over 50 complaints against the social networking website Facebook. According to the bureau the complaints include individuals copying pictures of Facebook account holders and creating indecent images. The bureau said they have received close to 20 such complaints within the last two months and they have launched […]
The government and the United National Party yesterday agreed to discuss a series of electoral and constitutional changes including the creation of an Executive Prime Ministership to replace the Executive Presidency. Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe told a news conference in Colombo that a consensus had been reached during yesterday’s meeting between delegations from […]
The People’s Alliance (PA) and the United National Party (UNP) agreed to create a post of an Executive Premier who would be responsible to Parliament through a Constitutional amendment at a future date. This was a proposal submitted to the All Party Conference by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). This decision was taken at […]
Answering a phone call from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the weeping wife of Minister Wimal Weerawansa requested from President to rescue her husband in any possible way. While talking to President, Wimal’s wife has mentioned that their daughter has been refusing food since last night as her father is on hunger strike. […]
Minister Wimal Weerawansa has ended his fast unto death after President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited him outside the UN office a short while ago. President Rajapaksa had offered Weerawansa water which the Minister accepted and he was later driven away in an ambulance to the army hospital. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the family of Minister […]
COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Friday that UN chief Ban Ki-moon had “acted in haste” by recalling his top envoy on the island in response to angry protests over a UN war crimes panel. Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris said the government had told Ban’s chief representative Neil Buhne that the days of protests […]
In a letter to the President, Minister Wimal Weerawansa has informed of his wish to resign from his Housing and Construction ministerial portfolio. In his letter he has claimed that it is difficult to carryout the struggle against the enemies of the country while holding the Ministerial post. Wimal in his letter adds that if […]
“Now jokers are talking as if they are engaged in the war. I will take the full responsibility for the manner in which the war was conducted and its result,” said parliamentarian General Sarath Fonseka at a media briefing held today. “As the former Army commander, I have always stated that I will take full […]
NEW YORK, July 8 (AP) – (Kyodo)—U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Thursday that he is closing the U.N. Development Program Regional Center in Colombo in light of ongoing protests there against the world body. In a statement, Ban strongly criticized the Sri Lankan government, saying he “finds it unacceptable that the Sri Lankan […]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was on a goodwill visit to the Maldives met with Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, Maldivian Opposition Leader Ahamed Thasmeen Ali, the Chief Justice, Speaker of the Majlis and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, states an External Affairs Ministry release. President Rajapaksa also met a delegation of the MDP and an Opposition […]
AP – By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A Sri Lankan cabinet minister started a hunger strike Thursday in front of the U.N. office after the world body refused to halt its investigation into alleged human rights abuses during the country’s civil war. Buddhist monks chanted blessings and some 100 national flag-waving supporters cheered […]