Category: Local News

Onlanka News – By Nethmi Páramitha – Pix by: Thackshila Udage Submitted by Janaka Alahapperuma On the occasion of celebrating Sri Lanka’s 62nd Independence Day, a religious ceremony was organised to invoke blessings for the country, the nation, the newly re-elected president Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranaviruwo, at the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara premises on 14th […]

Reuters – By Shihar Aneez Sri Lanka is prepared to face a European Union withdrawal of its preferential trade benefits that helped to boost the island nation’s garment export to the region, a top official said on Tuesday. The EU on Monday said it planned to withdraw preferential trade benefits to Sri Lanka because of […]

AP – By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI Sri Lanka’s jailed and defeated opposition presidential candidate appealed to the country’s highest court Tuesday to overturn the results of last month’s election, a lawmaker said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa secured a wide victory over his former army chief and main rival Sarath Fonseka in the Jan. 26 election, according to […]

Lankaweb – Nimal R Melbourne Australia Chief monk of Malwaththe chapter Thibbotuwave Sri Sumangala did not utter a word against retired General Sarath Fonseka’s recent statement to the BBC Sinhala Service stating that he was willing to give evidence as a witness at a War Crime Tribunal and he will not defend any one who […]

Chennai: India wants Sri Lanka to empower the minority Tamil speaking people through a political process and open a new chapter in the island nation’s history, external affairs minister, SM Krishna said here today. “We also want the Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa to create a situation where the minority Tamil speaking people are empowered through […]

COLOMBO (AFP) – Leaders of Sri Lanka’s influential Buddhist clergy backed opposition demands Sunday for the immediate release of former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka. Top monks representing four sects made a joint appeal to President Mahinda Rajapakse to free Fonseka who was arrested last Monday by the military on unspecified charges […]

COLOMBO (AFP) – In 70 years of greeting guests to Sri Lanka’s venerable Galle Face Hotel, doorman K. Chattu Kuttan has hobnobbed with everyone from royal heads of state to Bond girls and Soviet cosmonauts. Kuttan, who turns 90 on Monday, has watched the hotel change with the country, from colonial days, through independence and […]

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has appealed for calm, his wife said Thursday, after violent clashes linked to his arrest on conspiracy charges. “He wanted me to convey to the people and especially the troops to remain calm and not to be provoked by his illegal […]

By Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge Write on my gravestone: “Infidel, Traitor.”–infidel to every church that compromises with wrong; traitor to every government that oppresses the people. – Wendell Phillips (February 11, Colombo, Si Lanka Guardian) In his article, Aho Kalawa that was published in Ravaya newspaper Mr Gamini Viyangoda implies that Jackson Anthony had betrayed […]

Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, met with Navanetham Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the Palais Wilson in Geneva on Tuesday (09). The Minister, who was accompanied by Attorney General Mohan Peiris, PC, and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN at Geneva, Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne, briefed […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa met his counterpart, President of Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow this afternoon on 8th February. Both leaders discussed issues about security, development, trade and other relevant matters related to both countries at the round table conference. Foreign Minister […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa participated at the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebrations and a cultural show of the Peoples’ Friendship University, which was held at the university auditorium in Moscow yesterday evening, 7th February. President Rajapaksa is seen here being welcomed at […]

News Source: BBC The defeated candidate in Sri Lanka’s presidential election, Gen Sarath Fonseka, has been arrested, news reports have said. Gen Fonseka was defeated by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa last month by six million votes to four million. Gen Fonseka rejected the results and vowed to challenge them in court. The government has been seeking […]

News Source: AP News COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s military denied Sunday a newspaper report that former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka will be tried in a military court for allegedly planning to assassinate the president and take power. Fonseka and President Mahinda Rajapaksa were once strong allies who combined to […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa was awarded a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University (PFU), formally known as Patricia Lumumba University of Moscow in Russia on Saturday 6th February 2010 at 6.00pm. The PFU is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and to mark […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix By: Sudath Silva) President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at Vinukoa International Airport in Moscow today (6th February) for three day official visit to Russian Federation. This afternoon President Rajapaksa will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the People’s Friendship University of Russian Federation (PFU), formally known as Patricia […]