Category: Local News

News Source: Lanka E news It is reported that the decision of the Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to contest the upcoming General election under the elephant symbol has raised a storm of stiff opposition from all quarters. All parties of the UNF alliance state that , at the recent Presidential election they contested under the […]

The ‘Dayata Kirula- 2010’ exhibition, organized for the forth consecutive time under the patronage of H.E President Mahinda Rajapaksa commenced yesterday (Feb 04), at the Pallekele Gamudawa Grounds, Kandy. On the previous occasions the exhibition was held in Colombo at BMICH under tight security with military engaged in an intense humanitarian operation to liberated Tamil […]

ImageThe 62nd anniversary of independence we mark today has special significance being the first such celebration of our freedom since the defeat of terrorism in our country last year, and also as it takes place soon after our people have expressed their firm and resounding commitment to democracy, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Independence […]

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s election commissioner on Wednesday rejected allegations that last week’s presidential vote was rigged by incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse but raised questions over unfair campaigning. Dayananda Dissanayake said that he stood by the results, which gave Rajapakse 58 percent of the ballot, trouncing opposition-backed former general Sarath Fonseka, who got 40 percent. […]

Source: BBC – By Saroj Pathirana There has been a mixed response from London’s Sri Lankan diaspora to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election at the presidential elections. Mr Rajapaksa secured a sweeping victory over his main rival Gen Sarath Fonseka, who has rejected the result. While Mr Rajapaksa’s jubilant supporters celebrated the news, the response from […]

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president on Monday sacked 12 senior military officers over what one army source said were fears of a coup after last week’s presidential elections. They included three senior major generals and two brigadiers accused of interfering in politics during campaigning for January 26 election, in which President Mahinda […]

News Source: AP COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – An official says Sri Lanka’s president has revoked the expulsion of a Swiss radio journalist who asked a critical question at a government news conference. Karin Wenger, the South Asia correspondent for Radio DRS, had been ordered to leave the country by Monday. A spokesman said Sunday that […]

News Source: BBC The office of ‘Lanka ’ newspaper in Sri Lanka was sealed off by officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this afternoon. This is the latest of a series of measures against the press in Sri Lanka. The weekly publication, Lanka, said the police action came a day after its editor, Chandana […]

Source: AT – By K.T.Rajasingham Now that the Presidential election is over and Mahinda Rajapaksha has been elected for the second term as the President of Sri Lanka and the call for the arrest of Retired Gen. Sarath Fonseka is becoming more louder and louder for his excesses. The retired General, who contested against his […]

Asian Tribune – S Murari – Pic – Reuters President Mahinda Rajapaksa today called on all Sri Lankans to join hands with him to build the country. Talking to reporters at the Election Commission shortly after he was formally declared winner in the sixth presidential election, Mr Rajapaksa said it was now clear that the […]

Source: BBC – Pic – Reuters Excerpts of a letter by Gen Sarath Fonseka to Sri Lanka’s Elections Commission, following his defeat in the presidential poll. The letter has been translated from Sinhala. “Dear commissioner of elections. Before and after handing over the nomination papers, President Rajapaksa’s election campaign has made great use of state […]

Source: BBC President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been declared the winner of Sri Lanka’s presidential poll but the outcome was immediately rejected by his challenger. Gen Sarath Fonseka promised a legal challenge to the outcome of the ballot, the first since Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after 25 years of civil war. The Elections Commission declared […]

Source: BBC President Mahinda Rajapaksa has won Sri Lanka’s first election since Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after 25 years of civil war, state TV reports. Although the final results are yet to be declared, Mr Rajapaksa appears to have won more than half the votes cast. About 100 armed troops have surrounded the Colombo […]

Source: The New york Times – By LYDIA POLGREEN COLOMBO, Sri Lanka —As voters streamed to the polls on Tuesday in Sri Lanka’s first election since the defeat of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, the Tamil vote has emerged as the bloc that could decide the winner. The incumbent president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, had hoped for an […]

Source: AFP COLOMBO (AFP) – At least four explosions were heard in Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamil heartland of Jaffna ahead of Tuesday’s crucial presidential vote, an independent election monitor told AFP. Residents in the northern peninsula counted the pre-dawn blasts, but the source of the explosions was unclear, said Sunil Jayasekara, a monitor for the […]

Source: Lanka Truth Under the present Rajapakse regime the SLFP is being dragged on an undemocratic path that leads to family domination says former President Chandrika Bandaranayke Kumaratunga. Ms. Kumaratunga said this to the media after the special discussion she had with the political Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka today. […]