Category: Local News

Leader of Opposition and senior Tamil politician R. Sampanthan on Monday said he was “alarmed” at former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent pre-poll campaign in which he told the Sinhalese electorate that “a Tamil Eelam would bloom following the local authority elections”.

Parliament will take up a special adjournment debate from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. today on the prevailing political crisis.

Documents pertaining to payments made by Mendis Distilleries owned by Arjun Aloysious to a set of MPs from government and opposition has been recovered and are being held by President Maithripala Sirisena,Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said yesterday.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided to leave the National Government, party spokesman MP Thilanga Sumathipala said.

Chief organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Basil Rajapaksa said that the 19A that was brought in by the incumbent Government should be ‘re-amended’ as it was enacted to prevent the Rajapaksas from returning to power.

While highlighting the need to introduce political reforms, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secreatry and Minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday the government should be humble enough to accept the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as the main opposition in Parliament.

The Sri Lankan government on Friday released 109 of the 136 Indian fishermen who were arrested on charges of poaching in the country’s territorial waters. The released fishermen are likely to be repatriated in the coming days.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Friday he planned to stay in office and reshuffle his cabinet in the wake of a stinging loss in local elections for both parties in the ruling coalition.

Joint Opposition (JO) leaders said after meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena they will support a United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government.

President Maithripala Sirisena says programmes will be implemented in the future to serve the people, together with all the people’s representatives who contested for the Local Government election under the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha stated that the majority of the UPFA will not support the continuation of the current unity government.

The President does not have the power to dismiss a Prime Minister according to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardene said yesterday.

Civil Society grouping Purawesi Balaya yesterday called for far reaching Cabinet reshuffle, including the immediate appointment of war winning Army Chief Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as Law and Order Minister

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UNP parliamentary group has decided to continue with the unity government and carry out party reforms, UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim said.

President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to make a special statement on the future course of National Unity Government tomorrow.

At least four persons were killed while another two were wounded after a building collapsed in Grandpass.