Sri Lanka refutes BBC Sandeshaya report

Sri Lankan Ministry of External Affairs today refuted a BBC Sandesaya report about the Sri Lankan LLRC Commission. The Ministry said in a statement that the report carried by the ‘BBCSinhala Sandeshaya’ website with the dateline of 24th December 2010 under the caption “Sri Lanka War Panel ‘pro-LTTE’”, is a complete fabrication. “The above mentioned […]



UNP has been united to oust Rajapaksa regime – Ranil

Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesighe said yesterday that the party has been united following the recent annual convention and a cohesive unit was in place, to oust the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime before it completes its second term. Speaking to the media in Colombo,he said that a strong team comprising seniors such as Karu Jayasuriya, […]



8th National Scout Jamboree declares open by President Rajapaksa in Hambantota

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Chandana Perera) The Eighth National Scout Jamboree organized by the Sri Lanka Scouts Association commenced today on 27 December at the International Stadium in Eraminiyaya, Angunakolapelessa in Hambantota under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Chief Guest. The President was received by the Chief Commissioner […]



INDIAN DEFENCE MINISTER ARRIVES TODAY

Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar is scheduled to arrive in the island today on an official visit. […]



LLRC will not meet UN Panel outside Sri Lanka

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has no expectation to meet the UN Secretary General’s Panel outside the country. “In the event of the government facilitating them to visit Sri Lanka, we are willing to meet them here in the country,” LLRC media consultant Lakshman Wickramasinghe has said. Earlier the Commission had said any […]



Forty marooned in Somawathiya

Forty two persons including two monks have been marooned due to floods in the historic Somawathiya Chaitya area, Pulasthigama police said. Among the rest of the people marooned are 20 soldiers, 16 civil defence force personnel and six policemen. Vehicle transportation to the Somawathiya area has been stopped since Friday due to floods in the […]



Safer community depends on sustainable development – President

To ensure effective risk reduction, it is important that the linkages between disaster and development are understood. As the theme of this event signifies a safer community depends on sustainable development, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a message for the National Safety Day. More importantly, the public needs to be aware of the existing disaster […]



Sri Lanka remembers tsunami victims on sixth anniversary

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka marked the sixth tsunami anniversary that claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people with a host of religious events Sunday. A two-minute silence was observed throughout the country at 9.25 a.m. (0355 GMT), the time the killer waves first hit the eastern coast. […]



LLRC invites Ranil to explain CFA

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) will write to Opposition United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, inviting him to testify before it. The move comes after the commission’s secretary S.B. Atugoda telephoned Mr. Wickremesinghe to inquire whether he could arrange for a date. Mr. Wickremesinghe told the Sunday Times, “I told him that I […]



DO NOT ALLOW UN PANEL TO COME HERE, SAYS DR. GUNADASA AMARASEKERA

The panel of experts appointed by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is arriving in the island not to give evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, but to confirm their recommendations, says the National Patriotic Movement. This was stated by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, Chairman of the Movement at a seminar titiled […]



Boat tragedy in Welikanda : Watery grave for six; Boatman escapes:

Six people from the same family were drowned when their boat capsized in the Mahasen tank in Welikanda, Polonnaruwa yesterday. Among the dead are four females and two males including a two and a half year old child. Of the seven in the boat one had managed to escape. The person who escaped is believed […]



UN PANEL IS COMING AND WANSA HAS FORGOTTEN DEATH FASTS: JVP

The UN panel on human rights violations is coming and the Wansa has forgotten all about those death fasts, says former parliamentarian of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Samantha Vidyaratna. Addressing a group of party members in the Ikiliyagoda area in Mahiyangana, he said that one had to remember that there was a big difference between […]



Imported eggs and chicken arriving today, coconuts in three days – Johnston

Stocks of imported eggs and chicken will reach Sri Lanka sometime in the evening today (December 23) while the stocks will be ready for distribution by tomorrow, Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando stated. […]



Sri Lanka invitation to UN panel opposed

News Source: BBC A proposed meeting between the United Nations and a Sri Lankan presidential commission has evoked opposition from international human rights watchdogs and Sinhala nationalists within the ruling coalition. Human Rights Watch (HRW) called upon the United Nations to be cautious in sending its investigators to meet the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission […]



Revised electricity tariffs: No change under 90 units

The Ceylon Electricity Board yesterday stressed that the electricity charges of consumers who use less than 90 units a month will not be increased under any circumstances. The Power and Energy Ministry yesterday said President Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) earlier recommendation that eight per cent of electricity tariff increase should be […]



WHEN TIGER ASSETS ARE CONFISCATED, INCREASING SALARIES IS NOT DIFFICULT: RANIL

Salaries can be increased by confiscating the assets of Tigers, says Ranil Wickremasinghe, Opposition leader. The leader of the United National Party (UNP) said that the government had broken two promises – to confiscate Tiger assets and to increase salaries. “When the assets of Tigers are confiscated, increasing salaries is not difficult,” said the opposition […]