Aluth Avurudu Sirith at Medamulana

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix By: Nalin Hewapathirana) When the whole country celebrates Sinhala and Tamil New Year in a peaceful environment after eliminating three decades of terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa also observed the “Sinhala Aluth Avurudu Sirith” at Carlton House in Medamulana, Weerakatiya. Locals in hundreds from the President Rajapaksa’s home town, […]



President Rajapaksa and his family celebrate Sinhala and Tamil New Year at Carlton House

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family celebrated the Sinhala and Tamil New year rituals at Carlton Residence in Tangalle, Hambantota. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa conducted all rituals at the auspicious time with the President Rajapaksa. President Rajapaksa’s elder son Namal Rajapaksa, newly elected MP […]



New Year should further unite people in heart and mind – President

This is the first New Year being celebrated in harmony and contentment since the Motherland was unified, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a Sinhala and Hindu New Year message. The President also said: “It is my belief that these New Year festivities should seek to further unite our people in heart and mind. The New […]



President Rajapaksa inspects the proposed International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Chandana Perera) President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with his elder son and the Chairman of the Tharunyata Hetak movement Mr Namal Rajapaksa inspected the construction of the proposed International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa at Hambantota district in the early hours of 09th April. […]



“Have you voted for my party?” President Rajapaksa asks his countrymen

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Chandana Perera) President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here having casual chats at many informal stops in towns of Kirama, Katuwana, Walasmulla, Modarawana, Beliatte, Galagama and Ranna in the Hambantota district Southern Province of Sri Lanka. He visited those towns, some are still rural villages after casting his […]



Discussion of selecting the new cabinet is underway

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) As the people of Sri Lanka have given an overwhelming victory in the General Election –April 2010 for the 7th parliament, the jubilant President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already started consultations with trusted top bureaucrats of his government on selection of the new cabinet. According […]



UPFA creates history; Secures near two-thirds majority; Death blow to JVP;

The United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance created history by winning a huge majority close to almost two-thirds in the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka at the General election held Thursday. Under the proportional representation system combined with preferential voting and a system of bonus seats for the winner at district level the two-thirds barrier was conceived […]



Sri Lanka ruling party leading in parliament vote

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party is running well ahead of the fractured opposition, early results showed Friday, in a vote marked by record low turnout and reports of violence and voter intimidation. President Mahinda Rajapakse’s United People’s Freedom Alliance was leading in 21 out of 28 polling divisions declared so far following Thursday’s […]



President Rajapaksa casts his vote at Medamulana D.A.Rajapaksa Vidyalaya

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Chandana Perera) President Mahinda Rajapaksa cast his vote early this morning at the D.A. Rajapaksa Maha Vidayalaya in Medamulana, his home town of Hambantota. The President was accompanied with his elder brother Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, his elder son Namal Rajapaksa and the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. Voting […]



President Rajapaksa pays a surprise visit to the parliament

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a surprise visit to the parliament which convened to pass the State of Emergency this afternoon on 6th April. The dissolved parliament met today to extend the State of Emergency by another month. The 6th parliament of Sri Lanka was […]



Sri Lanka elections not free and fair: opposition

COLOMBO (AFP) – On the eve of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections, the main opposition accused the ruling party Wednesday of campaign abuses and said it did not expect polling to be free and fair. The opposition United National Party (UNP) said President Mahinda Rajapakse’s administration had used state-owned vehicles and buildings for campaigning and turned […]



Record on par with developed countries: Unemployment down to 5.4 percent

Despite the world economic recession, the Government was able to bring down the unemployment rate to 5.4 percent by the last quarter of 2009, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. The Minister was quoting from a report issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka at a media briefing at the […]



Sri Lanka ‘economy poised for faster growth’

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s economy is poised to expand by 6.5 percent this year, the central bank said Monday, after slower growth in 2009 due to the operation to crush the Tamil Tigers and the global crisis. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka in its annual review of the economy said the intense fighting […]



Sri Lanka opposition vows to stop leader’s poll plan

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s opposition on Monday vowed to deny the ruling coalition a two-thirds majority at this week’s parliamentary election, saying it would give an already powerful president too free a hand to rule. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, fresh from a landslide re-election in January, has said he expects his United Peoples Freedom Alliance […]



Sri Lanka military on alert ahead of vote: police

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka placed nearly 20,000 troops on alert to reinforce police as violence escalated ahead of parliamentary elections, a police spokesman said Sunday. The private Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) reported 325 minor incidents of poll-related violence in the run-up to Thursday’s vote, with firearms being used in about 50 cases. […]



President Rajapaksa participates in a religious ceremony at Nallur Hindu Kovil

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa participated in a special religious ceremony at Nallur Hindu Kovil on his visit to Jaffna yesterday morning on 01st of April. This is President Rajapaksa’s second visit to the historic Hindu Shrine in the peninsula. His first visit was made prior to […]