NUA leader Mrs Farial Ashaff joins SLFP

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – Pix by: Nalin Hewapathirana Leader of the Jathika Samagi Peramuna- National Unity Alliance (NUA) Mrs.Farial Ashraff met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and accepted her membership to join SLFP at Temple Trees on 18th February. More than 250 NUA members were participated with her at the occasion this morning. Widow […]



Lankan national held for credit card fraud: BCom graduate turned as fraud

Asian Tribune – Sathyalaya Ramakrishnan reporting from Chennai The Chennai City Police on Wednesday arrested a 30 year old Sri Lankan national involved in a string of credit card frauds across the southern states. One Sanjay Kanth hailing from Sri Lanka was picked up by sleuths of the Central Crime Branch(CCB) of the Chennai City […]



Sanath Jayasuriya to balance sport with politics

Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya will embark on a political career by taking part in the upcoming parliamentary polls on April 8. Jayasuriya is seeking to become a Member of Parliament under the ruling coalition United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the south coast district of Matara, his hometown. The 40-year-old was recently dropped from […]



Media Minister warns Opposition of another massive defeat at the General elections

Asian Tribune – By Anjana Jayashan in Colombo Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene challenged the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) leader Somawansha Amarasinghe to go to courts with their popularized allegation of “computer gilmart” at the presidential election. Minister Yapa addressing the media at the ministry premises today (February 17) said “the United National Party and […]



A special religious ceremony to bless the country and the historic victory of President Rajapaksa at Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara

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 […]



Sri Lanka to face EU trade loss; ready to discuss

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 […]



Sri Lanka’s opposition appeals defeat in court

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 […]



Chief Monk of Malwaththe and few of those towing his line will never be respected by a majority of the Singhalese

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 […]



Lankan president should empower Tamils: SM Krishna

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 […]



Sri Lanka monks back arrested ex-army chief

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 […]



Sri Lanka’s legendary doorman turns 90

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 […]



Arrested Sri Lanka leader urges calm as protests mount

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 […]



Jackson Anthony and the moral responsibility of an artist

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 Samarasinghe Briefs High Commissioner for Human Rights, Country Missions to the UN in Geneva

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 […]



President Rajapaksa- Face to face in Moscow

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 […]



President Rajapaksa receives a crown in Moscow

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 […]