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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

News Source: BBC The defeated candidate in Sri Lanka’s presidential election, Gen Sarath Fonseka, has been arrested, news reports have said. Gen Fonseka was defeated by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa last month by six million votes to four million. Gen Fonseka rejected the results and vowed to challenge them in court. The government has been seeking […]

News Source: AP News COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s military denied Sunday a newspaper report that former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka will be tried in a military court for allegedly planning to assassinate the president and take power. Fonseka and President Mahinda Rajapaksa were once strong allies who combined to […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa was awarded a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University (PFU), formally known as Patricia Lumumba University of Moscow in Russia on Saturday 6th February 2010 at 6.00pm. The PFU is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and to mark […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix By: Sudath Silva) President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at Vinukoa International Airport in Moscow today (6th February) for three day official visit to Russian Federation. This afternoon President Rajapaksa will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the People’s Friendship University of Russian Federation (PFU), formally known as Patricia […]

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. […]