A supporter of Sri Lanka’s opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka has been killed in a clash ahead of next week’s presidential election, police say. Opposition activists were attacked in Wariyapola town in the north-west of the country while they were putting up election posters, police said. The man was killed in a clash with ruling party […]

AFP – by Shaun Tandon Shaun Tandon WASHINGTON (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s upcoming election is raising hopes in the United States for better relations after a chilly spell if the island turns the page on a bloody war that brought international opprobrium. The January 26 election comes months after troops killed the top leadership of […]

transCurrent – by Rohini Hensman If we were to ask, ‘Is this a good time for a presidential election?’ the answer would have to be ‘No’. At a time when so many urgent tasks are pending – not least that of rebuilding the war-ravaged areas of the country and resettling lakhs of IDPs in proper […]

Source: TC – By Dayan Jayatilleka Douglas Devananda once likened Tamil nationalism to cholesterol, saying just as there is good and bad cholesterol, there is good and bad Tamil nationalism, and just as you need good cholesterol, you need the good Tamil nationalism. Certainly the history of Tamil nationalism shows plenty of examples of “bad […]

Source: Gov News – News.lk – Lankacnews Two accomplices of opposition candidate, Sarath Fonseka today were reported to have offered Rs.30 million as a ‘bribe’ to National Freedom Front Parliamentarian, M.Muzaimil at room number 205 at Hotel Sapphire, Wellawatte, authoritative sources said. The alleged bribe had been offered to the MP requesting his presence at […]

Source: Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – Photo By Lalith Welivitigoda Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived on a sudden visit to Jaffna on Monday 11th January to participate at a meeting organised by ‘The Women’s Association that Serves the Country’. She was accompanied by Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) organiser for […]

Source: LBO – Pic by Reuters Sri Lanka’s opposition presidential candidate promised better governance which will lead to a continuation of trade concessions from the European Union and tough new anti corruption laws. Retired general Sarath Fonseka, who led a campaign to crush the Tamil Tigers said a return of better governance would ensure the […]

Source: Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – Pic By Chandana Perera President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated a bridge across the river at Hirana, Bandaragama and another flyover bridge at Pannipitiya this morning on 12th January. President Rajapaksa inspected the Bandaragama Bridge linking Hirana in Panadura and Kidelpitiya in Bandaragama and instructed to open it immediately […]

Source: AT – By Anjana Jayashan in Colombo President Mahinda Rajapaksa Contesting For His Second TermPostal voting for the Presidential elections to elect the country’s sixth executive president will commence today and tomorrow (January 12 and 13), the Elections Secretariat announced. A total of 401,118 are qualified for the postal voting and ballots papers are […]

Source: The Hindu Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, seeking a second term two years ahead of his tenure in the election scheduled on January 26, on Monday morning unveiled a 14-point programme titled, `A brighter future’ with the promise to put Sri Lanka in a prominent position in Asia and the world and work towards […]

Source: Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – Photos By Sudath Silva President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Jaffna for his political campaign in the north of Sri Lanka today, 10th January. He visited Nallur Kovil for Hindu religious observances. He was blessed according to the Hindu traditions by the chief priest of the kovil. The President […]

Source: AP – By Krishan Francis MANIK FARM, Sri Lanka – More than 700 former Tamil Tiger rebels were reunited with family members Saturday after months in rehabilitation camps since the country’s decades-long civil war ended last year. President Mahinda Rajapaksa joined the hands of 15 men, women and children with relatives at a special […]

Source: Reporters Without Border “A year has gone by without any progress in the investigation into his murder,” Lal Wickrematunge said today to Reporters Without Borders, on the eve of the first anniversary of the fatal shooting of his brother, Lasantha Wickrematunge, the Colombo-based Sunday Leader’s well-known managing editor. It is Lal who has replaced […]