Dilrook Kannangara
The manner in which the Chief Justice was removed resembles Pakistan under General Zia-Ul-Haq or Pervez Musharraf. Mohan Peiris was not removed from his post by legal means. The threats he faced while serving as the Chief Justice until his removal were not seen in this country's history. The parliament was not consulted on his removal and the proper procedure was not followed. It was totally dictatorial for the president to remove the Chief Justice illegally, appoint the former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayaka, get her to resign and appoint another in her place. This is a despotic... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/01/15)
Prof. Hudson McLean
Re my article - “Did ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa turn Temple Trees into a Dog House?” Thank you Gentlemen for your opinions. However, whilst disagreeing with my statements, mario_perera Says: January 28th, 2015 at 8:01 pm "The truth is that every previous president would have done so if only his or her hands were not tied by international interferences. There were umpteen occasions when the war could have been ended, but India, mainly, stood in the way." I presume, that you agree,that, although previous Presidents had the power..... " I said...... Neither CBK nor Ranil Wickremasinghe could... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/01/15)
Presented before the parliament by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 30/01/15)
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declared last week that his government would implement the 13th amendment to the country's constitution. After nearly three decades, the amendment, which provided for the limited devolution of powers to the Tamil elite on a provincial level in the island's north and east, has never been carried out fully.... -Full Story- (dbsjeyaraj.com - 30/01/15)
SRI Lanka's new government has formally blocked a $400-million casino resort project in the country proposed by James Packer's Crown Resorts, fulfilling an election pledge by new President Maithripala Sirisena. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the Sri Lankan parliament yesterday that gazette notices that gave tax concessions to three casino projects, including Mr Packer's integrated mixed-development project, had been amended. “We have decided to ban such approval for casinos,” Mr Wickremesinghe told parliament. “But they can conduct all other activities,” he said. Outside parliament a cabinet spokesman said all casino licences would be reviewed and gaming would be restricted to... -Full Story- (theaustralian.com.au - 30/01/15)
It was reported that a committee has been appointed by Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera to investigate the legitimacy of Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s ranks as a Navy Officer. Speaking to the media, Navy Media Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said that the committee was formed following the complaints lodged by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).... -Full Story- (lankanewsalert.com - 30/01/15)
Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons Yoshitha and Rohitha are to be removed from the captaincy of the Rugby teams of the Navy and Army respectively, on the instructions of a highly placed official, informed sources said yesterday.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 30/01/15)
The new government, in its budget, slashed the prices of 13 essential items, domestic gas, kerosene oil while announcing a host of relief measures for the general public including a monthly pay hike of Rs. 5000 for public servants effective from next month and a Rs.1000 increase on pensions from April. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake made his budget speech outlining the proposals to be implemented during the 100-day programme of the new government.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 30/01/15)
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake presenting the interim budget 2015 today said that the option of dual citizenship would be available to all persons of Sri Lankan origin and granted after due evaluation. A payment of Rs. 500,000 will have to precede each individual request. Furthermore, provision will be made for foreigners seeking resident status in Sri Lanka who are in a position to invest US$ 10 million in the country. All such applications would be subject to the approval of Defence Ministry, and would need to be renewed every 5 years. The visa fee for such persons will be Rs.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 30/01/15)
Senior Advisor Jayantha Dhanapala briefed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on the policies of the newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena and the government. Foreign Ministry said that Mr. Dhanapala also met President of the Human Rights Council Joachim Rücker as well as all the members of the Human Rights Council.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 30/01/15)
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, the opposition charged that the manner in which Shirani Bandaranayake was appointed as the Chief Justice and the removal of former Chief Justice Mohan Pieris, was wrong. Speaking in Parliament, MP Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Parliament is the only entity that can remove a Chief Justice from his position. And added that this is a sad incident that has taken place in the history of Parliament.... -Full Story- (newsfirst.lk - 30/01/15)
A new Mansion tax has been introduced by the Government, Ravi Karunanayaka said a short while ago. Mansion valued at over Rs.100 million or comprising over 5,000 square feet will be taxed Rs.1 million per house. All Sri Lankans who migrate to another country will be liable for a 20% exit tax, Karunanayaka added. He also added that a super gain tax of 25% will be applicable for organizations that record a profit of over Rs. 2000 million.... -Full Story- (adaderana.lk - 30/01/15)
Prof. Hudson McLean
After an election, specially when the Party-in-Power gets booted-out, mud-raking is a global pastime. Every new incoming Leader and his followers first priority is to ram-in the negatives before any thing else. In the case of the ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, MR deserves a better "Goodbye" handshake, for saving Sri Lanka from blood-shed of 30 years. Neither CBK nor Ranil Wickremasinghe could do bugger-all to bring an end to LTTE Tamil Terrorism which, MR with the support of GR & General (?) Sarath Fonseka concluded in style. The Island is at Peace, but for how long? All... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/01/15)
By Rohana R. Wasala
Courtesy The Island These days, the phrase ‘good governance’ reverberates across the media reporting on Sri Lanka. It refers to a vague concept that is being used by the West and their opportunistic allies as a very effective weapon against our country to keep it destabilized for their own purposes, while trying to alienate us from the relatively more sincere friends in the region that we have had for over a thousand years. (Human rights violation charges are another weapon. Even when there are some genuine reasons for raising issues such as poor governance and rights... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/01/15)
චන්ද්රසිරි විජයවික්රම
ජනවාරි 27, 2015 පෝප්තුමාගේ අවවාදය හා 13 වන සංශොධනය "එක පවුලක් ලෙස ජීවත්වන්න යයි" පෝප්තුමා ලංකාවාසීන්ට අනුශාසනා කර ගියේය. ඉන්පසු දිනක ඉස්ලාම් ත්රස්තවාදීන් ප්රංශ කාටූන් පත්තර කන්තෝරුවට පහරදුන් සිද්ධිය ගැන එතුමා කියා සිටියේ "යමෙක් ඔබේ අම්මාට අපහාස කලොත් ඊට යම් ප්රතිචාරයක් ඔහු විසින් ඔබගෙන් (මූණට තදබල පාරක් හෝ වෙඩි උණ්ඩයක්) බලාපොරොත්තු වියයුතු බවය." මේ දෙකෙන් ලංකාවාසීන්ට දුන් අවවාදය කොළඹ කාඩිනල්තුමා විසින් පෝප්තුමාට ලියාදුන් කථාවේ තිබුණ දෙයක් විය යුතුය. දෙවන කියමන ක්ෂණයකින් ඉබේම එතුමාගේ හිතට ගලා ආ අදහසක් විය යුතුය. පුදුමයකට මෙන් එය "ඇහැට ඇහැක්" යන පරණ බයිබල් කථාවද සිහිකරවයි. කෙසේ වෙතත් මේ අවවාද දෙක ලංකාවේ 13 වන... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/01/15)
Sri Lanka's new president has reinstated the former chief justice two years after she was sacked by his predecessor over corruption claims. However, her return is thought only temporary as reports say she is to retire now her name has been cleared.... -Full Story- (BBC - 29/01/15)
The political sources pointed out yesterday that the ruling coalition has reached consensus on the proposed constitutional amendment that will primarily seek to introduce a dual executive system of governance and on the re-instating of the independent commissions. Reportedly the proposed formula will be presented in Parliament early next month to be discussed with the main opposition. However in the event that these constitutional reforms are enacted, President Sirisena will remain as the Head of State, but with reduced powers. He will retain the defence portfolio and the power to appointment provincial governors and on several other subjects including that... -Full Story- (lankanewsalert.com - 29/01/15)
CJ 43 Shirani Bandaranayake’s reinstatement has a legal basis due to a serious loophole in the legal process adopted by the previous governor when impeaching Dr. Bandaranayake, senior lawyer Saliya Pieris explained. “Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was removed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa without a request from Parliament. The motion passed in Parliament in Jan 2013 did not contain an address for removal which is a mandatory requirement as per the Constitution. The motion merely reproduced the earlier resolution seeking to appoint a select committee to inquire,” Pieris stated following the reinstatement of Dr. Bandaranayake.... -Full Story- (asianmirror.lk - 29/01/15)
The Defence Ministry today announced that former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka is entitled to his rank of Four Star General, medals, pension and other privileges which were stripped of in 2010, by two Army tribunals before he was cashiered and imprisoned. “Entitlement to wearing of all decorations of General (retd) G.S.C Fonseka, former Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army who left an indelible legacy of gallantry by directing the Army to wipe out LTTE terrorism from Sri Lanka, has been restored, following the full Presidential amnesty, granted by HE the President Maithripala Sirisena, in terms of the... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 29/01/15)
It was reported that Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement today charged that Numerous allegations have been levelled against me, my family and my government both before and after the recent presidential elections. The Full statement says. To the Venerable Maha Sangha, all Reverend Clergymen and the People of Sri Lanka Numerous allegations have been levelled against me, my family and my government both before and after the recent presidential election. If there are allegations of wrongdoing against anybody, there are established procedures that can be followed. What we see instead is a media blitz meant to vilify me... -Full Story- (lankanewsalert.com - 28/01/15)
From: Charles.S.Perera
Your Excellency, We convey our deepest sadness at our failure to have mustered enough votes to retain you as the President of Sri Lanka for another fruitful period of development. We miss you very much Your Excellency, we know that today we breath as a free people without fear or constrain because of the determination you had to eliminate terrorism despite great risk to yourself. We are therefore ever grateful to you for having unified Sri Lanka, part of which had been given to be kept under terrorist control under a CFA signed with the terrorists ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/01/15)
By Malin
Before appointing Arjun Mahendran as Governor of Central Bank, were you both aware of the his connection with Raj Rajratnam? Current CB Governor Arjun Mahendran is a childhood friend of Raj Rajaratnam as admitted by him. Here is evidence. http://archives.dailymirror.lk/2005/07/12/ft/15.asp Arjun Mahendran as a top banker (now CB Governor) while commenting about Sri Lanka Stock Exchange in the year 2005 has mentioned about his childhood friend Raj Rajratnam. Quote The basic problem with Sri Lanka is it's an illiquid market and it's far too small for a typical international portfolio,” said Arjuna... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/01/15)
By Chandrasiri Atukorale
We are sick of hearing corruption allegations now being made against the former President Mahinda Rajapaksha. There, we see nothing but mere mud-slinging. Corruption and vices sprang in this country with the open economy we got under J.R. Jayawardena regime. When Mr. J.R. Jayawardena made the present constitution his desire was this: the Auditor General must be committed not to the constitution but to the Government of the day. We must not take things in politics at it’s' face value. Every issue in politics should be studied in conjunction with some other issues in politics. Things... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/01/15)
ධර්මසිරි සෙනෙවිරත්න
දෙමල කොටි ත්රස්තවාදී බෙදුම්වාදීන්ටත් ඉන්දියානු රාජ්ය ත්රස්තයන්ටත් තමන් විසින් ලංකාවට ගෙන ආ කුලී කාරයන්ට යන එන මන් සැපයීම ට අවශ්ය වූ ඉංග්රීසින් උන් තමන්ට බරක් නොවෙනසේ එහෙත් සිංහලයන්ට බරක් වෙනසේ පදිංචි කිරීමේකාර්යයට කල උප්පර වට්ටියක් වුත් 75% ක සිංහලයන්ට කිසිදා අවශ්ය නොවූත් ඔවුන්ගේ අදහස් වලට පට හානි වුත් 13 රටට අවශ්ය වන්නක් නොවේ මෙය බෙදුම් වාදයට රුකුල් දෙන්නක් මිස විසදුමක් ද නවේ වර්ධරාජා පෙරුමාල් එය ඔප්පු කර පෙන්නුවේය ජනපති බලතල මගින් එය ව්යර්ථ කළා මිස බෙදුම් වාදී න් පසු බස නැත. උතුරේ නැගෙනහිර මුස්ලිම් කාරයොත් එකතු වුනොත් එම පලාත්වල ජනමතයක් පමණක් පවත්වා දෙක එකතුකර ස්වාධීනත්වය ප්රකාශ කිරීමේ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/01/15)
Dr Hector Perera, England
My scientific energy saving cooking idea is not “spring chickens”, I experimented the technique for many years in order to improve the technique. When I came to England unlike in Sri Lanka, I had to sleep, study and cook in one room. That is because I couldn’t afford no more than a single room in a large house. One of my good friends bought a large house for his son and daughter while they were studying in England because he could afford but I couldn’t afford at the start. I am sure everybody understand that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/01/15)
Police Media Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana said that investigations revealed that “Wele Suda” had made payments to MP Duminda Silva. Police Media Spokesprson SSP Ajith Rohana addressing a media briefing this afternoon said that Court has ordered a probe into all accounts under the name of MP Duminda Silva at all financial institutions. SSP Rohana noted that this step was being taken to aid investigations into alleged ties between the MP and drug baron Wele Suda.... -Full Story- (newsfirst.lk - 28/01/15)
BY DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA
PRE-INDEPENDENCE DAY THOUGHTS 2015:THE FUTURE STATE OF THE NATION In the run-up to Independence Day 2015, we must thank God for Mr. Sumanthiran. He is indubitably a moderate and an intellectual. Let us give thanks also for the Sunday Observer, which is a state-run newspaper not given to running stories or distorting them in a manner inimical or embarrassing to the government of the day. Therefore, when Mr. Sumanthiran says something to the Sunday Observer, I take it seriously because I know I am on safe ground. Mr. Sumanthiran tells the newspaper that the TNA... -Full Story- (dbsjeyaraj.com - 28/01/15)
As the dust settles following an unexpected result in Sri Lanka’s recent presidential election, the focus has gradually shifted from discussions on what was behind the incumbent’s loss to what lies ahead with the new administration. President Maithripala Sirisena’s campaign focused mainly on domestic affairs, related to corruption and government reform, yet requires a firm pivot towards prioritizing external affairs as well.... -Full Story- (thediplomat.com - 28/01/15)
Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana said today a Court Order was obtained from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court to check all accounts held by Colombo District United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Duminda Silva at several banks and financial institutions. The Court Order was based on a statement made by narcotics kingpin ‘Wele Suda’ and included the checking of accounts held by two others as well. “The accounts belonging to Duminda Silva, Wele Suda and his wife held at 82 banks and financial institutions will be probed. During interrogations by the CID, Wele Suda revealed that he doled out money obtained from... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 28/01/15)
Steps will be taken to arrest former minister Wimal Weerawansa’s wife, if Immigration and Emigration Controller confirmed that she had violated the Emigration and Immigration laws by holding two passports giving contrary information, Police said. “We have requested the Immigration and Emigration Controller to inform us whether she had violated the Emigration and Immigration laws, if she had done so we will arrest her,” Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 28/01/15)
Dilrook Kannangara
Sri Lanka will be like Zimbabwe pretty soon if UNP remains in power and in control of economic policy and finance. This is driven by UNP's China-averse policy driven by its Indian and US backers. Only China can sustain Sri Lanka economically and if the China support is taken out, the Sri Lankan economy collapses. With $55 billion loans and annual loan servicing of $8 billion (including mandatory repayment of the principal) it is no easy task sustaining the economy. Loan repayments and interest payments take 40% of government expense budget. This has been the case... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/01/15)
Shenali D Waduge
The people of Sri Lanka have short memories. They have forgotten decades that bore bloodshed, fear and destruction. That past cannot be forgotten. That past is replete with remnants that continue to plague the nation requiring it to remain under eternal vigilance. Do we want to sacrifice and reverse all that we have gained for petty political points and be checkmated by those that have been conspiring for years to divide our nation? Do we not remember that it was our own that ceded the nation to the British in 1815 and we were almost on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/01/15)
Laksiri Warnakula
A salutary remark Our beloved land still exists, undivided and should I say not very much united? However, the credit for preserving what Sri Lanka has been for thousands of years in its entirety should go to Mr M. Rajapaksa. And the ones, who try to belittle what he did in that regard, are doing something not right. After all, he did not kowtow to the west or bend down in the face of enormous pressures brought on him, both within and without. I do not want to write anything about 'why Mr Rajapaksa... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/01/15)
In Retrospect By Sarath Kumara
January 24th 2015 The following item carries startling as well as revealing information about how the unitarity of the Sinhala Nation once again may have been compromised through covert cunning and how the voting was manipulated to appease Western Powers through Indian involvement and the craftiness of Chandrika Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremasinghe! This also points to a conspiracy of major proportions.So how can the nation trust such opportunists if this is verifiably true regardless of the Chinese angle and the various interpretations which deemed it unsavoury~ not for the Nation of Sri Lanka but those... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/01/15)
Defeated former President and current patron of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) - Mahinda Rajapaksa says he will not form other political parties or political alliances that would split up the SLFP regardless of the spite he has to face. He made the remarks yesterday (January 25) while meeting senior stalwarts of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) held at the Parliament Speaker's official residence in Colombo.... -Full Story- (srilankamirror.com - 27/01/15)
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today complained to Defence Secretary B.M.U.D. Basnayake against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Yoshitha who is a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy. JVP Western provincial councillor Nalinda Jayatissa said Yoshitha Rajapaksa did not have the minimum qualifications to be enlisted in the executive branch of the Navy. “Navy Commanders are selected from the executive branch. One needs to pursue science subjects to join this branch. However, Mr. Rajapaksa was recruited in violation of these regulations,” Dr. Jayatissa said.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 27/01/15)
The Ministry of External Affairs says that over one thousand people have obtained dual citizenship in an illegal manner, after the year 2011. Deputy Minister of External Affairs Ajith P. Perera said that investigations have commenced into the situation. He also said that a programme to speed up the process of providing dual citizenship will be implemented.... -Full Story- (newsfirst.lk - 27/01/15)
While denying allegation that his mother was involved in a gold racket, MP Namal Rajapaksa said yesterday that if anyone wanted to take revenge politically they should only attack his father or himself and not the other members of his family. “If political revenge is the main objective, attack my father and myself, and stop making false allegations against my mother and brothers,” the former president’s son tweeted.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 27/01/15)
The Bribery Commission has ordered the Immigration Department to impound the passport of former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage for three months.... -Full Story- (dailymirror.lk - 27/01/15)
නලින් ද සිල්වා
පසුගිය 8 වැනි දා මෙරටට අරාබි වසන්තය උදාවිය. එය වසන්තයක් වන්නේ රටට නොව බටහිරයන්ට, ඔවුන්ගේ අනුගාමිකය ඊනියා උගතුන්ට හා දෙමළ ජාතිවාදීන්ට ය. අප වැනි නූගතුන්ට, සාමාන්ය ජනයාට දැඩි ශීත කාලයකට ඉදිරියේ දී මුහුණ දීමට සිදුවනු ඇත. ජාතිය පාවාදුන්නෝ දෙමළ ජාතිවාදීන් සමග පෙම් කෙළියේ පසුවෙති. ඔවුන්ගේ මධුසමය ගෙවෙනු ඇත්තේ සිංහලයන්ගේ මළකඳන් පාවෙන ලේ විලක ය. අද සිංහලයන්ට නායකත්වයක් නැත. කිසි දෙයක් කරගත නොහැකි පිරිසක් තැන තැන ඊනියා සාකච්ඡා පවත්වති. එහෙත් ඔවුන්ට අරමුණක් නැත. සාකච්ඡා තේ බීමට සීමාවෙයි. ආණ්ඩුව ඉතා ඉක්මණින් තම පරාජය වසා ගනු ඇත. පෞද්ගලිකව ගතහොත් මට කළ හැකි දෙයක් නැත. පිරිස් සංවිධානය කිරීමේ ලා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/01/15)
