By Janaka Alahapperuma ƒ”š‚ Dallas Alahapperuma, Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development said that inability to understand the language spoken by each other is the main reason for creating distance between different communities in Sri Lanka. It is an obstacle for peace among Sinhalese and Tamils as well. Minister Alahapperuma made these remarks when he […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma The newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Sweden, with accreditation to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Oshadhi Alahapperuma assumed duties at the Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden recently. ƒ”š‚  Oshadhi Alahapperuma, engineer by profession and the former General Manager of Mobitel, the leading mobile service provider in Sri Lanka, is the […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma ƒ”š‚  President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over credentials to the newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner- designate to the United Kingdom, Dr Chris Nonis, recently at Temple Trees. According to the reliable sources of the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, Dr Nonis will assume duties this week, on 01 September. This high […]

ƒÆ’‚¯ƒ”š‚»ƒ”š‚¿ janaka alahapperuma The Secretarial Level Meeting and talks between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Colombo were concluded on August 18. The two sides reviewed several bilateral trade aspects and focused on the possibility of mutual tariff concession entitlements on selected items. ƒ”š‚ The agreed minutes of Pakistan Sri […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin visited Kandy and paid respects at key Buddhist sites in the sacred hill city recently. He paid his respect to the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) and later visited the Asgiri and Malwatta Chapters to meet the Chief Prelates who […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma A grand show was displayed at the Alfred Duraiappah stadium last Sunday on 14 August to introduce teakwondo as a martial art to Jaffna youths by the Sri Lanka Army, Security Forces Headquarters- Jaffna. A special taekwondo show was performed by Korean teakwondo instructors and the sportsmen and women of the Army […]

Janaka Alahapperuma The High Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistani community in Sri Lanka celebrated the 65th Independence Day of Pakistan with traditional fervor and resolve to make Pakistan a strong, dynamic progressive tolerant and democratic Islamic welfare state. ƒ”š‚  The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka, H.E Seema Ilahi Baloch hoisted the national […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma The Government of Sri Lanka completed the resettling of all internally displaced people (IDPs) after demining the lands earlier used by Tamil Tiger terrorists in Jaffna Peninsula. On successful completion of early resettlement, Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna has planned to launch a Mine Risk Education and Mine Awareness programmes in each […]

ƒÆ’‚¯ƒ”š‚»ƒ”š‚¿ By Janaka Alahapperuma Jaffna Library received another round of generous donation of 1500 books from new supporters, this time a Sinhala family in Nugegoda, Colombo. With sheer intention of quenching the thirst for knowledge of Jaffna students and other interested readers, a generous family in the south donated a volume of valuable books to […]

ƒÆ’‚¯ƒ”š‚»ƒ”š‚¿ By Janaka Alahapperuma New British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Mr Robbie Bulloch said “I’m delighted to take up post as Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Colombo at a time of such great potential for Sri Lanka. I look forward to supporting the High Commissioner and the rest of the team in enhancing […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma International Women’s Day (IWD) falls tomorrow (08 March) and Sri Lanka celebrated this special day which is dedicated for women around the globe today on 07 March, the day before the official day at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. International Women’s Day was marked for the first time in March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma The composer of the Sri Lankan National Anthem, artiste and late musician Ananda Samarakoon’s 100th birth anniversary was commemorated at Temple Trees on 13 January.ƒ”š‚  President Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and said that the best honour can be awarded to the creator of the National anthem is […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma “There is no doubt that conditions have changed in Sri Lanka and have improved to a degree after the conflict, but the issue is how far that goes,”ƒ”š‚ Alistair Burt, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in the British Parliament this afternoon on Tuesday 14 September 2010 […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma ƒ”š‚ Another twenty seven (27) new houses constructed under the Second Phase of Api Wenuwen Api housing programme were ceremonially handed over to the war heroes and their families by President Mahinda Rajapaksa (today) on 5th September at Thorayaya in Kurunegala. To mark the occasion, President Rajapaksa handed over the first key of […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe have met once again at the President’s House this morning on 10 August. The President and the Opposition leader met each other previously and agreed to continue with the talks on proposed constitutional amendments and electoral reforms. ƒ”š‚  President Media Unit could not […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma The Government of Sri Lanka handed over a stock of 18 metric tons of dry rations and medicine as emergency relief goods to the Government of Pakistan at Chaklala Air Base, Islamabad on 8th August.ƒ”š‚  A fully equippedƒ”š‚  medical team was also deployed to help the victims. On behalf of the Government […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma Members of G-15 High Level Task Force (HLTF) paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple treesƒ”š‚ on 6 August. HLTF members visited Sri Lanka for a fact finding mission after President Rajapaksa proposed to concentrate on an action to strengthen development cooperation in the area of infrastructure development, human resource […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma Pix by: Chandana Perera Two opposition parliamentarians Prabha Ganesan and P. Digambaram have crossed over from the opposition and joined the Government this morning (5th August) at Temple Trees . Prabha Ganesan of Democratic People’s Front and P.Digambaram of the National Union of Workers Front contested the last General Election in April […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma The annual Esala perahera of the Ruhunu Katharagama Devalaya took to the streets on the Esala full moon Poya day on 25th July. President Mahinda Rajapakse also participated at the festival and was among the thousands of devotees and spectators who flocked to Katharagama from all the corners of Sri Lanka. A […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma Sri Lanka Navy nabs two smugglers of conch shells in the seas north of Thalaimannar, North West of Sri Lanka recently. According to the Navy Headquarters the arrest was made by the Navy’s Fast Gun Boat (FGB) “Ranawickrama”ƒ”š‚, which was on a routine patrol in the Northern waters. Sri Lanka Navy FGBs […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma A special religious ceremony was organised by the Sri Lankan community in the Midlands at the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara, Hockley, Birmingham in memory of the valiant heroes of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces who had sacrificed their valuable lives for the sovereignty of the country. Large number of patriotic Sri Lankans […]

janaka alahapperuma The IIFA night of nights, the Micromax IIFA Awards 2010, will see a stunning performance line-up including, Salman Khan, Bipasha Basu,ƒ”š‚  Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi and Sri Lanka’s own, Jacqueline Fernandez. For the first time, the world will also get to see a preview of the Kingdom of Dreams, which will perform a […]

janaka alahapperuma Charity Initiative: “ƒ”¹…”Cricket for Children’ launched with Sri Lanka Cricket and UNICEF Cementing its commitment to building bridges between countries, IIFA 2010 will host a special charity cricket spectacular as part of the Videocon IIFA Weekend in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The “ƒ”¹…”Cricket for Children’ event, the IIFA Foundation Celebrity Cricket Match, will be […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma Indian Buddhists community in Midlands- UK celebrated 2554th Buddha Jayanthi (Wesak) Celebrations in grand style at Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara under the patronage of Venerable Dr Witharandeniye Kassapa Nayaka Thero, head of the Vihara on 16th May (Sunday) from 10.30am to 5.00pm. There have been over 300 devotees from different parts of […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently in Teheran to participate in the G15 Conference has met Islamic Supreme Leader of Iran Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hoseyni Khumenei last evening at the Revolutionary Leader’s residence. The Iranian Supreme leader wished the Sri Lankan President for his achievements and requested to carry forward continuously […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Teheran on Sunday 16th May to attend the G15 Summit which is scheduled to begin at the International Islamic Conference Hall in the Iranian Capital on Monday. Sri Lankan President was received by Minister of Commerce of the Iranian Government Mr.Mahadi Ghazanfam at the Meherabad International Airport […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma Pix by: Sudath Silva Four more Ministers and six Deputy Ministers were sworn in before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s House this morning on 5th April increasing the size of the Cabinet to 42 members. Kandy District MP and former Minister and Media Spokesman on National Security, Keheliya Rambukwella has been […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently in Bhutan to attend 16th SAARC Summit has held bilateral talks with Bhutan Prime Minister Mr.Jigmi Y.Thinley at the Sri Lanka House in the SAARC Village. The Prime Minister conveyed on behalf of His Majesty the King and the people of Bhutan a warm welcome to […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Paro International Airport in Bhutan this morning on 26th April to attend the 16th SAARC Summit which will be held in Thimpu on 28 and 29th of this month. He was warmly received by the Prime Minister of Bhutan Mr.Jigmi Y.Thinley at the airport. On his […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma Mr D.M.Jayaratne, senior member of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was sworn in before the President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the 14th Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at Temple Trees this afternoon on 21 April. Disanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne (79 years) the former parliamentarian from Gampola electorate in the […]