Sri Lanka Political News Forum

Sri Lanka news articles on politics are discussed here on this sub forum of Lanka Newspapers

unp warns SL Government to keep Hands off Fonseka Thursday, 5 November 2009 - 9:22 AM SL Time

General Secretary of the United National Party, Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake requested that the government leave General Sarath Fonseka alone. Addressing a meeting recently at Agalawatta, he pointed out that General Fonseka was a highly decorated military official of unmatched class, who had fought for the freedom of the country and that the people would not tolerate any injustice being meted out to him. The UNP parliamentarian further said, The government is frightened that the opposition s candidate for the presidential election could be someone they cannot compete against. Through fear, they are attempting to tarnish the image of leading personalities, who, they believe would be the opposition s presidential candidate. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 16 )

JVP wants Basil, Gota to give up US citizenship Thursday, 5 November 2009 - 9:20 AM SL Time

The JVP yesterday warned Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that they would not be able to avoid being prosecuted by the United States unless they gave up US citizenship. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 9 )

Sri Lanka UNP Parliment Member Range ON sathyagraha outside parliament Wednesday, 4 November 2009 - 9:33 AM SL Time

UNP front-liner Palitha Range Bandara who with his family staged a sathyagraha on the road leading to parliament yesterday charged that a Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman with the blessings of top government officials had led the recent attack on his residence and office. Mr. Bandara said he would not stop there but would launch an extensive protest inside the House as well if the attackers were not brought to book. He said the police had ignored Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandra s request that a proper investigation on the attack be carried out. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 3 )

Speaker rejects UNP leader s criticism of vote-on-account Wednesday, 4 November 2009 - 9:31 AM SL Time

The Speaker of the House, W. J. M. Lokubandara, yesterday rejected Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe s assertions that the President Mahinda Rajapaksa had violated the Constitution and Monetary Laws of the country by presenting a Vote-on-Account for four months in lieu of the Budget. The Speaker said that the Government had fulfilled all Constitutional requirements. Criticizing the government over yesterday s presentation of a vote-on-account for four months in lieu of the Budget, the UNP accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of violating the Constitution as well as monetary laws of the country. Full Story     Post Reply To This

SL Govt. ignoring supreme sacrifice made by soldiers: Ranil Tuesday, 3 November 2009 - 8:29 AM SL Time

Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday charged that the government which was claiming full credit for the success in the war had disregarded 5,000 soldiers who were killed in a single attack and 20,000 who were wounded. Addressing a meeting at the Polonnaruwa district office yesterday, Mr. Wickremesinghe said the government did not want to give credit to any one else and just wanted to cling on to power at any cost. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 13 )

Gota says Gen. Fonseka alerted him to US move Tuesday, 3 November 2009 - 8:28 AM SL Time

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the government would do everything possible to thwart US moves to use Chief of Defence General Sarath Fonseka as a source against the Sri Lankan political and military leaders. The government had acted swiftly and decisively after Gen. Fonseka had brought the planned US action to his notice, the Defence Secretary said. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 3 )

Cabinet Sub-committee to assist drought-hit areas Friday, 30 October 2009 - 8:48 AM SL Time

A Cabinet Sub-committee (CSC) has been appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to assist the people in the drought-hit areas, Cabinet Spokesperson Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said yesterday. The sub committee comprises Ministers Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rishard Badurdeen and Douglas Devananda. Minister Yapa told the weekly cabinet press briefing that the committee will look into providing farmers with more equipment and technological facilities in order to cope with the situation. The sub- committee will give priority to provide them drinking water and ample water for irrigation. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 1 )

Southern Province Ministers Friday, 30 October 2009 - 8:47 AM SL Time

Former Chief Minister of Southern Province, Shan Wijayalal De Silva took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Chief Minister of the Province yesterday. He was followed by four other elected members who were sworn in as Ministers of the newly elected Council in a ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat. Other elected UPFA members too were sworn in during yesterday s ceremony. This is a second successive term for the new Chief Minister. He first assumed duties as the Chief Minister of Southern Province in 2004. The portfolios assigned to the new Ministers are as follows: Shan Wijayalal De Silva Finance and Planning, Justice and Law, Transport, Drainage and Water Supply, Power, Engineering Services, Health, Indigenous Medicine and Local Government Minister. Hemal Gunasekara Southern Province Land and Land Development, Irrigation, Roads and Highways, Information, Rural and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister V.K. Indika Southern Province Education and Cultural Affairs, Food Supply and Distribution, Trade and Cooperative Development Minister Dayawansha Ariyathilake Gamage Sports and Youth Affairs, Rural Industries, Rural Development, Tourism, Economic Promotions, Social Welfare, Child Protection Services, Women s Affairs, Building and Constructions, Manpower and Employment Minister. Wijaya Bindu Weerasinghe Agricultural and Agrarian Development, Livestock Development, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs Minister. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 2 )

Minister Amunugama averse to going behind buffaloes Thursday, 29 October 2009 - 8:40 AM SL Time

There are more serious issues to be tackled in the agriculture sector than going behind the buffalos at Wap Magul ceremonies, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Dr. Sarath Amunugama told The Island yesterday. He said it was more important to ensure that the farmer got a reasonable price for his produce and that subsidised fertilisers were used for actual paddy production instead of being leaked to the black market. The major problem was the deteriorating standards of research institutions in Sri Lanka. he said. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 10 )

Health Ministry bars certain medicines in hospitals Thursday, 29 October 2009 - 8:38 AM SL Time

The Health Ministry has issued withhold notices to hospitals regarding certain medicine following recent issues such as finding glass particles in medicine vials. An extensive examination is being carried out to make sure if the particular medicine is of good quality by an Experts Committee. Following the committee report, the medicine will be used again or a withdrawal notice will be issued by the Health Ministry. Addressing the media yesterday at his Ministry, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said an extensive probe is being conducted regarding recent issues in the health sector such as the Rubella vaccine, discovery of particles in drug vials, reported in several hospitals throughout the country. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 1 )

JVP will commit political suicide Tuesday, 27 October 2009 - 9:13 AM SL Time

The day the JVP will commit political suicide by supporting a common candidate put forward by the UNP at the next Presidential Election is not too far, said Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena when addressing a convention of the Bandaragama SLFP Central Organization at the Maithree Hall, Bandaragama on October 24. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 13 )

Ranil Sarath special meeting in Singapore Tuesday, 27 October 2009 - 9:11 AM SL Time

According to our Singapore correspondent, Chief of Defense staff Gen.Sarath Fonseka who left SL on the 24th on a tour of America and other countries has met UNP and opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in Singapore yesterday night (25) The meeting has taken place at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the vicinity of the Singapore Airport, the report further stated. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 14 )

Early presidential poll will deny MR two years of his first term - JVP Monday, 26 October 2009 - 8:48 AM SL Time

If Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa wins a second term at an early presidential election two years ahead of the scheduled time, he will have to forfeit two years of his first term, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP told a press conference at party headquarters yesterday. Responding to The Island queries, Dissanayake said that a Supreme Court ruling given during the tenure of President Rajapaksa s predecessor, Chandrika Kumaratunga said that the incumbent president could not retain the remaining period in the event of his/her winning a second term at a premature election. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 11 )

Ministry requests CID probe Monday, 26 October 2009 - 8:45 AM SL Time

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has requested the CID to probe the incident where pieces of broken glass were found in vials of vaccine. Strict legal action will also be taken against suppliers and manufactures of medicine not suitable for use if found at fault, Health Ministry sources said. Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry officials held a meeting on Saturday in connection with the discovery of pieces of broken glass inside two vials containing vaccines at the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital and also at Elpitiya Base Hospital last week. Full Story     Post Reply To This     Read Replies ( 1 )