WHAT'S HOT IN SRI LANKA

WHAT'S HOT IN SRI LANKA

ARCHIVE FEBRUARY

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VIP security to be increased

2010-02-07

Sources from the Police Headquarters said that orders have been received from high ranking public officials to increase VIP security in the next few days.

Sources also said that a discussion is to be held between the officials of the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) and high ranking Defence Ministry officials on identifying the VIPs who would need additional security and the regulations connected with it.

Douglas to contest separately

2010-02-07

The EPDP led by Minister Douglas Devananda has decided to contest the parliamentary elections separately, it is learnt.

The Minister’s Media Secretary Nelson Edirisinghe responding to a question raised by the Ravaya newspaper said the Minister had decided to contest the general election separately as the governing party candidate backed by the EPDP during the Presidential election was rejected by the people in the North. He added that the Minister initially decided to resign from his portfolio, but later changed his mind following appeals made by the public.

Mahinda waited for four years to go to Russia

2010-02-07

Diplomatic sources from Russia say that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had waited for four years to visit the country.

It is learnt that the request made by the President after assuming office in 2005 from Russia to meet with Russian leaders was accepted only after his re-election.

Elections Commissioner rejects UNF registration form

2010-02-07

The Elections Commissioner has not accepted the registration form of the United National Front (UNF), which is led by the UNP and 10 other political parties, on Friday (5).

The Elections Commissioner had informed UNF Secretary Weragoda that he did not have the powers to accept the registration form according to the new regulations passed by parliament under the Elections Act.

The UNF would have to contest the general election either under the UNP or any other registered political party.

Five media organizations condemn attacks on MTV journalists

2010-02-07

In a joint statement, five media organizations in Sri Lanka have condemned the recent attacks on two journalists attached to MTV Television Network. In two separate incidents last week, journalists Rizwi Mahroof and Shri Ranga have been assaulted by mobs backed by the local politicians close to the government.

The statement signed by Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU), Free Media Movement (FMM), Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) and Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), has pointed out "that police inability or unwillingness to investigate crimes against media and journalists has become one of the reasons for increased violence against journalist in Sri Lanka."

Is Sri Lanka done assaulting the media?

2010-02-06

It was good to hear Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa point out in his Independence Day speech on Thursday that the country “cannot be developed with harassment, gross punishments or by the gun.” But the sentence that followed that—“Discipline is not revenge”—gives cause for concern. Rajapaksa’s speech marked the 62nd anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain. It was delivered in Kandy, the heartland of the president’s electoral base.

Russian arms to 'peaceful' SL

2010-02-06

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa left on Saturday for Moscow, where he will sign a $300 million (192 million pound) loan to buy military equipment from Russia, despite an end to his country's quarter-century civil war.

Sri Lanka defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May in a final offensive that prompted allegations of human rights abuses from the international community.

Mangala appointed to discuss with the General

2010-02-06

Co-chairman of the UNF, Mangala Samaraweera has been appointed by the UNF to discuss and arrive at an agreement with General Sarath Fonseka to contest the general election under a common alliance, it is learnt.

Sources said Samaraweera who is currently overseas is to return to the island immediately to hold a discussion with the General on Monday.

The discussion between the UNF leaders and the General ended in a deadlock.

Discussion between the General and UNF leaders ends in a deadlock

2010-02-06

A Coordinating Secretary to General Sarath Fonseka said the discussions between the UNF leaders and the General held on Thursday (4) to arrive at an agreement about contesting the general election had ended without arriving at a final decision.

The discussion that had taken place from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. was attended by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Co-chairmen of the UNF Karu Jayasruiya, Mano Ganeshan and Raif Hakeem and UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake. The General’s Private Secretary Dr. Senaka de Silva had also attended the meeting.

Can’t go for elections without elephant symbol – Sajith’s group

2010-02-06

Sources said that UNP parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa has informed the party leadership that several parliamentarians and organizers, including him would not contest the general election if the elephant symbol was taken away.

He had said Vajira Abeywardena, Thalatha Atukorale and Ranjtih Madduma Bandara were strongly of the view that the UNPers should contest under the elephant symbol.

He had further noted that the party should not go into any alliance with the JVP, but could arrive at an agreement with General Sarath Fonseka.

Renuka to be appointed Film Corporation Chairman?

2010-02-06

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has requested the President to appoint Renuka Balasuriya as the Chairman of the National Film Corporation and the President has given a positive response to the request, sources from Temple Trees said.

A popular children’s film producer, Renuka Balasuriya and her husband Somaratne Dissanayake played an active role in the President’s election campaign.

Sources said that apart from Renuka Balasuriya, well known artistes like Jackson Anthony, Sriyantha Mendia, Ravindra Randeniya and Malini Fonseka are also tipped to be appointed as chairmen of various corporations.

Deputy Elections Commissioner to probe into ballot papers found in Ratnapura

2010-02-06

The Elections Commissioner has assigned a Deputy Elections Commissioner to probe into the bundle of 64 ballot papers found in a garbage dump behind the Ratnapura Technical College.

The bundle was found by a supporter of UNP parliamentarian Thalatha Atukorale and when bundles of ballot papers were being burnt behind the Technical College. The UNP leaders showed the ballot papers to the Elections Commissioner.

Triangular battle in Kelaniya

2010-02-06

A battle for supremacy at the next general election has reportedly erupted between Namal Rajapaksa, Mervyn Silva and Malini Fonseka, who are all trying to contest the elections from the Kelaniya electorate.

The President it is learnt has decided to offer Mervyn Silva a parliamentary seat through the nationals list.

Sources from Temple Trees said the President would brief Mervyn Silva of this decision after returning from his Russian tour.

Jackson to be appointed Chairman of Rupavahini

2010-02-06

Jackson Anthony is to be appointed as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), it is learnt.

The President has reportedly arrived at this decision after Jackson Anthony had informed him that he did not wish to contest at the general election and that he did not have the necessary financial resources to campaign.

However, Jackson had said he would accept any other position in the government offered to him.
The new appointment it is learnt is to be made next week.

EU decides to suspend GSP

2010-02-06

EU nations have decided to suspend Sri Lanka's preferential trade status because of the island's human rights record and will make the formal move later this month, officials said Friday.

"European ambassadors have taken the decision. The EU Commission's investigation showed Sri Lanka has not demonstrated that it has taken the steps that would allow it to retain or regain the GSP+ status," a European diplomat said.

International Community Must Condemn Attacks on Media in Sri Lanka

2010-02-05

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on the international community to raise concerns at the highest levels regarding the rapid rise in hazards facing journalists and media workers in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s presidential election.

“The evidence of the past two weeks clearly contradicts a purported statement by Sri Lanka’s senior Minister for Information and the Media, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, that there is no threat to the media in Sri Lanka,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.

The IFJ is extremely worried for the safety of well-known political commentator Prageeth Eknaligoda, who has been reported missing since late January 24.

“The Truth” of the Armored Coup against the Government!

2010-02-05

Lanka News Web today exclusively reports the “Inside Story” of the so called “Military Coup against the Government”, which is in the front lines of state newspapers these days. The true story is being slowly but steadily revealed through various informants within the military establishment itself.

The Security Council for a considerable period of time has been assessing the situation in a defeat at the Presidential Elections. The modus operandi to keep power within Rajapakses has been discussed at all these meetings and the final meeting of the Security Council had taken place in the evening on 24th January 2010 just two days prior to the election.

United National Front to be registered

2010-02-04

A senior UNP parliamentarian told Lanka News Web that the documents to register the United National Front (UNF), which is headed by the UNP and 10 other registered political parties, were handed over to the Elections Commissioner.

The Secretary of the UNF is Weragoda and its leader is UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Karu Jayasuriya, Mangala Samaraweera, Mano Ganeshan and Rauf Hakeem are co-chairmen of the UNF.

The UNP has already decided to contest the next general election under the UNF banner.

UNP leaders to meet the General today to get him to join the UNF

2010-02-04

UNF leaders are to meet with Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka in the evening today to explore the possibility of him joining the Front.

UNF Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Co-chairmen Karu Jayasuriya, Rauf Hakeem and Mano Ganeshan are to meet with General Fonseka. UNF’s Mangala Samaraweera would not be able to attend the meeting as he has gone overseas last night.

The UNF leaders it is learnt are to request General Fonseka to accept the post of UNF Deputy Leader and contest the next general election by taking the leadership of either the Gampaha, Kurunegala or Galle District.

A group of Army personnel had imprisoned Election Commissioner’s wife and daughter at Water’s Edge on election day

2010-02-04

A senior UNP parliamentarian told Lanka News Web that information has been received that Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanyake’s wife and daughter had been taken to Water’s Edge and kept there by force by a group of Army personnel on election night.

He also said that the Election Commissioner’s daughter had been attacked by the Army personnel when she refused to leave the house.

The parliamentarian said that the incident had taken place around 12.30 a.m. on election night and they had been released at 5 p.m. on the 27th.

The solution to the ethnic issue is to give power to a Tamil leader acceptable to the Sinhalese – Dayan Jayathileka

2010-02-04

A pro-Rajapaksa theoretician, Dayan Jayathileka in an article published in the Tarns Currents website has presented an interesting proposal to solve the ethnic issue.

According to him, the ethnic issue could be solved by giving power to a Tamil leader acceptable to the Sinhalese people. It is not difficult to think of that Tamil leader. Dayan proposes that the power of the North and East be handed over to Douglas Devananda who lost during the Presidential election. Paying a glowing tribute to Rajapaksa and his victory at the Presidential election, Dayan has kept silent about Douglas losing all areas in the North for the President except for Kayts.

CID put on alert over slanderous posters

2010-02-04

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has informed the CID of a plan by certain sections of the opposition to print and paste posters on the President calling him, the “Racket King” (Magadi Raja) and to keep a close watch on it.

The new name, Magadi Raja, is said to be made according to the President’s initials MR.
The Defence Secretary has also told the CID that the poster is being printed by a group of forces personnel angered by the posters against Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka.

Sudden transfer to Welikada OIC and ASP

2010-02-04

Welikada OIC Neville Silva and Welikada ASP Nishantha Soysa have been transferred with immediate effect.
The two police officers are yet to receive in writing the reason for their transfer. Police sources said the transfers have been made due to the unbiased inquiry held by them into the bomb attack on SLFP (M) Wing National Organizer Tiran Alles’ residence and for speaking with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, General Sarath Fonseka and former President Chandrika Kumaratunge when they arrived at Alles’ residence.

The state media continued to say that the bomb attack was planned and carried out to place the government in difficulty. An opposition parliamentarian said that if that were the case, the government should encourage the

Batticaloa cannot be won without killing Sampanthan, Ariyanenthran and Dr. Thomas
Says Presidential Coordinator to the East Iniyabarathi

2010-02-04

A vice president of the SLFP, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman had called a meeting at the Batticaloa Rest House to analyze the reasons behind the defeat of the governing party at the Presidential election.

The meeting was a joint discussion with the participation of the SLFP and the TMVP. However, TMVP Leader and Eastern Province Chief Minister Pillayan and his supporters have walked out of the meeting protesting against the behavior of Karuna Amman and his supporters.

Nil Balakaya receives Corporation chairmanships

2010-02-03

The President has requested chairmen of all statutory corporations boards to resign as he has decided to re-appoint only those who had played an active role in the Presidential election campaign. A senior official at the Presidential Secretariat told Lanka News Web that about 40 persons who are currently serving as chairmen in state institutions may lose their jobs.

The official said that Namal Rajapaksa has already prepared a list of names of persons who could be appointed to head these government institutions. This list also includes the names of 25 Nil Balakaya members.

Elections Commissioner under pressure to call the Presidential election free and fair

2010-02-03

Sources from the Elections Commissioner’s Department said Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has been pressurized by the President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge to call a news conference to claim the Presidential election results have not been altered.

A request made by the Commissioner to go overseas for a short holiday was granted by the President’s Secretary only after he had agreed to hold a press conference. The Commissioner had been granted a short period of leave for four days.

Defence Ministry issues special order on censoring defence news

2010-02-03

Director General of the Media Center for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle has on Tuesday (2) issued a special directive preventing forces chiefs and any other forces personnel from giving comments, interviews to the media and for the media to receive any information regarding promotions or transfers in the security forces without approval.

The statement dated February 1st states that only the military spokesperson and the police spokesperson are entitled to give comments and details to the media.
Hulugalle’s statement also says that written approval from the Defence Secretary was required by media institutions to have interviews with forces personnel and such requests made from the Defence Secretary should first be sent to him.

Dayaseeli back at Lankadeepa following a Presidential directive

2010-02-03

The Sunday Lankadeepa management has decided to re-employ journalist Dayaseeli Liyanage, who resigned after being accused of writing a false news story, following a Presidential directive.

Liyanage decided to call it quits following the controversy that surrounded a story written by her alleging a secret pact between Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka and TNA leader R. Sampanthan. It was later revealed that she had written the false news story following a request made by Sunday Lankadeepa Editor Ariyananda Dombagahawatte.

DO THE POST ELECTION VIOLENCE ACTIVITIES DEPICT THE BRIGT FUTURE OF MR

2010-02-03

Releasing a media notice the president of National Trade Union Centre comrade Lal Kantha states that violence is being released on the opposition party members, by utilizing state media, resources and several thug gangs as the government previously acted, even though 6 days has passed from the date of presidential election.

KANDY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED IGNORING EXPECTATIONS OF CHILDREN

2010-02-03

General Secretary of Lanka Teachers Service Union, Comrade Mahinda Jayasinha disclosed that provincial council of central province has decided to close number of schools including some main schools in Kandy division for two weeks from 28th January to 15th of February for the independent day celebration and ‘Dayata Kirula’ exhibition.

NSLJA express concern on post election violence

2010-02-02

Jayalath Jayawardena reveals how Sarath Gunaratne rigged the poll in Negombo

2010-02-02

UNP parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena has revealed how the government ministers created the necessary environment to rig the Presidential poll by chasing away UNP members and organizers from the counting centers on election day.

Dr. Jayawardena says that after experiencing first hand the government terror unleashed at the counting centers he had lodged a complaint at the police post at the Teacher Training College in Paththala Gedara in the early hours of the morning.

JVP asked not to leave the opposition alliance

2010-02-02

JVP sources said the party leadership was under pressure not to leave the opposition alliance and to continue to fight for democracy together with the joint opposition alliance formed during the Presidential election.

The JVP at the outset of the Presidential election said that although party worked together with the UNF at the Presidential election, it would contest separately at the general election. The party in this backdrop has already commenced discussions with several political parties and organizations to form a separate alliance to contest the general election.

Jackson to contest from Gampaha District and Somaratne to enter parliament through national list

2010-02-02

Sources from the SLFP Headquarters said the President has agreed to allow Jackson Anthony contest the general election from the Gampaha District and to include Somaratne Dissanayake’s name in the national list.

Sources said Fisheries Minister Felix Perera has already objected to the decision to field Jackson Anthony from the Gampaha District at the next general election.

Tobacco Company in a quandary over enhanced revenue without increase in sales

2010-02-02

The Ceylon Tobacco Company’s explanation that the increase in its revenue was not due to an increase in cigarette sales has reportedly backfired.

The Company it is said has been faced with this predicament when trying to respond to a query by the government to show how it earned revenue without increasing its cigarette sales.

The Ceylon Tobacco Company, which is an affiliate of the British American Tobacco Company, has recorded an increase in revenue in 2009 in comparison to 2008 even under the government’s “Mathata Thitha” programme. The Company has recorded a 49% increase in revenue.

The Company has earned a revenue of Rs. 4.1 billion.

IDP children protest in Vavuniya requesting for schools

2010-02-02

Children and parents in IDP camps including displaced persons living outside IDP camps held a protest yesterday (1) outside the Additional Provincial Education Director’s office in Vavuniya requesting for a school for displaced children.
Education authorities earlier decided to stop the evening classes held for children in IDP camps and to allocate Gamini Maha Vidyalaya in Vavuniya to the displaced children from February 1.

The protest was held yesterday due to the inability of education authorities to make the necessary arrangements at Gamini Maha Vidyalaya for the displaced children to commence their education work from the 1st as decided earlier.

Sri Lankan lawyers in Australia take General Sarath Fonseka’s problems before the International Human Right Commission

2010-02-02

Sri Lankan lawyers residing in Australia are reportedly planning to take the harassment meted out against General Sarath Fonseka by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa before the International Human Rights Commission.

A lawyer from the group told Lanka News Web that a copy of the complaint has been handed over to the head of the international tribunal Hisashi Oveda.

14 Senior Army Officers are sent on Compulsory Leave - Charges : Supporting a conspiracy against the Government

2010-02-02

Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse has ordered to send senior Army Officers on compulsory leave with effect from yesterday (01st February 2010). The charge against these officers is aiding a conspiracy against the Government.

There are five officers in the rank of Major General, Five Brigadiers, Two Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels and two Captains among the group of officers who are sent on Compulsory Leave. This is the first time in the history of Sri Lankan Army, such a large number of officers are sent home in one go.

Sri Lanka: End post election clampdown on dissent - Amnesty International

2010-02-02

Amnesty International today called on the government of Sri Lanka to immediately end its crackdown on journalists, political activists and human rights defenders after last week’s presidential election.

Opposition supporters and journalists have been arrested, several prominent newspaper editors have received death threats and trade unionists and opposition supporters have been harassed following the election.

Marked Ballot Papers found in a Garbage Dump in Ratnapura

2010-02-02

Lanka News Web exclusively report the finding of a large heap of marked ballot papers favouring General Sarath Fonseka in a garbage dump near the Technical College in Ratnapura. UNP Member of Parliament Thalatha Athukorala reported this incident to our web site a few hours ago. She has found a large number of marked ballot papers being set on fire at this dump.

The best find in the catch is that more than 60% of the ballot papers taken into the MP’s hands are marked in favour of General Sarath Fonseka. All these ballot papers bear the signature and the official stamp of the officials who conducted the Presidential Election on the 26th January. It was also noted that the election officials have

CJA CONDEMNS TREATMENT OF JOURNALISTS IN SRI LANKA

2010-02-02

The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) is deeply concerned at the disappearance of Sri Lankan journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda and appalled that Sri Lanka's 'democratic' government continues to persecute journalists for committing the 'sin' of criticizing the ruling party.

Ranil to be Prime Ministerial candidate and General to become Deputy Leader of UNF

2010-02-01

A senior UNP parliamentarian told Lanka News Web that the UNF leadership has decided to field UNF Leader and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the alliance at the general election and General Sarath Fonseka is to be appointed as the Deputy Leader of the UNF.

The parliamentarian said that although the General was asked in an unofficial level to join the UNP and accept the post of National Organizer, General Fonseka had expressed his desire to join the UNF with the party he contested the Presidential election, the New Democratic Front.

Massive rally on the 3rd against the fraudulent Presidential election

2010-02-01

The joint opposition has decided to hold a massive rally on the 3rd at 3 p.m. at Hyde Park in Colombo against the allegedly rigged Presidential election. The rally is being organized by opposition parties and members who supported Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka.

A UNP parliamentarian said the rallies would also be held island wide as well. He said the Opposition Leader was also in the process of garnering the support of other political parties and organizations supportive of safeguarding democracy in the country for the planned protest campaign.

JVP to form new alliance to contest the general election

2010-02-01

JVP sources said the party was looking at forming a new political alliance headed by the JVP to contest the next general election and the party’s central committee is scheduled to meet shortly to make a final decision on the matter.

However, no decision has been made on the symbol of the alliance, which is expected to include many multi ethnic parties and intellectuals.

UNF appoints people’s commission to inquire into Basil’s poll rigging

2010-02-01

UNP sources said the Opposition Leader has decided to appoint a people’s commission to gather information about the alleged alteration of Presidential election results with the intervention of Basil Rajapaksa and to take the necessary legal action with the findings.

Sources said that most information related to the rigging of the polls has already been received. It is also being alleged that the help of several Indian IT and communications experts had also been sought to rig the polls.

The UNP is planning to inquire from the Elections Commissioner as to why the IT Department of the Colombo University was not used to enter election results into computers and why it was handed over to another company.

Post Election Challenge for Country

2010-02-01

President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a second term at the Presidential Election of Janumary 26 with an unexpectedly big majority although this election result has been called into question by the main opposition candidate, General Sarath Fonseka. The election results telecast by the state media as they stand demonstrate a schism in the thinking and expectations of the ethnic minorities and ethnic majority populations.

President Rajapaksa obtained a smaller proportion of votes in the North, East and central hills where Tamils and Muslims predominate and also in the capital city of Colombo where the proportion of Tamils and Muslims is high.

Sri Lanka’s Malays want more political space on the island

2010-02-01

In Sri Lanka’s ethnic cocoon, the minority Malay population is searching for more political space to voice their socio-economic rights.

An estimated 50,000 Malays, mostly descending from the Indonesian archipelago and southern Malaysia, are the minorities among the minorities in the country’s 20 million population.

In postwar Sri Lanka, the Malays are worried their social-political mobility would be stifled without proper political representation in the island’s multi-ethnic make-up, as a bulk are still in the economically-backward segment.

Wimal and Nil Balakaya preparing to control the opposition

2010-02-01

Wimal Weerawansa it is learnt has been assigned to justify the operation launched by the governing party to control the opposition after the presidential election.

Wimal has been given full access to state media to carry out this task.

The operation is said to have been launched due to the inability of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s supporters to control opposition supporters due to a directive issued by the IGP preventing political processions from taking place for a period of one week before the election.

The operation it is also learnt is also targeting the general election.

Over 64,000 British Tamils say yes to Tamil Eelam

2010-02-01

The British Tamil Diaspora overwhelmingly endorsed the principle of Tamil Eelam in two days of polling this weekend. With over 64,000 votes cast, over 99% voted in favour of an independent and separate state of Tamil Eelam.

British Tamils were asked if they endorsed the principles contained in the Vadukkoddai Resolution that was first put to a democratic mandate in 1977. In that historic election the Tamil polity in Sri Lanka voted overwhelmingly for an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam in the traditional Tamil homelands.

Election result is the biggest ever unpatriotic crime – Bahu

2010-02-01

Common Left Candidate Vickramabahu Karunaratne called the declared result of the presidential election in Sri Lanka as the biggest ever betrayal of the country.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on Sunday, Dr. Vickramabahu said that the result has been manipulated using sophisticated computer technology to show the world that the Sinhala electorate is totally racist and against any agreement, while the Tamils are not prepared to work alongside the Sinhalese. He said that the spread of variance in the declared result appears unnatural.

MEDIA MATTERS: Time for an independent press?

2010-02-01

Take immediate action to stop post election violence – Tissa Attanayake

2010-02-01

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has requested the President to stop any attempt to harass and prevent employees attached to government departments, corporations and state media institutions from being engaged in their work as part of the post election violence that is being carried out in the country unabated.

In the letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Attanayake has alleged that pro opposition employees of government institutions such as Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority were to be prevented from reporting for work and were to be harassed in various ways when they report to work on the 1st after the weekend.

UNP Deputy Leader’s security removed

2010-02-01

The 18 strong security contingent provided to UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya has been reduced to four and his back up vehicles have also been withdrawn with immediate effect.

A source from the Opposition Leader’s office said that Jayasuriya played a key role in the opposition candidate’s election campaign by also expressing views to local and foreign media and has therefore earned the wrath of the governing party.

Former Chief Justice gets death threats

2010-02-01

Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva who extended his support to Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka is reportedly facing a threat to his security due to several anonymous death threats received by him over the telephone and several unidentified persons roaming around his residence.

It is also learnt that several government ministers have requested the former Chief Justice to go overseas for protection since the government has launched a campaign to destroy opposition activists with the help of various paramilitary groups.

Brigadier Manawadu who handled operation “Trans Asia” was punished by the General

2010-02-01

It was one Brigadier Manawadu who commanded the battalion of troops that surrounded the Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel, formerly the Trans Asia, where opposition political leaders stayed on the night of the election.

Brigadier Manawadu was punished by then Army Commander Sarath Fonseka for giving wrong orders to his troops in Mullaitivu during the Eelam War IV which resulted in the death of 117 soldiers. He was transferred to the Army Headquarters in Colombo as punishment by Fonseka. He had since then harbored anger towards Fonseka. The Defence Secretary, who was aware of this situation, had used the

Protecting Democracy Post-Election: An end to political violence and revenge

2010-02-01

A series of recent events connected to the presidential election last week give rise to extremely serious concerns about the state of democracy in Sri Lanka today. The campaign period, the election and its aftermath were marred by unprecedented disregard for the Constitution and the law, resulting in not only violence and large-scale abuse of public resources, but also in setting a number of disquieting precedents with regard to the respect for constitutional authority and democratic values.

ARCHIVE DECEMBER




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