Step motherly treatment for the President in India
2011-04-03
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who visited India to witness the finals of the Cricket World Cup, has not received a welcome extended to a head of state, it is learnt.
Sri Lankan team’s defeat stops the media campaign to uplift the President’s image
2011-04-03
The massive media campaign planned by the state media and several private media loyal to the government had to uplift the images of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in the event the Sri Lankan cricket team won the World Cup finals had to be stopped following the team’s defeat.
Angered by the defeat of the Sri Lanka cricket team at the 2011 World Cup finals, the President had called several state media heads last night and had ordered them to commence a mud slinging campaign against the players and officials who were responsible for the defeat, an official from the Government Information Department told Lanka News Web.
Director General of the Media Center for National Security (MCNS), Lakshman Hulugalle has been appointed to the board of directors of one of the leading private banks in the country, Commercial Bank, as the government representative.
The editor of Lanka E News Bennet Rupasinghe was arrested by the police on March 31, 2011 and denied bail till his next court appearance on April 8, 2011. This website has been under severe attack for over a year. The arrest of the editor follows an arson attack against the office of the website that destroyed its equipment in January this year. One of its reporters, Prageeth Eknaligoda has been missing for over one year now with the police completely failing to make any progress in the matter.
Appointment of UNP’s National Organizer delayed till the 6th
2011-04-03
The UNP’s Consultative Committee has decided on the 1st to delay the appointment of the party’s new National Organizer till the 6th. The Consultative Committee is to hold a special meeting that day to decide only on the post and the Working Committee is scheduled to meet that evening, sources from Sirikotha said.
Hiding behind a cricket mad nation
Government increases fuel and gas prices
2011-04-03
The government increased the prices of fuel and gas with effect from April 1 while Sri Lankans were focused on the World Cup Cricket final between Sri Lanka and India.
Agrarian Services Minister S.M. Chandrasena has reportedly asked the Agrarian Services Department to limit the fertilizer given to paddy framers for each acre of cultivated land.
Secret discussions between Magistrate and Police the day before Bennet’s arrest
2011-04-02
Kaduwela Magistrate Jayaki de Alwis had agreed to the arrest of LankaeNews News Editor Bennet Rupasinghe the day before his arrest, on March 30th, a senior official from the Attorney General’s Department told Lanka News Web.
MP Sri Ranga’s accident
Attempt to place the blame on the dead Sergeant
2011-04-02
There is an attempt to place the blame of the accident involving MP Sri Ranga in Vavauniya on the parliamentarian’s dead security officer, sources from the Police Headquarters said. Sri Ranga was elected to parliament from the UNP and later joined the government after supporting the 18th Amendment.
Fonseka’s private secretary released after spending 418 days in remand
2011-04-02
High Court Judge Deepali Wijesundera has ordered the release of Sarath Fonseka’s private secretary, Senaka Silva, who has been in remand for 418 days since February 8, 2010.
Ravi to be given UNP National Organizer post
Madduma Bandara to get a senior post
2011-04-02
The UNP Leader has decided to propose the name of Ravi Karunanayake to the post of National Organizer and Ranjith Madduma Bandara to another senior post when the Advisory Committee meets next week, sources from Sirikotha said.
The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission LLRC) visited Ampara on March 25 as a part
of their last outstation session. The Commission also visited Buttala, Siyambalanduwa and Kalmunei
in the following days. Immediately after their return it was announced that the LLRC had stopped
public sittings and will focus on preparing the final report which is to be handed over to the president
by May 15th, 2011.
