Nov 7 (Island) Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said that she hopes President Sirisena would convene Parliament as soon as possible to resolve the current crisis in the country. "Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland today noted the decision by President Sirisena to reconvene Parliament on 14 Nov 2018. Secretary-General Scotland emphasized the importance of the role of Parliament as provided for under the constitution and expressed hope more..

Nov 7 (CT) Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya is getting flack from democratic minded Sri Lankans all over the country for failing to act to end an ever deepening political crisis caused by President Maithripala Sirisena‘s illegal sacking of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Colombo Telegraph reliably learns that the third citizen of the nation and head of the country’s legislature is facing a major mutiny by Parliament staff led by more..

Nov 7 (DM) From the day President Maithripala Sirisena unseated PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to replace him with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the country is fast drifting towards anarchy and a dangerous situation is in the making. The statement by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Monday that he had been compelled to recognize the previous status quo in Parliament until the new faction in the fray shows its majority in the Parliament has intensified the tense situation. more..

Nov 7 (DM) With the progress of time, man has become progressively selfish!!! It is time we started thinking in terms of WE not I, the selfishness of our time has reached gigantic proportions and the reason is that we prosper in our ignorance or we think we do!!! It is only the truth that can set us free; the acceptance that we come with nothing, we go with nothing so why all this traitorous scurry to HEAP THINGS, to AMASS WEALTH, POSITIONS, POWER, MONEY, millions and more more..

Nov 7 (ST) A final decision on the seating arrangement for the first sitting date of the new session of Parliament is yet to be taken, but Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to be allocated the seat which was previously occupied by Mahinda Rajapaksa in the opposition benches of the House. Mr. Rajapaksa is to be allocated the seat of PM in Parliament after Speaker Karu Jayasuirya decided to recognise him on the grounds that more..

Nov 7 (ST) There are much deliberations at high places by many experts to find a solution to the carnage that is taking place on the rail tracks, while wild elephants succumb to gruesome deaths at an alarmingly rapid rate. In typical Sri Lankan style there are committees appointed to study and report on the issues, (when the facts are too well known) and then when the report is submitted it will gather dust on some more..

Nov 7 (AD) A problematic situation has reportedly arisen at the Chilaw District General Hospital as a result of the deaths of three newborn babies and a maternal death all within the span of just 10 days. This situation has caused fears and a panic among patients who are receiving treatment at the Chilaw Hospital. Acting Director of the hospital Dr. L. Poddalgoda stated that 3 neonatal deaths and a maternal death within 10 days more..

Nov 7 (AD) Members of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) held a meeting with Prez Sirisena, this morning. This discussion was joined by MPs Mano Ganesan, Palani Digambaran, Radha Krishnan, Velu Kumar, Mayilvahanam Thilakaraj and Aravinda Kumar. Commenting to the media, they stated that the discussion was held upon the invitation from Prez. MP Ganesan stated that the discussions went cordially and more..

Nov 7 (CT) A single crossover is envisaged from the ACMC despite the rest of the party giving their fullest support to the ousted Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. This comes in the wake of crossovers from both sides of the divide to make up the required numbers when Parliament is expected to meet shortly to decide whether or not the Premier would ousted Premier Wickremesinghe or the sitting PM Mahinda Rajapakasa. more..

Nov 7 (NR) Private bus unions have decided to reduce bus fares by 2% from midnight tomorrow. The decision was arrived at following a round of talks between members of the All Island Private Bus Owners Federation and officials attached to the National Transportation Commission. The Federation said the minimum bus fare will however remain unchanged. Secretary of the Federation Anjana Priyanjith noted more..

Nov 7 (TN) The University of Kang Ning has been reprimanded by the Ministry of Education for allowing over 40 of its Sri Lankan students to work in slaughterhouses in Taipei and Tainan. Sri Lankan students currently studying at Kang Ning said that, at the end of last year, senior officials from the university, travel agents, and govt officials from Sri Lanka went to seven or eight high schools in their hometown to give presentations more..

Nov 7 (Island) Colombo District UNP MP Mujibur Rahman said that Prez Sirisena shouldn’t have made clandestine moves to change the premiership early this year. The UNPer said that such endeavours weren’t acceptable to any political party under any circumstances. Rahman was responding to President Sirisena’s claim that he had no option but to invite JO leader Mahinda Rajapaksa in the wake of both Speaker Karu Jayasuriya more..

Nov 7 (CT) Controversy has been brewing over the So Sri Lanka campaign unveiled by the SL Tourism Promotion Bureau at the World Travel Mart (WTM) in London last week. Many on social media have expressed disdain for the slogan, arguing that so Sri Lanka is an incomplete sentence, void of context and meaning. Others have asked how something as colloquial as so Sri Lanka could be used in an int'l more..

Nov 7 (EN) SL's newly appointed Cabinet has asked the finance ministry to find a solution to estate worker demands for higher pay without overly burdening the economy. "I have asked Ministers Arumugam Thondaman (Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development) and Suresh Vadivel (State Minister of Plantation Industries) to submit proposals to S.R. Attygalle (Treasury Secretary)," more..

Nov 7 (CT) Prez Sirisena after first sacking his PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on 26 October and appointing former President and UPFA MP Mahinda Rajapaksa in his stead, prorogued Parliament till next Thursday (15), calling for its new session to start next Friday (16). But due to protests, on Sunday he issued a new proclamation, reconvening Parliament two days earlier over the previous date set, next Wednesday (14). Meanwhile, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Monday said that more..

Nov 7 (DN) The appointment of PM Mahinda Rajapaksa by President Maithripala Sirisena complies fully with the Constitution, Bar Association of SL President U. R. De Silva, PC, said. The BASL President while stressing that the statement made by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is unconstitutional said the President enjoys the exclusive power with regard to the prorogation and reconvening of Parliament. It can also be dissolved after four and a half years under the Constitution. more..

Nov 7 (FT) It is ironic that the rally to guard a glory of the land gathered in plain sight of the empty grandeur of Parliament. For days before that, and since the presidential coup which undemocratically replaced one prime minister with another, irate protestors had demanded that their Chief Executive summon Parliament to demonstrate his case. But rather than prove his point with relative ease, by convening the House – a simple expedient that could easily canvass more..

Nov 7 (AD) Former DIG Nalaka de Silva, who was arrested by CID over VIP assassination allegations, has been further remanded till Nov 21. DIG Nalaka de Silva, former Director of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), is currently under investigation in connection with an alleged conspiracy to assassinate the President and the former Defense Secretary. He was previously summoned to the CID on 18th, 19th, 22nd and 23rd Oct to record statements with regard to more..

Nov 7 (DM) UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, who confirmed that Prez Sirisena had invited him to take over the PM Post, said that he would not accept it even if Prez made another request, but would work towards settling the present crisis. “The President asked me to take over the Premiership but I declined as my sole objective was to see the Yahapalana Govt continued with the leadership of Mr Sirisena and Ranil more..

Nov 7 (AD) A sudden power failure has occurred at the immigration emigration premises at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). Reportedly, the power has not returned since its failure at around 11.30 am this morning (07). Although electricity generators have been utilized provide power, the computers systems have not been restored yet. As a result, operations of the immigration and emigration have been disrupted, a BIA spokesperson told Ada Derana. more..

Nov 7 (AD) IGP Pujith Jayasundara issuing a statement stated that he cannot provide earlier numbers of security for former Prime Minister and Ministers as requested by the former Minister of Law and Order. He stated that the written request of the former minster calling for Ministerial security for former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and former ministers is invalid. Police Department operates only under the orders of the President of the country, he points out. more..

Nov 7 (CI) England have never won a Test in Galle - they haven't won a Test away from home anywhere for two years - but, two days into this game, they have an excellent opportunity to put both those issues right. It would be simplistic to suggest that Ben Foakes has earned them their dominant position over Sri Lanka. Simplistic but not untrue. For at the heart of almost everything good about this England performance to date has been more..

Nov 7 (DM) The vehicle in which former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and his wife were travelling met with an accident at Denagama in Hakmana this morning, the Police said. They said the vehicle, which collided with a land-master hand-tractor, veered off the road and crashed into a wayside tree. Police said Mr Rajapaksa and his wife escaped unhurt and the land-master driver, who was injured, was admitted to the Walasmulla Hospital. The driver of the jeep was taken into custody. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has called President Maithripala Sirisena’s sacking of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to bring former president Mahinda Rajapaksa back to power a non-violent coup, Reuters reported on Wednesday. “The entire series of events can only be described as a coup, albeit one without the use of tanks and guns,” Speaker Jayasuriya has said in a letter dated November 5 to diplomats and foreign missions, adding the entire matter was pre-planned. more..

Nov 7 (Island) TNA and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan yesterday told new US Ambassador to SL Alaina B. Teplitz that the previous govt had not sufficiently addressed the issues faced by the Tamil people. He made those remarks when Ambassador Teplitz met Sampanthan at his residence. Sampanthan highlighted issues pertaining to political prisoners, resettlement, and rehabilitation, lands held by armed forces, more..

Nov 7 (EN) Chinese-run Hambantota port on the south coast has got new equipment designed to haul heavy cargo that will improve efficiencies. The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), which operates the port, made an investment of over 600,000 US dollars to further develop the operations of the Hambantota port. The new equipment includes the purchase of 40-foot Ro-Ro (roll on-roll off) trailers designed to allow efficient maneuverability and break-bulk lifting gear. more..

Nov 7 (AD) Dense fog that was spurred by prevailing rainfall in the western slopes of central hills is reported to be causing disruption to traffic on the road. Accordingly, vehicular movement from Kitulgala to Nuwara Eliya on the Hatton-Colombo main road had been hindered since 3.00 pm last evening up until this morning. The police have advised the motorists to drive cautiously at a low speed, with headlights turned on, as the dense fog reduces the visibility along the road. more..

Nov 7 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena should apologize to the LGBTQI+ community over his remark made at Govt’s rally on Monday in Colombo where he said he was promoting homophobia and public incitement of homophobic hatred. Members of the Sri Lankan LGBTQI+ community categorically condemned President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement made at Govt’s rally in Colombo saying he was promoting more..

Nov 7 (DN) “President has acted in compliance with the Constitution and he has exclusive authority to prorogue parliament,” former Minister and MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said. Yapa said that Galle district MP Manusha Nanayakkara seems to have forgotten about presidential powers on proroguing parliament, when he was sworn in as Deputy Labour and Foreign Employment Minister. He said Prez Sirisena appointed former President Rajapaksa as the PM and the entire country endorsed more..

Nov 7 (CT) State Minister of Plantation Industries Suresh Wadiwel yesterday said that contrary to the slanders on Facebook he had taken the decision to pledge his allegiance to the newly appointed Premier to help work for the betterment of his people in Badulla and all plantation workers. Addressing the Media at the PM’s Office in Colombo, Vadivel observed that one could work towards the betterment of the people only if he or she represented the ruling party. more..

Nov 7 (EN) Former prez Mahinda Rajapakse’s Party fired the first salvo against Prez Sirisena, saying his move had crippled the country and demanded that parliament be summoned immediately. Kumar Welgama, a former minister in Rajapaksa’s cabinet, said Sirisena had made SL the butt-end of jokes around the world and the issue of the PM should be resolved through the legislature. "Our country is going down the precipice. more..

Nov 7 (Island) A Tamil living in Switzerland has sent a letter of demand to MP Mangala Samaraweera seeking Rs. 10 billion for falsely accusing him of being a member of the LTTE. He has alleged that Samaraweera displayed his photo at a media briefing stating that he was a LTTE cadre. Logeswaran Dharmalingam has sent this letter to Samaraweera via a local law firm. Logeswaran has been living in Italy for a long time and when PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, then MP, visited Italy more..

Nov 7 (NR) A delegation of the TNA comprising of Leader of the TNA R. Sampanthan, MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan, MP D. Siddaarthan, MP M.A.Sumanthiran, on the invitation of Prez Sirisena met with him at the Prez Secretariat, today. The said meeting lasted one and half hours. Situation currently prevailing in the country had been discussed at length, at the meeting. Prez had explained to the TNA delegation the circumstances under which certain decisions were made. more..

Nov 7 (DM) UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra today alleged that a person had called her aunt, who was residing abroad and had threatened to put an end to her political career if she failed to accept a Ministerial portfolio. Ms Premachnadra told a media briefing that her aunt had told the caller that she would not accept any portfolio. “My aunt had told the caller that her niece cannot be bought over. more..

Nov 7 (CG) UNP today warned Prez Sirisena against dissolving Parliament. There is speculation the Prez may dissolve Parliament and go for snap elections. Former Minister, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that if Parliament is dissolved it will be an undemocratic act and the public will rise up against it. “This is not just an issue involving politicians. It is an issue involving the country. If the Prez puts the Constitution aside and dissolves Parliament the public will protest against it,” more..

Nov 7 (CT) Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has decided to go ahead and put the No Confidence Motion against illegal PM Mahinda Rajapaksa when Parliament reconvenes on 14 November in spite of strong objections raised by UPFA representatives at the Party Representatives meeting on Wednesday evening. The UPFA insisted at the meeting that on the 14th of November Parliament will only hold a ceremonial sitting and adjourn for the day as per parliamentary tradition. more..

Nov 7 (AD) Several new Cabinet Ministers have been sworn in before Prez Sirisena today at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. Accordingly, former Speaker and UPFA MP Chamal Rajapaksa has been appointed as the Health Minister while Pavithra Wanniarachchi is the new Petroleum Minister. UPFA MP S.B. Dissanayake has been sworn in as the Minister of Highways and Road Development. more..

Nov 8 (CT) Sri Lanka has reached a cross road. The parliament has been prorogued because president Maithripala Sirisena did not like an elected PM, Ranil Wickremesinghe. He has appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as interim prime minister in whose previous cabinet MS served before betraying MR. In between MS-MR re-marriage and divorcee RW, the third dignitary, the speaker of the parliament speaker, Karu Jayasuriya is facing a mutiny from his officials in support of the reunited couple. more..

Nov 8 (GV) Citizens of SL should heed this warning to the framers of the US constitution. SL Presidency was, until recently, a fixed executive, not dependent or answerable to parliament and not removable except for limited reasons. Head of the State, the Head of the Executive and of the Govt, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. With the power to appoint higher officials, SC judges, Police Commissioner, Elections Commissioner it was, essentially an elected monarch. more..