Jan 15 (CT) Overseas travel restrictions would eventually be placed, by President Maithripala Sirisena, on top Cabinet Ministers of the previous govt, who are presently with NDF govt, until investigations into corruption conclude, SLMC said. National Organizer of SLMC, Shafeeq Rajabdeen said that those who were from the previous regime themselves knew that they would indeed undergo a process of cleansing if at all. more..

Jan 15 (AM) Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, his son MP Kanaka Herath and several other members of his family arrived at the BIA this morning to leave for Dubai. Some MPs of the govt had already charged that the Chief Minister was involved in alleged financial misappropriations and it should be investigated. Govt previously said that it had alerted the airport authorities to prevent people from bribery more..

Jan 15 (DM) In its handling of the country’s foreign policy, the new Govt has decided to look afresh at the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL), a deputy minister said. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ajith P. Perera said that he and Minister Mangala Samaraweera discussed this matter soon after assuming duties on Tuesday. “We have to prioritize our engagement with this investigation process. more..

Jan 15 (AM) SLFP sources said former President Rajapaksa has agreed to hand over the Chairmanship of the SLFP to incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena. Former President Rajapaksa had told party seniors that he would hand over the position to President Sirisena to avoid a split in the party. UPFA MPs were strongly divided following the presidential election with one group supporting President Sirisena and more..

Jan 15 (AP) They came to hear him, to see him. They came from mansions in Colombo, from concrete apartment buildings in Kandy, from little villages in the hills of Sri Lanka. And how could they not come? To the faithful, Pope Francis is the Vicar of Christ, the successor to St. Peter, the embodiment of the Catholic Church and everything it stands for. So more than anything, the estimated 800,000 people who saw him in Sri Lanka more..

Jan 15 (NS) The new Sri Lankan govt under President Maithripala Sirisena is to release the remaining 15 Indian fishermen from Puducherry on humanitarian grounds with the advent of the Thai Pongal festival, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The Ministry also noted there were also 87 boats of Indian fishermen which have been detained in instances over a period of time, and are presently in Sri Lankan judicial custody. more..

Jan 15 (CT) Since the last budget politics was given precedence over the daily needs of the masses with politicians in the previous govt focusing on the presidential election held on 08 January. Former Trade Minister, Johnston Fernando, was more busy organizing election activities, while the cost of living was spiralling. Prices have skyrocketed and the people cannot purchase essential items for their daily food. A new govt has been installed and the people await relief. more..

Jan 15 (CT) My profound thanks to Prof. Susirith Mendis for his critical observations on the appointment of the new PM and his Cabinet. My thanks also to him for his kind, and ideologically accurate, mention of me. His critical lucidity is no surprise to me given not only his own heavyweight academic credentials but also the intellectual tradition of which his late father LNT Mendis and his father-in-law Godfrey Gunatilleke were/are such stellar exemplars. more..

Jan 15 (Island) The GMOA accused a rival doctors’ union of spreading rumours on the implementation of the National Wage Policy by the new govt. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Navin de Soysa said that in accordance with the contents of the National Wage Policy introduced in 2006 all professionals including doctors should be given 4.25 ratio. The former President Rajapaksa had vividly mentioned in his 2015 budget speech that 4.25 ratio would be implemented. more..

Jan 15 (AM) A protest was launched yesterday at Maha-Oya town in Ampara against the new govt, alleging that the good governance and rule of law has actually collapsed. The immediate reason for the protest was the assaulting of the Deputy Chairman of the Maha-Oya Pradeshiya Sabha WM Wimalasena. Eastern Province Education Minister Samaraweera Dissanayake has told media that while the Deputy Chairman was still in hospital, the alleged attacker has been released after more..

Jan 15 (CI) Sri Lanka sauntered to their first victory of the New Zealand tour, after Dilshan hit a breezy 116 off 127 balls on a fine batting surface at Seddon Park. The six-wicket win had been forged by the spin bowlers - Dilshan among them - who delivered 37 overs between them, and by NZ's several indiscretions between the wickets. A target of 249 never looked a testing on a pitch that offered little in the way of seam or turn, more..

Jan 15 (DNA) “Ethnic cleansing may help you win a war, not an election.” This Facebook post by a senior journalist in Chennai is a reflection of the sentiment among sections of the intelligentsia in Tamil Nadu after the change of guard in Sri Lanka. The almost triumphant mockery at Mahinda Rajapaksa's defeat, flowing from the angst over the killing of innocent Tamils by an oppressive Rajapakse regime, that was emboldened post its decimation of the LTTE, was expected. more..

Jan 15 (NP) Pope Francis came to canonize this island nation’s first saint, but talk of miracles this past week has been more focused on the otherwise iniquitous world of Sri Lankan politics. Last week’s presidential election produced a major upset, with challenger Maithripala Sirisena defeating the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had ruled since 2005 in an increasingly authoritarian manner, centralizing power in the president’s office and within his family. more..

Jan 15 (CG) SLFP National Organiser and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has resigned from the post of SLFP National Organiser after accepting full responsibility for the defeat of President Rajapaksa. Basil Rajapksa led the UPFA Presidential Election campaign. Informing his decision in a letter to SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Basil Rajapaksa has stated that he will continue to function as a UPFA more..

Jan 15 (CI) It has been said that in the DRS age, large strides are no longer a defence against being given out lbw. But if you've got limbs as long as Daniel Vettori's, a big step down the pitch can still save you. Jeevan Mendis straightened a legbreak on middle stump to hit Vettori well below the knee roll in the 33rd over, before umpire Ian Gould turned down the appeal. Sri Lanka opted to review it, and were hopeful when the projection suggested the ball would hit the middle stump, more..

Jan 15 (DM) President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed former senior civil servants Austin Fernando, Tilak Ranaviraja and W.J.S. Karunaratne as Presidential Advisors. Austin Fernando, a senior Administrative Service officer was a former Secretary to the Defence Ministry. Tilak Ranavirajah was also a senior administrative officer who held several important positions in the govt as well as international organisations was secretary to the Public Security, Media, Health more..

Jan 15 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's newly elected leader, Maithripala Sirisena, appointed international banker Arjuna Mahendran as head of the central bank, with immediate effect, govt said. Mahendran, an Oxford-educated graduate, has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry across Asia, serving in both private companies and public sector bodies. He holds an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and more..

Jan 15 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena has advised armed forces chiefs to act fast to release private lands that have no security concerns in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, Defence Ministry Secretary, B.M.U.D. Basnayake disclosed. Basnayake said the tri-forces Commanders had already appointed a committee in that regard and work was underway to ascertain the legitimate land owners of those areas. He said President had advised him and the three Commanders more..

Jan 15 (AM) Pope Francis met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at Vatican Embassy. Pope Francis was first invited to visit Sri Lanka by former President Rajapaksa. Although he was invited to welcome the Pope at Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday by the new govt, former President was not present at the event. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who met Pope Francis more..

Jan 15 (CG) A prominent Sri Lankan diplomat and former Foreign Secretary H M G S Palihakkara has been appointed as the Governor of the Northern Province. The new Govt has appointed a non-military civil servant as the Governor of the North. Palihakkara replaces Major General (Retd) GA Chandrasiri. The TNA had been calling for the removal of Chandrasiri as Governor. Palihakkara was former Permanent more..

Jan 15 (FT) Pope Francis rounded off his two-day trip to Sri Lanka on Wednesday by visiting a jungle shrine in the island’s battle-scarred north, delivering a further gentle nudge to its new govt to move ahead with reconciliation, stalled since the conclusion of the island’s civil war in 2009. The pontiff’s arrival has brought unusual attention to the plight of Sri Lanka’s minorities, and in particular its downtrodden Tamils, who comprise roughly a tenth of the population. Separatist Tamil guerrillas waged a savage more..

Jan 15 (Island) NFF led by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa accused new President Sirisena of already having taken a step to remove governor of Northern Province Maj. Gen. (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri to fulfil the promises he had given to pro-LTTE TNA. NFF Spokesman Mohammed Muzammil said that according to their sources the President had already asked the governor to resign and was scheduled to be appoint a former secretary of a ministry as the Northern governor. more..

Jan 15 (DM) JHU National organiser Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe today said that PHU General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila should pay back the Rs.100 which he collected from the people. While protesting in front of Udaya Gammanpila’s office, he said that now the JHU had seen how he betrayed the people and the party by going against the its policies. Mr. Gammanpila had requested the public to give him Rs. 100 each for his more..

Jan 15 (DM) Western Provincial Council today said the appointment of UNP Provincial Councillor Harin Fernando as the new Uva Chief Minister was against the Constitution. WPC Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said they had informed the Western Province Governor not to proceed with the method used in Uva to appoint another Chief Minister to the Western Province without a written notice from the UPFA. Councillor Udaya Gammanpila said according to Constitution, more..

Jan 15 (CG) US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal is to have talks with the SL Ambassador to the U.S. Prasad Kariyawasam, at the Department of State. US State Department said that the meeting will take place this evening US time. This will be the first high level meeting between the US and Sri Lanka after President Maithripala Sirisena won the Presidential election last week. Assistant Secretary Biswal is to also attend a reception at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, in Washington, D.C today more..

Jan 15 (CG) The new Sri Lankan Govt says it wants to strengthen ties with China and continue to invite Chinese investments into the country. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wu Jianghao that the new Sri Lankan Govt will give priority to enhancing ties with China. He recalled that SL and China have maintained a strong bond over several years and he hopes that relationship will continue. more..

Jan 15 (CG) British Govt says it is ready to work with President Maithripala Sirisena and welcomed his early commitment to good governance and to working with all international partners. Lord Wallace of Saltaire, the spokesperson in the Lords for the Cabinet Office and Whip responsible for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, told the House of Lords, that he hopes the new Govt, as they get under way, will take a more generous approach to the UN investigations on Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 15 (Xinhua) Pope Francis concluded his two-day visit to Sri Lanka on Thursday and was seen off by President Maithripala Sirisena before he left for the Philippines, an official said. The President presented the Pope with an album containing the photos of his tour in Sri Lanka as a memento, an official said. Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit the former war torn northern region of SL when he conducted a sermon on Wednesday to bless thousands and call for reconciliation. more..

Jan 15 (CG) After announcing a red card against Sri Lankan imports of seafood in October, based on a lack of work towards fighting IUU, the EU this week begins its ban. It is thought he European Commission’s ban on fishery products could affect imports worth around €74 million a year; the EU imported 7,400 metric tons of fishery products from Sri Lanka in 2013. In particular, ban is likely to be problematic for importers of fresh swordfish more..

Jan 15 (DM) UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday revealed that he was the person who made a phone call during a political programme telecast live on a private television channel under the identity ‘Matara Sunil’. A caller identifying himself as ‘Matara Sunil’ phoned the television station and alleged that the then Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was involved in fraud and corruption. Mr. Aluthgamage complained to the Mirihana Police after the incident. more..

Jan 15 (LT) An attempt to destroy a large stock of files containing information on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa, Rohitha Abeygunawardene and former PM D.M. Jayaratna’s Ministry of Buddha Sasana has been prevented by JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi and the stock of files was handed over to the police say reports. Mr. Handunneththi has rushed to Sethsiripaya today on getting information regarding the attempt to more..

Jan 15 (DM) LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said they would not allow extortionists to solicit bribes from bus operators. He said they would request the President, Prime Minister and Defense Secretary to set up a special police unit to nab extortionists operating throughout the country. “We request the extortionists to stop soliciting bribes from bus operators. We are discussing this matter with the authorities. more..

Jan 16 (CT) If Sri Lanka saw the first ‘Bloodless Revolution’ in April 1956, she saw her second in January 2015. Temple Trees was ‘stormed’ on 8 Jan and ‘royalty’ fled on the 9th. The flight was not without a try with a sinister stratagem that failed. Even after the regime is displaced, the dynasty lingers on. Jim Corbett the hunter of man eating tigers of Kumaon, India says “A tiger is not dead till it is skinned”. After a regime is supplanted, its structure requires to be dismantled. more..

Jan 16 (TI) Mahinda Rajapaksa's pardon to five Indian fishermen on death row in November had earned him PM Narendra Modi's good wishes for an election he eventually lost. Rajapaksa's successor as Sri Lankan President has now ordered the release of 15 other fishermen and signalled that the gesture was prompted by a bigger goal: a desire for a rare peace with Tamil Nadu and its parties. President Maithripala Sirisena, Rajapaksa's health minister till two months ago, more..

Jan 16 (SO) For years, I found asking myself why most of our people are in such a hurry that they do dangerous things. For example, my experiences and observations, as I drive my car, were of drivers tailgating, weaving in and out of lanes, passing vehicles from the left lane and going at alarmingly high rates of speed and well beyond speed limits. In many ways this piece is not only about traffic and aggressive driving but about more..

Jan 16 (GV) 15 Jan 2015. Mahinda Rajapaksa is not the president of Sri Lanka. I pinch myself. I have been doing so for the last six days. He still is not. He was democratically voted out of power a week ago. One person was killed, many were attacked, state resources were abused massively. The election was not free or fair, but he was democratically defeated by Maithripala Sirisena – who has since referred to himself as the foremost public servant of Sri Lanka. The main servant. Servant. more..

Jan 16 (GV) We extend our sincere congratulations to President Sirisena. After a decade of the Rajapaksas, Sri Lankans have decided to make a change. And we’re happy that, in spite of Rajapaksa’s egregious abuse of state resources in the run-up to the vote, voting day was a relatively clean, fair affair. Having said that, it is both unfortunate and unsurprising that Tamil issues were sidelined during the presidential campaign. We watched closely as Sirisena came out more..

Jan 16 (GV) During election season, the UPFA tried to win enough Sinhala votes by inciting minority phobia – and failed. Post-defeat, what the severely-truncated UPFA continues to beat this racist tom-tom, in the hope of making a quick comeback. Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa led the way by informing supporters in Medamulana that he was defeated because Northern, Eastern and Plantation voters voted against him. more..

Jan 16 (NS) Sri Lankans voted in another election, the seventh election to choose a president for the country. This took place in a background of political debate which centered on the arguments for a constitutional reform and the usual question of the cost of living. People decided on what their priorities were, based on the past, the present and the future. An election is the occasion people get the chance to directly elect their representatives. People hope for a better future in taking a decision. more..