Nov 6 (SCMP) On the night of Oct 26, most Sri Lankans were taken by surprise when President Maithripala Sirisena named his former leader and later political foe Mahinda Rajapakse as PM. Within minutes, celebratory firecrackers were lit across the country, as Rajapakse is still widely popular, especially among the Sinhalese majority, for having brought peace to a nation rocked by a 30-year civil war. But the news flashed across the world by the Western-dominated int'l media was different. more..

Nov 6 (Island) Bishop Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, Apostolic Nuncio, in Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue in a message issued to mark Deepavali said "Attentiveness and cooperation are needed, not only to defend the legitimate place and rights of the vulnerable in society, but also to cultivate a culture of care and concern in their regard." The Apostolic Nuncio’s message issued to media by Coordinating Secretary. National Catholic Centre for Social Communication, said: more..

Nov 6 (FT) Rights Petition against the prorogation of Parliament cannot be taken up in Court because the prorogation is a decision taken by the President, Attorney General stated yesterday, raising preliminary objections on the matter. Additional Solicitor General Indika de Silva with Deputy Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appearing for the AG raised the preliminary objection on the basis that the Court could not go into the matter more..

Nov 6 (Island) SriLankan Airlines incurred a loss of USD 41 million in the 2011/12 financial year due to operating flights between Colombo and London during off season, the PCoI on irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka was informed, yesterday. Sumudu Upatissa, Manager Network Planning at SriLankan Airlines told the PCoI that in previous years SriLankan did not operate flights to London during off season when the traveller number was less. more..

Nov 6 (CT) The TNA MP Sivasakthi Anandan said that he will remain independent in the Parliament. He added that he cannot agree with the statement made by TNA leader R. Sampanthan that the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa to the post of Prime Minister, replacing Ranil Wickremesinghe, is unconstitutional. MP Anandan said TNA leader Sampanthan’s claim that replacing Ranil Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the PM, is unconstitutional, is unacceptable. more..

Nov 6 (AFP) A political crisis in SL, where two PMs are fighting for power, is scaring away tourists and raising questions over foreign aid, ringing alarm bells for the economy as the currency slumps to record lows. Turmoil in the Indian Ocean nation that has seen one premier refuse to be sacked, and another battle to prove a majority in a Parliament that is banned from meeting, has caused major upheaval that Sri Lanka cannot afford. more..

Nov 7 (CT) There are times when we are powerless to prevent injustice. There must never be a time when we fail to protest. At yesterday’s rally Prez Sirisena made a declaration that the whole world heard. Some politicians are ready to dive in to abysmal depths of depravity for political expediency while some still hold on to old world graces of minimal civility. Former Prez Rajapaksa who was on the stage, on hearing the butterfly remark put his head down, holding it with one hand and more..

Nov 7 (CT) What motivates this short note is the Colombo Telegraph report yesterday that Sirisena has activated Plan B. That is his meeting with Rajiva Senaratne and John Amatratunga proposing a UNP-SLFP (what about the SLPP?) so-called national govt, excluding Ranil Wickremesinghe but including as many UNP traitors as Rajitha and John could drag in. Without Mahinda Rajapaksa where is the money going to come from to buy over a large number of parliamentarians? more..

Nov 7 (SO) A narrow but concrete carpeted road leads to the hill in Suriyakanda where in 1994 a gruesome mass grave was unearthed shocking the entire nation. The area even after more than two decades, remains remote and isolated except for a house or two among the tea plantations dotting the path. The very steep and difficult climb up the road brings one to the SLT, ITN and Rupavahini towers on the hill, more..

Nov 7 (GV) On Nov 4, 2018, a group of people gathered at the Liberty roundabout in Kollupitiya. For some, it was their fifth day of standing in protest. Following news that Prez Sirisena and the UPFA had stepped down from the coalition Govt, a group of citizens decided to meet at the roundabout every day, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, until Parliament was convened. On the first day, the protest coincided with a larger rally organised by the UNP held nearby – but many of those who attended the rally on more..

Nov 7 (DM) One of the objectives of the 19th Amendment was to restrict powers of the President to dissolve parliament within four and-a-half years. Was that objective successfully achieved? My reading of the constitution is the opposite. Firstly, the reader is advised to be cautious not to treat my contention as final. This is only an academic exercise to explore the true intention of the legislature on a plain reading of the relevant Articles (Sections) of the Constitution. more..

Nov 7 (Roar) When people hear World’s End, they usually think the World’s End - the big one that is part of the Horton Plains hiking trail. However, there are plenty of smaller, so called Mini World’s Ends scattered across hill country, each a spectacular destination in its own right and not exactly Mini once you find yourself standing at the edge. So what exactly are the rest of these more understated Mini World’s Ends and where are more..

Nov 7 (DM) After a long and rather undue wait, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that the arbitrary sacking of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place as unconstitutional. Noting that it is the view of the majority that the recent changes effected by the president are unconstitutional and carried out in violation of parliamentary traditions, Speaker informed the president that “I would have to continue with the previous statuses in Parliament until more..

Nov 7 (Island) The change of Govt in Sri Lanka, following the unceremonious sacking of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena, has given rise to a crescendo of alarmist commentary in the Western media, which is slowly seeping in to the non-Western media as well. One after the other, the Western media outlets have taken a critical approach to the change and have begun to characterize the replacement of the PM as a Crisis. more..

Nov 7 (GV) On 4th Nov 2018, a tweet by Indi Samarajiva noted that the Speaker wouldn’t act to reconvene Parliament. Constitutional expert, Lecturer in Public Law, Edinburgh Law School & Director, Edinburgh Centre for Constitutional Law, Dr. Asanga Welikala, provided this vital context in a series of tweets published on 4th November, in response to the Speaker’s inaction and passivity. He also noted separately that the Speaker’s actions were absolutely terrible and more..

Nov 7 (Island) The SLFP and the UNP are fighting like two estranged lovers, consumed with hatred, trying to spite each other by disclosing sweet nothings they used to whisper and other such salacious details about their pillow talk. After all, President Sirisena has referred to the yahapalana alliance as a mismarriage. Leaders of the SLFP and the UNP themselves are also washing a lot of dirty linen in public these days and the stench emanating therefrom is unbearably nauseating. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Crossovers from one party to another in Parliament have been a constant feature in Sri Lanka in recent years. They were endemic in India till the Constitution was amended by the 52nd Amendment in 1985 and by the 91st Amendment in 2003 to make defections difficult. There are mixed feelings among political scientists about crossovers. At times, they have helped form stable Govts, and at other times they have more..

Nov 7 (Island) While most of the people are focused on the current saga relating to the sudden change of the PM and the instalment of a new govt, not many are even thinking about how the current system of governance and politics that serves to legitimise power actually disempowers the average citizens? The current power play regarding the legitimacy of one or another PM (and differing versions of constitutional interpretation) is in effect between two factions of the same ruling class or more..

Nov 7 (Island) President Sirisena’s former ministerial colleague, Sarath Fonseka, one-time Commander of the country’s war-winning Army, is on record as having said that Geneva intervention had never been discussed in the cabinet. The then Wildlife Minister Fonseka said so in response to a query raised by the writer at a media briefing in Sept 2018. Defeated Democratic Party (DP) candidate Fonseka was accommodated in the cabinet in place of National List MP M.K.D.S. Gunawardena more..

Nov 7 (CI) Ben Foakes was largely in the team for his wicketkeeping. That, at least, was one of the arguments. But following a morning session in which England's more highly rated batsmen tangled themselves up in aggressive strokes and left the side at 103 for 5, it was debutant Foakes whose steady hand raised them gradually out of the ditch they had been in at lunch. Foakes used the crease, skipped out to meet the spinners, and more..

Nov 7 (CI) Ben Foakes, England's batting saviour on the first day at Galle, said that he never quite believed he would be in with a chance of making his Test debut, having been drafted into the squad as an injury replacement for Jonny Bairstow, who damaged his ankle playing football during the one-day series last month. Foakes, who top-scored with 87 not out to lift England from a dicey 103 for 5 to 321 for 8 at the close, had been planning for a winter away from cricket when more..

Nov 7 (Island) The IODA Asian & Oceanian Sailing Championship 2018, an international sailing championship for Optimist boats will be held from Nov 10-17 in Ngwe Saung, Myanmar. This is an internationally recognized prestigious event with 130 participants from 20 countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Asian region. The Yachting Association of Sri Lanka, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, selected a six-member team of junior sailors, more..

Nov 7 (DN) Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya through his statement had compromised the independence of his role in Parliament and acted above and beyond his Constitutional powers. “I regret that the Speaker has issued such a statement. The honourable Speaker’s position has been respected in the Constitution. Present Speaker was elected through UNP National List to Parliament more..

Nov 7 (CB) Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lanka skipper, suffered a groin strain on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Galle. Chandimal is currently under observation and hasn't yet been ruled out of the game, added the release. Chandimal left the field midway during the second session when he appeared to have strained his groin - limping towards the ball while fielding off Rangana Herath's bowling. Suranga Lakmal took over the captaincy duties in the absence of Chandimal, more..

Nov 7 (CI) It took a couple of new boys to show the old ones how to do it. After a morning session in which England's batsmen had squandered first use of a surface on which run-scoring is likely to become harder, it took Ben Foakes - on debut - and Sam Curran - aged 20 - to provide the calm heads and common sense required to drag England back into this contest. Foakes, in particular, showed his top-order colleagues how it should be done with an innings that spoke of wonderful composure more..

Nov 7 (TN) Foreign Minister of SL’s new govt, the legitimacy of which is shrouded in doubt, says the PM’s removal was constitutional. Sarath Amunugama said the ousting would be finalised with a parliamentary vote in the new govt’s favour and that the takeover was just a matter of “who reached for the gun first”. He defended the govt of Mahinda Rajapaksa against accusations of the first coup in SL’s history, bribing MPs to more..

Nov 7 (Island) Following on the resounding success of the Sri Lanka’s first ever IRONMAN 70.3 Colombo triathlon, organizers Pro-Am Serendib and Hayleys Tours announced that Colombo’s most prestigious city hotels were once again signing on as Partner Hotels for the triathlon that is set to take place early next year. As was the case with the inaugural event, the Shangri La Colombo once again returns as Host Hotel to IRONMAN 70.3 while The Kingsbury, Hilton Colombo, Taj Samudra, Cinnammon more..

Nov 7 (CT) Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera, who claimed four England wickets during the first day of the first Test, said the Galle pitch was not what they expected. “It was not the wicket we expected. Maybe it was because the wicket was covered for the last two days due to rain. The new ball turned a bit but when it became older it was too slow,” said Perera. The off-spinner further said that after about 35 overs the pitch did not offer much assistance, which made it easy for the visitors, more..

Nov 7 (Island) Talks between SL and India over the latter seeking control of the Colombo harbour East Container Terminal (ECT) in terms of an MoU signed in April 2017 has been delayed due to the sacking of UNP-led govt. Prez Maithripala Sirisena dismissed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP-led administration on Oct 26. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that planned talks couldn’t be held due to the current situation. more..

Nov 7 (FT) Taking ownership of the butterfly label used by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Health Minister of the Pre-26 Oct 2018 Govt, Rajitha Senaratne, yesterday quipped that he too may have been included in the reference. “He must have referred to us. I may be called a butterfly. The symbol of my old party during Chandrika Kumaratunga’s time was also a butterfly. I will gladly be a butterfly,” Senaratne said during a press conference held at Temple Trees. more..

Nov 7 (Island) Sri Lanka's financial outlook is far from stable. Limited foreign reserves are now down to 7.1 billion dollars, just sufficient for four months. Additionally, there was limited space to defend the currency outlook, which is getting worse. Political uncertainty is not helping the finances of the country; growth was under 4 percent. The debt position would grow, Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo said. Dr. Weerakoon was a principal speaker at more..

Nov 7 (Island) An attempt has been made to dupe the new cabinet of ministers into handing over the tender to construct Kerawalapitiya LNG power plant to a Chinese company, says President of the National Movement for the Protection of Consumer Rights, Ranjith Withanage. Withanage said a proposal had been to handed over to the Chinese company, which offered to supply electricity at Rs 15.97 per unit and a local company more..

Nov 7 (DN) The fourth under 19 one-day international between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was abandoned yesterday due to bad weather in Katunayake. The visitors, put into bat after SL's captain Nipun Dananjaya won the toss, were off to a flying start making 155 for 6 from 22 overs after a delayed start. The foundation was laid by Bangladesh’s openers who put on 49 runs before Rohan Sanjaya had Hasan Tamim caught behind for 29, Pritom Kumar was deceived by Sanjaya more..

Nov 7 (EN) SL’s growing tourism industry has attracted a lot of investments during the first eight months of 2018, with new hotel proposals almost doubling. Out of the 29 hotel projects that were granted approval in the first eight months, 24 have already started. The projects that started will add 878 rooms in total. SL Tourism Development Authority received 100 new hotel project proposals, worth US$ 830 million, for the first 8 months, compared to 53 projects worth US$ 261 mil more..

Nov 7 (DM) Deputy Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, who resigned from his portfolio, has left for Singapore early this morning, an official of the Immigration & Emigration department at the BIA said. He has left for Singapore on the flight SQ402 of the Singapore airline. It was reported that he tendered his resignation to Prez Sirisena, saying that it was done in keeping with his democratic and political belief and conscience. more..

Nov 7 (FT) The Maha Sangha yesterday convened to demand President Sirisena to reconvene Parliament soon to end the political crisis which has engulfed the island nation for the past two weeks since the abrupt dismissal of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on 26 Oct by the Prez. A large group of Buddhist monks gathered near the Buddha statue at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo and walked to New Town Hall to hold a rally to reconvene Parliament & honour democracy. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Responding to President Sirisena’s remarks at govt rally in Colombo, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today whatever the Prez’s personal issues with him may be, the President should not plunge the country into constitutional chaos through his illegal and immoral actions. Mr. Wickremesinghe said in a twitter message that the President should not hold the people, he has been elected to serve to, ransom by plunging the country into constitutional chaos. more..

Nov 7 (FT) In a fresh turn in the maze that is the country’s current political crisis, UNP made fresh claims over Manusha Nanayakkara’s support, as the ministers of the Cabinet which existed before 26 Oct hurried to reclaim office. Nanayakkara is said to have resigned from his new post as the Deputy Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment in the Sirisena-Rajapaksa Govt. With Nanayakkara failing to come more..

Nov 7 (Island) The appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM of Sri Lanka was unusual, but it was not unconstitutional, British Lord Naseby said yesterday. "As far as I can see there is nothing unconstitutional. Every country has its constitution, what has happened in Sri Lanka is unusual but not unconstitutional. But we have had unusual things in the UK. We were supposed to have a fixed term Parliament. Five years fixed but we never got that far, it was cut short, so these things happen." more..