Nov 22 (Island) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa said that his govt would manage to pay off all the loans which had been taken by the UNF got. "We will not go around the country blaming the previous govt for taking loans and putting the country in a debt trap. That was what the UNP did. They did nothing but cry to gain sympathy and excuse them for failing to develop the country by telling the nation that they could not do anything because of a debt mountain inherited from the previous govt. more..

Nov 22 (DM) Coming up with a fresh argument on what should be done to resolve the present political crisis, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said Parliament was bound to follow the tradition of House of Commons of the UK when the Constitution is unclear about certain situations. He said the House was bound to follow Section 7 of Parliament Powers and Privileges Act where it said the House was bound to follow the tradition of more..

Nov 22 (DN) Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), UPFA member Pradip Jayewardene urged the govt to study the report of the second mandate of the Paranagama Commission which was asked to look into the final phase of the war in 2009. “Regardless of the political situation in the country, we will have to answer to the UNHRC in March 2019 and we need to be prepared”, he said. The Paranagama Commission appointed in 2013 by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and officially known as more..

Nov 22 (CT) Former Navy Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, alias Navy Sampath, who was arrested over the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths from Colombo in 2008 and 2009, was ordered to be further remanded till 5 Dec by Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka yesterday. Inspector of Police Nishantha Silva of the CID, submitting a progress report to the Court, said that they were seeking to apprehend more suspects on charges of more..

Nov 22 (AP) Two men each claim to be the PM. Lawmakers are exchanging blows in Parliament. A former finance minister says the country is on the brink of an economic anarchy. Welcome to Sri Lanka, where the political crisis is getting worse by the week. The trouble started when Prez Sirisena, fed up with disagreements with his PM over money, an alleged conspiracy plot and unresolved issues of wartime crimes against more..

Nov 22 (Reuters) The rupee fell to an all-time low of 179 per dollar on Wednesday, a day after Moody’s downgraded the country’s credit rating, as a political crisis worsens a rout in the currency. Moody’s downgraded Sri Lanka on Tuesday for the first time since it started rating the country in 2010, blaming the political crisis for aggravating already problematic finances. The downgrade coincided with a decision by the IMF to delay discussions on its loan tranche to Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 22 (DM) UNP National Organizer Navin Dissanayake charged that false allegations were being made by the Govt MPs against him saying he was unduly influencing Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to make certain decisions. Mr Dissanayake, who is the son-in-law of Speaker Jayasuriya, said that no MP could influence the Speaker. “My politics and the politics of the Speaker are different. You may recall that Mr Jayasuriya joined the Govt of Former Prez Rajapaksa and then came back to UNP but more..

Nov 22 (Hindu) Sri Lanka’s Leftist JVP has been a crucial dissenting voice in the wake of the political crisis persisting for a month now. Its six MPs in Parliament, including party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, have been both emphatic and strategic in their resistance to Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was questionably installed as PM on Oct 26 by President Sirisena. The party moved two No Confidence Motions against him more..

Nov 22 (CT) The public indignation regarding the arbitrary transfer of a top sleuth attached to the CID signed by the hot-button, IGP Pujith Jayasundara, compelled the halting of the transfer process even before the ink was dry. IGP Jayasundara has signed the transfer letter numbered D/HRM/ADM/1869, last 18 Nov to transfer IP Nishantha Silva to Negombo Division forthwith under the unspecified service requirements. As the letter suggests the reason for the transfer is unspecified and unreasonable more..

Nov 22 (DM) For thousands of years, one of the world’s gravest crimes or scandals has been violence or discrimination against women especially those who are not well educated and come from what are thought to be mythical low classes of society. On Sunday (25) UN marks the Int'l Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the world body says, violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations today. more..

Nov 22 (FT) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said his party was looking at how to build support for a motion presented by a group of UNP MPs to limit access to public finance by the Secretary to the PM. He insisted that as the coalition parties of the UNF together with the TNA and the JVP hold majority in Parliament. Efforts would be made to see how this majority could be used when the motion submitted by UNP Deputy Leader more..

Nov 22 (FT) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya stuck to his guns, despite severe criticism, and insisted he would continue to protect the rights of the majority of MPs and remain unshaken by the events of the last week. Issuing a statement, Speaker emphasised that he remains completely committed to protecting SL’s democracy and ensuring the future of the unborn generation, and the right to life in a free & democratic country, more..

Nov 22 (Hindu) Sri Lanka’s leftist JVP and the TNA have a duty to fight together and protect democratic rights, JVP leader Anura Dissanayake said, proposing a novel partnership between parties representing the country’s two main ethnic groups. “The JVP an the TNA represent sections in the country’s south and north that have suffered most due to the actions of the repressive State,” he said in an interview to The Hindu. more..

Nov 22 (Island) A civil society grouping that campaigned for Maithripala Sirisena at the last presidential election in Jan 2015 now accuses the President of causing the current unprecedented constitutional crisis to secure a second term. Co-convenor of the grouping Saman Ratnapriya said that Prez Sirisena was determined to contest the 2019 prez election at any cost. The next parliamentary poll is scheduled for 2020. more..

Nov 22 (Island) The National Peace Council (NPC) has requested President Sirisena to personally supervise the next vote in parliament to ensure both parties to the conflict follow the due process. "On two occasions a motion of no-confidence against the recently appointed PM Mahinda Rajapaksa was passed in parliament despite the disruptive conduct of members of the recently appointed govt. more..

Nov 22 (EN) Finance ministry has prepared a vote-on-account to get parliamentary approval for spending in 2019, Mahinda Samarasinghe, a member of the country's disputed cabinet said amid a political crisis. The vote-on-account will seek to maintain govt spending for services for up to four months, legislator Mahinda Samarasinghe said. Sri Lanka's legal draftsman had been asked to prepare the required documents. more..

Nov 22 (Reuters) Sri Lanka’s three state banks will borrow up to $1 billion from foreign sources before the end of 2018 and use the money to pay off maturing foreign loans, Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle said on Thursday. The move comes as Sri Lanka faces a worsening political crisis with a newly appointed govt refusing to resign despite losing two confidence votes in parliament. more..

Nov 22 (NIP) Former SL cricket team captain Sanath Jayasuriya, along with two other cricketers, has been accused of smuggling rotten betel nuts to India. The two other cricketers, whose names are yet to be revealed, have been carrying out the tax-evading fraudulent deal with Jayasuriya by trafficking these nuts from Indonesia. Jayasuriya’s name was revealed after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized more..

Nov 22 (AD) IP Neomal Rangajeewa who is currently on bail over a case of the Welikada Prison clashes in 2012 has been reinstated to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB). This has been in effect in since yesterday by the orders of IGP Pujith Jayasundara. IP Rangajeewa of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) was arrested by the CID on March 28 over the alleged killing of inmates at Welikada prison during the clashes in 2012. more..

Nov 22 (EN) President Maithripala Sirisena has stopped members of his disputed cabinet from making key appointments to state-run institutions signalling early cracks in the uneasy coalition. In a circular to all ministry secretaries, the President's Secretary Udaya Seneviratne told them that there cannot be any appointment to boards and statutory bodies under them without first clearing with the President. more..

Nov 23 (Island) The constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka began with the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM on 26th Oct 2018 and the sacking of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. The President gave several reasons for the sacking of Wickremesinghe, one of them being that it was very difficult to work with Ranil, as the latter was extremely stubborn. He had even approached Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya to take over as the PM, because the UNP as the party with the majority deserved more..

Nov 23 (CT) The 19 Amendment to the constitution has been a heyday talk both in national and international forums as it continues the role of the President at its omnipotence and brings two Prime Ministers at the same time along with an egregious speaker in the political crises of Sri Lanka. It has now arrived to the third week without any substantive solution claiming that both parties are innocent and have right to form a govt without any hindrance from their political opponents. more..

Nov 23 (CT) Leader of the JVP Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the JVP will not support the agenda of Mahinda’s or Ranil’s Camp. Q: The JVP which said they had no requirement to crown either Ranil or Mahinda in 2015, removed Mahinda’s crown. So, will Ranil Wickremesinghe remain the Prince forever? A: Not at all. In the No-Confidence Motion brought against Ranil, the JVP used their votes to get rid of him. At the same time, more..

Nov 23 (CT) The epic poet Homer in 8th Century BCE defined the Goddess of Justice Themis as the organizer of the communal affairs of humans, particularly assemblies. The facilitation of the assembly of people and their ideological discourse, platforming their aspirations and beliefs on justice were all viewed as the divine responsibilities of Themis, Goddess of Justice. Homer communicated to the reader, a sense of divinity associated with justice via Goddess of Justice. more..

Nov 23 (CT) Language, in a broad generalization, is the structure of words or symbols pertaining to every nation to express and communicate their opinions and mindset to each other. In this backdrop, each Nation adopts its own mother- tongue to befit their individual customs and culture. Humans interact through a thoughtful process, which transforms into either verbal or written forms. Languages become the most powerful instrument of upholding and developing tangible and intangible heritage more..

Nov 23 (DM) German Ambassador Jörn Rohde, who is vocal about the current developments in SL, spoke about the impact of the present constitutional impasse on economic cooperation between his country and SL. Earlier, he stressed openly that the problem should be resolved through Parliament. He was among the western envoys who witnessed Parliament taking up the no confidence motion against the new govt. more..

Nov 23 (DN) The Speaker, especially of a legislative body, is its chair or the presiding officer. The title was first used in England in 1377. The Speaker, fourth citizen, remains firmly non-partisan, and renounces all attachments with his former political party when taking office. The Speaker does not participate in a debate or vote (except to break ties) where the Speaker vote according to Denison's rule, a convention by John Denison, Speaker of the House of Commons (1857- 1872), more..

Nov 23 (DM) In certain circles, political debate has been reduced to whether or not the PM is legitimate. Some argue that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s ouster was illegal and therefore the issue of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s legitimacy is resolved by that very fact. Those who argue in this manner support their case in terms of parliamentary arithmetic. Strictly speaking, after the SLFP withdrew from the National Govt, even by the injudicious and vague definition of the same, the National Govt ceased to exist, more..

Nov 23 (GV) The Friday Forum shares the despair and disgust of most Sri Lankans with recent political events in the country that have now spiraled into a serious impasse in governance. The economic, social and political repercussions of this crisis will undoubtedly cause a serious set-back to the sustained and inclusive development and reconciliation that our nation urgently needs. While the social and political repercussions of the crisis in govt are being continuously discussed more..

Nov 23 (Island) So sad but true that the most powerful person in this so-called democratic republic of free Sri Lanka sits in his powerful seat but has been discredited to the point of some questioning the stability of his neurons. Cass detests euphemisms. If a person breathes his last, she says s/he died and is dead. For her it’s not passed away, passed or gone etc. For these have the inherent question of where to? That no one can predict: the destination of one dead. more..

Nov 23 (Roar) The last few weeks have been unprecedented in Sri Lankan history; Parliament was prorogued until Nov 16 and then summarily dissolved by the President in blatant violation of the 19th Amendment; we had two PMs (known as the old PM and newly-appointed PM), and a group of civil organisations have been protesting at the Liberty Roundabout from the day confusion began. Add to that, more..

Nov 23 (Island) UNP National Organiser and MP Navin Dissanayake has reportedly told the Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatu and Asgiriya Chapters recently that his party is planning to field a common candidate at the next presidential election. He has stopped short of giving any clues. The question being asked in political circles is whether the candidate will be an outsider or a member of the UNP. The UNP baulked at contesting two presidential elections (in 2010 and 2015), more..

Nov 23 (Island) I have very little knowledge of cricket. I am sure I represent the majority of Sri Lankans who follow the game as die-hard fans of the Lankan Lions. We know somethings and at times pretend we know more than Hathurusinghe and the crab ministers put together and multiplied by ten. Let’s take some stock. As for me I know LBW is leg before the wicket but I am clueless about where the ball pitched or how sharp it spun. Thank God for the TV-replay and third umpire, more..

Nov 23 (CI) What can SL salvage from here? They've lost both Tests so far. They are without their captain due to injury. Their best bowler from the previous Test is off in Brisbane, having his action assessed. Having come into the series as mild favourites (they had either won or drawn their three previous series this year), they are now gasping. A battling performance their showing at Pallekele may have been, but there is very real possibility more..

Nov 23 (DM) The new got will sign Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with other countries only after the adoption of a national trade policy, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said. Minister said that he submitted a Cabinet memorandum seeking approval to appoint a committee to study this matter and make recommendations to formulate a national trade policy. “FTAs will be signed only after the national trade policy frame is approved. It is a requirement stipulated by the WTO more..

Nov 23 (CT) The Chengdu Association of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAFTEC) opened its Colombo Office at JAIC Hilton on Monday night. The opening of the CAFTEC Colombo Office was a soft opening and the Colombo operations would be continued from there which usher in unprecedented economic and trade opportunities for Sri Lanka. Chengdu Association was established by the Chengdu Municipal Chamber of Commerce in 2011 to establish two-way more..

Nov 23 (BBC) Sri Lankan experts say a mass grave found earlier this year in the north-western town of Mannar has turned out to be the country's biggest such site. More than 230 skeletons have now been found at the grave in the former war zone, up from about 90 in August. Human rights groups say at least 20,000 people disappeared during Sri Lanka's long civil war which ended in 2009. The 26-year war between troops more..

Nov 23 (NR) Prisons Department has launched a special investigation into the prison break of a notorious inmate convicted for possession of illegal narcotics. Accordingly investigations have commenced into a group of unidentified individuals dressed as prison officers who had concealed their faces, arrived in a fake prison bus and left with the inmate in question. Prisons Media Spokesman said the investigation is being headed by an Assistant Prisons Administrative official. more..

Nov 23 (FT) Prez Sirisena-appointed PM Mahinda Rajapaksa is to engage with the IMF and other agencies to achieve inclusive development. Plans to engage with the multilateral donor agencies were disclosed by Rajapaksa as Finance Minister at this week’s Cabinet meeting. “We expect to engage with the IMF along with other financing agencies,” Rajapaksa told Cabinet in a memorandum on the state of the economy. Such engagement, he said, would be to design an inclusive development more..