Nov 23 (CT) Rajapaksa brothers should build a monument to Maithri and Ranil for creating the conducive conditions to return to power. When the two – Maithri and Ranil – promised that they would restore law and order, bring corrupt and criminals to book, ensure communal harmony and many other pledges, beleaguered people trusted and voted them to power. However, instead of implementing their pledges, they have reported to have struck secret deals with the very same people more..

Nov 23 (CT) First things first. Congratulations and best wishes to the just elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the expectation that he will govern our country in the manner he has promised in the run-up to the election and reiterated in his address to the nation after taking office. This include (i) democratic governance (ii) respecting the pluralism and diversity of our people (iii) zero tolerance of corruption (iv) meritocracy. Although it is axiomatic that General Elections are crucial for more..

Nov 23 (Roar) Bees were recently declared the most important living species by the Earthwatch Institute. But of all the living beings on the planet, why bees? One primary reason is that bees are vital pollinators, on which human agriculture depends. Bees transfer pollen between plants allowing them to reproduce and grow. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN has found that 35% of global agricultural land, more..

Nov 23 (CT) Daya Gamage worked at the American Embassy in Colombo, as the Sole Foreign Service National and a Political Specialist. He retired in 1994 and has been living in Las Vegas since retirement. After two years of concentration, he has been able to share his knowledge, understanding and his intimate professional association with the US Department of State in the form of a book - Tamil Tigers' Debt to America. Being aware of how America's foreign policy worked- more..

Nov 23 (CT) Leonardo da Vinci once quipped that the greatest deception men suffer comes from the deception of how very right and democratic their interpretations of their own opinions are. The outgoing Govt will now have plenty of time to begin again with analysing the extent to which those vain imaginations relating to the CB Bond scams and, as we recalled very recently, the mass murders committed on Easter Day that is now being dealt with by the judicature. more..

Nov 23 (CT) The emergence of a new type of kidney disease was first identified in 1992 in A'pura. In 2015, 23 years later, that condition has created Annihilated communities. This foretells an unimaginable catastrophe for the whole country. Yet, 27 years later, today, the public are not told of the scale of the crisis or the impending catastrophe. This is our darkest secret. A secret that may annihilate us, if we don't wake to the reality. more..

Nov 23 (DM) From early this year, the diverse political factions which formed the governing and opposition political parties in parliament have been girding themselves to face the impending presidential polls. The governing UNP-led govt, was in cricketing parlance, batting on a sticky wicket. Having been elected to power in 2015, on the promise of good governance, a corruption-free administration, and lowering the cost of living, its promise of ridding the country of corruption more..

Nov 23 (Island) Dear Mr. Premadasa, I did not vote for you, nor am I aligned with a political party. My family are a colour pallet of green, blue, red and now the new pink. Nor am I a political pundit or have a degree in political science. I am writing to you as I find your supporters, the social media and your colleagues, appear to be under the illusion that your failure to win the Presidential elections was due to a single reason and that reason being the RW factor. I am no friend of RW. more..

Nov 23 (DN) Time and again, when Sri Lankans sense a danger to their Motherland from multiple fronts, there is one trusted name that they turn to – Mahinda Rajapaksa – to save the country from the impending predicament. Today, he has been joined in this mission by his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was elected Prez with an overwhelming mandate of nearly 7 million citizens. Together, the two Rajapaksas have come to the defence of the Motherland on numerous occasions. more..

Nov 23 (Island) The Sri Lankan national badminton team players are gearing up for the upcoming 2019 South Asian Games and are currently taking part in a residential training camp in Bandarawela. Sri Lanka will field a 20-member team for the December 1-10 event which will take place in the Nepali capital and suburbs. The team includes eight men and as many women shuttlers as they look to pose a challenge to strong Indian team. The 13th South Asian Games features 27 sports disciplines more..

Nov 23 (DN) Rajapaksa. THAT name. Mahinda’s surname. Loved by some, hated by some but considered formidable by one an all. And that was perhaps one of the key impetus for the Yahapalana Govt to bring in the 19th Amendment. What did the 19th Amendment do? Well, apart from bringing back independent commissions (albeit with greater selection-sway for politicians courtesy a Constitution Council whose composition more..

Nov 23 (CT) An eight-member squad of talented riders full of potential will carry Sri Lanka's hopes of bagging a rich haul of medals at the upcoming South Asian Games, scheduled to be held from 1-10 Dec in Kathmandu, Nepal. The riders from island nation participating at the 2016 SAG edition and returned with 7 medals including 2 Golds, 2 Silvers and 3 Bronze medals but this time around Head Coach Upali Rathnayake puts faith in his team to go beyond the past achievements with more..

Nov 23 (Island) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa has asked the newly appointed ministers to be above board and fair, and stressed the need for creating conditions for a new political culture to emerge. There has been a severe erosion of public faith in the current political establishment, and the people’s consternation is palpable. This augurs ill for democracy. If their confidence in the political system is to be restored, the ruling politicians have to be kept on a tight leash lest they should revert more..

Nov 23 (Island) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa certainly scored big with his decision to prohibit the hanging of photos of Prez and PM at govt offices and premises. This was a colossal waste of public funds, with key ministry personnel taking quick decisions on the framing and size of these photos, and often a battle between departments to get such a photo exhibit on their premises. There is nothing more than the symbol of the State that needs to be more..

Nov 23 (DN) “SL table tennis players need more endurance, power and mental strength to be able to come out strong in the final points of a match,” said Belarus High Performance TT coach Aleksey Yefremov who was here for a two-week training camp organised by the Interim Committee of Table Tennis Sri Lanka (SLTT) with the support of Asian Table Tennis Union and National Olympic Committee of SL. He also pointed out local paddlers should be much stronger at this point and be good more..

Nov 23 (Island) Membership and Executive Committee of the Indo Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ILCCI) extended their congratulations and best wishes to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the seventh Executive President of SL, on his election and assumption of office. The full text of the letter from the Chamber is as follows: "On behalf of the Membership and Executive Committee of the Indo Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ILCCI), we wish to extend our more..

Nov 23 (DN) Having performed incredibly well in South Africa by winning the 3-nation Emerging Players one-day tournament and then following it up with a 2-1 unofficial ODI series defeat of Bangladesh Emerging in Bangladesh, SL Emerging were expected to defend the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Cup in Bangladesh with another thorough performance. But what took place was a complete disaster because they lost more..

Nov 23 (DM) The heads of diplomatic missions of three countries - the US, Japan and Bangladesh- called on Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (22). U.S. Ambassador Aliana Teplitz, along with Deputy Chief of Mission Martin Kelly and Political Officer Anthony Renzulli met with the Prez and exchanged views. Besides, Japanese ambassador Sugiyama Akira visited the President along with the embassy officials – Toshihiro Kitamura and Takeshi Ozaki. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi HC Riaz Hamidullah more..

Nov 23 (Island) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that young MPs had requested him to appoint a small cabinet of Ministers. He thanked them for having made that request. Speaking at a ceremony where the new Cabinet was sworn in, Prez had said that he heeded the request of young MPs. "We should let the young MPs take part in public administration. I call on all Ministers and MPs to act in accordance with our manifesto. I am ready to go for a general election at the first opportunity we will get. more..

Nov 23 (Island) UNP MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe said that he expected Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa to rescind his predecessor Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to place the state-run SL Rupavahini Corporation under the Defence Ministry. He said that the state or private media should never be under the purview of the Defence Ministry though during the conflict certain restrictions were imposed such as periodic censorship. more..

Nov 23 (FT) 16 top police officers have been given new appointments and transfers, with the approval of the National Police Commission, Police Headquarters said. Senior DIG S.M. Wickremasinghe has been assigned the duties of the Eastern Province in addition to duties as Senior DIG in-charge of the Central and Uva Provinces. In addition, DIGs L.S. Pathinayake, W.M.M. Wickremasinghe and R.M.N.G.O. Perera, E.M.U.V. Gunaratne, K.N.J. Wedasinghe, more..

Nov 23 (CT) An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), of Chilaw District-1 was arrested yesterday for soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs 190,000, said Director - Investigations of CIABOC, SSP Priyantha Chandrasiri. A woman in Chilaw, who owns a Devalaya (place of worship), had complained to the Police about two stolen Valampuris (conch shells). The suspect had sought a bribe from the woman to find the Valampuris as well as to ensure that she will be able to more..

Nov 23 (CT) IMF stands ready to engage with the new Govt of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa once new key appointments are made, IMF's Assistant Director Communications Camilla Anderson, speaking from Washington DC on 21 Nov in response to an online query y said. The question posed by Ceylon Today, also on 21 Nov was, "After a new Prez was elected on 16 Nov, and a new Govt was expected to be sworn more..

Nov 23 (DN) President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in a statement has congratulated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on winning the recent elections. Commenting on the President’s victory, President Putin in a translated statement said that “it definitely meets the fundamental interests of our people and is in line with strengthening the regional stability and security.” President Putin also said that the Russian-SL relations are of traditionally friendly nature. more..

Nov 23 (DM) Issuing a statement, the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Sri Lanka has congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on being elected as the seventh Executive President of Sri Lanka. “It is our sincere hope that this new chapter in SL history will continue to grow the already prosperous relationship between the US and SL. The AmCham looks forward to working with the new administration in order to further develop the longstanding and mutually-beneficial partnership between more..

Nov 23 (DC) Responding to the return of the Rakjapaksa brothers to the helm of govt in SL with a sense of apprehension and trepidation, Tamil refugees from the Island-Republic staying in the Mandapam transit camp near here have urged the new regime to return all the land and property the Tamils in North and East lost during the long civil war to them. “Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been elected president of SL and his elder brother and more..

Nov 23 (FT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to lead an 8-member delegation to India next week in his first-ever overseas visit since assuming office. Among members of the SL delegation are Secretary to the Prez Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, and former Secretary to the Prez Lalith Weeratunga, who was yesterday granted approval for travel temporarily by the Court. Prez Gotabaya will visit New Delhi from 29 Nov to 1 Dec, following an invitation from Indian PM more..

Nov 23 (EN) Hurulu Eco park in north-central Habarana has become a major tourist attraction, with foreign visitors and revenue up six-fold. Hurulu Eco Park’s revenue grew in 2018 to 48.5 million rupees from 7.3 million rupees in 2017, an increase of six times, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said. Hirulu Eco Park is a forest reserve offering jeep safaris to see elephant herds. The number of foreign visitors to the park rose to 36,664 in 2018, from 5,644 visitors in 2017. more..

Nov 23 (NR) UPFA MP HM Fowzie says he will seek legal action over the decision to expel him from the SLFP. MP stated that he has continued to remain with the SLFP and also pays membership fees to date. MP Fowzie stated that he has not been officially informed of his expulsion from the party adding that he only saw reports of such via media. He said the SLFP Chairman during the lead up to the Prez Election had not reached more..

Nov 23 (Island) Govt Nursing Officers’ Association which campaigned for the defeated NDF prez candidate Sajith Premadasa at the prez poll congratulated SLPP Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his victory. Referring to 6.9 mn vote polled by the SLPP candidate, Saman Ratnapriya, President of the association congratulated PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. Ratnapriya said that the public had reposed their faith in the new Prez. Such public support was vital in taking the country forward, more..

Nov 23 (Island) Prez of Seychelles Danny Faure in a message of congratulations to Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa said "In the wake of your victorious election as the 7th President of SL, I am truly honoured on behalf of the govt and people of Seychelles to congratulate you on this occasion. I am confident that your exemplary leadership will transmute into valuable contributions towards SL’s unfaltering march to achieve further economic prosperity, internal stability & regional peace. more..

Nov 23 (AD) Police says 19 post-election complaints have been received by police stations in the country in relation to the recently concluded Prez Election and that 13 persons have been arrested in connection with those complaints. SSP Ruwan Gunasekara stated that these include 13 complaints regarding assaulting and injuring, 4 complaints of intimidation and threatening as well as two incidents reported on damages caused to more..

Nov 23 (DN) There has been a sharp drop in the wholesale prices of vegetables due to the large stock of produce currently being received at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, farmers and traders said. Farmers said low country vegetables are received in abundance over the produce of other parts of the country. Traders said the price of beans had dropped from Rs.40 to Rs.20 per kilo during the last three days. Some farmers who bring their vegetable stocks for sale tend to take their more..

Nov 23 (Island) PM Imran Khan on Thursday telephoned PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to felicitate him on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The PM lauded the progress made by Sri Lanka during Rajapaksas two terms as President. PM Imran Khan expressed the desire to work closely with the SL Prime Minister to further strengthen Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral relations in all dimensions. PM also extended an invitation to PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Pakistan. more..

Nov 23 (RN) Insisting that his party machinery did not undermine presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa’s election campaign, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today called for sombre reflection on why the party lost its Sinhala Buddhist base. Going forward, the UNP needs to analyse the result of the recently concluded prez election and correct any mistakes made, he told a gathering of staff and officials more..

Nov 24 (SO) After a quiet Monday and Tuesday, things began to get back to normal on Wednesday, but with a difference. People set off for work with a new enthusiasm. Jaded by four years of Yahapalanaya, the public anticipates great things from Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In the short term, it is unlikely that he would face much opposition on the political front. While Sajith Premadasa did creditably, winning 42% of the vote, his United National Party cannot be content with the result. more..

Nov 24 (SO) The term Yahapalanaya came into currency in the run up to the 2015 Prez Election. It is the Sinhala version of Good Governance. Although the term itself was not used, notions such as transparency, accountability and fair representations have been around for a long time. Perhaps it is the newness of the term that made it difficult to grasp or rather made for its flippant usage. There was very little time between the rise of the term and the election, anyway. more..

Nov 24 (SO) UPFA Kandy District MP Keheliya Rambukwella said that the outcome reflected by the Prez Election result was that the majority of the people realised that the former Yahapalana administration was one of the most inefficient and what they did in the context of national security, economy, agriculture, education as well as the higher education sectors was a dismal failure. MP said apart from that, more..

Nov 24 (CT) The newly-elected Executive Prez of SL, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, said during his oathtaking ceremony at the historic Ruwanweliseya premises in the ancient capital A'pura, "I am the President of not only those who voted for me, but also those who voted against me, and irrespective of which race or religion they belong to. I am deeply committed to serve all the people of SL." The election held on 16 Nov was deeply divisive: Whereas he swept the election in Southern regions more..