Lanka News – Lanka Gazette – Sri Lanka News Portal

The much awaited and crucial United National Party (UNP) convention where the party’s new constitution is expected to be adopted will be held tomorrow at the party headquarters ‘Sirikotha’, from 9 am onwards. Continue Reading

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last UNP parliamentary group meeting had made enquiries from MP Lakshman Seneviratne as to why he had given evidence against DNA Leader MP Sarath Fonseka before the first Court Martial. Continue Reading

Opposition wants Judge Advocate; prosecuting counsel summoned

Pandemonium reigned in parliament yesterday as the opposition urged the Speaker to summon before the House the prosecuting counsel and the Judge Advocate of the first General Court Martial against retired General Sarath Fonseka along with the records of its proceedings. Continue Reading

Says if int’l community wants to punish SL, he is not for that

In a hard-hitting interview over Al Jazeera this week, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the people would kick the Rajapaksas out of power the day they felt that the family had failed to deliver. He declared that he was quite confident that he would win the next election, irrespective of whether he was contesting for the post of president or prime minister.

“Yes, I don’t mind if it’s the Presidential system, or the Prime Minister system. I have no problem, because I’m going to win again,” the President said. Continue Reading

The Colombo Fort Magistrate has ordered the CID to publish a written proclamation on Dhanuna Tillekaratne, the son-in-law of General Sarath Fonseka, which will be put up in the Court premises, certain public places and near his residence and if he fails to abide by the proclamation his properties will be liable to be confiscated.

State Counsel, appearing on behalf of the AG’s department also said that according to provisions, if Dhanuna does not appear in court within the next 30 days, any civil person will be able to arrest him. Continue Reading

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), after a fact finding mission in the resettled areas, said yesterday that people appear to be using the monies given by the government to purchase , first due to the transport problems.

For a resettled family, the government gives Rs. 25,000. Of this amount, Rs 5000 is given in cash, and the rest as a bank deposit.

TNA National List MP   M. A. Sumanthiran told Daily Mirror that he observed, in one or two villages, that people had used these deposits mainly to buy bicycles. Mr. Sumanthiram said that the public transport is a major issue confronting the resettled families in most areas. Also, he noted that, in some areas, people had not received these monies from the government authorities. Continue Reading

The opposition has sent a signed petition to President Mahinda Rajapaksa demanding the release of DNA leader Retired General Sarath Fonseka from military custody. Fifty UNP and DNA MPs including opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe have signed this petition.

DNA General Secretary MP Vijitha Herath told a news conference that General Sarath Fonseka is detained in military custody in an inhumane manner. Continue Reading

UNP Puttalam District Member of Parliament Palitha Range Bandara says he is fed up with his party and has decided to boycott party events and meetings. However he says he has not decided to quit the party.

Speaking to Daily Mirror online the UNP MP said he had reached the decision as the party has yet to take disciplinary action against UNP member Shantha Abeysekera over his involvement in the brutal assault on Bandara just prior to the General Elections.
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The second Court Martial probing into charges, related to General Sarath Fonseka’s alleged violation of military procurement procedures, resumed its sittings today, the Military said.

The Defence Counsel as well as prosecutors made their submissions to the tribunal and the proceedings went on till evening, the army website said without giving further details on today’s hearing.
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The son-in-law of General Sarath Fonseka, Dhanuna Tilakaratne is still hiding in Sri Lanka and has not fled the country as was speculated at times, police spokesman Priyashantha Jayakody told Daily Mirror online.

The police spokesman said that the passport of Tilakaratne, who is wanted by the police and has an arrest warrant against him over some financial dealings involving General Fonseka, remains blacklisted and as such there is no way he could escape overseas.
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