Lanka News – Lanka Gazette – Sri Lanka News Portal

Born on August 4, 1965 in the Bulathsinhala village of Kalutara District, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka is known for his nationalistic and ferocious approach throughout his political career, and as a student leader. Minister Ranawaka is an electrical engineer by profession but also reputed as an activist and a writer. Charge of the Lion Brigade was his latest book and released in 2009. Patisothigamiwa Tis (30) Wasak is the autobiography of the Minister. After successfully holding the portfolio of Environment and Natural Resources, Ranawaka is now tasked with reforming the power and energy sector which at present has become one of the most important development areas. Continue Reading

• Government for major revision of the Constitution
• India has asked Sri Lanka to provide early solution to ethnic problem
• Majority of UNP membership wants Sajith Premadasa elected leader of party
• Ranil will continue to function as Leader of the Opposition Continue Reading

The government has finally begun behind the scene contacts with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to hammer out a solution to the vexing ethnic question, just as the country nears the first anniversary of the crushing of the most ruthless terrorist outfit, the LTTE.

TNA Leader R. Sampanthan in an interview with The Nation was tight-lipped about the content of their contacts with the government stating that they were still in the initial stages and even refused to identify the members of the government who are in touch with him on grounds he was not authorised to reveal names. Continue Reading

The special committee appointed to recommend reforms to restructure the United National Party (UNP) will not be able to present the crucial report by tomorrow, as was previously planned, according to UNP MP and member of the special committee John Amaratunga.

He said, “It was agreed that our report should come out on Monday. However, we will not be able to present it on Monday. We have to talk to many people including all the MPs. This takes time.”
Several other prominent UNP MPs were not aware that the report will not be released on Monday. However, most MPs agreed on the fact that the report will play a crucial role in deciding the party’s future. Continue Reading

Minister of External Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris on Thursday, while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) conferring the status of a Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Sri Lanka, emphasised the great relevance of the Organisation to Sri Lanka. He noted that the MoU enables cooperation between SCO and Sri Lanka on areas such as ensuring security through combating terrorism, economic cooperation and collaboration in science and technology, education, healthcare, culture and sports. All of these spheres of engagements are of particular interest to Sri Lanka in the current post conflict scenario where rapid and equitable economic growth accompanied by the continued safeguarding of security and peace remain the priorities. Continue Reading

Report on incidents to be handed to President

Despite all the hullabaloo, none of the UPFA’s Kandy District candidates has been found guilty of being responsible for the alleged irregularities that led to the annulment of balloting at 37 polling divisions in Nawalapitiya at the April 8 general election.

“The Disciplinary Committee appointed by the SLFP to probe the Nawalapitiya fiasco has not found incriminating evidence against any particular individual. Therefore, they have not fixed responsibility for the alleged incidents on anyone,” informed SLFP sources told The Nation yesterday.

The Committee headed by People’s Bank Chairman and Attorney-at-Law W. G. Karunajeewa is expected to hand over the report of their findings to President Mahinda Rajapaksa soon. Attorney-at-Law Champani Padmasekera functioned as the Secretary of the Committee. The other members were former Sabaragamuwa Governor and Attorney-at-Law Saliya Mathew, former IGP Chandra Fernando and Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa of the Kelaniya University. Continue Reading

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) celebrated the International Labour Day at their official ceremony at the Colombo Municipal Council grounds yesterday. Addressing the public gathering President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, the workforce of this country is the next great force that must be equipped to fight the war that is before us. “We have won one battle by conquering all odds. I say without a doubt that with you, the workers as our soldiers we will win the war of development as well,” the President said.

“Today we celebrate Labour Day with humble pride. This is the first celebration of the working community after eradicating terrorism from this country. I believe that the working population of this country can be proud today because of several reasons.
“When a country goes through an internal conflict the workers are the first to face its wrath, but you who are gathered here today bore all those difficulties with patience and resilience. Therefore, the workers of this era will join history as those who laid the base for the country’s magnificent victory. Continue Reading

The Premadasa family, including Mrs. Hema Premadasa, Dulanjali and her two children, seen here with UNP MP Sajith Premadasa and his wife Jalani at the 17th commemoration ceremony of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa who became victim to an LTTE suicide bomber on the May Day of 1993. The family is seen together in public after a very long time, and at the moment, there’s a movement within the UNP to appoint Sajith as their leader, replacing the incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe

Rebels propose Sajith as new leader

Former assistant leader of the United National Party (UNP) Rukman Senanayake, who was unceremoniously left out of the UNP National List, said yesterday that a large group of UNP members are working towards removing party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from his post, and appointing Sajith Premadasa as their new leader.
Senanayake said, “Ranil has been the worst thing that has happened to the UNP. Under his leadership we have lost eight consecutive elections, and he is still trying to cling on to the post of party leader. There is no reason at all why we should let him be the party leader anymore”.
When asked what kind of support he had for the expectant leader change, Senanayake said, “There are many members inside the party who support removing Ranil from the leadership. Discussions on his removal are ongoing. Even the general opinion among party supporters around the country is that Ranil should leave. We all want Sajith as our new leader. If Ranil has any honour left he should step down”.
Wickremesinghe himself has called for reorganisation in the party.

However, Senanayake dismissed the calls from the leader and said, “Lets get one thing clear, there cannot be any restructuring of the party going on when there is an incompetent man at the top. Any restructuring should start with Ranil being sacked”. Continue Reading

CWC Leader Arumugam Thondaman who failed to take his oaths as the new Minister of Livestock Development on Friday, according to party insiders had declined the portfolio as he would not be in a position to help his primarily poor constituents from estates with such a weak position.
They said unlike the new portfolio offered to him, the previous one he held in the previous government under President Rajapaksa he had been able to do much especially for estate youth. As the then Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development he had been able to provide scholarships to bright children, run vocational training and social centres and even give loans to those wanting to start small enterprises.

Unlike in the past, sources said increasingly the estate youth of today are either O’Level or A’Level qualified and it was foolish to expect them to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers as estate labourer. As their political leader Thondaman was duty bound to give them new avenues to further their plight. Continue Reading