Lanka News – Lanka Gazette – Sri Lanka News Portal

The Provincial Council system from its inception proved to be an effective mechanism for devolution of power. It has helped local communities to share power and implement regional development programs for the benefit of the communities, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A.L.M. Athaullah told the Sunday Observer in an interview.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the UPFA Government are in the process of holding consultations and discussions on ways and means of addressing the various shortcomings that have been expressed from time to time by different political parties on want of more powers to the PCs. This would be done either under the existing PC system or any other home-grown devolution system that the Government may deem fit in the future, he said. Although the PC system has remained non-implementational in the Northern province due to the long drawn out war, the Provincial Council that was established in the Eastern province in May 2008 after its de-merger from the North, has had very salutary results in all aspects of development and, above all, an atmosphere conducive for all the three communities to live in peace and harmony has been brought about, Minister Athaullah said.

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Post and Telecommunication Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga said the Government has decided to infuse modern technology into the country’s postal service and bring that technology to the village level via post offices. This endeavour would provide a more efficient service to the people through post offices and the Postal Department would function without becoming a burden to the Government. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday Observer expressed his plans to develop the country’s post and telecommunication sectors.

Q: What are your plans to improve the postal service?

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In an exclusive interview with the ‘Sunday Observer’ Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN, Dr. Palitha Kohona said that the UN had not instituted war crimes charges against Sri Lanka although certain NGOs have been applying pressure on the UNSG to conduct an inquiry.

"No UN body has authorised the SG to take such a course of action. The largest bloc in the UN, the non-aligned movement, formally objected to any such action by the SG. Knowing their inability to find support in the political bodies of the UN, these elements are now seeking to achieve their goals by exerting pressure on the SG", he said.

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The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa with an open mind and priority will be given to the post-conflict humanitarian issues according to TNA parliamentarian and spokesman Suresh Premachandran.

Commenting on the much anticipated talks between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Tamil National Alliance tomorrow Suresh Premachandran told the Sunday Observer that the TNA has nothing to hide.

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Atta-Leader was deeply perturbed over the allegations by Ran-House Banda who said that the party did not come to his rescue in crisis situations. “You need not panic about what he has told the media. Take me, for example, whatever said and done, I am still in the saddle. Like bullet-proof vehicles, we have to be media-proof,” Ra-Blue told his Secretary that is General.

Ra-Blue’s warning

An irate Ra-Blue, having heard about the Elephant Party’s Bala-Board meeting in Galle, reprimanded Vaj-Abey for organising such events without his approval. Young TV presenter turned Em Pee Mah-Noo-Sha and Ga-Yanta Karoo too were severely warned by the party leadership for saying unwarranted things. Continue Reading

President Mahinda Rajapaksa celebrated 40 years in politics last week. He entered Parliament as the youngest parliamentarian with a majority of 6,626 votes representing the Beliatta seat at the 1970 parliamentary election.

He contested from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and secured 23,103 votes defeating Dr. R.K.P. Atapattu of the United National Party (UNP). Continue Reading

Hemakumara Nanayakkara, a one time firebrand Minister in the UPFA Govt. and younger brother of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, was one politician most sought after by the media for his outspoken nature. Wearing the green satakaya to represent his political views, he was always in the news, either as a back bencher in Parliament or as Minister. As a member of the UNP dissident group who rose against Ranil Wickremesinghe’s dictatorial rule, he crossed over to the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government in January 2007 and held the non-Cabinet portfolio of Agriculture Minister till 2010. As the only other member of the present legislature who holds an Agriculture degree (California State University), the other being Dinesh Gunawardena, he speaks of the UNP crisis and his future plans.

Q: Since your premature retirement from active politics on February 1 you have been very quiet? Continue Reading

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will lead Sri Lanka’s delegation at the G-15 Summit in Tehran tomorrow.

Heads of State of Government from 17 other countries will also participate. Continue Reading

Royal College is being developed to meet the challenges of the 21st century, said its Principal Upali Gunasekera.

He was addressing the opening ceremony of the new IT laboratory and the relaunch of the college website, www.royalcollege.lk Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena was the chief guest on the occasion. Continue Reading

The assistance provided by Israel in the field of defence when Sri Lanka was beset with the scourge of terrorism was very much appreciated, according to Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

The Minister said this at a function held in Colombo to celebrate the 62nd Independence Day of Israel. Sri Lanka’s diplomatic relations with the State of Israel dates back to 1956. Continue Reading