Protests against 13A used to arouse communal feelings – SJB

  Protests against the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution are being used to arouse communal feelings among people ahead of an election, says the main Opposition SJB. Addressing the media on Saturday, at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, Chief Opposition Whip, SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella, said: “This country has witnessed many instances in the past. This time, too, the same old slogan of the country being divided is heard again. “The 13th Amendment is part of the Constitution. All parties have contested elections under…

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JVP projects a new image to business community in Colombo.

JVP projects a new image to business community in Colombo. Key remarks made by JVP Leader anura Kumara Dissanayake: NPP’s Galadari meeting (24th January 2023) The NPP had a crowded meeting at Hotel Galadari in what seemed an exercise to project a new image to the business community. The leading partner in the NPP, the JVP, could no longer be considered a poor party. Its coffers have grown to match any other political party in the country. NPP parliamentarian Harini Amerasuriya explained that the NPP is a coalition of 28…

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Will USA follow the lead of Canada to impose ban on SL leaders?

Will USA follow the lead of Canada to impose ban on SL leaders? (Sunday Times 29th Jan 2023) There has also been a significant development from the US concerning Sri Lanka. Ambassador Beth Van Schaack, head of Global Criminal Justice in the Department of State, was on a visit to Canada last week. She met Tamil diaspora groups and later tweeted : “Meaningful discussions today (January 26) with Canadian Tamil diaspora groups about ways to promote justice, accountability, and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Respect for human rights is vital for stability…

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President tells all parties go for 13A or abolish it

President tells all parties go for 13A or abolish it Says he is bound to implement the existing law of the country Insists not ready to divide the country and will never betray the Sinhalese nation In an effort to settle the ethnic conflict, President Ranil Wickremesinghe insisted on working towards a consensus-based solution to enact the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. “We can’t remain in a middle position. We should either implement the 13th Amendment or abolish it,” he said at the All-Party Conference held at the Presidential Secretariat…

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India Curbed social fallout by acting fast, ties entered new…

India curbed social fallout by acting fast, ties entered new .. (Times of India 27-01-2023) NEW DELHI: Lauding India’s financing assurances to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), backing Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts, Lankan high commissioner Milinda Moragoda said the social fallout of the economic crisis in the strategically located island nation would have been worse if India had not acted swiftly and that India’s support will minimise any trust deficit between the two countries. Speaking to TOI, Moragoda said no other country would have helped Sri Lanka the way India…

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Shameless coalitions ahead of LG polls

Shameless coalitions ahead of LG polls The economic crisis and the resultant political upheaval that brought down the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime have created ridiculous political alignments.  In fact, the major part of the “credit” for the creation of those alignments should go to Gotabaya’s younger brother and his Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. The alignments have now grown into political alliances with the approach of the local government elections that have now been scheduled to be held on March 9. Of these coalitions, the one between President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party, the United…

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An EC Member’s resignation will not affect LG election, say former and current EC Chairs

An EC Member’s resignation will not affect LG election, say former and current EC Chairs Punchihewa says election preparation will continue EC yet to receive P.S.M. Charles’s resignation  Ex-Chairman Deshapriya points to Constitution The resignation of an Election Commission (EC) member will not affect the Local Government (LG) Poll, Chairman of the EC, Attorney Nimal Punchihewa noted yesterday (26). When queried by The Daily Morning as to whether the resignation of an EC member – in the backdrop of media reports that EC member P.S.M. Charles has resigned – would affect the…

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Time to overcome ethnic divide is now

By Jehan Perera (The Island 24th Jan 2023) Time to overcome ethnic divide is now After much procrastination, the Election Commission has finally decided that local government elections will be held on March 9. The elections to these bodies had already been postponed by a year, as permitted by law. Postponing elections, beyond a year, would take the country into the murky realms of extralegal governance, which would pose a threat to democracy, by eroding the rule of law. The country is being propelled in the direction of elections. It…

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9 March to be a historical day in SL’s history: S.M. Marikkar

9 March to be a historical day in SL’s history: S.M. Marikkar Says ninth has been significant for Sri Lankans since 9 April last year  Blames the Rajapaksa led Govt. of 2019 for country’s rapid deterioration  Claims only group of capable and talented persons such as SJB can revive country Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Deputy National Organiser S.M. Marikkar says 9 March will be a historical day in Sri Lanka’s history.  Noting that the election has now been set for 9 March despite the Government’s repeated attempts to delay it,…

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Sri Lanka targeting European travellers hit by gas prices, tourism minister tells Quest

Sri Lanka targeting European travellers hit by gas prices, tourism minister tells Quest ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is looking to attract European tourists affected by rising gas prices in that region in the coming winter season, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando told CNN’s Richard Quest in an interview. Speaking on CNN’s Quest Means Business programme Tuesday November 08 evening, Fernando said Sri Lanka has short and long term plans to revive the island nation’s crisis-hit tourism sector. “The short term is jumping into India and getting all the Indians to come…

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