Ranil paints a bleak picture of the economy

Current Affairs

Mar 7, 2021

We are bound to lose everything we gained following the introduction of the open economy in 1977 if the present economic crisis continues UNP Leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. He was addressing a Youth organisation meeting of the UNP in Borella If the economic recovery is delayed people may have to forego one meal a day and if the present trend continues it will take at least a decade for the economy to recover to a reasonable level. The businesses are ...Continued

Easter Sunday carnage President puts the blame on the Ranil...

Current Affairs

Mar 7, 2021

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared on Saturday that he has not “Failed” but yearning to earn a double doctorate. The President was addressing the “Gama Samga Pilisandarak”( a dialogue with the rural folk) at Giribawa Weragala. “Some people say I have failed I have not failed I have worked selflessly for the country and defended the same during the separatist war as a soldier for twenty long years. Thereafter I worked as the Defence Secretary of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and had been able to accomplish mu ...Continued

“Sri Lanka BJP” formed to promote education and sports among...

Current Affairs

Mar 7, 2021

By P.K Balachandran

  A Colombo-based Tamil hotelier of Indian Origin, Velusamy Muthuswamy, has announced the formation of a political party called “IlankaiBharatiya Janata Party” (IBJP) to further the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils in the field of education, sports and entrepreneurship. He announced in Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka on Saturday. Muthuswamy told the Jaffna media that that radio journalist M.Indrajith will be the party General Secretary and V.Dilan, a businessman, will be the Treasurer. Secular and Multi-ethnic   Releasing the party’s manifesto Muthuswamysaid that the IBJP ...Continued

The Name of God can never be used “to justify...

Current Affairs

Mar 7, 2021

During his first remarks in Iraq, Pope Francis said that the name of God can never be used “to justify acts of murder, exile, terrorism and oppression,” and that minorities cannot be treated as second class citizens. “Religion, by its very nature, must be at the service of peace and fraternity,” Francis said. Speaking to civil authorities and diplomats, the pontiff noted than over the past several decades Iraq had been affected by the scourge of terrorism and sectarian violence grounded in a “fundamentalism” incapable ...Continued

Norfund to Invest up to 9.99% in National Development Bank...

Current Affairs

Mar 6, 2021

NDB and the Norwegian Development Finance Institution, Norfund, have reached an agreement for Norfund to invest up to 9.99% in National Development Bank PLC (NDB). A press release issued by the Norwegian Embassy said Under this agreement, Norfund will participate in the Rights Issue for LKR 8Bn that NDB has already announced by way of subscribing to unsubscribed rights and also by way of a private placement if required. This investment is subject to other conditions, including regulator and shareholders approvals. This is Norfund’s 1stequity ...Continued

EASTER SUNDAY CARNAGE

Current Affairs

Mar 5, 2021

  The Court of Appeal today directed the Attorney General to obtain instructions from the IGP and Defence Secretary regarding the investigations on unrecovered swords and other weapons brought into the country during the Easter Sunday attacks. Court of Appeal Justice (President) ArjunaObeyesekere and Justice Mayadunne Coreamade this direction pursuant to a writ petition filed by Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. Senior State Counsel Awanthi Perera told the court that she is appearing for IGP and DefenceSecretary in the petition and sought further time to ...Continued

IWOC award for Sri Lankan lawyer Ranitha Gnanarajah

Current Affairs

Mar 5, 2021

Women from Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and China have been selected for a prestigious award for demonstrating exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for justice, gender equality and women’s empowerment, the US State Department has said according to the” WEEK” of India. The annual International Woman of Courage (IWOC) award recognises women from around the globe. It will be presented in a virtual ceremony next week, the department said on Thursday. First Lady Dr Jill Biden would deliver a special message with the award being ...Continued

Lanka asks UNHRC to delete reference to the burial issue...

Current Affairs

Mar 4, 2021

By P.K.Balachandran

Even as the controversy over the burial of COVID-19 dead is heating up with the people of Iranaitivu island protesting against the decision to bury the dead in their midst, the Sri Lankan government is asking the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to delete any reference to the issue of burial from the draft resolution on Sri Lanka. The Core Group’s draft resolution which is now being debated in the Council had condemned the forced cremation of coronavirus deceased. According to Muslim leaders hundreds of ...Continued

Lankan Minister hints at law to protect soldiers from vexatious...

Current Affairs

Mar 4, 2021

By P.K.Balachandran

  GL cites the UK and US as examples of countries with laws to protect their soldiers. But these laws have been controversial.   Colombo, March 3: The Sri Lankan Education Minister and legal expert, Prof.G.L.Peiris, is quoted in the media as saying that the government will not hesitate to amend the Constitution to protect soldiers from vexatious prosecution of the kind recommended by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at its 46th session. Peiris said that while the UK and the US had taken ...Continued

Tamil Leaders write to the experts committee appointed to draft...

Current Affairs

Mar 3, 2021

The failure to offer a meaningful power-sharing arrangement, and the repeated breaches of commitments made in the past and persistent denial of the right to self-determination would entitle a people to external determination states Tamil Party leader in a letter addressed to Expert Committee to Draft a new Constitution. The letter sent by TNA Leader R Sampanthan. Mavai S. Senathirajah . Selvam Adaikalanathan, MP ,D. Sithadthan, MP further states that the Northern and Eastern provinces have been the areas of historical habitation of Sri Lankan ...Continued

Lankan government chooses Iranaitivu Island to bury COVID-19 dead

Current Affairs

Mar 2, 2021

By P.K.Balachandran

  Colombo, March 2: The Sri Lankan government has chosen Iranaitivu, an island off the North West Sri Lankan coast, as the sole place to bury those who had died of COVID-19 if their families want them to be buried and not cremated. Cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said here on Tuesday that it was the Experts Committee on the disposal of the COVID dead which had taken the decision on public health grounds. He denied that the decision was taken on political grounds. Earlier, there ...Continued

“I am determined to secure everybody’s right to live life...

Current Affairs

Mar 1, 2021

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a statement said that as the President of Sri Lanka he isdetermined to secure everybody’s right to live life with dignity regardless of age gender, sexuality, race physical appearance and beliefs. The President tweeted this message in view of the ZERO Discrimination Day which falls on March 1st Zero discrimination day is an annual day celebrated on March 1st every year by the United Nations and other international organisations. The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice ...Continued