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January 2010 Blog Posts (115)

Imminent arrest of Gen. Fonseka by CID

sundaytimes.lk

Alleged plot to kill President and overthrow government

The arrest of retired General Sarath Fonseka any time now became imminent yesterday as a team of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) detectives probed an alleged attempt to overthrow the Government and assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has been instructed not to allow Gen.… Continue

Added by Editor on January 31, 2010 at 4:37am — No Comments

Pro-JVP newspaper ‘Lanka’ banned

sundaytimes.lk

World media groups express grave concern

The pro-Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) newspaper Lanka was sealed by CID detectives yesterday – while world media rights groups expressed alarm over attacks on journalists and the free media after the presidential election.

Armed with a court order, the detectives turned up at the Lanka editorial office at Delkanda in Nugegoda last evening to… Continue

Added by Editor on January 31, 2010 at 4:36am — No Comments

Major shuffle in the Army after poll victory

sundaytimes.lk

Brigadier in custody; more arrests in the offing

A series of senior level transfers have been effected in the army in the wake of Tuesday’s presidential election.

The Sunday Times learns that most of the officers who had been transferred were close to the defeated presidential candidate and war-winning army commander Gen. (retd.) Sarath Fonseka.

These changes came amidst… Continue

Added by Editor on January 31, 2010 at 4:34am — No Comments

When does President’s new term of office commence?

sundayisland.lk

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to invoke the consultative jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in order to determine the commencement of his second term of office following his overwhelming victory at last Tuesday’s presidential election, senior governmental sources said yesterday.

``The lawyers are working on this,’’ they said pointing out that the president, like anybody else, would like to… Continue

Added by Editor on January 31, 2010 at 4:32am — No Comments

Search on Sarath Fonseka's house

dailymirror.lk

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) assisted by the Special Task Force (STF) searched for nearly five hours, the office of General Sarath Fonseka located near Royal College in Colombo yesterday.

Around 150 personnel of the elite STF SWAT team were involved in the search and providing security around the premises.

The office was surrounded by masked STF officers and the media was not… Continue

Added by Editor on January 30, 2010 at 5:41pm — No Comments

Election Secretariat rules out computer fraud at Jan. 26 polls

island.lk

Counting done manually in the presence of party agents - Top official

The Election Secretariat yesterday dismissed Opposition allegations that the government and the election staff had manipulated the results of Tuesday’s presidential polls to help incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa secure a second term with a thumping majority of 1.8 million votes.

Retired top civil servant Bandula… Continue

Added by Editor on January 30, 2010 at 5:40pm — No Comments

Dayananda in dilemma

dailymirror.lk

Despite Elections Commissioner statement that he would not step into his office even for a day after the conclusion of the Presidential Election, a senior source of the Attorney General’s Department said the Commissioner would have to seek a Supreme Court ruling if he wishes to stay home.

The source further said the Commissioner would again have to get back to work soon as the government had already… Continue

Added by Editor on January 30, 2010 at 5:39pm — No Comments

EU buoyed by voter turnout

dailymirror.lk

The European Union said the large turnout at the recent Presidential election in Sri Lanka demonstrated the wish of the Sri Lankan people to participate fully in the democratic process.

EU High Representative/ Vice President Baroness Catherine Ashton, in a statement, however reiterated concerns that a significant number of incidents occurred during the election campaign.

"The EU welcomes that… Continue

Added by Editor on January 30, 2010 at 5:37pm — No Comments

MR to seek SC opinion

dailymirror.lk

President says North-East vote a triumph for democracy

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that he would seek the Supreme Court opinion as to when his second term should commence.

“Going by the Supreme Court judgment on the second term of President Chandrika Kumaratunga it was my opinion as well as the opinion of some of those whom I consulted that the second term should begin in… Continue

Added by Editor on January 29, 2010 at 4:52pm — No Comments

Asian observers say election was fair

dailymirror.lk

Observers from the Association of Asian Election Authority (AAEA) said yesterday they were of the view that the just concluded presidential election was largely free and fair.

“We cannot reveal the details of the report. We observed that people were able to cast their vote free of threats or intimidation,” the delegation’s Dr. Pan Wei Ta said. He said polling agents were allowed to accompany the ballot… Continue

Added by Editor on January 29, 2010 at 4:49pm — No Comments

Abolition of executive presidency non issue

dailymirror.lk

Govt. Executive powers help thwart ‘enemy’ manipulation of House

SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, MP, yesterday said that the abolition of the Executive Presidency could no longer be an issue as the people had overwhelmingly rejected the joint Opposition’s vow to do away with the executive powers.

Responding to The Island query, at the first post-presidential poll press… Continue

Added by Editor on January 29, 2010 at 4:48pm — No Comments

I did not plan a coup: Fonseka

dailymirror.lk

Will contest Parl. elections under swan symbol

Opposition Common Candidate General Sarath Fonseka yesterday said he would contest the upcoming parliamentary election probably under the swan symbol.

“I must uphold my promises to the people of bringing a believable change. The people voted for me and I have won this election, although the results have been distorted,” General Fonseka told… Continue

Added by Editor on January 29, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Landslide for President

dailymirror.lk

Sweeping victories in Sinhala-dominated areas while Fonseka wins in North and East

President Mahinda Rajapaksa swept to a landslide victory at Tuesday’s presidential election polling 57.88 per cent of the votes cast.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka who announced the final results last evening said President Rajapaksa had polled 6,015,934 of the votes while his main rival,… Continue

Added by Editor on January 28, 2010 at 3:34pm — No Comments

Mahinda magic works

island.lk

* MR gets huge majority of 1.8 million

* SF a distant 2nd, loses home base

* MR takes 16 districts, SF only six

* A’galle defies CBK, gives MR majority

* SF wins North and East

* JVP-UNP marriage fails to deliver

President Mahinda Rajapaksa scored a historic victory over Opposition presidential candidate, General (retd) Sarath Fonseka at the first national poll… Continue

Added by Editor on January 28, 2010 at 3:33pm — No Comments

Commandos surround hotel, arrest nine Fonseka bodyguards

island.lk

Army commandos had surrounded Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside, where Opposition common Presidential candidate General (retd) Sarath Fonseka was staying after Tuesday’s poll and arrested nine Army deserters who were providing security to the former Army Commander, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. The deserters had been taken in on the compound of the Hotel.

He dismissed rumours that the former Army… Continue

Added by Editor on January 28, 2010 at 3:32pm — No Comments

Fonseka seeks legal action against election results

dailymirror.lk

Alleges abuse of State property, State media among others

Gen. Sarath Fonseka said he was not prepared to accept the results declared by the Commissioner of Elections yesterday and would seek legal action to get the results annulled.

He also said the government would have to take the responsibility for his life in case of any unfortunate eventuality. He said he had sought the support of… Continue

Added by Editor on January 28, 2010 at 3:31pm — No Comments

Govt. says General was not under arrest

dailymirror.lk

The government yesterday denied speculation that it was holding common opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka under house arrest, and confirmed that he could move out of the hotel at any time he so desired.

Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told a news conference there were news reports circulated by certain international media organizations that General Fonseka’s freedom of movement had… Continue

Added by Editor on January 28, 2010 at 3:28pm — No Comments

Mahinda accepts people's victory

dailymirror.lk

President Mahinda Rajapakse accepted the results of his sweeping win at the presidential elections saying that it was an excellent victory and one that reflected the choice of the people.

Speaking to reporters a short while ago the President said that the results of the polls had proven that the people had an awareness of the democratic process and said that the people could now come together to build… Continue

Added by Editor on January 27, 2010 at 3:27pm — No Comments

Mahinda declared polls winner

dailymirror.lk

Elections Commissioner Dayanada Dissanayake, a short while ago, declared incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse as the elected president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, as per the results of the just concluded presidential elections.

The Elections Commissioner said that he tried his level best to ensure the polls were conducted in a free and fair manner but said that it had been largely… Continue

Added by Editor on January 27, 2010 at 3:26pm — No Comments

Fonseka wants poll annulled

dailymirror.lk

Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka, speaking to reporters a short while ago, called on the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka to annul the outcome of the 2010 Presidential Elections. He said he has sent a letter to the Elections Commissioner giving reasons why the poll should be annuled.

General Sarath Fonseka said that he will take legal action to annul the polls. Among the concerns… Continue

Added by Editor on January 27, 2010 at 3:25pm — No Comments