dailymirror.lk

The deepening uncertainty over whether Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake could retain their seats when parliament meets on April 6 took a dramatic turn yesterday with parliamentary authorities refusing to make arrangements for swearing-in the two new UNP members.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference that…

island.lk

Had the ruling coalition settled disputes among its leading candidates in the provinces, the 2010 General Election would…

dailymirror.lk

The UNP urged the government yesterday to allow a team of specialists to examine the health condition of Gen. Sarath Fonseka who is now in military custody.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference yesterday that the health of Gen. Fonseka had declined according tosources close to his family.

“The government has denied it; yet Gen.…

dailymirror.lk

The Colombo Magistrate yesterday allowed the TID to further detain the two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Sunday Leader editor. Lasantha Wickrematunga, the abduction, intimidation and attempted murder of The Nation’s former deputy editor Keith Noyahr and attacks on and attempted murder of Rivira chief editor, Upali Tennakoon.

Additional…

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that previous governments of the country had erased the history of the country.

“History was removed from school curriculum; as a result, the present generation does not know

our history. But, when someone wants to go abroad, he/she learns the history of that country and even sits for examinations too,” he said…

dailymirror.lk

The police election violence desk said that a total of 220 election related incidents have been reported by yesterday.

In Gampola, at least eight persons were injured when a clash took place between two United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) stalwarts in the area yesterday in Galgediyawa in the Gampola-Peradeniya main road.

The incident had taken place when…

island.lk

Doctors who examined the former Army Commander, General (retd) Sarath Fonseka, had concluded that claims made by his wife Anoma and the JVP about his deteriorating health were not true, Army spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said.…

dailymirror.lk

The Elections Commissioner had lodged a complaint with the police that even vehicle of one of his Assistant Commissioner had not been spared in poster pasting.

In a complaint to the SSP in Charge of Nugegoda Division the Election Chief said that when a vehicle carrying an Assistant Election Commissioner in Colombo area got caught in a severe traffic jam on the…

daIlymirror.lk

The Acting Secretary General of Parliament Dhamika Dassanayake had informed UNP MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa that his Private Member’s motion to amend the Army Act could not be entertained as the House was reconvened to pass the Emergency only.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Rajapaksa, Mr. Dassanayake had said the Parliament was reconvened on March 9 for the sole purpose of…

dailymirror.lk

The ruling UPFA yesterday said a set of Constitutional amendments would be introduced on priority basis soon after the new UPFA govt was formed after the April 8 General election, that will abolish executive presidency, strengthen parliamentary powers and make 17th amendment more effective, among other Constitutional measures instead of a new…

island.lk

Sri Lanka recently turned down a US call to deploy Air Mobile troops instead of Special Forces or Commandos alongside US personnel for a joint training exercise in the East. The Sri Lanka Army has asserted that there was no point in involving Air Mobile troops in an…

dailymirror.lk

In gross violation of election laws, election propaganda was done through unregulated FM channels in the Northern Province, an election monitoring body, Campaign For Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) charged.

Centered in Batticaloa these channels were operated sans permission from Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), CaFE director Keerthi Tennakoon…

dailymirror.lk

Controversy clouds the removal of the Director General of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Mrs. Ramani Jayasuriya by Minister in charge Bandula Gunawardena with the Polls Chief demanding her reinstatement.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka has written to the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority Rumy Marzook ordering Mrs. Jayasuriya to be immediately…

sundaytimes.lk

Monday’s attack by a pack of goons on the Sirasa /MTV media network’s head office, that took place in broad daylight in the heart of the city, has been followed by the usual round of condemnations by government representatives. The complete impunity with which a motley assortment of men arrived at Braybrooke Place,…

dailymirror.lk

Postal voting for the April 8 general election ended yesterday against the backdrop of election monitoring groups reporting several incidents of violence from around the country and of mistakes and blunders by elections officers.

Peoples Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said its elections monitors had reported…

island.lk

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena declined to comment on the attack. Claiming that he had been busy campaigning in Matara for the forthcoming General Election, Yapa urged the media to direct their questions to police headquarters.…

dailymirror.lk

The crisis surrounding Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake took a new twist yesterday with Opposition United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara to make arrangements for UNP members Anura Goppallawa and D.M. Bandaranayake to take their oaths as MPs when the House meets on April 6.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said…

dailymirror.lk

United National Party (UNP) candidate Wijeyadasa Rajapakse PC yesterday rubbished the government claim that Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake were still members of parliament despite the Elections Chief gazetting the appointment of two others to replace them.

Mr. Rajapakse told a news conference that Elections Chief Dayananda Dissanayake’s decision…

dailymirror.lk

Commissioner nominates Bandaranaike and Gopallawa

A Constitutional crisis was in the offing yesterday with the government taking a stand that the expulsion of former Ministers/Parliamentarians Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake from the UNP and losing their membership in Parliament did not hold while the Elections Commissioner had gazetted the…

dailymirror.lk

The Tourism Ministry yesterday denied allegations of any links behind organizing singer Akon's concert in Sri Lanka even though the event was promoted on the Ministry website.

According to Tourism Minister Achala Jagoda the Ministry had no links with organizing the concert and added that it had only received a letter from the organizers requesting for certain…