Category: Politics
We were very hurt that UNP failed to stand together with us at this critical time: Rishad
For the first time, the enigma behind Sri Lankan Muslim MPs’ evasion and resisting of their portfolios were revealed on July 30. “I discussed with members of our party ACMC as to whether I should stay out of this portfolio till Presidential elections” said the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative […]
Cabinet, State and Deputy Ministers who resigned sworn into office again
Jul 30, 2019 (LBO) – Cabinet, state and deputy Ministers who had resigned from their respective ministerial portfolios were sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena, Monday. Following are the list of ministers with their newly sworn in portfolios …. Rauff Hakeem Minister of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education Rishad Bathiudeen Minister of Industry […]
Sri Lankans must act together in favour of sustained democracy, says UN expert
July 27, 2019 (LBO) – The people of Sri Lanka must act together to secure democracy, human rights and the rule of law, says the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule. “At the root of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of […]
Sri Lanka will be in crisis until we create equal Sri Lanka for all: Mangala
ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM Mr. Speaker, Following the attempted coup and Easter Sunday bombings many of our fellow citizens ask why our country continues to veer from one crisis to another. They are right to do so. The history of Sri Lanka is a history of crisis. In the last seventy odd years, we […]
TNA is neither here nor there today: Opposition Leader
July 26, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is neither in the opposition nor in the government today. Speaking in Parliament at the debate on the constitutional reform process, the Opposition Leader said that there is nothing that the TNA has achieved over the past […]
UN expert to assess rights to freedom of peaceful assembly in Sri Lanka
July 17, 2019 (LBO) – UN Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule will visit Sri Lanka from 18 to 26 July 2019 to assess rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in the country. “We have seen a commendable effort to expand civic space in Sri Lanka, the establishment of strong and independent institutions, […]
Sri Lanka government survives no confidence vote
July 11, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government on Thursday survived a no-confidence vote in parliament after a majority of legislators voted to support the government. Accordingly, 92 members voted in favour of the motion and 119 voted against. Joint Opposition and SLFP voted for, UNF and TNA voted against. The Parliament on Wednesday began […]
No SOFA deal yet; MCC to be presented to Parliament after cabinet approval: PM
July 10, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has not signed a new Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States although discussions are ongoing about a new one, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament Wednesday. Tabling the old SOFA documents in the Parliament, he said diplomatic privileges are already applies to US military […]
EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator to visit Sri Lanka
July 10, 2019 (LBO) – European Union’s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Gilles de Kerchove will visit Sri Lanka this week. The visits aim to support the two countries in their respective efforts to step up security and develop a better exchange of experiences. While in Sri Lanka, de Kerchove will meet high-level representatives of the government, the […]
IGP and Former Defence Secy arrested while in hospital
Jul 03, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top police officer, Pujitha Jayasundara and the former Defence Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando were both arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday terror blasts, yesterday while undergoing treatment in hospital. The Colombo Chief Magistrate, Lanka Jayaratne placed the two officials in remand custody after they […]
Ambassador Rohan Perera pays farewell call on UN Secretary General
Jun 20, 2019 (LBO) – Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York, Rohan Perera paid a farewell call on the UN Secretary General, Antònio Guterres on Tuesday, as he concludes his term as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. During the farewell call, the Secretary General took the […]
Secretary Pompeo unable to visit Sri Lanka during upcoming travel to region: US Embassy
Jun 19, 2019 (LBO) – Due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts during his upcoming visit to the Indo-Pacific region that includes accompanying US President to the G20 Summit in Japan, Secretary Pompeo is unable to visit Sri Lanka as previously announced, the US Embassy in Colombo said. US Embassy in Colombo in a statement said that […]