Category: Politics
Singapore Prime Minister hosts luncheon for Sri Lanka delegation
July 09, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka delegation led by Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe has graced a luncheon hosted by Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong today.Premier Lee Hsien Loong has pointed out the Sri Lanka delegation that the FTA signed with Singapore will increase investments in Sri Lanka. According to Loong, the trade agreement will allow […]
Udaya Seneviratne assumes duties as Presidents secretary
Jul 06, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed Udaya Seneviratne as his new secretary following the resignation of Austin Fernando. “Mr. Udaya R. Senaviratne assumed duties as Secretary to the President this afternoon (Friday) at the Presidential Secretariat,” the Presidents media unit tweeted. He worked as the Secretary of the Ministry of science […]
‘s farewell speech
July 6, 2018 (LBO) – Secretary to the President and lifelong public servant Austin Fernando’s farewell speech reproduced in full from the Colombo Telegraph: Born on 12th June 1942, having had my primary education at Hikkaduwa Sinhala School, post-primary education at Richmond College, Galle, I was admitted to University of Ceylon, Peradeniya in July 1960. […]
JO MP Tharaka Balasuriya says improve the National Audit Bill
July 6, 2018 (LBO) – In a recent speech in Parliament the JO’s leading economic voice, Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya MP, offered significant constructive criticism on the National Audit Bill. The bill puts forward an independent audit commission that will have significant authority much like other independent commissions in Sri Lanka such as police, judicial etc. […]
Media Minister condemns attacks on journalists contributed to NYT report
July 04, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Media Minister on Wednesday condemned recent attacks on two Sri Lankan journalists who contributed to the New York Times report on massive financial misappropriation linked to the former regime. Releasing a statement, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said he was alarmed by recent attacks because the government came into power […]
New York Times reporter hits Sri Lankan critics with another zinger
July 3, 2018 (LBO) – Days after her controversial expose on Chinese influence in Sri Lanka, New York Times journalist Maria Abi-Habib is out with a hard hitting article detailing intimidation of Sri Lankan journalists by politicians in Sri Lanka. Her first article has reverberated throughout the Sri Lankan media and political spheres. After the […]
Foreign Corespondents Association of Sri Lanka responds to New York Times firestorm
July 3, 2018 (LBO) – The Foreign Correspondents Association of Sri Lanka (FCA) has released a statement on their Facebook page in response to the firestorm created by the recent New York Times article on Chinese influence in Sri Lanka.The statement is reproduced below: FCA Statement on intimidation of journalists who contributed to the recent New […]
Sri Lanka reiterates that Hambantota cannot be used for military purposes
July 02, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has informed China that Hambantota cannot be used for military purposes, Prime Minister’s office said in a statement clarifying a recent news item. Clarifying the PM’s speech made at the Dr. Saman Kelegama memorial conference, the Prime Minister’s office, however, said that the PM negotiated with Prime Minister […]
No contribution was made by China Harbour to my election campaign: MR
July 01, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa says no contribution was made by China Harbour Company to his 2015 presidential election campaign. Releasing a statement Rajapaksa said if any election campaign contributions had been made to him by China Harbour Company, the Port City contract would not have been restored to them and […]
Cabraal hits back at explosive New York Times report
June 28, 2018 (LBO) – Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabral has recently released a statement on social media that is highly critical of the explosive New York Times report which suggested Chinese influence with regard to Sri Lanka’s 2015 Presidential election. The statement is reproduced below: “The New […]
‘s President and the Rajapaksa dotage
June 27, 2018 (LBO) – Former President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa was born on November 18, 1945. A day after he turned 60 years old, on November 19, 2005, he assumed the Presidency. He had just narrowly defeated current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was 56 at the time. By the time the 2020 […]
Explosive New York Times report suggests Chinese influence on Sri Lanka elections
June 26, 2018 (LBO) – The New York Times is out with an explosive report on China’s influence in Sri Lanka.The article puts forward specific details of China Harbor’s financial support to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s unsuccessful 2015 presidential election campaign. LBO is unable to verify the following facts in the New York Times article, […]