Category: Politics
PM reveals progress of Presidential Commission of Inquiry
Mar 09, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Presidential Commission of Inquiry has carried out in-depth investigations into 400 complaints to date and investigations into 49 complaints have been finalized, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed. The special commission was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena on March 3rd, 2015 to investigate and inquire into serious acts of […]
Sri Lanka army seeks USD50mn loan from Russia for Mali operations
Jan 26, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet nod has been received to obtain a 50 million US dollar loan from a Russian bank to purchase military equipment required to deploy troops for peacekeeping in Mali. Sri Lanka has made commitments with United Nations to deploy 250 security personnel with major military equipment as well […]
Sri Lanka to amend firearms ordinance
Jan 18, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President, as the Defence Minister, has proposed to the cabinet that the firearms ordinance should be amended as a timely requirement and for security reasons. A committee comprising of the Attorney General, Legal Draftsman, representatives of Tri-forces and other related agencies have made several observations to be included […]
Sri Lanka taking steps to deal with troubled past: Foreign Minister
Jan 16, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will deal with her troubled past honestly and truthfully, Foreign Minister Managala Samaraweera said, speaking at the Chatham House in London last week. Sri Lanka is committed to the co-sponsored resolution worked out with the Human Rights Council in October 2015 to “deal with the past honestly and […]
MR outlines issues of proposed Hambantota port deal
Since the future of the Hambantota port is now under discussion, I wish to explain to the public, my position on this matter. The loans taken for the construction of this harbour were 450 million USD for the first phase, 70 million USD for the bunkering facility and 802 million USD for the second phase […]
Trinco port to India followed by Hambantota to China: JVP
Jan 06, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s marxist JVP says the island nation will have to let India control the Trincomalee harbour as a result of giving Hambantota Port to China. Party leader Anura Dissanayake told a public gathering that the Hambantota port deal is a part of the Chinese maritime silk road which ultimately […]
Sri Lanka divided as panel backs foreign judges to probe war crimes
Jan 06, 2017 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka should bring in international prosecutors and judges to help investigate alleged atrocities in the civil war that ended in 2009, a task force said on Thursday in recommendations that were welcomed by the United Nations. The Consultation Task Force (CTF), appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, said foreign […]
‘ custody
Jan 02, 2017 (Reuters) – India and Sri Lanka agreed to release fishermen in each others’ custody, a joint statement said on Monday, a move that is likely to ease tensions between the countries which have held fishermen captive for crossing territorial waters. After ministerial level talks in Colombo, Sri Lanka reiterated its demand to […]
2017 will be decisive for Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapaksa
2017 will be the year in which the future of Sri Lanka will be decided. The government’s devolution package to divide the country into what they call ‘distinct spheres of authority’, the ETCA with India to open up Sri Lanka to Indian service providers and workers, the privatisation of the Hambantota harbour and other government […]
‘s Mahinda Rajapaksa opposes land for Chinese investment
Dec 29, 2016 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday criticised a government plan to grant 15,000 acres for Chinese investment in his constituency, saying it will deprive people of agricultural land. Rajapaksa, chided by the West and India for his close relations with China during his rule, is now agitating against […]
Southern & Sabaragamuwa PCs defeat controversial bill of development
Dec 27, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Southern Provincial Council and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council today morning defeated the Development Special Provisions Draft Bill. 33 Provincial Council members voted against the bill while only 14 voted in favor in the Southern Provincial Council, while 20 voted against and 13 voted in favor in the Sabaragamuwa Provincial […]
JVP leader Anura Kumara tops most active MP rankings: Manthri.lk
Dec 21, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Marxist JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has topped the most active Parliamentarians ranking of the year, a list compiled by manthri.lk website showed. The website launched in 2013 by Verité Research tracks and ranks parliament representatives in order of their performance. As per the data analyzed using the […]