Category:
‘s hotel
January 27, 2010 (AFP) – Heavily armed troops on Wednesday surrounded the hotel occupied by Sri Lanka’s main presidential challenger, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, a military spokesman said. Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said troops were deployed following information that army deserters were among 400 people inside the lake-front luxury hotel in central Colombo “We have […]
Sri Lanka President ahead in early results
Jan 27, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapaksa was leading his rival, common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka in early results in an election where over 70 percent of the electorate turned up to vote. Fonseka won the Jaffna polling division Updated Rajapaksa had bagged nearly 60 percent and Fonseka around 38 percent with […]
Sri Lanka postal ballots favour Rajapaksa
Jan 27, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa led in postal ballots of mostly state workers with opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka getting a lead in only districts in which results were declared. Common opposition candidate Fonseka led in postal ballots in Jaffna in the north and Batticaloa in the East with postal ballots […]
Sri Lanka on edge as results released
January 27, 2010 (AFP) – President Mahinda Rajapakse has taken the lead in Sri Lanka’s tense election, officials said Wednesday, but the opposition said it was on course for power despite a row over its candidate’s eligibility. Election officials said Rajapakse, who is being challenged by his former army chief Sarath Fonseka, had won over […]
Sri Lankan stocks up 1.04-pct on polling day
Jan 26, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed one percent higher Tuesday with domestic investors chasing mid capitalized stocks brokers said, while the country voted for a new president and the bourse closed early. Ship builder Colombo Dockyard closed at 300.00 rupees, up 8.00, and activated carbon manufacturer Haycarb closed at 194.00 rupees, up […]
Obituary
January 26, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former governor of the central bank Dr. H Karunatilake died on January 24, the bank said in a statement. He also served on the boards of research institutions, universities, financial institutions, cabinet sub-committees, government sub-commissions and state organizations. Karunatilake served as governor from 1988 to 1992, but has […]
Fonseka ineligible for Sri Lanka president vote: government
January 26, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government said Tuesday that it would challenge the legitimacy of leading opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka, who contested the country’s first post-war presidential election. “We are seeking a court order on the suitability of this candidate because he is not eligible to be declared as a candidate,” Foreign Minister […]
Sri Lanka voter turnout may top 70-pct: monitors
Jan 26, 2010 (LBO) – More than 70 percent of Sri Lanka’s registered electors are estimated to have turned out to vote in Tuesday’s presidential polls, though voting at former war-torn areas in the north and the east was much lower, monitors said. Rohana Hettiarachchi Executive director of PAFREL, an election monitoring body said turnout […]
Sri Lanka votes in tense post-war election
January 26, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankans voted in their first post-war presidential election on Tuesday amid claims of violence and voter intimidation after a bitter and highly personal campaign. The contest was a straight fight between the incumbent, Mahinda Rajapakse, and his former army chief Sarath Fonseka, and was seen as too close to […]
‘s Fonseka unable to vote in election
COLOMBO, January 26, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka said he was unable to vote in Tuesday’s presidential election because his name was not on the electoral register. A pro-government politician had wanted him thrown out of the contest when he filed his nomination because he wrongly claimed Fonseka was a […]
‘s Tamils trudge to polls in post-war vote – Scene
VAVUNIYA, January 26, 2010 (AFP) – Kandaswamy Wellarayanam, 73, walked six kilometres to vote in Sri Lanka’s election from a state camp where displaced Tamils were locked up after the country’s war last year. Now able to move freely, he said he and his wife, daughter and two grandchildren were eager to take part, even […]
Sri Lanka presidential candidate barred from voting over identity
Jan 26, 2010 (LBO) – A leftist candidate in Sri Lanka’s presidential polls was turned away by polls officials Tuesday because he could not present a prescribed identification document under the country’s election laws. There are 22 candidates in the running for the presidency. The front runners are President Mahinda Rajapaksa and common opposition candidate […]