Tag: business

The polls were called early by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to end a power struggle with the rival prime minister over peace talks with the Tamil Tigers, but observers noted they have merely served to usher in an assembly filled with extremists. rn rnrnFor the first time, Sri Lankas parliament will have an all-clergy party taking […]

A hung parliament resulting from Sri Lankas elections could further hamper efforts to end three decades of ethnic war as a weak government cannot engage in tough talks with Tamil Tiger rebels, diplomats and analysts said. President Chandrika Kumaratunga called the poll four years early to seek a strong mandate after accusing her rival, Prime […]

Sri Lankans voted in a hung parliament, after President Chandrika Kumaratungas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won Fridays poll, but fell short of an absolute majority.The final results on Sunday gave the UPFA 105 seats (including 13 national seats) and the outgoing Premier Ranil Wickremasinghes United National Party 82 seats (including 11 national seats).rn rnThe […]

After an overwhelming anti-government vote at Fridays election, JBIZ Chief says the business community should accept the will of the people and work with the new government to map out an economic agenda.The majority United National Party led by Premier Ranil Wckremasinghe lost to the President and JVP led United Peoples Freedom Alliance, at final […]

Sri Lankas final election results could be held up for a week pending a fresh poll in two areas affected by vote rigging, a top election official told AFP.rnDeputy Commissioner K. Senanayake said the vote at booths in two districts was annulled following reports of irregularities, which would now lead to a fresh poll.rn rn […]

President Chandrika Kumaratungas party is ready to form a new government even if it did not garner a simple majority in parliamentary elections, her spokesman Harim Peiris told AFP Saturday.rn“We are emerging the largest single party and we will form the government,” Peiris said. “That is clearly the intent.”rn rn The results of Fridays vote […]

Sri Lanka will have a coalition government as no party secured a clear majority in just concluded parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told AFP Saturday.rnThe premier said he and his main rival, President Chandrika Kumaratunga, had gone before the electorate seeking a mandate for a strong government, but voters sent a mixed signal.rn rn […]

The U.S. Embassy on Saturday congratulated the Sri Lankanrnpeople on the conclusion of a largely peaceful parliamentary election rnwith an impressive level of voter turnout.“We applaud the performance of rnthe Election Commission and the police,” the Embassy said in a statement.rn rn”We look forward working with the new government elected by the people rnof Sri […]

Sri Lanka was headed Saturday for a shaky coalition government as no clear winner emerged in parliamentary elections called to settle a power struggle that has set back the islands peace process.rnThe party of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who has accused the incumbent premier of conceding too much to Tamil rebels, said it was prepared to […]

Dissanayake told reporters that he would meet party leaders on Sunday 10.30 am to appraise them of the situation and take a decision thereafter whether to go for a re-poll.rn rnldblquote The earliest we can have a fresh election is within a week,” Dissananayake said.rn rn”We will not release the district results in respect of […]

President Chandrika Kumaratungas United Peoples Freedom Alliance is still leading Fridays polls, however, her party may still fall short of an absolute majority.rnrn rn rnKumaratungas UPFA has so far secured little over 46. percent of the votes as rnagainst Premier Ranil Wickremasinghes United National Front governments 34.5 rnpercent.rn The Lanka rnAcademic websites ongoing projections show […]

President Chandrika Kumaratungas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has so far secured just over 47 percent of the votes at Fridays parliamentary poll.The ruling United National Front (UNF) led by Premier Ranil Wickremasinghe, was trailing with a little over 35.2 percent of the total votes counted so far, the Elections Dept said.rn rnThe Buddhist clergy […]