ලාල් කාන්ත ජවිපෙන් ඉවත්වෙයි! ජවිපෙන් ඉවත්වී ශ්‍රීලනීපයට යයිද?

ජනතා විමුක්ති පෙරමුණේ දේශපාලන මණ්ඩල සභික, බස්නාහිර පළාත් සභා මන්ත‍්‍රී ජාතික වෘත්තීය සමිති මධ්‍යස්ථානයේ සභාපති කේ.ඞී. ලාල්කාන්ත ජනතා විමුක්ති පෙරමුණෙන් ඉවත්විමට තිරණයි කර ශ්‍රි ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂ ජාතික් ලැයිස්තුවෙන් පාර්ලිමේන්තුවට පැමිණීමට සාකච්ඡා පැවැත්වෙමින් තිබෙන බව අභ්‍යන්තතර දේශපාලන ආරංචි මාර්ග සඳහන් කරයි.

පසුගිය සමයේ යහපාලන ආණ්ඩුව සමඟ ජවිපෙ පත්කළ ප්‍රධාන පෙළේ කමිටුවල දක්නට නොලැබුණු ලාල්කාන්ත මහතා පසුගිය කාලසීමාව තුල පක්ෂය ගත් ඇතැම් තින්දු තිරණ මෙන්ම පක්ෂ නායකත්වය විවිධ පුද්ගලයන්ගේ ඩීල් මත තිරණ ගැනිම සම්බනධයෙන් කලකිරිමට පත්ව සිටින බවද වාර්තා වී තිබිණි.
NS

Thevarapperuma surrenders to CCD?

UNP Parliamentarian Palitha Thevarapperuma has surrendered to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), reports say.

The MP is facing charges of being involved in an assaulting incident in Agalawatta on 18 January where he had allegedly made a PS member kneel down.

Earlier, police Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana said investigation is underway under directions from IGP N.K. Illangakoon.

The police had arrested three suspects and initiated a manhunt to arrest the rest.

President Maithripala Sirisena has also instructed the IGP to appoint a team of officers to investigate the attacking incident.

Thewarapperuma antics again

By Shaahidah Riza - From Ceylon Today

Sri Lanka Freedom Party Parliamentarian, Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the election violence against UPFA supporters have mounted considerably over the past few days and the UNP has to take disciplinary action against its grass root level support base, who were perpetrators of such violence.
See Video below:-
(Via Youtube/Neth FM)

He made these comments at a press briefing yesterday (19) at the SLFP Headquarters. Parliamentarian Anura Priyadarshana Yapa was also present.
Samarasinghe said that a press briefing was necessitated due to an incident that took place in Agalawatte, where a UPFA Councilor was grossly humiliated. According to Samarasinghe, a mob lead by Kalutara District United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Palitha Thewarapperuma had arrived at Samarasinghe's office in Agalawatte and had vandalized UPFA property. The mob had also thrown stones and eggs at the UPFA supporters and had forced the UPFA Councillor Murugan Pushpakumaran to kneel and then beaten him with a helmet which had cracked due to the force.


The President and the Prime Minister had been immediately notified and the police had taken necessary action to prevent further unrest. Samarasinghe also expressed his gratitude towards the government for taking immediate action.
"Pushpakumaran fears for his life. He doesn't want to make a complaint with the police for that very reason. At the scene, Thewarapperuma had the audacity to say that he beat up Ranil Wickremesinghe and that beating Pushpakumaran is child's play. The mob, which came in a vehicle carrying sound equipment, announced on the loudspeaker that they are going to implement good governance," added Samarasinghe.


He also said that it was ironic that those who wish to establish good governance are the very persons who behave contrary to it.
A video clip depicting the incident that took place in Agalawatte was also screened at the press briefing.

HE PresidentMaithripala Sirisena has been officially appointed as the leader of the SLFP

President has been officially appointed as the Leader & Chairman of SLFP a little while ago. It was unanimous decision taken by the Central Committee at the SLFI.  

Mahinda Officially Resigns From SLFP Leadership: Full Text Of Resignation Letter

From Asian Mirror

Basil says he won't return to SL!

From Sri Lanka Mirror

Former minister of Economic Development - Basil Rajapaksa has informed his aides that he would not return to Sri Lanka, 'Sri Lanka Mirror' learns.

Also, in a letter the SLFP General secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, he has resigned from the post of SLFP national organiser after taking full responsibility for the defeat of his brother - Mahinda Rajapaksa at the recently concluded Presidential polls.

Basil Rajapaksa spearheaded the campaign of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, the letter further states that he would continue as a UPFA backbencher in parliament.

It is said that Basil Rajapaksa is currently residing in Los Angeles, US.

Basil Steps Down: Now Maithri Is The Master Of MR's Political Fate

From Asian Mirror

Battle being fought today at Darley Road may ultimately decide the future of Ex "King"

With Basil Rajapaksa resigning from the National Organizer post of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ‘political future’ now lies in the hands of President Maithripala Sirisena.

If President Sirisena, in his capacity as the Chairman of the party, introduces a new clause to the party constitution preventing SLFP patrons from contesting elections, it will shatter the hopes of Rajapaksa who is now trying to make inroads into the country’s Parliament.

When agreeing to hand over the chairmanship of the party to the new President, Rajapaksa had stated that he wanted to contest the forthcoming Parliamentary Election. However, Rajapaksa can only contest the Parliamentary Election with the consent of President Sirisena who now holds the top post of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. With Basil Rajapaksa resigning from the National Organizer position, the former President has lost clout in the main decision making bodies of the party.

Internal sources of the party told Asian Mirror that President Sirisena now has the backing of the majority of Executive Committee and Central Committee members of the party. "Former President Rajapaksa," they said, "had to nod for this arrangement as the party was on the verge of a major split. "

A sizable proportion of Executive Committee members of the party are now making attempts to name Nimal Siripala de Silva as the Leader of the Opposition on April 19. That will pave the way for de Silva to become the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Or UPFA) at the next general election.

The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is likely to meet this evening at the party headquarters to endorse Sirisena’s appointment as the new Chairman of the party.

At the same time, the anti-corruptions activists of the national unity government have already stated that the SLFP’s internal transfer of power will not make any impact on the ongoing investigations into bribery and corruption over the past 10 years. Speaking to Asian Mirror this morning, they said stern action would be taken against those who were responsible for bribery and corruption during the period between 2005 and 2015.

“Even the President cannot influence this process,” a spokesperson of the anti-corruption initiative, speaking to Asian Mirror, said.

SLFP Majority of the MP’s Want President Maithripala Sirisena to take over the Chairmanship of the Party

According to Political circles Ex President Mahinda Rajapakse has agreed to hand over the chairmanship of SLFP to President Maithripala Sirisena.

Reports say after a meeting at the Speakers Official Residence yesterday evening, Mr Mahinda Rajapakse agreed to hand over the guidance of the party to President Sirisena. A working committee meeting of the SLFP  is due to be held today & a proposal to the effect of calling upon President Sirisena to take over the party is to be confirmed. Already some members of the working committee has already agreed to appoint Mr Sirisena as the Chairman last Sunday. This was confirmed my former Minister Wijith Wijitahmuni Soysa at a impromptu press conference on Sunday.

Litigations Galore - SLFP Splits Into Two: Mahinda Re-appointed As Chairman By One Faction

From Asian Mirror

In a major development, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has now been divided into two factions.

While one faction has decided to support President Maithripala Sirisena, the other faction has chosen former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Chairman of the party.

General Secretary of the Rajapaksa faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said 42 members of the Central Committee, who gathered at Darley Road headquarters of the SLFP, re-appointed President Rajapaksa as the Chairman of the party.

However, the group supporting President Maithripala Sirisen said the Central Committee meeting which took place at the party headquarters was unconstitutional as they did not have the majority support of the CC. The SLFP Central Committee comprises of 55 members and both parties claim that they have the majority support in the party’s topmost decision making body.

The headquarters of the party and its assets are still under the purview of Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who is the General Secretary of the Rajapaksa faction of the party. The Rajapaksa faction also stated that the “alleged” Central Committee meeting which took place at the residence of President Maithripala Sirisena was illegitimate.

The Rajapaksa faction of the party held a press conference at the party headquarters this evening with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the chair.

It looks as if the problem involving the “real authority” of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is likely to end up in courts.

Danasiri Amaratunga’s Misleading Propaganda Campaign Embarrasses Rajapaksa

From Asian Mirror

Danasiri Amaratunga, Mayor of Dehiwala- Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council, and several other supporters of the UPFA are engaging in a propaganda campaign on social media, inciting communal feelings against the Tamil community of Sri Lanka.

Amaratunga and his fellow UPFA supporters have shared old pictures of Pro-LTTE protests in other countries to portray that the Tamil Diaspora members are celebrating the victory of Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena. Unfortunately, the pictures they had used clearly showed that the protests had been held on March 22.

Therefore, such social media posts have become a serious embarrassment for former President Rajapaksa, wittingly or otherwise.

The Mayor of Dehiwala – Mt. Lavinia MC also shared another post using derogatory terms to refer to ethnic and religious minorities of Sri Lanka. The derogatory post says those who are protesting against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa are members of ethnic and religious minorities in Sri Lanka.

The constituency of Amaratunga has a sizable proportion of Tamils and Muslims. The Mayor of Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia is bound to serve the people residing in his constituency, irrespective of their race, religion and political beliefs.

The United People’s Freedom Alliance presidential candidate, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa lost the Dehiwala  - Mt. Lavinia polling division with a huge margin at the recently held presidential election

President Secures Majority In Parliament: New Cabinet To Be Appointed Tomorrow

From Asian Mirror

With nearly 25 MPs of the UPFA deciding to support President Maithripala Sirisena, President Maithripala Sirisena has now secured a majority in the Parliament.

Therefore, the new President will be able to continue with his 100 day programme without dissolving the Parliament.

After President Sirisena securing the majority in the Parliament, the new Cabinet will be appointed tomorrow.

When President Maithripala Sirisena appointed his government, he only had the support of 87 Parliamentarians in the house.

Former Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha told media that President Maithripala Sirisena now has the majority power of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s apex decision making body – the Central Committee. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party's Central Committee has the representation of 55 members.

Maithripala Becomes Chairman Of SLFP: Over 20 MPs Join President

From Asian Mirror

In what seems to be the biggest crossover in the political history of the country, over 20 MPs of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party today pledged support to President Maithripala Sirisena and made him the new Chairman of the party.

Among the group who pledged support to the President were Sarath Amunugama, Athauda Seneviratne, Reginald Cooray, T.B. Ekanayake, Wijith Wijayamuni Soysa, S.B. Navinna, Jagath Pushpakumara, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Piyasena Gamage. Sanath Jayasuriya and Karuna Amman have also said that they would support President Maithripala Sirisena.

President Maithripala Sirisena has been appointed chairman of the SLFP by a quorum of party members who gathered at his premises this evening. They also appointed Duminda Dissanayake as the General Secretary of the party and Janaka Bandara Tennakoon as the National Organizer. Former Senior Minister S.B. Navinna was appointed as the new Treasurer of the SLFP.

Former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa were appointed as patrons of the party.

Former Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha said the appointments were made in accordance with the party constitution. He also said the Central Committee also annulled previous decision made by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to suspend Maithripala Sirisena's party member.  He also explained that the majority of Sri Lanka Freedom Party Central Committee members now support Maithripala Sirisena.

Parliamentarian Arjun Ranatunga who was also present at the President's house said over 30 MPs have decided to support President Maithripala Sirisena.

Meanwhile, a parallel Central Committee meeting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is now underway at the Party headquarters in Colombo 10 with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the chair. The group who gathered at President Maithripala Sirisena's residence said the parallel "Central Committee meeting" was unconstitutional!

Two SLFP CC meetings convened???? - One at Darley Road & another at Temple Trees!

Two Central Committee meetings of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) have been convened today (11th of January), reports say.

One meeting has been convened by the present SLFP general secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and it is to be held at at 4.00pm at the party headquarters in Darley Road, Colombo.

The other CC meeting, convened by the former SLFP general secretary and newly elected President - Maithripala Sirisena, is to be held at Temple Trees at 3.00pm.

However, reliable sources say that the majority of the SLFP CC have pledged their support to Maithripala Sirisena, who now holds the highest ranking position in the country.

Undoubtedly, Rajapaksa Needs Divine Intervention At This Poll: UNP

From Colombo Telegraph

Undoubtedly, President Rajapaksa needs divine intervention at this Presidential election. He will have to look to the heavens to try to win back the favour of the people, who have tired of his nepotism, corruption and self-serving administration, says the United National Party.

Issuing a statement the UNP has called upon today the Commissioner of Elections to discharge his duties with diligence and impartiality.

We publish below the statement in full;

The arrogance and extravagance of the Rajapaksa family regime is all too visible in their latest jaunt to Tirupati in South India. The trip was scheduled in the heat of the election cycle, when the forces opposing his rule are agitating for change and the end to the plunder of this state by a single family.

Undoubtedly, President Rajapaksa needs divine intervention at this Presidential election. He will have to look to the heavens to try to win back the favour of the people, who have tired of his nepotism, corruption and self-serving administration.

But as the opposition in this country we are obligated to query where the money came from for the President’s recent devout excursion. Who is incurring the enormous costs of the president and his entourage of lackeys who travelled to Tirupati on a special aircraft hired from SriLankan Airlines?

In addition to the enormous costs of chartering a plane, there is a larger loss of revenue from the aircraft being removed from its normal schedule. Paying passengers are left stranded in numerous airports and SriLankan Airlines is being forced to incur those costs as well. If this was truly a family airline as President Rajapaksa thinks it is then we the public could have looked the other way. But all these costs are borne by the Sri Lankan tax-payer. We pay for both the costs and the losses while the Rajapaksa family treats the national carrier like their personal air limousine service. At a time when the whole election focus is on extravagance, corruption and wastage of the Rajapaksa regime, the disregard of public opinion is emblematic of the the power lust and ‘to hell with the public’ attitude that has been the hallmark of this rule.And this is what the voters are determined to defeat at this coming election.

Our one proud national carrier, SriLankan Airlines has been a loss making enterprise since 2008, the year President Rajapaksa forced its international partners to withdraw over a personal incident. Since then the airline has incurred losses over Rs 91 billion up to 2013. With another record loss in 2014 in the offing, the losses will rise even further. This is no surprise however because just like everything else in the Rajapaksa regime family and friends have taken precedence over capability and qualification.

Without a doubt, the Rajapaksa regime has unleashed a multi-billion dollar campaign to ensure it does not lose its grip on power in January. The advertising campaigns and cut-out onslaught provides ample evidence of the spending power the regime commands. Where does this money come from? Who funds this mega-campaign? Does this money come from state coffers? Or is it the Rajapaksa campaign’s personal funds? In which case, how did this president and his family coterie amass this quantity of wealth? Has President Rajapaksa submitted a declaration of his assets to the Commissioner of Elections? If the common opposition candidate can do so, and make his declaration publicly available, there is no reason why the incumbent should be exempt.

President Rajapaksa has questions to answer. If he fails to do so, his extravagant campaign alone will be unshakable evidence of his corruption and plunder for nine long years. And it will be reason enough to send him and his long list of family members home on January 8.

The time to end this circus has come. It is time to send this group of pillagers home. The people have had enough. They seek change.

We call upon the Commissioner of Elections to discharge his duties with diligence and impartiality. We demand that the Elections Secretariat insist that candidates submit their asset declarations. As Commissioner, Mr. Mahinda Deshapriya is constitutionally empowered to disqualify candidates who fail to abide by election laws. Three days after the nominations period ended cut-outs and posters of the candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa still litter the streets across the country. The material is giving rise to anger and contempt among the general public. Yet why does the Commissioner drag his feet? Why will he not put his words to action?

The people are crying out for a free and fair election, but the signs of such a clean, democratic battle are already fading. Mr. Commissioner, the ball is very much in your court. The decision of the people has already been made. The signs are visible everywhere. We urge you to take the strongest possible action against those candidates or parties attempting to thwart the will of the people. Nothing can stop the wave that has started against the inglorious rule of the incumbency, and if the Elections Commission stands in their way, the people will remember and condemn you for it.

You can decide to be a lackey of the incumbent, or you can choose to be a model democrat, a servant of the state, whose true masters are Sri Lanka’s people.

Hirunika Premachandra ready to Join Maithri Palanayak!!!

SLFP Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra has indicated that she is willing to shift allegiance ahead of the presidential election.

She dubbed former SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena as a “clean politician” in a context where seniors of her party are lashing out at him for becoming the common candidate of the opposition.

It is learnt that Hirunika Premachandra has been approached by the group supporting Maithripala Sirisena and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. A few other members of the Western Provincial Council too are now holding under the radar discussions to extend their support to the common opposition.

“Both Maithripala Sirisena and Rajitha Senaratne are exemplary characters, they were with me during my father’s death: the real issue at hand is that both these gentlemen crossed over and they will not come back”, Premachandra said addressing a public meeting in Colombo obtained. The PC member obtained the highest number of preferential votes under the UPFA ticket at the Western Provincial Council election, a few months ago.

“We should learn from this experience, in order to place this government in a position we should be able to protect the ‘respectable’ members of the party”, Premachandra added.

 Premachandra maintained that in earlier days the SLFP was founded on the five concepts ‘Sanga, Weda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru’, but now it has dramatically changed to ‘Drugs , Ethanol, Murder, Rape and Scams’.

She also said that this situation has occurred as certain newly joined ‘henchmen’ of the powers that be have used their authority for their personal gains.

Lanka minister defects to challenge president at polls - Gulf Times

AFP/Colombo

A senior minister quit Sri Lanka’s ruling party yesterday to stand as the main opposition’s candidate in January elections, accusing President Mahinda Rajapakse of being a corrupt dictator.

As organisers confirmed the election would be on January 8, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said he was confident of toppling his boss in an announcement that earned him the sack from his other post as general secretary of the president’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Underlining the scale of the threat facing Rajapakse, Sirisena was joined at his defection announcement by former president Chandrika Kumaratunga who also said she was leaving the SLFP.

The defection by Sirisena to the main opposition United National Party (UNP) appears to have taken Rajapakse by surprise and represents a major challenge to the authority of the region’s longest-serving ruler.

“I thank the UNP for choosing me as the common opposition candidate,” Sirisena told reporters in Colombo. “We will definitely win.”

Rajapakse declared on Thursday that he will seek an unprecedented third term as president — a move that was only made possible after he pushed through changes to the constitution.

While Rajapakse remains generally popular with majority Sinhalese voters after overseeing the end of a 37-year war against Tamil separatists in 2009, critics say he has become increasingly authoritarian.

“The country is heading towards a dictatorship,” said 63-year-old Sirisena, who also accused the president of nepotism and corruption.

“The entire economy and every aspect of society is controlled by one family.”

The president’s brothers include the speaker of parliament Chamal Rajapakse, the economic development minister Basil Rajapakse and the powerful defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse.

His eldest son Namal is a lawmaker and heads the SLFP’s youth wing.

“Corruption is rampant, there is no rule of law,” added Sirisena who promised to reverse the constitutional amendments brought in under Rajapakse which have increased the powers of the president.

“I urge you to support me to scrap the executive presidency. I will scrap this executive within 100 days.”

His endorsement by the former president Kumaratunga, who is the daughter of two former prime ministers, is seen as a major boost to Sirisena’s electoral fortunes.

“After nine years I am ending my silence. I have decided to re-enter active politics to help bring down a corrupt regime,” said Kumaratunga who has kept a low profile since handing over the leadership of the SLFP to Rajapakse in 2005.

“The question is whether we allow one family to destroy the country or restore decency in politics.” Kumaratunga, who served as president from 1994-2005, told reporters.

“It will be a betrayal of the nation if I do not help this group.”

Three other ministers appeared alongside Sirisena to declare that they were also

defecting.

Officials close to Rajapakse said that the president only realised that Sirisena was about to jump ship a couple of days ago.

Rajapakse had believed the UNP would field its own leader and former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe in the contest.

Soon after Sirisena’s announcement, chief commissioner of elections Mahinda Deshapriya confirmed that the elections would be on January 8, exactly one month after the close of nominations for

candidates.

It means that the elections will be held only days before a scheduled visit by Pope Francis from January 13 to 15, with the Church warning that parties should not use the trip for

political advantage.

The contest is taking place against a backdrop of growing international pressure over the Rajapakse administration’s

human rights record.

The 69-year-old also faces accusations that his administration has silenced dissenting voices, including the media and judiciary after he sacked the chief justice last year.

Ranil Does A Gandhi - Master Craftsman at Work in inhospitable Conditions!!!

By Shyamon Jayasinghe - Colombo Telegraph

Strange things sometimes happen with canny drama. It was only two days ago- last Wednesday evening (20th November)-that I played the DVD of the Gandhi movie to educate my young grandson.

Just as India was about to get independence after the long Gandhi-led struggle Ali Jinnah, one of the leaders of the national struggle, expressed his decision to go for a separate Pakistan explaining that “Muslims cannot have the British removed in order to be ruled by Hindus.”  Throughout the campaign for Indian independence the Muslim-Hindu mutual tension had been running like a hot high voltage wire in the sky. Jinnah’s statement broke Gandhi’s heart. Gandhi went up to Jinnah and assured the latter that he could be the first Prime Minister of India. This incident was cinematically represented as sheer statesmanship in the larger interests of India. In the eyes of viewers the stature of Gandhi soared high and high.

The dramatic happenings today in Sri Lanka seemed to me to resonate somewhat with the above scenario. The United National Party Working Committee, the single biggest party in the country, met to decide on a ‘common candidate.’ The party is just out of its remarkable performance at Uva and is consolidating itself in the country, having united dissident factions. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had valiantly held the party together through unbelievably turbulent years of Rajapaksa dominance and manipulation, was developing considerable self-confidence as a leader. Yet, Ranil is someone with a sharp sense of strategy. He thinks far ahead. What does he do? He goes up to Maitripala Sirisena, the SLFP General Secretary, and offers him the position of common candidate thereby putting his own self- interests aside.  He knows the country’s interests come first and that the abolition of the vicious Presidential Executive system is a sine qua non if Sri Lanka is to move forward. It is not possible to  engage in any sane politics without bringing down the system. A faulty political system can ruin its players-whoever they may be and whatever background they may come from. Wider social situations born of political arrangments often make evil of good men and women. The Executive Presidential system must go and the parliamentary election system must go. We have seen how under the current incumbent the twin systems have been dangerously toxic to the body politic and how it seriously degraded the dignity of citizens. The cry for its eradication was been raised across the island.

Wickremesinghe’s move would ensure the defeat of the regime whereas had he gone it alone with his party that task would have been compromised badly paving the way for a “third term of madness”. Only a man with a vison, and a sense of honesty would do a thing like this. Maitripala, while addressing via Sirasa TV rightfully praised the UNP Leader. Maitripala has been an honest guy among a pack of rogues.

I stand vindicated in having thought that Ranil Wickremesinghe has been the most underrated political leader in Sri Lanka. In times of national crisis leaders must follow this example. The flag of hope now waves for Sri Lanka.

I'm the common candidate: Maithripala (Part 01)