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v2025

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JO to support a UPFA govt. unconditionally: Dinesh Gunewardena

The Joint Opposition has informed President Maithripala Sirisena that they will support to form a UPFA government unconditionally, JO MP Dinesh Gunawardena said today.

JO stalwart Dinesh Gunawardena made this statement following a meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena at his official residence today. Several JO leaders were seen arriving at the Presidential residence for a meeting with the President.

Meanwhile, National organizer of the SLFP, Susil Premajayantha had met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today. He was earlier quoted as saying that if the present government continues as it is a majority of the UPFA members are unlikely to support it.

He is said to have informed Rajapaksa that they are ready to form a UPFA government after the removal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. A committee appointed to execute further steps to form a UPFA government is said to consist of Minister Premajayantha and MP Dinesh Gunawardena.

JO MP Kumara Welgama said that the Joint Opposition will not accept any portfolios in a SLFP-JO government. He further said that President Sirisena will consult the Attorney General and legal experts on removing the Prime Minister.

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SLFP stalwart in a bid to lure UNP MP's

A SLFP stalwart is reportedly presenting bids to lure in MP’s to form a SLFP led UPFA Prime Minister sources said.

This politician is said to be approaching a large number of UNP MP’s querying as to what the MP expects to cross over and what can be offered by the SLFP to them. When asked a UNP MP said a SLFP MP in connection to a popular sport is attempting to lure UNP MP’s by trying to get them to cross over.

 However the UNP MP said the party is not troubled by the actions of this politician and instead is now focusing on giving effect to the people’s mandate of 2015.

 

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Religious leaders to the forefront to make Karu PM!

Presidential secretariat officials claim that the President’s wish is to appoint UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya as the Prime Minister and the country’s religious leaders are actively involved in the process.

Facing the current political scenario requests asking the MP to accept the post of PM in honour of Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera are putting great pressure on Jayasuriya, a website maintained by an official attached to the President’s office claimed.

It also reported that the President informed the current PM to step down after the SLFP parliamentary group conveyed their displeasure at continuing with the good governance government with Ranil Wickramasinghe at its helm.

However, according to the website the PM’s refusal to step down and his attempts to forcefully remain in the position has caused great instability of the government with the UNP risking the loss of power. As a result, if the good governance government is to continue it is imperative that the PM step down while handing over the position to Jayasuriya and he is now being pressured to do so the website further added.

The website has stressed that this is the only way to continue to the good governance government and for the UNP to stay in power.

karu web read

 Karu’s stance :

 Several representatives of the President including some UNP MPs’ have recently met Jayasuriya recently and called on him asking him to accept the post of PM.

It is reported that MP Chathura Senaratne, the son of Minister Rajitha Senaratne, is playing a pivotal role in this instance.

Several diplomats are said to have also enquired on Karu’s stance while requesting him to intervene to prevent a similar situation as that of The Maldives.

However, Karu is said to be of the stance that he will not accept the post of PM unless the decision is taken by the UNP.

According to sources Jayasuriya’s name was one of the initial names suggested by the President’s party during discussions to replace Wickramasinghe as the PM.

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Sirasa’s personal attack on PM and UNP laid bare: Legal action possible

The National Media Centre has noted that legal action could be taken against the Sirasa television channel belonging to the Capital Maharaja Organization for their telecast recently titled ‘The current situation of the political crisis - Live’ on February 13 running in five segments from 12 in the afternoon to 10 in the night.

According to Centre certain material of the telecast by way of statements and allegations can be deemed defamatory which may be legally actionable. It also noted that the program was clearly focused on creating a public opinion that PM and leader of the UNP Ranil Wickramasinghe should resign from his posts by blaming him for the recent low performance of the government at the recent LG polls. The National Media Centre also noted that media ethics has been clearly violated as none of the accused were given an opportunity to respond to the claims and allegations being made.

The Centre says program had attempted to say that the UNP has suffered a major defeat, that it was caused by the leadership of Wickramasinghe while also criticising the move to form a UNP government. The presenters had also gone on to bring up the past actions of the PM and insinuating that he is attempting to remain in power with the help of known businessman. The program had gone on to level a large number of one sided allegations of the UNP throughout the program bringing in to question the independence of the media organization.

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Remove Ranil the way you removed D.M. – JO tells Maithri

The Joint Opposition have pushed President Sirisena to appoint Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva as the Prime Minister the same way he appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe on January 09. The JO have pressed the President stating that he should do this if he has genuine intentions to form a SLFP led government.

A Joint Opposition leader, when inquired about the statement made by Vajira Abeywardena claiming that the President does not have the power to dismiss a Prime Minister according to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, said that his party’s legal experts have pointed out that there are no such legal impediments, provided the President has a genuine need and the backbone to do this.

“A UPFA government existed when Maithripala became the President on January 08. Back then, there were 121 MPs in Parliament from the SLFP without the likes of Wimal and Dinesh. Only a few SLFP MPs like Duminda Dissanayake, Faiser Mustapha, M.K.D.S. Gunewardena, Rajitha Senaratne and Arjuna Ranatunga supported President Maithri.

There was a rumour going around that at that time stating that if Ranil were to be made the Prime Minister, D.M. Jayarathne should resign first. However, D.M didn’t tender his resignation. Ranil who commanded only a minority group of MPs in Parliament, was named as the Prime Minister. Only then did the likes of Mahinda Amaraweera join the government.

It is valid even now. The support of the people lies with us after the local government elections. The opportunity has presented itself now if the President has a genuine wish to proceed”, the JO MP added explaining his stance.

 What are your thoughts on the 19th amendment?

When asked about the legal issues raised by Minister Vajira Abeywardena, The JO MP said that the same conditions that applied to the post of Prime Minister then will also apply now, especially with regard to the 19th amendment to the Constitution.

According to the nineteenth amendment to the Constitution, The Prime Minister shall continue to hold office throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function under the provisions of the Constitution unless he – (a) resigns his office by a writing under his hand addressed to the President; or (b) ceases to be a Member of Parliament.

However, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has strongly rejected calls for his resignation and has challenged the President to show the majority in Parliament if he decides to appoint someone else.

Pact between JO and SLFP

Meanwhile, The JO MP further said that the Joint Opposition and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party are expected to sign a pact today (16).

The agreement between the two sides will be signed at the official residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the JO MP added.

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Muthu Sivalingam appointed as Deputy Minister

Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) Nuwara Eliya District MP for Kurunegala District Muthu Sivalingam has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Primary Industries.

He was sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena today (15) at the Presidential Secretariat.

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Minimum age for criminal responsibility to be increased to 12

The Cabinet of Ministers have granted approval for a proposal put forward by the Minister of Justice, Thalatha Atukorale, to amend the Criminal Procedure Act in order to increase the age of a child responsible for a crime.

Currently, the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Sri Lanka is 8 years and with the amendment, it is expected to be increased up to 12 years.

It was also decided to gazette the propose amendment and present in Parliament for approval.

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Range Bandara gives up party organiser post! Signs of a cross over?

It is reported that Minister Palitha Range Bandara, who was the organizer of the Anamaduwa electorate in the Puttalam district, has resigned from his post as electoral organizer.

Resignation is only from the electoral organizer post

It is reported that Palitha Range Bandara has communicated of his resignation to the party general secretary. However he is said to have not resigned from his ministerial portfolio.

Political sources claim the resignation of the state minister could possibly be the first signs of a cross over from within the government.

Was disappointed about the UNP leadership

It is also reported that Minister Range Bandara has been displeased with the leadership of the UNP for a long time and that the minister was of the opinion that the Prime Minister should have resigned from the position of party leader after the election results were announced.

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'Choices are imprisonment or stepping down?' - Ranil threatened

Under the current political scenario, the PM has two options says a website maintained by an official attached to the Presidential Secretariat.

The website appears to have warned the PM that if he does not comply with the President's request to step down from the Premiership it is most likely that he will not only lose the post of PM but also his party leadership and reputation as well. According to the post, the only way he will receive any relief from the bond scam accusations are if he steps down honourably as requested it further added.

Will the PM go home honourably? Or head to prison after destroying the party and the UNP government? is a crucial choice to be made by him alone the site said.

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Sagala resigns from Law and Order ministerial portfolios

Minister of Law and Order Sagala Rathnayake has tendered his resignation after making a special statement at the Parliamentary group meeting of the UNP.

In a Facebook post on his page, Rathnayake said that he would not hesitate to sacrifice his positions for the betterment of the party and reiterated that his loyalty to the party and the party leadership remains as strong as ever.

“I will make any sacrifice needed for the uplift the party and will not hesitate to do whatever that is best for the party” the Minister said adding that it was a personal decision made by him to resign from the post. While affirming his continued loyalty to the party Sagala went on to say that he is ready to accept any position granted by the UNP in order to serve the people of this country.

According to government sources a cabinet reshuffle is imminent in the coming days.

sagala 1

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UN urged to stop sending Sri Lanka commander for Lebanon peacekeeping

jean pierre lacroixSeveral rights organisations have written to the head of UN peacekeeping operations requesting to stop Lieutenant Colonel Rathnappuli Wasantha Kumara Hewage due to lead the 12th Force Protection Company (FPC) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 18 February 2018.

A commander with frontline combat command experience in the final phase of the civil war in 2008-9, Lt Col Hewage “should have been screened out of all UN peacekeeping duties,” says the letter marked “very urgent” to Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

“We note that the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has been asked to vet UN peacekeepers from Sri Lanka but consider that ultimately the responsibility lies with your department,” it adds.

Extensive violations

The letter details the commander’s wartime record in a period when extensive violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law perpetrated by the Sri Lankan security forces.

“These violations involved repeated targeted attacks on civilian objects, such as hospitals and food queues, denial of food and medicine to civilians, as well as extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearance by the military, which met the threshold for war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

lt col wasantha hewage cropped1Referring to the official website of the Sinha Regiment, the letter points out that Lt. Col. Hewage (then Major) was present in Puthukkudiyiruppu frontline after he 'took over duties as the Commanding Officer of the 14th Battalion on 20th February 2009'. This was after his active participation in the massive military assault on Kilinochchi as the Acting Commander of 4 Sinha Regiment, which functioned under the 57 Division led by Major General Jagath Dias.

This information already in the hands of the UN would have been enough to reject his application, says the letter, which highlights that the failure to screen Sri Lanka troops and senior personnel ended up in sending three commanders with a war record for peacekeeping operations in Lebanon immediately before Lt Col Hewage.

The commanders are Lieutenant Colonel C.A Rajapaksha, Lieutenant Colonel Dinesh Udugama and Lieutenant Colonel G.P Kodithuwakku.

“All of this suggests inadequate screening by both the UN and Sri Lanka who also has a due diligence obligation, and this is only the contingent commanders, not the men serving under them,” Under Secretary General Lacroix was told.

The Lebanon-bound Sri Lanka Force Protection Unit contingent comprises of 10 officers and 140 other rankers, says the Sri Lanka army.

Source : JDS Sri Lanka

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Cabinet reshuffle soon : Rajitha

Sri Lanka’s coalition government, an alliance between the two main political parties, the United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), will continue despite losing local government polls, a spokesman said.

A Cabinet reshuffle will be decided upon this week itself, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told a news conference.

The coalition did badly at last week’s local government polls, where the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a proxy party of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, emerged as the single largest party.

The polls result led to speculation of changes in the government with calls by the opposition for both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down.

 Source : Economy Next

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