Though not officially announced, President Maithripala Sirisena would be the absolute choice of the SLFP as its presidential candidate at the forthcoming polls, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday.

He added that the SLFP’s hope was that the SLPP would also toe the line ultimately and select President Sirisena as their presidential candidate because no candidate could win the presidential poll without the support and blessings of the SLFP. The SLFP would officially announce President Sirisena as the party’s candidate shortly.

“Who is the UNP and SLPP’s presidential candidates?” he asked. He told the media at the SLFP office that the UPFA did not want a three-cornered contest at the November – December presidential polls because no one could get absolute victory if there were three candidates from three main parties, the UNP, SLPP and the SLFP. That is why President Sirisena on Wednesday told the members of the SLFP’s women’s wing that he would take a vital decision soon that would make all supporters, members and voters of the SLFP, happy.

“Our attempt is to bring the SLPP into our fold and convince the SLPP that the best candidate from a SLPP – SLFP led alliance is President Sirisena. We have conducted several rounds of talks with the SLPP with the objective of forming a strong, progressive alliance. The talks so far have been successful and few contentious issues, including the presidential candidate, would be taken up for discussion at the next meeting after members of the SLFP women wing urged President Sirisena to contest,” he said.

“No one can ignore the 1.7 million the UPFA received at the February 2018 local government polls. Therefore, there is no doubt that the SLFP would be the king maker at this election,’ Mr. Amaraweera stressed.

Mr. Amaraweera said he expected that the emergency regulations would be lifted in a months’ time and the next extension of the provisions of the Public Security Ordinance would be the last one. The security in the country has come back to normalcy, he noted.

Mr. Amaraweera said the UPFA did not think a referendum was necessary to ask the voter whether he or she needs a general election. The simplest way to go for an early general election is to pass a resolution in parliament with a two thirds majority demanding the President to dissolve parliament. If the government wants a PC poll, what has to be done is to pass a few amendments in the election law.

Mr. Amaraweera lamented that addressing of several important issues such as the campaign against tobacco and smoking, controlling of the underworld and drugs and narcotics has been fully forgotten and even the media has put the topic to the backburner after the Easter Sunday carnage.

He then requested the media to give ample publicity to raids conducted to apprehend underworld characters, drugs, narcotics, moonshine and illegal distilleries. Parliamentarian Weerakumara Dissanayaka also addressed the news briefing

A man in Mullaitivu District claimed to be the tallest person in Sri Lanka. According to BBC Sinhala Service, Gunasingham Kasenthiran, a former cadre of the proscribed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who lives in Kaiveli, Puthukudiruppu is seven feet two inches tall.

In an effort to nip any discord with India in the bud, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction led by Nimal Siripala de Silva as acting chairman called on Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and disassociated itself from remarks by its former Chairman Maithripala Sirisena implicating alleged Indian involvement in orchestrating the Easter Sunday attacks, an informed source said.

The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (Apr 29) compared to last week. According to Seylan Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar are unchanged at Rs. 290.50 and Rs. 301, respectively.

An attempt to send a 17-year-old boy abroad on forged travel documents was foiled and two women suspected of their involvement in the racket were arrested by the Border Surveillance Unit of the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed serious concern over recent remarks made by Minister Tiran Alles, and urging President Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove him from the portfolio of Public Security.

Political tremors are expected on May Day (Wednesday) as members of a few political parties are expected to appear at the UNP May Day rally, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said over the weekend.

The Anuradhapura High Court on Friday passed a death sentence on five police officers who were found guilty of killing eight Tamil civilians at the Bharathipuram village in Kantale 26 years ago. The sentence was passed by High Court Judge Manoj Thalgodapitiya.

Former Army commander Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today (April 26) that the person who had groomed the main Easter Sunday suicide bomber – Zahran Hashim, is the current head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Maj Gen (Rtd.) Suresh Salley.

Sri Lankan-born Rt Rev Anashuya Fletcher was recently ordained and installed as Assistant Bishop of Wellington, New Zealand. The event was held at the Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul and was attended by over 600 well-wishers.

Australia has decided to donate an aircraft to support maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) including Sri Lanka.

More than 7,000 soldiers who deserted the Sri Lanka Army have received legal discharge during an amnesty period declared by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence.

The Sri Lankan Government has rejected a request for an American research ship to enter Sri Lankan waters. This decision is in line with the Government’s policy of not allowing any research vessel to enter Sri Lankan waters.

Alexis Taylor, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), together with U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other senior government officials to discuss USDA support for Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, a statement from the US Embassy said.

Refuting reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa avoided meeting visiting Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, SJB MP Nalin Bandara said yesterday that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not get an appointment from the Iranian Embassy to meet the Iranian President.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam on Thursday accused the infamous Tripoli platoon, a paramilitary intelligence unit, of involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019.

The ruling alliance, led by the Podu Jana Peramuna, popularly known as the Buds Party, has endorsed Ranil Wickremasinghe as its candidate for the upcoming Presidential Elections, set to take place in the third week of October, according to a reliable inside source.

ormer Minister Basil Rajapaksa met Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha yesterday (27) and discussed. The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka conveyed a X message regarding the meeting, highlighting discussions on matters of mutual interest, including the political situation.

A 30-year-old man was arrested by the Biyagama Police in Kaduwela for possession of a substantial haul of narcotics. Police said the suspect was carrying 15 kilograms of ICE, 14 kilograms of hash and 941 grams of heroin at the time of the arrest.

Ahead of the presidential election scheduled for October this year, the foreign powers have ramped up their efforts in the assessment of ground political developments as was in the case of vital elections in the past.

Refuting reports that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa avoided meeting visiting Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, SJB MP Nalin Bandara said today that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not get an appointment from the Iranian Embassy to meet the Iranian President.