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SLFP calls for explanation from five party members
[Wednesday 2019-09-04 16:00]
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The SLFP has called for an explanation from five members who had allegedly breached party discipline and will conclude the process within a month including nullifying their Parliamentary membership, General Secretary of the party, Dayasiri Jayasekara said today.
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Poll monitors likely from C’wealth and EU
[Wednesday 2019-09-04 16:00]
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The Election Commission (EC) is expected to give the green light for election observers from the Commonwealth and European Union to oversee the presidential elections.
EC Chairman Mahinda Desapriya informed the political parties in writing that his office had already approved observers from the Commonwealth while the European Union had expressed interest in sending its observers.
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Keith Noyahr abduction case:
Bail for Army staff sergeant
[Wednesday 2019-09-04 16:00]
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Army Intelligence staff sergeant Chamika Sumith Kumara, who was arrested over the abduction and assault of senior journalist and former ‘Nation’ newspaper Deputy Editor Keith Noyahr, was yesterday granted bail by Mount Lavinia Additional Magistrate C.H.G.Liyanage. The suspect was released on two sureties of Rs.2,500,000 for each. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on him. The Magistrate ordered the suspect to appear before the Criminal Investigations Department every last Sunday of the month.
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Polls body seeks Rs 45 million for presidential elections
[Tuesday 2019-09-03 16:00]
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The Elections Secretariat has sought around Rs 45 million from the Treasury for the upcoming presidential elections, a senior official at the Secretariat said.
These funds would be used for printing, security arrangements, electricity and postal services, the official added. Accordingly, the Treasury is expected to grant approval for this request by next week.
The presidential election is expected to be held between November 7 and December 7 this year.
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President agrees to meet PSC on Easter Sunday attacks
[Tuesday 2019-09-03 16:00]
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President Maithripala Sirisena has agreed to meet the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) investigating the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
PSC Chairman, Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri stated that the President has agreed to meet the PSC but said details such as the location, date and time of the meeting were yet to be finalized.
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SLFP's 68th annual convention gets underway
[Tuesday 2019-09-03 16:00]
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The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)'s 68th annual convention began at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium a short while ago.
Incidentally, the convention coincides with the 68th birthday of SLFP leader President Maithripala Sirisena which falls today (Sept 3).
Several key members of the SLFP are present at the event.
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Elpitiya PS polls on Oct. 11
[Tuesday 2019-09-03 16:00]
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The Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha elections are to be held on October 11, the Elections Commission said.
A gazette announcing the elections is to be issued by the Galle District Returning Officer.
The polls had been put on hold by the Supreme Court after it took into consideration a petition filed by the Democratic United National Front (DUNF) over the rejection of its nomination paper in 2017.
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Reports on Easter Sunday blasts to courts from next week – Govt. Analyst’s Dept
[Tuesday 2019-09-03 16:00]
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Reports into the probe into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks will be submitted to the relevant courts from next week, the Government Analyst’s Department said.
These reports include the investigations into the explosions at three popular hotel complexes in Colombo, the explosions at the Kochchikade, Negombo, Katuwapitiya and the Zion church in Batticaloa and also the explosion in the Sainthamarudu area.
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Zaharan's 4-yr-old daughter to be handed over to maternal grandparents
[Tuesday 2019-09-03 16:00]
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The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court today ordered that the custody of the four-year-old daughter of Easter Sunday mastermind, Zaharan Hashim be handed over to the parents of Zaharan's wife.
The court issued the order today following a request made before Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake by the CID.
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Prez polls to be announced after Sep 15
[Monday 2019-09-02 16:00]
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Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya says the 2019 Presidential election will be announced after 15 September.
He stressed that according to the legal provisions available, he will be given the authority after 15 September .
Thereafter, the presidential election will be held within 44 to 65 days, he added.
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SLPP, SLFP agree to limit future cabinet to 30 members
[Monday 2019-09-02 16:00]
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The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) have agreed that a future cabinet must be limited to 30 members.
SLPP Chairman, Professor G L Peiris said that the SLPP and SLFP have reached an agreement on several policies.
He said that among the policies agreed on are the number of cabinet members a future Government must have, amending the electoral system and selecting Ministers on a scientific basis.
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PM leaves for Maldives
[Monday 2019-09-02 16:00]
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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has left for Maldives this morning for a three-day official visit. The Premier left for Maldives by SriLankan Airlines flight UL 101 with a thirteen-member delegation.
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Maximum powers to Provincial Councils: Sajith
[Monday 2019-09-02 16:00]
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I will follow my father Ranasinghe Premadasa’s path and take forward Sri Lanka by devolving powers to the Provincial Councils at the highest level and transform Sri Lanka with the people’s strength to an undivided united country disregarding race, caste, creed and religion, said the Minister of Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Sajith Premadasa.
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Two Army soldiers arrested in Kurunegala
[Monday 2019-09-02 16:00]
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Officers attached to the Kurunegala police in a special search operation detected a T56 gun and a bulk of gun parts from the house of one of the two Army soldiers, who were arrested along with another T56 gun and a gun magazine in Kurunegala on Saturday night.
The arrest was made by the police at the Gowa Kotuwa junction area, while the suspects were traveling on a motorbike around 11.30 p.m. The motorbike has been taken into police custody.
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Announcing UNP Presidential candidate on Sept. 6
[Monday 2019-09-02 16:00]
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Non-Cabinet Minister for Public Distribution and Economic Reforms Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the announcement of the Presidential Candidate of the UNP-led Democratic National will take place at the 73rd Anniversary of United National Party on September 6.
He said it would coincide with the 73rd anniversary of the UNP.
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Thousands protest across Australia against removal of Lankan family
[Sunday 2019-09-01 17:00]
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Thousands of people protested in cities and towns across Australia Sunday against the government's efforts to deport a Tamil family back to Sri Lanka, Gulf Times reported.
The asylum seeker family of four, including two children aged 4 and 2 born in Australia, are being held in a detention centre on remote Christmas Island while a last-minute appeal against their deportation is heard this week in a Melbourne court.
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GCE OL exams in December; presidential poll likely in November
[Sunday 2019-09-01 17:00]
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The Examinations Department has informed the National Election Commission that General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (OL) examinations are scheduled to be held from December 2 to 12.
Examinations Commissioner General Sanath Pujitha told the Sunday Times he had already informed the NEC on the examination schedule for which it was making arrangements.
The move came as the NEC was preparing for the upcoming Presidential election.
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Australia moves Tamil toddlers to remote island detention centre
[Sunday 2019-09-01 17:00]
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A Tamil family of four -- including two Australian-born toddlers -- have been moved to a remote island off the coast of Indonesia, despite a court order blocking deportation, their lawyer said on Saturday.
The family -- who are fighting to remain in Australia because they fear persecution in Sri Lanka -- were moved to Christmas Island detention facility overnight, lawyer Carina Ford said, speaking in Melbourne.
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Sri Lanka may lose MCC Grant
[Sunday 2019-09-01 17:00]
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The US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) warned that Sri Lanka risks losing out on receiving its $ 480 million grant due to delays in signing the agreement.
MCC Sri Lanka Resident Country Director Jenner Edelman told The Sunday Morning that the pre-election environment in Sri Lanka was impeding the grant from receiving even Cabinet approval.
“We regret that the MCC grant has been politicised. In this pre-election environment, even the Cabinet of Ministers hasn’t given approval.”
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Rajitha says UNP won’t make same mistake twice
[Sunday 2019-09-01 17:00]
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The UNP-led alliance would not make the same mistakes it made during the last Presidential Election but would field a winning candidate this year, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said on Saturday.
Dr Senaratne addressing a public meeting in Kuliyapitiya said the candidate would be fielded from a rainbow alliance which would be led by the UNP.
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SLFP to announce stance on polls at party convention
[Sunday 2019-09-01 17:00]
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The SLFP will announce its stance on the presidential and other upcoming elections at its 68th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday, a party spokesman said .
The convention that will be presided over by President Maithripala Sirisena will be held at the Sugathadhasa Indoor Stadium from 2 p.m. onwards.
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EU reviews Sri Lanka’s progress on zero-tolerance of torture
[Saturday 2019-08-31 16:00]
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The fourth meeting of the Working Group on Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights under the European Union-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was held in Colombo, the Foreign Ministry said today.
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Construction of SL's largest drinking water project commences
[Saturday 2019-08-31 16:00]
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The construction of Sri Lanka's largest drinking water supply project began under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena in Vadamarachchi, Jaffna yesterday (Aug 30).
The Rs 2 billion worth project which would see the harvesting of rain water for drinking purposes is expected to be completed within two years by the Department of Irrigation.
According to the President's Office, the project is expected to resolve drinking water issues faced by those in the North.
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Won’t change candidate at any cost: MR
[Saturday 2019-08-31 16:00]
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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that they would not change their presidential candidate at any cost.
Mr. Rajapaksa gave this assurance in response to questions posed by journalists at the BMICH in Colombo while he was attending an exhibition.
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PM-Sajith meet to iron out differences
[Saturday 2019-08-31 16:00]
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In the backdrop of a brewing political crisis, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks with Minister Sajith Premadasa for one and half hours at Temple Trees on Thursday evening to find a way out, a party official said.
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FBI obtained access to Easter Sunday evidence through proper legal channels : Police
[Saturday 2019-08-31 16:00]
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The FBI obtained access to Easter Sunday attack evidence after following proper legal procedure, Police said today (Aug 30) refuting claims that the organization hampered local investigations.
Ven. Medagoda Abeytissa Thero yesterday told a news conference that investigations into the terrorist attacks were affected since the FBI had allegedly obtained samples relating to the carnage, preventing local investigators from carrying out their duties.
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SLPP agrees on new alliance
[Saturday 2019-08-31 16:00]
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Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to form a new alliance’ with supporting political parties.
The new alliance will be named ‘Sri Lanka Podujana Alliance’.
The decision was made at a meeting held with the members of the SLPP and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa last night (29).
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UN stands ready to support Govt for right to justice & truth through OMP
[Friday 2019-08-30 14:00]
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The United Nations (UN) in Sri Lanka said that it stands ready to continue supporting the government in the fulfilment of the commitment to advance right to truth and serve justice through the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), a statement from the UN office in Sri Lanka said.
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