Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today ordered the Homagala Police to arrest all the people those who behaved in a violent manner on charges of contempt of court and produce before the court before February 9. A tense situation continued yesterday outside the Homagama Court premises after a large number of Buddhist monks and some youth protested against the Homagama Magistrate

The Navy will take action against Lieutenant Yoshitha Rajapaksa based on the advise of the President's office in the wake of the recommendations made by the tripartite committee, Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunatilleke told Parliament today.He said this while responding to a question asked by JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa who said the report of the investigation committee had been forwarded to President Maithripala Sirisena. Mr. Karunatilleke said Lieutenant Rajapaksa had fulfilled his basic qualification of obtaining six credits in GCE O/L exam in the second sitting. He had obtained A/L qualification as well and had obtained Defence Ministry approval for his entry into the Navy.

Two brand new offshore petrol vessels (OPV) would be added to Sri Lanka Navy fleet next year strengthening post -war maritime activities, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne said yesterday. Addressing the media at the Defence Ministry Auditorium, Wijegunaratne said that 80% of the construction of the new vessels had been completed at the Goa Shipyard in India. "We expect to take delivery of one of them in February 2017," Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne said, adding that they would receive the other one at the end of next year.

The US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Keith Harper, says Sri Lanka must have foreign judges in the accountability process on the war. Harper, who was involved in talks with the Sri Lankan Government when the resolution on Sri Lanka was drafted before it was submitted and eventually adopted by the UN Human Rights Council last October, said that the accountability process can be credible only if foreign judges are involved.

The General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena Ven Galagodaatte Ganasara thera was today remanded until February 9 by the Homagama Magistrate over allegations of contempt of court. The thera surrendered himself to court following an order by the Homagama Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka after he disrupted the court proceedings in a case related to the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he had ordered a full investigation into the incident which occurred at the Homagama Courts where a certain group had held a protest against the remanding of Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera. He said he would submit a report to the most Venerable Mahanayaka Theras. The Prime Minister told Parliament that the law would be enforced on anyone no matter who they were.

The Indian Government today said that India has an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today said that he is fully committed to seek justice for the alleged war time abuses and clear the name of the security forces regardless of the abuses, insults and allegations directed to him by narrow-minded political extremists.

State counsel Dileepa Peiris, who appears in the case in connection with the enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, has been removed, say reliable sources.Acting attorney general Suhada Gamlath this morning (26) announced his removal, the sources say. Peiris and lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma requested the magistrate to arrest Bodu Bala Sena general secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera, who behaved in an inappropriate manner as the case was being heard yesterday.

The Sri Lankan government should fulfill its commitments to the United Nations Human Rights Council by ensuring that foreign judges and prosecutors play a significant role in the mandated accountability mechanism for wartime abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. On January 21, 2016, President Maithripala Sirisena told the BBC, contrary to Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena told Tamils in the war-ravaged North Lankan town of Puthukudiyiruppu on Sunday, that infrastructural development alone will not bring about ethnic reconciliation and that efforts must be made to win the hearts of the people to achieve that goal. The President was speaking to families of disappeared Tamils on the sidelines of a function to formally inaugurate a major garment factory set up by the Hiradarmanis, a Sindhi family living in Sri Lanka since the 19 th.Century. The Hirdarmanis are among the three top manufacturers of garments in Lanka. Incidentally, all three are Lankans of Indian origin.

The Homagama Magistrate today issued an arrest warrant on Bodu Bala Sena Secretary General, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara on charges of contempt of court and the disruption of court proceedings. The Thera who was present in Court during the proceedings in the Prageeth Eknaligoda case is said to have insulted the court, disrupted its proceedings and bad-mouthed court officials.

Four Senior Deputy Inspectors General (SDIGs) are presently vying for the IGP's post since Inspector General of Police (IGP), N.K. Illangakoon is scheduled to retire on 11 April. Sources inside the Police Headquarters have revealed that the four SDIGs being considered for the position based on seniority include, N. M. Wickremesinghe who is presently in charge of the President's Security Division, Gamini Navaratne, C. D. Wickremaratne and Pujith Jayasundara.

Captain Chelliah Kanagasabapathy, popularly known as Captain Pathy among his colleagues from British Royal Air Force celebrated his 100th birthday at his hotel in Trincomalee on 20 January. Captain Chelliah Kanagasabapathy from Uduvil, a village in Jaffna served in the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during WWII. Capt. Pathy after completing his studies at Manipay Hindu, Jaffna Hindu Colleges and Ananda College, Colombo joined the RAF in 1941. He was among 18 Sri Lankans to be sent to Scarborough, England after which he was sent to Canada for further training in Neepawa, Manitoba.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday declared open the newly built apparel factory of the Hirdaramani group at Puthukkudiyiruppu in the former conflict zone in the North. Speaking at the event President Sirisena said the future of the country is with the youth and the country can be built with their strength, utilizing their energy and ensuring their democratic rights to build the nation. The President said the government is set to launch many new investment projects in the North where the people are struggling with unemployment and poverty.

President Maithripala Sirisena today assured that he will look to resolve the issue on persons reported missing during the war. The President gave the assurance when he visited Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu, a town which was once under LTTE control. President Sirisena was in Puthukkudiyiruppu today to declare open a new garment factory by the Hirdaramani group. Addressing the gathering at the event, the President said that when he spoke to the employees of the factory they spoke to him about a few concerns they had.Among the concerns raised was poor infrastructure facilities in some areas of the North despite the end of the war seven years ago.

India has reportedly laid down two conditions for the Colombo port city. New Delhi has been opposing the project, alleging it was being built as part of China

Astrology and occultism have been a double-edged sword for former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Belief in them has led him to heights of success as well as depths of disaster. Currently, an astrological prediction is threatening to deny Rajapaksa the Colombo mansion he is desperate to occupy because astrologers had predicted that his political fortune, now at its nadir, would soar if he occupied the house. To Rajapaksa

The army is yet to provide details requested by Court in the case related to missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda. The Homagama Magistrate

President Maithripala Sirisena this week appointed a committee headed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Karunasena Hettiarachchi to expedite the release of private land occupied by the military in the north to owners. The President chaired an hour long meeting attended by the District Secretaries from the North, Army Commander Lieutenant General Chrishantha De Silva, Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M. Swaminathan and the Governor of the Northern Province H.M.G.S.Palihakkara. Mr. Hettiarachchi told the Sunday Times that he would visit Jaffna on Wednesday to assess the situation.

Two high profile visitors

The International Truth and Justice Project is deeply concerned that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena appears to be rolling back on his commitment in Geneva to include international involvement in a future judicial mechanism. In an interview with the BBC yesterday, the President reportedly stated,

TNA Northern Province MP M.K. Shivajilingam says, the party flatly rejected President Maithripala Sirisena's statement in an interview with the BBC that there was no need for a Hybrid Court in the country. Shivajilingam said even the US-sponsored resolution to the UN clearly stipulates the need to seek the services of foreign judges for the judicial process in Sri Lanka, hence the President's statement constitutes a denial of a statement in the US resolution. The MP said the TNA would brief the international community on the President's categorical statement that was a serious matter.

Asian Development Bank Chairman Takehiko Nakao yesterday pledged more financial and technological support to Sri Lanka as the country has made tremendous achievements in the field democracy, Human rights and freedom of people. The ADB Chairman made these remarks when he called on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Their meeting focused on how the ADB can provide further assistance for the development of Sri Lanka.

The Japanese government will send a special envoy on January 24 to Sri Lanka to discuss and help formulate a practicable plan on implementing the Geneva proposals on alleged war crimes. Methu Nebuchi is a specialist judge on crime investigation and a consultant on Sri Lanka

Another US State Department official is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka next week as the US continues to strengthen its relationship with Sri Lanka. Macon Phillips, Coordinator for the Bureau of International Information Programs is expected to arrive tomorrow or early Monday on a short visit. His first role in the Obama Administration was at the White House, as a Special Assistant to the President and Director of Digital Strategy. Previously he ran the new media program for the Presidential Transition Team and served as the deputy director of the Obama campaign

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will not deviate from their stance on finding a solution based on the federal system, TNA Leader and Leader of the Opposition, R. Sampanthan, said. He was addressing a special meeting of the TNA held in Kilinochchi yesterday. The TNA Parliamentarians, Provincial Councillors and members of local bodies in the North and East participated in the meeting. Sampanthan further in his address said, from the time of Federal Party Leader late S.J.V. Chelvanayagam, federalism has been emphasized as a solution to the Tamil question and the TNA will continue with the same stance.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has refuted Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran

President Maithripala Sirisena threw down the gauntlet yesterday on the involvement of foreign and Commonwealth judges and prosecutors in Sri Lanka