Twenty six new SLFP electorate and district organizers were appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena this morning. SLFP Organizer for Kolonnawa Duminda Silva was one high profile individual to lose his position, to be replaced by Kotikawatte-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Solangaarachchi. Meanwhile, UPFA MP Prasanna Ranatunga was replaced as the Minuwangoda Electorate Chief Organizer by his brother Ruwan Ranatunge.The SLFP Treasurer, Minister S.B. Dissanayake, was named the Hewaheta Electorate Chief Organizer.

The Colombo High Court today refused a request by lawyers representing Yoshitha Rajapaksa to issue an injunction order nullifying the remand order given by the Kaduwela Magistrate on January 30.Rajapaksa's lawyers argued that the remand order was given, not considering the bail application. However, the request was refused since the Magistrate had directed the suspects to be remanded under the Bail Act, since they had not cooperated sufficiently with the FCID investigations. The court ordered Rajapaksa's lawyers to file counter-objections. The next hearing was fixed for March 8

The Criminal Investigation Department has questioned more than 40 Military Intelligence personnel during the past few weeks in connection with the assassination of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge. According to Police Headquarters sources, intelligence officers of various ranks including colonel, major, captain and other rankers like sergeant, corporal and private had been summoned for questioning from time to time and had their statements recorded. Most of them had been summoned in connection with evidence gathered by listening to recordings of telephone conversations between them at around the time of the killing.

Two UN Special Rapporteurs are to visit Sri Lanka in April after the new Government agreed on the proposed dates.The Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers M

Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa

New Port City deal within weeksThe Government will go ahead with the Chinese-funded Colombo Port City but is negotiating with the Chinese builders to reduce the scale of the reclamation site to reduce environmental damage, a Minister said.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday visited Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne who is presently recovering at a hospital in Singapore, after undergoing a bypass surgery, a family member said.Chathura Senaratne, son of Dr Senaratne said the operation carried out on Friday had been successful and that he was recovering.

A Deputy Inspector General of Police who had close links with the top brass of the previous administration is among the possible suspects in the Wasim Thajudeen case, authoritative police sources told the Sunday Observer.

The Joint Operations Command (JOC) received a tip-off an hour before the founding Editor of The Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunge was killed, sources said. According to the sources, the tip-off had been received by a military official who was in charge of the Western Province.A former top official of the JOC had informed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) about this.

While claiming that Sri Lankan journey is still unfolding, with many steep hills yet to be climbed and many turns in the road, US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal said that

President Maithripala Sirisena left for Singapore this morning to visit Health Minister Rajitha Senarathne, who is receiving treatment at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

The UN human Rights Council is to be urged to push Sri Lanka to establish an office linked to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Sri Lanka. In a written statement submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for its 31st session which begins next week, Amnesty International has urged the Council to encourage the Sri Lankan authorities to affirm and deliver on the national and international human rights commitments made in 2015 and ensure that the Human Rights Council monitors progress and insists on implementation.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) have already identified several suspects who are allegedly responsible for the killing of Wasim Thajudeen, and have already recorded statements from some of them. The CID informed court on July 27, 2012 that the death of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen in 2012 is suspected to be a murder. Wasim Thajudeen's charred remains were discovered inside a car, which had reportedly crashed into a wall near the Shalika Grounds in Narahenpita on May 27, 2012. The CID noted at the Colombo Magistrate's Court on July 27, 2015 that since there were disparities in the reports of the Judicial Medical Officer and the post-mortem examination, the responsible officials were questioned and information had come to light that there may be foul play involved with Thajudeen's death.

Three residents in Kelaniya area yesterday filed a Fundamental Right petition in the Supreme Court challenging the government's decision to sing the National Anthem in the Tamil language during the Independence Day celebrations. The petitioners cited President Maithripala Sirisena and the Attorney General as respondents.The three petitioners Sanjeewa Perera, Pradeep Asiri Zoysa and Don Premaratne sought a declaration that the National Anthem shall be sung in Sinhala language with Sinhala words in accordance with the Third Schedule of the constitution.

Regional Development Minister and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka left for Singapore this afternoon to visit Health Minister Rajitha Senarathne, who is undergoing treatment at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Faced with mounting criticism and ridicule, the administration of the Jaffna University's Arts Faculty has backed down today and withdrawn a controversial 'Code of Ethics' imposed on students and staff. Earlier, a notice pasted at the university had informed students that the decision to introduce a code of ethics had been made at the university's senate meeting held on February 16. Accordingly, students had been banned from wearing denims and t-shirts to lectures while females had also been told to wear saris on Fridays.

Tamils are disputing the Sri Lankan government

The Chinese PLA Naval Ship "865" arrived at the Port of Colombo today on a goodwill visit, navy said. The ship was ceremonially welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on her arrival. The ship is scheduled to leave Sri Lanka on February 28.

A block of land in Medamulana belonging to Major Neville Wanniarachchi, who was former president Mahinda Rajapaksa

The US today hailed the reconciliation efforts of the Sri Lankan government in the past year as "very impressive". "I want to congratulate the Government of Sri Lanka for their very impressive continuing steps towards reconciliation," Secretary of State John Kerry said in a joint media meet with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera. "Their efforts to try to address the regional issues, and most importantly, to make peace in their own country are very, very significant. And we really welcome you here," Kerry said.

A group of about 16 Tamil prisoners detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for allegedly having links with the defeated LTTE have restarted a hunger strike in demanding their early release. According to the prison officials some detainees at the Welikada prison and two in the north-central Anuradhapura prison are on hunger strike since Monday. The Tamil detainees recently notified their intention of restarting the hunger strike that they called off twice earlier on the presumption of getting released, based on the assurance given to them by some politicians. The detainees say they have been held for a long time without being charged.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Pieris pronounced today that the death of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen appeared to be a murder under the 296 Penal Code. The Court pronounced this by considering the two post mortem reports produced by the former JMO Dr. Ananda Samarasekara and the current JMO Dr. Ajith Thennakoon, Genetec DNA reports, persecutions of the CID details and CCTV records. The Colombo Additional Magistrate ordered the Director of CID to immediately arrest all the suspects, connected to the murder.

Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday said the construction work of the Sampur coal power plant would begin soon. He told The Island that the project had already received all legal approvals as well as the consent from environmental organisations and from villagers. In addition the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report from the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) on the proposed Power Plant was approved on February 02. The Minister said the ministry would call tenders, complete construction and add the Sampur Power Plant to the national grid by 2020.

Sri Lanka's former Army Commander and Democratic Party leader Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who was elected to Sri Lankan parliament earlier this month as a member, was sworn in as a cabinet minister today. Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka took oaths before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat today as the Cabinet Minister for Regional Development. On February 9, 2016, the United National Party of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe appointed Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to parliament as a national list member for a seat vacated by the death of Land Minister M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa

There were 22,254 Tamil Buddhists and 11 Tamil Bhikkus in the country, Parliament was told yesterday. A document tabled in response to a question raised by UNP Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana by Chief Government Whip and Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said that a census regarding Tamil Buddhists had not been conducted by the Ministry of Buddhasasana or the Department of Buddhist Affairs. Yet according to the results of the census carried out by the Department of Census and Statistics in 2012, the country had 22,254 Tamil Buddhists and 11 Tamil monks.

Five suspected LTTE carders arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) were released by the Additional Colombo Magistrate today on the instructions of the Attorney Generals Department. The five suspects who were detained for allegedly engaging in terrorist activities were released by Magistrate Aruni Artigala today. Four of the suspects were released on bail earlier while the other who was in remand was released today. Another fifteen detainees were further remanded until March 9.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key today met with the President Maithripala Sirisena at Presidential Secretariat a shortwhile ago. Currently a bilateral discussion uunder way between the New Zeland delegation and the government delegationon development of the local dairy sector, education, agro technology, IT and tourism. Prime Minister John Key arrived to the isalnd on a four day visit early this moring. During his visit, he will be opening a Fonterra demonstration farm, promote other commercial links with New Zealand and to chair an executive meeting of the International Democratic Union, an umbrella grouping of conservative political parties.

Former top ranked LTTE Leader Emil Kanthan