International Crisis Group Wants Wickremesinghe Back In Saddle
August 13, 2015
The International Crisis Group (ICG) would like Sri Lanka to have a government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe following the August 17 parliamentary elections so that the island nation continues its journey towards democracy, accountability and ethnic reconciliation.
In its latest report released on Thursday, the Brussels-based ICG said that the parliamentary elections offer voters the “chance to renew the mandate for change” they gave Sirisena and the United National Party (UNP) led by Wickremesinghe in January.
The Sirisena-UNP government had set a “new, less Sinhala triumphalist tone on ethnic issues and took some steps for reconciliation”, the report noted.
However, it warned that a “strong showing by the Rajapaksa-led United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) would complicate the President’s plans to form a broad-based national government between the UNP, smaller parties and the reformist wing of the SLFP, and place obstacles to further progress on much-needed governance reforms and reconciliation.”
Further: “Even if he cannot become prime minister, Rajapaksa’s leadership of a large Sinhala nationalist bloc in parliament could make it harder for a UNP-led government’s to act as promised on reconciliation and accountability.”
Thus, “Sri Lanka’s chance to finally start on the road to a sustainable resolution of the country’s decades-long ethnic strife, including a negotiated political settlement, depends on the outcome of the elections.”
In regard to the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on alleged war crimes, which is to come out in September, the ICG urged the government-to-be formed to “commit to the legal reforms needed to effectively prosecute serious human rights violations suffered by all ethnic communities, including war crimes; to pursue prosecutions with adequate witness protection and international involvement; and to consult widely with victims, survivors and community groups on its longer-term program of transitional justice, including a possible truth commission.”
“To be effective, these processes will require consistent international scrutiny and participation, including OHCHR assistance to investigations and continued monitoring and reporting to the UN Human Rights Council,” it added.
(The New Indian Express)
Rajapaksa's Three Sons Cost Him Votes At Presidential Election, Says Gnanasara Thera
August 13, 2015
Bodu Janasena Peramuna (BJP) leader Galagoda Athththe Gnanasara Thera on Wednesday (12) stated that the defeat of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was caused by activities of his own sons.
Addressing a press briefing, Gnanasara Thera stressed that because of those three sons, Sri Lankan security forces personnel did not vote for Rajapaksa in the presidential election.
Moreover Bodu Bala Sena Executive Director Dilantha Withanage said that it never damaged properties of innocent muslims. The organization did not make any attempt to harm the unity between Sri Lankan communities, he added and said if anyone has an image that BBS is an anti-muslim organization it is because Mahinda Rajapaksa interfered the media of the country.
“Rajapaksa did not allow us to reach state media. That is why people have a wrong image on BBS,” he asserted.
However during the presidential election 2010, the BBS openly supported Mahinda Rajapaksa saying that Rajapaksa was the ‘less-harmful’ leader for the country. But after few weeks of the election Rajapaksa accused that the BBS was nothing but a ‘western conspiracy’ create to defeat him in the election.
Rajapaksa Says He Is Yet To See Sirisena's Letter
August 13, 2015Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he is yet to see the letter that is said to have been sent to him by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Speaking at the Homagama UPFA rally taking place at this moment, Rajapaksa said that someone informed him of a letter but he was yet to see it. He said that he cannot say anything before seeing it.
Meanwhile, his media coordinator Rohan Welivita had told media that he was yet to receive a letter. If the President wanted to send a letter to Rajapaksa, the best way would have been to send it directly rather than releasing it to media, he had also said.
A letter sent by Sirisena to Rajapaksa was released to media this afternoon. In it, Sirisena revealed many details of the interactions between him and Rajapaksa during the last few months and added that he would not support Rajapaksa to be the next Prime Minister even if the UPFA wins the election.
Related: Rajapaksa Will Not Be Appointed Prime Minister, Sirisena Informs (SEE FULL LETTER)
The Sri Lankan government on Thursday said that it hoped to continue the suspended development projects in the island nation if it continues in power after the Aug. 17 parliamentary elections.
Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told Xinhua that the government was currently conducting the feasibility and environmental assessments on the projects and after its shortcomings are addressed, they hoped to continue with it.
"If there are any problems or shortcomings in these projects, we will look into and proceed with the projects," Senaratne said.
Certain development projects, including a mega multi billion dollar port city project funded by China was suspended by the government earlier this year after it was sworn to power following the victory of Maithripala Sirisena at a presidential poll in January.
The projects are aimed to attract millions of dollars as investments once completed.
(Xinhua)
President Maithripala Sirisena wrote to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today and reiterated that even if the UPFA wins the general election, he won’t be appointed Prime Minister.
Writing a lengthy letter, Sirisena said that there were a number of other senior party members who could be appointed as Prime Minister. He did not approve of Rajapaksa seeking to be PM once again after being President for years, Sirisena said.
Sirisena also reminded that he had wanted to lead the SLFP election campaign. However, Rajapaksa’s insistence on being given nominations caused him to retreat for the sake of the party, Sirisena said. Otherwise Rajapaksa would have stormed out of the party, dividing it in the process, the President recalled.
If he had led the party, those who had supported him in the general election would have supported the SLFP, Sirisena said.
The President also revealed that he and Rajapaksa met thrice after the January 8 election. He also revealed that the two had a telephone conversation two days prior to Rajapaksa signing nominations. Sirisena revealed that he promised Rajapaksa a respected retirement. According to Sirisena, Rajapaksa had refused, despite the fact that the majority of his family had supported Sirisena’s gesture.
Sirisena also revealed that he and Rajapaksa had been good friends until Basil Rajapaksa ruined the friendship.
Former Secretary to the Media Ministry, UNP Ratnapura District Candidate, Dr. Karunaratne Paranawithana, said that the UNP will win emphatically in Ratnapura District.
Speaking to Asian Mirror, Paranawithana said that the JVP is unlikely to win a seat in the district. The JVP will obtain a considerable vote share only in Kolonna electorate, he pointed out.
Paranawithana predicted that UNP will win six seats and the UPFA will win five. If the JVP wins a seat, the breakdown will change to 6, 4 and 1 to UNP, UPFA and JVP respectively, he predicted further.
He further pointed out that the people were generally not anti-establishment. The UPFA was able to win elections in Ratnapura District with relative ease during the last decade since there was a perception that Mahinda Rajapaksa is undefeatable, he argued, pointing out that this perception has changed dramatically after January 8.
Paranawithana said that even the traditionally left-wing Ehaliyagoda Electorate is likely to be won by the UNP with a substantial lead.
Underworld Figures Returned With UNP Government, Says Rajapaksa
August 13, 2015
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that the UNP government has brought back the underworld figures which his government had chased away.
Speaking at a meeting in Lunugamvehera, he insisted that the political campaign during the last few weeks was testament to the situation in the country.
Furthermore, Rajapaksa said that the new government had stopped the development work initiated by his government. Most of the work in Hambantota and other less developed regions in the country have been brought to a standstill, he added.
Rajapaksa asked the people to vote for the UPFA to restart the development programmes.
Five Years Leave For Public Servants Is Another False Promise By UNP, Says Rajapaksa
August 13, 2015Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday said that the promise of five years of leave for the public sector employees was another false promise given by the UNP.
Speaking at a meeting in Hyde Park Grounds in Colombo, Rajapaksa said that the UNP was planning to destroy the public sector.
He alleged that the UNP will end the free health service. Pointing out that hospitals would be put under an authority in a future UNP government, Rajapaksa warned that government and private hospitals would be the same thereafter.
The former President assured that the public sector servants would get a minimum salary of Rs. 25,000 under a UPFA government.
Former Minister and UPFA Kandy District candidate Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the government would exhume even the slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s body if it would ensure victory in the upcoming general election.
Speaking to media he said that the UNP tried to tarnish the image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, naming him a thief. However, since the people did not believe the UNP, it is now attempting to brand Rajapaksa as a murderer, Aluthgamage said.
He claimed that the people have realized what the government has done in the previous five month period. Therefore, the UNP will be defeated in the election, irrespective of its election gimmicks, Aluthgamage stated.
UPFA Campaign Strategy Has Failed Miserably: Ajith P. Perera
August 12, 2015
Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P. Perera said that both the UPFA manifesto and the image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa have been tarnished during the general election campaign.
Speaking at a press conference at ‘Sirikotha’ UNP headquarters, Perera said that the UPFA manifesto, which promises ‘a guarantee for the future’, does not even have a guarantee for the present.
The UPFA stalwarts backing Rajapaksa thought that they could carry on the election campaign on the back of Rajapaksa’s perceived popularity, Perera said. However, the plan has failed miserably and the UPFA campaign is limping forward, he added. This has further tarnished the image of Rajapaksa, Perera argued.
