Category: Politics
Sri Lanka to join hands with UK to co-sponsor roll over resolution at UNHRC
Mar 06, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will join hands with the core group leader UK in co-sponsoring the roll-over resolution at the UN Human Rights Council, releasing a joint statement, the Foreign Ministry said. The joint statement has been released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office and the Department of Government Information. […]
‘s defeat of autocracy
February 28, 2018 (LBO) – Samantha Power, United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President Barak Obama, arrived in Sri Lanka to be the keynote speaker at an event felicitating Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera completing 30 years in politics. The event held at the BMICH was attended broadly by the Cabinet, Diplomatic […]
‘s new Media Minister
February 23, 2019 (LBO) – Ruwan Wijewardene has replaced Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera as Sri Lanka’s Media Minister.Wijewardene is also expected to retain his current portfolio as the State Minister of Defense under President Maithripala Sirisena.Mangala Samaraweera resigned from his portfolio as Media Minister in order to make way for Wijewardene. The smooth transition is […]
Prime Minister directs officials for speedier resettlement of Jaffna Muslim IDPs
Feb 18, 2019 (LBO) – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed authorities in Resettlement Ministry and Divisional Secretariat to make arrangements to speed the resettlement process of displaced Muslim families of Jaffna.This is the first time in three decades that the Jaffna’s displaced Muslims, since their plight of expulsion in 1990, are hearing good news […]
Opinion: The PM should aggressively defend independence of the Constitutional Council
February 15, 2019 (LBO) – The past few days have seen pointed verbal attacks on the Sri Lanka’s Constitutional Council. First by Wijedasa Rajapakse, and second by Parliament’s Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. The criticism by two high profile political leaders of the Constitutional Council comes at a juncture when the Council has shown itself to […]
Mangala wants to change state media into public service media; committee appointed
Feb 11, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera today appointed a committee to look into the possibility of converting current state media institutions into genuine public service media institutions. The seven-member committee is chaired by the former Director of UNESCO’s International Programme for Communication Development, Wijayananda Jayaweera.Other members include Professor […]
Opinion: Sri Lanka’s Quest for a Rules-based Indian Ocean
February 6, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Quest for A Rules-based Indian Ocean Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja and Dr. Dinusha Panditaratne* The evolution of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy since the election of a unity government on 8 January 2015 merits interest. Changes include the country’s engagement with a wider range of international partners, as well as […]
Sri Lanka expects to make certain amendments to Singapore FTA: President
Jan 25, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President has discussed with the Prime Minister of Singapore that the Sri Lankan side is expecting to make certain amendments to the Free Trade Agreement signed between the two countries. President Maithripala Sirisena who is on a two-day official visit to Singapore held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister […]
US Navy conducts temporary cargo transfer initiative in Sri Lanka
Jan 23, 2019 (LBO) – United States Navy will perform a transfer operation to move cargo between planes at Bandaranaike International Airport outside Colombo from January 21 to 29, US Embassy in Colombo said. The embassy said that this is part of a larger temporary cargo transfer initiative that promotes Sri Lanka’s efforts to become […]
Mahinda to seek mandate for constitutional reforms at next national election
Jan 23, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Leader of the Opposition, Mahinda Rajapaksa says that they will be putting forward their own proposals at the next national election to seek a direct mandate from the people for constitutional reforms. Releasing a statement, the ex-president says that opposing the draft constitution put forward by the present […]
Parliamentary committee hands over report about recent unruly incidents
Jan 22, 2019 (LBO) – Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today received the report of the Special Parliamentary Committee that investigated into the unruly incidents in the Chamber on November 14, 15 and 16. The Committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker says that the report has identified the Parliamentarians who were directly involved in the unruly incidents. […]
Toll free hotline ‘1984’ launched to obtain tip-offs about drug smugglers
Jan 21, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has inaugurated a hotline for the public to inform authorities about the acts of drug smuggling and related crimes. Toll-free telephone number ‘1984’ which was earlier used by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board as the hotline for counseling and operational activities will be used […]