Category: Politics
Media Minister condemns attacks on journalists contributed to NYT report
July 04, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Media Minister on Wednesday condemned recent attacks on two Sri Lankan journalists who contributed to the New York Times report on massive financial misappropriation linked to the former regime. Releasing a statement, Minister Mangala Samaraweera said he was alarmed by recent attacks because the government came into power […]
New York Times reporter hits Sri Lankan critics with another zinger
July 3, 2018 (LBO) – Days after her controversial expose on Chinese influence in Sri Lanka, New York Times journalist Maria Abi-Habib is out with a hard hitting article detailing intimidation of Sri Lankan journalists by politicians in Sri Lanka. Her first article has reverberated throughout the Sri Lankan media and political spheres. After the […]
Foreign Corespondents Association of Sri Lanka responds to New York Times firestorm
July 3, 2018 (LBO) – The Foreign Correspondents Association of Sri Lanka (FCA) has released a statement on their Facebook page in response to the firestorm created by the recent New York Times article on Chinese influence in Sri Lanka.The statement is reproduced below: FCA Statement on intimidation of journalists who contributed to the recent New […]
Sri Lanka reiterates that Hambantota cannot be used for military purposes
July 02, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has informed China that Hambantota cannot be used for military purposes, Prime Minister’s office said in a statement clarifying a recent news item. Clarifying the PM’s speech made at the Dr. Saman Kelegama memorial conference, the Prime Minister’s office, however, said that the PM negotiated with Prime Minister […]
No contribution was made by China Harbour to my election campaign: MR
July 01, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa says no contribution was made by China Harbour Company to his 2015 presidential election campaign. Releasing a statement Rajapaksa said if any election campaign contributions had been made to him by China Harbour Company, the Port City contract would not have been restored to them and […]
Cabraal hits back at explosive New York Times report
June 28, 2018 (LBO) – Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabral has recently released a statement on social media that is highly critical of the explosive New York Times report which suggested Chinese influence with regard to Sri Lanka’s 2015 Presidential election. The statement is reproduced below: “The New […]
‘s President and the Rajapaksa dotage
June 27, 2018 (LBO) – Former President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa was born on November 18, 1945. A day after he turned 60 years old, on November 19, 2005, he assumed the Presidency. He had just narrowly defeated current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was 56 at the time. By the time the 2020 […]
Explosive New York Times report suggests Chinese influence on Sri Lanka elections
June 26, 2018 (LBO) – The New York Times is out with an explosive report on China’s influence in Sri Lanka.The article puts forward specific details of China Harbor’s financial support to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s unsuccessful 2015 presidential election campaign. LBO is unable to verify the following facts in the New York Times article, […]
Buddha said to respect democracy, No dictatorial rule: PM
Jun 25, 2018 (LBO) – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the Buddha had never preached a dictatorial rule but instead his thought was to consult, confer and disperse peacefully and to respect ideologies expressed by all people. “The Government is running the country according to the teachings in Buddhism and if Buddhism faces any danger, government […]
‘s promised act of parliament
June 22, 2018 (LBO) – Yesterday the magistrates court in Sri Lanka, hearing a case related to the country’s most prominent financial scandal, further remanded Arjun Aloysius and Kasun Palisena till July 5th. When July 5th arrives, the two would have spent over 5 months in remand without bail. The media cover the proceedings every […]
‘s progress closely despite their withdrawal from UNHRC
June 21, 2018 (LBO) – Outgoing US Ambassador Atul Keshap has met with senior Sri Lankan officials to convey the assurance of the United States government on human rights front despite their withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council.Ambassador Keshap has said that the US will remain fully engaged with the Sri Lankan government […]
Battle of the 70 year olds as Gotabaya turns 69, three months after Ranil
June 20, 2018 (LBO) – Today, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned 69 years of age, roughly 3 months after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe turned 69 on March 24th.The presidential hopefuls are on a collision course with each other at the next Presidential Election due before January 8, 2020.When both candidates formally go head to […]