The JVP strongly protested yesterday against any move by the US Department of Homeland Security to question Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Sarath Fonseka on the alleged war crime charges.
Addressing a hurriedly summoned press conference, JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said that his party would not challenge the right of the US government to question Gen. Fonseka on the renewal of his ‘Green Card’ which warrants his citizenship in that country.
However, Mr. Amarasinghe said that the US should not overstep its boundaries by questioning Gen. Fonseka or any other Sri Lankan official on the alleged war crime charges in the fight against terrorism.
“Gen. Fonseka is now in the US. According to information we received, there is the possibility of him being questioned on the alleged war crimes. ......... (Read More)
A crucial meeting will take place tomorrow between the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) representatives and leaders of other opposition parties that will determine whether the SLMC would join the United National Alliance.
SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali told The Nation that the final decision will be announced on November 3, the day the official signing of the agreement is to take place. “We had a high command meeting and the members felt that there were still some issues that needed to be clarified. Since we are a minority party we must think about specific issues faced by the Muslims. Therefore, we will meet the leaders of the other parties in the alliance on Monday and take a final decision,” he said. “Definitely, the announcement will be made on 3,” he added. (Read More)
Col. R. Hariharan, writing in the Daily Mirror, wonders if Sarath Fonseka’s strategic ability (so much in evidence during the humanitarian mission to liberate the North and East from the grip of terrorism) would help him in deciding on a political future.
It all boils down to what Sarath Fonseka wants. Does he want to become President of Sri Lanka? Does he want to help Ranil Wickremesinghe become President of Sri Lanka? Does he hate Mahinda Rajapaksa so much that all he wants is to see the man defeated at the next Presidential Election? Does he want to ‘play safe’ and opt for a Parliamentary seat and perhaps a Cabinet post? ......... (Read More)
With Presidential and Parliamentary elections expected in early 2010, the Opposition wants at least 75% of around 200,000 IDPs remaining in northern refugee camps to be resettled in their original homes by the end of this month.
An Opposition delegation headed by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya,which called on the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake on Friday, had asked him to raise with the government the importance of speedily resettling the majority of 200,000 IDPs stuck in makeshift camps.
"We requested the Elections Commissioner to ask the government to resettle at least 75% of the remaining IDPs in their original homes by the end of November", Jayasuriya told the Sunday Island. "As the government is speaking in terms of holding Presidential and Parliamentary polls in early 2010, the IDPs need to be back in their villages in time to vote without any undue pressures being applied on them." .............. (Read More)
The alliance of political parties of the minority communities, that is now being forged is not an electoral alliance, instead, its an alliance to represent their common problems and aspirations, affirmed leaders of the parties said. Constituent parties to the alliance would take their own independent decisions on supporting or forming electoral alliances with any of the major political parties in future elections and a consensus on that was reached at a meeting held last Wednesday, they said.
Leaders of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF-P) and the Democratic People's Front (DPF) attended this meeting held in Colombo.......... (Read More)
The main opposition UNP yesterday charged that the President’s order to state banks to reduce interest rates was just an election gimmick to keep the populace happy and predicted that the rates would go up as soon as the election was over.
At a press conference yesterday, UNP National Organizer, S.B Dissanayake said that the reduction of bank rates will only offer short term relief but would be detrimental to them in the long run. He said the sudden reduction in interest rates will only increase the demand for loans to such an extent that the banks cannot satisfy the demand and will crumble under the strain.
“The government will not be able to satisfy the sudden increase in demand for loans and will eventually have to limit the number of the loans given, at which point these loans will only be given to government employees, conmen and persons with political affiliations,” ............... (Read More)
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has informed the opposition that he would seek foreign monitors for the general and presidential elections that are likely to be held in the future.
The Commissioner had given this assurance when he met some opposition members, including the UNP and SLMC leaders, at the polls secretariat yesterday.
UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, who spoke to the journalists after the meeting with the polls chief, said he had assured them that foreign monitors would be sought to ensure a free and fair election. This assurance had been given consequent on a request made by the party leaders. (Read More)
UNP National Organizer S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday that his party would reach a decision regarding a common candidate for the presidential election in another week, in consultation with everyone concerned, adding that former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was the man of the match of the war against terrorism.
“Gen. Fonseka is a person loved and admired by the people of this country due to his war victory. In fact, he is the real hero in the war against terrorism. He is the man of the match,” said Mr. Dissanayake.
He said that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Gen. Fonseka and former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva were being considered by various elements as possible nominees for the presidential election. (Read More)
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said yesterday that he was "helpless", when his guidelines aimed at ensuring the conduct of free and fair polls were not followed.
"What can I do when my directives are ignored. I am helpless and powerless", an exasperated Dissanayake, had told an Opposition delegation that met him, at his Rajagiriya office yesterday, to request that future elections are held on a level playing field and not under conditions heavily tilted in favour of the government, informed sources said.
The delegation, headed by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, included parliamentarians Tissa Attanayake, Ravi Karunanayake, Hassan Ali and Attorney at Law Daya Pelpola. They had put forward a series of proposals to ensure that election laws are not violated............. (Read More)
Responding to criticism of an alleged attempt to sideline Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka and to deny the war veteran the credit he deserves for spearheading the war against the LTTE, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says a group of bankrupt politicians are now working overtime to destabilise the country.
"This is nothing but a despicable plot being hatched at the expense of the entire country," Rajapaksa says.
Unlike the previous moves by the Opposition to weaken an elected government, this is an attempt to sow dissension among the country’s battle-hardened armed forces, the Defence Secretary alleges. (Read More)
