November 2018 ~ Lanka Hot News English

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today rejected reports of giving nominations to anyone and said it has not yet finalised nomination lists.

In a tweet, the SLPP said it had commenced preliminary measures to face the upcoming general election but it had not yet made any

Namal Kumara decides to contest election from SLPP

Anti-Corruption Force Operations Director Namal Kumara today said that he would contest at the upcoming Parliamentary Election as the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) ticket.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror he said people had requested to

I’m ready to take on any responsibility of UNP – Sajith

Deputy Leader of United National Party (UNP) Sajith Premadasa said that he is prepared to take on any responsibility given to him by the party.

He mentioned this when BBC inquired him on whether he was prepared to become the UNP candidate for premiership at the

We will contest under an alliance - PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa says that they have decided to contest the forthcoming General Election under an alliance of political parties.

He further stated that Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have already reached agreement

Some UNP MPs want Sajith as PM candidate

A group of UNP MPs have reportedly warned that they would not contest the general election unless there were sweeping changes in the party hierarchy.

Some young MPs such as Harin Fernando said this at a meeting held in the aftermath of the dissolution of Parliament.

In such a scenario there is a move to nominate

General Election: Recognized parties not subjected to deposits

The gazette notification has been issued with regard to the security cash deposits of independent groups contesting in the 2019 Parliamentary election.

Under Section 16 of Parliamentary Elections Act, independent groups are subjected to deposit a calculated sum of Rs 2000 with

"President Can't Act like Alice in Wonderland"- Counsel tell SC

Challenging all arguments in favour of the dissolution of Parliament, the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday heard ten petitions arguing that President Maithripala Sirisena must abide by the Constitution when exercising Executive powers, and could not act like “Alice in Wonderland”.

Ten petitioners yesterday informed court that the President's powers

Ten FR petitions filed against dissolution of Parliament

Ten Fundamental Right petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the dissolution of Parliament.

UNP Chairman Kabir Hasim, former UNP MP Ajith P. Perera, JVP leader Anura kumara Dissanayake, TNA leader R. Sampanthan and Attorney Lal Wijenayake among those filed the petitions.

President's Fund from 2015: Rs. 26.6 mn paid to 16 MPs

Sixteen parliamentarians have been paid a total of Rs. 26,617,357 as benefits by the president fund from 2015 to up to now.

The highest payment has been paid to 3 Members of Parliament in the year 2016 amount to Rs. 11,700,000.

Two MPs have been paid Rs. 3,917,406 in 2015 and four MPs have

Decision on leaving Temple Trees after SC ruling: Kabir

Chairman of United National Party (UNP) former Minister Kabir Hashim said on Saturday his party would decide whether to vacate Temple Trees or not, only after the Supreme Court rules on the Constitutionality of the dissolution of Parliament.

He told a journalist who inquired as to how much longer the UNP

UNP to come to fore with facelift: Marikkar

United National Party (UNP) former MP S. M. Marikkar yesterday said his party should campaign for the General Elections with new out look.

Mr. Marikkar said this at a media briefing last morning.

“Political platform has to change. Therefore UNP should also have

Will stand up to executive no matter what it costs me - Karu

November 12, 2018hotnews, x 1 comment

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said the Executive Branch has seized the rights and usurped the powers of Members of Parliament who were elected to represent the people.

In a statement, he said the willful disregard demonstrated by the executive towards Parliament, the engine of Sri Lanka’s

Namal to quit SLFP

Former Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa says he will be joining the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with immediate effect.

He also says that they will form a “broader coalition” under the

MS to introduce far-reaching reforms to SLFP

MS to introduce far-reaching reforms to SLFP

President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to introduce far reaching reforms to Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) giving him more powers over the party led by him.

The SLFP All Island Committee which met on Thursday has

Govt. won't abrogate S'pore-SL FTA: Bandula

International Trade and Investment Promotion Minister Bandula Gunawardana said yesterday the new government did not intend abrogate the much criticized Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement because it was an international trade pact.

“An FR has been filed against this agreement in the Supreme Court

647 people in Mullaitivu affected by heavy rains

Nearly 647 people were affected while six others had gone missing when the bunds surrounding six irrigation tanks in the Mullaitivu district had breached because of the heavy rains that lashed the area.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said personnel from the

Dinesh warns Speaker

November 10, 2018 No comments

House Leader Dinesh Gunawardane warned Speaker Karu Jayasuriya not to violate the provisions of the Constitution by taking a partisan stand on the current political situation.

Mr. Gunawardane is reported to have said this at a meeting of the political party representatives. He said the President acted

General Elections to be held on Jan. 5

The extraordinary gazette notice had been issued with respect to holding the General Elections and accordingly it would be held on January 5, 2019, UPFA MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said the first meeting of the new

We're opposed to elections under this illegal Govt: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today it was dangerous to go for an election under a government which obtained power through unconstitutional means and stressed the need to rectify the present political crisis before going for a national election.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference that the

Won’t support impeachment move against President: Mano

The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) would not support any impeachment move against President Maithripala Sirisena, MP Mano Ganeshan said today.

He said they are not in favour of adding more fire to the current

Gota’s travel ban temporarily lifted

The foreign travel ban imposed on former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa was lifted for a period of one month starting December 14 by the Special High Court today.

Mr. Rajapaksa this morning arrived at the Special High Court for the case on alleged misappropriation of Rs 49 million to construct

'President says no to Ranil'

President Maithripala Sirisena reportedly told the TNA parliamentary group yesterday that he would not reappoint UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister even if his party secured a majority in Parliament.

He met with the TNA delegation on Wednesday and discussed the

Finance Minister revives TAC

The Tax Appeals Commission (TAC) which has been inactive for some time has now been revived with the reappointment of Justice Hector Yapa as Chairman and Justice Sunil Rajapakse and S. Swarnajothi, a Former Auditor General as members, The Finance Ministry said yesterday.

They said the reappointments were made by Finance Minister

Vasu denounces 'entertaining' foreign envoys in House

Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara yesterday criticized Speaker Karu Jayasuriya for what he called ‘entertaining’ foreign envoys in Parliament and inquired if the Speakers of these countries would have allowed the intrusion by our envoys in the affairs of their Parliaments and States.

In a letter to the Speaker, National Languages and Social

Aloysius, Palisena further remanded

Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) Owner Arjun Aloysius and its CEO Kasun Palisena, who were arrested by the CID over the Central Bank bond scam, were further remanded till November 21 by the Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

Meanwhile, the travel ban imposed on father of Arjun Aloysius

S. B. Dissanayake appointed Chief Govt. Whip

Minster S. B. Dissanayake has been appointed as the Chief Government Whip.

Identifying Organisers: CV

Former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran said yesterday that he was in the process of identifying electoral organizers of his party at the moment.

Mr Wigneswaran told the Daily Mirror that he tendered his

Legal action if House dissolved: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday said it will take legal action if Parliament is dissolved as anticipated.

This was revealed by UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim at a media

Plans made to dissolve Parliament shortly: Sarath Fonseka

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday alleged that plans are being made to dissolve Parliament shortly.

Fonseka told a media briefing that dissolution of the House would be unconstitutional as President could do it only after the term of

Three more ministers sworn in

Two new Cabinet Ministers and a State Minister have been sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday (07) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

Accordingly, former Speaker and UPFA MP Chamal Rajapaksa has

Fmr DIG Nalaka de Silva further remanded

Former DIG Nalaka de Silva, who was arrested by CID over VIP assassination allegations, has been further remanded till November 21.

DIG Nalaka de Silva, former Director of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), is currently under investigation in

Can’t provide Ministerial Security to ex Ministers: IGP

The Ministerial Security could not be provided to the ex-UNP Ministers despite their requests, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera said in a news briefing held today.

He said that the Ministerial Security could only be provided on the recommendations of President Maithripala Sirisena and added it

Mano, Hakeem say ‘no’ to new government

MP Mano Ganesan today said that he and his five other Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MPs cannot accept the President’s invitation to join the new government.

MP Ganesan today met with President Maithripala Sirisena to discuss about the present situation in the country at the President’s

Party leaders meeting today

A party leaders’ meeting will be held today to discuss arrangements for the ceremonial sitting of Parliament on November 14, Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Neil Iddawala said yesterday.

He told Daily Mirror several matters including seating

Not necessary for instructions for seating arrangements: Dinesh

It is not necessary to take instructions from anyone, when allocating seats for the new Prime Minister and the Cabinet, the Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardene said.

He said as it had already been gazetted, the appointment of the new Prime Minister and the Cabinet, it is the responsibility of the

Allocating seats according to the gazette and Speaker's instructions: Sergeant-at-arms

The allocation of seats for the new Prime Minister and the Cabinet would take place on Monday (12), Sergeant-at-arms Narendra Fernando said.

He said all arrangements in this regard had been completed and acting on the gazette notification relating to the new appointments and obtaining instructions of the Speaker, the allocation of

I would rather be a butterfly than a leech: Mangala

Responding to President Maithripala Sirisena’s remarks yesterday, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said in a twitter message that he would rather be a butterfly than a leech.

The President yesterday said at a rally in Colombo that in the previous government, the decisions were taken by a 'Samanala

Whatever personal issues with me, don’t plunge country into chaos: Ranil to MS

Responding to President Maithripala Sirisena’s remarks at yesterday’s government rally in Colombo, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today whatever the President’s personal issues with him may be, the President should not plunge the country into constitutional chaos through his illegal and immoral actions.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said in a twitter message that the President

RW & Co. tried to drive a wedge between India and me: Prez

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and his associates tried to drive a wedge between him and India.

Addressing the people gathered at the Jana Mahimaya rally at Battaramulla, the President said Mr. Wickremesinghe’s team spread

Very heavy rainfall expected in parts of the country

Under the influence of the low pressure system in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the prevailing showery and cloudy condition is expected to continue over the island and surrounding sea areas, the Department of Meteorology said.

A low pressure area has developed over South-west sea area in the

New Tourism Minister rushes to London