Gnanasara Thero set to enter Parliament as MP

Ape Janabala Party (AJP) will take measures to appoint Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero as its national list MP after Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera resigns from his MP seat, AJP President Saman Perera said.

He said Ven. Rathana Thero had requested to remain in the seat as an MP for only three months and had decided to later hand over his parliamentary position to Ven. Gnanasara Thero, after AJP general secretary, Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa Thero nominated himself to the seat.

Following the General Election, the AJP had decided to appoint Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero to fill its National List seat in Parliament.

Ven. Rathana Thero promised to give Ven. Gnanasara Thero the parliament national list seat three months after his appointment. However Ven. Gnanasara Thero had said that it was not an issue if Ven. Rathana Thero occupied the seat even for six months.

Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, had received a total of 67,758 votes in last year’s General Election.

Ven. Rathana Thero contested the election from the Gampaha District. He was a National List MP of the United National Front in the last Parliament.

Ven. Rathana Thero was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on January 5.

The Party Secretary said that they are getting ready to appoint Ven. Gnanasara Thero as a Member of Parliament after the resignation of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana

SJB insists it is not against China

The opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today insisted that it is not against China.

SJB Parliamentarian Kabir Hashim said that his party is against the Sri Lanka Government and not China.

“Some people assume we are against some countries. We are not against the Chinese Government, India or the US. We are against the Sri Lankan Government. Because it is the Sri Lankan Government that is betraying the country,” he said.

The former Minister said this while speaking in Parliament today.

He said that when dealing with any country only decisions favourable to Sri Lanka should be taken.

Hashim said that Selendiva Investments Limited has been formed to sell local assets to foreigners.

Multiple properties in Colombo are to be opened up for investments under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) model through a new company formed with Cabinet approval.

The Grand Hyatt in Colombo, Hilton Hotel and the Gaffoor Building are to be offered to private investors through Selendiva Investments Limited.

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SLAF to get three overhauled Antonov-32 aircraft from Ukraine

Three Ukrainian-built Antonov-32 transport aircraft belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) which were sent to Ukraine for overhaul purposes, will be brought back to the country on Friday.

SLAF Spokesman Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe said the three AN-32B aircraft belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force were sent to Ukraine in August last year to undergo repairs and a life extension.

He said a SLAF team had also left for Ukraine to assist and supervise the process.

SE SSFTIF Ukrinmash together with SE Аntonov and SE 410 CA Plant signed the contract to undergo repairs, with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense last year.

Prior to this, six Ukrainian aviation engineers visited Sri Lanka in May 2020 to inspect the aircraft and recommend a complete overhaul.

The airforce spokesman said the SLAF pilots had already left Ukraine with the AN-32B aircraft and will land in Sri Lanka on Friday.

AN 32B was inducted to the SLAF in 1995 to replace the Avro HS 748 aircraft. SLAF purchased four AN 32B aircraft and all of them were grounded. Sri Lanka is also expecting to send the remaining AN-32 to Ukraine for similar overhauling.

Chinese domination in Sri Lanka security threat to India, TN: Congress

Chennai: Congress Legislature Party leader in the Tamil Nadu assembly, K. Selvaperunthagai, has called upon the state government to pass a resolution urging the Centre to provide proper security to the state as China is dominating Sri Lanka.

He said in a statement on Monday that the recent developments relating to the China supported Colombo Port City project were a major security threat to India.

He said the Narendra Modi government has failed in its foreign policy and this has turned into a major security threat to the country.

Selvaperunthagai called upon the state government to urge the Centre to pursue legal action over this Chinese domination and not to allow a Galwan like situation to develop in Tamil Nadu.

The Sri Lankan government had passed the Colombo Port City Economic Commission bill giving complete control of Hambantota port to the Chinese.

There was huge criticism in Sri Lanka that the new law would provide much control to China and that it would affect the sovereignty of the island nation.

The Tamil Nadu Director General of Police had issued an alert to all the 37 district police chiefs over possible protests from ultra Tamil groups including some groups which are supportive of the Tamil Eelam cause.

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Sri Lanka confirms 54 new COVID deaths; highest toll in a single day death toll to 1,843

Sri Lanka on Tuesday (June 08) registered 54 more victims of COVID-19, marking the highest number of deaths recorded in a single day.

The latest fatalities have moved the country’s death toll to 1,843, the, the Department of Government Information said.

The Department of Government Information stated that 15 of the victims had succumbed to the virus infection between the period of May 10 – May 31. The rest of them have died between June 02 – June 07.

The deceased were identified as residents of Katana, Uduwela, Mawanella, Aranayake, Maligawatta, Eravur 02, Kadawatha, Moratuwa, Alubomulla, Wadduwa, Walasmulla, Kolawenigama, Colombo 15, Ja-Ela, Wattala, Bathgammulla, Thalathuoya, Badulla, Kilinochchi, Nikaweratiya, Maradankadawala, Medawachchiya, Athurugiriya, Elpitiya, Karandeniya, Periyaneelavanai, Kantale, Matale, Rattota, Horampella, Batugoda, Veyangoda, Kandy, Akurana, Udispattuwa, Lunuwatta, Thorapitiya, Mahiyanganaya, Ragama, Colombo 13, Kandana, Avissawella, Wathupitiwala, Pannipitiya and Marawila areas.

As per official data, 26 victims in total were aged over 70 years. Eleven victims were in the age group 61-69 years and ten were aged between 50-59 years. Remaining seven victims were in the age group of 30-49.

COVID pneumonia and complications from chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease have been recorded as the cause of death of the victims.

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Russian, Sri Lankan foreign ministers discuss Covid control, bilateral trade

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the fight against the coronavirus pandemic as well as the issues of bilateral trade with his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena in a phone conversation on Monday.

At the initiative of the Sri Lankan side, a telephone conversation took place on June 7 between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Facebook.

“Current issues of the bilateral agenda were discussed, including the fight against the spread of the new coronavirus infection, Russian-Sri Lankan trade, economic and military-technical cooperation, humanitarian relations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry statement said.

The two sides also agreed to continue coordination of their actions in the UN and other multilateral platforms.

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COVID-19 caseload increases to 210,661

Another 559 COVID-19 cases have been detected today in the country, raising the number of confirmed infections to 210,661.

Accordingly, 2,682 coronavirus cases have been detected in Sri Lanka today.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health said 30,613 persons are currently receiving treatment for coronavirus at several facilities across the country.

Earlier today, 2,214 persons who recovered from COVID-19 were discharged from hospitals, raising the number of recoveries in the country to 178,259.

1,498 suspected COVID-19 cases are also under medical observation at present.

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Tamils in Sri Lanka should not support the Chinese aggression: Tamils for Biden

The Tamils for Biden has urged the Tamils and Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka not to support Chinese aggression.

In its statement, it has said,

We, the Tamils for Biden, are urging the Tamil politicians and the Tamil journalists not to support Chinese aggression.

If anyone from the Tamil community should support or somehow facilitate the Chinese incursion, history will paint them with indelible dark black marks.

China is a very greedy nation, with a selfish and rude attitude. The People’s Republic of China is known for notorious human rights violations.

The Chinese currently hold Chavachcheri and three Islands north of the Tamil Homeland: Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu, and Analaitivu.

The Chinese have done much damage to the Tamils, including playing a major role in the genocide of 2009. In addition,

China sent millions of shells and cluster bombs to attack the “No Fire Zone” in 2009 to kill 146,000 Tamils.

In 2008 and 2009, China threatened to veto the UN Security Council for any pro-Tamil or anti-Sri Lankan resolutions. Now once again, especially after the completion of Colombo Port City, the Chinese have told the world that they will still veto any resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Security Council.

Worst of all, the Chinese helped the Sri Lankan army to destroy evidence of the use of chemical weapons to massacre Tamils in the northeast. This was reported by the local Tamils.

The Chinese always will support Sri Lanka’s efforts to continue the Tamil genocide. China has no moral values. Its own agenda is to destroy the other powerful nations.

The U.S. says China is committing genocide against the Uyghur people. The Uyghurs, similar to the Tamils, are a predominantly non-Chinese ethnic minority that the Chinese government views as a threat in part because some have sought autonomy.

The world suspected China was trying to destroy the world’s economy because Chinese authorities refused to provide World Health Organization investigators with raw, personalized data on early Covid-19 cases that could help them determine how and when the coronavirus first began to spread in China. Now, the Tamils are suffering from Coronavirus as China undertakes an economic invasion of the Tamil homeland.

Tamils made many mistakes in the past during colonial times. They paid too much attention to individual prosperity and became good slaves to the colonizers. In the process, they changed their religion and sacrificed important values. Tamil leaders since have failed to defend Tamils’ political sovereignty and failed to protect their people from the Sinhalese genocide.

Tamils must not repeat the same colonial mindset with Chinese aggressors. If they do so, history will call these collaborators and passive observers the cause of the destruction of the Tamils and the reason for the end of their existence in Sri Lanka.

US hands over critically needed emergency supplies to Sri Lanka

The United States today handed over critically needed emergency supplies to Sri Lanka.

US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Martin Kelly and Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. S.H. Munasinghe commemorated the donation of critically needed emergency supplies, including pulse oximeters, protective goggles, examination gloves, and KN95 masks – all of it donated by the American people at the request of the Government of Sri Lanka.

The donation arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday.

“The United States and Sri Lanka have worked closely together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic since its outset,” US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Martin Kelly said. “We recognize the serious personal toll of the pandemic. At the Government’s request, we’re providing these urgently needed supplies to the Ministry of Health to ensure they reach those in need as fast as possible.”

The shipment of the emergency relief supplies follows the White House announcement last Thursday that the United States will make available nearly 7 million vaccine doses for countries in South and Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka.

Since March 2020, the United States has provided $6 million, plus an in-kind donation of 200 ventilators, to control the spread of COVID-19, address the urgent health needs of the Sri Lankan people, and ultimately save lives. This assistance has reached millions of people in all 25 districts and nine provinces of Sri Lanka to mobilize critical supplies and expertise to support the Sri Lankan Government’s response to the pandemic. The funding is also helping to mitigate the pandemic’s negative economic impacts and help the country recover.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has invested over $26 million in the past 20 years to improve the health and well-being of Sri Lankan families and to combat diseases like malaria, avian influenza, and now, COVID-19.

This is one component of the longstanding partnership between the American and Sri Lankan people to support self-reliance and promote economic growth.

USAID’s program in Sri Lanka, totaling more than 350 billion LKR ($2 billion) since 1961, promotes a healthy, educated, and employed population.

Conspiracy against Sajith exposed : Champika Falls to His Knees

During the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentary Group Meeting, held yesterday, a proposal had been unanimously ratified extending the party’s unstinted support and loyalty to its leader MP Sajith Premadasa, thus dealing a massive blow to a plot hatched by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka to derail the Party.

It is alleged that Ranawaka had taken the lead and conspired to spread fabrications and spurious charges against the Opposition Leader through the creation of fake news items and videos concerning Premadasa and those close to him.

Interestingly, Ranawaka himself had become party to the proposal brought to support Premadasa’s leadership, once it had dawned on him that not a single MP of the party had thrown in their lot with him to destabilise the party leader. It has been alleged that Ranawaka had used various interviews to criticise the Opposition Leader who is still recuperating in hospital after testing positive to COVID-19.

Besides Ranawaka, the other SJB MPs who had been instrumental in tabling the proposal to support Premadasa’s leadership, are Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshman Kiriella, MPs Mano Ganesan and Rauff Hakeem. The proposal had been seconded by Party General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara, Rajitha Senaratne, Sarath Fonseka and Ashok Abeysinghe.

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