Category: News

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Convenor and Kalutara District Leader MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that he will extend his support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Presidential Election.

Speaking at an event held in his electorate on Sunday (04), MP Abeygunawardena said that he made the decision responding to the request of party supporters.

He stressed that his decision is not a move against his leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, he added that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to offer its conditional support to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the 2024 Presidential Election, SLMC leader MP Rauff Hakeem said.

This decision has been reached during the party’s Supreme Council meeting which was held today (04).

Speaking to the media following the discussion, Hakeem stated that the Supreme Council of the SLMC decided to support opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election subject to conditions.

He mentioned that accordingly, the SLMC will hold a discussion with Premadasa in the near future and that they expect to reach agreements on certain matters with him during that discussion.

However, MP Hakeem claimed that the SLMC is not inclined towards any other political party, and that they do not expect any ministerial or other positions by supporting the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) during the forthcoming presidential election.

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The SLPP will expel its members who act against party decisions irrespective of their positions, said its general secretary Sagara Kariyawasam in a letter.

The party’s politburo has taken the decision unanimously, he said.

It comes in the wake of some party politicians having decided to support incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe at the presidential polls.

State minister Piyal Nishantha is one of the recipients of the said letter.

He said they would not fear any such letters, adding that their decision was based on the services rendered by the president to the county.

Businessman Dilith Jayaweera has been named the Presidential Candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya for the upcoming Presidential Election.

The Presidential Candidate was be announced by Wimal Weerawansa at the Sarvajana Balaya convention at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.

Representatives of the alliance participated in this convention.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara declared today that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will throw its support behind Leader of the Samagi Jana alliance and the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Election.

“As the SLFP, our central committee has been steadfastly opposed to the current government. Therefore, we cannot extend our support to them,” MP Jayasekara said, emphasizing the party’s decision to maintain its stance since November 11, 2023, when it resolved not to align with the government.

MP Jayasekara underscored the party’s commitment to uphold the decision made by its Central Committee, asserting that they have adhered to this directive without deviation.

He said that the focus now is on supporting Sajith Premadasa’s candidacy to secure victory in the upcoming election and usher in a new era of governance.

He reiterated the SLFP’s vision of establishing a government characterized by integrity, free from corruption, capable of driving the nation forward.

India’s INS Shalki, a diesel-electric submarine commissioned in 1992 arrived in Sri Lanka’s Colombo port on August 02 and will depart on August 04.

“The visit is an Operational Turn Around (OTR), wherein the submarine will replenish fuel and provisions,” India’s embassy in Colombo said.

“The crew will recuperate and have the opportunity of visiting places of interest in Sri Lanka.”

The Commanding officer was due to call on Sri Lanka’s Western Naval Area Rear Admiral WDCU Kumarasinghe and 50 Sri Lanka naval personnel was to visit the submarine.

INS Shalki was the first submarine to be build in India, the statement said.

Sumbarines INS Karaj had visited Colombo in February 2024 and INS Vagir had visited Colombo in June 2023.

Sri Lanka will address the scarcity of safe drinking water in its north by finally starting on its long-touted “River for Jaffna” project, which was proposed by an engineer 70 years ago, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said.

Wickremesinghe was speaking at the opening of the Thalaiyady Seawater Desalination Plant this morning (2).

“The establishment of this water purification plant will significantly resolve the drinking water issues in Jaffna. We also intend to commence work on the Paliaru Reservoir to provide water to the Pooneryn area,” Wickremesinghe said.

“I have also decided to launch a “River for Jaffna” program. Once both this purification plant and this program are fully implemented, the water problem in Jaffna will be completely resolved. This will help restore the Vadamarachchi area to its former lush state.”

The Jaffna peninsula is bounded by the Indian Ocean and depends on its natural limestone aquifers, but this groundwater has come under threat due to saltwater intrusion, increasing water demands, and runoff from agricultural use of nitrates.

In 1954, Engineer Arumugam, former deputy director of the Irrigation Department, proposed a River for Jaffna for the benefit of the Jaffna peninsula water resources and environment.

Over the years, the irrigation department, Mahaweli Authority, various local and foreign consultants, and international agencies have contributed to and improved the proposal.