Category: News

SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa met ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran today where the two discussed issues facing the North and East as well as the development of the districts if Rajapaksa secures victory in the September 21 Presidential Election, Geethanath Cassilingham, Politbureau Member of SLPP representing the Northern Province told Daily Mirror.

Cassilingham said that Rajapaksa informed Sumanthiran that he was ready to work with the Tamil Parliamentarians from the North and East to address the grievances of the people in the area as well as provide livelihoods and a better future for the youth.

Rajapaksa said irrespective of whether he secures victory in the Presidential Elections, he wanted to ensure that citizens in the North and East had a brighter future and he also intended to develop these districts into international trading hubs.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa has stated during the meeting that he intends to hold discussions with the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) in the near future as well, MP Sumanthiran said.

Sumanthiran in return said he would discuss these matters raised by Rajapaksa in the ITAK’s central committee meeting which would convene tomorrow and appreciated Rajapaksa’s efforts in working for the people in the North and East, Cassilingham said.

US Ambassador To Sri Lanka Julie Chung noting that the United States recognizes human trafficking is a multi-dimensional crime that requires multidimensional approaches, stressed that the US values its partnership with Sri Lanka that is establishing effective victim-centered, trauma-informed policies and strategies to end human trafficking.

“For example, earlier this year, we worked with Police Investigators from the Women & Children’s Bureau, the Attorney General’s Department Prosecutors, Police Training Bureau Instructors, National Child Protection Authority Investigators, and several civil society advocates to enhance their forensic interviewing skills through training on “Forensic Interviewing Skills for Child Abuse Investigations,” to help forensic interviewers when talking to survivors of human trafficking and child abuse. I want to thank DIG Renuka Jayasundara from the police here today who has been a vital partner in all this,” she added.

The U.S. is actively supporting the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force in Sri Lanka, advising on prevention, prosecution, and survivor support. This includes backing the Task Force’s National Action Plan for 2021-2025.

While recognizing Sri Lanka’s progress, such as increased convictions of labor traffickers and proactive measures by Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad, Ambassador Chung noted that significant challenges remain.

The U.S. State Department has urged Sri Lanka to intensify its efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and to ensure that victims are not penalized for actions stemming from their trafficking ordeal.

The U.S. Embassy has announced an additional commitment of USD 24.5 million (Rs. 7.2 billion) from the American people to further the United States’ long-standing investment in the people of Sri Lanka and the US-Sri Lanka partnership.

The additional funding was announced during a visit to Sri Lanka by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia Michael Schiffer at an event held at the Ministry of Finance. USAID Sri Lanka and Maldives Mission Director Gabriel Grau also participated in Friday’s ceremony alongside State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe, the US Embassy in Colombo said.

The funds, committed through a Development Objective Grant Agreement between USAID and the government of Sri Lanka, will strengthen Sri Lanka’s market-driven growth, foster environmental sustainability and resilience, and promote good governance practices. As a result of our partnerships across government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society, the funds support collaborative efforts that are making a positive difference in the lives of Sri Lankans, it added.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung underscored the continued commitment of the American people to investing in economic growth and good governance with this additional funding: “Since 1956, the United States has invested in Sri Lanka’s people, empowering them in their entrepreneurial pursuits, strengthening Sri Lanka’s resilience to climate change and macro-economic shocks, and enriching lives across the country. This additional funding demonstrates our steadfast commitment to working with local partners in Sri Lanka. Together, we are building a foundation for lasting stability and prosperity for communities across the country.”

“The United States and the American people are proud of our longstanding partnership with Sri Lanka and its people,” USAID Assistant Administrator for Bureau of Asia Schiffer said. “This funding is an investment to further support the country’s locally led initiatives to drive sustainable solutions for Sri Lanka’s development challenges.”

The United States has provided more than US $2 billion (Rs. 598 billion) in assistance to Sri Lanka since 1956 to support Sri Lanka’s agriculture, education, health, environment, water, sanitation, infrastructure, governance, and business development and provide humanitarian assistance to people in need. Over the last seven decades, U.S. support has helped modernize Sri Lanka’s diesel coaches, supported its Thriposha supplemental nutrition program, supported the development of electric vehicle charging stations, and empowered women entrepreneurs to drive economic growth.

Ministers Harin Fernando and Manush Nanayakkara lost their Parliament seats following another landmark ruling by the Supreme Court that the decision taken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to suspend their party membership was lawful.

The Supreme Court dismissing a petition filed by Tourism and Sports Minister Harin Fernando and Foreign Employment Minister Manush Nanayakkara challenging the decision taken by the SJB to remove them from the party.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that the decision to suspend the party membership of the two MPs, who joined the Government of Ranil Wickremesinghe, was legal.

The two MPs have now lost their Parliament seats and their Ministerial portfolios.

The Supreme Court ruled last year determining that the decision taken by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress to sack Minister Naseer Ahamed from the party was valid.

Later Diana Gamage was stripped of her Parliament seat following a Supreme Court judgement.

The Supreme Court ruled that Gamage was not legally qualified to hold a parliamentary seat.

Three more candidates placed cash deposits for the upcoming Presidential election today (09) increasing the total number of candidates to 27.

According to the Election Commission, the candidates who placed deposits today are Priyantha Pushpakumara from the Nava Sama Samaja Party, M. Thilakarajah as an independent candidate, J. D. K. Wickramarathne from the Ape Jana Bala Party.

Accordingly, other candidates are President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former MP Sarath Keerthirathne and K.K. Piyadasa, former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Oshala Herath from ‘Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna’, A.S.P. Liyanage of the Sri Lanka Labour Party, Sajith Premadasa of the ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya’, P.W.S.K. Bandaranayake from ‘Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna’, Ajantha De Zoysa from the Ruhunu Janatha Party, Siritunga Jayasuriya from the United Socialist Party, K. Ananda Kularatne, Sarath Manamendra from the Nawa Sihala Urumaya, Akmeemana Dayaratna Thera, Battaramulle Seelaratne Thera, Siripala Amarasinghe, Sarath Fonseka (Independent candidate), K.R. Krishan from the Arunalu Janata Peramuna, Pani Wijesiriwardena from Socialist Equality Party, Anthony Victor Perera, Muhammad Ilyas, Pemasiri Manage, Sidney Jayarathna and D M bandaranayake.

The Election Commission officially announced that the Presidential election will be held on September 21.

The High Commission of India and the Sri Lanka-India Parliamentary Friendship Association with the assistance of Ministry of Urban Development and Housing inaugurated the ‘Sri Lanka – India Friendship Arch’ on 08 August 2024 at the National Sandalwood Garden, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.

The event commenced with the unveiling of the ‘Sri Lanka-India Friendship Arch’ by Hon’ble Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest along with H.E. Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. Hon’ble Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Office Bearers of Sri Lanka – India Parliamentary Friendship Association including Parliamentarians Hon’ble M. A. Sumanthiran, Hon’ble Dr. V. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi and senior officials joined in planting Murutha tree saplings in an arch-shaped tract at the National Sandalwood Garden.

Underscoring an abiding commitment to the environment, the event was organised as a part of the #Plant4Mother campaign launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on World Environment Day 2024. Prime Minister Modi launched the campaign on 05 June 2024 by planting a Bodhi Tree sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi. He called upon everyone in India and abroad to join the movement. In India, the campaign envisages plantation of 800 million trees by September 2024 and 1.4 billion trees by March 2025 following a ‘whole of Government’ and ‘whole of society’ approach.

The inauguration of the ‘Sri Lanka – India Friendship Arch’ is a testament to the long-standing friendship between the two nations. It signifies the shared vision to enhance and deepen the bilateral partnership for mutually beneficial and sustainable economic growth.

The ‘Tamil National Common Structure’, an alliance of Tamil political parties, has announced its decision to nominate Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Central committee member and former MP P.Ariyanenthiran as their common candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election.

Several Tamil political parties and a group of civil society representatives had reached an agreement to nominate a common candidate for the forthcoming Presidential Election.

Accordingly, seven Tamil political parties including the Tamil People’s Alliance and seven civil society representatives had signed this agreement in Jaffna on July 22.

The signatories include C. V. Vigneswaran of Tamil People’s Alliance, Selvam Adaikkalanathan of Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), D. Siddharthan of People’s Liberation Organisation Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Srikantha of Tamil National Party and Suresh Premachandran of Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF).