Nawalapitiya election incidence report
likely today; second list of
Ministers soon - by K T Rajasingham (01.05.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Colombo : The committee investigating the
Nawalapitiya election incidents is expected to handover its report to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, most probably today. Asian Tribune learns,
after this, the way is cleared for the appointment of the balance
cabinet ministers, and that might happen soon.
Asian Tribune learnt that the inquiry committee recorded statements from
UPFA candidates in the Kandy district. ............................>>
Govt. wrestling backlash over National List & Ministries (25.04.2010 - Sunday
Island, SL)
Political sources say all constituent
partners of the UPFA are angry over their being denied the promised two
National List slots each, though National Freedom Front (NFF) leader,
Wimal Weerawansa was the only one to openly accuse the SLFP of unequal
treatment.
They say the NFF never expected other constituent partners to throw
their weight behind Weerawansa who target UPFA General Secretary and
newly appointed Petroleum Minister Susil Premjayantha for breaching a
pre-April 8 poll agreement on the allocation of National List slots. ........................>>
New
Parliament sworn in : Chamal
elected Speaker unanimously
- Ranil recognised as Opposition Leader (23.04.2010 - The
Island, SL)
The Seventh Parliament was sworn in yesterday.
As the day’s business commenced, after the Secretary General announced
that it was time for the election of a new Speaker of the House, Prime
Minister D. M. Jayaratne proposed the name of senior UPFA MP and former
Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. It was seconded by front row UNP MP Karu
Jayasuriya.
Yesterday’s session commenced around 8.45 a.m., some 45 minutes earlier
than usual. Not all the MPs were present for the first day of the
seventh Parliament. Some were seen arriving late. Even the Opposition
Leader arrived only seconds before the swearing in. .............................>>
The dumping of Musamil : Angry Wimalaccuses UPFA leaders of deceit (23.04.2010 - The
Island, SL)
National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa
yesterday voiced his displeasure over the denial of a National List
slot to his strongman M. Mussamil.
The UPFA had agreed to appoint two NFF MPs from the National List, but
on April 20 after a secret meeting with with Basil Rajapaks, Ministers
Dallas Alahaperuma and Maithripala Sirisen, UPFA General Secretary Susil
Premajayantha had deleted Muszmil’s name without the consent of the
NFF, Weerawansa told the media. He said he had contacted Basil
Rajapaksa, who promised to bring the matter to the notice of President
Rajapaksa the following day. However, no tangible response from any one
had come in favour of the NFF. ............................>>
Former Minister D. M. Jayaratne,
who is one of the UPFA National List MPs was swon in as Prime Minister
before President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday at Temple Trees.
Jayaratne, one of the founder members of the SLFP ook over as Prime
Minister from Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, but is likely to hold office
only for a few months until President Rajapaksa takes his oaths for his
second term in November.
Jayaratne who was born on June 7, 1931 held many portfolios, including
Agriculture and Lands and also functioned as the Secretary General of
the People’s Alliance. ..............................>>
Wimal
miffed about leaving out Musammil
- UPFA constituent partners
get one Cabinet post each (22.04.2010 - The
Island, SL)
The left party alliance is pushing for a
Cabinet portfolio for Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who re-entered parliament
from the Ratnapura District.
A spokesman for the alliance says Nanayakkara should not be denied a
ministerial portfolio. Yesterday, the alliance made representations to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Vasu’s appointment.
Sources said that the appeal had been made jointly by the Communist
Party of Sri Lanka, The Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Sri Lanka Mahajana
Pakshaya, the Democratic Left Alliance and the Deshavimukthi Janatha
Peramua. ........................>>
Parliamentary elections was clear endorsement of Rajapaksa’s leadership’ - Risath Bathiyutheen - by K. T. Rajasingham (19.04.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Colombo : The just concluded parliamentary
General elections turned out to be an endorsement of the island-wide
overwhelming victory of the leadership of Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
Even in the Presidential election, contrary to the prevailing views,
though he was an incumbent, Rajapaksa managed to increase the percentage
of votes support in that election.
Abdul Risath Bathiyutheen, former Minister of Resettlement and Disaster
Relief, who successfully contested as the lead candidate of the United
Peoples Freedom Alliance led by Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Vanni
constituency, and won with the highest preferential vote in that
electoral district, said that the Parliamentary elections in the country
was clear endorsement of President Rajapaksa’s leadership by the people
of the country. ..........................>>
Sarath
Fonseka’s swearing-in is still not clear - Legal pundits say no chance - by K T Rajasingham (20.04.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Colombo : The swearing of Sarath Fonseka as the
Member of Parliament on 22nd of this month when the new Parliament is
convened is still unclear. It is unclear whether he will be ever sworn
in as he is faced with knotty legal problems to overcome.
Asian Tribune learnt that already Sarath Fonseka’s lawyer as well as
Vijitha Herath, the Secretary to the newly formed Democratic National
Alliance have written letters to the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka
Parliament Dhammika Kitulgoda, urging him to arrange for the swearing of
Sarath Fonseka, who is held under custody at the Naval Headquarters by
the Sri Lanka Army. ..............................>>
Rajapaksas
all the way in Lankan Parliament
? - by P K Balachandran (19.04.2010 10:53:18
AM IST - expressbuzz.com)
COLOMBO : The Rajapaksa family is likely
to increase its formal control over the Sri Lankan state apparatus in
the coming years, according to a leading weekly paper.
The Sunday Times said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was likely to
nominate his brother and political aide, Basil Rajapaksa, as the Prime
Minister, and get another brother, Chamal, elected as parliament
Speaker, when the newly-elected House would meet for the first time on
April 22.
A large number of MPs and other leaders of the ruling United Peoples’
Freedom Alliance (UPFA) were backing the candidature of Basil Rajapaksa. ............................>>
Heavy
security for today’s re-polls (20.04.2010 - The
Island, SL)
Re-polls at 37 polling centres in the
Nawalapitiya electorate, in the Kandy District and one at Kumburupiddy
in the Trincomalee District, following the annulment by Elections
Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake of polling there at the April 8
parliamentary elections, will be held today (April 20) amidst tight
security.
Eight hundred police personnel will be deployed for duty at the 37
polling booths in Nawalapitiya, while a further 1,200 will be deployed
to maintain law and order at this hot spot. They will be assisted by the
Special Task Force (STF) and Army. ...................................>>
