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The two leaded of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), President Maithripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa held a private discussion on Tuesday (27), but the outcome of the meeting is yet unknown with a final decision on the proposed alliance between the two political parties still on the balance.

The meeting took place at President Sirisena’s official residence down Mahagama Sekara Mawatha and had lasted for over one hour.

It is learnt that the discussion had revolved around the ongoing discussions to form an alliance between the SLFP and SLPP and the upcoming presidential elections.

According to sources, the meeting was cordial and both Sirisena and Rajapaksa had reviewed the ongoing discussions between the two parties and had agreed to continue them on a positive note.

The seventh round of discussions between the SLFP and SLFPP on forming a political alliance ended earlier that day.

SLPP national organiser, Basil Rajapaksa, said both Rajapaksa and Sirisena were expected to meet for further discussions.

Basil also said that the talks between the SLFP and SLPP were successful and will now have to wait for the final decision on the two leaders.

A US company is to be employed for strategic expertise in the election propaganda campaign of SLPP's presidential candidate Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, informed insider sources revealed.

This company will be entrusted with the task of introducing new concepts to the election propaganda campaign and monitoring the activities while providing solutions for identified weaknesses in the campaign.

Attention will be focused on propagation and publicity models implanted in US presidential election campaigns and to adopt those for Nandasena's campaign making small adjustments to suit the island nation.

This decision has been taken by the SLPP election propaganda committee spearheaded by MP Dulles Alahapperuma who is a close associate of Rajapaksas.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) islandwide e-canvassing campaign has ended in utter failure as it has failed to cover some of the major electorates in the island.

This was mainly due to logistics and manpower problems as well as the heavy public protests against the conduct of SLPP members including their parliamentarians, civil society activists said.

The islandwide e-canvassing programme was implemented on august 3 and 4 using the latest mobile technology, by the Podujana Engineering Front, SLPP sources said.

The SLPP has entrusted this task to groups of youths specially selected for this purpose in all electorates countrywide.

But youths were not provided with smart phones and necessary instructions before hand to carry out the campaign, they said adding that it was a very immature exercise.

They visited the door steps of a very few registered voters and distributed leaflets while sending information and response of voters to their questions to a main operations centre in Colombo using a mobile app, eye witnesses said.

But the responses of the public were minimal and it ended without any productive results, SLPP sources said.

Three trial at bar courts have been appointed by the Chief Justice for the hearing of the Rathupaswala shooting case, Prageeth Eknaligoda’s abduction case and Avant Garde case.

The appointment of the three courts has taken place following a request made by the Attorney General.

The Attorney General on July 11th had sought to indict Brig. Anura Deshapriya Gunawardena and three other soldiers namely D. Aruna Sirisena, G.M. Thilakaratna and Lalith Gray for the killing of three civilians and causing grievous injuries to civilians at the Rathupaswala protests on August 1, 2013.

The Rathupaswala protest was organised demanding clean water for consumption.

On August 9th, the Attorney General had requested the Chief Justcie to appoint a three-member trial-at-bar at the Colombo High Court to hear the case on the abduction and disappearance of journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda.

According to the Attorney General, Eknaligoda’s abduction had taken place on the eve of the presidential elections on January 26, 2010 where former President Mahinda Rajapaksa contested against former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka.

On August 21st, the Attorney General had requested the Chief Justice to appoint a three-member trial-at-bar at the Colombo High Court to hear the case on the Avant Garde illegal floating armoury.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera in his letter to the Chief Justice has noted that 13 suspects would be charged over this case under 7573 counts for violating the Firearms Ordinance, Explosives Ordinance, and the Penal Code.

Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP) and presidential hopeful Minister Sajith Premadasa expressing his policy on providing a permanent solution to the national question says that he is for maximum devolution within a unitary state.

He explained that maximum devolution within a unitary Sri Lanka was the policy stand taken by the incumbent government in 2015 and that policy still remains.

Premadasa made these observations while speaking at an interactive session on ‘New Media for a New Sri Lanka’ in Colombo yesterday (27).

Premadasa said there needs to be awareness to ensure all Sri Lankans believe in a unitary Sri Lanka as opposed to just having it on paper.

Making a pertinent point, the Minister said that racism must be eliminated in order to ensure everyone believes in a unitary Sri Lanka.

“I don’t like to use the word minorities because we are all citizens of one country,” the presidential hopeful said.

Premadasa said that if some people feel aggrieved, those grievances should be addressed within a unitary Sri Lanka and that the issue of a unitary Sri Lanka was non-negotiable.

Sri Lanka Ports has violated customs regulations in importing 27 cranes for the Jaya Container Terminal of the Port of Colombo by failing to pay penalties customs running up to millions of rupees during the Rajapksa regime, a recent audit inspection revealed.

In order to improve the efficiency and productivity at the container terminals, 3 gantry cranes and 6 transfer cranes and another 03 gantry cranes and 24 transfer cranes had been imported to Sri Lanka at the end of April 2011.

In addition, 50 prime movers have been added to the fleet in order to enhance the productivity of discharging, loading, shifting, and marshalling, related to inter and intra transportation of containers.

A massive penalty amounting to Rs.1,580 million had been imposed in respect of imported 27 cranes without informing the Sri Lanka Customs in the year 2011 as a result of an arbitrary decision taken by then Ports Authority chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama.

According to the Section 165 of the custom ordinance, receiving a decision of customs examination within a month of an appeal can be presented to the Minister of Finance against the imposition of the penalty.

Such an appeal had not been presented to the Minister of Finance to get a relief relating to the penalty. Furthermore, a case is being adjudicated in the Supreme Court, the Auditor Generals Department said.

The Education Management Information System (EMIS) introduced during the Rajapaksa regime is lying idle due to the lack of adequate computers and internet facilities, officials complained.

This system (EMIS) had been established with the co-operation of the University of Moratuwa with the aim of preparing a database of Information of Teachers and the Management of the Teacher's Services affiliated thereto, the supply of the services required for the office system, etc.

A sum of Rs.64.06 million out of funds of the Education for a Knowledgeable Society Project (EKSP) had been spent from March 2011 to 31 December 2014.

A sum of Rs.900,000 (excluding tax) on 27 February 2012 under the first stage for the creation of the Data Base for the Teachers.

A sum of Rs.13.88 million (excluding tax) paid on 27 June 2013 under the second stage for the creation of Modules based on the data in the first stage, to the University of Moratuwa.

However, the system could not be operated properly by the end of the year 2017/18 under review.

Action had been taken to create a Shadow Data System by the Information Technology Branch of the Education Ministry after planning the completion of the National Education Management Information System by 31 December 2018.

Operation of data relating to the management of human resources of teachers had been commenced by zonal offices by which their personal files are maintained.

Further, a new server had been obtained instead of the server operated by the University of Moratuwa and the process of transfer of data to the new server was being carried out.

However, there was difficulty in performing this function as expected due to delays in entering data and due to lack of adequate computers and internet facilities.

Chairman of the United National Party (UNP), Minister Kabir Hashim says that non-cabinet ministers Sujeewa Senasinghe and Ajith P. Perera have not acted in violation of the rules and regulations of the party.

Hashim told the media that it is customary for the General Secretary of the party to periodically submit a written call for explanation from party members when a complaint regarding the relevant party members are received by the party secretary.

However, Hashim said he did not believe that the two ministers in question had violated the rules of the party or such a disciplinary breach had occurred. According to him, the issue would be resolved once an explanation is submitted as a response to the letter sent by the party.

However, Hashim noted that he did not know if any other party members would receive similar letters, but added that more letters may be sent in the future.

Earlier yesterday, it was reported that the UNP General Secretary had called for show cause from Ministers Senasinghe and Perera before September 9th for failing to appear for the preliminary inquires that were held against the two of them for allegedly making certain remarks in breach of party discipline.

Senasinghe and Perera have been at the forefront of the campaign calling for the appointment of party Deputy Leader, Minister Sajith Premadasa as the UNP’s presidential candidate at the forthcoming presidential election.

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed has called on the government of Sri Lanka to take action against hate propaganda targeting Muslim communities, spread through unregulated media and is instigating ethno-religious tension for political gain.

The UN official, who was in Sri Lanka on a 12 day mission from 15 August 2019, held a press conference in Colombo yesterday (26) to brief the media on his findings.

The Special Rapporteur is to present a report containing his conclusions and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March 2020.

“Failure by the State to take action to address incitement to hatred and violence will allow extremism to escalate and pose serious challenges to peace-building. The ethno-religious tension must not be treated as mere sporadic incidents; the underlying unease and hostility existed long before the Easter attacks and subsequent violence,” Shaheed said.

“I call on the Government and all others to create an enabling environment for the exercise of fundamental freedoms, in the lead-up to elections and not to use ethno-religious tensions for electoral gain,” Shaheed noted.

He continued, “There is a serious deficit of trust among ethno-religious communities in Sri Lanka following the deadly Easter Sunday bomb blasts and subsequent mob violence this year, and these tensions must not be ignored.”

“While the Government promptly brought the situation more or less under control after the bomb blasts, many religious communities remain very concerned about their security because of incitement to hatred and violence by some religious extremists.”

Shaheed observed that the long-standing traditions of religious harmony and co-existence in Sri Lanka, as well as tolerance and sustainable peace were at risk from religious and political violence, lack of accountability, distrust of institutions and resentment against perceived majoritarian privilege.

“It is time for Sri Lanka to vigorously adopt measures to protect the rights of all people and to hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of their ethno-religious background,” he said.

“Women’s experiences of ethno-religious hostility including violence, displacement and stereotyping must also be effectively addressed.”

“There is a need for sustainable inter-communal and inter-religious dialogue for trust and peace building as well as reconciliation. Space must be provided for moderate voices, for concerns to be flagged and for grievances to be addressed,” the UN official noted.

“I have seen encouraging initiatives by different State institutions, civil society organisations and religious leaders on the issues of reconciliation and promotion of peaceful coexistence.” he said.

“However, freedom of religion or belief is not about religious tolerance alone, it is about the right of each individual to be treated equally in their choice to believe or not to believe, and whether to manifest it in private or in public.”

The UN expert said resilience against religious extremism could be built by a range of measures including strengthening the rule of law, addressing root causes, improving education for all and protecting religious diversity.

During his mission, Shaheed met government officials and local authorities. He visited the north, east, central and northwest parts of the country and also held meetings with representatives of ethnic and religious or belief communities, civil society organisations, and the UN.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock praised the President Maithripala Sirisena, the Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka Police and intelligence services for taking prompt action to apprehend the criminals responsible for the April attacks.

He presented President Sirisena with the INTERPOL Medal at the President’s Office in Colombo on Tuesday 27.

President thanked the INTERPOL Secretary-General for immediately responding to the request made for assistance to investigate the April 21st terror attacks, President’s Media Unit said.

The Media Unit quoted Stock as saying Sri Lanka police and intelligence officials are highly professional and the INTERPOL experts received their fullest cooperation.

President Sirisena also requested further cooperation to detect drug smugglers and to extradite drug lords and financial criminals hiding in foreign countries.

Chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Prof. G. L. Peiris says former Defence Secretary and the party’s presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa has received a letter from the US government acknowledging that he has renounced his US citizenship.

Prof. Peiris has said that Rajapaksa had submitted all relevant documents to the US State Department to renounce his US citizenship in the month of April and that the US had sent a letter accepting his application.

“We have that letter with us,” he has said.

Rajapaksa’s renunciation of his US citizenship has caused much controversy due to the question of whether the letter of acceptance of renunciation documents could be considered as the renunciation of his American citizenship.

However, Prof. Peiris maintains that Rajapaksa is no more a US citizen and that he has obtained a Sri Lankan passport.

Nevertheless, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is investigating into several complaints received on the alleged “criminal activity” that has taken place in issuing Rajapaksa’s new Sri Lankan passport.

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The Attorney General has served indictments before the Colombo High Court against former Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of Colombo Ananda Samarasekara for allegedly concealing evidence in the murder case of Sri Lanka rugby player Wasim Thajudeen.

The former Chief JMO was indicted before the Colombo High Court for destroying vital evidence pertaining to the case.

On the 17th of July 2012, Thajudeen was found dead inside his car that was ablaze in front of Shalika playground in Narahenpita.

It was initially ruled that the death was caused by a motor accident. However, it was later revealed the rugby player was murdered.

Dr. Samarasekara was assigned to conduct the postmortem examination on Thajudeen’s body, but he had not actively taken part in the procedure and handed over the responsibility to two of his junior medical officers.

The Attorney General has alleged that Dr. Samarasekara, during the postmortem examination, had destroyed evidence of the case by intentionally displacing two of the bone fragments from the body, which were vital for the proceedings of the investigations, Attorney General’s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said.

Dr. Samarasekara had surrendered to the court back in 2017 over Thajudeen’s murder case and was granted bail later.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee that met last night under the patronage of party leader, President Maithripala Sirisena took some stern decisions against party members who had violated the party discipline.

The Central Committee met at the President’s official residence at 7 p.m. yesterday (26).

The SLFP MPs who attended the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) national convention were not invited to the SLFP Central Committee meeting.

SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said the party members who violated the party decision were not invited to the central committee meeting.

SLFP members including MPs Dilan Perera, Chandima Weerakkody, S. B. Dissanayake and Sarath Amunugama attended the first national convention of the SLPP held on the 11th August at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

Meanwhile, MP S.B. Dissanayake who held the post of SLFP Treasurer lost his post and MP Lasantha Alagiyawanna was appointed as the new Treasurer of the party.

Also, MP Weerakumara Dissanayake was appointed the new SLFP Spokesperson replacing MP Mahinda Samarasinghe.