News

The newly designed official newsletter of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) has been launched. Named as “Samagiya” (Unity), the newsletter has focused on the programmes and activities conducted by ONUR in order to enhance the national unity and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. It is a quarterly newsletter published in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Achieving national unity and reconciliation was a key feature of the January 2015 Presidential campaign. To give effect to this commitment, the Government of Sri Lanka established the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR). The resolution was moved by the Prime Minister, approved by the Cabinet, established under President and chaired by Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
 
The latest issue of newsletter can be viewed at www.onur.gov.lk   

President Maithripala Sirisena pardoned 432 prisoners serving time around the country for minor offences on the occasion of Vesak.

Prisons Department spokesperson Thushara Upuldeniya said 432 short-term prisoners who were detained in 29 prisons in the country and had failed to pay their fines, were released on the pardon of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Four women are among the prisoners released, the Prison official said. The President has given the order after the Ministry of Prisons Reforms recommended the release.
 
Source : Colombo Page

The Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens welcomed a male and a female green anaconda from the Sri Lanka National Zoo on Sunday under the animal exchange programme after a gap of of six years.

Divulging details about the reptiles reaching the zoo, C Ravishankar, director of the Mysuru Zoo, said, "The reptiles aged about four years were flown in from Sri Lanka to Bengaluru on the night of April 28 and reached their enclosure at the Mysuru Zoo in the early hours of April 29. They have been housed at the quarantine enclosure at the zoo."

Affirming that the health condition of the reptiles is stable, he said, "The length of the reptiles is about 6 to 8 feet and they weigh about 15 kilograms. Their condition is stable. They were transported under constant supervision from the zoo veterinarians and animal keepers."

"Five green anacondas were last received from the same zoo in 2011 and after an interim of six years, for the second time, we will be receiving six anacondas from the Sri Lankan zoo after obtaining approval from the Zoo Authority of India. Under the exchange programme, the Mysuru Zoo will be sending four black bucks and four nilgais to the Sri Lankan zoo," said the director. 
                                                    
 Indian Black Buck                                       

Nilgais

The 20th amendment that will see the abolishment of the executive presidency will only gain the support of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) if a solution for the national problem can be provided, TNA parliamentarian M.A Sumanthiran said. 

The MP had noted that while the same promise was given at the 2015 election this was now followed through. 

According to him just as the executive Presidency introduced in 1978 the national problem which began in 1948 should also be addressed as its an issue that resulted in the deaths of many. Therefore a decision needs to be taken to end this he said.

Speaking at the High Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, held at the United Nations Headquarters from 24 - 26 April 2018, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Rohan Perera highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Government of Sri Lanka on reconciliation and peacebuilding in the country.   

In his address, Ambassador Perera emphasized the importance of prevention of conflicts, as reflected in the Secretary General’s Report on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, as a factor that would save countless lives and resources that could otherwise be utilized for a country’s development.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring predictable and sustained funding for peacebuilding initiatives through the Peacebuilding Fund, which were crucial for reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts of countries such as Sri Lanka. Dr. Perera highlighted the collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Peacebuilding Support Office, as an example of a fruitful partnership on peacebuilding between a Member State and the United Nations.
 
In his intervention at the Third Interactive Session of the High Level Meeting regarding Strategic Partnerships with the United Nations for Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, Ambassador Perera focused on the importance Sri Lanka places upon inclusivity in the peacebuilding process, particularly by engaging all relevant stakeholders such as women, youth and civil society.  Sri Lanka’s efforts of engaging the Diaspora in peacebuilding initiatives was also highlighted.
 
Ambassador Perera also chaired a segment of the first Plenary Session of the High Level meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace on 24th April 2018, in the capacity of Vice President of the General Assembly.
 
On the fringes of the High Level Meeting, Sri Lanka co-sponsored a side event on the “Role of Education in Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace” on 26th April 2018 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, together with the Permanent Missions of Costa Rica and Bangladesh and the University of Peace and the Nippon Foundation.  During the event, Ambassador Perera served as a panelist and drew attention to the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to include education within the peacebuilding and reconciliation architecture of Sri Lanka and highlighted the initiatives adopted by the civil society, most particularly youth, to complement the efforts of the Government on peacebuilding and reconciliation.  Several panelists at the event too made positive references to Sri Lanka’s peacebuilding initiatives.

A Sub-Inspector attached to the Eppawala Police has been interdicted, the Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said. 

Earlier today the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara had instructed the DIG of North Central province to take disciplinary action against the police personnel who assaulted females at a temple in Eppawala.

Recently, several female protesters at a temple in Nallamaduwa, Eppawala were assaulted by police personnel following tensions arising when the police tried to disperse the crowd. The protests were held against a priest who lives in the said temple.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dacic will be in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal from May 2-8, the Serbian Foreign Ministry has announced. 

Dacic will be meeting with top officials from Sri Lanka with a view to strengthening overall bilateral relations. Furthermore, many agreements on modalities for improving cooperation in all areas of mutual interest will be on the agenda of the expected meetings. 

The visit to these countries will also be an opportunity for the first deputy prime minister to present the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as to convey the gratitude of the government of Serbia for their support to the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of our country, the statement said.

Rupavahini channel is said to have had to halt its live telecast of a religious sermon held at the Bingiriya Devagiri Rajamaha Vihara coinciding with the state Vesak festival as Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero had been called suddenly to attend the event.  

Not informed even during prior announcements of the event - Production Team 

According to the production team, they had been informed that a different monk would be attending the sermon prior to the event. However they say the organizers had at the last moment informed then that Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero will be attending the event instead. 

Therefore the team had halted the live telecast as the event was being held coinciding with the state Vesak festival and therefore after informing officials they were advised to stop the telecast. 

They say organizers should have been more responsible and informed them beforehand rather than at the last moment so the telecast could have continued without a hitch even with the attendance of the controversial monk. 

Despite several rounds of discussions were held recently among the Minister of Buddha Sasana and top Ministry officials regarding the festival, the Rupavahini production team says no mention was made about a sermon by Gnanasara Thero.

Why was his attendance hidden? : Had to halt telecast due to the risk of an issue being created as a result - Rupavahini Chairman 

When asked by isis.lk Chairman of the Rupavahini Corporation, Attorney at Law Ravi Jayawardene said that officials of the Buddhasansana Ministry had not informed them of the Thero’s attendance and therefore the last minute bomb shell news left the production team at a loss. According to him this was the cause of the serious issue.  

He also said as a state organization if a racist or extremist sentiment was expressed during the telecast this could have jeopardized the government. As the result the team had to seek advice from the Ministry and as a result halted the live telecast he said. 
 
Meanwhile expressing his views an official from the Ministry of Mass Media said the Ministry of Buddha Sasana must take the responsibility for the fiasco.. 

Issue is not him attending the sermon but it being done in a devious manner without being informed prior to the event : Government also had to take the blame once before - Ministry official 

He also said it is unfair that a different monk’s name was informed but then going on to inform that Gnanasara Thero would be attending instead.

The official also went on to say : 

At a previous time as well during the President’s visit to Japan the government was slammed with people alleging that Gnanasara was invited by the government. This was because he has been acting in an extremely racist manner in the recent past. Several race related incidents took place in the country recently as well. What if such a sentiment was expressed by him at the State Vesak fest? Government would have been slammed as a result. That is why this decision was taken to halt the telecast. There is still racist elements in the country and any time a fire can be stoked. Therefore we had no other option as the government must always be responsible. It cannot be helped if someone’s feelings were hurt. If a wrong sentiment was spread in the society government and the society would have been harmed. Therefore underhand things such as this should not take place.

Customs authorities in Sri Lanka arrested a Chinese woman who landed at the Katunayake international airport in Colombo for attempting to smuggle in Chinese cigarettes valued at USD 88,548.

She had tried to pass through the channel for visitors with nothing to declare.

Officials from Sri Lanka Customs said that she was the fourth Chinese to be arrested in April at Colombo's airport.

The 44-year-old woman, who had arrived from Dubai, was apprehended with more than 100 cartons containing 20,980 sticks of cigarettes on Friday, customs officials said. She was fined and the illegal cigarettes were confiscated.

On Saturday, April 14, a Chinese man was arrested while attempting to smuggle in cigarettes valued at Rs. 1.4 million at the airport. Customs spokesman Deputy Director Sunil Jayaratne said the suspect aged 44, arrived from Singapore. He was arrested with 28,000 sticks (140 cartons) of cigarettes.

On Thursday, April 12, two Chinese were arrested while attempting to smuggle in cigarettes valued at LKR 2.2 million into Sri Lanka.

Internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan film producer and film director Dr. Lester James Peiris has passed away at the age of 99 while receiving treatments at a private Hospital in Colombo. 

Dr. Peiris celebrated his 99th birthday on April 05 under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at his residence in Thimbirigasyaya. He has earned several honors and awards both locally and internationally including the Sri Lankabhimanya tile; Sri Lanka’s highest honor for a civilian. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year 2017 awards ceremony.

Dr. Peiris who is considered as the father of Sinhala cinema revolutionized the Sinhala film industry with his globally acclaimed film “Rekawa” in 1956. It was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. With this film he revolutionized Ceylonese cinema, giving it a unique identity. It was the first Ceylonese movie to be shot outdoors. 

The internationally acclaimed film director, screenwriter, and film producer went on to produce 28 such award-wining movies as Sandesaya, Gamperaliya, Delovak Atara, Golu Hadawatha, Nidhanaya, Madol Duwa, Weera Puran Appu, Kaliyugaya, Yuganthaya, Baddegama, Wekanda Wallauwa and Avaragira. 

His movie Wekande Walauwa, starring Ravindra Randeniya and Malini Fonseka, was Sri Lanka’s first ever submission for the Academy Awards.

He was married to the equally renowned directress Sumitra Peiris since 1964.


Source : Derana

The new Cabinet was sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo a short while ago.  Deputy Ministers and State Ministers are scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow (02).

Mahinda Amaraweera - Minister of Agriculture 

Sarath Amunugama - Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Skills Development and Vocational Training, and Hill Country Heritage

Lakshman Kiriella - Minister of Public Enterprise and Kandy Development 

Duminda Dissanayake - Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and Disaster Management

S. B Navinna - Minister of Internal Affairs and Wayamba Development 

Faiszer Musthapha - Minister of Sports, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government

Thalatha Athukorala -  Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms 

Ranjith Maddumabandara - Minister of Public Administration and Management,  Minister of Law and Order 

Kabir Hashim - Minister of Highways and Road Development

P. Harrison - Minister of Social Empowerment

Daya Gamage - Minister of Social Welfare and Primary Industries

Mano Ganesan - Minister of National Co-existence, Reconciliation and Official Languages

Sagala Ratnayake - Minister of Project Management, Youth Affairs and Southern Development 

D.M. Swaminathan -  Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement, Northern Development and Hindu Religious Affairs

Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa - Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and Rural Economy

Wijedasa Rajapakshe -  Minister of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs

Ravindra Samaraweera - Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka - Minister of Sustainable Development, Wildlife and Regional Development

The President is said to have decided to take over the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party at the next cabinet reshuffle.

Accordingly Ministry of Samurdhi will be handed over to the United National Party in exchange. 

According to Minister AJith P. Perera the UNP has requested for the Ministry in order to elivate poverty in the country. Many Ministerial portfolio exchanges between the parties are also expected when the cabinet reshuffle happens on May 1. 

Perera says the UNP will ensure the country goes to a new direction by getting the Ministry of Samurdhi. 

According to government sources Ministry of Labour will also be handed over to the UNP while Cultural, Government administration Ministries will be handed over to the SLFP.