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Basil Rajapaksa is said to be attempting to bring in an impeachment motion against President Maithripala Sirisena by utilizing his media contacts to instigate UNP backbenchers to do his bidding sources say.

According to reports, he has instructed the tussles between the President and the UNP to be used in this regard.

Currently, many successful political social media groups are being controlled by Basil Rajapaksa sources claim.

He is currently said to be controlling several social media campaigns which were against the Rajapaksa’s at the last presidential election and general election.

''Get out from the government!!'' : Publicity for Harin

Following instructions from Basil, statements being made against the President and the SLFP by certain UNP MP’s are now being promoted widely while the special focus is being given to statements of Minister Harin Fernando.

A video showing Minister Fernando making the following statement saying “Get out of our government and we will show you how the UNP forms a government alone” is now being widely circulated by Basil’s media stooges sources have pointed out.

Video

Transparency International Sri Lanka's (TISL) election observation arm the Program for the Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) has called on the government to ensure that the opening of the Rajagiriya Flyover is carried out in compliance with regulations issued by the Elections Commission of Sri Lanka to ensure that development projects are not used for electioneering purposes.

If the Rajagiriya flyover is to be opened ahead of the February 10 local government elections, it should be done without the participation of politicians to remain in compliance with the Commission's regulations the organization said.

In a statement released by the organization, they pointed out that Circular No. LAE/2018/4B issued by the Elections Commission of Sri Lanka on 28th November 2017 as per provisions of Article 104 of the Constitution, states clearly that "the state should refrain from holding events such as festivals, exhibitions and opening ceremonies, which are paid for with state funds, as such events have been used during past elections by politicians to voice their political opinions possibly causing grievance to some candidates while promoting others"

The PPPR is said to fear that the opening of the Rajagiriya Flyover could be used in similar fashion as a platform to canvass votes and calls on the competent authorities to take measures which ensure expeditious delivery of vital infrastructure, whilst ensuring compliance with election laws. The organization has also called for the police to act in accordance with this circular and strictly enforce election laws.

Due to efficient management of the State revenue and expenditure, the government, for the first time in over 63 years, has been able to record a LKR 21.9 billion surplus in the primary balance of the fiscal accounts during the first ten months of the year 2017, the finance ministry spokesperson said.

Treasury officials opine that the favourable situation in the primary balance is a sign of positive growth in economic development and it would further enhance the capacity to manage the debt repayment efficiently. The primary budget balance equals the government budget balance before interest payments.

During the first ten months of the year 2017, the surplus in the budget primary balance was LKR 21.9 billion. It was in negative by LKR 37 billion during the corresponding period of 2016.

State revenue when compared with the first ten months of 2016 has increased by 10.4 percent to LKR 1473 billion in 2017. It was LKR 1333 billion during the same period in 2016. The tax revenue during the same period has increased by 14.2 percent to LKR 1470 billion in 2017.

With the appointment of Mangala Samaraweera as the Finance Minister in May last year, many predicted that the country's coffers will continue to deplete. However with the introduction of progressive policies by the new Finance Minister and the country recording a primary surplus for the first time in over 6 decades, there seems to be some hope for Sri Lanka to come out of the economic rot they are currently entangled in.

The commissioning of Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga Multi-Purpose Development Project will coincide with the completion of Mahaweli Development Programme, Secretary to the President Austin Fernando said.

A national ceremony has been organised on January 8 to mark the landmark occasion with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Chief Guests. The Secretary briefing the media at the Media Ministry auditorium yesterday, said the Ministers, MPs, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries, public officials and farmers have been invited to the solemn occasion.

The President will release water from the Moragahakanda reservoir at the auspicious time of 11.20 am to mark the completion of the project which commenced on January 25, 2007.

The project was expedited in the last three years under the guidance of the President.

The event will be followed by another ceremony at Polgolla, Kandy at 3.30 pm with the participation of the President and the Prime Minister to mark the completion of Mahaweli Development Programme.

The benefits and milestones of the Mahaweli project that extended for 40 years will be commemorated during the event. The President and Prime Minister will address the gathering on the occasion.

The two ceremonies will be telecast live on ITN and Rupavahini. A cycle race has been organised from Moragahakanda to Kandy parallel to the event.

Source: Daily News

Ministry of Tourism data have revealed that China has become the second largest market for Sri Lanka with over 268,000 Chinese tourists coming to the island in 2017.

Over 19,0000 tourists have visited Sri Lanka during the month of December alone.
Minister of Tourism John Amaratunga stated that Sri Lanka will attract at least 1 million tourists from China per year by 2020 and that China is a strong market for Sri Lanka.

According to the statement from the Tourism Ministry, tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka reached an all-time high of 2,116,407 in 2017 which represented a 3.2 percent growth compared to the previous year, with India continuing to be the top source market with 384,628 arrivals followed by China and Britain.

President Maithripala Sirisena as the Commander in Chief has ordered the postponement of the controversial defence deal where the government of Sri Lanka is planning to buy a Gepard 5.1 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) via alleged local intermediator of the Rosoboronexport. The order has come in light of the current local political circumstances, reliable sources in the Presidential Secretariat said.

However, no one in the ruling alliance has made a public statement on the issue so far.

Meanwhile, despite the serious shortcomings of two servings ships bought from India recently, the building of a third a third Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel is also underway at the Goa Shipyards, India.

According to the reliable sources, the third ship will be delivered in a few months.

However, “Everybody is discussing the Russian ship, but no one is concerned about the Indian ships while these deals are the most corrupt,” a senior serving military officer was quoted as saying.

“Nobody is held accountable when officers experience shortcomings of these ships bought from India. But, it is clear those behind the scene have earned millions of dollars out of these deals,” he added.

According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the Sri Lanka Navy’s first Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), built at the Indian shipbuilding facility, Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), was commissioned at the Eastern Container Terminal, port of Colombo last year.

The Rajagiriya flyover considered to be the longest in the country will be declared open by the President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ravi Wickramasinghe tomorrow (08).

While construction of the flyover was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018, steps were taken under the guidance of the President to complete the construction work 11 months ahead of the schedule for the convenience of the public.

The flyover which has been constructed at Welikada junction in Rajagiriya will provide a long-term solution for the heavy traffic congestion in the at Sri Jayawardenapura Mawatha, Borella, Battaramulla and Rajagiriya areas.

The completed flyover comprises of four lanes is 533 meters in length and 21.4 meters in width.
The Rajagiriya flyover will be the first of its kind in Sri Lanka built by filling concrete surfaces on metal.

Source : Sunday Observer

The government has agreed to increase the number of Safari jeeps entering the Yala National Park to 600 per day following a request made by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera.

After considering many requests from both environmentalists and conservationists alike to reduce the number of vehicles allowed to enter the park, the government decided in November last year to restrict the number of vehicles to 500 per day. 250 vehicles were allowed to enter in the morning session and another 250 vehicles were allowed to enter the park or the evening session.

It is reported that the government was forced to reverse the measure as many tourists had been sent back due to the restrictions imposed on the vehicle limit.

Former Minister of Finance, Ravi Karunanayake claims that the facts presented in the Bond report are false.

He claims the President has not been given the full report on the issue. He also said the President only mentioned a few points in the report and according to those the Prime Minister and himself have been absolved from any wrongdoing.

The former Minister made this statement during an electoral meeting held in Kotahena.

Karunanayake was also quoted as saying that majority of the benefits of the current government are with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

According to him, UNP members are facing various injustices as a result.

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The Colombo Fort Magistrate, Lanka Jayaratne, issued an open warrant today (05), to arrest former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya for failing to appear before Court.

Former Ambassador Wickramasuriya was arrested by the FCID for in November last year for misappropriating USD 330,000 out of USD 6.6 million allocated for purchasing a building for the Sri Lankan Embassy in US.

The Acting OIC of the Sapugaskanda Police is to be temporarily transferred on the recommendation of the Minister of Law and Order & Southern Development, Sagala Ratnayake. He is to be transferred temporarily over the tussle which is said to have occurred between him and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Western Provincial Councillor Asoka Ranwala recently at the Sapugaskanda Police station on Thursday.

The Minister has made the recommendation with the permission of the Commissioner of Election Mahinda Deshapriya after receiving a preliminary report regarding the issue from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). The report has identified shortcomings of both the parties and therefore the transfer has been recommended till the full investigation into the incident is completed.

JVP Western Province Councilor Asoka Ranwala was arrested on Thursday night for allegedly threatening the acting OIC of Sapugaskanda Police station.

According to the police, Ranwala had visited the police station to inquire about an arrest of youth who was allegedly assaulted by the police. He had allegedly demanded the police to release the youth and when the acting OIC refused the request he is said to have threatened the senior officer

Ranwala alleges that he was assaulted by the OIC when he questioned about the youth.

Former Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake has requested for a copy of the bond commission report handed over to the President on January 3.

The Minister says he was singled out in the special statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena on the issue and castigated by the President which was there after widely reported in the media. The Former Minister has addressed the letter to the Secretary to the President, Austin Fernando.