News

A senior minister of the UNP claims that there is information that a special social media operation is being carried out at the President's office, against the Prime Minister and several of his close associates.

According to him, a Senior Technology & Development Officer of the President’s office is misusing several websites to carry out this mudslinging campaign.

He says the President has already been informed about this officer who is on a mission to create discord between the President and the Prime Minister.

The Minister said they are keeping an eye on what action the President will take in this regard at a time where he has urged other media organizations to act according to ethics set out.

In line with the government's policy of releasing civilians' land used by Jaffna Security Forces, the Sri Lanka Army without compromising national security interests released a record 683 acres of land in Jaffna to the original owners.

The Army handed over 683 acres of land in Tellippalai Divisional Secretariat area to 964 legal owners during a ceremony, held on Friday under the auspices of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, District Secretary for Jaffna, Nagalingam Vedanayagam and Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi.

According to the Army, the release of those lands continuing for the last couple of months, following an initiative taken by the Army itself, has however not necessitated either the removal or shifting of any security formation operating in the said portion of the land in Tellippalai, Palaly.

Friday's release of 683 more acres of the Palali Army camp area, the biggest chunk of land released to the Jaffna public on a single day, adds a historic chapter to the government's ongoing projects of reconciliation and ethnic harmony, the Army said.

The event was organized jointly by Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation, Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs, District Secretariat for Jaffna and the SFHQ-J as a New Year gift on the eve of the Sinhala & Tamil New Year- 2018.

Commander of the Army formally gave away documents pertaining to the release of lands symbolically to the District Secretary who was present there.

Source : Colombo Page

President Maithripala Sirisena left for United Kingdom today(15) to participate at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 which is being held in London.

President Maithripala Sirisena will join the Heads of Government of the 53-member Commonwealth at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that is to convene in London from 16-20 April 2018.

The Commonwealth is a diverse community of nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings are occasions where the leaders of the Commonwealth member states come together to reaffirm common values, address the shared global challenges faced and agree on how to work to create a better future for all citizens, particularly young people.

The theme of the Summit in London – “Towards a Common Future” – is focused on building on the strengths of the Commonwealth to ensure that the organisation is responsive to global challenges and delivers a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fair future for all the citizens of the Commonwealth, particularly the young.

President Sirisena’s participation at the CHOGM will be focused on reaffirming Sri Lanka’s firm commitment to the Commonwealth and deepening Sri Lanka’s partnership with the Organisation as well as with each individual member nation.

The President’s engagements will include the Heads of Government meeting on 19 April, the leaders retreat on 20 April, and addressing the Commonwealth Business Forum as the keynote speaker on 18 April on the theme “Delivering the SDGs: Aligning Business, Society and the Governments”.

Source : Ada Derana

Kenyan elephant conservationist Daphne Sheldrick has died of cancer aged 83.

She helped save the lives of more than 230 elephants - many of which had lost their mothers to poachers or drought - by developing a milk formula and successfully rearing them. Her Kenyan charity is world-renowned for its care of orphaned elephants.

Born and raised in Kenya, Dame Daphne spent the first half of her career working alongside her British husband David, who founded Kenya's biggest national park, Tsavo East.

After his death in 1977, she founded the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), which is best known for rescuing and reintegrating orphaned elephants into the wild. It took her 28 years to develop the special milk formula to bottle-feed baby elephants.

She warned in 2016 that if the rate of ivory poaching continued, African forest elephants - the smallest of the three elephant species - could be extinct as early as 2025.

Dame Daphne published several books and was featured in many television programmes and films, including the 2011 documentary Born to be Wild. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth made her a dame.

Source : BBC

The national oil anointing ceremony will take place tomorrow (16th April) at 10.16 am at Attanagalla Purana Raja Maha Viharaya, under the patronage of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

The ceremony is jointly organized by the Health Ministry, Indigenous Medicine Ministry and the Department of Ayurveda.

Oil anointing is one of the key traditions of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

 Source : Ada Derana

The President has decided to come to a new agreement with the UNP in order to continue with the consensus government.

Accordingly SLFP Chairperson, President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a committee of five headed by Minister Sarath Amunugama in order to coordinate these efforts.

The President is said to have asked Anunugaa to draft a MoU after holding discussions with the leaders of the UNP, while he will be away abroad attending the Commonwealth heads meeting.

Accordingly, a new consensus government along with a new cabinet will be formed after the Sinhala - Tamil New year, a senior Minister of the UNP said.

Five spill gates of the Udawalawa reservoir were opened today due to rising water levels.

Meanwhile, the entrance of heavy vehicles to the Udawalawa resorvioir has been temporarily barred due to the opening of spill gates. Drivers have been asked to use alternative routes.

Mahaweli Authority urges the general public in low lying areas to also exercise caution.

The dawn of spring brings the flourish of nature and nourishes the human spirit as we meditate on the ideas of cooperation, forgiveness and empathy for all life, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in his New Year message.

“Sinhala and Tamil New Year is the foremost national festivity celebrated across the country in the splendour of spring. It provides the ideal setting to deepen relationships with each other and share our rich cultural heritage”.

“This New Year we will celebrate with our traditional customs to convey their importance to the next generation. This will ensure future generations are proud of our traditions and our nation”.

“I wish all Sri Lankans a joyful Sinhala and Tamil New Year that inspires our commitment in achieving sustained peace and prosperity”, the Prime Minister said.

Source : Daily News

Government sources claim that a complete cabinet reshuffle will be made on April 23 while Secretary to the President, Austin Fernando and Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake is said to be making the necessary arrangements for it.

Sources say the new reshuffle will see some new faces enter the cabinet while several main cabinet ministerial posts along with subjects of a large number of Ministers are set to change.

The government is attempting to form the new cabinet according to a scientific method while discussions are now said to be on going with Ministers regarding this.

The evolution of human civilisation has taken place from era to era enriching the people as cultured entities. The unique cultural events celebrated by various people around the world indicate the affinity and utmost dedication towards their traditional heritages, President Maithripala Sirisena said in his New Year message.

“The Sinhala and Tamil New Year showcases the traditional riches of the Eastern people.‘Aluth Avurudda’ is indeed an introduction of a new human with a new vision and a new attitude to the society. By conforming to a study of oneself during the transitional time of the inauspicious period, this advanced person performs New Year rituals, enters the society as a close relative carrying the message of peaceful co-existence and social reconciliation,” the President said.

“The New Year binds with the traditional customs which blooms interrelations and family relationships and showers the human thoughts with refreshing fragrance which flows to the future with our deep understanding and respect we have for the traditions of the New Year.

“By deeply studying this glorious cultural event, which harvests progressive values and ethics to the whole society and celebrating it, we can surely collect a bountiful harvest of peace and prosperity.

“Another invaluable aspect of New Year celebrations is that they depict the lively bond which the humans share historically with nature and how this occasion is utilised to express gratitude to nature, thus exhibiting the great virtues of our ancestors that carried forth for generations.

“Sharing such great values with everybody, I wish all the Sri Lankans who are living in the country and outside, a Sinhala and Tamil New Year filled with peace and prosperity, the President said in his New Year message.

Soure : Daily News

The prorogation of Parliament has no negative impact on the functioning and operation of the Government, the Government Information Department said issuing a communique yesterday.

By Gazette notification (Gazette Extraordinary 2066/43 of April 12, 2018), with effect from Thursday April 12 2018, the Parliament was prorogued by the President.

Issuing a statement, Director General of Government Information Sudarshana Gunawardana said the next Parliament session will commence on May 8.

“The prorogation is the period between the end of a Parliament session and the opening of the next Parliament session.”

Under Article 70(4) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka “All matters which, having being brought before Parliament, have not been disposed of at the prorogation of Parliament, may be proceeded with during the next session”

”Therefore, the prorogation of Parliament has no negative impact on the functioning and operation of the Government.” Sudarshana Gunawardana said.

President Maithripala Sirisena prorogued the current session of Parliament with effect from midnight yesterday (12).

The Gazette notification issued by the Secretary to the President further states that the next session of Parliament will commence on May, 2018.