Courtesy: The Island
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will announce a presidential election tomorrow (Monday), very well informed sources disclosed yesterday on condition of anonymity. But it was not clear whether it would be a mere announcement of an election or a formal declaration which would start the process of fixing a date for the election in terms of the Constitution and the Presidential Elections Act.
By Dr.Lalithasiri Gunaruwan
Building a strong “National Economy” was one of the principle pillars of the Mahinda Chinthana policy agenda. The agenda was timely and well placed as the “national” orientation had long been forgotten in the macro-economic policy formulation of the country, and as such, the majority of this country voted in favour of it at the last Presidential Election.
Though this agenda of building a “National Economy” was widely discussed during and after the presidential election, little appears to be understood regarding the deep meaning of it towards building a strong economy. The proclamations are differently and often divergently interpreted, and many an implementation seems contradictory towards the very ideology upon which the agenda was built. Hence, it may be opportune to discuss some of the important aspects of the policy agenda to build a strong national economy, particularly at a time when another presidential or general election appears to be in the offing.
Posted in Economic review
By Malinda Seneviratne
Politicians rarely get rattled as much as they do when elections are around the corner. Parliamentary elections have to be held by April 2010 and the presidential affair was always a possibility anytime after Mahinda Rajapaksa completes four years in office. It is of course a monumental flaw in the constitution that a man can call elections at his choosing and therefore able to pick a date that is best suited for his re-election – thanks to JRJ of course, and all the UNPers elected to Parliament in 1977 who voted for the 1978 constitution.
Ravi Shankar Kanagarajah alias Shangili
Security and INTEL agencies have turned the spot light on Ravi Shanker Kanagarajah alias Shangili, a most wanted transnational terrorist cum kingpin of overseas based human trafficking and illegal arms smuggling activities.
According to informed sources, Ravi Shankar is also found to be the owner of MV Ocean Lady alias Princess Eashwary, vessels extensively used in human smuggling activities- in the LTTE’s overseas network based in INDONESIA, MALAYSIA and THAILAND. Earlier, on October 2009, Canadian immigration authorities arrested MV Princess Eashwary (MV Ocean Lady) while smuggling-in 76 bogus asylum seekers into Canadian waters from South Asia. The vessel “Princess Eashwary” is also said to be used extensively for gunrunning activities of the LTTE outfit, prior to its military defeat in May, 2009.
By Janaka Alahapperuma
Former Presidednt Chandrika Kumarathunghe visted "Rajatha Dekma" (Pix by Nishanka De Silva)
Former President of Sri Lanka Mrs Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga visited ‘Rajatha Dekma’ photographic exhibition held at the National Art Gallery, Colombo organised by Sudath Silva.
She had a opportunity to have a glimpse of her photographs taken by Sudath Silva during her tenure at the office as Executive President of Sri Lanka. Mrs. Kumaratunga is seen here with Sudath Silva admiring photos of past Sri Lankan Presidents including her own photos taken by their official photographer Sudath Silva.
By L. Jayasooriya
“The suggestion of Wijedasa Rajapakse as a common candidate is not a reality but it expresses the sentiments of all genuine patriots for the government to take note of if they care to.”
A letter in the Opinion column of the Island (21/11/2009) on the above subject could have instant appeal to all national patriots who are fed up with non-action against corruption and police under the control of politicians.
President Mahinda Rajapakse provided the leadership to eliminate the LTTE as a military force in the country and liberated one third the land containing two-third the coast line that was handed over to the LTTE by the UNP through the CFA. The UNP did everything in its power to provide support to the LTTE even to the extent of betraying the ‘long rangers’ that were eliminating the top LTTE hierarchy one by one. The UNP disclosed the names of all the members of this defence section and they were all killed by the LTTE.
By Janaka Alahapperuma
President Rajapaksa who was the chief guest of the exhibition, welcomed at the gate of the Art Gallery by Mr and Mrs Sudath Silva with their two daughters.(Pix by Nalin Hewapathirana)
President Mahinda Rajapksa declared open the ‘Rajatha Dekma’ photographic exhibition held at the National Art Gallery organised by Sudath Silva on 20th November. Sudath Silva, the official presidential photographer celebrates his 25 years of excellent service as an official photographer for four successive Presidents of Sri Lanka.
By Janaka Alahapperuma
Sir John Holmes pays a courtesy call to President Rajapaksa (Pix by Chandana Perera)
UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Sir John Holmes paid a courtesy call to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees in the afternoon on 19th November.
Sir Holmes visited Sri Lanka on a three day facts finding mission in connection with the resettlement of the displaced people who have been staying in the welfare camps. He visited the Settikulam welfare village and toured the areas where badly affected by decades of brutal terrorism. Sir Holmes who observed the entire welfare village inquired about the facilities provided by the Sri Lankan Government to the IDPs who have taken shelter there.
By Eric Tlozek
Social policy researchers have found a strong link between removing Aboriginal children from their parents and continuing violence against Aboriginal mothers.
The research analyses the findings of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey from 2002 and 2003.
It found Aboriginal mothers in remote areas were three times more likely to experience violence if they had been removed from their families during childhood.
The Nation (Pakistan)/ANN
For some time now the government has publicly been conceding that India has been meddling in Balochistan by aiding the militants and providing weapons and succour to them both in Pakistan and outside. In addition, Indian arms have been recovered from South Waziristan also, linking India to the militancy there as well. Now Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also accused India of having a role in the unrest not only in Balochistan but also in Waziristan. Shahbaz Sharif has also criticised India for hurling accusations against Pakistan without supplying concrete evidence.
