Political News

India values ECTA agreement with SL - Nirmala

Sri Lanka’s decision to scrap a joint venture coal power plant project will not deter India’s future investment plans in the country, the Indian government said today.  Commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated this at the end of her three-day visit here after meeting Sri Lankan minister of international Trade Malik Samarawickrema and other officials. The proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and issues concerning the existing FTA between India and Sri Lanka were subjects among the talks.  “India understands Sri Lanka’s need to move from coal power to more renewable power generation sources,” Sitharaman said adding that India would also explore the possibilities of helping Sri Lanka in their quest to set up an LNG plant in place of coal power generation. 

Sri Lanka has decided to do away with the joint venture with National Thermal Power Corporation to build a coal power plant in the eastern district of Trincomalee.  Sitharaman said that India is looking to invest USD 2 billion worth of investment in Sri Lanka despite its decision on the proposed coal power plant. On the proposed ETCA over which Sri Lankan parties have raised concerns, she said India was open for discussion. “We have been meeting the business chaimbers to assess their concerns,” she said commenting on her discussions.  Samarawickrema said the ETCA is expected to open up a market of 1.25 billion people in India. Both ministers said the negotiations on ETCA were reaching the final stage as both sides want to see it happening “as soon as possible”.  

-PTI -

Agencies  

Lasantha's remains to be exhumed

The body of a the slain chief editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper Lasantha Wickrematunga , who was gunned down in the final months of the country’s brutal civil war in 2009 is being exhumed on Tuesday as part of a fresh investigation into his death.

On the orders of the courts the remains of is to be exhumed from the Borella Kanatte premises in the morning of the 27th instant.

Wickrematunge was shot dead by gunmen on motorcycles while driving to work in January 2009. On September 08, the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court ordered the exhumation of the remains of slain journalist following a request made by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) based on certain contradictions which existed between the autopsy report on the murder victim, the report on the surgery performed at the hospital and the government analyst report on the crime scene.

This order had been given by the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate's courts Mt Lavinia when the case was heard the other day. It is reported that after the remains are exhumed once again the remains would be subjected to another postmortem examination by the judiciary medical office with his team in the medical board.

The symbol of Mahinda's new party is "White Lotus"

It has been confirmed that the symbol of the new party to be established under the leadership of Mahinda Rajapaksa  would be the "Whit Lotus"

In regard to the name of the party as there are new proposals the final decision has not been

arrived as yet.

The media has been made known of this by the convener of the representatives of the  joint opposition area administrative alliance Udeni Athukorale. The name of the of the party would be made in the near future. perhaps in the coming two weeks.The launching of the new party would be a certainty was the view of  all the representatives.

Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero to resign as JHU leader

Venerable Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thero has been declared  his resignation from the leadership of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). The Thero made this announcement while delivering his speech in the 13th National Convention of the JHU being held on 24th September 2016 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. 

The Venerable Thero confirmed, that he would continue to work delicately for the JHU. The party today also made several new appointments to top positions.  Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Karunarathna Paranawithana and Ven. Hadigalle Wimalasara Thero were appointed as joint chairmen of the JHU. Western Provincial Council member Nirosha Athukorala was appointed as Deputy Chairperson. Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was named General Secretary of the party while Anuruddha Pradeep was appointed the Deputy General Secretary.  Western Provincial Council member Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe was appointed the National Organiser of the JHU. 

Fake news published in social web sites quoting Maithripala Sirisena as the world's best President

A fake news has been published  and spread in social web sites that the President Maithripala Srisena has been named as the best President in the world. It has been adduced that this  had been said  in a letter published in the renowned Guardian Newspaper in England.

The follow web site has been instrumental in spreading this fake news is:

https://theguard1an.com/sri-lankas-maithripala-sirisena-announced-as-worlds-best-president/

On viewing this anyone would get puzzled  by the worlds most popular the Guardian web site,as for "i" (letter) they have replaced with "1" (number) and that proves this is fake one.

It has been explicit via investigations that this fake news had been published and circulated to contumely the other Presidents in the world.

The references have been stated below.By showing that many other Presidents too have been made the best President of the year proves that this is absolutely a fake news.