The pardon of Henry Pedris brings back memories of a plucky officer-by Yomal Senerath-Yapa Source:Sundaytimes A sight one takes for granted in busy Havelock Town is the statue of a youthful horseman near the tranquil temple of Isipathanaramaya. With the posthumous pardon granted to him by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on September 12, the national hero Diyunuge Edward Henry Pedris stands acquitted of the ‘traitorous’ crimes he was wrongly accused of 109 years ago. The recent Presidential pardon for Henry Pedris comes after requests from members of the family. Retired Supreme Court Justice Anil Gooneratne whose grandfather and Henry Pedris were cousins, is happy that a wrong has been righted and hopes the same would be done ‘for others who suffered due to martial law’. Justice Gooneratne was initially requested to head the committee to look into the pardon, but refused due to his family ties. Edward Henry Pedris: The ...

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AKD the new President of Sri Lanka – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Image Source : madhyamamonline Certainly! Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent victory in the Sri Lankan presidential election is indeed an interesting development. Let’s dive into the details: Who is Anura Kumara Dissanayake? Anura Kumara Dissanayake is a Marxist politician who secured victory in Sri Lanka’s presidential election. His win dealt a blow to the established political old guard, which had been widely criticized for the unprecedented economic crisis that hit the country two years prior. Born on November 24, 1968, into an ordinary family in a paddygrowing central part of Sri Lanka, Dissanayake has a background rooted in grassroots activism and political engagement. His pro-working class populist campaign resonated with youth support, and he emerged as a disruptor of the status quo. Let’s explore some key points about him: Political Journey: Dissanayake’s political involvement began during his school days when ...

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Ego and Arrogance: Downfall of UNP Factional Leaders-by K.K.S Perera A coalition between the two factions of the UNP, led by outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, would have presented a stronger and more unified front, changing the outcome of the election Source:Dailymirror The failure of the two factions of the United National Party to set aside differences and collaborate for the greater good of the party has now resulted in a missed opportunity A sense of superiority isolates them, making them believe they are above reproach or beyond the need for compromise; this mindset not only alienates allies but also weakens their position by making them less adaptable to the realities of changing political landscapes Until a General Election, all parties must prioritise the nation’s stability over political differences; extending a cooperative hand to the new President is essential to ensure that critical government functions continue, ...

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Good News From Jayam – September 15, 2024 Pls Scroll Down 35 items goodnewsfromjayam.com Hilton Colombo – New Years Eve Dinner Dance High-Five to 2025 Book your tickets now! President opens “The Mall” Duty-Free shopping complex in Colombo Port City President Ranil Wickremesinghe officially opened “The Mall,” a newly constructed duty-free shopping complex within the Colombo Port City area on September 5. This marks the debut of the first urban duty-free shopping mall in the region, featuring a range of stores, restaurants, and various retail outlets. Notable international duty-free retailers, including One World, China Duty Free Group (CDFG), and Flemingo will be operating within the mall, positioning the Colombo Port City as a premier shopping destination. Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft donated by US to arrive next week The US Embassy is pleased to announce that the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, donated by the United States to the Sri Lanka ...

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Sri Lanka’s Perilous Politico-Economic Scenario & The Presidential Stakes Source:Thuppahis ACL Ameer Ali in Daily FT, 13 August 2024, where the title reads “Governance and Economy: Inseparable Twins” …. with highlighting being the hand of Thuppahi Assuming that the 21 September Presidential election would be held as scheduled, the two most challenging issues facing the winner would be to reform Sri Lanka’s moribund system of governance and renegotiate with IMF parts of its economic reparation agenda so that the local economy could be put on sound footing to withstand the negative effects from turbulence from outside. Governance and economy are inseparable twins and no economic model or development plan could succeed when governments that are responsible to implement them remain corrupt and incompetent. That is why even the IMF, after reviewing the economy’s two-year performance under its tutelage was compelled to urge governance reforms in earnest. The challenge facing the nation today therefore is to elect a leader ...

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SRI LANKA NEWS (JUNE  2024) Compiled by Victor Melder Health experts have raised concerns about the rising use of tobacco products among schoolchildren in Sri Lanka. Speaking on World No-Tobacco Day which fell yesterday (31), Dr. Shakya Nanayakkara, Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, highlighted that tobacco products are becoming increasingly common in schools. Dr. Nanayakkara emphasized that children who become addicted to these products are likely to progress to smoking cigarettes. He also noted the growing popularity of e-cigarettes globally, cautioning that individuals who develop a nicotine habit through e-cigarettes are at a high risk of transitioning to smoking traditional cigarettes. Further, he warned that the ingestion of nicotine can lead to adverse effects such as dizziness, vomiting, and general physical discomfort. As such, Dr. Nanayakkara urged parents and teachers to educate children about the dangers of nicotine and the reasons for its use. (Daily Mirror, 1.6.2024) ...

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Frustration In The North Amidst Reconciliation Rhetoric-By Jehan Perera Jehan Perera Source:Colombotelegraph The frustration within the Tamil polity at the failure of the government to treat them fairly and address their grievances is taking a new turn in parliament. Unable to reason with those who hold the majority of votes, Tamil parliamentarians are taking to non-violent action over words. Those political parties that represent ethnic and religious minorities rarely if ever have sought to physically disrupt the proceedings in parliament, one reason being their paucity of numbers. Almost without exception, physical protest actions in parliament have been the preserve of the ruling party and main opposition parties. The nadir of such clashes was seen in rowdy behavior in parliament during the abortive constitutional coup of 2018 when then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sacked without warning by his erstwhile ally, President Maithripala Sirisena. Parliamentarians belonging to the Tamil and Muslim political ...

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Election enthusiasm grasps Sri Lanka – By Arundathie Abeysinghe   In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way. Franklin D. Roosevelt In politics, nothing is impossible. There are discussions in political circles to scrap the Executive Presidency. Along with this move, there is fear among ordinary citizens, civic groups and trade union activists and opposition parties, if the government will attempt to postpone the Presidential Elections in the guise of enacting constitutional amendments to abolish the Executive Presidency. Yet, postponing elections, Presidential or Parliamentary is unlikely as public opinion is building against such a move. Sri Lanka is abuzz with election fever, although, the presidential election, constitutionally scheduled for this year, has not yet been officially declared. Major political parties are preparing for the Presidential and General Elections, the former due by end 2024. Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has kept his ...

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe visits Sri Lankan Consulate in Western Australia Dr. Rosh Jalagge presented a memento to President Ranil Wickremesinghe Source :island  President Ranil Wickremesinghe, currently in Perth, Australia to attend the 7th Indian Ocean Summit, visited the Sri Lankan Consulate in Western Australia today (10). The President was warmly received by Sri Lanka’s Counsel Dr. Rosh Jalagge and Mrs. Priyanka Gamage. The meeting provided an invaluable opportunity to discuss shared interests between the Consulate and the Sri Lankan community in Western Australia, with a particular focus on advancing economic development initiatives in Sri Lanka. In recognition of the visit, Dr. Rosh Jalagge presented a memento to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. (PMD) ...

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President meets Sri Lankan Diaspora in Australia, outlines plans for economic modernization Source : adaderana President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is in Australia on a state visit, has met with the Sri Lankan diaspora in Perth. During the interaction, the Sri Lankan leader has provided updates on the nation’s recovery efforts, while outlining strategies for economic modernization. In response, the diaspora has expressed their readiness to assist the Sri Lankan government in boosting economic development across various sectors, such as climate change and tourism. Additionally, President’s Chief-of-Staff Sagala Ratnayaka has detailed plans for establishing the Office of Overseas Sri Lankans. He emphasized that this initiative would provide an avenue for the diaspora to engage constructively with the Government. Ratnayaka also underscored the ongoing IMF program, emphasizing the importance of the diagnostics report released last year. He appealed for the continued backing of the Sri Lankan diaspora in carrying forward the reform program. ...

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