Legislature

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Alaina Teplitz takes oath as US Envoy to Sri Lanka

Alaina B. Teplitz took oaths as the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives on Monday, October 22. The oath was administered by the Under Secretary David Hale.
President graces D.S.Senanayake commemoration ceremony

President Maithripala Sirisena graced the event held at the BMICH on Monday, October 22 to commemorate former Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake and other Senanaykes. He garlanded the photographs of four Senanayakes.
GL Peiris on UN’s request to repatriate Army commander

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Chairman G.L. Peiris has cautioned that the UN's request to repatriate Kalana Amunupura, the Commander of the Sri Lankan contingent in the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali will have serious repercussions on the entire army.
JVP holds talks with Communist Party of Italy

The Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunneththi called on the leaders of the Communist party in Italy - ‘Partito Della Rifondazione Comunista’ - and held talks recently.
President Sirisena inaugurates Galle Dialogue 2018

President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurated the Galle Dialogue 2018; International Maritime Conference, on Monday, October 22. The two-day conference is organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Navy for the 9thconsecutive year. The theme of the Conference is “Synergizing for Collaborative Maritime Management”.
I prefer Mahinda for SLFP leadership but object to reserving it to Rajapaksa family: Kumara Welgama

Joint Opposition (JO) Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama has stated that he prefers Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership but that he was totally opposed to the stance that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party leadership should be reserved for Rajapakse family.
ITAK accepts Ananthi Sasitharan’s resignation

The resignation of Northern Province Minister Ananthi Sasitharan from the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi has been accepted.
There is development without discrimination in the island: Sajith Premadasa

Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa has observed that during the yahapalana regime, there is development in various parts of the country without any discrimination whatsoever on the basis race, religion or caste.
Ananthi Sasitharan founds a new Tamil party

Northern Province Minister Ananthi Sasitharan has founded a new Tamil political party in an event held in Jaffna on Sunday, October 21.
Request for repatriation of Commander; Army to comply and appeal against it

While rejecting the allegations made by the UN, Sri Lanka Army has stated that it would comply with the request but appeal against the call for the immediate repatriation of the Commander of its Peacekeeping force in Mali. It further stated that this will be executed when the request is officially made.
Office of Reparation Bill will compensate victims of civil, political conflicts: Vijitha Herath

JVP Propaganda Secretary Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath has observed that the objective of the Office of Reparation Bill is to compensate those who had been affected by political and civil conflicts. As per the provisions of the bill, all those who had suffered should be compensated irrespective of their communal background.
Repatriate Commander of SL UN Peacekeeping Force in Mali: UN to Sri Lanka

The United Nations has urged the Sri Lankan government to immediately repatriate the commander of the Sri Lankan U.N. peacekeeping force in Mali following a review of his human rights background.

: 15 October 2018

Name Dickoya Hospital after Mahatma Gandhi: Palani Digambaran

Minister Palani Digambaran has urged the government to name Dickoya hospital after Mahatma Gandhi.

: 14 October 2018

We failed to launch sathyagraha against govt in 1977 and avert armed struggle: an apologetic Sampanthan

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Opposition Leader, Tamil National Alliance Leader R.Sampanthan has expressed lament that Sri Lanka could have averted an armed struggle had the Tamil political representatives taken a lesson from late Mahatma Gandhi and launched a ‘Satyagraha’ campaign on the basis of truth, civil disobedience and ‘Ahimsa’ in 1977.

: 13 October 2018

Office of Reparations must offer reparations to the aggrieved : Sampanthan ,

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Tamil National Alliance Leader and Opposition Leader R.Sampanthan has observed that the TNA welcomes the new legislation for Office for Reparations as an important step towards reconciliation. It must have the freedom to act independently so as to formulate the policies and find avenues to offer reparations for aggrieved persons.

He was speaking during the Second Reading of the Office for Reparations Bill in Parliament. He stated that the Truth Commission should have preceded the Office for Reparations. Certain provisions in the Bill enabled the Government to play a role in the implementation of the policies formulated by the Office for Reparations. This must not be a matter that must come under the Government.

During his address, Sampanthan said: “The ascertainment of the truth, delivery of justice, the issue of accountability, reparations and non-recurrence are all fundamental components of the Transitional Justice mechanism. Financial reparations must be given to the people who need to be economically empowered. Some land is still held by the military despite the Government’s recent moves to release them to the original owners. The Office for Reparations must look into those issues.

The long drawn issue of detainees in the custody under the PTA must also be resolved. Some of them have been convicted based on their confessions. Under the new Counter Terrorism Bill, confessions are no longer admissible before law. Then the Government should accept this position and apply it to the PTA detainees as well. The Office for Reparations could play a role to make sure their release.”

: 13 October 2018

Mahathma Gandhi challenged the largest empire through Sathyagraha: PM in the House

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Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has hailed Mahathma Gandhi as “an extra-ordinary political strategist who challenged the largest empire of the world through Satyagraha.