BJP threat to establish Eelam in SL: Govt. should reassess foreign policy – UNP

The failure of the government to provide meaningful devolution to the North and East of the country, had resulted in India’s government in waiting, Bharatha Janatha Party (BJP), threatening to carve out Eelam for Sri Lankan Tamils, the UNP said yesterday. Senior Vice President of the UNP Lakshman Kiriella, MP, told a news conference in Colombo that the BJP leader Yaswant Singh had said,

Ranil to visit North to promote UNP policies

Opposition Leader of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremasinghe will tour the North following his visit to India to educate the people in the North about the policies of the main opposition United National Party (UNP, its sources revealed. These sources said that Wickremasinghe along with senior party members would tour the North from April 24th till the 27th. The party members are to visit Vavuniya, Mannar and Kilinochchi districts in the Northern Province where the majority of Tamils live.

Ranil meets Indian President and Foreign Minister

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee states that the responsibility of strengthening bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka rests with both parties.He made this statement while engaging in discussions with opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, who is engaging in a two day official tour of India, at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi yesterday.

The right to hold a dissenting opinion under attack

UNP MP Karu Jayasruiya issuing a statement condemning the attack on the Uthayan newspaper office in Kilinochchi said that the right to hold a dissenting view is under attack in the North once again and that whether there’s agreement or disagreement with the other person’s opinion, his/her right to hold a dissenting view must be respected.“When we shoot down the messenger it will leave room for gossip mongering,” he said.

UNP accuses govt. of creating a ‘Casinodeepayak’

UNP Kalutara Parliamentarian Ajith P. Perera yesterday accused the government of attempting to transform the country into a ‘Casinodeepayak’ (Casino land), instead of a ‘Dharmapdeepayak’ (Land of Dhamma).Perera vehemently condemned the government for trying to use the casino business to boost the economy and called upon the Maha Nayake Theras to protest against its harebrained project and even revoke the honorary title,

JVP has forgotten the killing of over 6,000 UNPers – Tissa

The UNP said yesterday that the JVP, which had staged two insurrections causing death and destruction, was making a big noise over the 1988-1989 Matale graves, but it had conveniently forgotten that over 6,000 UNPers had been killed during the same period."We also want an impartial inquiry into the murders that took place during the period in question. Many of the officials who functioned in the affected areas are still alive. The history of this country should be recorded correctly for the benefit of future generations,"

Women’s day celebrations at Talawakelle ...

The International Women’s Day was celebrated by the Taklawakelle and Nuwara Eliya women. This event was organized by the Talwakelle Municipal Council Opposition Member Mr. Bharathi. The Chief Guest was Mrs. Shanthini Kongahage, President Lakvanitha Peramuna,Member Central Provincial Council.The Chief Guest in her speech said that it was only under the leadership of the late Hon. J R Jayawardena who with his political vision and close working relationship with the late

UNP threatens legal action against power price hike

The UNP has decided to take legal action against the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), if the latter goes ahead with much speculated electricity price hike.UNP Deputy General Secretary, Dr Jayalath Jayawardana, MP, said that his party believed that the government should not permit the increase in electricity prices at a moment when the masses were suffering under the heavy burden of high cost of living.

Farmers duped again, unable to sell produce – UNP

With less than two weeks to go for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, paddy and vegetable farmers had been duped once again by the government, which had failed to purchase their produce at guaranteed prices, the UNP said yesterday.Paddy farmers in many areas including Anuradhapura, Madewachchiya, Polonnaruwa, Ambalangoda,

Ranil off to India

Amid strains on Indo-Lanka relations, India has invited Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for talks on the present situation in Sri Lanka, political sources said. Accordingly, Mr. Wickremesinghe will leave for India tonight and return on Thursday.According to UNP sources, Mr. Wickremesinghe is expected to meet the representatives of both the Central Government of India and the Opposition.

Govt. has made India angry with Sri Lanka -Kiriella

United National Party Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella says that the government has made India angry with Sri Lanka.The parliamentarian expressed this view while attending a function Harispattuwa.''When the Wadamarachchi battle was on, if Denzil Kobbekaduwa was given another 24 hours he would have captured all. But in the 1990s India told us to stop the war. Therefore we could not go forward. That is why this war continued.''