We will be the main opposition says TNA MP

The Tamil National Alliance will serve as the main opposition in Sri Lanka, said the TNA MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan, after the UNP and SLFP decided to form a unity government following Monday's election, reports the Daily Mirror . The UNP last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SLFP on forming a unity government for the next two years, after it failed to win a simple majority, obtaining 106 parliamentary seats. The TNA won 16 parliamentary seats, making it the third largest party in parliament.

Chandrika and Ranil decide ministerial portfolios

Sri Lanka's new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the former president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, are to decide ministerial positions in the new government, reports the Daily Mirror . Ms Kumaratunga leads the SLFP committee responsible for negotiating with the UNP on the unity government. The new ministers are to take their oaths on Monday.

Soldiers in Jaffna given 50" TVs amid calls for demilitarisation

The Sri Lankan army gifted troops serving in Jaffna 50" colour televisions in a what it described as a "welfare measure".

Tamil diaspora orgs congratulate TNA on securing 16 seats in Sri Lanka parliament

Diaspora organisations congratulated the Tamil National Alliance for securing 16 seats in Sri Lanka’s parliament at the August 18 general elections. Congratulating the TNA, the British Tamil Conservatives (BTC), in a press release said, “We are pleased the Tamils in the North and East have once again exercised their franchise in large numbers to endorse TNA's policies for truth, justice and a lasting solution to the Tamil National question based on Tamil people's longstanding and legitimate aspiration of right to self-determination.” The British Tamil Conservatives added, “We extend our best wishes to the newly elected members of parliament and hope the parliamentary party working hand in hand with the Northern Provincial Council led by Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran will seek to address the urgent existential issues of the Tamils and successfully navigate the new political environment in Sri Lanka to achieve a permanent solution to the Tamil National question.” The Global Tamil Forum, congratulating the TNA, in a press release said, “ As an organization that has worked with the TNA for several years, we seek the full support of the international community, including India, to help implement the legitimate demands of the Tamil people through a negotiated political solution.”

UNP-ally behind violent incidents during election in North-East

The European Union Election Observation Mission to Sri Lanka has praised the way the elections in Sri Lanka were conducted, but said an ally of the ruling UNP was behind violent incidents in the North-East and expressed criticism on issues of campaigning freedoms, representation of women and media ownership, in their preliminary statement . In the Northern Province, the ACMC, an ally of the ruling UNP, is confirmed to have been behind violent incidents against competitors. There were also several reports of intimidation and obstruction of campaign activities at Kayts Island, part of the Jaffna electoral district, the EU further said. The mission noted that although freedom of assembly and movement were respected in the run up to the election, overly restrictive rules curbed freedom of campaigning. Powers given to the Election Commissioner, who administered the elections in a "transparent and impartial manner", challenged media freedoms, including his ability to order state-owned media outlets to halt broadcasts.

UPFA party leader says no approval for UNP-SLFP MoU

A United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party leader distanced his party from the MoU signed on Friday between the United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), reported the Daily Mirror . “The UPFA executive committee has not approved the MoU even though 90 per cent of those elected on the UPFA ticket are members of the SLFP,” the leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP), Dinesh Gunawardane was quoted as saying. The UPFA, which is led by the SLFP, also includes four other parties along side the MEP.

Air China announces direct flights to Colombo

Air China will be introducing direct flights from Colombo to Beijing three times a week, commencing this October, Xinhua reported. Direct flights would also be established linking Beijing to Mumbai, with four flights every week, as well as Karachi, with three flights a week and Kuala Lumpur with four flights every week.

Sirisena visits Trincomalee, announces release of military occupied lands

Photographs Foreign Correspondents' Association of Sri Lanka President Sirisena, accompanied by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, R Sampanthan, and the former president, Chandrika Kumaratunga visited Trincomalee district on Saturday where he announced that land belonging to around 205 displaced families in Muttur, which is currently occupied by the military, would be released.

Chandrika says Rajapaksa will not be opposition leader

The former president Chandrika Kumaratunga ruled out on Friday any prospect of Mahinda Rajapaksa being appointed as the opposition leader, reported the Daily Mirror . According to the paper, Ms Kumaratunga said that "a decision had already been taken by President Maithripala Sirisena and herself to appoint a young popular parliamentarian as opposition leader", adding a request to senior members not to allow Mr Rajapaksa to destroy the party.

Communist Party of India urges central government to work towards political solution

The Communist Party of India (CPI) said the Indian central government should take efforts towards bringing about a political solution in Sri Lanka that will see the Tamil people on the island granted equal status. CPI Tamil Nadu Secretary R Mutharasan told reporters that despite the high expectations for reconciliation held after the defeat of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier this year, key issues remain unsolved. Tamils had still not been granted equal status with the Sinhalese said Mr Mutharasan, as he called on the Indian government to “take serious efforts” to bring...

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