Gotabaya opens Buddhist Vihara in Kilinochchi - MoD

Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has opened a Buddhist Vihara at a ceremony conducted earlier this week in the Northern city of Kilinochchi, the former administrative capital the LTTE. Rajapaksa went on to praise the Sri Lankan armed forces for their support in constructing the Buddhist Vihara. According to the Ministry of Defence , “Secretary Defence thanked the Maha Sanga for safeguarding Buddhism and Buddhists and the immense support given by the Maha Sangha to the tri forces personnel and government leaders.” The Defence Secretary was also quoted as saying, "These types of religious activities show the rise of the Buddhist people". Whilst also in Kilinochchi, Rajapaksa declared open a renovated Hindu Kovil, greeted by schoolchildren singing the national anthem, decreed to be sung only in Sinhalese almost 2 years ago. Rajapaksa at Hindu kovil in Kilinochchi, raising the Sri Lankan flag at the entrance . Rajapaksa also unveiled a plaque at the entrance of the kovil, above which flies the Sri Lankan flag. It is written entirely in English. The plaque at the vihara however, was written in Sinhala only. See both plaques below.

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After 2012 had the highest ever allocation for the Defence and Urban Development Ministry, Sri Lanka has once again planned to increase the amount of money allocated to the defence budget. Last week, the cabinet approved the 2013 Appropriation Bill, estimating government expenditure at Rs 2.52 trillion (£12 billion). The biggest amount, as usual, is allocated to the defence ministry, with Rs 290 billion (£1.4 billion), an increase of Rs 60 billion (£290 million), sources told ColomboPage . The President’s Office budget will also increase to over Rs 7.4 billion next year. The finance minister...

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A Sunday Leader journalist, Nirmala Kannangara, and photographer were stopped from entering the Suriyapuram camp in Nanthikadal by army officers last week. The journalist and photographer were also threatened to not write anything detrimental about the army officers. The Sunday Leader team was met with hostility, with one of the officers warning the journalist to “ mind her business .” After shouting at the pair, “ You people are paid by NGOs and whatever they ask, you are prepared to dance to their tunes ” the army officer went on to describe the reporting of detrimental issues in Sri Lanka...

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Military stops journalist from visiting IDPs

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