News

Dhammika to be next SLPP presidential candidate?

Published

8 months ago

September 18, 2023

editor

Well-known businessman and MP Dhammika Perera would be the next presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), several social media reports said.

These reports are being circulated when the President is out of the country. The President, who is in the US, will return on September 21.

The SLPP has resumed its political campaign by broadcasting advertisements on TV channels and on social media platforms.

It was reported that Dhammika’s name has been proposed since a political party which has received his financial aid in the past has begun severely criticizing the SLPP.

Mr. Perera is also regarded as a casino mogul in Sri Lanka.

Presidential candidate’s associate’s wife promotes Dhammika

Meanwhile, it was reported that the campaign to promote Mr. Perera has been taken over by the wife of an associate of another businessman who is preparing to run as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

They played a key role in the campaign of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the election.

It was also reported that she is a leading figure in a media company of a brother of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A political orphan

Dhammika Perera was brought into politics by businessman Dilith Jayaweera. It is said that when Dhammika was brought into politics, he was first promised to be given the position of finance minister, then to nominate him as prime minister and then to make him a presidential candidate.

It is now an open secret that Dilith helped Dhammika get a National List MP position as well as an appointment as the Investment Promotion Minister.

Dhammika has today become a political orphan with Dilith also gearing up to become a presidential candidate.

Ranil & Basil hold discussion

Meanwhile, a special discussion was held between President Wickremesinghe and SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa recently where there were crucial talks regarding the upcoming elections.

During the meeting, it has been discussed about holding the General Elections earlier.

Mr. Rajapaksa has briefed the President about the results of a survey conducted at the district level about expected results of a general election.

He has explained in detail about the result if they face the general election together as an alliance and the result if they contest as individual parties.

A final decision has not been taken whether the general election or the presidential election will be held first, but it is said that a decision has been taken to hold the election with better advantage first.

Accordingly, unconfirmed sources said that one of the two main elections will be announced by next March.

News

Fire breaks out in workers’ living quarters near Colombo Port

Published

7 hours ago

May 19, 2024

editor

A fire has reportedly broken out in the living quarters of highway access road workers near the Colombo Port.

The Colombo Fire Brigade said it has dispatched four fire trucks to assist in extinguishing the flames.

News

President Wickremesinghe meets Elon Musk to discuss starlink implementation in Sri Lanka

Published

7 hours ago

May 19, 2024

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has met with billionaire and investor Elon Musk on the sidelines of the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting being held in Indonesia.

During the meeting, Wickremesinghe and Musk discussed the implementation of ‘Starlink’ in Sri Lanka.

It was emphasized that Sri Lanka is committed to expediting the application process to connect the country to the global Starlink network, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

Minister Jeevan Thondaman, accompanying the President on his two-day visit to Indonesia, tweeted: “President and Elon discussed Sri Lanka’s recovery, economic potential, and new opportunities for investment. Great to have two visionary leaders come together for Sri Lanka.”

Elon Musk arrived in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Sunday to launch Starlink satellite internet service in the world’s largest archipelago nation.

The billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner of social platform X, arrived by private jet on the idyllic “island of the gods,” renowned for its tropical beaches, terraced rice paddies, mystical temples, and colorful spiritual offerings.

Musk is slated to launch the service alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a ceremony later Sunday at a public health clinic in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali.

Musk will also sign an agreement to enhance connectivity in the country’s health and education sectors.

During his first in-person visit to Bali, Musk is also scheduled to participate in the 10th World Water Forum, which seeks to address global water and sanitation challenges.

–With agencies inputs

News

Senior diplomat to oversee Sri Lankan embassy in Russia

Published

17 hours ago

May 19, 2024

nipuni

It is reported that the government has planned to send a senior officer of the foreign service to the Sri Lankan embassy in Russia until a new ambassador is appointed due to the lack of an ambassador.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Taraka Balasuriya has told the media that the absence of an ambassador is just a gap in the work procedure, and based on the current situation in Russia, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be directed to supervise its affairs.

He emphasized that a retired foreign service senior is being sent and the lack of an ambassador is not a major problem.

The Minister further stated that there is already a senior Foreign Service officer there, and given the urgent need, a very senior Foreign Service officer is being sent not because the officer currently in Russia is inadequate.

Mr. Balasuriya has stressed that this is being done to strengthen the operation and that the work will be done according to the normal protocol.

However, even though an ambassador has been appointed to Russia, Mr. Balasuriya has made arrangements not to reveal who it is to the media.

The former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, was given three extensions, and she ended her service at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow on April 29.

At present, Counsellor Ruvini K. Munidasa serves as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy.