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34 parties sign “Puluwan Sri Lanka” agreement supporting President at poll

Published

5 months ago

August 17, 2024

editor

Thirty four political parties and alliances signed ‘Puluwan Sri Lanka’ agreement supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the forthcoming Presidential Election. SJB MPs Kumara Welgama and A. H. M. Fowzie who expressed support to ensure the victory of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Election also participated in the ceremony.

The signing ceremony was held under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Water’s Edge Hotel in Battaramulla yesterday.

The leaders of parties and alliances signed the agreement amidst the chanting of Seth Pirith by the members of the Maha Sangha. Other religious leaders blessed the ceremony by conducting religious rites. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, representing the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, alongside Ramesh Pathirana and Prasanna Ranatunga of the Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna signed the agreement.

President’s Counsel M. U. M. Ali Sabry and Susil Premajayantha from the New Alliance, Douglas Devananda of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party, and Hemapriya Kaviratne of the United People’s Party Wajira Abeywardena from the United National Party, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan from Tamil Makkal Vidudalai Pulikal, A.L.M.Ataullah from the National Congress, Rajitha Senaratne and A.H.M.Fowzie from the SJB placed their signatures in the agreement

Additionally, Asanka Navaratne of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, Kumara Welgama from the New Lanka Freedom Party, Aravinda Kumar of the United People’s Party, S.Viyalendran representing Mutpokku Tamilar Aalaham, Udayana Kirindigoda from the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna, Mohammad Mussammil of the National Freedom Front, and Vadivel Suresh of the Ceylon National Plantation Workers Union signed the document.

Velu Kumar, representing the Democratic United Workers Congress, S.M.M.Musharraf from the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, and Chatura Senaratne of the Democratic National Movement, Asad Sali from the National Unity Front, Champika Lowe of the Sri Lanka Progressive Front, and M. Rajanathan Prabhaharan from the Eelam Revolutionary Students Organization, Shyamala Perera of the New Democratic Front, and Sugath Hewapathirana representing the Deshapremi Janabalawegaya also signed the agreement. This agreement was also signed by Anwar M. Mustafa from the Sri Lanka Democratic Party and Chinthaka Weerakoon of the Lakjana Front along with Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi of the United People’s Front, Dr.A.M.Jayaratne representing the National People’s Front, and W. M. Gamini Wijenayake representing the Nawajana Setha Peramuna, Nisham Mohammed representing the Mawbima Sanwardhana Peramuna and K.B.Jayamini Jinadasa of the United Social Democratic Party.

(dailynews.lk)

News

Fmr. minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa arrested

Published

4 hours ago

January 22, 2025

editor

Former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

According to the Police Media Spokesperson, he has been arrested for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 6.1 million in flood relief aid in 2014.

News

A country can’t progress through laws & regulations alone – President

Published

4 hours ago

January 22, 2025

editor

President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that a country cannot progress solely through laws and regulations and highlighted that tradition is a vital component of a nation.

President Disanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka has accomplished a remarkable mission through the traditions built on Buddhism and that it is the responsibility of everyone to safeguard these Buddhist traditions and pass them down securely to future generations.

The President expressed these views during a discussion held today (22) at the Presidential Secretariat on the 74th Upasampada Vinaya Karma’ ceremony of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya.

The President, recalling the historical significance of the Upasampada Vinaya Karma, a major ceremony in Buddhism, stated that the cessation of ordained monks (Upasampada Bhikkhus) would mean the dissolution of the Buddhist institution itself. He emphasized the importance of preserving these ancient traditions and carrying them forward with honour.

The national Upasampada Vinaya Karma ceremony, organized biennially by the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya, is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 5, 2025, at the Punyawardhanarama Viharaya in Vijithapura, Palugaswewa, within the Udakukkhepa Sima Malakaya.
This grand ceremony, which will ordain over 250 novice monks (Samanera), will be conducted under state sponsorship.

As the government considers the national Upasampada Vinaya Karma ceremony, which is held every two years, a dignified task, the President instructed officials to ensure that all necessary facilities are provided without any shortcomings.

The discussion was attended by prominent figures, including the Most Venerable Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero, the highest prelate of the Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya of the Sangha ancestry of Mahavihara; Most Venerable Professor Aththangane Rathanapala Nayaka Thero, Supreme Judicial Leader of Sri Lanka Rāmañña Maha Nikāya; the Anu Nayaka Theros, Most Venerable Waleboda Gunasiri Thero and Most Venerable Ankumbure Premavansa Thero; along with the Maha Sangha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage; former High Court Justice and Governor of the North Central Province Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri; Chairman of the Rāmañña Nikayarakshaka Sabha and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya; Secretary of the Rāmañña Nikayarakshaka Sabha and former Member of Parliament Lasantha Alagiyawanna, among others.

(President’s Media Division)

News

Women MPs’ caucus discuss on setting common minimum age for marriage

Published

4 hours ago

January 22, 2025

editor

The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of Sri Lanka, chaired by Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, has discussed several legislative reforms, including a proposal to establish a common legal minimum age for marriage across all communities of the country.

Meeting on Jan. 21, the caucus had discussed the need to amend existing marriage laws as well as to correctly define a “child” in alignment with international standards to enhance child protection. efforts in Sri Lanka.