News

SJB Demands UNP Headquarters Sirikotha from President

Published

8 months ago

June 1, 2024

editor

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hand over the United National Party (UNP) headquarters, Sirikotha, to their party.

This demand was made public yesterday by SJB’s election manager, Sujeewa Senasinghe, during a media briefing.

“We have a right to claim Sirikotha as we are former UNPers,” he said.

Expressing concerns about UNP’s current plight, Senasinghe also said “We hope that UNP leader will work according to his conscience and handover the Sirikotha to us. He should do so, for the sake of the remaining UNPers. Some of his sins would be forgiven if he hands over Sirikotha to us,” he said.

“We were compelled to form SJB as we were not able to remove Wickremesinghe from the UNP leadership,” he added.

In the meantime, Senasinghe referred to the remark made by UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara who called for a referendum to extend the terms of the President and Parliament where he said it is unbelievable as to how he could had become pro-Wickremesinghe. “Range Bandara was one of the staunch anti-Wickremesinghe figure in the UNP those days.

He was at the forefront with us to change the UNP leadership during that time. I am the one who stopped him from crossing over to the 52-day government formed in 2018. He was offered a ministerial portfolio by SLPP during that time,” Senasinghe said.

News

2 Chinese nationals arrested at BIA with gems worth over Rs. 17 mn.

Published

11 hours ago

January 14, 2025

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Two Chinese nationals have been nabbed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last night (Jan. 13) after attempting smuggle a stock of gemstones out of the country.

The customs officers had apprehended the 45-year-old male and his 21-year-old daughter who had hidden gemstones in their undergarments, reports say.

According to Sri Lanka Customs, he stock of gemstones includes Moonstones, Hessonite Garnets, Star Sapphires, Cats Eyes and Emeralds weighing around 689.5 grams in total and valued around Rs. 17,450,875.

News

100 families in Suduwella village, evacuated

Published

11 hours ago

January 14, 2025

editor

100 families residing in Suduwella village, Gal Oya have been evacuated to safety, District Secretary of Ampara District, Chinthaka Abeywickrama says.
Noting that the Gal Oya is near to breaching its banks, Mr. Abeywickrama has said that the evacuation was done in the face of a possible flood situation.

Meanwhile, the banks of the Gal Oya have been severely eroded in the Kota Vehera area.

News

Samarasinghe blames previous govt. again for red rice shortage

Published

11 hours ago

January 14, 2025

editor

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe has yet again blamed the previous government for the current shortage of red rice in the local market.

Speaking to media, the minister criticised a policy implemented by the previous government that distributed 20 kg of red rice to households indiscriminately.

However, he has assured the public that the situation will improve soon and that the supply will normalise in the coming months.

“Red rice is an essential food item, especially during the Thai Pongal celebrations, and we are aware of the anxiety caused by this shortage. Plans are afoot to stabilize supply ahead of upcoming harvests,” Samarasinghe stated.