News

TNA splits, new alliance emerges for local polls

Published

2 years ago

January 15, 2023

editor

Three Tamil National Alliance (TNA) partners broke away yesterday to form a new five-party alliance that will contest the upcoming local council elections in the North and East.

The Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), and the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), all of which had contested under the TNA, will be part of the new alliance.

The other two parties in the alliance are the Democratic Crusaders’ Party (DCP), formed by former LTTE cadres, and the Tamil National Party (TNP). The agreement forming the alliance was signed at Thinnaveli in Jaffna yesterday by Suresh Premachandran (EPRLF), Selvam Adaikkalanathan (TELO), Dharmalingam Sithadthan (PLOTE), Sivanandan Navindra (DCP) and N. Srikantha (TNP).

The Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK) led by Parliamentarian C.V. Wigneswaran and former Jaffna Mayor M. Manivannan was also involved in the discussions regarding the alliance. However, they walked out of the talks on Friday following a dispute over the logo and the post of the General Secretary of the new alliance.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the TNA, was not involved in the discussions as it has decided to contest the local government election separately under its house symbol.

Sources said the new alliance plans to field candidates in both the Northern and Eastern provinces at the upcoming local polls. Talks on the logo of the new alliance continued yesterday.

(sundaytimes)

News

Special security measures implemented for Easter

Published

7 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Police Headquarters has announced that steps have been taken to implement a special security program in view of the upcoming Easter celebrations.

As Easter services are scheduled to be held on April 18 and April 20, 2025, special police security will be deployed to ensure the safety of devotees on those dates.

Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued instructions to all Senior Deputy Inspectors General of Police (Senior DIGs) in charge of all provinces, Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and Officers-in-Charge (OICs) in this regard.

Accordingly, the Acting IGP has further instructed officers to identify churches expected to attract large crowds as well churches where major religious services are held, to ensure security in and around those locations.

The Police, Special Task Force (STF), and tri-forces personnel are to be deployed to ensure security during the Easter celebrations.

News

Hot weather to continue

Published

7 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Southern and Eastern provinces and in Rathnapura and Monaragala districts.

The heat index – the temperature felt by the human body — is expected to rise to the ‘Caution Level’ in several areas tomorrow (April 18), according to the Department of Meteorology.

20250417HI Download

News

5 including a police officer, arrested with Rs. 30 Mn.

Published

7 hours ago

April 17, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Police has arrested five individuals, including a constable from the Western Province Intelligence Division, in Dondra Head.

The arrests were made early this morning, and the suspects were found in possession of approximately Rs. 30 million.

According to the police, the Special Task Force (STF) acted on a tip-off and conducted a search of a vehicle, leading to the arrests.

The five individuals, including the police constable, were taken into custody by the STF.

Investigations are currently being conducted under the supervision of the Police Narcotics Bureau to determine the source and intended use of the large sum of money.

(News1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)