News

Veteran diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala passes away

Published

11 months ago

May 27, 2023

editor

Veteran Sri Lankan diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala passed away today at the age of 85 while receiving treatment at the Kandy National Hospital.

He was the UN Under-Secretary-General for the Office for Disarmament Affairs from 1998-2003.

During his stellar career, Dhanapala has had diplomatic postings in London, Beijing, Washington DC, New Delhi and Geneva. He performed duties in ambassadorial appointments in Geneva accredited to the UN from 1984-1987 and in Washington DC from 1995-1997.

Dhanapala also served as a member of the Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka from 2018-2020, the 11th President of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and the Deputy Chairman of the Governing Board of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

He has received many international awards and honorary doctorates, and has published five books and several articles in international journals and lectured widely.

Dhanapala also engaged pro-actively and innovatively in political, disarmament, economic, trade, human rights and cultural matters in both bilateral and multilateral contexts.

News

Sannasgala bailed (Update)

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2024

editor

Upul Shantha Sannasgala has been released on bail by the Welisara Magistrate’s Court a short while ago.

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(Previous News : 2024/04/25 at 2:30 pm)

Sannasgala arrested

Popular tutor and social media personality – Mr. Upul Shantha Sannasgala has been arrested.

According to reports, he has been arrested over failing to return a borrowed sum of Rs. 01 million to an individual within a month’s time as promised.

He is to be produced before the Welisara Magistrate Court later today.

Further investigations are underway.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

News

Maithripala sends LoD to Mahinda Amaraweera

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2024

editor

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has sent a Letter of Demand to Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, seeking Rs. 1 billion in damages over defamation.

The LoD is with regard to statements made to the media by Minister Amaraweera on April 22 and 24 which allegedly contains inaccurate and malicious comments regarding the former President.

It further states that legal action will be initiated against Minister Amaraweera if Mr. Sirisena is not compensated within 14 days.

News

Parliament approves 3-month paid leave for Sampanthan

Published

5 hours ago

April 25, 2024

editor

Parliament today (April 25) approved a request to provide a 03 month-long paid leave for former Opposition leader and Trincomalee District MP – R. Sampanthan.

The Opposition Chief Whip Lakshman Kiriella has made the request which was seconded by Tamil National Alliance MP – Charles Nirmalanathan.

MP Sampanthan, who is 91 years of age, is currently in poor health.

(Source : Lankadeepa)