MR concedes election defeat

Former president Mahinda Rajapakse told AFP today that he had conceded defeat in parliamentary elections, but he will work as an opposition member of the legislature.

"My dream of becoming prime minister has faded away. I am conceding. We have lost a good fight,” Rajapakse told AFP. Rajapakse accepted that his United People's Freedom Alliance had lost even before Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya could announce the final results.

"We have won eight districts and the UNP (ruling United National Party) has 11 (out of a total of 22), it means we have lost. It was a difficult fight, ” Rajapakse said. Official figures showed the same breakdown of results. Remaining three districts were dominated by a minority Tamil party, officials said, adding that no party was set to secure an absolute majority of 113 seats in the 225-member parliament following Monday's election.

Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he expected the release of the final party positions by midday Tuesday, while individual votes garnered by candidates would be announced later. Rajapakse cast his ballot on Monday, he expressed confidence that he could return to power as Sri Lanka's prime minister just months after he was toppled as president.election commissioner Deshapriya said the vote, called a year ahead of schedule by President Maithripala Sirisena who ousted the veteran leader in January, had been one of the most peaceful in Sri Lanka's history.

His surprise victory over his former mentor, Sirisena has struggled to impose his authority over his United people's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party and was powerless to prevent Rajapakse from standing as one of its candidates.

Rajapaksa Says He Is yet To See Sirisena's Letter

 
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he is yet to see the letter that is said to have been sent to him by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Speaking at the Homagama UPFA rally taking place at this moment, Rajapaksa said that someone informed him of a letter but he was yet to see it. He said that he cannot say anything before seeing it.
Meanwhile, his media coordinator Rohan Welivita had told media that he was yet to receive a letter. If the President wanted to send a letter to Rajapaksa, the best way would have been to send it directly rather than releasing it to media, he had also said.

A letter sent by Sirisena to Rajapaksa was released to media this afternoon. In it, Sirisena revealed many details of the interactions between him and Rajapaksa during the last few months and added that he would not support Rajapaksa to be the next Prime Minister even if the UPFA wins the election.

Related  :: Maithri sends a letter to MR

Maithri sends a letter to MR

In a hard-hitting letter to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) today asked Mr. Rajapaksa not to raise communalism and said that he will not be appointed Prime Minister even if the party gets more than 113 parliamentary seats as there are more senior SLFP members who could be appointed as the Premier.

The President also said if the party did not reach the 113 mark, he could intervene to bridge the gap.

In the five-page detailed letter, the President said there were seniors such as Nimal Siripala de Silva, John Seneviratne, A.H.M. Fowzie, Chamal Rajapaksa, Susil Premajayantha, Athauda Seneviratne and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to be picked as the Prime Minister if the UPFA secured an overall majority at the elections.

Therefore, he requested the former President to be generous and flexible, and to give his blessing for one of them to be appointed to the post. The President said it was hilarious to note Mr. Rajapaksa visiting temples with media coverage right from the day of his defeat at the January 8 election.

Related :: Rajapaksa Says He Is yet To See Sirisena's Letter

Nimal Lanza Appointed Wattala SLFP Organizer

Western Provincial Council Minister Nimal Lanza was appointed as SLFP Chief Organizer of Wattala Electorate.

Interestingly, Lanza came to the limelight once again early this week when he visited Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport to welcome the former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, several other organizers were also appointed. Accordingly, North Western Provincial Council Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara was appointed as Chief Organizer of Bingiriya. Ampara Mayor Indika Nalin Jayawickrama was appointed as Chief Organizer of Ampara (South).

Udayakantha Gunathilaka and Kithsiri Wijetunga were appointed Organizers for Dedigama Electorate.

Sajin Vaas to be arrested ?

Investigations into allegations of irregularities by MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena during the previous regime have revealed serious instances of abuse of public property, say police headquarters sources.
On the basis of these findings, indictments are to be served against bhm.

Sajin Vaas also stands accused of amassing money through illegal and inappropriate means.
Taking up a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Front, the Colombo Fort magistrate yesterday ordered the CID to expedite the investigations.

The magistrate also ordered the department of inland revenue to submit reports with regard to 21 companies owned by the UPFA MP, who is one of the closest associates of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Court issues notice to MR, Anura Yapa, Premajayantha

The Colombo District Court has issued a notice to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, United People’s Freedom Alliance General Secretary Susil Premajayantha and Sri Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to appear in court on January 26^th.

The notice was issued following a case filed by former Kotikawatte-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Solangarachchi for expelling him from the party without a proper inquiry, which makes it removal unconstitutional.

Solangarachchi was removed from the party after he pledged support to the current President Maithripala Sirisena.

SLFP MP Nimal Siripala de Silva also warned that disciplinary action would be taken against defectors of the party.

SLFP splits

• Parallel central committee meetings to appoint MR and MS party leader
• Several UPFA MPs pledge support to President Sirisena
• SLFP members meet Sirisena’s residence parallel to SLFP HQ meet chaired by defeated President
• Mahinda Rajapaksa sits at media conference says majority support with him

In what appeared to be the beginning of the real battle of the blues, a faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party attempted to wrest control, naming President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chairman.
A section of the 55- member SLFP Central Committee said it met at Sirisena’s Wijerama Mawatha residence and passed a resolution appointing the new President Chairman of the party.

“According to the SLFP constitution, if any SLFP member becomes president of the country, he immediately becomes chairman of our party,” former deputy minister and attorney-at-law Faizer Mustapha told reporters.

He said the quorum of Central Committee meeting at Sirisena’s residence last afternoon had also nominated Duminda Dissanayake as General Secretary and Janaka Bandara Tennakoon who has also pledged support to the new President as national organizer of the SLFP. Senior party member S.B. Nawinna had been appointed Treasurer, Dissanayake announced at a packed media briefing at President Sirisena’s residence.

 The same thing had been done when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected to office in 2005 to oust former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the SLFP members said.

“A majority of SLFP Central Committee members had endorsed Sirisena for party chairman,” Mustapha said, but declined to give numbers.

He said the “Central Committee” had declared Maithripala Sirisena’s suspension from the SLFP null and void. “As such Maithripala Sirisena’s position as General Secretary stands and he can summon a central committee meeting,” Mustapha explained.

Former Deputy Minister and SLFP Trincomalee District MP M.K.D.S. Gunewardane said that if the SLFP constitution stipulates that when a SLFP wins the presidency he becomes party leader, then it stands to reason that when he loses the presidency he loses the leadership.

“As far as we are concerned, the SLFP Chairman and the SLFP General Secretary contested the presidential election. The Chairman lost, the General Secretary won, so we are now supporting him for leadership,” former Wildlife Minister Wijithamuni Soysa told journalists.

He acknowledged that most of the group present at the media briefing had worked against Sirisena at the election.

UPFA MPs Sarath Amunugama, Athauda Seneviratne, Reginald Cooray, T.B. Ekanayake, Wijith Wijayamuni Soysa, S.B. Navinna, Jagath Pushpakumara, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Piyasena Gamage pledged support to President Sirisena yesterday.

SLFP MP Sanath Jayasuriya has also pledged his support to the new President.
Eyewitnesses said SLFP Vice President Vignayamoorthy Muralidharan had also been spotted at Sirisena’s residence before the press briefing.

SLFP CC endorses Mahinda as Leader

Majority with us, says Nimal, Susil, Anura and Mahinda

A parallel Central Committee meeting was taking place at the SLFP headquarters at Darley Road under the chairmanship of ousted President Mahinda Rajapaksa at 5.00 p.m. yesterday.

The meeting had been tense, reports said, with attempts being made to bring the defeated President to Parliament next week and pledge majority support to him.

Addressing a press briefing after the meeting, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayanth noted that the majority of Central Committee members were with them and they had endorsed President Rajapaksa as party leader.

The former President also made a rare appearance at the news conference, urging reporters to count the number of MPs who were seated in the audience chairs at the briefing.
  
UNP members express displeasure at Karuna finding Maithri

Several members of the UNP have approached the party leadership regarding the entry of Karuna Amman to the Maithripala Sirisena camp.

The members complained that the previous Government’s coddling of Karuna had been a hot button campaign issue for the Opposition campaign during the election.

 It learns that the UNP leadership had urged the members to remain calm, assuring them that many of the developments were aimed at consolidating a majority in Parliament. Such people would not be granted positions or prominent places in the new administration they assured.
  
UPFA Mayor says Mahinda will be back in Parliament

Sparking speculation in political circles, the UPFA’s Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Mayor Danasiri Amaratunge has revealed on his official Facebook page that ousted President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be returning to Parliament as Opposition Leader soon.

“So many people are crying and asking him to come back to politics,” Amaratunge said in a post featuring the defeated President.

Amaratunge said large crowds had come to see he former President at his Carlton Home in Medamulana.

“He will be coming back to the parliament as the Leader of the opposition to safeguard the SLFP. I am waiting to work under him again,” the UPFA Mayor said.

The new Government is buzzing with speculation that the Rajapaksa regime may attempt to stage an illegal comeback in the coming weeks.

Addressing crowds of people in Tangalle on Saturday, President Rajapaksa told people that the “Eelam areas” had ensured President Maithripala Sirisena’s victory at the election.

“I am not defeated,” he said.

 By Dharisha Bastians

Source : FT

Tissa, Katagoda join with MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said a short while ago that UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake had joined the government. “This Mahinda Rajapaksa can get another party’s General Secretary when our General Secretary leaves. Do not underestimate us,” he said. Addressing a gathering soon after handing over nominations for the presidential election at Rajagiriya, he said his party doors were still open and people had begun to enter through them.

Democratic Party (DP) Parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda has joined the government to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa, sources said. Mr. Ketagoda became a member of the Parliament replacing DP Leader Sarath Fonseka.

United National Party (UNP) MP Kabir Hashim has been named as the party’s general secretary, UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told a news conference today. MP Hashim is also the leadership council spokesman.

Hirunika to support Maithripala

Western Provincial Council member of the United People's Freedom Alliance Hirunika Premachandra announced her decision to join the common opposition to extending her support to Maithripala Sirisena.

She is presently addressing a press conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo. Premachandra was accompanied by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and UNP Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera. Premachandra said that she took this decision for two reasons, one political and one private.

She said that she wanted to fight for justice for her murdered father from within the UPFA as she was just one small figure who could not fight from outside. However, she stated that she took this decision since there was one disciplined leader who could change the state of the affairs indicating her support for Maithripala Sirisena. Immediately after the defection of Sirisena and several other SLFP leaders, Premachandra publicly praised both him and Rajitha Senaratne, creating speculation that her cross over was imminent.

UPFA secures comfortable win ( View All results )

UNP, JVP fail to win a single council

Voter turn out over 60 percent 

Welikanda Pradeshiya Sabha have NO Opposition 

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) secured a comfortable victory in the second phase of the Local Authorities election 2011 winning a total of 45 Local Councils out of 65 bodies. The main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) failed to win even a single Local Council at the election held on Saturday.

The win gave the UPFA control over 75 percent of Local Councils. The UPFA secured victory in 250 LG bodies out of 299.

The party won 205 LG bodies out of 234 in the first phase of elections held in March.
 
In the North, the UPFA secured victory in three Pradeshiya Sabhas, namely Kayts, Velanai and Delft.
The massive win gave the UPFA 512 seats out of 875 in 65 Local Councils. The Illankai Thamil Arusu Katchchi got 183 seats while the UNP had to be content with just 137 seats.
The JVP could only manage to get 13 of its members elected while the TULF which won two Councils in the Kilinochchi district, got 12 of its members elected. The government ally SLMC also won seven seats.

The ITAK won 18 Local Authorities and TULF two.

All nine members of the Welikanda Pradeshiya Sabha have been elected from the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its ally the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).Of the elected members to the Pradeshiya Sabha 8 were from the UPFA with one member representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). Therefore the Welikanda Pradeshiya Sabha would have no opposition members, the General Secretary of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena said.

Meanwhile, Elections chief Mahinda Deshapriya said that the polling was conducted successfully and in a peaceful atmosphere in all areas.

“No major incident had happened during or after polling,” he added.

Election watch dog PAFFREL too said that there were no major incidents during polling day. It said that barring a few minor incidents, the election was held in a very peaceful manner.
The overall voter turnout was more than 60 percent. In the north too, voter turnout exceeded 50 percent. Most voters in the North voted in the polls for the first time since the defeat of the LTTE. n March 17, this year, elections were held for 234 of the 335 local authorities in the country. Elections for 65 councils were postponed due to legal challenges against rejection of nominations.

source : dailynews.lk

Click on image and click on it to zoom.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Son’s Home Coming Photos

The only child of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mrs Ioma Rajapaksa, Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa entered in to married life today on 30 June. Daminda Rajapaksa’s wedding took place at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo amidst a bevy of high profile guests, including his uncle President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Daminda married to Miss Seuwandhi Liyanarachchi, daughter of Mr and Mrs Chandra Liyanarachchi. In fact, President Mahinda Rajapaksa signed witness to the marriage for bridegroom whilst Sri Lankan First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa signed on behalf of the bride. Also present at the ceremony were Rajapaksa family members, relatives, several cabinet ministers, senior officers from Sri Lanka Armed Forces, government officials and friends.

Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa has born on 16th December, 1982 and studied at Traweek Middle School and then later Covina High School in United States of America. For his higher education Daminda has entered in to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

OURLANKA wish the newly wedded couple a bright future.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Son’s Wedding Photos

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Son’s Wedding Photos

The only child of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mrs Ioma Rajapaksa, Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa entered in to married life today on 30 June. Daminda Rajapaksa’s wedding took place at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo amidst a bevy of high profile guests, including his uncle President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Daminda married to Miss Seuwandhi Liyanarachchi, daughter of Mr and Mrs Chandra Liyanarachchi. In fact, President Mahinda Rajapaksa signed witness to the marriage for bridegroom whilst Sri Lankan First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa signed on behalf of the bride. Also present at the ceremony were Rajapaksa family members, relatives, several cabinet ministers, senior officers from Sri Lanka Armed Forces, government officials and friends.

Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa has born on 16th December, 1982 and studied at Traweek Middle School and then later Covina High School in United States of America. For his higher education Daminda has entered in to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

OURLANKA wish the newly wedded couple a bright future.

source : srilankaguardian

Gotabaya Rajapaksha's Son's Wedding Today

The only child of  Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ioma Rajapaksa, Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa's Wedding is to take place at the Hilton Hotel on June 30 (today) . According to a website he has born on December 16th, 1982 and studied in United States of America, Traweek Middle School and then later Covina High School. His university education was Duke University in Durham, NC. Our Lanka blog wish him bright future.

Gotabaya Rajapaksha's Son's Wedding Photos

Mervyn Silva ready to teach 'white folks' ( Sudda's ) lessons ( Video )

Minister Mervyn Silva stated that he invites all the white folks ‘Suddo’ in the world to come to Sri Lanka and learn about the ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’.

He says that he will educate all Englishmen from the highest officers to the lowest on Mahinda Chinthanaya and will advise them to follow it.


Attending the inauguration of the ‘Dr. Mervyn Silva Challenge Trophy, Bicycle Tour’ earlier today (December 03) he expressed that even though Britain is incapable of providing security to a leader of a country, if they come to Sri Lanka at any given time they would be able to complete all their affairs and return back safely.


He also stressed, if a certain individual has been disloyal to his country, then I approve of the incident which took place in the Parliament.


“I regret not being in Parliament at the time of the incident” Silva pointed out.


The Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs advised all the country’s traitors to find a boat and immediately cast away from the country.



source : adaderana

Anarkali invites entire opposition to join the goverment

Southern Provincial Council member Anarkali Akarsha has invited the opposition to join the government party. She pointed out that several opposition MPs have already put aside past differences and have joined the government.


She said that she is pleased about the fact, and that it goes to show that there is a possibility that the entire opposition may one day crossover to the government.


The opposition never issues favorable statements, the whole party in general always speaks negatively Anarkali Akarsha further added.

source : derana

Chiran jayathu - Long life to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Happy B'Day Mr. President

 

Today and tomorrow are two very special days in the hearts and minds of all Sri Lankans. Today (November 18, 2010) marks the sixty fifth birthday of President Mahinda Rajapaksa while the nation will mark a new beginning on Friday (November 19, 2010) with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, being sworn-in for his second term, heralding in a era of development. Our Lanka Team wishes President all the very best in his endeavor to make Sri Lanka the Miracle of Asia, as we pray to God to shower you with blessings and grant you good health, long life and happiness.

Theruwan Saranai! Ayubowan! Vanakkam! Assalamu Alekkum!

"To our land, you are the light that banished all its fears
To us- your people- you are the President who will herald in a prosperous future"
President Mahinda Rajapaksa set a unique, dual record in Sri Lankan political history by becoming the first Executive President to win the second Presidential Elections with a higher majority and by leading his party- the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to a landslide victory in Parliamentary Elections held merely over two months after the Presidential Elections.
The fifth Executive President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is a courageous former Prime Minister, an unmatched Leader of the Opposition, a valiant Member of Parliament, vociferous lawyer, human rights activist and trade unionist - coming from a family with a long-standing tradition of serving the people setting aside, race or religion, caste or creed.
He succeeded his father- veteran politician DA Rajapaksa to Sri Lanka’s Parliament in the 1970 polls, showing strong support his family has had for decades from the poor and voiceless peoples in Sri Lanka’s southern Hambantota District- now emerging into a global mega port city.
Born in 1945, President Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament in 1970 in the United Freedom Front Government led by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranayake, became the youngest-ever MP to enter the Sri Lanka’s Parliament at the age of 24.

He has held several important cabinet portfolios including the Minister of Labour in the Peoples Alliance (PA) Government in 1994 and Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources from 1997. He served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from April 6, 2004 and was sworn in as the sixth Executive President for a six-year term on Nov 19, 2005.
He was conferred with two Honorary Doctorates. First one is a Doctor of Law by the University of Colombo on September 6, 2009. Second degree was awarded by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia on February 6, 2010 for his contribution for world peace and outstanding success in defeating terrorism.
His success in Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in January and April, 2010 respectively, came after a series of sweeping poll victories in eight Provincial Councils by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by him.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the fifth Executive President of Sri Lanka, was elected for a second term of office in the Presidential Election held on January 26, 2010, with the Sri Lankan voters recognizing him as the national leader who liberated the country from the terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and set the country on the path to peace and rapid economic development.

Profile

• Elected to parliament in 1970 at the age of 24
• Elected Leader of the Opposition in 2002
• Appointed Prime Minister on April 6, 2004
• Sworn in as the fifth Executive President on November 19, 2005
• Elected to a second term polling 6,015,934 votes at the Presidential Election held on January 26, 2010
• May 19, 2009- Became first Sri Lankan Head of State and only world leader in recent times to overcome division of Sri Lanka by end a thirty-year bloody civil war fought by world’s most ruthless terrorist outfit- LTTE
• Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University of the Russian Federation
• Elected Chairman of G15 from 2010- 2012
• Elected Chairman of SAARC at fifteenth Summit
In the Presidential Election held on January 26, 2010, he won with 6,015,934 votes or 57.8 per cent of the votes cast, while his closest rival, former Amy Commander General (Rtd.) Sarath Fonseka obtained only 4,173,185 votes 40.15 per cent. The re-election of Mahinda Rajapaksa took place in the first nationwide election held after the defeat of the LTTE in 2009 May, and the first ever polls where people from all parts of the country were free to participate in more than two decades.
In the last Presidential Election held in November 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as candidate of the United Progressive Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was elected fifth Executive President obtaining 50.29% or 4,887,152 votes polled, while his closest rival Ranil Wickremesinghe, leading the United National Party (UNP) obtained 47.43% or 4,706,366 votes.
Political analysts opine that his victory in 2005 election was a clear endorsement by the people of the leadership given by him to defeat the LTTE, eradicate terrorism and restore peace; stand up against unfriendly forces of the West, both countries and institutions, that tried to pressure the Government to have a ceasefire with the LTTE, as it was facing the final military rout; and his commitment to continue development of the country under policies he initiated while carrying on a costly war against terrorism.
Early in the fourth year of his six-year term, President Mahinda Rajapaksa etched his name in the records of Sri Lankan history as the national leader who ended a three decade long-drawn war against the forces of separatist terrorism that threatened the , independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country; gave leadership to defeat the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world; withstood international pressure for a ceasefire with terrorists; united the country under the single National Flag, and embarked on an ambitious programme to ensure democracy throughout the country, bringing a new political vision that seeks both Development and Reconciliation to build a New Sri Lankan Nation.

Source

UNP leader RANIL having a shower in SF seth patheema..

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP MP for Gampaha District Ruwan Wijewardene and Member of the Western Provincial Council Harshana Rajakaruna at a Bodji Poja held in Dompe this evening to invoke blessings on DNA Leader Sarath Fonseka who is serving a prison sentence. There was a accident happened to UNP leader Mr. ranil wickremasinghe and minister susil premajanth has revealed that incident with photoes.

these photoes were taken by a dailymirror photographer but he has not release them. But minister DID.

some more from the BODHI POOJA ceremony

Chimp takes a shot at Basil

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who was on a visit to the National Zoological Gardens at Dehiwala this morning had a somewhat different encounter with an opponent. looks like he is an UNP chimp :D

the video