Presidential Election 2015

[Prison inmates are being used for the election campaigning activities of the President Rajapaksa (Photo: : CaFFE )] The following statement issued by the Asian Human Rights Commission Whatever be the outcome of the presidential election to be held on the 8th of January 2015, Sri Lanka has already entered into the deepest political crisis […]

[SP Tamilchelvan with  Minister Nimal Sripala] by Tisaranee Gunasekara- “We are totally unconcerned about the outcome of this election.” SP Tamilchelvan, LTTE Political Head (on 2005 Presidential election) The Opposition needs Tamils. Tamils need the Opposition. The Opposition cannot win without Tamil votes. Tamils will be stuck with Rajapaksa rule, if the Opposition fails to […]

[ Protester holding a placard on 14.12.14 Colombo; Vikalpa photo] Journalists and trade union activists protest against media restrictions at the Colombo Fort railway station on Friday (photo by ucanews.com) Hundreds of journalists and trade union activists protested on Friday against government threats to the media ahead of a contentious presidential election in January. The […]

[ State media trade unions protest against bias reporting during the 2010 presidential election] Sri Lanka’s elections chief warned state-run television networks on Friday not to broadcast programmes supporting President Mahinda Rajapakse in upcoming polls. Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he had received complaints from independent monitors that the state networks were openly campaigning for […]

[Solangaarcchchi facing death threats] Election violence against the common opposition taking place around the country at an alarming rate according to SLB sources within Sri Lanka. But most of these violations are not being reported to the election monitors or to the police. In Kurunagala pro Rajapaksa gangs have visited number of houses where small […]

Issuing a statement the main opposition UNP told Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya to decide either  to be a lackey of the incumbent, or you can choose to be a model democrat, a servant of the state, whose true masters are Sri Lanka’s people. The full statement Issued by the UNP: The arrogance and extravagance of […]

Opposition Leader of the Uva Provincial Council and former UNP Parliamentarian Harin Fernando said President Mahinda Rajapaksa lost two Hindu deputy ministers of his government following his trip to Thirupathy with former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake. “In addition,” he said, “four Provincial Councilors and 34 Pradeshiya Sabha members have also left the ruling party […]

[The TNA – or any moderate Tamil grouping – will find it difficult to negotiate with any government that includes, or is seen to be beholden to, the JHU] by Crisis Group- The International Crisis Group has released its update briefing on the upcoming presidential election  in Sri Lanka, datelined Colombo/Brussels, 9 December 2014  and […]

[Ravaya editor K.W. Janaranjana] The Chief Editor of ‘Ravaya’ newspaper Attorney at Law K.W. Janaranjana has been called to the CID alleging that publishing a new item stating information from state intelligence services indicate Mr. Maithripala Sirisena would receive 59% of the votes while Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa receives only 41% was a personal attack on […]

by H.A. Seneviratne – The people’s march in Sri Lanka to defeat the executive presidential dictatorship is numerically and energetically increasing daily. This is the inevitable outcome of unending mass suffering due to famines, tortures, threats and killings under an individual petty-bourgeois neo-feudal dictatorship linked up with corruption, family bandism and nepotism. In the context […]

[ Bomb attack on the house of Sarath Rathnasiri, who expressed his support to Common candidate] CaFFE Election Report 23 – Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has received a number of incidents on election related violence, the day before the nominations were to be signed. UPFA supporters held vehicle parades across the island. […]

[ Political thugs that led the attack] FMM statement- Free Media Movement condemns the attack by a government politician to ‘Vidiye Wirodhaya’ event held in Eppawala on December 5th with number of civil society organizations under the title of ‘Viyaruwata Erehiwa, Jeewithaya Wenuwen’ (Against Rage, For Life). FMM also demands the government to prevent attacks, threats and […]

By Vijitha Herath, MP, (JVP)-   The forthcoming presidential election is illegal. The propaganda campaign of the government too is illegal. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said everybody in the government have eaten enough and now they only need watalappan for dessert. The people in the government are confronted with a predicament due to holding the presidential […]

[ The signing of the MoU] The translated text of the opposition common candidate Maithripala Sirisena singed with  Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). Agreement signed between the leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya Ven Omalpe Sobitha Thera and the Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena As Sri Lanka in 2015 will reach […]

[one of the local politicians who led the attack] A journalist receiving treatment for assault injuries at the Eppawala hospital, has been threatened by a group of men who arrived at the hospital premises yesterday. Media groups in Anuradhapura have requested police to provide protection to the injured journalist. The victim, Anuradhapura Regional Correspondent for […]

Every public officer should have the Mahinda Chintana text as a table top manuscript, for it contains vision and strategy on every aspect of the nation building, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga has said. He has said this in a meeting with state officials and people’s representatives at the Southern Provincial Council’s event. This […]

[Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF) has been in the forefront of anti regime struggle] The co-coordinator of the Marx School Sumanasiri Liyanage says that the Front Line Socialist Party (FSP) led social left front poses the real opposition to the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime both in its program and in its practice. Mr. Liyanage has elaborated this […]

Resettlement Minister Guneratne Weerakoon has claimed that US Envoy offered him green card and a house in America and asked him to remove the military camps removed in the north. Speaking at a political meeting he has told in Aranwela on 4th Dec 2014 that he had recordings of the discussion, to which the Secretary […]

A group of thugs led by Government politicians has attacked the campaign of the ‘Viyaruwata Erihiwa ; Jeewithya Wenuwen – ‘වියරැවට එරෙහිව, ජීවිතය වෙනුවෙන් ( Against the Craze for the Life) at Eppawala in Anuradhapuraya district few hours ago, today ( 05 Dec 2014), according to a press release issued by Sampath Samarakoon on behalf […]

by Democracy Sri Lanka– Opinions have been expressed and questions asked about how Maithripala Sirisena would fulfill his promises at the Presidential Elections. We spoke to a few experts and activists associated with his campaign. What kind of Government would Maithri’s Government be? An All-Party Government As has been already announced, it would be an […]

[Flagrant misuse of power by Rajapaksa clan] Over one million Sri Lanka rupees from the Provincial Council budget will be spent for laying of concrete at the Salgado Stadium for Rajapaksa inaugural rally to be held on December 11. Expecting a rainy weather over next week in Anuradhapura area the stadium is being completely renovated […]

[ 1800 Rajapaksa hoarding in CMC limits alone] Law firm Samararatne Associates has sent a letter demand to Mayor of Colombo Mr A. J. M. Musammil on behalf Mr. Ajith Pathirana, Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka(BASL requesting to remove the unauthorized hoardings that have been put up within the municipality of Colombo […]

[JHU – Maithripala press conference] Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) headed by Champika Ranawaka has called upon the Tamil National Alliance to join the common opposition and to support Maithripala Sirisena for the presidency, reports Ceylon Today. JHU General Secretary, Champika Ranawaka, addressing a special media briefing at Solis Hotel Pitakotte, has said that his Party […]

[Thousands participated at the JVP rally} “Buying from Rajapaksa’s shop should be stopped. Not only that – it should be made to close down,” said the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka at the rally held at Nugegoda yesterday (1st) under the theme ‘‘Defeat despotic regime! Rally for Democracy!!’, the first of the series of […]

[ You have become a political symbol supporting authoritarian regime] By Sunanda Deshapriya- I write this open letter to you as a Sri Lankan journalist and human rights defender in self-exile, pained by the fact that Your Holiness has knowing or unwilling contributed to restrict the democratic rights of Sri Lankan people, to challenge an […]

[After the signing of the MoU] Full text of the MoU singed by the political parties and civil organisations with Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena today. A Common People’s Agenda for Just, Democratic and People-friendly Governance • the total breakdown of the Rule of Law, • the erosion of democratic institutions essential for governance, • an […]