Produced by Lake House. Although he had earlier resigned from the leadership of the United National Party in the Gampaha District, he actively participated in the work of the party. When Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga came to the crease, the famously rotund star called for a runner, sparking a confrontation with Healy. Opposition lawmaker Harin Fernando said that he will wear a black shawl in Parliament until justice is served to fellow Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake who was imprisoned for Contempt of Court recently. Last elected Party. It had raised doubt among the people whether the UNP heavyweights were planning to form a new political front as thousands of their supporters had attended the religious ceremony. Despite assurances that he would hand over the leadership of the United National Party (UNP) to Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene in January 2021, Ranil Wickremesinghe was again reappointed as the UNP Leader at the party Working Committee meeting which held on Wednesday (January 13). Former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has decided not to actively participate in the political activities of the United National Party in the future. It is essential to attract foreign investors to develop this country.”. Meanwhile, at a meeting held in Anuradhapura on Friday (28) former State Minister, Ruwan Wijewardena, has said that he will definitely come forward to contest the leadership of the United National Party. Weerawansa in a recent interview with a private television channel said the SJB MP Ranawaka who had at one time vehemently criticised UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, has the gumption to hail the latter as a modern-day political visionary. Members of the Maha Sangha have criticised the Government over attempts that are allowing foreign entities to acquire the country’s resources. Arjuna Ranatunga and D.M. The former petroleum minister, Arjuna Ranatunga, was a member of the cabinet that president Maithripala Sirisena dissolved on Saturday, one … Harin Fernando is not a novice Parliamentarian; the Speaker could allow him to make such a statement on the Supreme Court judgement, justices, or the conduct of the President only under due procedure. The UNP Working Committee unanimously appointed former Galle District MP Vajira Abeywardena as the party Chairman. Police arrest Sri Lanka's petroleum minister and captain of Sri Lanka's 1996 cricket World Cup Arjuna Ranatunga , in Colombo on October 29, 2018. Elle Gunawansa Thera told journalists “Just as the Sacred Tooth Relic protects the Dalada Maligawa, we must protect the East Container Terminal.” Some civic groups and trade unions have also criticised the Government’s efforts to hand over a 49 percent stake of the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal to an Indian company. Former UNP Parliamentarian Saman Rathnapriya said Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa didn’t work for the UNP’s victory when he was in the UNP and whatever he did in the party was aimed at grabbing the party’s leadership. Premadasa was referring to the remarks by the President with regard to the recent speech made by Harin Fernando in Parliament. Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has tested positive for COVID-19. We have someone at the helm who has the knowledge, experience, and proven performance and who is locally and internationally accepted.”. However, the situation is problematic as the incident had taken place in the morning and also when Police officers had been deployed for security. Several key changes were made to top positions within the party hierarchy at the Working Committee meeting. A group of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarians staged a protest near the Independence Square on Wednesday, January 13 demanding the Government ensure the freedom of Speech. (Source: Express Archive) Sacked Sri Lanka petroleum minister Arjuna Ranatunga was arrested Monday, a day after his security staff opened fire at Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s supporters, and killed one and injured two others outside his office. He said that Opposition Leader Premadasa and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga are likely to contest the next Presidential election. The Fall Army worm(FAW) recorded for the first time in Sri Lanka in August 2018 on maize is a moth, whose larva (... President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne wore many hats. I am confident that this new investment will bring prosperity to Sri Lanka.”. Yet another notable feature was UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene or any of his representatives had not attended the program. He said, “We will put our entire weight behind MP Fernando and take up the task of safeguarding democracy and freedom of expression. Ramanayake boarding the prison bus told the reporters “I am not afraid brother, I have not and will not apologise. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who met the Ports Authority trade union representatives at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday, January 13 assured trade unionists that the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port will not be sold or leased. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had also instructed the Election Commission to take steps to hold PC elections as soon as possible. Ranatunga was arrested from the premises of … Former UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has been appointed the new UNP Assistant Leader while Ruwan Wijewardene will continue to serve as the party’s Deputy Leader. He said that was a Deva Kannalauwa to reunite the UNP factions and rescue the country from Covid-19 pandemic. He said, “A group of senior UNP members who defied the party leadership have already expressed their willingness to rejoin the UNP.” Rathnapriya said that a united force is a must for victory at the next election and division will only lead to defeat. He said that his name had been proposed at the recent UNP Working Committee meeting together with the names of a few others. The Opposition Leader said, expressing his or her views in Parliament is a privilege enjoyed by a Parliamentarian. He told a recent public gathering that what befell Ramanayake was the result of his actions. Don’t be afraid to speak the truth. He said, “Those lies and the ensuing deception have boomeranged and even though they are trying to do something constructive, they are being destroyed by the very lies they have disseminated. Taking to his official Twitter account, the President said the Government of Sri Lanka looks forward to working together with the U.S. towards a mutually beneficial and stronger bilateral relationship. Arjuna's cricketing career started and was carefully nurtured at school. Samaraweera viewed President Rajapaksa’s decision as an encouraging development while urging “true patriots” to dismiss the rhetoric planted by certain politicians, popularising the sentiment of attracting foreign investments as a betrayal to the nation. Born on December 1, 1963, Arjuna Ranatunga who brought the glory of the World Cup to Sri Lanka, is a product of Ananda College, Colombo. Asserting that the Government does not indulge in vindictive politics, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the imprisonment of MP Ranjan Ramanayake was a result of his unguarded mouth. “The people have already felt the absence of our party leader in Parliament. He said the ECT development project was planned after careful consideration of regional geopolitical facts, the country’s sovereignty and generation of income and job opportunities. He said under the Standing Order 83, a decision by the Supreme Court or by its justices, or any document published under the signature of the President, could be criticised personally only under this Standing Order. Co-cabinet Spokesman Minister Udaya Gammanpila told the media that Party Leaders in the ruling coalition had decided not to hold the PC polls based on the health situation in the country. SLPP Parliamentarian Upul Galappaththi, raising a Point of Order, said that MP Harin Fernando was misleading the House by attempting to imply that Ramanayake was imprisoned by the Government, which he said was incorrect and totally misleading. Arjuna Ranatunga, M.P. Wijewardene said that the people no longer have faith in the Government and the UNP is mobilising the public against the Government at grassroots level. All SJB frontliners including SJB Leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Harin Fernando, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Sarath Fonseka, Harsha de Silva, Rajitha Senaratne, Tissa Attanayake, Eran Wickramaratne and Manusha Nanayakkara were seen taking the lead in the protest. “That is why I say that Ranjan reaped what he sowed. There is no use in pointing the finger at the Government,” he said. Prasanna Ranatunga is a Sri Lankan politician,member of parliament and current minister of tourism. The Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 12 convicted SJB Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake for contempt of court and sentenced... A medical heritage of a country could be cited as one of its best treasures and most powerful weapons. He claimed that at least 200 cases have been filed in court against the individuals who have appeared before the Commission. The 52nd birthday of Minister of Ports and Shipping, Arjuna Ranatunga was celebrated today. Galappaththi said that Ramanayake was imprisoned by the Supreme Court for an offence he committed. Minister Ranatunga said the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary were vilified by the previous Yahapalana Government and Ranjan played a key part in it. However, addressing a group of UNP supporters at the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha on Friday, January 15 UNP Deputy Leader Wijewardene said that a mechanism will be put in place to bring all forces together, against the present Government, which is heading for anarchy within a short time after being elected by the people with an overwhelming majority. The actor-turned politician was moved to the Correctional Centre for Youth Offenders in Pallansena for quarantine. Violence erupted at the end of October when crowds loyal to the President attempted to prevent the recently deposed petroleum minister Arjuna Ranatunga from entering a … Minister Ranatunga said the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary were vilified by the previous Yahapalana Government and Ranjan played a key part in it. Is he dishonouring or criticising the Supreme Court’s decision? Senior Counsel Prasad Thirimanna producing Ranatunga before the Magistrate told the court that he had not received the summons which were served to his office in Nugegoda. I wanted to talk about the large number of gazettes put out by the Government but failed to control the prices.”, Government and Opposition lawmakers were involved in heated exchange of words in Parliament on Tuesday, January 19 over the report of the Commission that probed political victimisation. Copyright © 1995 - 2021 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Even though I knew it before and spoke about it, I’m not happy about it. Bangladeshi teenager awarded Children's Peace Prize for fighting cybercrime Karunanayake, who was the former Deputy Leader of the party, had not attended the Working Committee meeting saying that other posts are unnecessary if he is not given the post of General Secretary as the Deputy Leader at a time when the party was in a difficult situation. The Premier had advised the Election Commission to take mandatory steps to hold the PC Elections and consider the legal framework of the forthcoming elections while adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines. On March, 23, 2018 he told the media, “If the Honourable Court gets some self satisfaction to conclude the proceedings with a jail sentence for me, I will very happily go to prison. Attendance. SJB Parliamentarian Harin Fernando insisted that court cases filed in connection to those who have figured in the report, cannot be withdrawn. Former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has decided not to actively participate... COVID-19 deaths spike to 276. “We expect the IGP to enhance MP Fernando’s security. ARJUNA RANATUNGA Hailed as Sri Lanka's greatest ever skipper and a master strategist, Arjuna Ranatunga joined politics after a glittering cricketing career for the Island Nation and won the National Elections to become a Member of the Parliament in Sri Lanka for Gampaha constituency. The Opposition lawmakers viewed the Government as violating the freedom of speech of MPs. The new office-bearers of the UNP assumed their duties in the presence of Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at party headquarters, Sirikotha on Thursday, January 21. The shortcomings among us needs to be rectified if we actually want to tread on the path of victory,” Rathnapriya said. Minister Gunawardena said that the content of Harin Fernando’s speech should be qualitative. Petroleum minister Arjuna Ranatunga said the government was working to resolve the crisis, which came weeks after authorities turned away a … [email protected] Call Us : (+94) 112 429 429. 15 MPs underwent PCR tests at the premises Dayasiri Jayasekara and MP Rauff Hakeem, who had previously positive. The reporters “ I will not be held until the situation in the.! I ’ m not happy about it Sunethra Ranasinghe and Daya Gamage as Chairmen... 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