Women's Day celebration organised by SLFP

Former President Chandrika Bandaranike Kumaratunga today said that while women had secured higher positions in their professions, their percentage still remained low in Parliament, Provincial Councils and local government bodies.

She expressed these views addressing the International Women's Day celebration organised by the women's organisation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at the SLFP Headquarters.

"We have highly educated women with leadership qualities, but we have less than three percent Members of Parliament," she said.

She said the measures taken by the government to enhance female representation at local government bodies up to 25 percent is a timely decision taken by the government.

"Though the 25 percent female representation is not enough, it was a good start to ensuring equal political representation of the country's women," Kumaratunga said.

SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said that the SLFP is a party which has a strong female support in every aspect.

SLFP is the only party to produce powerful female leaders. Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female Prime Minister while her daughter ruled the country for a long time, he said.

"Since former President Chandrika Kumaratunga became the President of the country in 1994, the SLFP was able to hold the Presidency of the country for nearly 22 years," he added.

Dissanayake said the SLFPers who really love the party should gather around the party and not a person.

The President Maithripala Sirisena's daughter Chathurika Sirisena was the Chief Guest.

SLFP Women's Organisation President MP Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faiszer Musthapha, Petroleum Industries Minister Chandima Weerakkody, Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and former Minister Piyasena Gamage were also present

Minister Ranatunga emphasizes reconciliation in the country via eliminating racism and standing against religious discrimination

The Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga emphasized that the freedom of the country could be safeguard by eliminating racism and standing against the religious discrimination.

Speaking at a discussion titled ' National Reconciliation and Constitutional Reforms in Sri Lanka' organized by 'Mawrata' young community, the Minister emphasized South Africa had showcased that national reconciliation could only be achieved respecting to each other. Minister said that Sri Lanka can also obtain national reconciliation by following South African example towards national reconciliation. 

"The victory at the civil war was not an outcome of single effort by Sinhala people but was a cooperate effort and sacrifices of many other Tamil and Muslim leaders in the country. We have seen the parties who spread racism among the people everywhere and every time. They just want to achieve their political goals and grab political benefits. They don't care about the future of children and the country. We have to eradicate such activities to gain reconciliation in the country. We should respect each other. Nelson Mandela has proved it in his political movement. South Africans sing their national anthem in five languages. We used both Sinhala and Tamil languages to sing national anthem on the Independence Day celebration. However, we noticed racists’ reactions towards this effort.  Sri Lanka cannot be developed as a nation with such negative minded attitudes," the minister said.

The discussion was attended by over 300 youths from 'Mirigama' district and divisional electorate. Several copies of the constitution of Sri Lanka were also   handed over to the students who participated at the event.

Attorney- at-Law Sudarshana Gunawardena delivering his speech asserted that a constitutional reform in the country was a request by the people who really needed a change.

“People who forced the government for a constitutional change were the people who were fed up on the constitution and the government's legal procedure. They are the progressive individuals in the country. They carried out their campaign against the former leader. They requested for a fair and transparent government. They made their voice against a charismatic leader and requested for a constitutional change that decentralizes power,” Gunawardena further mentioned.

Security firm's contract terminated at Independence Square

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs has terminted the contract of a state-owned security firm responsible for maintaining security at Independence Square in Colombo. The contract has been terminated on the orders of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, following the uproar created by the release on social media of a video showing the firm's security personnel apparently harassing a young couple at Independence Square and ordering them to leave.

The video was widely shared on social media and sparked outrage, culminating in a social media organized protest titled 'Occupy the Square' on Sunday. The protestors demanded an end to what they claimed was regular harassment of couples by security personnel on duty at Independence Square.

It has now been revealed that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs had outsourced security at the site to be handled by a security firm affiliated with the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Harsha De Silva, who met with the protestors, said on his official Facebook page that the Prime Minister had instructed the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to cancel the contract of this state-owned firm and to remove the Director Operations.

Dr. De Silva also said the Director Operations of the security company had been appointed to the post by the former Secretary of Defence and is a sitting member of the Kotte Municipal Council.

Two of the security guards seen on the video were confronted by the deputy minister at the site of the protest, with many members of the media being also present. However, the deputy minister clarified that the guards in question had in fact not been fired.

"The two guards will be sent to another location after warning them not to abuse their power," Dr. De Silva said on his Facebook page.

Prime Minister Ranil proposes 15 % increase in VAT

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the Parliament today stated that the Value Added Tax (VAT) will be increased to 15%, while the Nation Building Tax (NBT) will stay unchanged. The Prime Minister further added that such an increase was necessary to face Global Economic changes.

Sri Lanka T-20 Cricket World Cup announced

The complete squad for the T-20 Cricket World Cup 2016 has been announced.

The full squad is as follows.

1. Angelo Mathews (Captain)

2. Dinesh Chandimal (Vice Captain)

3. TM Dilshan

4. Lahiru Thirimanne

5. Shehan Jayasuriya

6. Milinda Siriwardena

7. Chamara Kapugedara

8. Dasun Shanaka

9. Thisara Perera

10. Nuwan Kulasekara

11. Dushmantha Chameera

12. Rangana Herath

13. Suranga Lakmal

14. Sachithra Senanayake

15. Lasith Malinga

Angelo Mathews has been named captain for the Sri Lankan cricket team participating in the T-20 Cricket World Cup and Dinesh Chandimal had been named Vice Captain.

Meanwhile right-arm medium-fast bowler Suranga Lakmal and left-handed batsman Lahiru Thirimanne have been recalled to the team.

Further Jeffrey Vandersay and Niroshan Dikwella have been dropped from the squad.

Car crashes with two batta lorries at Moragoda

A luxury car travelling along the Anuradhapura- Ella Road collided with two batta lorries at Moragoda. The four lawyers from Colombo travelling in the car escaped with minor bruises as they were all wearing their seat belts.

The car in which the lawyers were returning after a pilgrimage to Anuradhapura had veered off the lane when a batta lorry travelling towards the Thambuttegama Economic Centre to collect a load of vegetables had knocked against it and another batta lorry coming from behind had crashed into the two vehicles.

The two lorries had turned turtle after the impact while the car had turned full circle in the direction of Anuradhapura.

Talawa Police are investigating.

Government responsible for crime wave – Mahinda Rajapaksa

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that underworld gangs that fled the country during his tenure had been brought back by the politicians of the present government to do their political dirty work and those dregs of society were behind the present crime wave.

He said that narcotics were the main reason for underworld warfare and during his time the then Defence Secretary had waged an anti-narcotics war to keep the underworld elements at bay. "Many underworld characters fled the country to evade arrest. Powerful politicians of the incumbent government brought them back to get their dirty work done. Now, the underworld gangs go on killing one another to settle their old scores," the former President told yesterday.

Aravinda and Sangakkara appointed to the Sri Lanka Cricket selection committee

Sri Lanka’s team for the T20 World Cup was shrouded in uncertainty just a day before it was to leave for India after the committee of selectors was unexpectedly disbanded for not complying with SLC’s selection policy on Monday night and new members appointed.

The new committee comprising Aravinda de Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ranjith Madurusinghe and Lalith Kaluperuma were sitting till late night to finalize the 15-man squad after skipper Lasith Malinga resigned as captain citing his knee injury. De Silva was named as the Chairman of the committee in a press release issued last night, which included former captain Kumar Sangakkara.

“The appointment of the National Selection Committee was carried out by the Minister citing recent failures encountered by the National Team in their Tours to New Zealand, India, Asia Cup in Bangladesh and the inconsistency in the selection criteria,” the statement said.

Last month Sri Lanka Cricket announced identical teams led by Lasith Malinga for both the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20 despite the 32-year-old not having fully recovered from a recurring knee-injury sustained during the home series against West Indies last year. Malinga played only the opening game of the Asia Cup and was forced to sit out the entire series which Sri Lanka lost embarrassingly.

He missed Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand in December and January, and was later ruled out of the T20s in India, in February.

The MRI scans of his injured knee have shown substantial damage. The physiotherapist has recommended ten days of rest, meaning that the 32-year-old paceman will not be available for any of the practice matches ahead of Sri Lanka’s opening clash on March 17.

However, Malinga has offered to play if selected to the team. Sources said Malinga would now be replaced by Angelo Mathews as skipper but the former was likely to be retained in the squad as Sri Lanka looked to defend their title won two years ago in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the new cricket selectors were discussing bringing in left-handed bat Lahiru Thirimanne and spinning all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna in place of wicket-keeper bat Niroshan Dickwella and Jeffrey Vandersay.(Champika Fernando)