OTHER NEWS Advance Indian security contingent arrives - Minister Pillayan - EU delegation powwow postponed Government of Sri Lanka hailed Indian government’s victory EPC opposition members walk out    Advertisement Print Version | Email to friend Outcome of Eastern PC election is message of freedom from East to North 15-05-2008 Government Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told media that the outcome of the Eastern Provincial election is the message of freedom and democracy sent by the Easterners to their brethren in the North. He said that the people in the East have clearly rejected Prabhakaran\'s desire to create a mono ethnic separate homeland for Tamils but embraced the democracy. The Minister made these comments addressing at the weekly media briefing held at the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), Colombo. Recalling the Indo - Sri Lanka peace pact signed by late president JR Jayawardane and Late Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Minister pointed out that the Provincial council system was originally introduced as a probable solution to the ethnic issue but none of the previous governments could implement it in the areas where its is really intended for. The Minister further said that the present government has not only liberated the Eastern province from the clutches of terrorism but also launched a massive development program in the area which had been long neglected by previous governments. While doing so, the Minister said that the government has now given the political freedom to the easterners by conducting, the local and provincial council elections peacefully. He added that the elections have created a history as a group of former LTTE cadres had abandoned terrorism and joined main stream politics to achieve their missions. He further said that election itself was a unique achievement in that the people who were denied the basic fundamental right of franchise did exercise the right after a lapse of 30 years, many for the first time in their life. Commenting on the opposition\'s allegations over the election that it was not a free and fair one, the Minister told that the any party has democratic rights to make any such comments, but highlighted that it a natural occurrence in the political field in Sri Lanka to see the defeated parties blaming the winning party. However, he hoped that the opposition would be fair enough to highlight the LTTE terror attacks that had been launched to cripple the election with the other violent activities that it is going to take up in future. Print Version | Email to friend

Advance Indian security contingent arrives - Minister Wed, 23-07-2008 21:00:00 An advance Indian security contingent has already arrived in the country to provide security to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his delegation for the upcoming SAARC Summit, a Government Minister said yesterday. Defence Spokesperson and senior Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that a security contingent slightly larger than the usual number provided for any international leader would arrive in the country to offer security to the Indian delegation, out of which an... |FULL STORY|

Pillayan - EU delegation powwow postponed Wed, 23-07-2008 21:00:00 The meeting between the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council Mr.Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and the delegation of the European Union was not held on Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. as scheduled. Media persons waiting to cover the arrival of the EU delegation at the EPC Chief Secretariat in the Trincomalee town from 2 p.m. were told by an official of the EPC around 5 evening that the EU delegation had not left Colombo due to engine trouble in the aircraft assigned f... |FULL STORY|

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Government of Sri Lanka hailed Indian government’s victory Wed, 23-07-2008 20:00:00 Government of Sri Lanka hailed Indian government’s victory on Tuesday and said it is another victory for Sri Lanka. Addressing a special press briefing at the parliament complex on Wednesday Minister Maithreepala Sirisena said it is a blessing for India and Sri Lanka. He said government has rejected LTTE’s so-called peace offer but said the UNP’s behavior on the government decision is shameful. “Our troops are now marching towards the Kilinochchi and Mullative –LTTE’s heartland. Bu... |FULL STORY|

EPC opposition members walk out Wed, 23-07-2008 13:00:00 The opposition members of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) staged a walkout demanding adequate protection to the Provincial Council members, when yesterday’s session of the Council began. Chairman of the Provincial Council H.M.Mohamed Faiz presided over the meeting. The opposition members condemned the recent hand grenade attack on the residence of the UNP Provincial Council Member Arasarathna Sridaran. They stressed that TMVP was responsible for the attack. The Chairman told... |FULL STORY|

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