Category: news_sub
රජයෙන් බදු සහන රැසක්
US Secretary of State calls on Rajapaksa to ensure accountability
US Embassy commends on holding peaceful election
The Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo, adding well wishes for newly elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, commended the country on having a peaceful election.The Embassy stated that Sri Lanka has continued to show the strength and resilience of its republic with a free, fair, and transparent presidential election befitting Asia’s oldest democracy.
The statement further read that they look forward to working with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in supporting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and in fostering an Indo-Pacific region where all countries can prosper.
The complete statement issued by the Embassy:
“The United States congratulates the people of Sri Lanka on their democratic presidential election and looks forward to working with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka has continued to show the strength and resilience of its republic with a free, fair, and transparent presidential election befitting Asia’s oldest democracy. We commend the Elections Commission, civil society and government authorities for promoting a peaceful election. We are ready to continue our work with the new President and with all the people of Sri Lanka in supporting the country’s sovereignty through heightened good governance, expanded economic growth, the advancement of human rights and reconciliation, and in fostering an Indo-Pacific region where all countries can prosper.
ජනාධිපතිවරණය වෙනුවෙන් කාර්යයන් අවසන් කිරීමෙන් පසු මැකෝ ඉල්ලා අස්වෙයි
Sihinaye Swaraya – The Crowning of the Dream Voice in North America
10 November 2019 was indeed a special day for all Sri Lankans living in the USA and Canada as they witnessed the crowning of the Dream Voice; the winner of the first ever reality singing competition organized by Boston Lanka Media Network which was opened for singing talents living in the USA and Canada. The Grand Finale took place at the Royal Albert’s Palace in New Jersey, USA with 24 finalists competing for the crown.
The Guest of Honor for the Grand Finale was Sri Lankan ambassador to USA Hon. Rodney Perera. The finalists were judged by Sri Lankan celebrity singers Jagath Wickremesinghe, Indika Upamali along with Arjuna Balasuriya, Badraji Mahinda Jayathilake and Sunethra Sarachchandra. The contestants were professionally backed by the band ‘Araliya’ from New York who did a great job providing quality live background music for the finalists.
The show was full of excitement as the three hosts Dushan Dissanayake, Geethika Wickramasinghe and Mihiri Weerasinghe kept the crowd excited throughout the finale as the finalists sang their songs with dream of becoming the crowned champ. After a nail biting competition, Tharindu Karunarathne (Michigan, USA) was crowned the Dream Voice of North America and Rashenka Amarasekara (Alberta, Canada) along with Lakruwani Fernando (California, USA) were the First and Second Runner Up respectively.
Season two of Sihinaye Swaraya – Dream Voice will be coming to the public in 2020 organized by Boston Lanka Media Network.
ශී්ර ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදා මූලස්ථාන-විශාලතම ගොඩනැගිලි ව්යාපෘතිය විවෘත කෙරේ
India keeps close watch on elections in Sri Lanka
India is keeping a close watch on the upcoming presidential elections in Sri Lanka, where pro-China Gotabaya Rajapaksa is pitted against housing minister and deputy leader of the ruling United National Party Sajith Premadasa, India’s Economic Times reported.
The outcome of the election next month will have a bearing on India’s presence in the southern Indian Ocean region.
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s political history, no sitting president, prime minister or opposition leader is contesting for the highest office in the country. Although several candidates are in the fray, the main fight is between Premadasa and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. Gotabaya is the brother of former president and pro-China Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Election observers told ET that while Rajapaksa is a high-profile candidate, the elections are evenly poised. Premadasa could emerge as a dark horse — he maintains a low profile, appeals to the rural areas and the minorities, who account for a quarter of the island’s population, and has not been involved in any controversy.
His five-year ministerial tenure has been free of controversy, and during the 2018 political crisis when President Maithreepala Sirisena ousted and then reinstated prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, he played a key role in stabilising the situation. When Narendra Modi made his first visit to Sri Lanka as prime minister in 2015, the 52 year-old Premadasa was made his minister in waiting.
The son of Ranasinghe Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s third president who was assassinated in 1993, Sajith is said to stay away from the Colombo elite and positions himself as a man of the masses. According to observers, his caste could help him to get additional votes.
Premadasa has declared that former army chief field marshal Sharath Fonseka would be his national security chief if he is voted to power. Fonseka had fallen out with the Rajapaksa regime marred by the alleged corruption and highhandedness of Gotabaya.
