Daily NEWS Srilanka

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has said that Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa is the only option to discuss the problems of the Tamils.

Its President Gnanadesikan said that there are growing opposition from political parties in Tamil Nadu to the invitation extended to the Sri Lankan President to participate in Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as Prime Minister, However, the Congress State Unit virtually defended to the move. It said the Sri Lankan leader was the only option to discuss issues related to the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said that Congress has no second opinion on issues like equal political status to Tamils, devolution of powers and probe into alleged) war crimes. At the same time, he emphasized if these were to be implemented, they have to talk to the Sri Lankan President only.

He was responding to reporter’s queries on Narendra Modi’s invitation to President Rajapaksa, which has been opposed by some political parties including DMK and MDMK, the latter being a BJP ally.

Gnanadesikan insisted that Sri Lanka is “their neighbour” and a SAARC member, therefore it was in India’s interest that friendly ties were maintained with that nation. He said that this was diplomacy. He expressed hope that the BJP would continue to work with the ‘same concern’ for Tamils as the previous Congress-led UPA had done.

President Rajapaksa has returned to the island after an official successful tour of China. The Chinese President has acclaimed the economic growth achieved under the leadership of the Sri Lankan President.

The President left for Sri Lanka from the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai last night. Present at the airport to bid him farewell were many Senior Chinese Officials.

President Rajapaksa left the island in a SriLankan flight for Shanghai last Tuesday for China to participate in the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, along with a special delegation including Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Foreign Secretary Kshenuka Seneviratne, Presidential Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and Lt. Yoshitha Rajapaksa. On arrival at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, the President and delegation received a warm welcome under the patronage of the Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal Council. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to China Ranjith Uyangoda was also present.

On the same day a special banquet was hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the State Leaders including the Sri Lankan President who had arrived in China to participate in the Summit. The President posed a group photograph with the State Leaders.

A special cultural pageant was also organized on behalf of the visiting State Leaders.

The Sri Lankan President received an opportunity of holding bilateral talks with several State leaders who had arrived in China to participate in the conference.

The talks held with the Pakistani President helped to further solidify cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The statement made by the Pakistani President that Pakistan was always with President Rajapaksa earned accolades from the Sri Lankan President.

The Summit on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia opened under the patronage of the Chinese President. The Sri Lankan President also delivered a special address at the conference. In his speech President Rajapaksa underscored that peace, security and stability were imperative for progress and economic development of a nation or region. The emphasis laid by him to the regional leaders the need to work together to building a peace and stable new Asia came in for acclamation by the State Leaders.

On the same afternoon, the President had bilateral discussions with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. During this meeting the President invited the UN Chief to visit Sri Lanka again to see to himself the ground situation. Ban Ki-moon commended the President for the successful conduct of the World Conference on Youth in Sri Lanka.

The discussions the President had with his Iranian counterpart Hassen Rouhani helped to further strengthen bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Iran. Both leaders during the talks dealt at length on improving trade ties as well as strengthening the exchange of goods and services.

The highlight of these talks were the bilateral discussions held between the Sri Lankan President and the Chinese President. The rapid economic growth achieved by Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Rajapaksa came in for acclamation by President Xi Jinping. The Sri Lankan President expressed his thanks to the contribution made by China on behalf of development in the island nation.

The President’s official tour of China drew to a close with a special meeting with the Sri Lankans in China. The Sri Lanka warmly greeted the President. The President had a cordial discussion with the Sri Lankans. A group of Sri Lankan students pursuing studies in China also received the opportunity of having a discussion with the President.

The people will once again get the opportunity of traveling directly from Colombo to Jaffna by train from July. The train service was totally disrupted as a result of the activities of the cruel terrorists.

Reconstruction of the Northern rail track commenced under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme at the behest of President Rajapaksa. The work was carried out in several stages. At present developments are being expeditiously effected to the Jaffna Railway Station. Construction work on the rail track has now entered the final phase.

Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri joined in an inspection of the developments that are being effected to the Railway Station. He also seized the opportunity of discussing the development work with the official concerned. The Governor appraised the related sector of expediting the development work from Palai to Jaffna.

The Colombo High Court has decided to suspend the decision of granting permission for representatives of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike to peruse certain documents of the National Development Bank.

The Magistrate’s Court ordered the National Development Bank to grant permission to examine the documents in response to the request made by Shirani Bandaranaike from the Court. Submitting another petition, the Bank concerned told the Colombo High Court that it cannot permit outside parties to examine the Bank’s documents.

Accepting the submissions made by the Bank, the Court decided to suspend for two weeks the granting of permission to examine the related documents. The examination of these documents was sought with respect to a lawsuit filed against the former Chief Justice by the Bribery Commission for non-declaration of assets and liabilities.

A ceremony was organized at the Supreme Courts Complex in Hulftsdorp to welcome three newly appointed Supreme Court Judges.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Chief Justice Mohan Peiris. Sisira Jayavilal De Abrew, Ananda Sarath De Abrew and Priyankara Jayawardena were appointed as Supreme Court Judges by the President.

Judges, Attorneys At Law, family members of the new Supreme Court Judges and senior officials were among those present on the occasion.

President Rajapaksa has intimated to India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he is prepared to participate in his oath-taking ceremony.

President Rajapaksa recently received an official invitation to join in the swearing in of the new Indian Prime Minister scheduled to be held at the forecourt of Rashtrapathi Bhavan on the 26th of this month.

In a twitter message the President confirmed that he highly appreciated this invitation and is hoping to join in the oath-taking ceremony. The relations between Sri Lanka and India are historical. Analysts are of the opinion that Narendra Modi who was elected in a landslide victory at the recently concluded Indian General Election is prepared to further consolidate the very close relationship with Sri Lanka.

They point out that the invitation extended to leaders of the South Asian countries by Narendra Modi to participate in his oath-taking ceremony would serve as a catalyst for regional cooperation.

Mr. Modi after winning the elections, in an address to the media pointed out that his desire was to build a very close relationship with Sri Lanka and solidify cooperation between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan President was the first to congratulate Mr. Modi immediately after his election victory. The new Indian Prime Minister has received the opportunity of taking independent decision without being impressed upon by State Governments.

In the meantime, the Presidential Spokesman Unit on International Affairs pointed out that President Rajapaksa has invited Northern Provincial Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran also to join him in participating in the swearing-in ceremony of the Indian Prime Minister.

The First Lady joins in the international Wesak commemoration. The International Wesak commemoration organized by UNESCO with the participation of Buddhist countries opened at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge joined in the commemoration as special guests. On arrival in Paris the First Lady and the President’s Secretary were warmly welcomed by the French Government.

They were extended a warm welcome at the UNESCO Secretariat in Paris by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to France Prof. Karunaratne Bagawatte. Advisor to the President on Buddhist Affairs the Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Thera and member of the UNESCO Executive Board Mohamed Samar were present on the occasion. The Wesak commemoration ceremony commenced after the conduct of religious observances giving pride of place to the Theravada and Mahayana Chapters.

President Rajapaksa’s Wesak message was also aired on the occasion. The First Lady delivered a special address. A special dialogue on the theme “Buddhist Renaissance and Religious Harmony” was conducted by the President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge. Buddhist monks, Buddhist and a group of clergy representing the Christian and Hindu faiths were present on the occasion.