Editorials featured in the Forum section are solely the opinions of their individual authors. On Oct. 26, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) sacked the Prime Minister, Ranil Wikramasinghe of the United National Party (UNP), ending a three-year-old alliance often marked with internal turbulence, and setting off a Constitutional crisis in the island nation. He then installed an ally-turned-foe-turned-ally, Former President Mahindra Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), as Prime Minister. Two weeks later, on Nov. 9, President Sirisena dissolved the Sri Lankan Parliament and called a snap general election to be held on Jan. 5. He also suspended the House until Nov. 16, based on reports released at the time of the writing of this article. This latest political tussle between Rajapaksa and Wikramasinghe has experts and lawyers divided on the constitutional legality of Sirisena’s action. Under Article 33 (2)(c) in the 19th … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka faces a burgeoning constitutional crisis
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Behind Sri Lanka’s turmoil, a China-India struggle for investments and influence
By Sanjeev Miglani and Shihar AneezCOLOMBO (Reuters) - Gleaming cranes stretch out on the waterfront in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo as Chinese companies construct a $1.5 billion new commercial district, including hotels, marinas and a motor racing track. They have already built a giant container terminal nearby and a huge port in the south.Now India, the traditional power in the region, is muscling into port and other projects, pushing back hard against China.The big fear for India is that Sri Lanka, just off its southern coast and on one of the world's busiest shipping routes, could become a Chinese military outpost. But the battle is creating political turmoil in Sri Lanka. A bust-up between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over how far to accommodate Indian interests is a key reason the nation's unity government has just fallen apart, government officials and foreign diplomats said.Wickremesinghe, who was fired on Oct. 26 and replaced by … [Read more...] about Behind Sri Lanka’s turmoil, a China-India struggle for investments and influence
Sri Lanka tourism department removing ‘improper’ bikini warnings from popular beach
Tourists to Sri Lanka, like those seen here at Hikkaduwa Beach, need not worry about “improper” dress at beaches, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said. (Eyes Wide Open/Getty Images) Police in the town of Habaraduwa, in Sri Lanka, recently erected signs warning tourists against wearing “improper” swimwear to the beach — but the country’s tourism department is taking them down. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said Wednesday that the signs, which depicted two women wearing bikinis, along with a large red ‘X’ over their photos, were placed at the popular resort destination of Habaraduwa Beach before police had obtained the correct approvals to do so, the AFP reported. MALDIVES RESORTS FED UP WITH INSTAGRAM MODELS REQUESTING FREE STAYS The tourism department further stated that “dress code policing is unnecessary” at Sri Lanka’s beaches, and encouraged tourists to dress as … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka tourism department removing ‘improper’ bikini warnings from popular beach
Ball changed! Sri Lanka refuses to field in protest
On-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould, and third umpire Richard Kettleborough, all from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, had charged Chandimal after play on Saturday for changing the condition of the ball in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC Standard Test Match, ODI and T20I Playing Conditions.The Sri Lankan players refused to take the field on the third day of the match in St Lucia on Saturday, delaying the resumption of play for nearly two hours, after the umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould had changed the ball and awarded West Indies five penalty runs.According to ESPNCricinfo, the umpires laid the charge after reviewing footage of the second day's play, and finding evidence pointing to the application of a substance to the ball.Animated discussions ensued involving match referee Javagal Srinath and the Sri Lankan pair of coach Chandika Hathurusingha and team manager Asanka Gurusinha.After initially appearing to be prepared to resume the match, the Sri Lankan cricketers then … [Read more...] about Ball changed! Sri Lanka refuses to field in protest
Sri Lanka Continues to Deceive UN Human Rights Council : TGTE’s Response to the Statement by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister
The Elephant in the Room in Foreign Minister’s speech was the Complete Omission of Accountability. We call upon the Tamil Disapora to provide the necessary evidence to the Attorneys General Departments in their respective host countries to bring prosecutions under Universal Jurisdiction.”— Visuvanathan RudrakumaranGENEVA, SWITZERLAND, April 4, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Executive Summary The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) issued a response to the Sri Lanka Foreign Minister’s address to the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, as it has been doing since 2015. In the response, the TGTE first addressed the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister’s stated “achievements” and pointed out the corresponding facts on the ground in relation to each of those. The response demonstrates that the Foreign Minister’s speech was marked by duplicity and a number of promises yet again, in addition to the promises made in the Universal … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka Continues to Deceive UN Human Rights Council : TGTE’s Response to the Statement by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister