President leaves for Rome, will have talks with Pope

Ranil Wickramasinghe to remain as UNP Leader till January

Ranil Wickramasinghe is to remain as leader of the United National Party (UNP) till January 2021, the party announced today. The UNP said that the party will reorganise over the next few weeks and appoint a new leader in January. The decision was announced after the UNP Working Committee met today (Monday). At the UNP Working Committee meeting Ruwan Wijewardene was elected as the new Deputy Leader of the UNP. Wijewardene and UNP Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake were nominated for the post

14 Sep, 2020

UN Human Rights chief raises concerns on 20th Amendment

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today raised concerns over the draft 20th Amendment to the Constitution. Speaking during the opening session of the 45th UN Human Rights Council session, Bachelet noted concerns the 20th Amendment will have on the independence of key institutions including the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission. Bachelet also noted her concerns that Sri Lanka was reneging on its commitments to to the Human Rights Council. “In Sri Lanka, I

14 Sep, 2020

Sri Lanka may need to go to international court to seek compensation

By Indika Sri Aravinda Sri Lanka may need to go to an international court to seek compensation from the MT New Diamond, the oil tanker which caught fire near Sri Lankan waters. The Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard had been working together to control the fire that erupted after an?explosion of a boiler in the main engine room?of MT New Diamond, an oil tanker sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point east of Sri L

14 Sep, 2020