News
UNP’s prospects would improve with party returning to contest LG poll under ‘Elephant’ symbol- Chairman
UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena said that the party expected the UNPers to respond positively to it contesting the May 06 Local Government polls under ‘Elephant’ symbol.The former minister pointed out that the UNP was contesting under their own tried and tested symbol after quite some time.
Abeywardena said so when The Island asked him about the prospect of them improving their performance. One-time Galle District parliamentarian said that they were contesting 307 out of 336 Local Government bodies and appeals were pending in respect of some places their nominations were rejected.
The UNP secured 41 LG authorities at the last LG polls conducted on February 10, 2018. Their yahapalana partner SLFP won just 8 LG bodies, whereas the SLPP emerged victorious with 222 LG authorities out of 336 bodies.
Over 17.3 mn people are eligible to exercise their franchise at the forthcoming election. Abeywardena said that the people still had faith in the ‘Elephant’ symbol and May 6 contest was likely to produce desired results.
Responding to another query, the veteran politician said that the UNP last contested presidential election under its symbol way back in 2005. The UNP fielded retired General Sarath Fonseka, Maithripala Sirisena and Sajith Premadasa at 2010, 2015 and 2019 presidential contests under the ‘Swan’ symbol, however at the recently concluded party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe joined the fray as an independent candidate.
Political sources said that with the re-emergence of the UNP, the coalition led by the party at the last parliamentary election has disintegrated. The grouping contested under the’gas cylinder’ symbol under Wickremesinghe’s leadership but ended up fourth with just five MPs, including two National List slots contesting as the New Democratic Front.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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