President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended his congratulations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leader, Tarique Rahman, following their landslide victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections.

“Best wishes to the people of Bangladesh for reaffirming their faith in democracy, and congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading the BNP in these elections. The results reflect the trust placed in him. I look forward to strengthening ties between our two nations,” President Dissanayake said, in a post on ‘X’.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party won a landslide parliamentary election on Friday, securing a resounding mandate in a pivotal vote that is expected to restore political stability in the South Asian nation.

The parliamentary election held on Thursday was Bangladesh’s first vote since the 2024 Gen Z-driven uprising that toppled long-time premier Sheikh Hasina.

Opinion polls had given BNP an edge, and the party lived up to the forecasts, with the coalition it dominates winning 209 seats to secure an overwhelming two-thirds majority in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation, Jamuna TV showed.

Soon after it won a majority in the overnight vote-count, the party thanked and congratulated the people and called for special prayers on Friday for the welfare of the country and its people.

A major Sangha conference will be held on February 20 at 2 PM at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) Headquarters in Colombo, bringing together both monastic and lay communities to discuss concerns over alleged injustices against Buddhist monks, the Buddha Sasana, and the nation.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo on Thursday (12), Roshan Maddumage, Deputy Chairman of the ACBC, said the primary aim of the conference is to highlight misconduct and draw government attention to these matters.

ACBC Chairman Chandra Nimal Wakishta emphasized that the country’s legal system appears to operate inconsistently. He noted that while police officers involved in the assault of a Catholic priest were prosecuted and jailed, no investigation has been conducted into police officers accused of assaulting Buddhist monks in Trincomalee.

Wakishta stressed that the Sinhala Buddhist community has historically not engaged in violence or promoted hatred. He added that the Maha Sangha play a central role in guiding and protecting the country and the state, and that harassment or attacks on monks indirectly harm the nation as a whole.

He explained that the decision to convene the Sangha conference stems from the urgency of addressing these serious concerns, with the event expected to serve as a platform for dialogue between the clergy, lay followers, and government representatives.

Veteran leftist politician and former Minister Professor Tissa Vitarana (92) passed away on Friday morning at his home in Kotte following a prolonged illness, bis family confirmed.Vitarana enjoyed a long and distinguished public career spanning several decades, serving as the Director of the MRI, a Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Provincial Governor. The nephew (sister’s son) of Dr. NM Perera, he was the leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), one of the country’s oldest political parties.

He worked hard to keep Dr. Perera’s memory alive with annual orations as well as other left oriented activities at the NM Perera Center located in Dr. Perera’s former home in Borella.Entering active politics with the LSSP in 1974, Prof. Vitarana later emerged as a key figure within leftist political circles. Following the 2004 General Election, he was appointed to Parliament as a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) National List MP and was subsequently sworn in as Minister of Science and Technology.

He was re-appointed to Parliament via the UPFA National List after the 2010 General Election. Although he initially did not retain a Cabinet portfolio, he was appointed Minister of Technology and Research in May 2010. In November the same year, he was elevated to the position of Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs.

Prof. Vitarana lost his Cabinet portfolio following the 2015 Presidential Election. At the subsequent Parliamentary Election in 2015, he was included in the UPFA’s National List nominations but was not appointed to Parliament.

In recognition of his significant contributions to the fields of science and technology, he was conferred the prestigious Vidya Jyothi title in 2017.

On December 4, 2019, he was appointed Governor of the North Central Province and was sworn in before then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He served in that capacity until 2020.

Prof. Vitarana’s passing marks the end of an era in leftist politics in Sri Lanka. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

His remains lay at the N. M. Perera Centre, 106 N. M. Perera Mawatha (Cotta Road) from 8 am yesterday (14). The funeral will take place at the New Crematorium, General Cemetery, Borella at 4.30 pm on Monday, February 16.

Prof. Vitarana leaves his children Menika, Ranmal, and Ranil, and brother Nihal. He was predeceased by his wife, Kamini.