News
Debate among presidential candidates on the cards
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The March 12 Movement is planning to host a debate, for the first time in history, among six leading candidates contesting the Presidential Election.
Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of People’s Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL), told The Island yesterday (19) that the six candidates had been chosen because they had already started their campaigning and have support from MPs currently in Parliament.
Hettiarachchi said the March 12 Movement had already invited President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, National People’s Power (NPP) leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate Namal Rajapaksa, Sarwa Jana Balaya candidate Dilith Jayaweera and common Tamil candidate P. Ariyanethran.
The debate will be telecast live via seven leading electronic media channels and 200 popular social media outlets, he said.
“After hearing about this several other candidates also reached out to us and said they, too, wanted to be a part of the event. We will discuss this request on Tuesday (20) when the March 12 Movement meets,” he said.
Several organisations have attempted to hold debates between the main candidates for the 21 September Presidential Election. A much-awaited debate between SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake failed to take place a few months ago.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
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Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
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