News

War-torn Myanmar to hold first general election since 2021 coup

Published

6 months ago

2025/08/19

Priyan

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing had said the polls would be "free and fair", but this notion has been widely dismissed [BBC]

Myanmar will begin its general elections on 28 December, its military government announced, in a phased poll widely condemned as a sham that will be used to entrench the junta’s power.

This will be the first vote since the junta seized power in a bloody coup in 2021, and imprisoned democratically elected leader Aung San Sung Kyi.

Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war since, with deadly battles between the military and ethnic armed groups, many of whom have said they would not permit voting in their areas.

Previous plans to hold an election were repeatedly delayed as the military has struggled to contain an opposition insurgency which has gained control over much of the country.

Some 55 parties have registered for the polls, state media said Monday, adding that nine of them plan to compete for seats nationwide.

“The first phase of the multi-party democratic general election for each parliament will begin on Sunday, 28 December 2025,” Myanmar’s election commission said in a statement.

“Dates for the subsequent phases will be announced later.”

With large parts of Myanmar under opposition control and in a state of war, holding this election is a formidable logistical exercise for the country’s military rulers.

But the junta’s leader Min Aung Hlaing, who led the catastrophic coup four and a half years ago, has said the vote must go ahead, and has threatened severe punishment for anyone who criticises or obstructs the election.

The National League for Democracy, led by Suu Kyi, which won landslides in the two elections prior to the coup, will not be allowed to contest this one.

The planned election has been widely dismissed, but it has the support of Myanmar’s most powerful neighbour China, which views stability in the South East Asian nation as a vital strategic interest.

Critics believe the junta will use the polls to maintain its power through proxy political parties.

Tom Andrews, the United Nation’s special rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar, had in June accused the junta of designing a “mirage of an election exercise” to give itself a veneer of legitimacy.

Andrews called on the international community to reject the elections to “not allow the military junta to… get away with this fraud”.

Thousands of people have been killed across Myanmar since the coup, which has destroyed the economy across much of the country and left a humanitarian vacuum.

Myanmar has also been hit by a devastating earthquake in March and international funding cuts, that have left vulnerable people in desperate and dangerous predicaments.

The junta would be delusional to think that an election held under the current circumstances will be considered “remotely credible”, Human Rights Watch told the BBC earlier this year.

“As a precursor to elections, they need to end the violence, release all those arbitrarily detained, and allow all political parties to register and participate instead of dissolving opposition parties,” the NGO said.

[BBC]

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Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrives at Port of Colombo

Published

14 hours ago

2026/02/10

Priyan

The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” arrived at the Port of Colombo on a logistics replenishment visit on Tuesday (10 Feb 26). The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in
compliance with naval traditions.

The 75m – long ship is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Shaheen Saud Abdul Rahman AI Balushi.

The port call will facilitate professional interaction and goodwill exchanges between the two navies.

During the stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo.

News

NPP: Speaker won’t step down, CIABOC can investigate him

Published

23 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nihal

* New Auditor General should not have been sworn in before Speaker – Opp.

* Suspended House Dy. Sec. Gen. Chaminda Kularatne takes his case to CA today

General Secretary of the National People’s Power (NPP) Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe yesterday said that there was no need for Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to step down in view of the complaint lodged against him with the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption).

NPP General Secretary said so in response to The Island query whether the parliamentary group of the ruling party discussed the growing Opposition calls for the Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, to step down to facilitate the investigation.

The NPP parliamentary group consists of 159 MPs, including 18 National List (NL) members.

NL member Dr. Abeysinghe asked whether any other person, who had been investigated by the CIABOC, stepped down from his or her position to facilitate the inquiry.

The top official emphasised that the CIABOC could go ahead with its investigation without any hindrance.

Chamindra and Dr. Jagath

Opposition sources said that there hadn’t been a similar situation before and the CIABOC investigation into Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne is unprecedented as he heads the 10-member CC responsible and directly involved in all key appointments, including that of members to the CIABOC.

Sources pointed out that the newly appointed Auditor General, Ms. Samudrika Jayaratne, took the oath of secrecy before the Speaker on 5 February in Parliament after suspended Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne complained to CIABOC.

In accordance with Section 9 of the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018, Jayaratne took the oath of secrecy in her capacity as the Auditor General of the National Audit Office and Chairperson of the Audit Service Commission.

Sources said that Kularatne would move the Court of Appeal today (10) against his removal at the behest of the Staff Advisory Committee, headed by the Speaker.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Trinco Buddha statue case: All suspects, including 4 monks re-remanded till 11 Feb.

Published

23 hours ago

2026/02/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

One of the monks being brought to the Magistrate’s Court

The Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court yesterday (09) further remanded 10 persons, including four Buddhist monks, arrested on 19 January, 2026, for allegedly placing a Buddha statue in the coastal reservation, on 16 January.

The Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, and six other individuals, were further remanded until 11 February.

They have been accused of violating the Coast Conservation Act by placing a Buddha statue on a block of land belonging to the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Temple.

Of the four monks, Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera moved the Court of Appeal against the Magistrate’s Court decision. The case was heard on 22 January before a Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

Manohara de Silva, PC, and President’s Counsel Uditha Igalahewa, PC, appearing for the petitioners, urged the Court to take up the matter urgently, describing it as a case of exceptional importance.

However, the Court of Appeal on 3 February dismissed the petitions against the remanding of Ven Balangoda Kassapa Thera and Ven Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thera.

The order was issued by the Court of Appeal bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abesuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.