News

Basil to decide whether he re-enters Parliament – Mahinda

Published

5 years ago

2020/11/15

by Norman Palihawadana

Though Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) members have unanimously called for the party’s political strategist to return to Parliament through the National List, Basil Rajapaksa has still not made up his mind whether he should take to active politics again, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

“It is an entirely a matter left to Basil Rajapaksa to decide on, despite a popular demand from SLPP parliamentarians for him to return to parliament to serve the nation”, he told The Sunday Island.

According to political observers, SLPP National List member, Jayantha Ketagoda will step down to make way for Basil Rajapaksa to re-enter parliament.

Though some members of the opposition are showing intense interest in the matter, Basil Rajapaksa himself has still not decided whether he should enter parliament as an MP of the present government, the premier said.

“We are still waiting for him (Basil Rajapaksa) to decide. Perhaps, he needs more time to make up his mind whether to accept the offer or not”, he further said.

Polling the highest number of preferential votes from the Gampaha district in the 2010 parliamentary election, Basil Rajapaksa served as the Minister of Economic Development during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term (2010–2015).

Under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution adopted during the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe regime, Basil Rajapaksa was debarred from contesting the August 2020 parliamentary polls as he is a dual citizen. However, with the passage of the 20th Amendment, he is now qualified to serve as an MP.

On the forthcoming budget, the Prime Minister said the government will offer relief to the masses to cushion the cost of living burden.

Asked about plans for his 74th birthday on November 18, Rajapaksa said the focus will be largely on religious observances, apart from focusing on development initiatives.

“We will be launching many more development projects on this day, including projects to provide pipe-borne drinking water to many areas of Gampaha district, a long-felt need, which had remained neglected over the years”, he added.

All News Advertisement

News

SAARC journalists meet in New Delhi

Published

13 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

President of SJF Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi hands over a memento to Dr Alok Kumar Mishra Joint Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities

Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.

Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.

A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.

The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.

News

Governor of Gujarat met with Sri Lanka PM to discuss exposition of Devnimori Relics

Published

14 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.

These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.

The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.

The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

INS GHARIAL makes port call in Colombo

Published

21 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.

Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.

During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.

The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.