News
Special treatment accorded to Basil at BIA comes in for condemnation
By Saman Indrajith
SJB Colombo District MP S.M. Marikkar and his Kurunegala District colleague Nalin Bandara Jayamaha raised questions in Parliament yesterday about special treatment provided to former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa upon his arrival in Sri Lanka.
Marikkar said that several politicians and high-ranking government officials had been seen welcoming Basil Rajapaksa at the BIA on Sunday (20).
The MP said they expected an explanation from the Leader of the Parliament on the special treatment provided to an individual who no longer held any government post.
Marikkar demanded to know how Basil Rajapaksa, who is no longer an MP or minister, had been given access to the VIP lounge and a police escort.
MP Nalin Bandara said that the 21st Amendment to the Constitution proposed independent commissions, but Chairman of the National Police Commission Chandra Fernando was also among those who had welcomed Basil Rajapaksa.
Bandara asked how the government intended to establish independent commissions when the head of a commission displayed subservience to a former minister.
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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