Sri Lanka is a constitutional, multiparty republic. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was reelected to a second six-year term in January 2010, and the parliament, which was elected in April 2010, share constitutional power. The government is dominated by the president’s family; two of the president’s brothers hold key executive branch posts as defense secretary and minister of economic development, while a third brother is the speaker of parliament. A large number of other relatives, including the president’s son,

President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the government shares a similar interest as parents in a child's education.

The President made this statement during an event held at Temple Trees on Monday.

 

A function was held to present appointment letters to 2460 national teaching diploma holders of 18 faculties.

When the police and the Defence Ministry have failed to take any action against the hate campaign launched by Bpdhu Bala Sena and attacks against Muslim establishments, the protestors who participated in the candle lit vigil outside the Bodhu Bala Sena head office in Bambalapitiya recently are being questioned by the CID. The protest was organized by a group called the Buddhists Who Question Bodhu Bala Sena.

Several protestors have been taken in for questioning by the CID about the protest and the motive behind it.

The man who was exposed through several TV channels in an amateur video footage, of abusing Sri Lankan maids in a room at a safe house in Saudi Arabia, has been nabbed, and was produced before court last week.

Officials of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), said the man who was found beating and kicking some maids, has been caught by the SLBFE when he arrived in Sri Lanka. Deputy General Manager of the SLFBE, Mangala Randeniya, said the man, a Sri Lankan domiciled in Saudi Arabia, was arrested during a recent

The planned 48-hour countrywide strike by station masters, train guards, engineers, foremen and railway controllers, was temporarily put off, the Railway Employees Trade Union Alliance said.

More than some 3, employees vowed to stop work from midnight today until their grievances were addressed.

Sri Lanka Railways Employees Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA) Convener Janaka Fernando said the strike was put off in the wake of presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunge agreeing to hold a discussion with the trad

Sri Lanka has called for the total elimination of nuclear weapons from the world claiming it is the only possible way for the survival of humanity.

“The situation which prevails in the Korean Peninsula reminds us of the urgency of the call for the total elimination of nuclear weapons since we firmly believe that total elimination of nuclear weapons from the world is the only possible way for the survival of humanity,” Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha said.<

The trade union coalition of Sri Lanka Railway that organized a strike from midnight Monday announced that it called off planned token strike.

The Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA) of Sri Lanka Railways Employees said the strike was organized to demand a solution to their salary issues.

The Convener of the (JTUA) Janaka Fernando earlier told media that they have informed the President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, Sri Lanka Railways' General Manager, B.I.P. Ariyaratne and

As we know, there are two established methods of reading – on the lines and between the lines. The latter method is often useful when it comes to reading official reports and statements, as well as the bulk of contemporary Sri Lankan journalism.

Generally speaking, reports by archaeologists do not need to be read between the lines. Archaeology has been described as a guessing game. It’s better described as an educated guessing game, because an educated person’s guess should be closer to facts than that of som

University teachers have planned to resume their agitation and bring all their members to Colombo on May .

President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told The Island that they would launch FUTA’s ‘manifesto’ on the present crisis in the education sector on the International Labour Day, May 01.

He said that the FUTA had planned to distribute the copies of the manifesto at all May Day rallies in Colombo and the suburbs.

All proper citizens must do their best to discern the forces that control their country’s destiny. These nowadays lie mostly beyond the visible structures of government and power – whether the country be the United States or Zimbabwe. The difference is only one of degree.

What can we learn about various global forces from the recent UNHRC vote on Sri Lanka? The most superficial and cheerful reading is that it reflects the world moving however imperfectly, towards respect for justice and ensuring rights for ev