SRI LANKA: News Briefs
Tamils firm on demand for international inquiry, says TNA leader C V K Sivagnanam: Senior leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Chairman of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), C V K Sivagnanam said that the Tamils will keep pressing for an international probe into charges of war crimes against the Sri Lankan Government even though the United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Nisha Biswal, has made it clear that the US will only seek an independent and credible Lankan domestic probe. He said, "Just as the Sri Lankan Government has an agenda which it will press, we Tamils also have an agenda, which we will press. New Indian Express, August 29, 2015
Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lanka's 16th Prime Minister: United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was on August 21 sworn in as 16th Sri Lankan Prime Minister. Earlier, on August 20, an understanding was reached between the UNP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to join hands to form a National Government. The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) subsequent to Ranil's swearing in ceremony. The UNP had won 106 seats while the SLFP had got 95 seats in the 225-memebr Parliament. Colombo Page, August 20-22, 2015.
TNA given strong mandate to negotiate a political solution, says GTF: The United Kingdom (UK)-based Diaspora Tamil organization, Global Tamil Forum (GTF) said the Tamil people in Sri Lanka have given the main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and its leader a strong mandate to negotiate a political solution. Congratulating the TNA and its leader R. Sampanthan on their resounding election victory in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the GTF said the Tamil people have also sent a clear message to the new Sri Lankan Government and to the international community that they are firmly behind the TNA and its leadership. The TNA secured 16 seats in Sri Lanka's Parliament in the August 17 general elections. Colombo Page, August 22, 2015.
President Maithripala Sirisena reiterates that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa will not be appointed as Prime Minister: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on August 13 reiterated that the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa will not be appointed as the Prime Minister even if the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) wins a majority of seats at the upcoming parliamentary elections. Colombo Page, August 14, 2015.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe assures national security under a future UNP Government: Prime Minister (PM) and leader of the ruling United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickremesinghe on August 6 assured the people of Sri Lanka not to fear over a resurgence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as the country would be safeguarded with an excellent defense minister under a future UNP Government. Wickremesinghe said that the defense minister under a future UNP government will be President Maithripala Sirisena, who is the commander-in-chief. Colombo Page, August 7, 2015.
[Source: SATP]
