ITAK squabbling over National List pick TUESDAY BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN 11 august 2020 LATEST EDITION VOL: 09/206 PRICE : Rs 30.00 The Illankai Thamizh Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), is in a dilemma over who gets its only National List slot because ITAK Leader Mavai In Sports Senathirajah is in disagreement over giving it to a young TNA Member, Kalayarasan Thavarasa. Defenders thrash Senathirajah, who contested from the Jaffna District and Thavarasa, a former Eastern Provincial Super Sun 4-1 Councillor who contested from the Ampara District, were both defeated at the Parliamentary Election Defenders FC capitalised on shocking based on the number of preferential votes they errors by Super Sun SC to register a received. However, ITAK’s and TNA policy dictates comfortable 4-1 victory in their first that if a Party or Alliance Leader is defeated at a... Group ‘C’ match of the Inaugural FFSL President’s Cup 2020 worked off Story Continued on PAGE 2 at an empty Sugathadasa A16 Ranil Steps Down As UNP Leader Karu to be interim Leader? BY NABIYA VAFFOOR AND he added. The UNP General decision regarding the UPATISSA PERERA Secretary went on to state that leadership cannot be taken. although Media reports said According to the source, the UNP Leader and former that senior UNP members UNP Leader had asked Prime Minister Ranil including himself, Ravi Karunanayake, Kariyawasam Wickremesinghe has decided Karunanayake, Daya Gamage, and Abeywardena to discuss to step down as UNP Leader Vajira Abeywardena and Navin and reach a decision regarding after being in the position for Dissanayake were pursuing the Party leadership and 26 consecutive years, UNP the UNP Leader post, inform him of that decision General Secretary Akila Viraj Dissanayake had withdrawn tomorrow morning. Kariyawasam announced from this battle. Meanwhile, it was reported yesterday (10). Internal sources from that Karunanayake, Arjuna A final decision on Sirikotha said, Gamage had Ranatunga, Palitha Range appointing a new UNP Leader stated, during a meeting held Bandara, Kithsiri will be taken tomorrow (12), yesterday morning regarding Manchanayake, Ronald Perera after discussing with the the Party’s future, that he and Kasturi Anuradhanayake Party’s Working Committee would not pursue the UNP had a discussion with Karu and the Parliamentary Group, Leader post if a unanimous Jayasuriya at his residence. Story Continued on PAGE 2 Picking Members Cabinet and State Failure to arrest of Mayor Prime Minister to for National List Ministers swearing Kurunegala Police assume duties today Intra-party in tomorrow spineless – Solicitor General BY W.K. PRASAD MANJU The new Cabinet of Ministers and BY RAVINDU SOORIYABANDARA Mahinda State Ministers will be sworn in before (KURUNEGALA) AND BUDDHIKA Rajapaksa, who was SAMARAWEERA bickering intensifies President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tomorrow sworn in as the (12), the President’s Media Division Prime Minister of the BY SHIRAN RANASINGHA (PMD) announced yesterday (10). Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanna PC ninth Parliament on In a statement, the PMD said, the yesterday informed Kurunegala Chief 9 August, is Several political parties, including the Samagi swearing-in ceremony will take place at Magistrate Sampath Hewawasam that certain scheduled to assume Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the TNA, the UNP and the the Magul Maduwa of the Temple of the Police Officers attached to the Kurunegala duties at 10:30 a.m. Ape Janabala Party (AJP), are said to be facing Tooth Relic in Kandy. Police were spineless, as they had failed to at Temple Trees internecine feuds, being unable to decide on who A Gazette Extraordinary was also give effect to the warrants issued by Court to today (11). should be appointed through the National List, published defining the functions and the apprehend the Mayor of Kurunegala and other A spokesman from informed sources said. structure of 28 Ministries and 40 State suspects. Temple Trees said, Thus far, only the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Ministries. The Ministries that come Warrants were issued to apprehend five Premier Rajapaksa will assume duties has named its National List comprising 17 under the purview of the President and suspects including the Mayor of Kurunegala at the auspicious time amidst the Parliamentarians without internal or external the Prime Minister were also included. Thushara Sanjeewa, Urban Councillor of the chanting of Pirith as well as blessings squabbles. Kurunegala Urban Council, Pradeep... from other religious leaders. Story Continued on PAGE 2 He added the event will also be graced Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 by the President, while Party Leaders of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and Demanding adequate staff its Parliamentarians elected to the new Shani’s bail Parliament will also be in attendance. Mullaitivu Angoda Lokka killed request rejected by woman avenging DGH doctors slain husband? BY KAMAL MAHENDRAWEERARATNA on token strike Post-mortem shows signs of Raghavan Gampaha Chief Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne Doctors of the District General poisoning – Indian Police turned down a request for bail for former Criminal Hospital (DGH) of Mullaitivu will stage a relinquished Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani four-hour token strike today (11), urging There is speculation whether Amani Thanji, Abeysekara and IP Sugath Mohana Mendis, who the Ministry of Health and the newly- who had been living with underworld boss were arrested and remanded on charges of appointed political authorities of the Angoda Lokka, had poisoned him to avenge citizenship misleading the Court by presenting false information District to either close units affected by the murder of her husband in Sri Lanka. regarding the firearm used in the Mohammed the shortage of medical officers or to Suspicions arose after a post-mortem report Shiyam murder in 2013, since clear evidence have provide them with the same. revealed that the finger and toe nails of the on 4 June been presented against them. The Mullaitivu District General deceased gangster had turned bluish, – Canadian Govt In the 26-page Court Order that was issued in this Hospital Branch Secretary of the indicating poisoning, Indian Police sources connection, it was stated that:... Government Medical Officers’ said. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Association (GMOA), Dr. Buddhika Police said, they suspect that Lokka was National List MP Dr. Suren Raghavan Story Continued on PAGE 10 Menikge said, only emergencies... killed as Media reports in Sri Lanka... relinquished his Canadian citizenship with effect from 4 June 2020, the Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Canadian Government has announced. SLPP not walking the talk – Prof. Piyadasa Senarath reappointed Secretary to PM Laments not getting National List slot A senior officer of Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS), Gamini BY THAMEENAH RAZEEK Senarath, has been reappointed as Secretary to Prime Minister Mahinda The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has Rajapaksa. taken an arbitrary decision when naming National He received his Letter of Appointment List candidates and has also reduced one National from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at List slot that was allocated to the Sri Lanka Freedom the Presidential Secretariat yesterday Party (SLFP) without the consent of SLFP Chairman, (10). claimed former SLFP General Secretary, Professor Previously, he had served as the Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa. Additional Secretary and the Chief of Prof. Piyadasa claimed yesterday (10), that before Staff to incumbent Premier Mahinda the General Election, SLPP Leaders had promised Rajapaksa during his tenure as the SLFP Leaders that they will be given two... President. Story Continued on PAGE 10 Story Continued on PAGE 2 Story Continued on PAGE 2 A2 TUESDAY 11 AUGUST 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Ranil Steps... Obituary They had requested Jayasuriya to accept the Party leadership in Wickremesinghe, who entered Parliament in 1977 from the the interim to avoid the Party from plunging into a crisis, to which Biyagama seat, was a Member of Parliament for 43 years. He lost MP Harshana Rajakaruna’s Jayasuriya had reportedly agreed. It was also reported that his seat in Parliament for the first time after his defeat at the Jayasuriya will meet Wickremesinghe to discuss this matter. General Election last week. father-in-law passes away However, when inquired about this, Jayasuriya said that he had (Additional reporting by Ruwantha asked for 72 hours to take a decision in this connection. Nithulgaspitiya and S. Ekanayake) Well-known businessman and Architect D.M.C.D. Jayatillake passed away at the age of 70. He is the Intra-party... father-in-law of The SJB has received slots for seven some 15 members representing the three would be in line to enter the Legislature Gamapaha District SJB MPs, while the UNP which failed to win a parties in the SJB alliance, namely, the through the National List. Parliamentarian single seat received a solitary bonus seat. SLMC, the TPA and the ACMC, have been Already, TPA Leader Mano Ganesan Harshana Rajakaruna. It is said that several political parties able to get entry into the new Parliament. has warned that if the smaller parties He leaves behind his wife within the SJB alliance such as the Sri It is claimed that of the nine members of within the SJB alliance are not given Padma Jayatillake and Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the the SJB, including the General Secretary National List entry, as agreed to before two daughters Shermila Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and the of the SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the Poll, they will seriously consider and Chanika. Remains lie All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), National Organiser Tissa Attanayaka, functioning as independent groups in at No. 73/3, Horton Place, have demanded MP posts through the Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Gunaratna Parliament. Colombo -07. National List, forcing the SJB leadership Wanninayaka, Mayantha Dissanayaka, When contacted, Attanayaka expressed Funeral will be held on into a quandary regarding the finalisation Shiral Lakthilaka, Chameera Perera, Earl hope that the National List issue could be Wednesday 12 August at of its National List MPs.