 | President Mahinda Rajapaksa challenges UNP to win east polls President Mahinda Rajapaksa calls on the UNP to refrain from avenging innocent civilians obstructing international aid. UNP reprisals are aimed at averting the flow of foreign aid to Sri Lanka. (30/03/2008) Addressing the 18th SLFP Convention at Temple Trees this morning, he claimed it was the innocent civilians who are hindered as a result. The President noted that there is a posse, which raise voices abroad that human rights are violated in Sri Lanka. Not only the UNP, but some of their own leaders are canvassing to prevent the flow of aid to Sri Lanka and also to thwart the GSP Plus relief granted by Europe. These elements are not rising up against him or the government but avenging the civilians. They can take revenge from him and not from the people. This was the message that he had to give them. The theme of the Convention was "Building a peaceful Country with local economy In the forefront". A highlight was the adoption of 10 resolutions. These included expressing gratitude to the international community, the All Party Conference proposals, granting relief by de-escalating the cost of living, proposal on eastern local polls and saluting the gallant soldiers. President Rajapakse handed over certificates to electoral organizers, who recruited the most number of members to the SLFP last year. 14 such organisers were honoured. The President further said the government was able to fulfill pledges given to the people through the Mahinda Chintana. 28 political parties supported him to become President and a pledge was given that the North and East will be liberated from the terrorists. He observed that the government had fulfilled this task, safeguarding the country's unitary status. Ministers Maithripala Sirisena and Jeyaraj Fernandopulle also expressed their views. Many SLFP activists and representatives of political parties supporting the government were present |
 | President Mahinda Rajapaksa Addresses Japanese Upper House President Rajapakse has addressed the Japanese Senate, which comprises 242 seats. The number of seats of the Diet that is the Japanese Parliament is 480. The President, in his address, gave a detailed description of the present social, economic and political background in Sri Lanka. He expressed his views on the peace process. The President responded to the prevailing social and political situation. They were apprised of the government's efforts to achieve dignified peace, acceptable to all communities, safeguarding human rights. The President said he highly appreciated the support extended by Japan for infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. 40 percent of the total foreign aid amounting to 60 percent for development in Sri Lanka has been received from Japan. President Rajapakse also briefed the Japanese Senate members on the development projects that are being mooted in the East and other Provinces. |
 | Elimination of terrorism is the need of the nation:President President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asserted that elimination of terrorism is a need of the entire nation. He said he is vested with the responsibility of ushering in dignified peace and building a society where the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities could live in peace. |
 | Tribute to the Monkey President Of Sri Lanka All Credits goes to tamillion1. |
 | High response for "Api Wenuwen Api" There is a high response from the business community for the "Api Wenuwen Api" programme implemented for the benefit of the Armed Forces and the Police. (15/02/2008) The government unveiled this programme to build 50,000 houses under the Ranaviru village concept. Many members of the business community had positively responded paying heed the President's plea for their support. Several businessmen handed over their contributions to President Rajapakse at Temple Trees yesterday. 5000 houses are coming up at Ipalogama in Anuradhapura under the 1st stage. The President monitored the work on the scheme, accompanied by several businessmen. They applauded the project and consented to providing assistance for the success of the housing scheme. Work on 1620 houses is due to be completed by May and handed over to the war heroes. Each unit equipped with required infrastructure, will cost 2.4 million rupees. Each house will be given with a down payment of 800,000 rupees. The balance will be recovered in 20 years. Government will spend one million rupees on each unit and it solicits the support of private businessmen and philanthropists to bear the balance cost. The President said they had already received a high response. Among the private contributors are the Ceylinco Group of Companies, John Keells Group of Companies, Laugfs Gas Company, the Nawaloka Group of Companies, Dialog GSM, the Ceylon Tobacco Company, N.B. Foods, the Bathiya Company, the Euro Nippon International Company, the C.A. Company, the M.C. Bank, Harsha International Company, General Sales Company and Cargills Private Ltd. The Assistant Customs Director Ranjan Piyasiri Danthanarayana has also made a contribution. In addition, Chairman of Ceylinco Group of Companies Lalith Kotelawala donated 100 million rupees to the Mahinda Rajapakse International Stadium, which is under construction in Homagama. Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, Chairman of the Strategic Enterprise Management Institute Willie Gamage and Director General of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle were present. |
 | Japan Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announce his resignation he main factor behind Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's decision to announce his resignation Monday may have been his recognition of the insurmountable difficulties in dissolving the House of Representatives in current political circumstances and calling a general election. With his popular support rate remaining low, Fukuda also appears to have lost the confidence to press on after the expected opening of a special Diet session on Sept 12, which a government source says will now be postponed. The latest political development is reminiscent of the move of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, who stunned the nation last September by resigning as prime minister only hours before he was due to face opposition lawmakers in a just-convened parliamentary session. Even after reshuffling his cabinet on Aug 1, Fukuda has continued to be dogged by low support ratings. He has also failed to exhibit leadership on such key issues as the timing of the start of the next parliamentary session and pump-priming measures now being hastily patched together by the government. The environment surrounding the embattled prime minister had grown worse by the day, after opposition parties stepped up their criticism of his choice as farm minister of Seiichi Ota, who has been embroiled in an alleged money scandal. Speculation has also been growing that the New Komeito party, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's junior coalition partner, had already given up on Fukuda, which may have prompted him to call it quits. Fukuda had made it his top priority to enact legislation that would enable Japan's antiterrorism refueling mission to continue in the Indian Ocean. The current law authorizing the mission is set to expire in January. But he had little prospect of gaining the support of New Komeito if he had wanted to ram the legislation through the Diet, as New Komeito is reluctant to be seen to be supporting the mission, fearing that a hawkish stance on the issue may alienate its main supporters. This may have been another factor that affected Fukuda's decision to resign. But there is no guarantee that the next leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will be able to manage the administration any better than Fukuda, as the situation facing the government and ruling parties will remain unchanged. With Fukuda's resignation, Japan will see its prime minister change for the third time without undergoing a general election since the ruling parties secured the two-thirds majority it currently holds in the September 2005 general election under popular former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. Meanwhile, main opposition Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama told reporters the incident showed that the LDP no longer has the ability to hold the reigns of the government, adding, ''It is the people's will to have the lower house dissolved immediately for a general election.'' |
 | President Rajapaksa inaugurates Mahanama Bridge in Matara President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed that the operations against the LTTE carried out to find a political settlement to the national problem, will not be abandoned. He made this reference participating in the inauguration of the reconstructed Mahanama Bridge in Matara, which was destroyed by the tsunami. The President said they could defeat terrorism after being able to speedily recover from the tsunami, which no other country in the world could do. The country is aware that the government had achieved significant victories against terrorism within the last two years. Some are undermining these victories. They demand a political solution to the conflict. The President said it should be accepted that the military achievements would pave the way for a political solution. It is meaningless talking about a political solution without forcing the LTTE to agree to such a move. The LTTE should understand that problems in the country, cannot be solved by waging war. President Rajapakse asserted that he is bound to safeguard the reasonable rights of the Tamil-speaking people. The bridge was constructed with Korean aid amounting to 700 million rupees. The bridge consisting of six lanes will contribute towards large-scale development of the southern province. President Rajapakse opined that the LTTE should understand that problems cannot be resolved through terrorism. The present administration is receiving more foreign aid than the previous governments. The President said although the tsunami day is considered as a day of national mourning, it has now been recorded in the history as a day of the "Rising of the Nation". Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said the present government has launched massive development projects. A major development was being witnessed in the south due to the tsunami as hospitals, bridges, schools and houses had been constructed. It was possible to open this new bridge as the President personally inquired into all activities. Therefore, he said as Highways Minister, he was thankful to the President for this work. Ministers Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Mervyn Silva, Mahinda Wijesekera and Mayor of Matara, Upul Nishantha also addressed the gathering. South Korean Ambassador Kwon Yung Dal was among the other speakers. Ministers Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, T.B. Ekenayake, Chandrasiri Gajaweera and the Chief Minister of the Southern Province Shan Wijelal De Silva were present. The President handed over mementoes to the Korean representatives who handled the construction of the bridge. |
 | Gabriellas Sång - Karaoke and english translation The song "Gabriellas Sång" from the movie Så som i Himmelen/As it is in Heaven with Helen Sjöholm. Both with the swedish lyrics and an english translation. Enjoy! I will try to upload a version without vocals soon :) |
 | ජනාදිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ අල්ජසීරා රූපවාහිනිය සමග පැවති සම්මුඛ සාකච්චාව 8th October 2008 H.E. The President Mahinda Rajapaksa's interview with Al-Jazeera on 8th October 2008 |
 | ္Fukuda, Gambari agree to cooperate over burma ဂ်ပန္အစိုးရႏွင္ ့ကုလပူးေပါင္းေဆာင္ရြတ္မည္။Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and visiting UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari have reaffirmed their cooperation to promote democracy in Myanmar. Mr Gambari is visiting Japan as part of his Asian tour aimed at rallying support for dialogue between Myanmar's military leaders and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
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