Weerawansa resigns ministry portfolio, continues fast against UN

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 July 2010, 10:19 GMT]
Wimal Weerawansa, the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a splinter group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and currently an ally of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Friday resigned from the post of Minister of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Colombo media reported quoting his ministry spokesman. However Lalith Weeratunge, the Secretary to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse told media that he has not received the resignation letter yet.
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Peiris, Wickramasinghe speak on Weerawansa hunger strike in parliament

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 July 2010, 05:24 GMT]
The hunger strike by Minister Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and a splinter group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) came up for debate between the External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris and opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe Thursday in parliament during the committee stage debate of the 2010 budget.
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SL Parliament extends Emergency

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 July 2010, 08:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s parliament Monday adopted a motion moved by the Rajapaksa government to extend the State of Emergency for another month by a majority of one hundred votes. 132 Parliamentarians of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its constituent parties voted for the motion and 32 parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) voted against.
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SL parliament to debate emergency extension motion Monday

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 July 2010, 11:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister is to table a motion Monday seeking the approval of the parliament to extend the State of Emergency for another month. The State of Emergency is in force since 12 August 2005. Every month it is being extend with the approval of the parliament. Opposition parties including the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have decided to oppose the emergency extension motion.
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60 new political parties apply for registration as deadline closes

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2010, 19:42 GMT]
The deadline to submit applications to the Elections Secretariat for the registration by new political parties closed Wesdnday June 30. Sixty political groups have submitted their applications to the Elections Commissioner for registration. Except two, details of other new political groups are not available to media immediately.
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UNP, JVP on UN Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 2010, 07:20 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) one time an ally of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have expressed their concern over the appointment of the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon on Sri Lanka. Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake who is also in the race to become the president of the UNP told media Wednesday that his party is opposed to the appointment of Panel of Experts by UN SecretaryGeneral.
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Colombo to block Fonseka attending Nairobi conference

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 2010, 03:24 GMT]
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has decided to inform the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union (CPU) about the alleged attempt by the government to prevent General Sarath Fonseka from attending the CPU conference to be held in Kenya in September this year, according to DNA general secretary and JVP parliamentarian Vijitha Hearat.
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JVP leader fails to present a specific political solution for ethnic issue, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 2010, 16:23 GMT]
Somawanse Amarasinghe, leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and parliamentarian, was unable to deliver an unambiguous answer to questions raised by media persons who wanted to know the position of his party in finding a political solution for the ethnic issue, in a press meet held in Jaffna town Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Somawanse Amarasinghe who had come to Jaffna Tuesday evening after a three-day visit to Vanni said that his group was subjected to harassment by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who did not permit them to visit the resettled Vanni residents in some parts of Vanni.
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JVP delegation to visit Vanni, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2010, 13:55 GMT]
The parliamentary group delegation of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is scheduled to undertake a three day-tour to Vanni and Jaffna from June 14 Monday. JVP leader Somawansa Amarasingha will be leading the delegation, according to DNA parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to media Sunday.
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JVP vows to defeat constitutional changes by UPFA government

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2010, 13:48 GMT]
The Sinhala Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Sunday declared that it would take all necessary steps to defeat the attempt by the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government to change the constitution to suit to its political agenda. The JVP would muster the support of other opposition parties to prevent a two-thirds majority in Parliament for the government to bring about constitutional changes, JVP parliamentary group leader of the JVP led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at a media briefing held Sunday.
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CEPA will flood Sri Lanka with Indian workers: UPFA minister

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 2010, 05:33 GMT]
National Freedom Front (NFF), a constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government Wednesday charged that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that is likely to be signed by India and Sri Lanka is a ploy to fill the island with Indian workers. Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the NFF said at a press conference held Wednesday at the NFF headquarters at Battaramulle that CEPA if signed would adversely affect Sri Lanka. NFF is a splinter group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
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JVP: Gotabhaya insulted Fonseka in BBC interview

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2010, 07:37 GMT]
The Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tuesday condemned the comment made by Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse to BBC Hard Talk interview where he claimed General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, former commander of the Sri Lanka Army would be treated as a traitor and hanged if he gives evidence in the war crime probe.
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JVP to step up opposition against Indian involvement in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2010, 18:32 GMT]
General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tilvin Silva Monday blamed India for meddling with affairs of the Sri Lankan state as if it was a federal unit of India. The JVP reaction has come as the Tamil National Alliance was scheduled to meet Rajapaksa Monday evening before his visit to India on Tuesday. Recently, the Government of India, while gazetting a declaration designating LTTE as an unlawful association in India, linked 'Tamil Eelam' as a separate homeland amounting to 'cession and secession of a part of the territory of India.'
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Rajapaksa reschedules 'victory day' parade for June 18

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 2010, 08:14 GMT]
Colombo's 'victory parade' postponed due to bad weather in May is re-scheduled to be held on June 18 at Colombo Galle Face Green, according to government sources in Colombo. The three armed forces, police, and Civil Defence Force are to participate in the parade to be held by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) would mark 'Victory Day' on June 8 with Adishtana Pooja at the Viharamahadevi Open Air Theatre, said Mrs. Anoma Fonseka, wife of General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army who led the Sri Lankan forces in the war against Tamils.
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UNP, DNA appeal to Rajapakse to release Fonseka immediately

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 May 2010, 16:46 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have appealed to President Mahinda Rajapakse, head of ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, to release General (retired) Sarath Fonseka from military custody immediately. Fifty parliamentarians from the UNP and DNA including the Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe signed the appeal.
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No court martial inquiry against Fonseka when parliament meets

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 May 2010, 16:20 GMT]
The Speaker Chamal Rajapakse Thursday directed that the Court Martial inquiry against Sarath Fonseka, parliamentarian from the Colombo district, should not be held on dates when parliament meets. Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Sarath Fonseka has been facing two court martial inquiries by the Sri Lanka Army. He is under detention in the Navy Headquarters since his defeat in the presidential election held on January 26.
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No threat SL state sovereignty, no need for emergency, says Fonseka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 May 2010, 09:54 GMT]
“There is no threat to the sovereignty of the country any longer. As such the government should completely lift the State of Emergency Regulation,” former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and a parliamentarian from Colombo district representing Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Tuesday, said participating in a debate on the extension motion moved by the government.
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Major parties hold May Day rallies without procession

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 May 2010, 14:38 GMT]
Major political parties held their May Day rallies without procession Saturday. The ruling party United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) held its May Day meeting at Colombo Municipal Grounds. The main opposition United National Party (UNP) decided not to hold its May Day procession.
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DNA to oppose extension of state of emergency

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 April 2010, 13:00 GMT]
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tuesday decided to oppose the extension of the State of Emergency when the government tables a motion seeking it for another month 4 May in parliament, sources in Colombo said. DNA parliamentary group met Tuesday with General Sarath Fonseka in the chair at the parliamentary complex and discussed the strategy that is to be adopted in parliament by the DNA when its meets next week.
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Sri Lanka’s new Foreign Affairs Minister is G.L.Peiris

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 April 2010, 11:04 GMT]
The new Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka is Mr.G.L.Peiris and Basil Rajapakse has been appointed as Economic Development Minister. Traditional Industry and Small Entrepreneur Development Ministry goes to Douglas Devananda. Thirty seven member cabinet took oaths before the President Mahinda Rajapakse Friday afternoon at Presidential Secretariat. The two new faces in the cabinet are Basil Rajapakse and Wimal Weerawanse. Basil Rajapakse is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Wimal Weerwanse is the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), a breakway group of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). All others served in the outgoing cabinet.
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