By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Colombo, April 24: The former Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s request to political parties last week inevitably raises an important question. Is it possible to make the abolition of the Executive presidency (EP ) a major election issue again? Although other politicians have been vacillating from time to time on the abolition of the EP, Karu Jayasuriya has consistently maintained a firm stance on it. He is not a politician now, but, in his new avatar as the leader of a civil society organization called the National Movement for Social Justice, he h ..read more

Colombo, April 24: In continuation of his association with the National University of Singapore’s Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), Former Cabinet Minister, Ambassador and Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, Milinda Moragoda, has been recently designated as a Honorary Senior Fellow by the institution.  The ISAS was established in 2004 as an autonomous research institute at the National University of Singapore. Its establishment reflects the increasing economic and political importance of South Asia and the strong historical links between South Asia and Southeast Asia. The institu ..read more

By P.K.Balachandran/The Citizen Colombo, April 24: In its report on the human rights situation in India in 2023, the US State Department paints an appalling picture. The report for 2023 was released by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on April 22, even as India is in the midst of its parliamentary elections where human rights are a key issue. The report begins with the conflict between the Kuki and Meitei ethnic groups in India’s north eastern state of Manipur that resulted in least 175 deaths and the displacement of more than 60,000 people between May 3 and November 15 ..read more

By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, April 24: The one-day visit of the Iranian President Dr.Ebrahim Raisi to Sri Lanka on Wednesday, brief though it may be,  has great economic, political and, most importantly, strategic significance. The primary purpose of Dr.Raisi’s visit is to sign five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Dr. Raisi and the Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will also participate in a public ceremony to mark the inauguration of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP), a joint venture. But since 2013, Iran has been subtly using its economic ties with Sri Lank ..read more

April 24 (NewsIn.Asia) – The arrival of Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi in Sri Lanka marks a significant diplomatic milestone between the two nations. Touching down at Mattala Airport in Hambantota, Dr. Raisi was warmly received before proceeding to participate in the public ceremony inaugurating the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project. For similar articles, join our Telegram channel for the latest updates. – click here Following the project’s opening ceremony, President Raisi is scheduled to journey to Colombo for a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe late ..read more

April 24 (NewsIn.Asia) – Savindri Perera, hailing from Sri Lankan roots, has transcended borders and captivated taste buds on the international stage of MasterChef Australia with her culinary masterpiece, Kiribath. In a remarkable display of culinary prowess, Savindri, affectionately known as ‘Sav,’ garnered praise from the discerning judges for her exceptional presentation and flavorful twist on the traditional Sri Lankan breakfast dish. One judge even likened her creation to “a painting,” a testament to the artistry and skill evident in her cooking. For similar articles, join our Telegr ..read more

Shweta Sharma/Independent New Delhi, April 23: An Australian journalist had to “leave India abruptly” after allegedly being told by the Narendra Modi government that she had “crossed a line”, deepening concerns about sliding press freedom in the country. Avani Dias, the South Asia bureau chief of Australia’s national broadcaster ABC News, claimed that the Hindu nationalist government had made it “too difficult” for her to report from the country, including on the national elections that kicked off last week. “Last week, I had to leave India abruptly. The Modi government told me my visa extensi ..read more

By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, April 23: The results of the April 21 Maldivian parliamentary elections came a surprise to most observers. In view of the splits in the competing political parties and the absence of striking issues, many predicted a hung parliament.  Given President Mohamed Muizzu’s political inexperience, there were doubts about his ability to manage a divided parliament. The new anti-defection law that he had ratified would have prevented him from adding strength to his Peoples’ National Congress (PNC). Policy and administrative paralysis seemed to be on the cards for the M ..read more

April 23 (AdaDerana) – Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia is among six bidders for Sri Lanka’s state-run carrier SriLankan Airlines as the island nation looks to reduce losses incurred by government-owned enterprises under a US$2.9 billion (RM13.8 billion) International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. AirAsia Consulting has submitted a request for qualification from potential investors for the acquisition of shares in SriLankan Airlines Limited, a statement released by Sri Lanka’s finance ministry said. For similar articles, join our Telegram channel for the latest updates. –  ..read more

By P.K.Balachandran/Daily Mirror Colombo, April 23: Maldivian voters gave President Mohamed Muizzu’s alliance, principally comprising the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC), a super majority in the parliamentary elections held on April 21. As per the interim results, the PPM/PNC alliance has won 70 seats in the Majlis (as the Maldivian parliament is called) comprising 93 seats. With three fourths of the entire parliament in his hands, the President gets the power to amend the constitution. He can also chalk out and implement policies without being hams ..read more