Efforts underway to form common alliance for next Presidential Polls

Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne speaks to Dailymirror about plans for the next presidential elections and the reasons for antagonism between the President and the Prime Minister.

‘‘ New Constitution is unimaginable now ’’

Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Dharmalingam Siddharthan speaks to Daily Mirror about politics in the North and the presidential elections. Mr. Siddharthan, who is the leader People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), says people in the North will not vote en bloc to a particular candidate at the next election. The Excerpt:-

President sought my support for No-faith Motion against PM

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the presidential candidate, the political rifts within the Joint Opposition (JO), the development in world politics and India’s political influence on Sri Lanka. Besides, he responds to questions about his meeting with US Ambassador Atul Kehsap. The excerpts:

We have brought a sense of freedom into the country

Public Enterprise and Kandy City Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella, in an interview with , discusses the proposed plans for restructuring state institutions and the political future of the government. He also responds to allegations about the acquisition of 

Cost of electricity in SL is very high compared to other countries in the region

The verbal wrangling between the power regulator Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the powerful Engineers Union of the power monopoly CEB, has come to a boiling point with CEB engineers launching trade union action leaving the smooth power generation...

If Gota is going to be President, God help this country!

Plantation Industries Minister and UNP’s National Organizer Navin Dissanayake in an interview with the Dailymirror shared his views about the UNP’s political future and the ongoing matters related to politics in the country.  

SL has a very strategic position in the world - French Senator

Nine years into the post-war era Sri Lanka is making slow and steady progress as a developing country. However, much needs to be done to uplift the lives of the people and bring in more hope and prosperity to poverty-stricken areas of the country. Among the many countries that have allied with Sri Lanka, France stands in a significant position. 

“No one can win Presidential polls without MR’s blessings” - Lakshman Yapa

Front liner of the 16 SLFP rebel group, former State Resources Development Minister Lakshmana Yapa Abeywardana discussed the future of the SLFP, forthcoming PC, Presidential and Parliamentary polls and current politics etc with the Daily Mirror. He shared the following views: 

We’re ready to face 2020 elections

At the recently held United National Party’s (UNP) Working Committee meeting it had been agreed upon that the future of the grand old party should look to the future with the recommendation proposed by the Ruwan Wijewardene Committee.

Anger within JO against 16-member SLFP group is natural - GL

Chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Prof. G.L. Peiris speaks about the current political situation and what his party plans for the future. 

“RTI is a non-violent way of change”

Without information we humans, the most advanced species on Earth, would be handicapped. Information is everywhere, but whether they are credible and valid remains a question. Freedom of expression and the Right to Information (RTI) have been topics tabled for decades with no proper implementation. Both these avenues have been newer expressions of the post-war era and Sri Lanka is making steady progress as at now. One year after the enactment o

National reconciliation is our condition To any presidential candidate who seeks our support

Leader of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and Jaffna district MP Douglas Devananda, in an interview with , speaks about the Mullivaikkal commemoration, the provincial council system and the next presidential election:

My task is to give new hope to all UNP members and millions of our voters

New General Secretary of the UNP, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam discussed the future of the grand old party, current political situation of the country and education with the Daily Mirror in the aftermath of his appointment. 

“ PM is the best bet as UNP’s Presidential Candidate ”

Tourism Promotion Minister John Amaratunga during an interview with the  spoke about the political situation of the country and the reforms of the United National Party (UNP) which he represents. Excerpts:   

SL is becoming an active and important player in Indo-Pacific region - Australian Professor

Prof. Rory Medcalf, the Head of the Australian National University’s National Security College, was in Sri Lanka recently. In an interview with Daily Mirror during his stay, he speaks about Sri Lanka’s strategic positioning and its importance from the Australian point of view. 

‘President doesn’t want me to step down’ -Thilanga Sumathipala

Uduwatuwage Janath Priya Thilanga Sumathipala tendered his resignation as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament last month after voting in favour of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Sumathipala, who is also the Incumbent President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), is contesting the upcoming SLC Elections seeking re-election.

Mahinda, Basil, President Sirisena are decisive persons in selecting next Presidential candidate-SB

Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake who is now spearheading the 16-member group of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party responds to questions about the current political situation and the next presidential election. The excerpts of the interview:  

People reject both family rule and cronyism

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the next Presidential election. He also responds to the question whether he will come forward as the candidate and about his participation in a programme at Harvard University in the United States. He shared the following:-

‘‘ People should have guts to make complaints ’’

 “Being a lawyer is not a privilege to disobey the prevailing law. If there is a forum or a bench I will appear before it and give evidence. There are nearly 15 000 lawyers and only a very few are corrupt. I’m raising my voice

Executive Presidency needed for country’s sovereignty

Prof. Ven. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera, a leading Buddhist monk attached to the nationalist movement, speaks about the JVP’s initiative to abolish the executive presidency. Ven. Abhayatissa, who is an academic attached.....

“President should allow UNP to run Government” – Shiral Lakthilake

Shiral Laktilake, the Coordinating Secretary of President Maithripala Sirisena, speaks about the current status of the government and why the concept of good governance failed. The excerpts:- 

Status of ICT Laws ‘We’re incompetent in dealing with computer related laws ’

It would go uncontested if one opines that the best words to define the 21st century is ‘Digital Age’. We live in a world where we simply cannot do without digital devices and the internet. As much as we eat food and inhale air, we are constantly engaged in the cyber world. Although millions are connected to their mobile phones, laptops and computers all the time, very fe

Presidential powers need to be pruned - Tilvin Silva

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about his party’s initiative to bring a constitutional amendment for the abolition of executive presidency.

There’s no respect for foreign women in Sri Lanka

Mirissa made headlines for an unpleasant incident earlier this month and the authorities immediately reacted to it by taking actions like suspending the activities of the restaurant and removing unauthorised establishments along the Mirissa coastal belt. Hence, work is in progress to safeguard the tourism industry in the country, with special focus on the South.

Indo-Lanka Accord needs modifications

Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about political reforms of the UNP. He shared the following:-

“UNP shouldn’t move far from its policies in implementing reforms” - Dr. Harsha de Silva

Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva speaks about the proposed reforms of the United National Party (UNP) and the current status of politics in the country.  The excerpts:-   

We will try to get control of SLFP -Dayasiri-

Former Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, in an interview with Daily mirror , spells as to how the No Confidence Motion [NCM] got defeated in Parliament. He shared the following

Unity Govt. failed due to subjective factors

Senior veteran politician former Minister and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka D.E.W Gunasekara discussed the current domestic,

Those who voted against Premier can’t remain in Cabinet

Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam spoke about the future of the Unity Government, the UNP that’s shrouded with controversies and the resignation of Minister Kabir Hashim from the post of General Secretary of the Green Party among many hot topics in an interview with our sister paperDeshaya.   

None of us wants to cling to our posts: Chandima

In the aftermath of the unsuccessful No-Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by the Joint Opposition, the Daily Mirror spoke to Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Chandima Weerakkody,