Sirisena's party offers to form coalition government in Sri Lanka

Sirisena had called the elections early after loyalists of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, also from the SLFP, had blocked some of his reforms to make government more accountable and simplify Sri Lanka's complex election rules.
             
Rajapaksa, still revered by many for ending a 26-year Tamil insurgency in 2009, headed the SLFP-led opposition alliance in Monday's election. But days before the elections, Sirisena purged Rajapaksa's allies from the SLFP, consolidating his power in the party.http://post.jagran.com/sirisenas-party-offers-to-form-coalition-government-in-sri-lanka-1440072171

Source: World News 

Sri Lankan navy arrests 33 Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan navy personnel arrested 33 fishermen belonging to Nagapattinam district when they were fishing near Neduntheevu in Sri Lankan waters last night, Fisheries Department sources said.

The fishermen were arrested and the five boats, in which they were travelling, were also seized, Joint Director, Fisheries Department of Nagapattinam, Subburaj said here. All of them were taken to Kangesanthurai, he said.

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Modi took up fishermen issue with Sri Lanka: Sushma Swaraj

"The problems of fishermen were also discussed during the talks. The prime minister pointed out that this was a complex issue involving livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides. India and Sri Lanka need to find a long-term solution," she explained making a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha on Modi's visit to the Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

She informed the house that the Prime Minister told Sri Lanka that fishermen's associations of both countries must meet at the earliest to work out a mutually acceptable arrangement.

The external affairs minister said Modi's talks with the Sri Lankan leadership covered a very wide range of issues.

"He conveyed India's sincere support and good wishes for Sri Lanka's new journey of peace, reconciliation and progress," Sushma Swaraj cited.

Prime Minister also declared that they believe that the early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process, Swaraj added.

Modi was in Sri Lanka on a two-day visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years. He also visited Mauritius and the Seychelles during his March 10-14 2015 tour.

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Rajapaksa returns gold, jewelry taken by LTTE to Lankans

The northerners whose valuables had either been stolen or deposited in the parallel banking set up of the LTTE were invited to Rajapaksa's official residence on Thursday to take possession of the valuables.

"I have given them more valuables than gold. I have ensured their freedom (by ending war with the LTTE)," Rajapaksa said.

His act of handing back the valuables which the military had taken possession during the victorious military battle with the LTTE is being seen as trying to reach out to the Tamil civilians in view of the Presidential polls.

Rajapaksa is pitted against his defector, the former Minister of Health, Maithripala Sirisena in January 8 polls, making the election a difficult challenge for the 69-year-old leader.

A deputy minister and at least three other lawmakers have also left the ruling coalition -- United People's Freedom Alliance.

Earlier in November, the National Heritage Party (JHU) announced it was exiting the government. As the main party of Buddhist monks, its departure could damage Rajapaksa's support in a country where Buddhists comprise nearly 70 percent of its population of 21.8 million.

Some 1,960 identified owners from Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi received their belongings, presidential officials said.

The highest number of them, 1,187 came from Kilinochchi, the former LTTE administration capital.

"The Army had to go to each and every house in the province to ascertain the rightful owners of these valuable  and this process took much time," said Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake, the Army chief.

The LTTE was engaged in an "armed conflict" with Sri Lankan government forces for nearly three decades, but were defeated in 2009 following the death of its chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Source:News and World News

Australia hands over 37 asylum seekers to Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankans are the first to be turned back in five months as Australia's Supreme Court hears a test case challenging the government's right to intercept asylum seekers' boats outside its territorial waters.

The coastguard intercepted the vessel carrying the Sri Lankans, attempting to travel illegally by boat to Australia, near the Indonesian coast on November 26 and handed over the asylum-seekers to Sri Lanka's navy.

Sri Lankan police spokesman and Superintendent Ajith Rohana said the boat had left Sri Lanka on November 1 and had six children on board.
  
"They were handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy on November 27," Rohana said. He said that 37 people were arrested and investigations are being conducted by the anti-people smuggling unit of the Criminal Investigation Department.
  
The returns were the first since July when a boat loaded with 41 nationals was intercepted by Australia. Sri Lanka charged them with illegally leaving the country, and their cases are due to be taken up by a court.

Australia has given two vessels to Sri Lanka's navy to patrol its shores and stop boats leaving the island, as part of Canberra's hardline border protection policy.

Australia faces international censure over its treatment of boat people, who are denied resettlement in Australia and sent to camps in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific state of Nauru.

Source:News and World News

Sri Lanka to open honorary consulate in Kerala

Speaking to media, A Jayaprakash, advisor to the honorary counsel Joemon Joseph, said this new beginning will be a boost for business between Kerala and Sri Lanka.

"Tourism is one business that will get a major boost both in Kerala and Sri Lanka as people from both these places do travel up and down. Another important gain would be for the business community as there would be more trade and business activities," Jayaprakash said.

 In the run-up to the official clearing of the consular office of Sri Lanka here, the major point of discussion was on how this new office could help in boosting trade and commerce.

"Coconut is one product that Sri Lanka is doing a lot of value addition to. Here in Kerala, coconut is an important cash crop and there are companies in Sri Lanka which are looking forward for engaging in doing value addition to coconut here," Jayaprakash added.

Currently there are two Sri Lankan consulates functioning in Chennai and Mumbai besides two honorary consulates in Bangalore and Kolkata.

The one in Kolkata is all set to be upgraded to a full-fledged consulate soon. Trade circles in Kerala also appear to be in a buoyant mood as today in Sri Lanka, Chinese companies have made major inroads in all sectors and the industry here is looking to Sri Lanka as a possible new business centre.

(Agencies)

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