SLBC censorship ‘breach of privilege’

[ BBC Sinhala ] The leader of the opposition in Sri Lanka has raised a point of privilege over censorship of his speeches by a state owned radio station. Opposition and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickramasinghe requested speaker of the parliament to investigate Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) censoring his speeches. Mr. Wickramasinghe…

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Anger rises over killing of Sri Lankan editor

[Reuters] Anger over the assassination of an outspoken Sri Lankan newspaper editor grew on Friday with the opposition forcing parliament to close early and hundreds of protesters demonstrating in the capital. The killing of Sunday Leader chief editor Lasantha Wickramatunga on Thursday prompted diplomats on the Indian Ocean island to express concern to the Foreign…

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Sri Lanka signs off on record war spending

[ Reuters ] Sri Lanka’s parliament on Monday voted 126-84 to approve a 2009 budget that includes record defence spending for the war against Tamil Tiger rebels, high import taxes and a string of populist measures. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s budget passed despite a no-confidence motion brought by the main opposition United National Party, which accused…

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‘Armed groups run by state’ Ranil

[BBC] Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence is controlling a number of armed groups in the east says the leader of the opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe . Opposition leader Wickremasinghe told this at a media briefing on Wednesday summoned to outline a proposed National Consultation by the Jathika Sabha which comprises of the United National Party (UNP)…

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Govt. ‘responsible’ for killing MP

[BBC] Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians from the ruling coalition and the opposition have accused the government of being responsible for killing Tamil MP, T Maheswaran. Colombo District United National Party (UNP) legislator T Maheswaran, has been shot dead at a Hindu temple in the capital, Colombo. Maheswaran, a former minister and an outspoken critic of government’s…

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