Presidential Candidate list 2024
As the presidential election draws near, 40 candidates have officially submitted their deposits to the Election Commission, signaling their intent to run for the nation’s highest office. This diverse group of candidates comprises both independent contenders and representatives from a range of political parties. Here are the candidates who have submitted their deposits: 1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe – Running as an Independent. 2. Sarath Keerthiratne – Independent candidate 3. Oshala Herath – Representing the Abhinava Nivahal Peramuna 4. ASP Liyanage – From the Sri Lanka Labour Party. 5. Sajith Premadasa – Leader of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya. 6. PWSK Bandaranaike – Candidate for the National Development Front. 7. Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe – Representing the National Democratic Front. 8. KK Piyadasa – Independent candidate. 9. Siritunga Jayasuriya – United Socialist Party candidate. 10. Ajantha De Zoysa – From the Ruhunu Janatha Peramuna. 11. K. Ananda Kularatne – Independent candidate. 12. Sarath Manamendra – Nava Sihala Urumaya 13. Venerable Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero – Janasetha Peramuna 14. Venerable Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero – Independent candidate. 15. Siripala Amarasinghe – Independent candidate. 16. K. R. Krishan – Arunalu Janatha Peramuna 17. Sarath Fonseka – Independent candidate. 18. Anura Kumara Dissanayake – National People’s Power 19. P. Wijesiriwardena – Socialist Equality Party 20. Antony Victor Perera – Independent Candidate 21. A. Mohammed Ilyas – Independent Candidate 22. M. M. Pemasiri – Independent Candidate 23. Anura Sydney Jayaratne – Independent Candidate 24. D. M. Bandaranaike – Independent Candidate 25. Priyantha Pushpakumara Wickremesinghe – New Sama Samaja Party 26. M. Thilakarajah – Independent Candidate 27. J. D. K. Wickremeratne – Ape Jana Bala Party 28. Roshan Ranasinghe – Independent Candidate 29. Mahinda Devage – Sri Lanka Socialist Party 30. Prasanga Suranjiva Anoj De Silva – Democratic United National front 31. P. Ariyanethran – Independent Candidate 32. Mohammed Infaz – United Democratic Alliance 33. Dilith Jayaweera – Sri Lanka Communist Party 34. Nuwan Bopage – Socialist Peoples Forum 35. Namal Rajapaksha – Samabima Party 36. Chaminda Anurudhdha – Independent Candidate 37. Namal Rajapaksa – Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 38. Janaka Ratnayake – Eksath Lanka Podujana Party 39. Lalith De Silva – United National freedom Front 40. Sarath Kumara Gunaratne – Independent Candidate
Imane Khelif Wins Gold
Imane Khelif won Olympic women’s boxing gold a year after being disqualified from the World Championships for reportedly failing a gender eligibility test. The Algerian beat Chinese world champion Yang Liu by unanimous decision to win the welterweight division. The Algerian, who had been at the centre of a gender dispute in one of the major talking points of the Olympics, never looked in any trouble as she enjoyed the backing of a rapturous Algerian crowd in the stands at Court Philippe-Chatrier. She been caught up in a gender debate after a 2023 decision by the now-banned International Boxing Association (IBA) resurfaced, which disqualified her for failing a gender eligibility test. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected the results of the IBA-ordered tests as arbitrary and illegitimate, saying there was no reason to conduct them. (Image Courtesy -Fox news)
Sheikh Hasina – Last moment
Sheikh Hasina did not want to resign as Bangladesh Prime Minister and wanted security forces to intensify the crackdown on nationwide protests, but security bosses said the protests cannot be contained by force, according to a report in Prothom Alo newspaper. The report details what went down in the Prime Minister’s official residence before her last-minute escape in a military aircraft, shortly before hundreds of protesters stormed in and went on the rampage. According to the Prothom Alo report, the Awami League leader called the top officers of the security establishment and police force to her residence. The death count was rising, and some of her advisors had tried to talk her into transferring the power to the Army. But the 76-year-old five-time Prime Minister was adamant. She asked the forces to strengthen the curfew already in place. On the streets, however, the situation was changing fast. Despite the curfew, protesters had started gathering at various spots in Dhaka. At her meeting with the security bosses, she questioned why they had not been able to contain the protests. She pointed to visuals of protesters climbing atop police vehicles and asked why the forces were not cracking down harder. At one point, she reminded them that they had been elevated to these positions because she trusted them. During the meeting, Sheikh Hasina praised police’s response to the protests. But the police chief conveyed that the situation is such that police won’t be able to contain it for long. The security forces, the report says, tried to explain to her that more force is not the answer. But the veteran leader did not budge. Then the officers spoke to Sheikh Hasina’s sister Rehana in another room and urged her to convince the Prime Minister to step down. Rehana spoke to Hasina, but that did not help. At this point, Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy stepped in. Based in the US, Joy spoke to his mother and managed to convince her to resign. Speaking to NDTV, Joy yesterday said his mother did not want to leave Bangladesh. “She wanted to stay, she did not want to leave the country at all. But we kept insisting that it wasn’t safe for her. We were concerned for her physical safety first; so we persuaded her to leave,” he said. “I spoke to her this morning. The situation in Bangladesh, as you can see, is anarchy. She is in good spirits, but she is very disappointed. It’s very disheartening for her because it was her dream to turn Bangladesh into a developed country and she worked so hard for it over the last 15 years, keeping it safe from militants and as well as from terrorism and in spite of all of that this vocal minority, the opposition, the militants have now seized power,” he said. The crowd of protesters was swelling, and intelligence inputs said Ganabhaban — the Prime Minister’s official residence — may be stormed. Sheikh Hasina was given 45 minute to pack up. She wanted to record one last speech addressing the people of the country, but there was no time. Accompanied by sister Rehana, she left home. There was a short halt at Bangabhaban, the Bangladesh President’s official residence, where she completed the resignation formalities. Around 2.30 pm, the ousted leader took off in a military aircraft, bringing the curtain down on her 15-year uninterrupted term. Her ouster and flight also represents a massive shift in Bangladesh politics. Fifty years after her father and Bangladesh’s tallest leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman led the struggle for the country’s independence, Ms Hasina was forced to flee as protesters vandalised her father’s statues. The legacy of Mujibur Rahman, fondly known as Bangabandhu, is no longer a symbol of Bangladesh’s war of liberation. Instead, it represents her daughter’s politics that protesters claim focused on suppressing dissent. The protests in Bangladesh, which began last month, started as an agitation against a quota system under which 30 per cent of government jobs were reserved for family members of Muktijoddhas — those who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. The protesters said this system favours supporters of the ruling Awami League and wanted a merit-based system to replace it. As the protests grew, the Awami League dispensation tried to crush it with an iron fist. And then, a remark by Hasina sparked fury. “If not the grandchildren of the freedom fighters, then who will get quota benefits? The grandchildren of the ‘Razakars’?” she asked. A paramilitary force recruited by the Pakistan Army during the 1971 liberation war, Razakars carried out mass atrocities, including mass killings, rapes, and torture. Naturally, the remark touched a raw nerve. Reservation has been a burning issue in Bangladesh for years now. In 2018, an agitation on this issue forced the government to water down the reservation system and cancelled quotas for some positions. The latest unrest was sparked by a high court order that declared illegal the 2018 government circular cancelling 30 per cent quota for freedom fighters’ descendants in government jobs. This order was scrapped by the country’s Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ordered that 93 per cent of government jobs must be allocated on merit and the remaining be reserved for relatives of freedom fighters. But even the top court’s order could not pacify the protesters. Source: NDTV
What Happened to Sri Lanka-India Ferry Service ?
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation has announced the much-anticipated resumption of the passenger ferry service between Sri Lanka and India, another effort to increase connectivity between the two neighboring nations. The service, which had been suspended, is slated to recommence operations starting next week. KDS Ruwanchandra, the secretary of the ministry, confirmed that preparations are underway for a trial voyage to Nagapattinam in India.
Sri Lankas first news Anchor Sumana Nellampitiya Dies
The nation is in mourning following the passing of Ms. Sumana Nellampitiya, Sri Lanka’s first television news anchor and a revered figure in the field of journalism. Nellampitiya, who had been battling illness, passed away at the age of 80. Born on May 23, 1944, in Colombo, Nellampitiya‘s charisma and talent were evident from her school days. She pursued her education at Nugegoda Mixed School, Sujatha Vidyalaya Nugegoda, and Gotami Balika Vidyalaya, which laid the foundation for her illustrious career. In November 1967, she took a significant step by joining the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, where her majestic voice began to resonate with the nation. Nellampitiya quickly became a trailblazer, marking her name among the few women in radio at the time. Her five-decade tenure in radio media was transformative, not just for herself but for the industry as a whole. She also played a pivotal role in revolutionizing visual media, becoming a household name as the country’s first female television news anchor. The programs by Nellampitiya, such as ‘Pibidena Ga’yaka Parapura,’ ‘Forens Vasana 7,’ and ‘Ovalteen Pana Podi,’ remain etched in the hearts of Sri Lankans. Her role extended beyond that of an announcer; she was a versatile force in both radio and television, adept in program production. Her contributions to promoting Sri Lankan culture internationally are particularly notable, as she conducted programs in the Sinhala language across the globe, enhancing Sri Lanka’s cultural footprint.
Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka announce a common candidate.
Former Member of Parliament P. Ariyanethran has been nominated as the Tamil Common Candidate for the upcoming presidential election in Sri Lanka. The announcement was made at an event in Jaffna. P. Ariyanethran is set to contest in this year’s presidential race, representing an alliance of seven Tamil political parties from the Northern and Eastern provinces, along with various civil organizations. The alliance backing Ariyanethran comprises prominent groups such as the TELO led by MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan, the PLOTE organization under MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan, and the Tamil Makkal Koottani steered by MP CV Wignesaran.