Sharing a shining moment  with the President : Twenty one senior lawyers have been appointed President’s Counsel. They received their appointments from President Mahinda Rajapaksa at President’s House yesterday morning. Here, the new President’s Counsel posing for a group photograph with President Mahinda Rajapaksa shortly after receiving their appointments. The new President’s Counsel are: M Sittampalam, Dulinda Weerasuriya, R. Lakshman Perera, Donald C Perera, Prashantha Lal de Alwis, K V Nihal Jayawardhana, Shamil J Perera, S M Kushan de Alwis, Kalinga N. Indatissa, R. Shanaka Ranasinghe, S Harsha Amarasekera, Nalin Ruvira Ladduwahetty, Maithri Evan Wickramasinghe, Priyantha Jayawardhana, Prasanna Sujeewa Jayawardena, Chandana Liyanapatabendi, Uditha Priyanga Egalahewa, Sanjeewa Praneeth Jayawardena, Faizer Mustapha, Kuvera de Soysa and M U M Ali Sabry. Ministers G L Peiris, Basil Rajapaksa, MP Namal Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Chief of President’s Staff Gamini Senarath were also present on the occassion. Picture by Sudath Silva
 

FUTA ends strike

*Academics back at lectures today

*Top priority for education sector

The Executive Committee of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) yesterday decided to end their three month strike and resume work today. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa told the media yesterday FUTA had informed him of their decision to end the strike. FUTA too later announced their decision to end their trade union action.

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Preferential vote system revision:

Accolades for President, govt

A cross section of society, including the Maha Sangha, yesterday hailed President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government for revising the present preferential vote system by bringing the Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill and Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill.

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President tells ministers, MPs:

Implement programmes that benefit people

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday requested ministers and MPs to dedicate themselves towards implementing a development programme which brings tangible benefits to the people. He said in certain parts of the country development seems to be restricted ,

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US lauds resettlement programme

US ambassador Michelle J Sison expressed her appreciation to the Sri Lankan government for its successful completion of the resettlement programme in the North. The US ambassador expressed these sentiments when she met Resettlement Minister M H Gunaratne Weerakoon and these sentiments,

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