Mahinda Rajapaksa News

Sri Lanka will hand over the loss-making Mattala International Airport in Hambantota to a joint India-Russia venture «during the next few weeks» to run, Minister of Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said here on Wednesday. The India-Russia joint venture was awarded the management of the Mattala International Airport in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka in April. The USD 209 million facility was once dubbed the «world's emptiest airport» due to a lack of flights. «Action will be taken during the next few weeks to handover the loss-making Mattala International Airport to a joint India-Russia venture,» de Silva told reporters. Earlier, the Sri Lankan Cabinet, which met on January 9, approved the calling of Expression of Interest by prospective parties. Accordingly, five proposals were received, and the Cabinet-appointed consultative committee decided to award a management contract spanning 30 years to Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia.

Catch LIVE updates with MintSri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: In July 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected by Parliament to complete Rajapaksa's term and is now seeking another term to build on recent gains.However, many accuse him of shielding the Rajapaksa family, whom they hold responsible for the crisis, and he was primarily elected with support from Rajapaksa loyalists in Parliament and his Cabinet.Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The economic collapse in Sri Lanka caused severe shortages of essentials like medicine, food, cooking gas, and fuel, leading to long lines and widespread riots. Protesters stormed key buildings, including the president's house and office, ultimately forcing then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee and resign.Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: According to a report by DW, the cost of living in Sri Lanka remains very high, unemployment remains very high, so people are still reeling from the economic crisis.Therefore, a nation that has voted on the lines of religion, of race, and ethnicity, in all these years, only has 'ECONOMIC CRISIS" as their sole concern for electing the 10th President.Notably, none of the 38 candidates in this election are women, despite Sri Lanka's historical significance in having the world’s first female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who took office in 1960.Namal Rajapaksa, at 38, is the youngest candidate in the race and the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka prepares to elect a new leader, Namal Rajapaksa is running for president. The 38-year-old is the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the nephew of the ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Namal Rajapaksa is presenting himself as an agent of change, but many see his bid for presidency as an attempt by the controversial political dynasty to regain power. By mid-2022, the clan's political career seemed in ruins. Some of its members were forced into hiding in military camps after angry protesters stormed their residences. Others simply gave up their seats in the government as people blamed them for hurtling the country of more than 20 million people into an economic crisis.

Sri Lanka's powerful Rajapaksa clan, which suffered political battering due to the country's worst economic crisis in 2022, will launch its political comeback bid on Sunday by targeting the impending elections. Former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, ex-prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa were ousted from power during anti-government protests following the crippling financial and political crisis in 2022. The ruling Sri Lanka People's Front of the Rajapaksas, commonly known by its Sinhalese name Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), will hold a public rally later in the day in the north central rural town of Thalawa, party member and former minister SM Chandrasena told reporters.

Ranil Wickremesinghe has reiterated that such an investigation into the incident was not permissible under the country's law. Responding to Sunday's editorial in the Catholic Church's Messenger newspaper titled «An international investigation team is needed for an independent, transparent, and thorough investigation and monitoring», the President's Media Division (PMD) said, «We cannot endorse the idea of international investigations into Sri Lanka's internal matters.» «The Constitution of Sri Lanka and all other existing laws do not provide for conducting international investigations.