Sri Lanka ruling party wins local elections
Colombo, May 07, 2025 -Sri Lanka's leftist government won local council elections but with significantly lower margins, in its first test since sweeping national polls last year, official results showed on Wednesday.President Anura Kumara Dissanayake 's coalition received the most votes in 265 out of the 339 councils, but fell short of an outright majority in about half of them.The main opposition SJB won just 14 councils, while the country's main minority Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance , performed better, winning 35.The parties of former presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa failed to win control of a single council, but between them secured 1,123 of the 8,299 council seats.The leftist NPP will need the support of other parties to control about 130 councils where it fell short of an absolute majority, but has ruled out any coalition with traditional parties.Dissanayake's NPP vote share fell to 43.3 percent, down from the 61.6 percent it secured at the November parliamentary election.The main opposition SJB made a marginal gain, reaching 21.7 percent, up from 17.70 percent.Dissanayake, who upset the more established parties to win the September presidential election, built on his popularity to secure the parliamentary vote held two months later.The 56-year-old has made a U-turn since coming to power on his pledge to renegotiate the terms of an unpopular IMF bailout agreed by his predecessor, and has maintained high tariffs.He had turned the local elections into a referendum on his six-month-old administration, saying it was essential for his party to secure local councils so that all layers of government were "free of corruption and endemic waste".About 60 percent of the 17.14 million electorate turned out to vote on Tuesday, down from nearly 70 percent in November and 80 percent in the September presidential vote.The campaign was lacklustre, with no high-profile figures in the running.
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Grave by grave, new project in divided Cyprus tries to mend mistrust
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Tochni (Cyprus), Aug 14 (AP) On opposite sides of ethnically divided Cyprus, even the resting places of the dead haven't been spared the fallout of war. Shattered granite crosses are strewn about the weed-choked Greek Cypriot cemeteries in the island's northern third that's in Turkish Cypriot hands. In the Greek Cypriot south, Muslim headstones in Turkish Cypriot cemeteries are concealed by overgrowth. Until 2003, no one could cross a United Nations-controlled buffer zone to place flowers at loved ones' graves. In the five decades since a Turkish invasion, vandalism and the ravages of time have transformed hundreds of Cyprus' cemeteries into evidence of the geographic and political rift. But even as chances for bilateral talks to end the divide appear bleak, Greek and Turkish Cypriots have teamed up to mend mistrust and push for peace, one grave at a time. Restoration is underway at 15 civilian cemeteries on each side of the so-called Green Line cutting across the Mediterranean island. Expansion of the roughly 7,00,000-Euro project (USD 815,000) to more cemeteries is being considered. 'The maintenance and restoration of cemeteries constitutes one of the most symbolic and morally pressing acts for a place that strives for reconciliation," said Sotos Ktoris, a Greek Cypriot member of the committee from both communities overseeing the work. The consequences of war Turkiye's 1974 invasion, triggered when Athens-backed supporters of uniting Cyprus with Greece mounted a coup, prompted some 1,60,000 Greek Cypriots to flee their villages to safety in the south, where the internationally recognised government is seated. Some 45,000 Turkish Cypriots moved north, where authorities declared independence a decade later. To this day, only Turkiye recognizes Cyprus' northern authorities. Among the displaced were the custodians of places of worship and cemeteries, both Orthodox Christian and Muslim. Churches in the north were vandalised and looted. Mosques in the south fell into neglect and decay. As part of UN-mediated efforts to achieve a peace deal, both sides have found ways to address past wrongs, including the restoration of churches, mosques and other monuments by the committee. Earlier this year, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar expanded the committee's work to cemetery restoration, with European Union funding and UN support and assistance. Work began in May. Seeking mutual respect Greek Cypriot workers last month were rebuilding the 100-year-old stone wall at one Muslim cemetery in Tochni, a village nestled in hilly countryside near the southern coast. Turkish Cypriot residents had outnumbered Greek Cypriots here by nearly three to one until they were transferred north a few months after the Turkish invasion ended. Many Turkish Cypriots from the north are now visiting the village to reconnect with their past, find family homes and honour their ancestors, according to Tochni's Greek Cypriot community leader, Charoulla Efstratiou. 'Just as we demand that they respect us, our dead, our religion and so forth, I believe that we owe the same respect to them," Efstratiou said. At the Tochni cemetery, a small patch of crimson flowers emerged from the parched soil atop the grave of a man who died 65 years ago, planted recently by his descendants. Putting up crosses In the village of Palaikythro that Turkish Cypriots have renamed Balikesir, broken crosses at the Greek Cypriot cemetery have been set upright again until they're fully mended. Virtually nothing was left intact. Turkish Cypriot contractor Recep Guler said it wasn't easy to restore the external walls and gate. Murude Erzen, the village's Turkish Cypriot community leader, said the cemetery is part of shared cultural heritage. 'When I saw this place, I was very upset, wondering why it had become like this," Erzen told the United Nations Development Programme in footage shared with the AP. Turkish Cypriot authorities had denied the AP access. When Erzen became community leader, she resolved to do something about it. Sotiroulla Mina Iniati, the Greek Cypriot community leader of Palaikythro, said the cost of full restoration of crosses will be borne by families or the community council. Greek Cypriots continue to elect their own community leader to affirm their claim to their lost lands and preserve their memory. 'For us, this is a sacred place," Iniati said. 'We feel that in this way, the souls of our dead who have for 51 years remain neglected, will be able to rest." An intractable dispute The last major push for a peace deal in Cyprus collapsed in 2017. top videos View all Today, the Turkish Cypriots and Turkiye shun the UN-endorsed framework for reunifying Cyprus as a federation. They insist on a two-state deal that Greek Cypriots reject because they view partition as dooming the island to Turkiye's influence, with its military hardware and troops stationed there in perpetuity. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has met Christodoulides and Tatar twice this year and is expected to meet them again in the coming months in a bid to keep peace talks alive. (AP) NPK NPK (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 13:45 IST News agency-feeds Grave by grave, new project in divided Cyprus tries to mend mistrust Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Why did this PhD student from Tamil Nadu refuse to receive her degree from Governor RN Ravi at MSU convocation?
A bold act of protest at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University's 32nd convocation has become a talking point across Tamil Nadu. Jean Joseph, a PhD graduate in Human Resource Management, chose not to receive her degree from Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, challenging the long-standing tradition of students collecting degrees directly from the Governor, who is also the university's chancellor. Convocation ceremony in focus The convocation, held at V.O.C. Auditorium, conferred degrees to 37,376 students from 104 affiliated colleges and the university, spanning bachelor's, master's, MPhil, and PhD programmes. 759 graduates were present to receive their degrees in person, including 650 PhD scholars, and 109 medallists were honoured for academic excellence. The ceremony featured a convocation address by A P Dimri, Director of the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Traditionally, students pose for photographs with the Governor after receiving their certificates. In a surprising move, Joseph accepted her degree from Vice-Chancellor N Chandrasekar instead, bypassing Governor Ravi entirely. A stand for choice and Tamil identity During the convocation, Joseph bypassed Governor R N Ravi and chose to receive her degree from Vice-Chancellor N Chandrasekar, breaking with the traditional practice of posing with the Governor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Most Expensive Ocean Cruise Tours & Trips Undo Explaining her decision to TNN, she said she acted 'only as a way to register protest against the governor, who has not contributed anything to the development of the state and has shown he is against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. ' Adding to this, she mentioned that she 'believes in the 'Dravidian' model of governance.' She added further in a statement to ANI, highlighting her perspective on student choice and respect for Tamil culture: 'I believe the Governor has done nothing for Tamil Nadu or the Tamil language. Many others, such as the Chief Minister or the Education Minister, are more qualified to present degrees. It should be the student's choice. My fellow students appreciated my decision. If it were wrong, no one would have congratulated me. I don't want to take my degree from someone who does not respect our land, language, and identity.' Joseph emphasised that her protest was political in principle, not personal, and many students reportedly supported her for taking a stand for Tamil identity, language, and governance. Academic journey Jean Joseph has an impressive academic background. She completed her at Hindu College, Nagercoil, followed by an MCA at Mepco College, Sivakasi, before earning her PhD in Human Resource Management from MSU. Her research focused on human resource strategies and organisational development, preparing her for a career in academia and organisational consulting. Reactions and wider debate The incident has sparked discussions across campuses about student autonomy, ceremonial traditions, and political expression. As reported by TNN, BJP's Tamil Nadu president, K Annamalai, criticised the move as 'unnecessary and useless drama' aimed at political gain. Joseph's husband, Rajan, serves as the district student wing secretary of the DMK, adding a political dimension to her action. Many educators and students see her decision as an example of how ceremonial traditions can intersect with political awareness and personal principles, particularly in a state like Tamil Nadu, where student activism and regional pride have long been influential. Joseph's stand has become a reference point for discussions on whether students should have the freedom to choose from whom they receive their degrees, a debate that could shape convocation practices in the years to come. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Make space great again, Trump signs executive order
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Washington, Aug 14 (AP) US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order meant to reduce and streamline regulations in an effort to make the US commercial space industry more competitive. It calls for the creation of an 'Office of Space Commerce' within the Secretary of Transportation. The order also seeks to 'enhance American greatness in space by enabling a competitive launch marketplace" that can 'substantially increase" commercial space activities in the next five years. It directs authorities to ease requirements for commercial license and permit appeals for US-based space operators and to reduce or eliminate many environmental reviews. (AP) NPK NPK First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
