British Defence Secretary Liam Fox to visit Sri-Lanka

British Defence Secretary Liam Fox to visit Sri-Lanka[ Wednesday, 06 July 2011, 02:51.56 PM GMT +05:30 ]British Defence Secretary Liam Fox is to visit Sri Lanka later this week, a spokesperson at the British High Commission in Colombo said.

Fox is scheduled to deliver the Lakshman Kadirgamar lecture over the weekend and on the sidelines of the lecture may meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris.

His visit comes amidst concerns raised by the British government over allegations of human rights abuses being committed in Sri Lanka during the final stages of the conflict.

Fox was initially scheduled to visit Sri Lanka last December but was later forced to abandon his plans following a reported row with Foreign Secretary William Hague, who feared that he would upset Britain's carefully balanced approach to Colombo.

However the UK Ministry of Defence blamed the postponement of his visit on the need for him to extend a visit to the Gulf. A spokesman for the defence secretary told the British media last year "Dr Fox has postponed his private visit to Sri Lanka due to an extension to his scheduled official visit to the Gulf. He intends to carry out an official visit to Sri Lanka next year, during which he proposes to fulfil the speaking engagement that he had planned."

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Foreigners can travel North sans approval - Defence Ministry

Foreigners can travel North sans approval - Defence Ministry[ Monday, 04 July 2011, 02:07.18 PM GMT +05:30 ]Ministry of Defence lifted the imposed pre-travel approval exclusively for foreign passport holders when travelling to the North with effect from today (04).

According to Military Liaison Officer Officials, foreign pass port holders are no longer required to produce a MOD travel approval document at Omanthai entry/exist point- the main travel checking point located in Vavuniya.

“As normalcy is flourishing in the country we see that travel restrictions to foreign passport holders as no longer required”, the official stated commenting on the latest move.

This is a definite sign that the country is heading in the right direction with the rapid reconciliation and development taking place in Wanni and North he further said, the Defence Ministry stated.

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Defence Secretary pays his special attention to Gajaba regime

Defence Secretary pays his special attention to Gajaba regime[ Saturday, 02 July 2011, 04:42.18 AM GMT +05:30 ]Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa pays his special attention to the officers of the Gajaba regime specially when granting the promotions to the Army officers.

According to the sources this is the regime where Gotabaya Rajapaksa served has the Army officer.

Sources also said Defence Secretary always work according to his own wish when naming the Army officers as the ambassadors to the foreign countries.

Sources further said officers of the Gajaba regime will receive more opportunities to get scholarships where they will be able to continue their higher studies in foreign universities.

Due to this tension situation as raised among the army personals sources said.

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Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary'​s Son Manoj weds

Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary'​s Son Manoj weds[ Friday, 01 July 2011, 02:30.55 PM GMT +05:30 ]The only child of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Mrs Ioma Rajapaksa, Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa entered in to married life today on 30 June. Daminda Rajapaksa’s wedding took place at the Hilton Hotel, Colombo amidst a bevy of high profile guests, including his uncle President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Daminda married to Miss Seuwandhi Liyanarachchi, daughter of Mr and Mrs Chandra Liyanarachchi. In fact, President Mahinda Rajapaksa signed witness to the marriage for bridegroom whilst Sri Lankan First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa signed on behalf of the bride. Also present at the ceremony were Rajapaksa family members, relatives, several cabinet ministers, senior officers from Sri Lanka Armed Forces, government officials and friends.

Daminda Manoj Rajapaksa has born on 16th December, 1982 and studied at Traweek Middle School and then later Covina High School in United States of America. For his higher education Daminda has entered in to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

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