A planned news conference last Wednesday by Regional Development Minister Sarath Fonseka was called off at the eleventh hour.
The reason – senior members of the United National Party (UNP), particularly close associates of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, had made an appeal to him not to go ahead with the event. They said it would only embarrass the Premier.
The appeal came after news reached them that Field Marshal Fonseka, who was denied the portfolio of Law and Order, had planned to hit out at the top political leadership. This was after a meeting he had with President Maithripala Sirisena.
The news conference has now been fixed for April 2.
The government today granted permission for an Iranian warship with 208 on board to enter the country.
The United States has told Sri Lanka that the disposition of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr and its crew is a matter for Colombo to resolve under its own laws and international obligations, while signalling it is in active talks with Sri Lanka to contain Iran’s threat to US interests.
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