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Probe into country’s bankruptcy: Ex-COPE Chief going ahead with own inquiry
‘PSC appointed by Speaker irrelevant’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Rebel SLPP lawmaker and former Chairman of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Prof. Charitha Herath, on Tuesday (11) declared that he would lead a thorough inquiry into the economic crisis, regardless of the probe announced by SJB leader Sajith Premadasa.
Pointing out that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), headed by SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam that had been appointed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to investigate the crisis didn’t find favour with the Opposition, Prof. Herath vowed to finalise his inquiry within three months. As stressed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at a meeting with senior party representatives, the Opposition could go ahead with its investigation, Prof. Herath said.
The PSC named by Speaker Abeywardena consisted of SLPP MPs Sagara Kariyawasam, Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi, D.V. Chanaka, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Jayantha Ketagoda, Pradeep Undugoda, Sanjeewa Edirimanna, Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda and Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs Eran Wickramaratne, Ashok Abeysinghe and Harshana Rajakaruna, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath, and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam.
Addressing the media at Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa Office, at Nawala, Prof. Herath explained the need to investigate the period from 2010 with the focus on the Mahinda Rajapaksa government (2010-2014), the Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe administration (2015-2019) and the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration (2019-April 2022).
Prof. Herath said that Speaker Abeywardena ridiculed Parliament by naming a PSC that only represented the interests of the SLPP. Therefore, the Opposition had no option but to quit that PSC, thereby rendering it useless, Prof. Herath said.
The new entrant to parliament told The Island as the Chairman of the parliamentary watchdog committee COPE that called for the setting up of a PSC in early July last year to investigate the economic crisis, he strongly felt the country couldn’t move an inch until those responsible for economic ruin were identified.
Herath said his inquiry would pay special attention to Sri Lanka’s entry into the Sovereign Bond market in 2008, the year before the armed forces brought the war against the LTTE to a successful conclusion.
The MP explained that he intended to investigate the allegations directed at the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration that the country suffered as a result of imprudent investments on major infrastructure projects. President Mahinda Rajapaksa also served as the finance minister during that period.
The focus of the Yahapalana administration would be on record Sovereign bonds worth USD 12.5 bn taken during that period. Of USD 16 bn, yahapalana rulers took USD 12.5 bn within five years, the MP said. The current main Opposition SJB had been part of the Yahapalana administration.
According to the former COPE Chief, the basis for the inquiry on Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration would be the Special Audit report on financial management and public debt control in Sri Lanka (2018-2022).
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne
Dulani and Samarawickrama set up Sri Lanka’s victory in T20I series opener
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
Showers or thundershowers will occur in most parts of the island after 1.00 pm
Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara
USD 625,000 meant for US Postal Service goes missing
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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