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USD 56.5 bn parked overseas: Govt. must deal with errant exporters firmly – Justice Minister

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Wijeyadasa

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, has said the Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017, enacted during the Yahapalana administration was meant to facilitate the operations of those who exploited the system for their benefit.

The new Act had repealed the Exchange Control Act of 1953, Dr. Rajapakshe said, adding that the Yahapalana  move contributed to the deterioration of the economy. He explained how, as a member of the Yahapalana parliamentary group, he had to abide by the decision to vote for the new Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017.

The Justice Minister said so at a hastily arranged media briefing at his Ministry near Technical Junction on Tuesday, when The Island sought his explanation why the Yahapalana government had repealed the time-tested Exchange Control Act of 1953 and what made him vote for the new law.

Altogether 94 MPs, including Dr. Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickremaratne – two of the strongest critics of the Rajapaksa government – voted for the new law. Eighteen MPs voted against the Bill whereas the rest skipped the vote taken on July 25, 2017.

Referring to official statistics, Dr. Rajapakshe said that export proceeds amounting to a staggering USD 56.5 bn were in offshore accounts and invested overseas. Acknowledging that those funds hadn’t been earned through illegal means, the Justice Minister said that the country suffered due to such valuable foreign exchange not being remitted. According to him, the USD 56.5 bn included approximately USD 3 bn that hadn’t been remitted last year as the country struggled amidst rapid deterioration of the national economy.

The Minister said that the actual figure could be definitely more than this.

Responding to another query raised by The Island, Dr. Rajapakshe said that the situation was so bad the government had to deal with the exporters cautiously as the country was not in a position to upset them under any circumstances. The Minister said that the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry were in the process of addressing this issue and efforts were being made to introduce a new Act.

Former External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris on Monday (Oct 30) emphasized the urgent need to take remedial measures in this regard. The rebel SLPP MP said that this could be part of the overall government response to overcome the continuing financial crisis.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government also caused irrevocable setbacks by doing away with a range of taxes immediately after the last presidential poll on wrong advice. Declaring that the move deprived the Treasury of Rs 600-700 bn, Dr. Rajapakshe said that no one really knew the losses caused by sudden ban on agro chemicals. Perhaps the losses could be much more than the losses suffered due to the abolition of a slew of taxes.

Dr. Rajapakshe recalled punitive measures taken during the Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s administration to deal with foreign exchange frauds.

However, the deterioration of the national economy began in 2006 as the powers that be adopted corrupt and disastrous measures, Dr. Rajapakshe said, pointing out that the situation in the UPFA government compelled him to quit his ministerial portfolio.

Dr. Rajapakshe said that though some tend to question the importance of parliamentary watchdog committees, during his tenure as the Chairman of COPE the country benefited immensely as a result of action taken on COPE reports.

The former President of the Bar Association said that the Supreme Court had reversed the move to sell Lanka Marine Services (LMS) Ltd to John Keells and a controversial deal on Sri Lanka Ports Authority land. The Justice Minister mentioned several other cases, including the saving of the highly profitable Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) from privatization.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide  early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala effective untill 2100hrs on 12th May 2026.

Accordingly,

Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries division and surrounding areas of  Passara in the Badulla district.

Level I landslide early warnings  have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Pasbage Korale,  Akurana,  Gangawata Korale,  Panvila,  Yatinuwara,  Ganga Ihala Korale,  Doluwa and  Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Mawanella,  Bulathkohupitiya,  Yatiyanthota,  Aranayaka,  Kegalle and  Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district and Badalkumbura and Wellawaya in the Monaragala district.

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Showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

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WEATHER FORECAST FOR 11 MAY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 11 May 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

 

The low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka is likely to develop into a low-pressure area around the next 36 hours. Therefore, the prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to continue during the next few days.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island and Cloudy skies are expected, under the influence of the aforementioned system. Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Treasury theft: Speaker’s conduct brought to IPU’s attention: SJB  

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Dayasiri

SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to pressure the JVP-NPP government to respect the rights of the Opposition.

MP Jayasekera told The Island that they wouldn’t allow the NPP to suppress the truth regarding the theft of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million. He accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne of depriving the Opposition of its legitimate rights, at the behest of the government.

Jayasekera said that the Speaker’s conduct regarding the action taken against Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, too, had been brought to the notice of IPU and other international associations.

The text of MP Jayasekera’s letter to the Secretary general of IPU: “I respectfully submit this petition seeking the attention and intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union concerning a matter affecting parliamentary accountability, the rights of elected representatives, and the proper functioning of constitutional oversight within the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

On 06 May 2026, I Dayasiri Jayasekara MP submitted a formal request to the Hon. Speaker of Parliament seeking permission, under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 and Standing Order 29(1), to raise a question of privilege regarding alleged constitutional and parliamentary violations by Mr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury of Sri Lanka.

The proposed privilege motion raised matters including:

1. Alleged violations of Articles 148, 149, and 150 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka concerning parliamentary control over public finance;

2. Alleged failure to report to Parliament concerning a controversial and unlawful transfer of approximately USD 2.5 million from the Treasury;

3. Alleged non-compliance with parliamentary committee procedures under the Standing Orders of Parliament;

4. Questions relating to constitutional eligibility under Article 91(1)(d)(xiii) of the Constitution concerning dual citizenship and qualification to sit and vote in Parliament;

5. A request that the matter be referred to the Parliamentary Ethics and Privileges Committee established under Standing Order 118.

 Despite the seriousness of the constitutional and parliamentary issues raised, the Hon. Speaker declined permission for the privilege issue to be raised in Parliament.

It is respectfully submitted that this refusal has the effect of:

•  Preventing an elected Member of Parliament from exercising his parliamentary oversight function;

• Restricting parliamentary scrutiny over matters involving public finance and constitutional accountability;

•  Undermining the privileges of Members of Parliament to raise matters of urgent public importance;

•  Limiting institutional transparency concerning allegations involving senior state officials.

The right of parliamentarians to raise questions of privilege and matters relating to constitutional governance is an essential component of parliamentary democracy and legislative independence. The refusal to permit even the presentation or preliminary consideration of such a matter raises serious concerns regarding parliamentary accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, I respectfully request that the Inter-Parliamentary Union:

1.Take cognizance of this matter as one affecting the rights and functions of Members of Parliament;

2.Seek clarification from the relevant parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka regarding the grounds upon which the privilege motion was disallowed;

3.Consider whether the refusal is compatible with internationally recognised principles of parliamentary democracy, accountability, and freedom of parliamentary speech;

4. Encourage the Parliament of Sri Lanka to ensure fair and transparent procedures governing parliamentary privilege motions and constitutional oversight.

I further request that this communication be placed before the appropriate committee or mechanism within the IPU dealing with the rights and duties of parliamentarians.”

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