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Prez, SLPP urged not to use ex-CJ’s committee to put off next presidential election

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

Prof. G.L.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Top Opposition spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (11) alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was still contemplating how to put off the presidential election, scheduled to be conducted between 17 Sept., and 17 Oct., this year.

Declaring that in terms of the Constitution, the presidential election couldn’t be postponed under any circumstances, the former External Affairs Minister said, at the regular media briefing, at his Kirula Place residence, that the examination of all existing election laws and regulations by a 10-member committee, headed by retired Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, PC, shouldn’t be cited as the reason for the postponement.

Prof. Peiris was referring to the Dep Commission appointed in the first week of Nov, 2023, to make necessary recommendations for the amendment of election laws by early May this year.

The dissident SLPP lawmaker, who recently switched his allegiance to the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), said that the implementation of Dep Commission’s recommendations could take place under a new government.

Referring to the failure on the part of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the ruling SLPP to reach a consensus on the presidential poll strategy, Prof. Peiris alleged that a deliberate attempt was being made to confuse the electorate with regard to the national election expected to be conducted first.

Prof. Peiris said that President Wickremesinghe could dissolve Parliament any time now in terms of the Constitution.

“Dissolution is permitted once the Parliament has completed two and half years of its five-year term. However, the general election cannot be called in such a way to hinder the Election Commission making an all-important announcement pertaining to presidential polls. With regard to the presidential poll that has to be conducted between Sept 17 and Oct 17 in terms of the existing constitutional provisions, the Election Commission will have to make the relevant declaration on July 15, this year,” Prof. Peiris said.

Both presidential and parliamentary terms are restricted to five years since 2015 though before the enactment of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, both had six year terms. SJB leader Sajith Premadasa has already declared his candidature at the presidential poll.

Commenting on Cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena’s recent statement that funds allocated for the conduct of elections this year had to be spent carefully, Prof. Peiris stressed that President Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Finance Minister in November last year, announced the allocation of Rs. 10 bn for the presidential poll. Therefore, the government couldn’t allocate that funding or part of it for the conduct of the general election, thereby cause a fresh issue by claiming insufficient money to hold both elections, Prof. Peiris.

Referring to the relevant section of the Constitution in case the government advanced the general election believing that it was advantageous for them, Prof. Peiris said that it would have to obtain the required funding from the Consolidated Fund.

At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Peiris said that democracy suffered a deadly blow early last year when President Wickremesinghe teamed up with the SLPP to make the Local Government polls disappear. There had never been a previous instance of any government indefinitely putting off an election, claiming that it hadn’t the wherewithal to do so, Prof. Peiris said, recalling how Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana, in an affidavit to the Supreme Court declared that the country was in such a precarious situation, financially, he found it extremely difficult to allocate money for the conducting of the said election.

Prof. Peiris warned that the government, deeply concerned over deterioration of its standing among the people, was exploring ways and means of postponing elections. The former minister asserted that the government examined how it could achieve its despicable objective by advancing general elections, thereby jeopardizing scheduled presidential polls and by using Dep Commission recommendations.

Responding to media queries on President Wickremesinghe’s attacking speech at Kuliyapitiya on Sunday (10), Prof. Peiris said that the UNP leader seemed to be seriously concerned about the SJB campaign.

Had he not been concerned there was no need for him to take such an aggressive stand, Prof. Peiris said, comparing Ranil Wickremesinghe who as a student learnt law from him and an aggressive President.

The UNP officially announced Wickremesinghe’s presidential candidate at the Kuliyapitiya meeting. The only UNP lawmaker in Parliament Wajira Abeywardena declared that Wickremesinghe would poll as much as 10 mn votes at the forthcoming presidential poll.

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Prime Minister Attends the 40th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/23

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended the special ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre (SNECC), along with the 75th birthday of its Secretary General, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Mahindaramaya, Ethul Kotte, the Chief Sangha Nayake of the Western Province, and scholar Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero.

The primary objective of the event was to appreciate the service rendered by the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre, which has functioned as a bridge between Japan and Sri Lanka since 1986, contributing significantly to the development and welfare of children in Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister stated that the social service carried out by Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero through the Nippon Centre, aimed at fulfilling the educational aspirations of Sri Lankan children, is highly commendable. She further emphasized that the Centre’s contribution to nurturing skilled children into disciplined and responsible citizens, as well as strengthening cultural ties between the two countries, is appreciated by the Government.

Over the past four decades, thousands of students have benefited from the “Nippon Scholarship” programme implemented by the Centre. In addition to providing school supplies, monthly financial assistance, medical support, and spectacles, the programme offers Japanese language education and guidance for employment and training opportunities in Japan for Sri Lankan youth. Annual study tours to Japan and collaborative programmes organized to enhance mutual understanding between students of the two countries were also highlighted at the event.

Marking this special occasion, the Prime Minister extended her best wishes to Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero on his 75th birthday and wished him continued strength to successfully carry forward this invaluable service.

The event was attended by the Mayor of Kotte, Arosha Atapattu, representatives of sponsoring organizations from Japan, scholarship recipients, and other distinguished guests.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Navy’s latest addition P 628 sails for Colombo from Baltimore

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/23

Priyan

The Offshore Patrol Vessel P 628, which was formally handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy by the U.S. Coast Guard in December 2025, departed for Sri Lanka from Baltimore, United States on 20th February 2026. The home bound journey began, after the modernization work of the ship to suit the operational needs of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The EX-United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Decisive was officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy on 02 Dec 25, as the latest addition to the SLN fleet under the Pennant Number P 628. Upon her arrival in Sri Lanka, the ship is scheduled to be formally commissioned into the fleet.

Measuring 64 metres in length, this ‘B-Type Reliance Class 210-foot Cutter’ is equipped with advanced technological systems and facilities, capable of conducting extensive surveillance operations spanning up to 6,000 nautical miles per patrol.

The vessel’s voyage to Colombo is historic, possibly marking the longest-ever passage undertaken by a Sri Lanka Navy ship. Covering approximately 14,775 nautical miles, the journey will see the P 628 navigate from Baltimore through the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal (a first for a Sri Lankan naval vessel), the Pacific Ocean, and into the Indian Ocean via the Straits of Malacca. The ship is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka during the first week of May 2026.

During the transit, the P 628 is scheduled to make port calls to replenish supplies and services, providing opportunities to further strengthen diplomatic ties with partner nations.

This transfer represents the fourth vessel provided to the Sri Lanka Navy by the United States Coast Guard, reinforcing a long-standing partnership aimed at addressing common maritime challenges.

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Commander of the Navy attends International Fleet Review

Published

9 hours ago

2026/02/23

Priyan

The 13th edition of the multilateral naval exercise MILAN hosted by the Indian Navy, is being held from 18 to 26 Feb 26, at Visakhapatnam and in the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

SLNS Sagara and Nandimithra represented the Sri Lanka Navy by participating in the International Fleet Review (IFR), a major component of this multilateral naval exercise, held on 18 Feb.

The event was attended by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, at the invitation of the Chief of the Naval Staff of India, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. The President of India reviewed the IFR, participated by the warships representing regional and global navies.

Held under the theme “United Through Oceans and the spirit of Camaraderie Cohesion Collaboration,” IFR and MILAN-26 provide a vital platform for participating nations. The participation of the Sri Lanka Navy in the MILAN-26 multilateral naval exercise highlighted Sri Lanka’s commitment to advancing its maritime interests and addressing shared challenges through enhanced cooperation with other nations and institutions, grounded in mutual understanding.

Furthermore, participation in endeavours of this nature will strengthen mutual cooperation and interoperability with other maritime stakeholders. It will also provide the Sri Lanka Navy with valuable opportunities to gain new knowledge, strategic acumen, and operational experience, key elements in fostering a collective approach to maritime security.

During this visit, the Navy Commander engaged in bilateral discussions with regional and extra-regional diplomatic representatives and these strategic-level talks focused on matters of mutual interest pertaining to Sri Lanka’s maritime security and stability.