News

Patali: Ample space for genuine political movement to represent ‘silent majority’

Published

2 years ago

2024/06/3

MP Ranawaka shares a light moment with former President Kumaratunga. Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena, MP, sits next to EJP leader Ranawaka

…rules out partnership with those responsible for country’s bankruptcy

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Leader of Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) Patali Champika Ranawaka has warned that the fate of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would befall on the next President if he failed to ensure what he called the economic independence of the people.

Referring to the public protest campaign that forced Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in May and July 2022, respectively, lawmaker Ranawaka said that those incapable of successfully addressing the economic woes should be prepared to face the consequences.

The former Minister said so in his keynote address at the first convention of the EJP at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Saturday (1).

Colombo District MP Ranawaka declared EJP’s readiness to discuss a workable plan with any party. However, the EJP leader ruled out the possibility of his party accommodating those responsible for the current crisis or accused of corruption.

In an obvious reference to the proposed debate between SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and JVP/JJB leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP Ranawaka emphasized the importance of a feasible action plan. The lawmaker played down the importance of such debates.

Among special invitees at the EJP convention were former Presidents, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena.

Declaring that recent surveys that had been conducted on the forthcoming presidential poll expected to be held in Sept/Oct this year were seriously flawed and lacked scientific basis, MP Ranawaka said that the EJP was ready to work with those keen to represent the interests of the silent majority. MP Ranawaka said that on the basis of the EJP’s agenda they were ready to reach a consensus on a new President, new Parliament and new Republic.

MP Ranawaka emphasised that there was ample space for a political movement that represented the interests of the silent majority. The EJP leader paid a glowing tribute to those who attended the convention without expecting any personal benefits. Having contested the last general election on the SJB ticket, MP Ranawaka formed the EJP.

Ranawaka alleged that those who sought to capture power offered simple answers to complex issues on the basis of how other bankrupt countries faced crises. Declaring that the country was in such a precarious situation it couldn’t experiment with a new system–an obvious reference to JVP/JJB, MP Ranawaka emphasized the pivotal importance of a permanent political decision to create economic independence.

Sri Lanka officially declared bankruptcy status in April 2022 during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency.

“Regardless of who becomes the next President or who controls Parliament, the country needs a viable plan to settle debt,” MP Ranawaka said.

Acknowledging that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had been able to stabilize the situation temporarily, MP Ranawaka found fault with the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government for burdening the public, the vast majority of whom were unable to make ends meet. However, those responsible for the economic crisis hadn’t been punished, MP Ranawaka said, alleging that the government failed at least to collect taxes from those who owed the Treasury massive amounts of money.

MP Ranawaka explained how the growing political underworld threatened the country at every level.

General Secretary of EJP Bandula Chandrasekera said that they had been able to lay the foundation for the creation of a political movement that could really change the country.

Chandrasekera explained how they could proceed on the basis of their agenda that had been presented to the Maha Sangha, political parties and other interested groups in a bid to encourage consensus on a feasible action plan.

Declaring that the EJP had been recognized by the Election Commission, Chandrasekera said that they had carried out political work in 20 administrative districts, conducted nearly 75 meetings, in addition to 14 district conventions.

A section of the gathering at the first convention of the EJP held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium (pictures courtesy the EJP)

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Ranawaka accuses govt. of using JVP cadres and police to suppress political opponents

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

… reminds AKD led over 560 protests during Yahapalanaya

Former Yahapalana Minister and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (19) alleged that the JVP, which carried out over 560 protests during the 2015-2019 period, was now bent on preventing the Opposition from exercising its democratic right to protest.

Recalling the declaration made by the JVP at the height of the violent protest campaign in July 2022 that it would set the Parliament ablaze, the former parliamentarian lashed out at the JVP-led administration for using the police excessively to curb political opposition. Ranawaka said this while addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office .

Commenting on the protest campaign launched by the Maha Sangha, demanding presidential pardon for General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagotaatte Gnanasara, the ex-Colombo District lawmaker alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used a combination of police, investigative units and JVP cadres to break up the monks’ protest. The government went to the extent of compelling the JVP/NPP-run Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to deprive the peaceful protesters of basic toilet facilities, he alleged.

The government’s actions proved that only those with prior approval from JVP Pelawatte headquarters could launch protests in Colombo, its suburbs or in the provinces. The police have become a political tool in the hands of the JVP, the ex-Minister said. (SF)

News

Six killed as speeding bulker crashes into vehicles, shop in Akurana

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

By SK Samaranayake

Six people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding bulker lorry carrying cement and concrete ploughed into several vehicles and a shop on the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road at Kurugoda, Akurana, yesterday (19).

Four of the victims, two women and two men, died on the spot in the accident which occurred around 10.30 am, according to Alawathugoda Police.

Police said the bulker, travelling at high speed from the Matale direction, collided with three three-wheelers, two motorcycles and two lorries before veering off the road and crashing into a commercial establishment.

Five of the injured were rushed to the National Hospital of Kandy, where hospital sources said two remained in critical condition.

The bodies of the four victims were placed at the Akurana Hospital, where two others, who suffered minor injuries, were also receiving treatment.

The driver of the bulker was arrested by the Alawathugoda Police Traffic Division and is to be produced before court.

Investigations are being conducted under the supervision of Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake.

News

Prof. Peiris, summoned by CIABOC, appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

G.L. Peiris

By Shamindra Ferdinando

owledging that there had been an administrative lapse on the part of the President’s Office in 2019 when Maithripala Sirisena granted presidential pardon to Ven. Gnanasara Thera, Convener of Janathawadi Joint Opposition Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (19) urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to rectify whatever those shortcomings and release the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena.

Addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickrekmesinghe’s Flower Road Office, Prof. Peiris emphasized that it was not fair to hold Ven. Gnanasara accountable for lapse or technical fault of others at the Presidential Secretariat during President Sirisena’s tenure.

Prof. Peiris was flanked by UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The fresh appeal was made on behalf of Ven. Gnanasara in the wake of President Dissanayake and JVP heavyweight Anura Kumara Dissanayake ruling out fresh presidential pardon for the monk. Minister Lal Kantha declared that the government couldn’t under any circumstances meet the continuing monks’ protest demanding Ven. Gnanasara’s release. President Dissanayake dismissed repeated appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release when he addressed the NPP really in Badulla.

Sirisena granted presidential pardon in May 2019 even before he completed a year of his six-year term of rigorous imprisonment for contempt of court during proceedings of the media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda’s 2010 January disappearance in the Homagama Magistrate’s court.

At the onset of the regular weekly briefing, Prof. Peiris said that he would report to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (20) morning as requested by the commission. “The CIABOC wanted to record my statement regarding a meeting I chaired at the ministry after the conclusion of the war in 2009 pertaining to an ongoing investigation.”

Commenting further on the imprisonment of Ven. Gnanasara, the former parliamentarian said that President Sirisena intervened following a spate of requests made on behalf of BBS General Secretary by the Mahanayakes, Anunayakes and other Maha Sangha.

The Supreme Court on 10 September, 2026 rescinded the presidential pardon granted in late May 2019.