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NPC asks AKD to strengthen PCs

Published

1 year ago

2025/04/17

The National Peace Council (NPC) has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to strengthen Provincial Council system by reducing the powers of the Governors appointed by the President. The PCs were introduced through the enactment of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in terms of the Indo-Lanka Accord signed in July 1987.

The following is the text of statement issued by the NPC: “Sri Lanka has received a breathing space of three months to negotiate with the US government regarding tariffs to be imposed on Sri Lankan exports which is of utmost importance as the US is Sri Lanka’s largest export market. Sri Lanka faces a similar challenge to protect its export markets with regard to the EU, which is currently favouring Sri Lanka with its GSP Plus tariff concession. This tariff reduction is conditional on Sri Lanka’s adherence to 27 specified human rights conventions. Sri Lankans, including the political leadership, should come to terms with the fact that we need to have cooperative relations with major powers, whether it is America, China, Europe or India.

The National Peace Council notes that in 2021, the EU Parliament passed a resolution recommending the continuation of its GSP Plus tariff concession being made conditional upon the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Enacted in 1979, the PTA has been widely criticised for enabling arbitrary detention and torture due to provisions allowing for extended administrative detention, limited judicial oversight, and convictions based on confessions to the police, most misuse being in the north and east. The PTA has also permitted the government to hold people for long periods without expediting investigations. Prior to the presidential and general elections last year, the ruling party pledged to abolish the PTA.

NPC welcomes the Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya’s statement in parliament that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Justice to appoint a committee to provide recommendations to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended (PTA). There are laws to handle crimes even without the PTA and it is superfluous as many had pointed out. Having pledged to abolish the PTA in the NPP’s election manifesto, the decision to appoint a committee to look into repealing the PTA should not be seen as a time buying exercise to meet the EU conditionalities to renew the GSP Plus tariff concession.

We also urge the government to take quick and effective action to resolve long standing issues of missing persons, war time violations of human rights and return of land taken over by the military during the war. We welcome Prime Minister Amarasuriya’s statement during a recent visit to Jaffna that the people of Sri Lanka should no longer be burdened by conflict and the government is committed to ensuring peace and stability across the country. It is noteworthy that the day before she visited Jaffna a key road in Jaffna that had been closed for over three decades for security purposes was re-opened.

The NPC also welcomes President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s announcement during his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the government would move forward to hold the long postponed provincial council elections. As in the case of the PTA, we urge the government to appoint a ministerial committee to look into the strengthening of the provincial council system, reduce the powers of the governor, and empower the elected authorities with greater allocation of powers and financial resources. By undertaking these measures, Sri Lanka can convince both the local population and the international community to participate more wholeheartedly to improve the economy and the country at large.”

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Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary

Published

2 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

(Pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA)

A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).

Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.