News
Opposition stages walkout in Parliament, claiming govt. ignored cyclone warning
A stormy scene unfolded in Parliament yesterday as the Opposition staged a walkout, accusing the government of blocking a debate on urgent policy measures, amid the worsening disaster situation. It claimed the government had ignored a warning of the Ditwah cyclone.
Sittings began at 9 am in line with the Business Committee’s 27 November agreement for Day 12 of the Committee Stage Debate on the 2026 Appropriation Bill. However, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne immediately announced an amended schedule for the Budget 2026 debates, citing the prevailing emergency. He suspended the House for 30 minutes for further discussions, and thereafter it was decided to conclude the day’s sitting at 12.30 pm.
SJB MP Kabir Hashim, raising alarm over the scale of the calamity, charged that both the Meteorology and Irrigation Departments had warned as early as 12 November of severe weather, but the government had failed to act on their warnings.
He said water in major reservoirs could have been released gradually, avoiding the sudden opening of spill gates that contributed to widespread flooding.
“Had the government released water, based on weather forecasts, 75 percent of the deaths could have been prevented,” Hashim told the House, adding that Parliament should have been given the chance to discuss the issue beforehand.
“Keep politics aside. Our expertise could have helped you handle the situation better. We faced a similar situation in 2016.”
Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka announced the decision to walk out, insisting the Opposition had never agreed to an early adjournment. TNA MPs Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam joined the protest.
Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake said that party leaders had been given the opportunity to speak on the disaster until 12.30 pm and that “some Opposition parties agreed” to the shortened sitting.
As the Speaker proceeded to the next item on the agenda, Opposition MPs rose and walked out, arguing they could better serve the public by assisting victims instead of wasting time in Parliament.
With the Opposition absent, budget heads of the Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports, Women and Child Affairs, Buddhasasanna, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and Environment were passed without debate or amendment.
Parliament is scheduled to reconvene at 9 am on Wednesday, 03 December.
By Saman Indrajith
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed
Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm.
CJ urged to inquire into AKD’s remarks on May 25 court verdict
ITAK MPs representing East take their woes to Canadian HC
People demand release of Keppapilavu land
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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