News

Forced disappearances, a contentious issue warranting NPP’s attention – FSP

Published

4 months ago

2025/12/12

Pubudu Jayagoda

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesperson Pubudu Jayagoda said that in spite of repeated assurances given to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and some members of the international community regarding disappearances during the conflict and after successive governments hadn’t been genuine in their efforts to address the issue.

The JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) seemed to be no exception, Jayagoda alleged, urging the incumbent government to pay special attention to what he called disappearance issue. Jayagoda said that different governments caused thousands of disappearances during the southern insurgency and north-east conflict.

Although the issue had been taken up specially during national elections and promises made to the electorate, families of the victims as well as other concerned parties were disappointed with the way the issue was addressed.

Jayagoda said that the FSP wouldn’t under any circumstances give up its fight for Lalith Kumar Weeraraju and Kugan Muruganandan whose disappearance on Human Rights Day Dec 10, 14 years ago received public attention both here and abroad.

Pointing out that those disappearances took place two years after the end of war during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term, Jayagoda said that those responsible were yet to be brought to justice.

JVP dissidents officially formed FSP in early April 2012, about five months after the disappearance of Weeraraju and Muruganandan last seen on the evening of Dec 09 as they left Muragananda’s home at Avarangal, Jaffna. However, the split happened in September 2011, about three months before the Jaffna disappearances.

Jaffna Magistrate court directed the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who served as the President from Nov 2019 to July 2022 to furnish an affidavit to court on 6 February, 2026 regarding his inability to appear in Jaffna court in view of the death threats on his life.

Referring to countrywide disappearances during the conflicts and post-conflict periods, Jayagoda cited the disappearance of Weeraraju and Kugan to highlight Sri Lanka’s overall response to forced disappearances. Responding to The Island queries, Jayagoda underscored the need to examine the role of the Office of the Missing Persons (OMP) established through an Act of Parliament in line with understanding and agreement with the HRC. Had it been able to expedite the process and restore confidence among the public with regard to addressing long standing cases, Jayagoda said, appealing to the powers that be not to side-step the issue.

Jayagoda alleged that the NPP hadn’t acted on the issue as anticipated by those who voted for the party at presidential and parliamentary polls last year. The NPP couldn’t forget that the party won lion’s share of votes at both national elections in the northern and eastern provinces because Tamil speaking people believed their sincerity in addressing accountability issues.

Justice Maxwell Paranagama’s Presidential Commission Report on disappearances estimated the number of disappeared at over 25,000, Jayagoda said. Instead of taking tangible measures regarding the disclosures, observations and recommendations made by Justice Paranagama, successive governments muddied the water.

Jayagoda said that the government couldn’t delay taking action to bring closure to disappearances. Declaring that the country was in dire straits due to massive destruction caused by cyclone Ditwah recently and early recovery seemed impossible, Jayagoda emphasized that shouldn’t be an excuse for the government to turn a blind eye to other contentious issues.

Responding to another query, the ex-JVPer said that the JVP should be deeply concerned about the issue as during the 1971 and the late 80s insurgencies the party too lost so many members.

By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️

All News Advertisement

News

PM on inspection tour of newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand

Published

13 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

The Colombo Central Bus Stand, which has a history of over six decades and had remained without a proper maintenance for many years, has now been renovated under the current government’s development programme and vested to the public. Following that, the Prime Minister undertook an inspection tour of the newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand.

Originally constructed in 1964, the bus stand was refurbished with modern facilities to meet current needs and was officially reopened to the public on April 8. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide passengers with a higher-quality and more comfortable transportation service.

During the renovation process, special attention has been given to the comfort and safety of women, which was commended by the Prime Minister. In particular, a modern rest area designed to ensure privacy for nursing mothers travelling from distant areas received special praise.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the newly introduced passenger seat reservation system and information services established to assist commuters. In addition, the modern surveillance unit and other security measures installed within the premises to ensure passenger safety were also inspected.

During the visit, the Prime Minister engaged in conversations with passengers at the bus stand and inquired about their views on the newly renovated facilities and the quality of transport services.

It was emphasized that the government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon today (10)

Published

14 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10th) are Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition tells Minister Kumara Jayakody to resign

Published

15 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

No-faith motion to be taken up today

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (9) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) moved the Colombo High Court against the government member over a previous financial scandal.

Pointing out that Minister Jayakody had been indicted of a corrupt deal struck during the yahapalana regime, Prof. Peiris said it was wrong for the NPP to retain him as a minister, claiming that the offence was not committed during his tenure as a Cabinet minister in the current government.

Prof. Peiris and several other Opposition members dealt with the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Jayakody that would be taken up today (10) with the academic calling the vote an acid test for the NPP. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform at presidential and parliamentary polls, the NPP couldn’t protect Jayakody though he was widely believed to be close to President Dissanayake.

As the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Jayakody is alleged to have committed the offence of corruption, according to CIABOC.

Jayakody has been accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing and exploiting the procurement process.

Following the serving of indictments on 27 March, the judge ordered Jayakody’s release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The court directed that the defendant’s fingerprints be obtained and a formal report be submitted. The case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 May.

Prof. Peiris stressed that the CIABOC action against Jayakody is central to the NCM primarily moved over the irregularities ridden coal procurement process launched in 2025 that caused severe disruption to the power generation. Responding to The Island query after the media briefing, Prof Peiris expressed surprise that the JVP/NPP accommodated a person under investigation by the CIABOC. Having taken an utterly irresponsible decision, the JVP/NPP were now playing down the developing issue, prof. Peiris said.

The entire government parliamentary group faced the prospect of having its image tarnished by defending Jayakody, the former lawmaker said.

Prof. Peiris said that they intended to build a campaign around the issues involving the energy minister to expose the government. With yet another electricity tariff hike in the offing due to the growing demand for thermal generation as a result of coal-fired Lakvijaya power plant’s failure to meet the requirement[RA1] , the energy minister and ministry’s performances have to be examined, Prof. Peiris said.The timely release of the Auditor General’s report on controversial coal procurement should compel the government to decide on the energy minister’s fate or be prepared to face the fallout.

By Shamindra Ferdinando