News
SL highlights inclusive governance, health security at 153rd IPU
Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has highlighted Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen democratic governance, promote inclusivity and improve public accountability at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Arusha, Tanzania, from October 05 to 09.
Dr. Wickramaratne, accompanied by MP Rishad Bathiudeen, led the Sri Lankan delegation at the Assembly, which brought together parliamentarians to discuss global challenges and parliamentary cooperation under the theme, “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all.”
Addressing the General Assembly, Wickramaratne stressed that public trust and inclusiveness were fundamental to sustainable democracy, outlining measures taken by Sri Lanka to broaden parliamentary representation and strengthen institutional accountability.
He said the Tenth Parliament comprised 22 women members, representing 9.8 percent of its membership, including two women from the Malayagam community. He also noted that, for the first time, a person with a disability was serving as a member of Parliament. The parliamentarian had recently received the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s 2026 New Parliamentarian Award.
The Speaker highlighted the role of parliamentary mechanisms, including the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, in advancing equitable representation and legislative reforms.
He also pointed to the work of parliamentary oversight bodies, including the Committee on Public Finance, Committee on Public Accounts and Committee on Public Enterprises, in promoting transparency and accountability.
Sri Lanka’s Open Parliament initiatives were also highlighted, particularly the broadcasting of parliamentary debates with sign-language interpretation and the opening of committee proceedings to the media and civil society, measures aimed at improving public access to parliamentary work.
The Sri Lankan delegation also received special recognition at a high-level side event hosted by the IPU African Geopolitical Group on parliamentary action to achieve the “Three Zeros” in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health by 2030.
The recognition acknowledged Wickramaratne’s professional medical background and parliamentary leadership, highlighting the contribution of medical expertise to efforts to improve maternal and newborn health, strengthen healthcare systems and protect vulnerable populations.
On the sidelines of the Assembly, the delegation held discussions with World Health Organisation representatives, including Ludy Suryantoro, head of multisectoral engagement for health security preparedness.
The talks focused on strengthening national health security and advancing the WHO’s Universal Health Preparedness Review.
The Sri Lankan delegation emphasised Parliament’s role in establishing the legal framework for preparedness reforms, safeguarding funding through budgetary processes and ensuring effective oversight and accountability. It also stressed the importance of multisectoral coordination and protecting the rights and interests of vulnerable groups.
The delegation participated in deliberations across the IPU’s Standing Committees and thematic workshops, covering a broad range of international concerns.
These included parliamentary approaches to inclusive social development, the implications of military artificial intelligence for peace and security, parliamentary diplomacy and mediation, maritime security and the protection of critical infrastructure during conflicts.
Discussions also addressed proposals to review the United Nations Charter and conflict-prevention mechanisms, counterterrorism strategies, oversight of extractive industries, digital overload and mental health, ethical artificial intelligence and children’s rights, food security amid climate change, and the implementation of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The participation underscored Sri Lanka’s continued engagement in international parliamentary cooperation, with the delegation focusing on democratic governance, inclusion, public accountability, health security and sustainable development.
… 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)
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.
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.
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Ranawaka accuses govt. of using JVP cadres and police to suppress political opponents
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Prof. Peiris, summoned by CIABOC, appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release
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