News

Sittings suspended for 10 minutes over uproar between govt. and Opposition

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/10

By Saman Indrajith

Parliament sittings were suspended on Thursday (08) for 10 minutes following an uproar over an argument between the government and the Opposition members over the debate on the Annual Report of the Central Bank, scheduled for yesterday.

The JVP and SJB MPs protested against what they called a government attempt to act in breach of an agreement reached at the party leaders’ meeting.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that it was he who had to move the House for a debate on the Annual Report of the Central Bank and charged that the government was now trying to open the debate in contravention of the agreement made by the party leaders. “I ask for a debate on behalf of the Opposition. I do not want someone else to open the debate. That was the agreement we reached at the party leaders’ meeting.”

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa:

I endorse MP Dissanayake’s position. At the party leaders’ meeting we agreed that he should open the debate. How come the govenrment is acting in contravention of that agreement? What is the purpose of holding party leaders’ meetings if the government acts on its own and works contrary to the agreements we made at those meetings. Is this democracy? I confirm what Dissanayake said.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena:

We will take a decision in this regard at the next party leaders’ meeting.

However, Opposition Leader Premadasa rejected the suggestion stating that the debate was scheduled for Friday. Premadasa insisted that Anura Kumara Dissanayake should open the debate and demanded that agreements reached at the party leaders’ meeting be honoured.

“Do not undermine the party leaders’ meeting. It is not good for you as the Speaker either. If you act in contravention of the party leaders’ meeting agreements, then there is a ground to think that you are being controlled by an outside force. The Speaker should not be a puppet,” the Opposition Leader said.

Leader of the House Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that during the party leaders’ meeting Anura Kumara Dissanayake had asked for a debate on the Central Bank report and the government had agreed to allocate a date this month. The report was debated every year and that this year’s debate should follow the same format.

Opposition Leader Premadasa, however, claimed that Gunawardena was lying.

At this point, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga alleged that the Opposition Leader had become a puppet of the JVP leader and he had no right to call the Speaker a puppet.

Both the Opposition and government members started shouting and levelling accusations against each other.

Opposition Leader Premadasa:

There may have been Opposition leaders who were puppets. But I am not ready to be a puppet of anyone. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga is speaking of himself when he talks about puppets.

The Speaker:

There is a mistake here.

Jaffna District TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran:

Anura Kumara Dissanayake asked for this debate. Therefore, he should be given the chance to open the debate. That was the agreement reached at the party leaders’ meeting.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake:

The Speaker should act according to his conscience. The tradition is that the government tables the annual report of the Central Bank and the Opposition asks for the debate. That is the tradition.

Speaker Abeywardena:

There is some confusion here. We can hold a party leaders’ meeting at lunch time and discuss the matter there.

Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando:

We are ready for the debate. We have no problem with who opens the debate.

(Government MPs shout at Opposition MPs)

The Speaker suspended the sittings for 10 minutes for a party leaders’ meeting.

At the party leaders’ meeting held with the Speaker presiding it was decided not to hold the Adjournment Debate on the Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for the year 2020 yesterday (9).

It had been decided to hold the debate in the first week of August, said Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake.

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Business

Committee appointed for restructuring SriLankan Airlines

Published

4 mins ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a Committee, chaired by Senior Presidential Advisor on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, to conduct a strategic review and restructuring of SriLankan Airlines.

The other members of the committee are as follows:

• Senior Presidential Economic Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa

• Financial and corporate strategy expert Deshal De Mel

• Transaction and investment banking, mergers and acquisitions expert Dumith Fernando

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance or his Representative

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development / a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority

• The Chairman of SriLankan Airlines

• Legal experts with specialised knowledge in corporate, aviation and public law

• Aviation industry experts to be appointed

The Government has recognised the urgent priority of undertaking a comprehensive strategic review of SriLankan Airlines, taking into account the broader macroeconomic context.

The main objective of this exercise is to establish a financially sustainable and commercially efficient national carrier, while reducing the long-term fiscal burden on the Government.

Accordingly, it has been deemed appropriate to establish a dedicated committee to carry out the strategic review and restructuring process in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is serving as the Transaction Advisor.

The committee will be responsible for:

• Conducting an independent review and assessment of the airline’s strategic direction and future course of action

• Recommending restructuring requirements and possible restructuring models

• Evaluating specific strategic options and identifying the most suitable course of action aligned with the Government’s overall objectives

• Providing oversight, guidance and support for the implementation of the selected strategy and execution framework determined by the Government

The committee will function for the duration of the strategic review and restructuring process, or until it is formally dissolved by the Government of Sri Lanka.

(PMD)

Latest News

Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

9 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 0400hrs on 12th June 2026 to 0400hrs on 13th June 2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Ratnapura, Godakawela, Kalawana and Nivitigala in the Ratnapura district

News

Wife, counsel seek regular access to ex-Spy Chief Sallay held under President’s detention order

Published

12 hours ago

2026/06/12

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.

“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.

“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.

“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.

“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”

“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.

As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.

As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.

I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.

Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.

Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.