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Call for abolition of executive presidency prevents consensus on proposed 21-A

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4 years ago

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SJB says SLPP rebels’ proposal doesn’t reflect demand for Gotabaya’s resignation

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and the SLPP rebel group haven’t been able to iron out their differences as regards the urgently required proposed 21 Amendment to the Constitution meant to address the current political crisis amidst the worst post-independence economic fallout, political sources say.

Parliamentary sources told The Island that the dispute was over the SJB’s push for the abolition of the executive presidency. Both groups have handed over their proposals to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The SJB, which comprises 54 members in Parliament recently lost one of them when its National List MP Diana Gamage accepted a State Ministry.

Colombo District MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, handed over the constitutional proposal.

SLPP rebel Gevindu Cumaratunga explained that they basically agreed on the urgent need to curtail powers and immunity granted to the executive by way of the 20th Amendment. The SLPP rebels consist of about 40 MPs.

Acknowledging that the members of the rebel group had voted for the 20th Amendment, National List MP Cumaratunga said that they had done so following President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s assurance that a new draft new Constitution would be unveiled within two years after the Nov. 2019 presidential election.

Responding to queries, in terms of the SLPP rebels’ proposal the President should appoint the Cabinet of ministers in consultation with the Prime Minister, restore the 10- member Constitutional Council to ensure transparency in key appointments, including those in the judiciary.

The SLPP rebel group has made this proposal against the backdrop of its formal request to President Rajapaksa that the entire Cabinet, including the incumbent Prime Minister should step down. Cumaratunga emphasised that the group remained committed to their original demands that they had handed over in writing to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Referring to the proposed CC, MP Cumaratunga said that the SLPP had recommended that three civil society members of the outfit chaired by the Speaker should be suggested by the Organisation of Professionals’ Association (OPA), Chamber of Commerce and the University Teachers. The two other main recommendations dealt with the public sector procurement and the denial of foreign passport holders the right to contest parliamentary and presidential elections.

Cumaratunga said that they were still making an attempt to convince the JVP to back their constitutional proposal. “We are still hopeful that a consensus could be reached as the continuing delay caused further deterioration of the national economy. All political parties realise the growing threat due to uncertainty and economic turmoil,” he said.

Responding to the SBJ demand that the abolition of the executive presidency should be part of the proposed 21 Amendment, MP Cumaratunga said that the main Opposition appeared to have changed its stand on the executive presidency. Having asked for a balance of power between the President and the Parliament, the SJB had overnight demanded the abolition of the executive presidency, MP Cumaratunga said.

Cumaratunga dealt with this issue in Parliament yesterday. The leader of civil society group Yuthukama pointed out that the executive presidency couldn’t be abolished as long as the Provincial Councils systems introduced in terms of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution remained.


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GovPay Concludes 2025 with Rs. 2 Billion in digital transactions, marking a major milestone in Sri Lanka’s digital transformation

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2 hours ago

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2025/12/19

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GovPay, Sri Lanka’s Government Digital Payment Platform concluded the year 2025 by surpassing Rs. 2 billion in total digital transaction value, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey. Notably, GovPay doubled its collections from Rs. 1 billion to Rs. 2 billion in just 45 days, reflecting rapid adoption, growing public trust, and strong institutional uptake across the public sector.

Since its official launch on 07 February 2025, GovPay has processed over 69,000 digital transactions, enabling payments for 3,372 government services across 215 government institutions. This accelerated growth underscores the increasing reliance on secure, convenient, and transparent digital payment mechanisms by both citizens and government institutions.

Implemented under the strategic leadership of the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) in collaboration with LankaPay, GovPay has emerged as a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s national digital public infrastructure. The platform plays a critical role in advancing financial inclusion, improving service efficiency, and strengthening transparency in public service delivery.

A key milestone in 2025 was the launch of the Online Traffic Fine Payment System through GovPay on 10 April 2025. Since its introduction, the system has facilitated over 50,000 digital traffic fine payments, generating more than Rs. 66 million in revenue. The service is currently operational across the Western, Southern, Northern, North Western, and North Central Provinces, including the Southern, Katunayake, and Central Expressways. While the island wide rollout planned for December 2025 was postponed due to adverse weather conditions and disaster-related challenges, ICTA, in coordination with the Sri Lanka Police and with the support of LankaPay, has agreed to complete the nationwide rollout in January 2026, with a landmark launch in the Central Province.

GovPay has continued to expand its reach across local authorities, including Divisional Secretariats, Municipal Councils, Urban Councils, and Pradeshiya Sabhas, significantly enhancing access to government services in citizens’ day-to-day activities. The platform has enabled digital transactions for all local authorities in the Northern Province and all Divisional Secretariats in the Southern Province, with a national target to digitize all local authorities by 2026.

Institutions such as Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka Police, the Department of Technical Education and Training, the University of Moratuwa, and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board emerged as some of the highest contributors to GovPay in 2025. Strong adoption by the education sector in particular highlights the readiness of younger generations to embrace digital transformation and demonstrates the platform’s scalability and reliability.

Beyond routine government services, GovPay also supported national disaster response efforts. Since 30 November 2025, the platform facilitated digital donations to the Rebuild Sri Lanka Disaster Relief Fund, collecting almost Rs. 14 million across 909 transactions, including contributions from Sri Lankans living abroad, ensuring transparency and ease of contribution during a national emergency.

As GovPay continues to grow, ICTA is working on revamping www.govpay.lk with enhanced features to support institutional onboarding, service management, and reporting capabilities. With Rs. 2 billion in digital collections achieved within its first year of operation and the last Rs. 1 billion reached in just 45 days, GovPay stands as a strong testament to the impact of coordinated digital transformation, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s vision of achieving a USD 15 billion digital economy by 2030.

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Swift restoration of Religious, Cultural and Archaeological sites damaged by the disaster

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2 hours ago

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2025/12/19

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A discussion on the restoration of religious, cultural and archaeological sites affected by Cyclone Ditwah was held on Thursday (18) afternoon  at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, with the participation of the Most Venerable Mahanayaka Theras of the three Chapters and other religious leaders.

Addressing the meeting, the Minister stated that more than one thousand religious, cultural and archaeological sites across the country had sustained damage due to the disaster. He assured that prompt measures would be taken to commence restoration work and reinstate these sites to their original condition without delay.

The Minister further stated that all restoration work is expected to be carried out while preserving the historical and cultural authenticity of the sites, under the guidance of the Most Venerable Maha Sangha and other religious leaders, with the active participation of all relevant stakeholders.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs,  Prince Senadheera, noted that arrangements are currently underway to mobilize the required human resources and financial assistance for the restoration process. He also stated that steps have been initiated to recruit the necessary technical officers on a contractual basis to conduct technical assessments of the affected sites. In addition, plans are in place to involve officials of the Ministry as well as officers of its affiliated institutions in carrying out these restoration activities.

The Secretary to the Ministry further stated that generous financial contributions from donors are currently being received to the fund established under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs for the reconstruction of damaged religious places of worship.

The meeting also considered continuing the gathering as an interfaith committee to oversee the restoration activities. Accordingly, it was agreed that the progress of construction work would be regularly reported to the committee and that the committee would be entrusted with mobilizing support for the fund in a transparent manner, including assistance from foreign donors, international organizations, Buddhist organizations and other religious institutions.

It was noted that the Central Cultural Fund has identified eight sites that were severely damaged by the disaster and are difficult to restore through conventional construction methods, requiring the specialized expertise of archaeologists, mural conservation specialists, and architects. The cost of restoring these sites has been estimated at over Rs. 500 million.

It was further decided that the committee would meet once a month to review and discuss the progress of these restoration activities.

Religious leaders commended the Government’s intervention in providing relief to those affected by the disaster and in restoring livelihoods, expressing appreciation for the effective management of the response. They also praised the Government’s prompt action in initiating restoration work at damaged religious sites.

The event was attended by several eminent religious leaders, including the Registrar of the Asgiri Maha Viharaya, Venerable Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Nayaka Thero; the Registrar General of the Amarapura Siri Saddhammawansa Maha Nikaya, Venerable Balapitiye Siri Seevali Nayaka Thero; the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya, Venerable Attangane Sasanarathana Nayaka Thero; the Chief Secretary of the All-Ceylon Shasanarakshaka Board, Venerable Professor Mugunuwela Anuruddha Nayaka Thero; and the Tri-Nikaya Maha Sangha, led by the Chairman of the National Bhikkhu Front, Venerable Wakamulle Uditha Thero.

Also in attendance were Hindu religious leaders, including Venerable Swami Aksharatmananda, representatives of the Catholic Church and the National Christian Council, including Father Alec Roy Samantha Fernando, All-Ceylon Muslim religious leaders, including the General Secretary of the Jamiatul Ulama Organization, Ash-Sheikh Arkam Nooramith, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs,  Mohamed Muneer , as well as senior officials of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs and relevant line institutions.

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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya extended

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7 hours ago

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2025/12/19

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The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya until 08:00 AM on Saturday [20th].

LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Minipe, Ududumbara, Doluwa and Medadumbara in the Kandy district, and Mathurata, Walapane, Hanguranketha and Nildandahinna in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Badulla, Lunugala, Passara and Hali_Ela in the Badulla district, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Pasbage Korale, Harispattuwa, Thumpane, Panvila, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Yatinuwara, Poojapitiya, Kundasale, Deltota, Pathahewaheta and Hatharaliyadda in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Laggala Pallegama, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta, Ambanganga Korale, Naula, Rattota, Pallepola, Ukuwela and Matale in the Matale district, and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Bandarawela, Uva Paranagama, Haldummulla, Kandeketiya, Soranathota, Ella, Welimada, Haputhale and Meegahakivula in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Polgahawela, Mallawapitiya and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Thalawakele, Norwood, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district.

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