News

SJB asks govt. to accept its draft 21st Amendment

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

By Saman Indrajith

The SJB yesterday urged the government to put its draft 21st amendment to vote in Parliament.

Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said the government too had made proposals for constitutional reforms. “They have said a draft has been made and submitted to various people and organisations. But we have not seen it yet. It has not yet been submittted even to the Cabinet of Ministers.

They are talking about a proposal which has not yet been finalised. Suppose they will submit it to the next Cabinet meeting on 06 June and get it approved. Then it has to come to Parliament and be gazetted. Thereafter, it will go to the Department of the Legal Draftsmen and then to the Justice Ministry. Even if it will get the Cabinet’s approval next Monday, it will take at least three more months to complete its process to come back to Parliament for vote. On the other hand the government says that constitutional reforms are urgent. If it is so urgent, then there is a 21st Amendment that we have submitted to Parliament in the form of a Bill. That is the one and only draft that people have seen so far. The government can take our draft if it is in such a hurry for constitutional reforms” Kiriella said.

He said that the SJB had submitted the 21st Amendment to the Constitution by its General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara on April 21 as a private member motion. “It was gazetted, it went before the Legal Draftsman’s Department. There are petitions before the Supreme Court to ascertain its constitutionality. The Supreme Court judgment is to be given by 15th of this month. The government could use it,” Kiriella said.

The Chief Opposition Whip said that the SJB proposal contained many progressive proposals to ensure upholding of democracy and mechanisms to restore the rule of law. “Our Bill contains provisions to abolish current executive presidential system, to make the cabinet of ministers continuously accountable and responsible to parliament, to reduce the maximum number of cabinet ministers to 25, not to increase the number of ministers in the event of a coalition government, stringent provisions to prevent corrupt crossovers, establishment of Constitutional Council and independent commissions including Audit and Procurement Commissions, constitutional recognition of the National Security Council and establishment of a State Council to obtain advice of experts/public representations on matters of public importance,” Kiriella said.

He said that SJB reforms will put an end to the prevailing political culture of making governments by buying over MPs from other parties. “We call on the government to put our proposals into a vote in Parliament so that it will understand that the majority of MPs approve it by voting.”

SJB MP Imthiyaz Bakeer Markar also addressed the press.

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News

Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.

Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).

Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).

In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable

Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.

The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay

by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

News

Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Bimal

The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.

The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.

The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.

Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.

Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.

Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.

by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake

News

Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.

The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.

Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.

Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.

Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.

by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva