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Field marshal protests over security forces thrashing street agitators

Published

4 years ago

2022/09/4

SJB Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka called on people to learn from their counterparts in England if they want to see democracy and righteousness upheld in this country.Participating in the debate on interim budget proposals, Field Marshal Fonseka told Parliament that a Lankan expatriate doctor in London had called him and lamented people not taking to the streets against using police and anti-riot squads on protesting undergraduates.

“It was so inhumane to watch how the police and anti-riot squads chased away protesters beating them along the way from Maradana to Borella the other day. People should not become roadside viewers when the police attack their fellow countrymen. I was told that if such a thing happened in England, citizens would take to the street and remain there until the IGP resigns. I call on Lankan people to learn from them. If you aspire for the upholding of democracy and righteousness in this country someday you will have to stand up for your rights. The Aragalaya protesters are agitating on behalf of all of us. People must support them,” Field Marshal Fonseka said.

He called on security forces not to thrash undergraduates engaged in protests. “Security force members also have children. These children are engaged in a righteous campaign. They should not be beaten mercilessly to make the rulers happy. All the officers who engaged in suppression of Aragalaya activists will have to pay for their crimes. Not only they, but also their children will have to pay for these crimes. Members of the legal fraternity will file FR cases against them. People should go before the Human Rights Commission against unjust activities of those who attack people exercising their right to dissent.“

“I call on international community to come forward to stop this state-terrorism. They should not support this government until it continues to use the military and police to suppress people. This is an anti-people government. I call on Lankan expatriates not to send any dollars to this country until this government continues to oppress people. We may die of hunger but we must fight to get rid of these thieves.

“The government would not be able to resurrect the collapsed economy because they are still engaged in stealing from the public purse. They are milking a dying cow. In the meantime, they boast of increasing the Samurdhi benefit allowance for 700,000 families. Giving handouts to the public is not such a heroic act to boast of. The government should be ashamed of its inability to get those 700,000 families to become a source of income generation rather than living on handouts. If we go at this rate, there will soon be a day that all the citizens get entitled for Samurdhi allowance. The president too will have to live on Samurdhi.

“People are suffering many hardships because of the economic crisis. They have to come down from their normal lifestyles as they cannot match their expenses with the salaries they get because of high inflation. “I had a secretary who used to come to work by car. Now he cannot afford the car. He has opted to use a scooter. He was formerly an officer who had commanded a brigade in the Army. Though he earns around 150,000 rupees a month plus his pension, he cannot afford to use a car. This is a reminder for the security force officers. Soon the officers retiring will have to come down from their high offices to that. If we could not change this, the present-day brigadiers and generals will have to use scooters. Therefore, when these officers attack aragalaya activists must keep in their minds that they too one day will have to come down from their cars to scooters if this government continues,” the Field Marshal said.

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Related Topics:Field Marshal Protesters Sarath Fonseka

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Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary

Published

2 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

(Pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA)

A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).

Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.

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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district

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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.

NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.

The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.

The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.

The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.

The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.

The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.