News

All Presidential Commission of Inquiry reports will be submitted to Parliament for debate – Minister

Published

5 years ago

2021/02/21

by Saman Indrajith

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that the government would submit all Presidential Commission of Inquiry reports to parliament soon and was ready to debate their contents with the opposition.

Speaking to the media at his ministry in Battaramulla on Friday, the minister said that the government was always ready to debate any issue.

“Many opposition party politicians including the JVP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake are shouting that we are reluctant to table the Presidential Commission of Inquiry reports and debate them in parliament. They are also demanding that we should give a time frame for this. I like to remind those in the opposition that there had been many Presidential Commissions of Inquiry but only a handful of them had publicized their reports. We have nothing to hide and are also not afraid for debates”.

He further said: “We always act democratically by giving opportunities to all parties to express their views. We remember how the previous government violated human rights mainly of opposition members. Opposition members were politically victimized, harassed and sent to jail without any proved allegation during the past five years. However, we don’t want present opposition members to face such a miserable situation. That is why we are waiting until Commission reports are presented to Parliament”.

Minister Fernando said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a committee to study in depth the contents and recommendations of the report of the PCoI into the Easter Sunday attack and the report of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security submitted to Parliament.

“There are five other members in the committee including myself. The committee is headed by Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. Ministers Udaya Gammanpila, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga and Rohitha Abeygunawardena are the other members. Director General (Legal) of the Presidential Secretariat Harigupta Rohanadheera has been appointed as Secretary of the Committee. We have been asked to submit our report by March 15,” he said.

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SAARC journalists meet in New Delhi

Published

6 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

President of SJF Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi hands over a memento to Dr Alok Kumar Mishra Joint Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities

Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.

Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.

A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.

The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.

News

Governor of Gujarat met with Sri Lanka PM to discuss exposition of Devnimori Relics

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.

These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.

The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.

The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

INS GHARIAL makes port call in Colombo

Published

14 hours ago

2026/02/6

Priyan

The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.

Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.

During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.

The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.