Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament on Friday that the NPP government had re-filed 65 cases that had been withdrawn between 2019 and 2024.

Responding to a question from SJB Kalutara District MP Ajith P. Perera, the Prime Minister said a total of 102 cases had been withdrawn by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the Attorney General during that period.

She noted that the NPP had pledged during its election campaign to review and re-file cases that had been withdrawn under previous governments for various reasons.

The Prime Minister added that a decision had been made not to re-file 34 of the cases, while the government was still considering re-filing three more.

A person, named Thilini Ranasinghe yesterday, said she had requested information from the Police under the country’s Right to Information law regarding a visit by Lankan police officers to an English university linked to an ongoing case involving a former president.

Addressing the media outside the Police Headquarters in Colombo, Ranasinghe said she had visited the Police to confirm facts related to reports that officers travelled to England in connection with a case involving the imprisonment of Sri Lanka’s eighth executive president.

She added that she had formally requested details about the visit under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016, seeking information about the number of police officers who travelled to the UK, their identities, the expenses incurred and the outcomes of the visit.

“I am not requesting any sensitive information about the case itself, because it is still ongoing,” Ranasinghe said.

“What I need to know is how much public money was spent and what results were achieved from this visit.”

She said her request was made in her capacity as a citizen and taxpayer and that she expects the relevant authorities to provide the information within 14 days, as required by law.

Responding to questions about her motive, Ranasinghe said the public has a right to know how state funds are used by authorities.

“As citizens and taxpayers, we have the right to know how our money is being spent,” she said.

Asked whether she would take legal action if misuse of funds or other irregularities were revealed, Ranasinghe said she believes the law applies equally to all and plans to address the media again after receiving the requested information and related documents.

“If there has been any wrongdoing, I will file a fundamental rights petition and take the necessary legal steps,” she said.

The case involving the former president remains under legal proceedings, and according to official disclosures in Parliament, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has incurred expenses totaling Rs. 1.27 billion for 23 overseas visits between 2022 and 2024.

These figures were reported by Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa, who told Parliament that the total covered 23 foreign tours during Wickremesinghe’s tenure, including four in 2022, 14 in 2023 and five in 2024.

President’s Counsel Sumathi Dharmawardena, formerly serving as an Additional Solicitor General, has been promoted to the post of Senior Additional Solicitor General, the Attorney General’s Department announced.

The AG’s Department currently has two positions at this senior level.

One of the posts was previously held by President’s Counsel Rohantha Abeysuriya, who was appointed President of the Court of Appeal, while the other was vacated following the retirement of President’s Counsel Susantha Balapatabendi.

With Dharmawardena filling one vacancy, reports indicate that President’s Counsel Harippriya Jayasundara is expected to be appointed to the remaining position.