By Shamindra Ferdinando

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (03) accused the National People’s Power (NPP) government of making an attempt to promote a relatively junior officer as the Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI).

The former parliamentarian and Attorney-at-Law named the officer holding the rank of Colonel.

Addressing the media at the PHU office at Pita Kotte, Gammanpila alleged that the NPP wanted to bring the DMI under a Colonel married to a senior activist of Lanka Guru Seva Sangamaya.

The one-time JHU stalwart compared the NPP’s actions with that of the Yahapalana administration (2015-2019) comprising the UNP and the SLFP that debilitated the intelligence services. Gammanpila charged that the ruination of the intelligence services facilitated the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.

According to the PHU leader, five Brigadiers and seven Colonels had been either sidelined or moved to various commands in various parts of the country to accommodate the NPP favourite. Having named all officers concerned, the former Minister pointed out the absurdity in placing one of them as the director of the Army band.

Gammanpila claimed that as a Colonel couldn’t be made the head of the DMI suddenly, the NPP has brought in an Engineers’ officer holding the rank of Brigadier as a temporary measure.

The former Minister said that the issue should be vigorously raised in Parliament as national security is at stake. Responding to The Island queries, the former lawmaker emphasized the responsibility on the part of the NPP to ensure that the once proud intelligence services remained fully geared to meet any eventuality.

Gammanpila also noted the changes that had been effected at the State Intelligence Services (SIS) as well as the Office of the Chief of National Intelligence against the backdrop of the government decision to do away with the Office of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Sri Lankan ambassador to Cambodia Wijayanthi Edirisinghe has discussed ways and means of strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation with Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Cham Nimul at their Ministry of Commerce in Phnom Penh recently.

The Foreign Ministry press release: “During the discussions, Ambassador Edirisinghe highlighted the longstanding and friendly relations between the two countries and emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening economic ties. She underlined the potential to further enhance bilateral trade especially in key sectors such as agriculture, textiles and tourism, and encouraged Cambodian investment in Sri Lanka’s priority sectors including manufacturing, logistics, agriculture and technology.

Ambassador Edirisinghe also pointed out the growing footprint of Sri Lankan companies in Cambodia, particularly in finance, logistics, IT, and tourism sectors, while noting the increasing interest of more IT companies to explore opportunities in the Cambodian market.

Despite the requests made by the opposition to fix a date for the local government elections after the conclusion of budget debates, the Election Commission announced on yesterday that they will accept nominations for the 2025 Local Government Elections from 17 March 2025.

A senior election officer said that the nomination period will end on 20 March, only a day before the third reading of the Appropriation Bill. Thus, political parties will not have to divide their time between debating and campaigning, he said.

Commenting on the announcement, Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake, told The Island that they welcomeD the announcement of the Commission and that the Supreme Court last year had directed the Commission to hold the long delayed local council elections as soon as possible.

“Local councils had been inactive for almost two years now,” he said.

Chairman of the Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said the commission will accept nominations until 12 noon on 20 March 2025.

The notices announcing the acceptance of nominations for 336 local government institutions, which includes 28 Municipal Councils, 36 Urban Councils and 272 Pradeshiya Sabhas, had now been published in the respective local authorities, he said.

However, elections will not be held to Kalmunai Municipal Council, Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya Sabha (Ampara District), Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha (Mannar District), Punakari Pradeshiya Sabha (Kilinochchi District), and Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha (Galle District).

Deposits from candidates will be accepted from March 3 to March 19, 2025, until 12.00 noon, excluding March 13, the Poya Day and weekends on March 8, 9, 15, and 16. (RK)