News
Ex-COPE chief denies he was behind prorogation of Parliament
… Dissident SLPPers express contradictory views
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Prof. Ranjith Bandara, MP, yesterday (09) said that there was absolutely no basis for claims that he was asked to step down as Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) by anyone.
The SLPP National List MP said so when The Island sought his response to Pivithru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila’s claim that President Ranil Wickremesinghe prorogued Parliament thus dissolved over 60 parliamentary committees just to get rid of one MP who refused to step down.
Colombo District MP Gammanpila made the declaration in Parliament on Thursday (08). National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, recently alleged that President Wickremesinghe prorogued Parliament to save Prof. Bandara, embroiled in a controversy over his handling of the COPE investigation into Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Declaring that he hadn’t been asked to quit, under any circumstances, the academic pointed out that the two Opposition MPs contradicted each other.
President Wickremesinghe prorogued Parliament in accordance with the powers vested in him under Article 70 (1) of the Constitution with effect from midnight January 26. The fifth session of the Ninth Parliament commenced on 07 February. COPE is among the committees that had been dissolved due to the prorogation, the second time since Wickremesinghe became President after the Parliament voted him in to complete the balance term of the elected President Gatabaya Rajapaksa after apparent foreign instigated violent protests ousted him.
Prof. Bandara dismissed Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s demand for him to give up leadership of COPE over the SLC controversy as nothing but political rhetoric.
Several members of the Opposition asked Prof. Bandara to step down, at least temporarily, to facilitate the probe on SLC in respect of the Auditor General’s report on the disastrous T 20 cricket tour of Australia. The Opposition subsequently stepped up pressure on Prof. Bandara in the wake of revelation that his son participated in COPE proceedings as well as his previous dealings with SLC. Prof. Bandara is on record as having said that his son Kanishka attended COPE proceedings in his capacity as co coordinating secretary to the COPE Chairman.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday the PHU leader pointed out that the Parliament elected in 1977 lasted till 1989-a period of 12 years but there were only eight sessions throughout that period. The former Power and Energy Minister said that prorogation of Parliament disrupted many committees and such a course of action to remove chairman of one committee must be a world record.
However, dissident SLPP National List MP Prof. G. L. Peiris told a media briefing early this week, at his Kirula Road residence, that the prorogation of Parliament was meant to disrupt the workings of six parliamentary committees which dealt with public finance.
The dissolved mechanisms were the Public Finance Commission, the Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Public Enterprises, Economic Stabilization Committee, Ways and Means Committee and Banking Sector and Financial Management Committee. According to Prof. Peiris, out of 91 committees in operation in Parliament, 64 have been dissolved.
As part of the official visit to London for the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, held discussions with academic experts from the British Council on Wednesday [20 May 2026].
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, particularly in the areas of teacher training, English language programmes, education frameworks, and language acquisition skills.
The British Council shared international experience and highlighted its ongoing engagement in Sri Lanka, while expressing readiness to support the country through technical assistance, teacher development initiatives, and policy collaboration.
Discussions also included views on improving quality assurance, expanding research collaboration, and enhancing learning opportunities.
The Prime Minister appreciated the British Council’s continued engagement in Sri Lanka and reiterated the importance of deepening partnerships.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division’
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with members of the Sri Lankan community living in London on Wednesday [20th] and engaged in cordial discussions.
Despite the event being held on a weekday, it was notable that nearly one thousand Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities attended with great enthusiasm.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite natural disasters and international crises, the present government has succeeded in stabilizing the country’s economy while providing relief to the people. She further noted that Sri Lanka’s political culture has now undergone a positive transformation that is irreversible.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, addressing the event, stated that a governance system has now been established in the country where all communities are treated equally and the benefits of economic development are shared fairly among all citizens.
Moving away from the traditional method of political gatherings, the event also provided an open platform for members of the Sri Lankan community to directly raise questions and express their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister.
Commenting on the organization of the event, the organizing committee stated that all expenses, including dinner, were borne by the participants themselves. The organizers further remarked that it is unsurprising that opposition groups, accustomed to organizing such events through the misuse of public funds, appear unsettled by this transparent process.
The occasion was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya currently undertaking an official visit to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom ON Wednesday [20]. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the United Kingdom for the support extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. The Prime Minister also commended the United Kingdom’s support in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister briefed the UK delegation on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and policy priorities, the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, as well as Sri Lanka’s positive growth trajectory.
The two sides also exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long-term energy security.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
Afghanistan refugee women’s team set for England tour under ECB initiative
DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features5 days agoSri Lankan Airlines Airbus Scandal and the Death of Kapila Chandrasena and my Brother Rajeewa
-
News6 days agoLanka’s eligibility to draw next IMF tranche of USD 700 mn hinges on ‘restoration of cost-recovery pricing for electricity and fuel’
-
News5 days agoKapila Chandrasena case: GN phone records under court scrutiny
-
News5 days agoRupee slide rekindles 2022 crisis fears as inflation risks mount
-
Features2 days agoOctopus, Leech, and Snake: How Sri Lanka’s banks feast while the nation starves
-
Business5 days agoExpansion of PayPal services in Sri Lanka officially announced
-
News22 hours agoSteps underway to safeguard Sri Lanka’s maritime heritage
-
Features7 days agoMysterious Death of United Nations Secretary General Hammarskjöld