News
Gevindu opposes Karu’s move to promote Yahapalana federal proposals, points to NPP-US nexus
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Former SLPP National List MP and leader of Yuthukama civil society group Gevindu Cumaratunga yesterday (11) said that the public should oppose former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s call for the implementation of the Yahapalana government’s Orumithanadu federal proposals.
Cumaratunga said that he was quite surprised and disappointed by the former Speaker’s move made in his current capacity as Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ).
The ex-parliamentarian pointed out that a National People’s Power (NPP) government wouldn’t have been a reality without the US-sponsored so-called Aragalaya and the new US administration of President Donald Trump had bared the machinations of the USAID to advance their despicable political agenda.
Karu Jayasuriya should have called for a thorough investigation into external interventions, Cumaratunga said. “Instead, the former Speaker wants the NPP government to advance the Yahapalana project that had been roundly rejected by the vast majority of people,” the civil society activist said.
Cumaratunga challenged NMSJ chief’s declaration that the Yahapalana proposals, prepared by Attorney-at-Law Lal Wijenayaka, had the backing of many parties in Parliament. The former Speaker should realize that treacherous constitutional proposals had been rejected by the people,not once but twice at the 2019 November presidential election and 2020 August parliamentary polls when the UNP was reduced to just one MP.
Referring to continuing controversy over the USAID’s sinister interventions in various parts of the world, including Asia, ex-lawmaker Cumaratunga said that actually Jayasuriya owed an explanation as to his role in finalizing an agreement with the US agency in Nov. 2016. Over the years, USAID increased its role in Parliament to such an extent it arranged foreign visits for MPs and workshops in Parliament.
Cumaratunga said that as a new MP he attended a workshop in Parliament, sponsored by the USAID, and raised a privilege issue on Aug. 30, 2020, over the US agency’s conduct. Although the then Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena assured that undue interventions wouldn’t be allowed, the whole world now knew the level of US interventions through USAID and other means, the former MP said.
There should be no holds barred investigation into US funding, the former MP said demanding that Jayasuriya’s role couldn’t be ignored.
According to him, the continuing controversy over US intervention in India underscored the gravity of the situation. The level of interventions there, as discussed in Lok Sabha, should help us to understand our vulnerability, he said, pointing out that those who ridiculed and accused them of propagating scare stories were silent today.
The Royal Navy of Oman Ship ‘AL SEEB’ concluded a logistics replenishment visit to Sri Lanka and departed the Port of Colombo on 24 Jan 26.
In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship.
The price of gold has risen above $5,000 (£3,659) an ounce for the first time, extending a historic rally that saw the precious metal jump by more than 60% in 2025.
It comes as tensions between the US and NATO over Greenland have added to growing concerns about financial and geopolitical uncertainty.
US President Donald Trump’s trade policies have also worried markets. On Saturday he threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it strikes a trade deal with China.
Gold and other precious metals are seen as a so-called safe-haven assets that investors buy in times of uncertainty.
Demand for gold has also been driven by a range of other factors including higher-than-usual inflation, the weak US dollar, buying by central banks around the world and as the US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again this year.
Wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Washington seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have also helped push up the price of gold.
On Friday, silver topped $100 an ounce for the first time, building on its almost 150% rise last year.
[BBC]
SJB Working Committee member and ex-SLPP lawmaker Charitha Herath says that all eyes are on the newly constituted Constitutional Council (CC) as to how it will handle the dispute between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the previous CC, over the appointment of Auditor General (AG).
The former parliamentarian said so in response to The Island query yesterday (25). In terms of the Constitution, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa last week agreed on the appointment of former civil servant Austin Fernando, Professor Wasantha Seneviratne and Ranjith Ariyaratne as non-MP members of the CC.
They replaced former Ministry Secretary Dr. Prathap Ramanujam, former Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Medical Association Dr. Dilkushi Anula Wijesundere and Dr. Dinesha Samararatne of the University of Colombo. Pointing out that they rejected the President’s nominees for the AG’s post on several occasions, Herath emphasised the pivotal importance of the appointment of a person with impeccable credentials.
The other CC members are the Prime Minister, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne (Chairman), the Opposition Leader, the President’s nominee Bimal Rathnayake and five persons appointed by the President, upon being nominated as follows: one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the MPs representing the Government (Aboobucker Athambawa, MP), one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the Members of Parliament of the political party, or independent group, to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs (Ajith P. Perera, MP), and one MP nominated by agreement of the Members of Parliament other than those representing the Government and those belonging to the political party or independent group to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs, and appointed by the President ( Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP.)
The present CC was established on October 31, 2022 in terms of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. The Attorney General heads the National Audit Office (NAO). One-time COPE Chief said that it would be the responsibility of the government to ensure the integrity of the NAO.
Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.
Herath said that the government was in a bind over the Auditor General’s appointment and the disgraceful campaign launched against Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Jr, PC.
The ex-lawmaker said that JVP/NPP loyalists masquerading as journalists and civil activists had launched the protest against the Attorney General. Herath said that the decision to send Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, on compulsory leave, too, was a matter of serious concern.
Herath said: “This is the same government that campaigned strongly on non-interference, institutional independence, and respect for the rule of law—principles they used to criticise every previous administration. Now, they appear to be doing exactly what they once opposed, only more openly. If this pattern continues, these undemocratic actions will eventually lead to their own downfall.”
BASL in late December, 2025 urged President Dissanayake and others, including the Opposition Leader, to consult civil society and professional bodies, including them, before the appointment of civil society representatives.
Herath said that the newly constituted CC would face its first acid test when it addressed the Auditor General issue.
by Shamindra Ferdinando
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