News
GL: Govt. not concerned about corruption despite Geneva warning
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Rebel SLPP MP Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (10) said that corruption accusations pertaining to procurement of crude oil and coal should be probed against the backdrop of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) alleging economic crimes in Sri Lanka.
The former External Affairs Minister said that in a resolution passed at the recently concluded 51 sessions of the UNHRC, the global body called on Sri Lanka to get a grip on its economic crisis and prosecute corruption by public officials.
The 19-point resolution was brought by 37 countries, including Britain, Canada and the United States, and was passed with 20 votes in favour and seven against.
On behalf of the government, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, strongly objected to the draft resolution intruding into domestic, economic and financial policy matters.
Prof. Peiris questioned the rationale behind the government declaring its intention to enact an anti-corruption Act without taking tangible measures to curb waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement.
The former law professor flayed the government for not placing the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) under the chairmanship of an Opposition lawmaker. Referring to parliamentary practice in Commonwealth countries, Prof. Peiris said that both the COPE and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) should have been placed under Opposition members. The government, while placing the COPA under SJB MP Kabir Hashim, appointed SLPP National List MP Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Chairman of the COPE.
Prof. Peiris warned the government of dire consequences unless the Parliament was allowed to take charge of public finance. The warning from Geneva shouldn’t be ignored, lawmaker Prof. Peiris said, pointing out the growing controversy over the procurement of crude oil and coal for the Lakvijaya coal-fired power plant.
No less a person than the Auditor General has found fault with procurement of coal, Prof. Peiris said, adding that those who robbed the country, at a time the vast majority of people were struggling to make ends meet, would be punished. They would be subjected to no holds barred investigation, the former minister said.
Responding to The Island queries, Prof. Peiris said that the UNHRC wouldn’t accept the usual promise to have domestic actions against corruption, against the backdrop of fresh corruption cases. The MP pointed out that corruption charges, pertaining to procurement of crude oil and coal, emerged close on the heels of the Central Bank declaring Sri Lanka’s status as a bankrupt country.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who won the last presidential election, in 2019 Nov., with an unprecedented 6.9 mn votes, had to give up the presidency and flee the country, as a result of the economic fallout. “The people demanded a change of the system. Now, in place of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the SLPP installed UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe,” MP Peiris said.
It would be a grave mistake, on the part of the SLPP, to believe the Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe government could hoodwink the people, thereby creating an environment conducive for Wickremesinghe to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term, Prof. Peiris said.
Referring to SLPP Chairman Mahinda Rajapaksa’s declaration that President Ranil Wickremesinghe was with the SLPP now, Prof. Peiris said that perhaps as a result of Aragalaya, Wickremesinghe had become part of the ruling party.
Commenting on the postponement of the scheduled debate on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, last week, Prof. Peiris said that, that piece of law would never be enacted as long as it prohibit dual citizens from contesting parliamentary and presidential polls.
Prof. Peiris said that it was the reality. The SLPP Chairman pointed out that the General Secretary of the Party, Sagara Kariyawasam, declared their opposition to the 22nd Amendment in spite of it being endorsed by the Cabinet-of-Ministers, headed by the President. In an obvious reference to SLPP strongman Basil Rajapaksa, Prof. Peiris alleged that a hidden hand was manipulating the government and was blatantly interfering in parliamentary proceedings.
Prof. Peiris said that the joint Opposition would strongly campaign against the moves to put off Local Governments polls, the way they sabotaged the Provincial Council polls. The former Minister said that the courts would be moved against this move. President Wickremesinghe’s recent declaration that key amendments would be introduced before the next Local Government polls was a clear indication to put polls on the bogus pretext of reforms.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Iran has sought the Indian intervention, at the highest level, to provide lifesaving support to the crews of empty Iranian vessels stranded just outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical mile territorial waters off Galle.
Sources familiar with the issue said that Iran had brought the developing situation to the attention of New Delhi as the crews of almost 20 vessels, included Indian nationals. Sources stressed that the group of vessels that unloaded crude oil a couple of months back were now stranded within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The US Navy torpedoed an unarmed Iran frigate, returning from India, on 04 March, 2026, about 19 nautical miles off the Galle coast. The unprovoked attack killed nearly 100 Iranians.
The Iranian Embassy in Colombo has inquired from the Indian High Commission of their response to the situation, sources said. The US has issued a global warning against providing food, water, medicine and other services to the Iranian vessels. The outcome of Iran-India talks on the issue at hand was not known, though sources asserted India may not throw its weight behind Iranian efforts to address the issue.
Responding to The Island queries, sources said both Sri Lanka and India were in a dilemma due to the US warning. India couldn’t ignore the plight of the Indian crew members and the Iranian vessels in its backyard.
The Sri Lankan government remains tight-lipped about the vessels stranded in its EEZ. Our efforts to elicit a response from relevant authorities were in vain. In addition to Indians, there are Bangladeshis among the crew members. Iran has explicitly stated the responsibilities of the countries concerned to provide assistance in terms of international law.
The Iranian position was articulated by its Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr.Alireza Delkhosh, recently. In a special statement, Ambassador Delkhosh emphasised that in terms of the Convention on the Law of the Sea (Article 98) as well as SOLAS and SAR
Conventions, Sri Lanka couldn’t refrain from providing the needs of the Iranian vessels stranded in its EEZ.
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem lambasted the NPP government in Parliament for failing to provide assistance to the Iranian ships. The former Minister alleged that the government was simply carrying out dictates of the US. He strongly criticised the way Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath was handling the issue.
MP Namal Rajapaksa, who is in remand custody over the controversial Airbus deal, was further remanded until October 27 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (13).
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama made the order after considering submissions by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and lawyers representing Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to sustain its recovery over the next two years, although growth is projected to moderate amid mounting global uncertainties, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest World Economic Outlook.
In its World Economic Outlook 2026: Resilience Under Strain, Urgent Choices, the IMF projects Sri Lanka’s economy to expand by 4% in 2026, slowing to 3.7% in 2027, following estimated growth of 5% in 2025.
Inflation, meanwhile, is forecast to rise to 5.3% in 2026 and 5.4% in 2027, reversing the average deflation rate of 0.5% recorded in 2025.
Unemployment is expected to remain steady at 3.9% throughout the forecast period.
The projections come amid growing pressure on the global economy from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, elevated energy prices, geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions.
Sri Lanka’s external position is also expected to weaken, with the current account balance projected to shift from a surplus of 1.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 to deficits of 0.5% in 2026 and 0.3% in 2027.
The IMF’s outlook points to continued economic expansion in Sri Lanka, but with slower growth, rising inflation and a narrowing external surplus giving way to current account deficits over the forecast period.
Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central, and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura district.
Sri Lanka, India caught in US-Iran ship crisis
Namal further remanded
IMF projects Lankan economic growth to moderate amidst mounting global uncertainties
Major Gen Pushpakumara assumes command of 56 Infantry Division
Dickwella axed, Bandara earns maiden Test call up
‘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
-
Features7 days agoThe Sri Lankan who made Scottish history
-
Sports7 days agoNissanka absence opens door for Sri Lanka’s young guns
-
News6 days agoNDB fraud Rs 60mn more than reported
-
News6 days agoRemoving monk’s robes matter for Sangha to decide: Mahanayake Theras
-
News7 days agoShiranthi R remanded until 13 Oct.
-
News4 days agoSri Lanka escalates anti-graft drive with Shiranthi’s jailing
-
Features7 days agoFuture of Sri Lanka’s state university system: Should it be shut down and reopened?
-
News5 days agoNPP govt. reminded of its responsibilities as US warship leaves Colombo