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Governor Muzammil resigns, pledges support to Sajith
By SHIHAR ANEEZ
ECONOMYNEXT –Uva Provincial Governor A J M Muzammil resigned his post as the representative of the country’s President and pledged his support to opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, sources said.His resignation and backing to Premadasa come 16 days ahead of the presidential poll scheduled for September 21.
Analysts see no presidential candidate winning 50 percent in the poll.
Muzammil was appointed as the Governor of the Uva province in August 2020 by the previous Sri Lankan leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The 75-year old former Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) continued as the governor under the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe after Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned in July 2022 amid mass protests and economic crisis.
“I hereby record my disappointment in certain Governors who have been vociferously campaigning for various Presidential Candidates whilst holding the office of Governor,” Muzammil said in his resignation letter to President Wickremesinghe.
“I wish to inform Your Excellency that, after my resignation, I intend to support Presidential Candidate Hon. Sajith Premadasa.”
Before his resignation, he met Santosh Jha, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka at India House, the official residence of the Indian High Commissioner.
“The meeting was facilitated at the request of the Governor,” an Indian High Commission official told EconomyNext.
“It is one of the regular meetings on political dialogue and bilateral relations,” the official said, adding that India has nothing to do with Muzammil’s resignation and his pledge to back Premadasa.
Muzammil has switched his political alliance in the past to cross ruling parties befor being appointed to plum posts.
The latest backing by Muzammil for opposition leader Premadasa comes four days after Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) decided to support him at the upcoming Presidential Election.
The ITAK’s decision came after its meeting with India’a National Security Advisor Ajit Doval last week.
The Sunday Times reported that Doval during the meeting has said that the Tamil legislators should not “waste the votes of the Tamil people” and try to negotiate with a candidate who could win and secure the aspirations of the Tamil people through talks.
India has not openly pledged its support to any presidential candidates. Doval during his visit met top four candidates: President Wickremesinghe, Premadasa, Marxists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Namal.
India had been long negotiating for some renewable power plants, land connectivity, port deals, and energy pipe connectivity with Sri Lanka, but many of them have yet to be signed under Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe.India has also raised concerns over Chinese vessels being allowed to do research in the sea bed citing security issues for the Indian Ocean region.
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026
Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district
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22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority
Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.
The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.
NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.
The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.
The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.
The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.
The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.
The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.
News
TIN mandatory for key transactions from Nov. 1
A valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificate will be required for a range of key transactions in Sri Lanka from November 1, 2026, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced.
The requirement, introduced under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, applies to transactions specified under Section 102(3) of the Inland Revenue Act.
Accordingly, individuals will be required to produce a valid TIN Certificate when opening an account at a bank or financial institution, obtaining approval for a building plan, registering or renewing the licence of a motor vehicle, registering land or title to land, registering a business, transferring shares in a company incorporated in Sri Lanka or obtaining a credit card.
In the case of share transfers, both the transferor and transferee will be required to provide TIN certificates.
The IRD said officials handling such transactions had been instructed to ensure that a valid TIN Certificate was submitted before processing or completing the relevant transaction.
The Department advised those who do not already have a TIN to obtain one in advance through its e-Services platform.
It said a printout of the TIN verification result showing the applicant’s National Identity Card number and TIN could also be accepted instead of the certificate.The IRD also reiterated that obtaining a TIN is mandatory for resident individuals aged 18 and above under the applicable provisions.
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