News
Govt. ready for horse-trading to raise numbers in Parliament in case of a split – Johnston
The government is ready for negotiations to increase its numbers in Parliament in case of any of its coalition partners pulling out, says Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando.
“Our doors are open. Anyone can leave. We are not going to stop anyone because we can anytime take more than the required number of heads from the Opposition. We are ready to face any desertions of allied MPs. There are many in the Opposition side to join the government. They are ready to come to our fold by a single call,” the Minister said responding to a query on rumours of split within government ranks by a journalist during an inspection tour to review progress of constructing work of the Badagamuwa vehicle parking terminal and its health facilities centre recently.
“We do not want to see them leave us. We will never forget the allied party MPs who assisted us to build this government. Their leaving does not mean the government would collapse. The government is stronger than ever and has enough supply of MPs anytime we need from the Opposition. Our strategy is not to make announcements of the numbers ready to cross the Well of House to our side but to put into action an already arranged plan to replenish the number of MPs to keep our present composition in toto,” the Minister said.
Responding to a question on foreign exchange reserve crisis, the Minister said that there were speculations of loss of reserve and a resultant collapse of the economy and thereafter the government. “We would not let that happen. We are capable enough to steer our way out of the forex reserve problem. The Anura Kumara Dissanayake clique and the Sajith Premadasa gang in the opposition are happy to hear the dwindling of forex reserves and are daydreaming of a possible government collapse. They also seem to derive a perverted happiness to see temporary food shortages and price increases. They think that just because price increases people will turn to them and vote for their parties. They underestimate the intelligence of people who know that these sudden price changes were because of certain dents in our supply chains in the economy owing to the pandemic and recent closing downs. These are very temporary issues. Once the supply chain is error free it would function better than it was and none of these problems would exist. It is sad to notice that the opposition has a degenerate thinking that they do not see that the country’s economy should be protected because this is their country too. Their power hunger is so high that they do not care and it does not matter if they could grab power somehow even if it would be over the bodies of people. The rest of the country however hopes only that this problem will be over soon and the nation will prosper,” the Minister said.
Responding to questions on increases of prices of fuel and other essential items, the Minister said that cost of living indices of other countries too show similar trend and it is not a problem confined to Sri Lanka alone. “There are shortages and thereby price increases. We managed to hold the fuel prices down for a considerable time. We had to increase the prices as a temporary measure to keep the economy going. There would be further increases in prices of goods and services. People world over are facing this reality. Nobody likes price increases. If we did not increase fuel prices the CPC would have suffered a severe loss. To cover that loss taxes would have been imposed on all whether they use vehicles or not. We did not take that option,” the Minister said.
Asked to respond to the prevailing problems and issues pertaining to gas consumption, the Minister said that there was a problem pertaining to gas and it is being addressed on a priority basis. “We regret the inconveniences, but in the meantime, we are working fast to solve the problem. It is my personal hunch that this is a created-problem and there seems to be hands of sabotage. We as a government have the responsibility to find solutions and help people enjoy the festive season,” the minister said.
The Badagamuwa Vehicle Parking Terminal and health services centre are constructed by the Road Development Authority.
Associated with the Minister were ministry and RDA officials led by Secretary to the Ministry of Highways RWR Pemasiri.
It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68
She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.
The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.
In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.
Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.
I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.
I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his
legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.
This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.
In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:
1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;
2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;
3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and
4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.
This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.
I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.
The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.
A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.
The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.
The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.
Dharmaraja and Kingswood set for historic rugby clash on Saturday
Sri Lankan singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke passes away at the age of 68
Tensions erupt in Indian state after 11-year-old raped and murdered
US and Iran trade attacks as Khamenei is buried
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Canadian PM visits Saudi Arabia to strengthen energy, mining partnerships
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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