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GR’s ouster: Speaker urged to name foreign elements
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Kavinda Jayawardena yesterday (31) said that the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) should accept the responsibility for creating conditions for public protests that led to the overthrowing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The Gampaha District MP was responding to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s declaration that powerful external elements had intervened in the violent public protest campaign.
Referring to Speaker Abeywardena’s claim that those spearheading the protest campaign had threatened to harm him after he refused to cooperate with them, MP Jayawardena urged the Speaker to name the culprits.
Speaker Abeywardena was elected from the Matara District on the SLPP ticket at the last general election.
The SLPP couldn’t under any circumstances absolve itself of the responsibility for the political-economic-social crisis caused by an explosive combination of factors including the slashing of taxes, ban on chemical fertilisers and the inordinate delay in seeking IMF’s intervention, MP Jayawardena said. The health sector crisis created by the continuing waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement finally leading to the arrest of health minister Keheliya Rambukwella contributed to the current crisis, MP Jayawardena said. The MP asked whether the SLPP intended to blame corruption also on the international community.
Responding to another query, lawmaker Jayawardena said that the Speaker owed an explanation why he waited for so long to reveal the foreign hand in the protest campaign.
Pointing out that the incidents referred to by the Speaker in his March 21 declaration in parliament happened the second week of July 2022, MP Jayawardena questioned whether the sudden disclosure was part of his personal agenda or SLPP strategy in the run-up to national election later this year.
“We expect the Speaker to name those who alleged to have threatened him when parliament meets this week,” SJB spokesperson said, urging the SLPP to genuinely examine what went wrong without making unsubstantiated allegations against the international community and those who took into streets.
The former UNPer said that National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa and ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who launched ‘9: The Hidden Story’ and ‘Conspiracy’, respectively, in April last year and March this year, had failed to realise that the SLPP caused the crisis.
Perhaps, the SLPP should at least now study the Supreme Court ruling issued last November in respect of the high-profile economic collapse case, MP Jayawardena said, urging the Speaker to go the whole hog. “Now that the Speaker claimed of foreign interference in protest campaign, he should take tangible measures to initiate a proper inquiry,” MP Jayawardena said.
Foreign Ministry, too, should explain its stand on the Speaker’s declaration, MP Jayawardena said, pointing out that it couldn’t remained mum.
MP Jayawardena said that he feared that the ousted President caused himself and his government serious harm by following the advice of Anuradhapura-based Gnana Akka. A modern government couldn’t depend on occult practices and obviously the country paid a huge price for the former President’s dependence on soothsayer Gnana Akka, who advised the government, MP Jayawardena said.
The SJB official said that the issues arising out of ‘aragalaya’ should be dealt taking into consideration all relevant factors namely political, economic and social. The MP said that the Speaker appeared to have conveniently forgotten the SC ruling and he, too, was elected on the SLPP ticket, MP Jayawardena said.
MP Jayawardena said that the 2022 crisis was likely to be a major issue at the forthcoming national election. The presidential election is scheduled to be held in between Sept/Oct,2024 though the UNP and the SLPP is yet to reach consensus on conducting presidential poll as scheduled.
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala effective untill 2100hrs on 12th May 2026.
Accordingly,
Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries division and surrounding areas of Passara in the Badulla district.
Level I landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Pasbage Korale, Akurana, Gangawata Korale, Panvila, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Doluwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Mawanella, Bulathkohupitiya, Yatiyanthota, Aranayaka, Kegalle and Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district and Badalkumbura and Wellawaya in the Monaragala district.
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Showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 11 MAY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 11 May 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka is likely to develop into a low-pressure area around the next 36 hours. Therefore, the prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to continue during the next few days.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island and Cloudy skies are expected, under the influence of the aforementioned system. Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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Treasury theft: Speaker’s conduct brought to IPU’s attention: SJB
SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to pressure the JVP-NPP government to respect the rights of the Opposition.
MP Jayasekera told The Island that they wouldn’t allow the NPP to suppress the truth regarding the theft of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million. He accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne of depriving the Opposition of its legitimate rights, at the behest of the government.
Jayasekera said that the Speaker’s conduct regarding the action taken against Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, too, had been brought to the notice of IPU and other international associations.
The text of MP Jayasekera’s letter to the Secretary general of IPU: “I respectfully submit this petition seeking the attention and intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union concerning a matter affecting parliamentary accountability, the rights of elected representatives, and the proper functioning of constitutional oversight within the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
On 06 May 2026, I Dayasiri Jayasekara MP submitted a formal request to the Hon. Speaker of Parliament seeking permission, under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 and Standing Order 29(1), to raise a question of privilege regarding alleged constitutional and parliamentary violations by Mr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury of Sri Lanka.
The proposed privilege motion raised matters including:
1. Alleged violations of Articles 148, 149, and 150 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka concerning parliamentary control over public finance;
2. Alleged failure to report to Parliament concerning a controversial and unlawful transfer of approximately USD 2.5 million from the Treasury;
3. Alleged non-compliance with parliamentary committee procedures under the Standing Orders of Parliament;
4. Questions relating to constitutional eligibility under Article 91(1)(d)(xiii) of the Constitution concerning dual citizenship and qualification to sit and vote in Parliament;
5. A request that the matter be referred to the Parliamentary Ethics and Privileges Committee established under Standing Order 118.
Despite the seriousness of the constitutional and parliamentary issues raised, the Hon. Speaker declined permission for the privilege issue to be raised in Parliament.
It is respectfully submitted that this refusal has the effect of:
• Preventing an elected Member of Parliament from exercising his parliamentary oversight function;
• Restricting parliamentary scrutiny over matters involving public finance and constitutional accountability;
• Undermining the privileges of Members of Parliament to raise matters of urgent public importance;
• Limiting institutional transparency concerning allegations involving senior state officials.
The right of parliamentarians to raise questions of privilege and matters relating to constitutional governance is an essential component of parliamentary democracy and legislative independence. The refusal to permit even the presentation or preliminary consideration of such a matter raises serious concerns regarding parliamentary accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, I respectfully request that the Inter-Parliamentary Union:
1.Take cognizance of this matter as one affecting the rights and functions of Members of Parliament;
2.Seek clarification from the relevant parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka regarding the grounds upon which the privilege motion was disallowed;
3.Consider whether the refusal is compatible with internationally recognised principles of parliamentary democracy, accountability, and freedom of parliamentary speech;
4. Encourage the Parliament of Sri Lanka to ensure fair and transparent procedures governing parliamentary privilege motions and constitutional oversight.
I further request that this communication be placed before the appropriate committee or mechanism within the IPU dealing with the rights and duties of parliamentarians.”
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