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Harini says govt. is mortally scared of people and that is the reason for draconian new anti-terrorism act

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By Rathindra Kuruwita 

The newly gazetted anti-terrorism act can make protesting against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a terrorist offense, JVP-led NPP MP Dr Harini Amarasuriya said in Colombo last week.The government is panicking because it can’t implement the agreement signed with the IMF due to practical constraints, Dr Amarasuriya said.She said that the government, a few months ago, told professionals, that personal taxes imposed on them would be reduced during the first IMF review.

“The IMF team is here but there are no concessions to professionals. In fact, the government is panicking because it has not fulfilled what it promised the IMF. And most of these recommendations can’t be enforced due to practical constraints,” she said.

Dr Amarasuriya said the economic crisis has worsened and that within months an election has to be held.

“The government will lose the election if there is a level playing field. They have to win using intimidation,” she said.

The MP said regazetted anti-terrorism bill contained vague and broad definitions. “When the bill was brought up first in April 2023, the main criticism of it was that its definition of terrorism was too broad. The act proposes to shift some offenses that are currently punishable under the penal code, into the category of terrorist offenses. The new version of the bill will make protesting against the IMF a terrorist offence,” she said.

Sharing information about the IMF can be considered a terrorist offense, she said. This bill severely restricts the freedom of expression of unions, civil society and media, Dr Amarasuriya said.

She said that most MPs in the government seem to hate people and believe that the people have caused them a great injustice.

“The people have rejected them and they can’t stand it. The 2022 uprising has shaken their hold on the people. A smart government would look at what led to protests in 2022 and what led to the attacks on politicians. Instead, they are driven by a primordial hate. They want to hurt and punish people,” she said.

Dr Amarasuriya said that people are increasingly realizing the danger of domestic debt restructuring.

“However, they haven’t really grasped what will happen to their EPF. The government is bombarded with issues and people who are desperate to survive today have less time to think about collecting their EPF, which will happen in a few years. No other country has only subjected pension funds to domestic debt restructuring,” she said.

There are 14 countries that have restructured domestic debt along with external debt. Out of the 14 countries, 12 have not touched funds like EPF. Only Grenada and Ghana have restructured these funds, she said. These two countries too have restructured loans taken from other domestic lenders.

“Sri Lanka is the only country that has exclusively used funds like EPF that are there for the welfare of the workers,” she said.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

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The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 0400hrs on 12th June 2026 to 0400hrs on 13th June 2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Ratnapura, Godakawela, Kalawana and Nivitigala in the Ratnapura district

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Wife, counsel seek regular access to ex-Spy Chief Sallay held under President’s detention order

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Suresh Sallay

Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.

“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.

“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.

“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.

“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”

“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.

As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.

As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.

I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.

Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.

Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.

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CIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme

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Yoshitha

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who served as a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy, has now been summoned to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption next Tuesday (16) for questioning over his participation in a Royal Navy training programme in the United Kingdom outside established procedures.

The Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on December 14, 2006.

According to sources, the investigation focuses on allegations concerning the educational qualifications considered at the time of his enlistment, as well as foreign training opportunities he is said to have received while in service, which are suspected to have been granted in violation of due process.

The Bribery Commission has launched the inquiry under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, officials said.

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