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IMF not paying sufficient attention to corruption: GL

Published

3 years ago

2023/04/25

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP MP Prof. G. L. Peiris has found fault with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for not paying sufficient attention to waste, corruption and economic mismanagement under the Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe administration.

The former External Affairs Minister emphasised the responsibility on the part of the lending agency to address these issues, particularly against the backdrop of its latest agreement with the government of Sri Lanka worth USD 2.9 bn.

The SLPP National List MP said so yesterday (24) at his weekly media briefing at the Nawala Office of the Nidahasa Jathika Sabawa.

Prof. Peiris said that the Opposition would take up these issues with the IMF delegation, scheduled to be here in June this year. Sri Lanka has secured IMF assistance on 16 previous occasions.

The ex-Minister drew attention of the IMF as well as other stakeholders involved in the debt-restructuring process and the recent disclosure made by Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, regarding a bribe amounting to USD 250 mn received by a person to derail Sri Lanka’s efforts to secure compensation for the X-Press Pearl ship disaster in May/June 2021.

Pointing out that an expert committee appointed by the MEPA (Marine Environment Protection Authority) had estimated the damages caused by the marine disaster at USD 6.4 bn, Prof. Peiris said that a wider investigation was required to identify and punish those who had conspired to sabotage Sri Lanka’s bid.

Prof. Peiris compared the USD 2.9 bn loan made available by the IMF over a period of four years with the compensation which could be obtained from the X-Press Pearl owners-X-Press Feeders /insurers.

Environmentalist Dr. Ajantha Perera recently declared that Sri Lanka could obtain as much as USD 50 bn from X-Press Pearl owners/insurers.

Prof. Peiris also questioned the government’s decision to move Singaporean court against X-Press Feeders, a Singaporean-based privately held group.

The law academic stressed that the case should have been filed here as the incident took place in Sri Lankan territorial waters.

When The Island raised this issue with the Justice Minister recently, it was informed that the Cabinet of Ministers had approved Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam’s proposal to file a case in Singapore.

Commenting on the recent disappearance of a cash bundle worth Rs 5 million (Rs 5000 denomination) from a vault of the Central Bank, Prof. Peiris said a high-level probe had to be conducted into the incident.

The shortage was revealed during the currency operations on 11.04.2023. Declaring that the government, particularly the Finance Ministry, owed an explanation on how cash could be removed from a high security vault, Prof. Peiris said that the public tends to lose confidence in public finance.

The MP stressed the responsibility of the Central Bank to thoroughly inquire into the issue at hand and take appropriate measures to identify those responsible for what he called an inside job.

At the onset of the briefing, Prof. Peiris reiterated their strong opposition to the restructuring of domestic debt in line with the agreement with the IMF. That would have catastrophic impact on the ordinary people as well as the banking sector, Prof. Peiris said, while questioning the decision to privatize state enterprises.

Responding to media queries on his removal from the post of Chairman of the ruling SLPP, Prof. Peiris said that the decision would be challenged in court. The former minister challenged the legality of a meeting chaired by SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa at their Nelum Mawatha Office last Saturday (22) where the party appointed a new Chairperson.

Prof. Peiris refused to be drawn in on former Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa’s criticism of him.

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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

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/26

Priyan

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

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

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.

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TIN mandatory for key transactions from Nov. 1

Published

11 hours ago

2026/09/26

Thilina Walpola

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.