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JVP questions PM’s role in bid to postpone LG polls

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3 years ago

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By Shamindra Ferdinando

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (10) said that the genuine Opposition was seriously concerned about the role played by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in the ongoing efforts to postpone the scheduled Local Government polls.

The Election Commission is duty bound to conduct the polls to ensure the re-constitution of LG bodies by March 20, 2023, MP Dissanayake said.

Lawmaker Dissanayake, who represents Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB) in P,arliament disclosed that they were aware of Premier Gunawardena twice summoning members of the Election Commission (EC) to his office before President Ranil Wickremesinghe met them at the Presidential Secretariat.

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won the lion’s share of LG bodies, at the last LG polls, held in early February, 2018.

Acknowledging that the Premier also served as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, lawmaker Dissanayake said that except for Mrs. P.S.M. Charles, other members had been present on both occasions. Legal expert Dr. Jayatissa Costa, PC, had been present, in his capacity as the Advisor to the Premier.

The EC consists of Nimal G. Punchihewa (Chairman), S.B. Divaratne, M. M. Mohammed, K.P. P. Pathirana and Mrs. P. S.M. Charles. Director General, EC, Saman Sri Ratnayake, too, has attended all meetings with the Premier and the President, held in December 2022 and January, so far, this year.

MP Dissanayake said that Premier Gunawardena owed an explanation why he summoned EC members twice, within 10 days, in December. The JVPer pointed out that the PM’s Office, as well as the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, didn’t issue statements in that regard.

The JVPer said that Premier Gunawardena had been present at both meetings summoned by President Wickremesinghe to discuss ways and means to indefinitely put off the LG polls.

Lawmaker Dissanayake found fault with the EC for delaying the announcement, on nominations, though, constitutionally, the outfit exercised the right to set dates for elections, after Sept. 20, 2020. In a way, the EC facilitated the government’s agenda by unnecessarily delaying the announcement, lawmaker Dissanayake alleged, urging the media not to be deceived by government propaganda meant to justify its disgraceful conduct.

Attorney General, Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, too, has been brought into the shameful operation, MP Dissanayake said, pointing out the government’s Chief Legal Officer was present at the Presidential Secretariat when EC members attended the controversial meetings.

Dissanayake said that the EC owed an explanation whether the President and the Prime Minister exerted pressure on them. Those engaged in election monitoring process should clearly state their position regarding the EC being summoned ahead of elections, the MP said. The JVPer said that the issue at hand should be examined against the backdrop of declarations made by the ruling SLPP that it was ready to contest the LG polls, together with the UNP.

“We cannot ignore the fact that Premier Gunawardena, and two other MEP MPs, Sisira Jayakody and Yadamini Gunawardena, were elected and appointed on the SLPP ticket and National List, respectively,” MP Dissanayake said.

The JVP leader said that both President and the Premier led political parties, represented in Parliament, and were planning to contest LG polls in case their efforts failed.


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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts

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3 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of  Meteorology
at 3.30 p.m. on 25 March 2026, valid for 26 March 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Monaragala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry
of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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US dodges question on AKD’s claim SL denied permission for military aircraft to land

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3 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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President

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the United States and Sri Lanka maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests.

The official said so in response to The Island query regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his government declined to allow the US Air Force to use the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, following the eruption of the latest West Asia war.

We sought views of the US on President Dissanayake’s claim against the backdrop of Sri Lanka being a party to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) since 2007. Sri Lanka extended the ACSA in 2017, for another 10-year period, and its extension comes up next year.

The President revealed that the US had requested permission to use Mattala, between 04 and 08 March.

Claiming that the request had been made on 26 February, two days before the war began, President Dissanayake said that the US had sought to land two aircraft, carrying eight anti-ship missiles, but that the request had been turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality. The President revealed that the aircraft were to come from a US base in Djibouti.

The US embassy pokesperson explained that questions related to operational movements, including ‘Operation Epic Fury’, should be directed to the Department of War (DOW) in Washington.

Camp Lemonnier is the primary base of operations for US Africa Command in the Horn of Africa. China, too, has its only overseas military base in Djibouti in the vicinity.

Military sources said whatever various interested parties said about US-Sri Lanka relations, the former provided significant intelligence support during last phase of the conflict that enabled the Navy to hunt down floating LTTE arsenals in international waters. Of the eight LTTE vessels sunk, the US backed four hits with specific intelligence, sources said.

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No decrease in remittances from workers due to Gulf conflict, but significant drop in tourist arrivals – CB Governor

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3 hours ago

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2026/03/26

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CBSL Governor

Sri Lanka’s worker remittances had not seen a decrease despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Central Bank (CBSL) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday.

“Based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. In fact, according to that we have observed, is a slight increase in remittances in the past few days, ” the Governor said at a media conference held at the Central Bank head office in Colombo.

Governor Weerasinghe also mentioned that he had not seen any reports about Sri Lankans returning to the country from the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.

The Central Bank Governor, however, acknowledged that there had been a decrease in tourist arrivals. He confirmed that tourist arrivals had decreased by around 17 percent due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%, following its latest Monetary Policy Board meeting.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

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