News

JVP to meet IGP over MP Arundika’s allegations

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/22

The JVP is planning to meet the IGP on a statement by SLPP MP Arundika Fernando saying that 150 of some 400 persons taken into police custody for alleged involvement in backlash violence after SLPP goons attacked the Gotagogama protesters in Galle Face on May 9.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said Fernando is on record making a statement quoting the IGP that among those arrested for violent incidents were JVP members.

“We want the IGP to clarify who the others in the custody are if he has ascertained the political party memberships of 150 out of some 400 arrested. We hope that the IGP could explain to us the method he used to affix the party membership label on them. The IGP should give us the list of names of those in their custody.

“Government ministers are trying to apportion the blame for the violence on the JVP. There is a reason for that. None of those ministers can go out in public. They have to live in hiding. They are hiding from the people.

“Though they have ministerial positions they cannot go on the streets. They are afraid of people in gas, fuel and milk powder queues. They have shifted from luxury SUVs to small cars because of peoples’ anger. This public wrath is because people have understood the oppression that they had been forced to live with under these rulers.

“This is not a protest by a single political party. The ruling party politicians know that they cannot go out while our MPs still walk on the streets with the people.

“Police has been ordered to make arrests on the basis of lists given to them. These lists have not been prepared by the police or the CID. They have been made by provincial politicians of the SLPP. They have included the names of JVP regional leaders in their lists. We are consulting our lawyers to question this arbitrary manner of making arrests,” Silva said.

He said that his party has evolved facing similar situations in the past and is closely observing the next move in the government’s political witch-hunt.

“In 1983, there was a similar situation. The then government officially attributed the responsibility of triggering the Pogrom against Tamils in the South on us. In very recent history, they unsuccessfully tried to put the blame of Easter Sunday incidents on us.

“Now after two, three years, people know the truth about who carried out the Easter Sunday terror attacks. After the protests in Mirihana opposite President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s home, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that JVP members set a bus on fire there. He’s still unable to prove his allegation.”

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Civil Security Department Members Contribute a Day’s Salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

1 hour ago

2026/01/25

Priyan

Members of the Civil Security Department have donated a day’s salary to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, a cheque amounting to Rs. 40,870,686 was handed over on Thursday (22) at the Presidential Secretariat by the District Officer of the Civil Security Department G.Y.B. Perera to Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne and Director General of the Civil Security Department, Major General Palitha Fernando (Retired), were also present on the occasion.

News

Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.

The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.

News

Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56

Published

23 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.

He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.

Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.

He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.