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JVP to vote against emergency regulations and Finance Bill

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Accuses govt. of being run by cabal

By Saman Indrajith

The JVP yesterday said that it would vote in Parliament against both the Proclamation of the emergency regulations by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (06) and the Finance Bill tomorrow (07).

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that those two pieces of legislation were not for the benefit of the people, but intended to consolidate more powers in the hands of a few in the government.

“This government is led by a cabal that is never happy with whatever power they have. Their continuous efforts are to further consolidate their powers. The Finance Bill is not only for power consolidation but also to legitimize some money laundering techniques to whitewash black money. We are against both of them and would vote against them,” Dissanayake said.

The JVP leader said that the Proclamation of the emergency regulations by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was scheduled to be taken up for debate in Parliament on Monday (06). “It will be put to vote on Monday evening. This has been brought forward as a means to provide relief to the people. If the government wants there are enough laws for that purpose. This emergency declaration has been made with the ulterior motive of further wrongfully restricting the fundamental rights of the people. This will lead the country further in the direction of authoritarianism,” Dissanayake said.

He said that some provisions in the Finance Bill would grant amnesty to tax evaders. As per the provisions of the bill, if a person fails to disclose the taxable assets and is willing to immediately invest the equivalent amount in the country, he or she can invest in other financial instruments such as purchase of shares of a resident company, treasury bills or treasury bonds issued by the Central Bank, debt securities issued by a resident company or buy any movable or immovable property in the country.

“This Bill has not been introduced for ordinary entrepreneurs who are helpless in the face of the collapsed economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic but for tax evaders. The businesses of those who have been unable to repay bank loans, leases and are facing a major crisis as a result, are closing down. The Government should provide some relief to such small and medium scale entrepreneurs. However, the Government has not brought this Bill for that. This is to facilitate tax evaders who have not been exposed and have defrauded the people of their tax money. This is simply a Bill to launder black money,” the JVP leader said.

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Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:

Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage

The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.

The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.

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Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/5

Priyan

(File pic)

Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).

News

CJ urged to inquire into AKD’s remarks on May 25 court verdict

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

CJ Surasena

‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’

Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.

Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.

‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.

Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.

Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.

Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.

By Shamindra Ferdinando