News
JVP unions to assess govt. response before taking next step
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The JVP does not support a continuous strike at this juncture, JVP trade union leader Lal Kantha, says.
However, the JVP fully backed the union action today, he said, adding that those involved in the strike must assess the government’s response and then decide on their next move.
“We can take further trade union action, based on the government’s response,” he said.
Around 50 unions are protesting against the new tax regime.
At a time when inflation, and interest rates had reached historic highs, it was unfair for the government to increase direct taxes, too, Lal Kantha said.
“Don’t forget that the government increased indirect taxes, last year,” he said.
Cabinet spokesman, Bandula Gunawardane said the proposed trade union action today was bound to fail and legal action would be taken against the employees in essential services if they joined the strike.
Addressing the Cabinet press briefing, Minister Gunawardena said:
“We will get IMF funding on 20 March and things are getting better. We have declared transport, ports, posts, electricity, etc., as essential services. We will take legal action against anyone who violates the laws,” he said.
After the Minister made this announcement, the Central Bank Trade Union Alliance, too, said it would stage a country-wide token strike today, organised by the Professional Trade Union Alliance (PUTA). The CBSL unions said that activities of the Employees’ Provident Fund Department, cash counters and Regional Offices would be disrupted.
Earlier the Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Association announced that it would launch a 24-hour strike from midnight of 14 March.
The representatives of PUTA met senior government officials, Monday night, to find a solution to their grievances. The meeting ended without a decision.
“The officials said they would present an analytical report to the President, by Tuesday morning. We asked them to inform the President that he must make a political statement on this, on Tuesday. There was no final solution,” said GMOA secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge.
The GMOA resorted to trade union action for the second day in North-Western, North-Central, North, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces.
“From 9 am on Wednesday, we will expand the strike to all nine provinces. The country will shut down on 15 March. The responsibility of resolving the issue lies with the government. We hope that it will resolve the issue,” GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said.
The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU), and unions in the Port Authority, commenced their union action yesterday.
Teachers, bank workers, water board employees, health support staff, and most unions of the Railway Department, too, said they would trade union action from midnight yesterday. Teachers and principals unions said that some schools were having exams and they would take steps to reschedule them.
The government yesterday issued a gazette declaring postal service an essential service. However, postal sector unions said their decision to take union action would not change because of the gazette. The unions would go on strike from midnight Tuesday and none of the post offices in the country would be operational today, the unions said.
A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).
Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.
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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
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
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.
Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
Showers in the Western, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Batticaloa and Ampara districts.
22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority
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