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Karu seeks clarification from govt. about JVP leader’s revelation

Published

5 years ago

2021/12/14

Questionable New Fortress agreement:

The revelation made by JVP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the alleged sale of the Kerawalapitiya power plant to a foreign company, including a number of institutions owned by the Sri Lanka Electricity Board, has caused a great deal of controversy among the public, former Speaker and the Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.

The revelation was made by the Leader of the JVP to the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Therefore, could be considered as a statement made very responsibly, he said.

“The agreement was reportedly signed by the Sri Lanka Power Holdings although the Cabinet paper proposed the transfer to New Fortress Energy (NFE) in the United States. The public has a right to know whether this company is a wholly owned subsidiary of NFE or a joint venture with another party,” Jayasuriya said.

The former Speaker said that according to the Article 13 (1) of the Agreement between the government and the company, the details of the agreement could not be revealed to the public for two years without the consent of both parties. It was an absurd agreement and no responsible government would agree to such a clause, he said.

“The government must reveal the contents of the agreement with the company to Parliament and the public before going ahead with the deal. The failure of the government is obviously a deliberate evasion of its responsibility to the people,” he said.

Jayasuriya said that the sovereignty vested on the people has been severely undermined by the non-disclosure of the agreement to the country’s top policy-making body, which was also in charge of the monetary control.

“We are not against foreign investments from any country but such investments must be according to laws of the land and with total transparency. This essential requirement is lacking in this transaction. It is obvious that everyone is taking this matter very seriously. Therefore, our organisation emphasises that the government should disclose the full facts to the country and the people without delay,” he said.

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Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)

Published

4 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.

News

Lanka tracks 11 US-sanctioned Iranian tankers off coast

Published

6 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

(AFP) Sri Lanka’s maritime authorities were monitoring a fleet of 11 US-sanctioned Iranian oil tankers just off the island’s southern coast, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

The tankers were spotted close to the Galle harbour where an Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, was sunk by a US submarine in March, killing 104 sailors. Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from that frigate.

Iranian vessels have been in limbo, unable to return to their home port because of a US blockade.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign minister Vijitha Herath said the tankers were in international waters where they had freedom of navigation.

“These ships are away from our territorial waters… we have no hold on them, nor have we facilitated them,” Herath told AFP.

The military deployed reconnaissance aircraft and patrol boats to monitor the vessels outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, a military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

“There is no indication of any ship-to-ship transfer of oil or illegal discharge of pollutants, so there is no basis for Sri Lankan authorities to take action against them,” the official said.

Many Iranian merchant vessels moved east towards the Strait of Malacca and Singapore due to US sanctions, while several remained near Sri Lankan waters, authorities said.

Sri Lankan officials said Washington had not formally notified Colombo about sanctioned Iranian-flagged vessels

News

House to debate abolition of Chief of Defence Staff post

Published

6 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

Parliament is to debate next Wednesday the Government’s proposal to abolish the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), with the Second Reading of the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill scheduled for September 9.

The Bill seeks to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009, which was introduced shortly after the end of the armed conflict.

According to Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, Parliament will meet from September 8 to 11, with the business for the week approved by the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

The debate on the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill is scheduled to take place from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, following questions to the Prime Minister and other parliamentary business.

The CDS post was established under the 2009 Act as part of the country’s higher defence command structure.

On Tuesday, September 8, the House will consider two Orders published in Extraordinary Gazettes under the Motor Traffic Act from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by an Opposition motion at the adjournment.

On Thursday, September 10, Parliament will debate a Resolution under the Women’s Empowerment Act.

The final sitting day of the week, Friday, September 11, has been allocated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. for several Private Members’ Motions.

The motions will cover issues including regulation of the petroleum, fuel and water industries, measures to increase the birth rate, protection of the Diyagama Forest, pension deductions affecting Pirivena teachers, food-crop cultivation in mountainous areas, development of the Kithul industry and the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine at South Eastern University.

Questions at the adjournment will be taken up at the end of each sitting day.