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Lt. Gen. Dias urges Sangha to lead campaign against full implementation of 13A

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Jaffna civil activist recollects accountability on the part of India and groups other than LTTE

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Retired Lt. Gen. Jagath Dias on Sunday (17) declared in Matara that full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would lead to the creation of a federal structure at the expense of Sri Lanka’s unitary status.

That wouldn’t be acceptable under any circumstances, the Gajaba Regiment veteran said, urging the Maha Sangha to spearhead the campaign against the division of the country.

The appeal was made at Nupe, Matara, on behalf of the Coalition Against Partition of Sri Lanka at a meeting organized with the blessings of Ven Omare Kassapa Thera, Chairman of Ruhunu Rata Bhikshu Peramuna.

The former General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 57 Division said that the country wouldn’t have been in the current predicament, if India allowed the Sri Lankan military to bring ‘Operation Liberation’ to a successful conclusion. Having recalled the enormous sacrifices made by the military over the years, up to the eradication of the LTTE’s conventional military capability on the Vanni east front, an irate Dias pointed out the Indian invasion of Sri Lanka, in the guise of a peacekeeping mission, in 1987.

The coalition put together by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) launched its effort to educate the public in the second week of August at Sri Sambuddhajayanthi Mandiraya.

Sunday’s meeting at Nupe, Matara was also addressed by Ven Kassapa Thera, Ven Manjukathissa, former Eastern Province Governor Anuradhada Yahampath, Attorney-at-Law Knishka Vitharana, Attorney-at-Law Kalyananda Thiranagama, Convenor of Jaffna civil society collective Arun Siddharthan, political activist Jehan Hameed, civil society activist Priyantha Dayaratne and journalist Shamindra Ferdinando.

Arun Siddharthan alleged that those demanding accountability on the part of the government of Sri Lanka were conveniently silent on the atrocities perpetrated by the LTTE and other Indian-sponsored terrorist groups TELO, PLOTE and EPRLF and ENDLF et al, during the time of the conflict that was brought to an end through military means. The LTTE sidekick Tamil National Alliance (TNA) later accommodated these groups, namely TELO, PLOTE and EPRLF, Siddharthan said, drawing attention to the crimes committed by the Indian military during its deployment here (July 1987-March 1990).

Siddharthan explained how those who had perpetrated heinous crimes against the Tamil-speaking people today pretended they were their saviours. The activist declared that India couldn’t absolve itself of the crimes perpetrated by her military here during the time groups, other than the LTTE, directly served New Delhi interests, Siddharthan said.

Ven. Kassapa lambasted the political parties that pursued dreadful agenda against the very people who elected them. Recalling the protests launched in July 1987 against the signing of the Indo-Lanka accord, the Ven. Thera warned parliamentarians not to support the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, under any circumstances.

Lawyer Vitharana explained how President Ranil Wickrenmesinghe manipulated the whole constitutional making process as he pushed hard to appease those who still pursued separatist agenda. Vitharana, who addressed the gathering first, alleged the President sought to implement constitutional proposals, unveiled during the Yahapalana administration, and if implemented would create a catastrophic situation on the ground. Both Vitharana and Thiranagama found fault with President Wickremesinghe’s approach. They alleged President Wickremesinghe was treacherously working against the national interests by going ahead with the full implementation of the 13th Amendment.

However, the gathering was also told Sri Lanka offered not only to fully implement the 13th Amendment but go beyond the controversial law enacted in Nov. 1987, in line with the July 29, 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, three years after the conclusion of the war. The need to examine the circumstances under which that offer had been made in January 2012 and repeated in April same year was stressed while pointing out that the draft constitution prepared by a nine-member committee, headed by Romesh de Silva, PC, as requested by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, disclosed that all political parties, represented in the current Parliament, requested that the country continued with the Provincial Council system.

The gathering was reminded that the draft Constitution, in spite of being handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and even the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government subsequently, the public hadn’t been informed of its contents.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide  early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala effective untill 2100hrs on 12th May 2026.

Accordingly,

Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries division and surrounding areas of  Passara in the Badulla district.

Level I landslide early warnings  have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Pasbage Korale,  Akurana,  Gangawata Korale,  Panvila,  Yatinuwara,  Ganga Ihala Korale,  Doluwa and  Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Mawanella,  Bulathkohupitiya,  Yatiyanthota,  Aranayaka,  Kegalle and  Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district and Badalkumbura and Wellawaya in the Monaragala district.

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Showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

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WEATHER FORECAST FOR 11 MAY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 11 May 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

 

The low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka is likely to develop into a low-pressure area around the next 36 hours. Therefore, the prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to continue during the next few days.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island and Cloudy skies are expected, under the influence of the aforementioned system. Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Treasury theft: Speaker’s conduct brought to IPU’s attention: SJB  

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Dayasiri

SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to pressure the JVP-NPP government to respect the rights of the Opposition.

MP Jayasekera told The Island that they wouldn’t allow the NPP to suppress the truth regarding the theft of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million. He accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne of depriving the Opposition of its legitimate rights, at the behest of the government.

Jayasekera said that the Speaker’s conduct regarding the action taken against Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, too, had been brought to the notice of IPU and other international associations.

The text of MP Jayasekera’s letter to the Secretary general of IPU: “I respectfully submit this petition seeking the attention and intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union concerning a matter affecting parliamentary accountability, the rights of elected representatives, and the proper functioning of constitutional oversight within the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

On 06 May 2026, I Dayasiri Jayasekara MP submitted a formal request to the Hon. Speaker of Parliament seeking permission, under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 and Standing Order 29(1), to raise a question of privilege regarding alleged constitutional and parliamentary violations by Mr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury of Sri Lanka.

The proposed privilege motion raised matters including:

1. Alleged violations of Articles 148, 149, and 150 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka concerning parliamentary control over public finance;

2. Alleged failure to report to Parliament concerning a controversial and unlawful transfer of approximately USD 2.5 million from the Treasury;

3. Alleged non-compliance with parliamentary committee procedures under the Standing Orders of Parliament;

4. Questions relating to constitutional eligibility under Article 91(1)(d)(xiii) of the Constitution concerning dual citizenship and qualification to sit and vote in Parliament;

5. A request that the matter be referred to the Parliamentary Ethics and Privileges Committee established under Standing Order 118.

 Despite the seriousness of the constitutional and parliamentary issues raised, the Hon. Speaker declined permission for the privilege issue to be raised in Parliament.

It is respectfully submitted that this refusal has the effect of:

•  Preventing an elected Member of Parliament from exercising his parliamentary oversight function;

• Restricting parliamentary scrutiny over matters involving public finance and constitutional accountability;

•  Undermining the privileges of Members of Parliament to raise matters of urgent public importance;

•  Limiting institutional transparency concerning allegations involving senior state officials.

The right of parliamentarians to raise questions of privilege and matters relating to constitutional governance is an essential component of parliamentary democracy and legislative independence. The refusal to permit even the presentation or preliminary consideration of such a matter raises serious concerns regarding parliamentary accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, I respectfully request that the Inter-Parliamentary Union:

1.Take cognizance of this matter as one affecting the rights and functions of Members of Parliament;

2.Seek clarification from the relevant parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka regarding the grounds upon which the privilege motion was disallowed;

3.Consider whether the refusal is compatible with internationally recognised principles of parliamentary democracy, accountability, and freedom of parliamentary speech;

4. Encourage the Parliament of Sri Lanka to ensure fair and transparent procedures governing parliamentary privilege motions and constitutional oversight.

I further request that this communication be placed before the appropriate committee or mechanism within the IPU dealing with the rights and duties of parliamentarians.”

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