News

May 09 retaliatory attacks: Dinesh suspects a wider conspiracy

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dr. Godahewa, Zuhair disturbed, disappointed

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday (29) said that the police or the intelligence services hadn’t at least bothered to inquire from him the alleged use of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) by those who mounted a wave of violence against marked out individuals, looting and arson right across the country in the wake of the 09 May incidents in the Kollupitiya and Fort police areas.

The Leader of the House said so when The Island asked him whether law enforcement authorities sought clarification as regards his declaration in Parliament on 20 May that his Boralugoda house, as well as other residences of SLPP lawmakers had been ‘mapped out’ in the run-up to the -9 May eruption.

Gunawardena said that he was quite surprised and disappointed by the response of the police, as well as the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) to his statement in Parliament.

Responding to questions, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader Gunawardena said that he still couldn’t comprehend why the Army in spite of having a permanent detachment near his house, refrained from thwarting the attacks. MP Gunawardena said that his property had come under aerial surveillance, a few days before the incident.

Minister Gunawardena said that the way gangs had swung into action, in military style, soon after unprovoked attacks on those demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Cabinet of Ministers, should have received special attention of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Acknowledging several of his parliamentary colleagues had raised the failure on the part of the police and security forces to respond to meticulously organised mayhem across the country, Colombo District lawmaker said the lynching of Polonnaruwa District SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale, in broad daylight, in the Nittambuwa police area, highlighted the gravity of the security crisis.

Referring to recent police headquarters statements pertaining to the ongoing investigations into the incidents during the second week of May, Gunawardena said that well over 2,000 had been arrested so far. Out of whom over 1,000 had been remanded pending further investigations, the Minister said, urging the top political leadership to ensure that those behind the violent campaign were brought to justice.

The Minister said that a retired military panel, headed by Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, inquiring into the security forces response, could identify the lapses on the part of the command and control structure. Their failure to bring the situation under control couldn’t be excused under any circumstances. MP Gunawardena said a thorough no holds barred investigation was required to ascertain the truth.

Former Navy Chief Karannagoda confirmed investigations were on but politely declined to comment. The Board of Inquiry consists of Karannagoda, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke and retired General Daya Ratnayake.

Minister Gunawardena said that as the inquiry dealt with, a spate of incidents beginning with violent 31 March protest at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Pangiriwatta, Mirihana, the need to examine the possibility of external conspiracy couldn’t be ruled out. The MEP leader said that ordinary people, whatever the status of their anger, couldn’t have carried out countrywide attacks in such an organized manner.

Former PA MP and ex-Ambassador in Tehran M. M. Zuhair, PC, too, yesterday confirmed that his public statement made a week after Minister Gunawardena’s declaration in Parliament didn’t receive the attention of security authorities. The outspoken civil society activist said that Sri Lanka couldn’t ignore the continuing threat emanating from external elements. Minister Gunawardena’s warning should have received prompt response from the highest levels of the government.

Dr. Nalaka Godahewa told a recent meeting at the President’s House, chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the pathetic failure on the part of the government to recognize the threat posed by those who carried out so-called spontaneous retaliatory attacks with military precision. The former Media Minister warned the leaders to take action or face the consequences.

Dr. Godahewa yesterday told The Island that the government grappling with political, economic and social issues hadn’t heeded their concerns in that regard. “Of course, the members of the government parliamentary group aren’t happy with the progress of police investigations. Our justifiable expectations that the President, Premier and the Justice Minister intervened to ensure speedy investigations haven’t materialized,” the Gampaha District lawmaker said.

“Attack on the properties of SLPP politicians is an attack on democracy. Most of those whose houses were burnt down were first time parliamentarians or ordinary MPs without ministerial responsibilities,” Dr. Godahewa said.

Responding to another query, the former top private sector executive who himself is a newcomer to parliamentary politics alleged that the project was meant to discourage new entrants. Professionals would now think twice before entering politics at any level in the future, the MP said. One-time leading Viyathmaga activist said that in fact he had been disappointed and shocked at the way the government and the police handled this aspect of the investigation. Condemning violence perpetrated by all, Dr. Godahewa pointed out that some of those who had been concerned over attacks on anti-government activists were conveniently silent on MPs’ property. The government should convince ruling party lawmakers of its resolve to bring this particular investigation to a successful conclusion.

Dismissing the claim that ordinary people, angered by a goon attack on the Galle Face protesters, had carried out the retaliatory attacks, MP Wimal Weerawansa asked how ordinary people could trace all the properties owned by leading SLPP politician/businessman Johnston Fernando across the country and destroy them overnight. One such property, situated on the exclusive Lake Road Pelawatte, where mostly the super-rich reside, those living close by had not known whose house it was till it was attacked, looted and torched. While it was being attacked and torched by one set of attackers, people from surrounding areas who converged there had shouted that there were several dogs inside the residence, but a helmet clad group who were apparently overseeing the drama from outside had told those people that they had already chased away the dogs.

All News Advertisement

News

Theft of USD 2.5 mn from Treasury: CoPF accused of complicity in NPP cover-up

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/15

Thilina Walpola

Harsha rejects what he called frivolous accusations

Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) Dr. Harsha de Silva dismissed Free Lawyers’ claim that his Committee had helped delay a proper investigation into the theft of USD 2.5 mn (nearly Rs 1 bn) from the Treasury.

The Colombo District SJB MP said that he wouldn’t comment on frivolous accusations against his Committee. “We conduct ourselves in keeping with the highest standards of professionalism and responsibility.”

Dr. de Silva said so when The Island raised the Free Lawyers’ allegation that the Treasury and the Central Bank were using the CoPF as a tool to prolong investigations into the unprecedented theft of funds. Free Lawyers targeted the CoPF in a statement issued by Maithri Gunaratne, PC, and civil society activist Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon.

The other members of the CoPF are Harshana Rajakaruna (SJB), Ravi Karunanayake (NDF), Nimal Palihena (NPP), Wijesiri Basnayake (NPP), Thilina Samarakoon (NPP), Lakmali Hemachandra (NPP), Chathuranga Abeysinghe (NPP), Kaushalya Ariyaratne (NPP), Akram Ilyas (NPP), Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanikkyam (ITAK), Champika Hettiarachchi (NPP), Sunil Rajapaksha (NPP),

M. K. M. Aslam (NPP), Ajith Agalakada (NPP), Rauff Hakeem (SLMC), Chitral Fernando (SJB) and Nishantha Jayaweera (NPP).

Tennakoon said the theft of funds happened over eight months ago and the Parliament owed the country a clear explanation regarding the disappearance of USD 2.5 mn. The CoPF, instead of expediting the process, has conveniently granted time for those responsible for the loss to cover up their tracks. “Free Lawyers pursue the issue at hand vigorously as we were the first to reveal the loss of USD 2.5 mn. Those who knew it remained silent until our disclosure,” he said, alleging that Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne was yet to respond to their letter regarding the USD 2.5 theft.

Responding to queries, Tennakoon said that political parties represented in the CoPF should be held responsible for the developing situation. “The Committee on Public Accounts Committee (CoPA) headed by SJB MP Kabir Hashim too, should explain its failure to deal with the USD 2.5 mn theft. Both CoPF and CoPA led by two SJB MPs should act now. Dr. de Silva and Hashim are answerable to the public, particularly because they represent the main Opposition.”

The CoPA consists of Kabir Hashim, Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekera (NPP), Sugath Thilakaratne (NPP), Anton Jayakody (NPP), Chandana Sooriyaarachchi (NPP), Ruwanthilaka Jayakody (NPP), Nalin Hewage (NPP), Oshani Umanga (NPP), Manjula Suraweera (NPP), Sagarika Athauda (NPP), Janaka Senarathna (NPP), K.Illankumaran (NPP), Dinidu Saman Henanayake (NPP), Susantha Kumara Navaratna (NPP), Lal Premanath (NPP), Aravinda Senarath (NPP), Thushari Jayasinghe (NPP), T. K. Jayasundera, Ajantha Gammeddage (NPP), Sundaralingam Pradeep (NPP), Kavinda Jayawardena (SJB), J.C. Alawathuwala (SJB),Hector Appuhamy (SJB), Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran (ITAK), Chamara Sampath Dassanayake (NDF), Rohitha Abeygunawardena (NDF), M.L.A.M. Hisbullah (SLMC), M.A.M. Thahir (ACMC), Chanaka Madugoda (SLPP) and Sunil Ratnasiri (NPP).

Tennakoon said that both CoPF and CoPA were dominated by the NPP though the SJBers headed them. However, as heads of the two parliamentary committees, Dr. de Silva and Hashim, should be held responsible for lapses on the part of the committees or any deliberate omissions, Tennakoon said, questioning the rationale behind giving the Treasury and the CBSL six weeks to submit their findings to the CoPF.

Free Lawyers alleged that USD 2.5 had been released in spite of JP Morgan Chase and the Federal Reserve in the United States warning Sri Lanka about the suspicious nature of those foreign transactions via SWIFT messages. Tennakoon emphasized investigators should closely inquire into the decision taken to release funds regardless of such high-profile warnings.

Tennakoon said that the integrity of two key parliamentary committees is at stake. The civil society activist said that the country was in a highly critical phase of debt restructuring following a severe economic crisis. Tennakoon pointed out in terms of a condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme, the government’s debt management functions, previously carried out by the CBSL, were recently transferred to a new institution established under the General Treasury—the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).

by Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Viral diseases on the rise

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/15

Thilina Walpola

The number of patients hospitalised due to viral illnesses, including dengue fever, had increased significantly, health officials said yesterday, adding that there had been a rise in daily dengue-related admissions.

Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Kapila Kannangara said Sri Lanka had recorded 41,144 dengue cases as of Saturday (13).

He said more than half of the reported cases—around 51 percent—were from the Western Province.

According to Dr. Kannangara, the number of dengue patients admitted to hospital daily had reached 750, but it had declined to around 630. However, he cautioned that infection levels remained “very high,” despite the slight drop in hospital admissions.

The dengue death toll has risen to 24, prompting several hospitals to issue red alerts amid continued pressure on wards treating incoming patients.

Health officials warned that the situation could worsen if case numbers continued to rise. Dr. Kannangara noted that the growing burden on healthcare facilities could eventually exceed system capacity.

The public has been urged to take preventive measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to seek prompt medical attention if dengue symptoms develop.

by Chaminda Silva

News

Ranil warns of another economic crisis, calls for Opposition unity

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/15

Thilina Walpola

Former President and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that Sri Lanka is heading towards a severe economic crisis, alleging that the current administration is steering the country towards “total collapse.”

Addressing a meeting of the UNP Working Committee at the party headquarters on Flower Road on Thursday, Wickremesinghe claimed that the government was facing mounting difficulties on multiple fronts, with the economy continuing to deteriorate.

He also accused the administration of pursuing policies that, he said, marginalised war heroes and Buddhist monks.

Wickremesinghe expressed concern over what he described as an erosion of fundamental and legal rights, citing the arrest and alleged ill-treatment of former State Intelligence Service Chief Suresh Sallay as an example. He said the rising cost of living had emerged as one of the main concerns of the public.

Commenting on the political situation, the former President said the Opposition had not been able to forge unity among the anti-government forces and called for greater coordination among Opposition parties and groups. He advocated a phased mobilisation strategy, beginning at village and electorate level, instead of attempting to address all issues simultaneously.

Wickremesinghe also announced a series of political campaigns and rallies aimed at strengthening the Opposition movement. The programme is scheduled to commence in Kandy this weekend, with subsequent events planned in Kurunegala and Kalutara.

He said the UNP was engaged in discussions with several political parties and organisations, including those led by Minister Jeevan Thondaman, with a view to forming a broader political alliance.Wickremesinghe urged party members to expedite discussions and arrive at a collective decision on the way forward to address the country’s challenges.