News
NPP govt. urged to explain its defence policy
‘Prez shouldn’t have questioned loyalty of armed forces’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Former Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retired) Sarath Weerasekera said that the National People’s Power (NPP) government should explain the rationale in reducing the overall strength of the armed forces to 158,000 officers and men by 2030.
Weerasekera, who served as the Navy Chief of Staff at the time he retired at the onset of Eelam War IV, said that the NPP appeared to have adopted the proposal made by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government in late 2023.
Weerasekera was commenting on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent declaration in Parliament that the strength of the Army, Navy and Air Force would be reduced to 100,000, 40,000 and 18,000, respectively, by 2030. The President said so addressing Parliament during the Committee Stage Debate on the 2025 Budget.
President Dissanayake, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, in addition to being the Defence Minister, owed the country an explanation as to whether he adopted the previous government’s plan and who actually formulated the strategy, the naval veteran queried.
At the height of the war in 2008/2009, the combined strength of the armed forces was around 300,000, the war veteran said. Acknowledging that since the conclusion of the war in 2009, the strength of the armed forces had been gradually decreased, the ex-parliamentarian emphasized the responsibility on the part of the incumbent government to be prepared to face any eventuality.
The former Minister said that having served the Navy for over three decades he was so disappointed to hear the President questioning the professionalism of the country’s armed forces. The President’s assertion that our armed forces had been loyal to individuals but not the State was nothing but an insult to those who defeated northern and southern terror, the ex-MP said.
There had never been a single instance of the armed forces disregarding political directives during the war in the north-east and at the time of southern insurrections in 1971 and 1987-1990, the SLPPer said.
The war veteran asked whether the reduction of the armed forces had been in line with the agreement the previous government finalized with the IMF. In 2024 the Parliament unanimously passed the controversial Economic Transformation Bill that guaranteed whoever won the presidential and parliamentary polls the IMF agreement would be followed.
The former Minister said that the NPP government couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for defending our armed forces at the Geneva-based UNHRC. Unfortunately, the NPP not only questioned the professionalism of our armed forces but their loyalty, as well, amidst ongoing Geneva sessions, the ex-parliamentarian who served as the Chairman of the Oversight Committee on National Security, during the previous administration, said.
Commenting on the recent directive to arrest military deserters in the wake of a legally discharged soldier killing Ganemulle Sanjeewa in a courtroom at Hulftsdorp, Weerasekera emphasized the government couldn’t rein in the underworld by such measures alone.
There could be instances of serving personnel carrying out hits for the underworld, Weerasekera said, urging the government to be cautious in addressing perennial issues, such as nexus between the armed forces men and the underworld.
Weerasekera said that the economy was still in dire straits and the country couldn’t afford to undermine the security apparatus. Reference was also made to recent happenings at the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) where over a dozen Brigadiers and Colonels had been moved out to pave the way for a relatively junior officer to move up the ladder.
The former Minister pointed out that fresh uncertainty was developing in the wake of the NPP’s contentious approach to defence.
The Royal Navy of Oman Ship ‘AL SEEB’ concluded a logistics replenishment visit to Sri Lanka and departed the Port of Colombo on 24 Jan 26.
In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship.
The price of gold has risen above $5,000 (£3,659) an ounce for the first time, extending a historic rally that saw the precious metal jump by more than 60% in 2025.
It comes as tensions between the US and NATO over Greenland have added to growing concerns about financial and geopolitical uncertainty.
US President Donald Trump’s trade policies have also worried markets. On Saturday he threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it strikes a trade deal with China.
Gold and other precious metals are seen as a so-called safe-haven assets that investors buy in times of uncertainty.
Demand for gold has also been driven by a range of other factors including higher-than-usual inflation, the weak US dollar, buying by central banks around the world and as the US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again this year.
Wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Washington seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have also helped push up the price of gold.
On Friday, silver topped $100 an ounce for the first time, building on its almost 150% rise last year.
[BBC]
SJB Working Committee member and ex-SLPP lawmaker Charitha Herath says that all eyes are on the newly constituted Constitutional Council (CC) as to how it will handle the dispute between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the previous CC, over the appointment of Auditor General (AG).
The former parliamentarian said so in response to The Island query yesterday (25). In terms of the Constitution, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa last week agreed on the appointment of former civil servant Austin Fernando, Professor Wasantha Seneviratne and Ranjith Ariyaratne as non-MP members of the CC.
They replaced former Ministry Secretary Dr. Prathap Ramanujam, former Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Medical Association Dr. Dilkushi Anula Wijesundere and Dr. Dinesha Samararatne of the University of Colombo. Pointing out that they rejected the President’s nominees for the AG’s post on several occasions, Herath emphasised the pivotal importance of the appointment of a person with impeccable credentials.
The other CC members are the Prime Minister, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne (Chairman), the Opposition Leader, the President’s nominee Bimal Rathnayake and five persons appointed by the President, upon being nominated as follows: one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the MPs representing the Government (Aboobucker Athambawa, MP), one MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the Members of Parliament of the political party, or independent group, to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs (Ajith P. Perera, MP), and one MP nominated by agreement of the Members of Parliament other than those representing the Government and those belonging to the political party or independent group to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs, and appointed by the President ( Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP.)
The present CC was established on October 31, 2022 in terms of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. The Attorney General heads the National Audit Office (NAO). One-time COPE Chief said that it would be the responsibility of the government to ensure the integrity of the NAO.
Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.
Herath said that the government was in a bind over the Auditor General’s appointment and the disgraceful campaign launched against Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Jr, PC.
The ex-lawmaker said that JVP/NPP loyalists masquerading as journalists and civil activists had launched the protest against the Attorney General. Herath said that the decision to send Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, on compulsory leave, too, was a matter of serious concern.
Herath said: “This is the same government that campaigned strongly on non-interference, institutional independence, and respect for the rule of law—principles they used to criticise every previous administration. Now, they appear to be doing exactly what they once opposed, only more openly. If this pattern continues, these undemocratic actions will eventually lead to their own downfall.”
BASL in late December, 2025 urged President Dissanayake and others, including the Opposition Leader, to consult civil society and professional bodies, including them, before the appointment of civil society representatives.
Herath said that the newly constituted CC would face its first acid test when it addressed the Auditor General issue.
by Shamindra Ferdinando
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