News

Opp. rallies around Ranil, alleges NPP moving towards dictatorship

Published

8 months ago

2025/08/26

Pointing out the difficulty in clearly separating official and personal expenses of a Head of State, leaders of Opposition political parties, represented in Parliament, yesterday further censured the NPP government and the Criminal Investigation (CID) for reporting unproven allegations — still under investigation — to the judiciary and remanding a former President. The Opposition alleged that such a course of action undermined multi-party democracy and democratic values.

The Opposition declared that the move to arrest former President Wickremesinghe and remand him on a non-bailable charge constituted a form of state conduct that was “moving towards a dictatorship “and is in opposition to a multi-party democratic system.

The Opposition alleged that developments during the last few days represented a deliberate attack on the democratic way of life in Sri Lanka and it was vital that the public should be aware of the implications of this situation and its danger to the society as a whole.

The Opposition has said that the allegations against former President Wickremesinghe are politically motivated and have been built upon a misinterpretation of the law; the arrest of former President Wickremesinghe cannot justified in any way as being essential for the purpose of conducting a proper investigation.

The statement also highlights the recent events as an indication of attempts to politicise the Attorney General’s Department.

The Opposition h as asserted that if these initiatives are allowed to proceed without impediment, the values which we hold sacred as part of our inalienable heritage will be irretrievably lost.

Accordingly, party leaders have called upon the general public to resist the attempts by all means available within the country’s democratic framework and to safeguard the substance of freedom for generations to come.

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INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts

Published

12 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities

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Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

13 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).

The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:

01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)

02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)

03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)

04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See

05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan

06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait

Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.