News

Oshala says Aragalaya won’t have significant impact on Prez poll outcome

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Herath

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Presidential hopeful Oshala Herath yesterday said that the continuing Bangladesh crisis and the externally-backed Aragalaya that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office, in July 2022, couldn’t be compared under any circumstances.

Herath emphasised that various interested parties, and even ordinary people, compared the 2022 situation in Sri Lanka and the developing situation in Bangladesh without taking into consideration relevant facts.

In a brief interview with The Island, Herath pointed out that ousted Premier Sheikh Hasina’s understanding of the situation and her disastrous reaction could be compared with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to consolidate his power, with the SLPP’s backing, ahead of the Presidential Election.

Herath was among the four candidates, including Wickremesinghe, who paid cash deposits on July 26 to contest the Presidential Election, scheduled for Sept. 21. Herath represents the newly recognised Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna (ANP).

Responding to another query, Herath said unlike Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Hasina fled the country after nearly 300 Bangladeshis died in violence.

The civil society activist asserted that the outcome of Aragalaya wouldn’t have any major impact on the forthcoming presidential poll. Political parties and alliances, too, realized that the electorate wouldn’t be unduly influenced by Aragalaya, Herath said, citing the entry of Namal Rajapaksa as the SLPP’s presidential candidate and Wickremesinghe’s total dependence on the divided SLPP, as glaring examples.

However, voters would be relatively cautious this time, Herath added, urging them to be mindful of major parties’ machinations meant to manipulate the electorate. “I want to stress two points. On one hand, the Rajapaksas had quite conveniently forgotten that Aragalaya had been directed at the entire SLPP, not just their President, whereas Wickremesinghe sought the support of the same lot to win the next presidential poll.

Asked whether he entered the presidential race in a bid to exploit his successful legal bid to oust State Minister Diana Gamage from Parliament this year, Herath insisted that it was not the case. Herath said that he moved court against new entrant Gamage of the SJB National List as he wanted to highlight the failure on the part of Parliament to deal with the foreign passport holder.

As a result of that case, the judiciary proved that a member of Parliament didn’t enjoy special privileges, Herath said.

Some people claimed that he exploited public attention received due to his legal battle with the then lawmaker Gamage to enter politics. “That is not true. I was one of the UNP candidates who contested the last parliamentary election. UNP leader Wickremesinghe was with me on their Colombo district list. The party polled just 14,000 votes in the entire district. Perhaps, I polled more preferences than the UNP leader,” the presidential aspirant said.

Commenting on the unprecedented use of social media platforms to promote candidature of various candidates at the forthcoming national election, Herath said that he would use that medium to the maximum. Referring to his spearheading role in Maithripala Sirisena’s social media campaign during 2014-2015 period, particularly the time as New Media Head, Herath said that old fashioned and wasteful propaganda campaigns must be stopped.

When The Island pointed out that he had absolutely no chance in attracting any significant number of votes for obvious reasons, Herath said he was determined to raise the real issues facing the people whatever the consequences.

Pointing out that none of the so-called main candidates made a genuine effort to address real issues, whether they were economic, political or social, Herath said that he was determined to help the public understand why the then government, in April 2022, declared Sri Lanka bankrupt.

Whoever won the next presidential race, the winner could utilize at least some of his proposals, Herath said, declaring his intention to unveil his manifesto soon after handing over nominations on August 15.

“During the last three weeks ahead of the September 21 election, his campaign will go on an all-out social media campaign,” Herath said.

Herath is among 18 candidates who have paid the stipulated deposit by Tuesday (06) to contest the national poll.

The outspoken political activist said that if the electorate failed to capitalize on ‘-Aragalaya and post-Aragalaya developments, the next national election, too, would be nothing but a tool to continue with the corrupt system we were practising since gaining independence from the British.

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News

Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/14

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.

The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.

Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.

Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.

News

CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.

Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.

The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.

Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.

Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.

Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.

The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.

Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.

The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.

The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.

SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.

Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

News

GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Dhammika

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.

GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.

Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.

(SF)