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Parliament appoints members to committees including COPE, COPA

Published

2 years ago

2024/02/25

Parliament has announced the names of legislators appointed to a number of committees, including the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).

A statement from parliament citing Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa said on Thursday February 22 that 19 members have been appointed to COPE.

These are, namely: Jagath Pushpakumara, Janaka Wakkumbura, Lohan Ratwatte, Indika Anuruddha Herath, Shantha Bandara, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Duminda Dissanayake, Rohitha Abegunawardhana, Nimal Lanza, U K Sumith Udukumbura, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya, Premnath C Dolawatte, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, M Rameshwaran, (Mrs) Rajika Wickramasinghe, Madhura Withanage, and (Prof) Ranjith Bandara.

Members nominated for COPA are Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Prasanna Ranaweera, K Kader Masthan, (Mrs) Diana Gamage, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Wajira Abeywardana, A L M Athaullah, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Jayantha Ketagoda, (Dr) Major Pradeep Undugoda, Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Isuru Dodangoda, Premnath C Dolawatte, (Mrs) Muditha Prishanthi, M W D Sahan Pradeep Withana, Madhura Withanage, D Weerasingha, and (Mrs) Manjula Dissanayake.

The committees are expected to elect their chairpersons at their first meetings.

The rest of the committees are as follows:

Committee on Ethics and Privileges

(Mrs.) Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, Vijitha Berugoda, Tharaka Balasuriya, Anuradha Jayaratne, Chamal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Jayantha Ketagoda, Madhura Withanage, and Samanpriya Herath

Committee on Public Petitions

Jagath Pushpakumara, S. Viyalanderan, Ashoka Priyantha, A. Aravindh Kumar, (Mrs.) Geetha Samanmale Kumarasinghe, Gamini Lokuge, Wajira Abeywardana, (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, Jayantha Ketagoda, U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, Mayadunna Chinthaka Amal, Nipuna Ranawaka, (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, and Yadamini Gunawardena

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence

Chamal Rajapaksa, (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, and (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies

Mahindananda Aluthgamage, M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, and (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment

Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, (Mrs.) Rajika Wickramasinghe, and (Mrs.) Manjula Dissanayake

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Investment Promotion

A. Aravindh Kumar, Dhammika Perera, and Yadamini Gunawardena

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education

Anupa Pasqual, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, and Gunathilaka Rajapaksha

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Mass Media

S. M. M. Muszhaaraff, Jayantha Ketagoda, and Sanjeeva Edirimanna

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Health

Kanaka Herath, (Dr.) Gayashan Nawananda, and (Dr.) Major Pradeep Undugoda

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture and Plantation Industries

Udayakantha Gunathilaka, Kulasingam Dhileeban, and Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation

Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Kapila Athukorala, and Kumarasiri Rathnayaka

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms

Sisira Jayakody, Premnath C. Dolawatte, and Sagara Kariyawasam

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Industries

Premalal Jayasekara, U. K. Sumith Udukumbura, and Lalith Varna Kumara

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Urban Development and Housing

(Mrs.) Kokila Gunawardene, Milan Jayathilake, and Madhura Withanage

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs

S. B. Dissanayake, Namal Rajapaksa, and (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs

H. Nandasena, Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, and Samanpriya Herath

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power and Energy

Gamini Lokuge, Duminda Dissanayake, and Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Environment

S. M. Chandrasena, Isuru Dodangoda, and (Mrs.) Muditha Prishanthi Ministerial

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs

Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Milan Jayathilake, and D. Weerasingha

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Irrigation

D. Weerasingha, Yadamini Gunawardena, and Jagath Samarawickrama

Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment

D. B. Herath, W. D. J. Seneviratne, and Jayantha Weerasinghe, P.C

Ministerial Consultative Committee on State Plantation Enterprises Reforms

Sampath Athukorala, Thisakutti Arachchi, and M. Rameshwaran

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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

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

News

Easter Sunday attacks: Govt. says wife of Katuwapitiya Church bomber alive

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sara Jasmine

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that information uncovered during ongoing investigations indicated that Pulasthini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, was not dead.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman, the Minister said there was no confirmation that Sara Jasmine was currently in India, despite speculation to that effect. He added that investigators suspected she may have fled the country and stressed that further inquiries were underway to establish her whereabouts.

“If necessary, the government will take steps to obtain a warrant,” Wijepala said, noting that legal action related to the Easter attacks had already been initiated, based on available evidence.

Minister Wijepala said the new government had launched an thorough probe to determine whether a political or other conspiracy had been behind the attacks that killed more than 270 people in 2019. However, he declined to disclose certain details in Parliament, citing the risk of hampering investigations.

Sara Jasmine, Mohammed Hashtun, who bombed St. Sebastian’s Church, in Katuwapitiya, in 2019, was long presumed to have died in a suicide blast in Sainthamaruthu, days after the attacks. Wijepala said attempts by previous administrations to establish her death had failed, with recent reports indicating that DNA tests conducted at the time were inconclusive.

During the debate, MP Rahuman recalled that senior figures, including then-Opposition MP Nalinda Jayatissa, had previously claimed Sara Jasmine was in India. He questioned why authorities had not sought an open warrant for her arrest whether the issue had been raised in talks with Indian officials.

Wijepala, responding on behalf of Deputy Minister of Defence Arun Jayasekara, said the government would not hesitate to pursue legal action, including warrants, if necessary.

By Saman Indrajith

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Indian Army Chief here

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

BIA staff welcoming Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, who arrived here yesterday (07)

The Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (07). On arrival, the COAS was accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army.

The Indian HC said that: “He will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary; and hold detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including training cooperation, capacity building and regional security.

During the visit, the COAS will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala, reflecting India’s strong commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges with Sri Lanka.

General Dwivedi will also pay homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.”

General Dwivedi arrived here from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he attended several events during 05 to 06 January.