News
Prof. Jayasumana hints at moves to bring in a new PM
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SLPP rebel group wouldn’t get involved in ongoing efforts to appoint a new Prime Minister later this year, MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana said.The former State Minister said that he didn’t want Premier Dinesh Gunawardena replaced in a hurry.
The Anuradhapura District MP said so when The Island sought an explanation regarding his shocking revelation in parliament on Tuesday (06) of the rebel group being approached for support in the campaign to oust the incumbent PM.
The statement was made against the backdrop of an influential section of the SLPP parliamentary group asserting that ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should return to Parliament as PM as it was he who got the 2019 mandate. Speculation is also rife of another group promoting a lawmaker for the post of PM.
Referring to what Prof. Jayasumana called Premier Gunawardena’s sarcastic comment regarding lawmakers switching sides during his long parliamentary career, the new entrant said that having entered Parliament at the last parliamentary election in August 2020, he had already seen three Premiers. Prof. Jayasumana said that he didn’t want to see another Premier later this year.The rebel SLPP group consists of 13 members.Prof. Jayasumana said that reference was made to the ongoing battle when he got an opportunity to address Parliament on Tuesday following quite an effort made by the group.
“Our group was not allocated time during the three-day debate on the interim budget presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Finance Minister,” Prof. Jayasumana said.The medical academic asserted that denying them time to address the parliament seemed to be part of the overall strategy meant to coerce them. Responding to another query, MP Jayasumana said that he and MP Thilak Rajapaksa received the opportunity to speak on Tuesday following Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s intervention.
“We were allocated time at the Speaker’s discretion. On Wednesday, too, two of their members, Wasantha Yapa Bandara and Dr. Upul Galappaththy, were allocated time on the intervention of the Speaker,” Prof. Jayasumana said.
Appreciating the intervention made by the Speaker, Prof. Jayasumana said that they should be accommodated on the time allocated to the government or the Opposition. At the onset of the 9th Parliament, the government was allocated 60 percent of a particular day’s time and the rest to the Opposition. This has been based on the government having 145 seats and the SJB led Opposition the remaining seats. In spite of the breaking up of the SLPP group several months ago, the formula hadn’t been changed, Prof. Jayasumana said. The former health minister questioned the rationale in the SLPP allocating time to other dissident groups while depriving only them the required time to address parliament.
Asked whether they brought this matter to the notice of President Wickremesinghe, Prof. Jayasumana said that in addition to the President, they briefed Premier Gunawardena, Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga as well as Leader of the House Susil Premjayantha of the injustice done to them. All of them accepted that the SLPP rebels should be allocated time though they so far haven’t intervened in this matter, the MP said.
Prof. Jayasumana said that they made representations to Speaker Abeywardena in this regard several times. The Speaker promised to take up this issue with the government and the Opposition and resolve the matter on Thursday (08).
He asked whether the parliamentary business was controlled by elements outside the House. The MP said that in spite of the developing political-economic-social crisis some of those at the helm of political apparatus seemed to still engage in consolidating their positions.The MP warned that it would be a grave mistake on the part of the government to believe the country was now out of the woods. Such an assessment based on staff-level agreement with the IMF for USD 2.9 bn over a four-year period would be catastrophic, Prof Jayasumana said.
As part of the official visit to London for the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, held discussions with academic experts from the British Council on Wednesday [20 May 2026].
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, particularly in the areas of teacher training, English language programmes, education frameworks, and language acquisition skills.
The British Council shared international experience and highlighted its ongoing engagement in Sri Lanka, while expressing readiness to support the country through technical assistance, teacher development initiatives, and policy collaboration.
Discussions also included views on improving quality assurance, expanding research collaboration, and enhancing learning opportunities.
The Prime Minister appreciated the British Council’s continued engagement in Sri Lanka and reiterated the importance of deepening partnerships.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division’
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with members of the Sri Lankan community living in London on Wednesday [20th] and engaged in cordial discussions.
Despite the event being held on a weekday, it was notable that nearly one thousand Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities attended with great enthusiasm.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite natural disasters and international crises, the present government has succeeded in stabilizing the country’s economy while providing relief to the people. She further noted that Sri Lanka’s political culture has now undergone a positive transformation that is irreversible.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, addressing the event, stated that a governance system has now been established in the country where all communities are treated equally and the benefits of economic development are shared fairly among all citizens.
Moving away from the traditional method of political gatherings, the event also provided an open platform for members of the Sri Lankan community to directly raise questions and express their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister.
Commenting on the organization of the event, the organizing committee stated that all expenses, including dinner, were borne by the participants themselves. The organizers further remarked that it is unsurprising that opposition groups, accustomed to organizing such events through the misuse of public funds, appear unsettled by this transparent process.
The occasion was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya currently undertaking an official visit to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom ON Wednesday [20]. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the United Kingdom for the support extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. The Prime Minister also commended the United Kingdom’s support in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister briefed the UK delegation on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and policy priorities, the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, as well as Sri Lanka’s positive growth trajectory.
The two sides also exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long-term energy security.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
Afghanistan refugee women’s team set for England tour under ECB initiative
DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features5 days agoSri Lankan Airlines Airbus Scandal and the Death of Kapila Chandrasena and my Brother Rajeewa
-
News6 days agoLanka’s eligibility to draw next IMF tranche of USD 700 mn hinges on ‘restoration of cost-recovery pricing for electricity and fuel’
-
News5 days agoKapila Chandrasena case: GN phone records under court scrutiny
-
News5 days agoRupee slide rekindles 2022 crisis fears as inflation risks mount
-
Features2 days agoOctopus, Leech, and Snake: How Sri Lanka’s banks feast while the nation starves
-
Business5 days agoExpansion of PayPal services in Sri Lanka officially announced
-
News21 hours agoSteps underway to safeguard Sri Lanka’s maritime heritage
-
Features7 days agoMysterious Death of United Nations Secretary General Hammarskjöld