News
Ranil refers to ‘Pissu Poosa report’
By Saman Indrajith
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday in parliament referred to the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to inquire into and obtain information pertaining to the alleged incidents of Political Victimisation of Public Officers, Employees of State Corporations, Members of Armed Forces and the Police Service as ‘Pissu Poosa report.’
Raising a privilege issue, the former Prime Minister said: “There is a special Presidential commission appointed to investigate the ‘Pissu Poosa’ report. And the commissioners now want to question some of us on matters which have been discussed in the House, and proceedings of the House. As per the Parliament Privileges and Powers Act the proceedings of the House cannot be questioned by outside agencies. This is a violation of my parliament privileges. No one can question an MP on what he/she speaks in Parliament as per the privileges Act. My parliamentary privileges have been violated by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry which probes the acts of the previous government. I have informed the commission that I will not come before it.”
The Former Prime Minister also noted that the said report had been challenged at the Human Rights Commission and the government should first decide whether it would accept the report or not.
“Secondly, we have been named respondents. I have challenged this report because I was made a respondent there when I was called as a witness,” he said, adding that the commission was not a judicial body.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, who also made a similar remark, questioned how the government expected the opposition MPs to extend support to resolving the present crisis when they were harassed by asking them to come and testify before the presidential commission probing malpractices of the previous government amidst the crisis which the country was facing at present.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) in the Special Grade of Sri Lanka Engineering Service serving at present as the Additional Secretary (Water Resources Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to the post of Director General which will be vacant from 06.10.2026.
Approval has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 08.06.2026 to prepare a draft bill for restructuring Sri Lanka Cricket.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated Sri Lanka draft bill providing legal provisions for the administration of Sri
Lanka Cricket, control, regulation, promotion, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for the development and administration, through the concepts of better governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and providing equal opportunities for the betterment of the cricket sport, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for securing the wellbeing of all participants and securing cricket from corruption and other mal practices.
Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the said draft bill. Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been received for the resolution furnished by the Minister of
Youth Affairs and Sports to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation performs vitally important functions such as minimizing the risk of inundation in urban and lowland areas, maintaining drainage systems efficiently, carrying out urgent operations during inundation events, and maintaining canals.
The need to strengthen the capacity of the corporation’s internal
operations has been identified by the corporation to perform the aforementioned functions efficiently and expeditiously.
The corporation has planned to purchase small -scale machinery that can be used to clean small canals, which significantly contribute to urban inundation.
The General Treasury has agreed to grant 625 million rupees as an equity contribution for purchasing the relevant machinery.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to purchase the relevant machinery by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, following formal procurement procedures at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,233
million, utilizing the aforementioned amount granted by the General Treasury and the funds of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation.
Ms. P. M. Jayadeera (Engineer) appointed Director General of Irrigation
Sri Lanka Cricket Draft Bill to be gazetted
Cabinet approves purchase of machinery for the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation
Cabinet approval for Project to Build Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for families resettled at the at Kalinga Mawatha, housing scheme
Appointment of Cabinet Sub-Committee for the Organization of 79th Independence Day Commemoration
Establishment of New Management Framework for the Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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