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SC in split decision clears way for Dhammika Perera as NL MP

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/22

By Chitra Weerarathne

The Supreme Court yesterday refused leave to proceed with all five fundamental rights violation petitions against the selection of Dhammika Perera to be appointed a National List Member of Parliament of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.

Notice on Sagara Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the SLPP was also refused.

The decision was given by a divided bench.

The petitioners included the Centre for Policy Alternatives and a few others.

The bench comprised Justice Priyantha Jayawardene, Justice Yassantha Kodagoda and Justice Arjuna Obeysekera.

President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana appeared for Sagara Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. He said that 6.8 million people had voted for the SLPP at the General Election of 2020. But not a single one had protested against the selection of Dhammika Perera as a National List MP to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Basil Rajapaksa. Sovereignty is in the people including the right to franchise and the power of government. General Sarath Fonseka had been appointed a UNP MP via the National List although he had contested from a different party.

Sagara Kariyawsam is a respondent in the petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternative against the selection of Dhammika Perera to be appointed as a National List MP.

Even Basil Rajapaksa was not in the Original National List. He was picked to be appointed from that list subsequently, the Counsel Marapana pointed out.

The Counsel said the SLPP had received 59.5 percent of the total votes polled at the general election of August 2020.

The petition did not qualify for interim relief, the Counsel argued.

Sagara Kariyawasam, wanted to bring in someone experienced in economic affairs. Hence, he had selected Dhammika Perera, the Counsel added, maintaining that the petition had no merit.

President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appeared for Dhammika Perera.

Romesh de Silva PC, said that the appointment of Dhammika Perera, cannot violate the fundamental rights of the petitioner.

According to Section 64/5 when a seat in Parliament falls vacant the Secretary of the party contacts the Commissioner of Elections to elect, a suggested suitable person, Counsel said.

Counsel said that the Supreme Court cannot interfere with Parliament. The Speaker only does the swearing in of Members of Parliament.

In our democracy, we vote for the party. After that the party picks the Members of Parliament, depending on the voting pattern, the Counsel for Dhammika Perera said. The party picks the members after considering the preferential votes, he said. Article 9 (a) dealt with 196 elected Members. Article 99/A dealt with the other 29 National List MPs, he said.

All vacancies were filled in keeping with Section 5 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. When the names in the nomination papers are exhausted and if a vacancy occurs the party secretary concerned had the discretion to recommend a suitable candidate to the Commissioner of Elections, the Counsel argued.

Deputy Solicitor General Kanishka de Silva appeared for the Attorney General.

The DSG said that Article 99/A of the Constitution provided for the filling of the vacancy after a general election.

Article 64/1/4 deals with the filling of vacancies of elected members when there is a vacancy in Parliament, the Commissioner of Elections must contact the Secretary of the Party. The respondents in the petition had acted in compliance with the law, the DSG said.

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President meets senior officials of the Urban Development Authority

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) was held this afternoon (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The meeting focused extensively on new development projects planned by the Urban Development Authority. The President emphasised the need to ensure that the budgetary allocations made for these projects in the current year are utilised effectively within the same financial year.

Detailed discussions were also held on projects planned to be implemented jointly by multiple institutions, including the importance of holding consultations with all relevant agencies to reach final decisions and the need to clearly define responsibilities for each institution in both implementation and maintenance phases of the projects.

Attention was drawn to key initiatives such as the Kelani River flood control project, water management projects in Colombo city and the Beira Lake restoration project. The need for a dedicated programme for low-income housing in areas such as Ratmalana and Moratuwa was also highlighted. During the discussion, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake underscored the importance of introducing a structured management framework for the effective coordination of certain projects.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Senior Professor Kapila C.K. Perera, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), M.G. Hemachandra and the Heads representing the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD) and the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) were also present at the meeting.

(PMD)

News

CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

The Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the Kelaniya Branch of CEAT Sri Lanka has made a financial donation of Rs. 1,148,000.00, a day’s salary of its members to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established to support the restoration of livelihoods and the rebuilding of areas affected by cyclone Ditwah.

Secretary of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, D.G.S.D. Navaratne, handed over the donation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).

Treasurer of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, Y.P.I.C. Karunathilaka, together with members of the Executive Committee, were also present on the occasion.

(PMD)

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Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed on an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of education, development studies, research collaboration, and international partnerships.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with Ms.Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom, at the UK Department for Education, to discuss areas of cooperation in education and related sectors. She is also expected to meet Ms.Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, for discussions on matters of bilateral interest and cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

In addition, the Prime Minister is expected to meet Ms.Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on the sidelines of the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend a public event at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and she will also take part in the ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Development Studies. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a session at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, followed by a question-and-answer session with scholars and students.

The visit is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s engagement with academic institutions, international development partners, and Commonwealth member states, particularly in the areas of education, research, policy dialogue, and capacity building.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]