News

Shanakiyan submits motion to establish National Development Fund for underdeveloped areas

Published

4 months ago

2026/05/29

TNA Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has submitted a motion to Parliament calling for the establishment of a special National Development Fund to reduce regional disparities and revive economically lagging areas affected by decades of conflict and neglect.

The motion, tabled for debate in the House, proposes the creation of a USD 250 million Fund to be implemented over a 10+2 year programme period, targeting regions such as the Northern and Eastern Provinces, Monaragala District and Nuwara Eliya District.

According to the motion, the proposed Fund would mobilise contributions from the Government, bilateral and multilateral agencies, private investors and philanthropic donors to address deep-rooted economic inequalities aggravated by the country’s ongoing economic crisis.

The motion noted that the Northern and Eastern Provinces, in particular, continue to suffer severe economic deprivation due to the impact of the protracted civil conflict and decades of historical neglect, while other underdeveloped districts have also faced persistent marginalisation in national development efforts.

Among the key objectives outlined in the proposal are the revival of rural livelihoods through agriculture, fisheries and cottage industries, the development of infrastructure to promote employment generation and women’s socio-economic empowerment, and the activation of idle assets to support small and medium-scale enterprises and cooperatives.

The proposed Fund would also invest in renewable energy projects and other commercially viable ventures while supporting capacity-building programmes and educational initiatives targeting women and youth.

The motion further called for the establishment of a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) to strengthen local institutional capacity, bridge investment viability gaps and ensure the transparent and effective utilisation of funds.

Special emphasis has also been placed on gender inclusivity, with the motion seeking measurable targets to enhance women’s participation in economic activities and decision-making processes across all investment sectors.

The proposal has also urged relevant Ministries, Provincial Councils and local government authorities to coordinate with the Fund to ensure equitable regional coverage, accountability and sustainability in project implementation.

Describing the initiative as an urgent national measure, the motion stressed that inclusive economic growth, reconciliation and sustainable development could not be achieved without targeted interventions to uplift economically deprived regions disproportionately affected by war and economic hardship.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.