News
Sirisena and Fonseka blame each other for security lapses
By Saman Indrajith
Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena and ex-Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonskea had a heated argument in Parliament yesterday over national security lapses that had led to the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Field Marshal Fonseka said Sirisena had no sense of national security and that had led to the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
“Even after the attacks, Sirisena, who was in Singapore, did not return to the country in the first flight available. There were two flights from Singapore, one at 12 noon and the other at 9 pm on that day. First class seats were not available in them and Sirisena waited till 1 am the following day to return home. He had no sense of urgency to attend to the national crisis here. Now, he is going with a till in Pettah to collect money to pay compensation to the victims,” Fonseka said.
Former President Sirisena said Fonseka was an ungrateful man to accuse him of security lapses. “If anyone collects money with a till at Pettah, I am willing to take that contribution because I have no money. Fonseka is an ungrateful man. It is I who gave him a presidential pardon while he was languishing in jail. He came after me asking for the field marshal post. The basic requirement to make a field marshal in a country is the strength of the army of that country. It needs more than one million troops to create the field marshal post. We did not have it. So, we made recruitments to enable the creation of that post. In the past several days he has been calling to put me behind bars. He says that I have no qualifications to talk about national security. What qualifications does he have to talk about national security? He was not even able to maintain security at the Army Headquarters when he was the commander of the army. A female suicide cadre went into the army headquarters and blew herself up injuring Fonseka seriously. The one who could not maintain security now talks about national security. Even the Supreme Court has accepted the fact that I have not been informed by any officer of the impending attacks while they had received prior warnings. It is unfair to criticise me. I destroyed the Zahran group within three weeks of the attacks.
Field Marshal Fonseka:
Sirisena did not give me pardon or promotion because he personally favoured me. It was there in the manifesto of his presidential election. That manifesto promised to give justice to me. People endorsed it. He was carrying out only an election promise when he gave the presidential pardon and the promotion. I had made speeches in hundreds of his rallies in support of him. He later removed my ministerial post because I criticized him. The attack on the army headquarters was because of the lapse of security measures following the Ceasefire Agreement. During a ceasefire we scaled down security. He does not understand security concepts.
Sirisena:
Fonseka says that the field marshal post was given to him as an election promise. He visited me many times begging to get that post. I finally made him the field marshal. Fonseka is not a man who knows what language he should use in Parliament. I regret hearing these things.”
Latest News
Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala and Mannar districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 12 March 2026, valid for 13 March 2026.
Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in
Monaragala and Mannar districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on
the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday accused the government of trying to award another tender to the Indian company that supplied low-grade coal to the Norochcholai Power Plant and failed to deliver the stipulated amount of coal according to schedule.
The allegation was made by the Education Secretary of the Progressive Socialist Party, Pubudu Jayagoda, during media briefing at the party office in Nugegoda last afternoon.
Jayagoda said that in September 2025, the government had awarded a tender to the Indian company Trident Chemphar to supply 25 coal shipments for electricity generation in 2026.
In August 2025, it was confirmed that the coal delivered by the company was substandard. The company also failed to supply coal on schedule. Although the first shipment was expected in the second week of December 2025, it arrived at the end of the month. By mid-March, only 12 ships had arrived, and biweekly deliveries have been disrupted, putting Sri Lanka at risk of a severe energy shortage.
On 11 March, the government called a sudden spot tender for five coal shipments. Four companies submitted bids, and they include Trident Chemphar. FSP criticiced awarding the tender to the same discredited company, saying it was unethical and could trigger a major national crisis, as the company had failed to supply quality coal reliably in the past.
Previously, coal quality was strictly measured, with a “Reject Value”. But now to help the errant supplier the term of Reject Value has now been omitted altogether and replaced with a new term ‘Minimum Value’ setting it as the minimum calorific threshold—coal producing less than 5,900 kilocalories per kilogram was rejected, and coal with ash content above 16% was also discarded.
However, the government is now reportedly lowering these standards, accepting substandard coal, and changing tender specifications to accommodate the company.
Jayagoda castigated the latest stunt coming especially at a time when the world faces war and oil shortages. Diesel meant for electricity generation is being diverted to school buses, public transport, and emergency vehicles, leaving households at risk of prolonged blackouts. Even if diesel is imported, electricity tariffs could skyrocket.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said it is considering requests for diesel supplies from neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that India was a major exporter of refined petroleum products in the region. He confirmed that Bangladesh had formally requested a diesel supply, which is currently under review.
He said that diesel exports to Bangladesh had largely continued since 2017, but any new allocations would take into account India’s refining capacity, domestic demand, and overall fuel availability.
Jaiswal added that similar requests from Sri Lanka and the Maldives were also being considered, with India’s own energy requirements forming a key part of the decision-making process.
Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala and Mannar districts
showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts
Govt. bends rules, lowers coal standards in favour of errant company: FSP
Lanka requests diesel from India
Gas shortage pushes up electricity demand, night peak rises: CEB
Navy seizes narcotics haul, lethal weapons in two vessels, arrests 10 suspects
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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