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Sirisena open to running for president again, denies reports of Dayasiri being sidelined
ECONOMYNEXT –The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) invites MPs from all parties to form a common alliance, former president and SLFP chairman Maithripala Sirisena said, also suggesting that he is open to running for president again.
Speaking to reporters in Colombo on Thursday August 31 after a party meeting, Sirisena said there is a chance he might be asked to contest a presidential election in 2024.
Asked if he would accept a call to run for president once again, Sirisena said, with a hearty laugh: “There is a chance it might happen.” His entourage, too, appeared to find his response amusing.
“Can’t I work as president? I have shown that I can. Let’s see how it goes. We’re ready for anything,” he said, getting into his vehicle.
At a press conference held earlier Thursday, the former president said the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) does not pose any challenge to his SLFP.
“The SLPP is now in shambles. No one knows what even happened to the president [Gotabaya Rajapaksa] in the end,” he said. “The SLPP Is barely a party. It has no formal structure, no one even knows what their constitution is,” he added.
Asked if members of the SLPP offered to work together with the SLFP, Sirisena said: “We invite everyone, not only the SLPP but all parties and MPs to come together to form an alliance for a good government.”
“We won’t give nominations to anyone with corruption allegations,” he said.
Sirisena went on to say that there is speculation that a provincial council election will be held first to test the waters. “We’re ready for any election,” he said.Meanwhile, SLFP general secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara responded to reports that sections of the party are conspiring to have him removed from the position. This follows a last-minute decision to shift the SLFP’s 72nd anniversary celebrations from Kurunegala, his electorate, to Colombo.
Speaking to reporters after Thursday evening’s party meeting, Jayasekara said he only learnt Thursday evening about the decision. Asked if it is true that the party’s general secretary doesn’t know what’s going on in his own party, he said: “I didn’t know before. But I know today.”
If Sirisena and the SLFP central committee no longer wishes to have him on board, Jayasekara said, he is happy to leave.
“I’ll remain in the party, though,” he said.
“There is no pushback against me from the bottom. It’s a few at the top level who want me out so they can go and plug this party to [President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP)],” he said.
Notable among the attendees at the party meeting on Thursday ahead of the anniversary event was Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera whom, among others in the SLFP who had joined President Wickremesinghe’s cabinet of ministers, had been on the receiving end of criticism from the party for going against a party decision to not accept President Wickremesinghe’s invitation to support the government.
Party leader Sirisena denied that there is any rift in the party. He explained the decision was made taking into account the rainy weather now prevailing in the country, despite heavy rains in Colombo.
“We have all been like brothers. I have no idea where you’re finding these false reports,” he said to reporters questioning him.Asked if there were attempts to remove Jayasekara as general secretary, Sirisena said: “Says who? That’s an absolute lie.” (Colombo/Sep01/2023)
A commemorative service was held in memory of Rasaiah Parthipan commonly known by the nom de guerre ‘Thileepan’ in Nallur Jaffna this morning (26).
Parthipan a revolutionary member of the LTTE and a student of the University of Jaffna, commenced a hunger strike on 15th September 1987 untill his death on 26th September 1987. He was 23 years old at the time of his demise.
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Institute has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura from 16:00 hrs on 25.09.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 26.09.2026
Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Neluwa, Nagoda, Niyagama and Thawalama inthe Galle district, Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa and Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, and Kothmale West, Ambagamuwa, Kotmale East and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Elpitiya, Baddegama and Karandeniya in the Galle district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Deltota, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Yatinuwara and Panvila in the Kandy district, Aranayake, Dehiowita, Mawanella, Deraniyagala and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district, Thalawakelle in the Nuwara Eliya district and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Katuwana and Walasmulla in the Hambanthota district, Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Hatharaliyadda, Poojapitiya, Medadumbara, Kundasale, Ududumbara, Thumpane, Akurana, Pathadumbara, Harispattuwa and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Warakapola, Bulathkohupitiya, Galigamuwa, Kegalle and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kegalle district, Pitabeddara, Kotapola and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Elapatha, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Kuruwita and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district
Parliament yesterday passed the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with two-thirds majorities, with 158 MPs voting in favour and 63 against each Bill.
The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) voted with the SJB against the Bills.
NDF MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Faizer Musthapha and SJB Badulla District MP Nayana Wasalathilaka were not present when the votes were taken.
The final vote on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill was announced at around 8.08 p.m. after Opposition MPs called for divisions on its clauses during the Committee Stage.
The votes followed a two-day debate which commenced on Thursday (24), after Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Bills for their Second Reading.
The Supreme Court’s determination on the Bills was presented to Parliament on Tuesday (22) by Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. The Court determined that the 22nd Amendment Bill did not require approval at a referendum and could be passed by a special two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The amendment provides for raising the mandatory retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 to 67 and that of Court of Appeal judges from 63 to 65. It also provides for the Chief Justice to retire at 67 or after completing six years in office, whichever comes earlier.
The Speaker informed Parliament that the Judicature (Amendment) Bill could be passed by a simple majority.
The SJB opposed the legislation and its MPs attended Parliament dressed in black yesterday. The party also staged a protest at Polduwa Junction, Battaramulla, under the theme “No to 22, which destroys democracy”, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB politicians participating.
Thileepan rembered on 39th death anniversary
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambanthota, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
Showers in the Western, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Batticaloa and Ampara districts.
22A, Judicature Amendment Bills passed with 2/3 majority
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