News
SJB rakes up NPP’s broken promises as country heads for local government polls
The SJB has accused the government of overpromising and under-delivering, and urged the public to keep this in mind when they vote at the upcoming local government (LG) elections.
Addressing the media at the SJB Headquarters on Monday, former SJB MP Prof. Charitha Herath said that the ruling party has failed to fulfill almost all of its promises made during the last two elections. He said that the people voted for the NPP based on these promises, but now, the NPP, as the governing party, has shown little concern for what it had pledged.
Herath said there was a contradiction in the NPP’s stance on the IMF programme. The NPP had previously opposed the IMF programme under the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, but now, under its own leadership, the NPP was pursuing similar economic policies. Herath pointed out that voting for the NPP, especially against former President Wickremesinghe, would be a signal that the people did not endorse this course of action.
Herath noted the rise in gun violence and micro-financing issues, as well as the government’s inability to maintain law and order. “The people were fooled by the NPP’s election promises, believing the NPP would bring an end to their economic woes,” said Herath. “But the reality is far from what was promised.”
With the upcoming local government polls, the SJB is calling on the public to reconsider their support for a government that has not met expectations. Herath urged voters to cast their ballots in opposition to the NPP, believing that this is the best way to hold the government accountable and ensure that it fulfills its obligations to the people.
“If the NPP is opposed in this election, it will be forced to address the issues the people are facing,” Herath stated. “If the government receives support again, the likelihood of them fulfilling the people’s expectations will be minimal.”
The Colombo High Court has sentenced former Chief Minister of the North Central Province, S.M. Ranjith and his Private Secretary Shanthi Chandrasena to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 200,000 each after they were found guilty of corruption charges.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery Or Corruption (CIABOC) had filed the case alleging that the former Chief Minister had illegally obtained Rs. 2,080,500 as fuel allowances during his tenure.
Parliamentary staff members are contemplating trade union action in protest against what they describe as a downward revision of their allowances.
The salary revision, as detailed in a circular numbered DMS/Salary Revision/2025-1 (Management Services Circular 04/2025) dated March 25, 2025, has resulted in a reduction of Parliament workers’ allowances, and the decreases which vary, based on staff grades, range from 70% to 39%, raising concerns among Parliament staff, according to sources.
The 32-page circular, addressed to Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera, has been signed by Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development K. M. Siriwardhana.
Following the announcement of those revisions, parliamentary employees have expressed dissatisfaction, with their unions planning industrial action in the coming days. Sources confirmed that the staff members had already registered their protest with the parliamentary authorities.
The new salary revision has sparked widespread discontent among staff members.
Our attempts to contact General Secretary of Parliament Kushani Rohandheera were not successful.
By Saman Indrajith
Japan has funded a project to strengthen Sri Lanka’s commitment to tackling GBV (gender-based violence) and ensuring that survivors were not left without access to critical services.
As part of this project, six more Emergency Waiting Areas (EWAs) will be established in the coming weeks in Dharmapuram (Kilinochchi district), Murunkan (Mannar district), Uppuveli (Trincomalee district), Opanayake (Ratnapura district), Walapane (Nuwara Eliya district), and Modera (Colombo district).
Recently, Japanese ambassador in Colombo Akio Isomata and UNFPA Sri Lanka Representative Kunle Adeniyi, handed over the newly constructed Japan-funded EWA at the Kalutara South Police Station. The Japanese embassy said that this initiative was meant to ensure that survivors received the protection, dignity, and support they deserve when seeking assistance from law enforcement authorities.
The embassy said that there was a growing network of operational EWAs across Sri Lanka, including Jaffna, Mirihana, Pudukuduirippu, Nuwara Eliya, Mundalam, Batticaloa, and Kandy, where over 4000 women and children received support last year. These safe spaces serve as temporary resting areas, providing survivors of GBV with protection, psychosocial support, medical referrals, legal aid, and a survivor-centered approach to justice, the embassy said.
The establishment of the Kalutara South EWA was made possible with the generous funding of USD 34,000, from the People of Japan, and the construction was supported by World Vision Lanka.
Ambassador Isomata reaffirmed Japan’s continued dedication to supporting women and children in Sri Lanka and emphasized the role of safe spaces in ensuring a future free from violence. “Japan has been promoting the protection of women and children in Sri Lanka since Sri Lanka became a partner country for Japan in 2018 in promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This project also includes training for police officers handling victims, especially female officers, so that victims would feel safer in seeking refuge and counseling. I hope this project will be expanded by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Public Security and Police in order to strengthen the mechanism to protect women and children in vulnerable situations. It is also essential for Sri Lanka to ensure the legal measures against the violence and support for the self-reliance of women and children who seek refuge.”
Speaking at the ceremony, UNFPA Sri Lanka Representative, Kunle Adeniyi, underscored the significance of survivor-centered approaches in addressing GBV. “For a survivor, the decision to seek help is often fraught with fear: fear of judgment, disbelief, or retaliation. When they walk into a police station, they should not only find protection but also compassion and care. A survivor’s first interaction with law enforcement can shape their entire journey toward healing and justice. If they are met with understanding, respect, and support, they are more likely to pursue the help they need.”
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