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SLPP MP alleges threats from Defence Secretary and Army Chief
Galle District SLPP dissident MP Chandima Weerakkodi told Parliament on Friday that he had been threatened by the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander on Thursday (5) inside parliamentary premises after his speech on the abuse of vehicles by high-ranking officers of the army.
Raising a privilege issue, the MP said: “The Secretary of Defense and the Commander of the Army gave threatening responses before the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security regarding a statement I made about the use of vehicles by high-ranking officers of the army. The Defence Secretary behaved like a bully in the committee and in the parliament.
“I asked him whether he was threatening me and he said yes. The Defence Secretary of the Army Commander continued to threaten me. This incident violated my MP privileges.
The fact that the army should be reduced in this country was discussed in the parliamentary committee. I said there that instead of reducing the number of soldiers, the unnecessary waste of the higher officials should be cut. Even ministers do not waste unnecessarily now. We give that respect.
“But I am talking about the activities of the army officers including the Defence Secretary. We know the situation our country is in. People have no food. People have no way to live. Many people who have retired from the army do not get their pension. But it is surprising to see the way the army commander is the defense secretary. As I speak here, a sum of Rs 80 million are spent to build the garden at the official residence of the Army Commander.
We should put an end to this waste. The Defense Secretary is on the board of the Civil Aviation Authority. Before he goes there, a group of fifteen people from security forces has to come and check the premises. When I spoke against these wastes, I was threatened inside the Parliament premises.
Anyone who goes to the Independence Square for exercises in the morning can see the Secretary of Defence too come for his morning walk. Two soldiers lead him with sniffing dogs. After the Defence secretary goes a jeep followed by another vehicle. Whose money are they wasting in this manner? People blame only the 225 MPs here. The Defence Secretary once visited the Baddegama temple recently. Before his arrival around 100 security force members came to the temple and checked the premises. It is we who vote for allocating defence expenses and now we see that those funds are wasted. This is one reason why this country went bankrupt.
We have an utmost respect for the war heroes who saved our nation from terrorism. But there are some corrupt officers who ruin their reputation. What is the predicament of a normal person if an MP is being threatened by these bullies inside parliament?
JVP led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the matter raised by MP Weerakkody was very serious and asked the Chair to scrutinize the video footage of the CCTV camera in the area where the MP was allegedly threatened.Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse said the matter would be referred to the Privileges Committee.
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced today (29) that the President of Sri Lanka Cricket and members of the Executive Committee have tendered their resignations.
The decision has been formaly communicated to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time.
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.
New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:
Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.
According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.
The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).
Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”
USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.
Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.
Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.
On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time
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