News
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.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal deep sea areas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 05.00 p.m. 18 September 2026, valid for the next 24 hours.
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The atmospheric disturbance to the North of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to develop into a low pressure area within the next 24 hours.
Due to its influence, wind speed over the Bay of Bengal sea areas will increase during the next few days starting from
tomorrow (19th).
The wind speed in the sea areas marked under the “Advisory” category on the map below will increase to 55-65 kmph at times and those sea areas will be rough or very rough at times.
Navel and fishing communities engaging the activities over this sea area are advised to be vigilant and be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the department of Meteorology in this regards.
Text and Pic by Priyan de Silva
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has questioned whether some promises contained in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto, A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, could be fulfilled even if the government wanted to implement them.
Dissanayake raised the issue during a discussion following the release of the third biannual report on manifesto monitoring by the March 12 Movement, at the BMICH, on Wednesday.
He questioned whether the report had taken into account legal and institutional constraints affecting the implementation of certain pledges.
Citing the proposal to establish Anti-Corruption Investigation Offices in each district, Dissanayake said such offices could be established only with the agreement of CIABOC and that amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act would be necessary.
He also referred to the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, noting that successive governments had made similar commitments since 1994. He questioned whether there had been adequate consideration of where the powers vested in the Executive President would be transferred if the system were abolished.
On the proposal to establish a Public Prosecutor, Dissanayake questioned whether the Government intended to maintain the office alongside the Attorney General, who currently performs prosecution-related functions.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said Dissanayake’s remarks should be regarded as his personal views and not as Government policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants M. Thilakarajah and D.D. Mataharaarachchi presented the third-phase findings, covering January to June 2026.
The corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa was set for a pre-trial conference by the Colombo High Court.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (17), when the accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared before the court. After considering the submissions made, the court ordered that the case be called for a pre-trial conference.
The CIABOC had filed the case against the accused, alleging that a corruption offence was committed by sending Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for training at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom despite him not having the required qualifications.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal
Showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya Districts
Some NPP manifesto promises may be difficult to fulfil – CIABOC DG
Yoshitha and ex-Navy chief Karannagoda’s case fixed for PTC
Court orders probe into Wimal’s rally speech
Court to rule on Dilith’s writ petition on September 30
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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