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SLPP MPs go berserk as Sajith flays Rajapaksas for ruining economy

Published

2 years ago

2023/11/22

By Saman Indrajith

Yesterday’s parliamentary session was marred by aggressive protests by government MPs against Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, who demanded that those whom the Supreme Court had held responsible for the collapse of the national economy be stripped of their privileges.

Protests erupted as Opposition leader Premadasa commenced his special statement on the matter to the House and SLPP MPs started shouting against him. Premadasa maintained that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Central Bank Governors Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Prof. W.D. Lakshman, former Finance Secretary S.R. Attygalle, former Presidential Secretary P.B. Jayasundara and the Central Bank’s Monetary Board members continued to enjoy privileges despite the Supreme Court judgment holding them accountable for the economic crisis. Those persons had no respect for the Supreme Court’s judgment, Premadasa said, adding that all Lankan citizens continued to pay for the wrong decisions made by them.

As Premadasa demanded to know whether legal action would be taken against them and if the government would recover the losses incurred by the state due to those mentioned in the court’s judgment, the SLPP MPs went berserk and approached the Opposition leader’s seat.

As SLPP MPs started to walk across the Well of the House, Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando and his deputy Kushan Jayaratne positioned them between the protesters and the Opposition Leader, who continued to speak. Premadasa said that schoolchildren were there in the gallery and it was now time for them to make note of those who had assisted and aided the Rajapaksas to ruin their future.

SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha snatched the statement from the hands of the Opposition Leader while the former’s colleagues continued to shout. SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha was seen videoing the scene.

As the uproar continued, the SJB MPs ran to their leader and stood around him, demanding the Speaker to bring the situation under control.

Schoolchildren were removed from the galleries as the MPs hurled verbal tirades at each other.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena suspended the parliamentary session and walked out of the Chamber.

Some 40 minutes later when sittings resumed, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella requested the Speaker to take disciplinary action against SLPP MPs, including MP Sanath Nishantha, for snatching the statement being read to the House by the Opposition Leader.

Kiriella said that Premadasa had raised the question in concern with the prior permission of the Speaker as such an interruption was uncalled for. “I have never seen something similar to this in my 35-year long parliamentary career. MP Sanath Nishantha took away by force the documents of the Opposition Leader. The Speaker, if he has any doubt, can watch the CCTV footage. The Speaker should punish those who harassed the Opposition leader,”Kiriella said.

Promising to have the matter probed, Speaker Abeywardena said disciplinary action would be taken against the MPs who would do live telecast in future.

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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya

Published

2 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours commencing at 1200hrs today [08]

Accordingly
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy District, Wilgamuwa in the Matale District, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya District.

LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Meegahakiwula, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Lunugala, Badulla, Passara, Uva Paranagama and Hali_Ela in the Badulla District, Ambanganga Korale in the Matale District, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya District.

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Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

Deep depression Track. [Source: RSMC]

Warning for deep depression over South-east Bay of Bengal Sea area.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, Department of Meteorology at 10.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 for the period until 10.30 a.m. 09 January 2026

The depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has intensified into a deep depression and is centered near latitude 5.4°N and longitude 85.3°E, about 420 km southeast of Pottuvil at 05.30 a.m. today (08th). The above system is currently (10:00 a.m.) located about 300 km southeast of Pottuvil.

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai between 5.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday [9th January 2026].

Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, NorthCentral, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance from today (08th).

For the Land area:

DAMAGE EXPECTED:
• Damage to huts, temporary shelters and light structures
• Destroy the roof tops/ sheets etc.
• Damage to power and communication lines.
• Breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees.
• Damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
• Damage to harbor yachts
• Flash flood
• Sea water inundation in low lying areas in the near coast.

Action suggested for the Land area:
• Coastal hutment dwellers are advised to move to safer places. Other people in the affected areas to remain indoors.
• People living in hilly areas (particularly landslide prone areas) and low lying areas in river basins are requested to be vigilant.
• Drivers and people using roads in the hilly areas are requested to be vigilant.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• General public is requested to be vigilant regarding impending extreme weather situation.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
• Requested to be attentive about future advisories issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas

Published

13 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.