News

Speaker forced to suspend sittings for ten minutes

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/25

by Saman Indrajith

Parliament sittings were suspended for ten minutes following a tense situation that prevailed after SJB MP Harin Fernando bringing in three torches to the chamber as a sign of protest against the government’s failure to control power cuts.

Leader of the House Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena raising a point of order soon after Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa started making a special statement, said that an Opposition MP had brought unapproved equipment to Parliament. “When the Police detected the torches the MPs’ entrance, there was an argument. This cannot be accepted because taking such things into the House puts everyone’s safety in jeopardy. Therefore, I urge the Speaker to look into this matter and take immediate action,” Minister Gunawardena said.

SJB MP Fernando stood up and showed a torch he had brought into the Chamber.

“The Leader of the House is speaking about the torches I brought. Actually, there are three torches in my bag. There are power cuts everywhere in the country. That is why I brought these torches, because if electricity is gone in Parliament we will need light. I cannot go to the lavatory in darkness.”

The SJB MPs who had arrived in the Chamber with stickers pasted on their attire stating that ‘Anduren Eliyata’ (out of the darkness) and ‘Sir Failed’ stood up and shouted slogans

Minister Gunawardena expressed his strong opposition to MP Fernando bringing torches into the Chamber.

Minister Gunawardena: “This is highly dangerous and not my personal problem. This is an illegal activity. The Speaker should commence a probe into that. Those who are smiling now are the ones who carried out Easter Sunday terror attacks.”

The SJB MPs then started to protest by taking out torches and holding placards. They shouted slogans against the government. Although the Speaker repeatedly requested them to sit down and let the Opposition Leader make his statement, the MPs continued the protest.

The Speaker: “This is sad. The intention behind bringing torches into the House is not clear. If your protest is over, then you should sit down and let the Opposition Leader to speak. If you do not, we have to move to another question.”

After a few minutes, the Speaker adjourned the sittings for 10 minutes.

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News

Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia

Published

58 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nagananda / Harshana

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.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara

Published

60 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne

News

USD 625,000 meant for US Postal Service goes missing

Published

1 hour ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday revealed that a USD 625,000 payment made by Sri Lanka’s Department of Posts to the US Postal Service (USPS) had not been received by the intended party.

The declaration was made at the post-Cabinet media briefing.

According to the Minister, an investigation has been initiated into the incident.

The Minister said that an investigation was underway within the Sri Lanka Postal Department regarding the missing funds paid to the US Postal Service.

He added that the US Postal Service has indicated the non-receipt of a payment amounting to USD 625,000, and that investigations were being conducted by both the Postal Department and the CID to determine how the incident occurred.