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Stop deceiving people, implement 19A fast: Karu urges Prez

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/19

National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Chairman and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya last Thursday urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to stop deceiving people and the international community and implement the 19th Amendment without further delay.

Jayasuriya at a media briefing recalled the assurance the President gave the UN Secretary General and the international community, that he would protect Sri Lanka’s democracy and the people’s human rights.

The President also quite publicly stated he would see to the re-enactment of the 19th Amendment to the Parliament and claimed he will not object to the abolishment of the Executive Presidency.

Additionally, the President also pledged to the country’s people and its religious leaders that a new Constitution would be adopted within a year of coming into power and the provision allowing dual citizens to hold Parliamentary seats will be removed.

“These promises were given by none other than the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka. However, he has failed to deliver to date. No Constitution has been brought forward and the promise has been limited to mere words,” Jayasuriya said.

“One must question then if the international community will trust a Head of State that has openly violated promises and assurances given before the world to the people of his own country. Will his countrymen put their trust in him? Will investors trust him? Will those who deal with our country on various levels trust him,” the former Speaker queried.

“We are ashamed and embarrassed to point out these facts but it must be done as the Sri Lankan Government is openly violating the many promises made to its people at its inception. The President must realise these actions would only bring disrepute to not only himself but also to the Sri Lankan people he represents,” Jayasuriya said.

He said that the people’s representatives and the general public are being forced to live under a dictatorial regime that blatantly violates the principles of democracy as long as the 20th Amendment to the Parliament remains in force. “The President has powers beyond the judiciary while the people’s representatives are helpless without power. One man controls the fate of an entire population of over 22 million.”

Noting that there is strong opposition to the 20th Amendment in the country, he said according to surveys carried out, religious leaders, as well as 82% of the population, believe that the country was destroyed by this draconian Constitution and therefore it should be scrapped immediately.

“Therefore, we call on the Government led by President Rajapaksa, to implement the promised reforms immediately as we have observed the increasing interest regarding these matters among the general public. We make these comments with great responsibility. We, therefore, request the Government to not enrage the people further by presenting various excuses. We hear the same calls from across the country, the struggle and the protests. These calls will only grow stronger. We call on the Government to not underestimate the rising opposition against it,” Jayasuriya said.

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Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.

Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).

Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).

In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable

Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.

The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay

by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

News

Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Bimal

The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.

The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.

The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.

Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.

Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.

Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.

by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake

News

Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/2

Thilina Walpola

Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.

The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.

Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.

Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.

Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.

by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva