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Sumanthiran bugged by Ranil signing in Sinhala

Published

4 years ago

2022/09/2

By Saman Indrajith

TNA Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran told Parliament yesterday that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had started signing in Sinhala.Participating in the debate on the interim Budget, Sumanthiran said: “He normally signs in English. We are familiar with his signature. It used to be in English. He has signed the detention orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act to detain Aragalaya activists in Sinhala. Is he trying to appeal to some sections of society by now beginning to sign in Sinhala?” Sumanthiran queried.

Sumanthiran said that economic recovery and the manner of governance went hand in hand. “This government is using the police and the military to suppress peaceful protests. When there is a march of 500 undergraduates, they send 1,000 policemen to attack them. Water cannon and tear gas are used. Now they use the PTA, too.

“You can’t expect the international community to give money to this country if that money is used to oppress the people and suppress the voice of dissent. That won’t happen.

“The government has issued a statement that the IMF staff-level meeting agreements have been reached. We are all glad. But as soon as the government statement was issued, the IMF, too, issued a statement. It says. ‘The new staff-level agreement is subject to the approval of IMF management and the Executive Board in the period ahead. Contingent on the implementation by the authorities of prior actions including financial assurances from Sri Lanka’s official creditors is needed. Budget needs to be consistent with the economic reform programme and macroeconomic framework underlined by the IMF’. It is contingent. It is not done yet. We hope that will be done, but the government has prior obligations. The government has to perform first.

“This same government announced, several weeks back,that Japan was going to lead a group of countries that come to help Sri Lanka with regard to bridging finance. We thought that was a good sign. But Japan later said that they never agreed to such. When he became the Prime Minister, the incumbent President came on TV and said that he would not hide anything from people, he would tell us the truth and he would be transparent. Now it is proven that he is not telling the whole truth. His credibility assurances are now blurred. He is now telling us what we like to hear, but that is not the whole truth.

“The President using the PTA against unarmed protesters will definitely impact on the economic recovery of this country. And that will impact on the poor people of this country mostly,” Sumanthiran said, adding that the government cannot have both securing financial assistance from the international community and suppressing the voice of dissent at the same time.”

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Sun directly overhead Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala, Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon today (01)

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/1

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (01) are Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala,
Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon.

News

SJB asks what Speaker intended to do about allegations against CJ

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

… stresses need for action if claims were proved false

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought a clarification from Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne regarding several allegations against Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, in Parliament, recently.

In a letter dated 31 August, Jayasekera has asked the Speaker whether he received any documentary evidence from MPs in support of the allegations at issue. The SJB MP has also inquired about the steps taken by the Speaker regarding the allegations and whether the issue had been taken up with the relevant agencies authorised to probe the assets of the CJ and members of his family.

MP Jayasekera confirmed that he had raised the issue with the Speaker, following the accusations relating to the high profile X-Press Pearl case, which received significant public attention in the recent past.

The Kurunegala District MP has also asked the Speaker whether the latter contemplated taking action in case the allegations were proved false to ensure that the dignity of the Chief Justice and the judiciary was safeguarded.

Among the issues raised by MP Jayasekera are the acquisition of valuable property in Colombo by the CJ’s son, the circumstances in which he was able to procure the property, as well as accusations regarding the CJ’s birth certificate, marriage certificate and birth certificates of his children.

News

Navy Chief attends strategic-level discussions in Delhi

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Navy Chief Vice Admiral Damian Fernando held a series of strategic-level discussions with senior Indian defence and military officials during a three-day official visit to New Delhi. He returned on Sunday (30).

Navy Headquarters said that the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen maritime security cooperation between the two Navies in support of security in the Indian Ocean region. They also exchanged views on expanding training opportunities and capacity-building programmes, as well as other areas of bilateral importance.

During his visit to New Delhi, Vice Admiral Fernando also held official discussions with India’s Chief of Defence Staff, General N.S. Raja Subramani, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and defence industry representatives. Discussions at these meetings focused on bilateral defence cooperation, joint training programmes, and opportunities to enhance air and maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.

As part of efforts to further expand cooperation in naval training and professional development, Vice Admiral Fernando also met Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India’s Southern Naval Command, at its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala. The two sides discussed existing naval training exchange programmes and opportunities for introducing and expanding further training initiatives. The meeting followed the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy’s visit to INS Dronacharya, the Indian Navy’s training establishment where he previously completed the Long Gunnery and Missile Course.