News
Suppressing people will carry an economic cost says Kirielle
The main opposition SJB warns that Sri Lanka might lose concessions from foreign nations and multilateral bodies due to government’s attempts at suppressing the people. Addressing a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo on Thursday, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kirielle said: “Investors would not come to a country that does not adhere to the rule of law.”
“Government representatives are traveling from one country to another asking for aid. No one has offered significant amounts of aid so far. The president has been in power for a year now, and we have only received assistance aimed at alleviating the suffering of people, like medical grants. The IMF has given us around 300 million dollars, and India has provided four billion dollars worth of credit. China has given us medical aid and dry rations. This is it,” he said.
Kirielle also alleged that the government has not engaged constructively with China. There is also doubt whether the Paris Club would move on its own without Chinese guarantees of debt restructuring.
“We need to work with China to work out a debt restructuring deal. However, even if we come to a debt restructuring agreement with our donors, it is unlikely that foreign investors will come without stability and the country adhering to the rule of law,” he said.
The SJB MP said the government might be able to find buyers for profit-making state assets and state monopolies.
“It is a stretch of imagination to call these people investors. Someone buying an already profit-making enterprise is not an investor. An investor is someone who would pump money into the country and build productive assets here. He is someone who will create jobs here and transfer technology and knowledge. We have had very little of these in recent years,” he said.
Kirielle added that Sri Lanka risks losing the GSP plus concessions due to the breakdown of the rule of law.
“What has the government done to convince the EU that we are adhering to internationally accepted practices? The government has to establish the rule of law first before it tries to push unpopular reforms on the people,” he said.
More than 108,000 complaints of child abuse had been received by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) between 2015 and 2025, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa under Standing Order 27/2, the Minister said 4,421 child abuse cases were pending before High Courts as of April 30 this year, with indictments already filed against the accused.
She said the NCPA was working with 47 Police Child and Women Protection Bureaus under the Police Children and Women Abuse Prevention Division to expedite the hearing and conclusion of these cases.
The Minister said measures were also being taken to protect child victims during legal proceedings by introducing a system to record their evidence through video in a safe and child-friendly environment, thereby reducing the need for them to appear in court.
She said discussions were underway with the Ministries of Health and Mass Media and other relevant institutions to establish nine provincial video evidence recording units.
by Saman Indrajith ✍️
The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed a writ petition seeking to postpone the 2026 G.C.E. A/L Examination by two months.
The petition, filed by a group of students due to sit the examination for the first and second time, sought an order delaying the examination, which is scheduled to commence next month.
The Court announced its decision after considering submissions made in support of the application and declined to grant leave to proceed with the petition.
As a result, the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination will be held as scheduled in August.
Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Rathnayake yesterday criticised the conduct of MP Archchuna Ramanathan in Parliament, describing the behaviour of certain lawmakers as “uncivilised, disgraceful and indecent”, while a heated exchange followed between government and opposition members.
Rathnayake made the remarks when Ramanathan attempted to raise a point of order during parliamentary proceedings.
“This parliament has one or two members who behave in a very uncivilised, disgraceful manner. We tolerate them because one of them is mentally ill,” Rathnayake said.
He alleged that Ramanathan had insulted even members of the Tamil community.
“The things he says may not be heard through the microphone, but the four walls of this Parliament are witnesses,” Rathnayake said, adding that Ramanathan’s conduct was not limited to Parliament.
He claimed that the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting could not be held due to Ramanathan’s behaviour and said MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam had written to the Speaker stating that he could not sit near him.
The Speaker intervened during the exchange, warning Ramanathan not to behave in a manner that would turn Parliament into “a joke”. He also said the MP had previously addressed him in an insulting manner.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticised the manner in which Rathnayake and the Speaker had addressed the matter, saying MPs should not be spoken to improperly and urging members to follow parliamentary Standing Orders.
Ramanathan, responding to the remarks, said: “I may be a psycho, but I am not a homosexual.”
by Saman Indrajith ✍️
Child abuse crisis: 108,000 complaints reported in 10 years
CA dismisses writ petition seeking postponement of A/L exam
Bimal’s remarks on MP’s conduct spark heated exchange in Parliament
SC rules fundamental rights of Aragalaya activist were violated
TRINEX-26 naval exercise begins off Trincomalee coast
Court defers hearing of GR’s Easter Sunday petition
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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