News

Time frame for presidential poll set by law: elections chief

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/3

Thilina Walpola

Saman Sri Ratnayake

Discretion permitted for other elections

by Rathindra Kuruwita

The presidential election is the only election that the constitution has set a time frame for, Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake said last week. He said this is not the case with other elections, so the presidential election can’t be postponed.

“The Elections Commission has no direct authority over holding other elections. Consider the local authorities elections as an example. The tenure of the local councils is four years. The line minister can hold the election a year earlier, or he can extend their terms by a year.

“The tenure of a parliament is five years but the president can dissolve parliament after two and a half years of its term.. This is not the case with a presidential election,” he said.

Ratnayake said the constitution lays down a five-year term for the presidency and there are no provisions to extend it. On November 18, 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was sworn in as president. The constitution stipulates that the next presidential election should be held between September 18 and October 18.

The Commissioner General of Elections said even if the president dissolves parliament in the first week of September, his department has the capability of holding both the general and presidential election on dates close to each other.

“The constitution says that if a president dissolves parliament, he or she is bound to provide the necessary funding and other facilities for an election. This year, we asked for 20 billion rupees to hold the presidential and local or provincial council elections. We only got 10 billion but if the government decides to hold local or provincial council elections, the treasury is bound to provide us the necessary funds,” he said.

Ratnayake said the estimates for the 2024 elections were based on prices that prevailed in late 2023. He added that there are about 800,000 first time voters for the election to be held in 2024.

Commenting on campaign financing, he said that this is not a new concept for Sri Lanka. Expenditure by candidates was limited by law until 1977.

“George E. de Silva lost his seat in parliament in 1948 following an election petition filed by his opponent, T.B. Ilangaratne. He was deprived of his civic rights on being found guilty of not listing an expenditure of Rs. 40 for getting his manifesto translated in his election expenditure return,

K. M. P. Rajaratna was fined Rs. 100 in 1955 by the District Court of Badulla for not submitting his election expenses return. He also lost his seat. Elections were then worked on the first- past-the post basis,” he said.

This changed with the proportional representation system where political parties submit a list of nominations of candidates. Earlier, each candidate was responsible for handing in his or her own nomination papers, Ratnayake said.

Politicians need funds to run a campaign, he said. However, when there is no cap on expenditure, availability of money becomes the determining factor in winning elections. During the 2018 local election, a candidate spent 40 million rupees for a ward with 1,800 voters in Maduraketiya, Moneragala, Ratnayake said describing this as “ludicrous.”

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House erupts over suspension of Deputy Secretary General

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday raised concerns over the recent suspension of Parliament’s Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff, G.K.A. Chaminda Kumara Kularatne, alleging that the process appeared to be mala fide. Addressing Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament, Premadasa said that the existence of a personal disagreement between the Speaker and the suspended official had created a potential conflict of interest.

Premadasa said disciplinary action against senior parliamentary officials had to be taken in keeping with established parliamentary precedents. He also questioned the legality and propriety of a lower-ranking official leading an inquiry against a senior officer.

“For the first time, we are witnessing a rift between the Speaker and the staff of the Secretary-General. All parties must step back, act democratically and ensure that the fundamental rights of Chaminda Kularatne are safeguarded,” he added.

ITAK Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said Kularatne had not been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations made against him.

“This is a disgraceful situation. A complaint has been lodged against you with the Bribery Commission. Parliament is the supreme institution of democracy in this country, and the precedent being created here is dangerous,” Rasamanickam said, addressing the Speaker.

SJB Kandy District MP Chamindranee Kiriella said the Speaker was duty-bound to inform the House before disciplinary action was taken against a parliamentary official. SJB MP Ajith P. Perera said it was unethical for the Speaker to assume a leadership role in the inquiry, and called for the matter to be entrusted to an independent authority.

Responding on behalf of the Government, Chief Government Whip and Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said the chief investigating officer, S.K. Liyanage, an Additional Secretary, had been appointed by the Staff Advisory Committee on 25 August, 2025. He said Liyanage had been selected from a pool of qualified officers at the Ministry of Public Administration and had prior experience in conducting investigations.

Leader of the House and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said the Staff Advisory Committee had agreed on the respective powers of parliamentary officials, noting that the Secretary General would hold powers equivalent to those of Ministry Secretary, while the Deputy Secretary General would hold powers equivalent to those of an Additional Secretary.

“There is no irregularity in the conduct of the investigation or in the appointment of the investigating officers,” Rathnayake said.

On 24 January, 2026, Parliament announced the immediate suspension of Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff Chaminda Kularatne with effect from 23 January, citing concerns relating to his appointment. Kularatne had assumed duties on 15 September, 2023.

On Monday, Kularatne filed a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, alleging corruption. His legal counsel, Attorney-at-Law Mithun Dias, said the complaint had been filed against the Speaker in his personal capacity and not against the government.

However, Dr Jayatissa told the House that the investigation into Kularatne was based on concerns relating to his appointment, qualifications and the process by which he had been confirmed in that post and was not linked to any personal dispute with the Speaker.

By Saman Indrajith

News

78th Independence Day celebrations at Bogambara Stadium

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

The 78th Independence Day celebrations in the Central Province are scheduled to be held today from 8:00 AM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.

The celebrations are jointly organised by the Central Provincial Council and the Kandy District Secretariat. The Governor of the Central Province, Prof. S.B.S. Abeykoon, is expected to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The event will also see the participation of Kandy District Members of Parliament, the Chief Secretary of the Central Province, Mr. Ajith Premathilake, as well as representatives from the Tri-Forces, Police, school students, and various voluntary organisations.

The ceremony will feature a formal parade and cultural performances by school children.

By S.K. Samaranayake

News

Colombo-Kandy railway line to be fully restored this year – Minister Bimal

Published

8 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, has announced that the reconstruction of the Colombo-Kandy railway line, which was severely damaged by landslides in the Balana and Kadugannawa areas, will be completed within this year to restore normal train services.

The Minister made this statement during the Kandy District Development Committee meeting held at the District Secretariat. He noted that work will commence following the observations and technical reports provided by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) regarding the stability of the landslide-affected areas.

Financial Management and Development

Minister Rathnayake emphasised that the government possesses the necessary funds for development projects.

“Our government has the funds. However, all officials must ensure these funds are managed efficiently so that they are fully utilised for development, without being returned to the Treasury at the end of the year,” he stressed.

Improvements in Public Transport

Highlighting the progress in the transport sector, the Minister shared several key updates

• Recruitment: 700 new employees have been recruited to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and are currently undergoing training.

• School Transport: Steps are being taken to strengthen the ‘Sisu Sariya’ school bus service within the Kandy District.

• Infrastructure: The reconstruction of the Peradeniya Black Bridge (Kalu Paalama), which was damaged during the ‘Ditwah’ disaster, is nearing completion.

Welfare facilities for Private Transport Workers

The Minister also revealed plans to support the welfare of private bus drivers and conductors.

“We must look after the workers in the private transport sector as well. We are planning to establish a welfare fund for them and are taking steps to include them in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) system,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, the Minister urged state officials to perform their duties responsibly and ensure that the inefficiencies seen under previous administrations do not recur.

By S.K. Samaranayake