News
Weerakkody reminds parliament of Ranil’s murky past
By Saman Indrajith
When former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga presented a constitutional amendment as a solution to the ethnic problem, the UNP led by Ranil Wickremesinghe had torn it into pieces and burnt it in Parliament, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Chandima Weerakkody said in Parliament on Wednesday.
“Now, he is saying he wants to find a solution to the ethnic problem. He can come here and make statements but people watching from their homes have a hard time believing his sincerity. People think of Parliament as a rogues’ gallery. Schoolchildren are paying Rs 6,500 for a schoolbag and Rs. 5,000 a pair of shoes. But MPs talk about issues they face. About houses set on fire and their privileges. We are trying to hold on to power,” he said.
The President and his supporters must be democratic, Weerakkody said, the democratic rights of the people are exercised mainly through elections. Postponing elections would have devastating consequences on the country, he said.
“It will also be bad for the government. Whenever a government delays elections, people tend to vote the opposition into power. The Sirimavo Bandaranaike government postponed elections in 1975. In 1977, the party was reduced to a handful of seats. The Yahapalana government delayed local council elections which were to be held in 2015. In 2018, when the local council elections were held, the SLPP won by a landslide,” he said.
The people of the country have rejected the government and the government is arresting leaders of anti-government protests, Weerakkody said. If there are political parties that are egging on people during the anti-government protests, it is up to the people to reject them, he said.
“However, it’s not up to the government to hound out young people who lead the people. This will not solve anything. If the President wants to solve any of the crises we are faced with, he has to do more to convince the people. President Wickremesinghe was not elected by the people; he was in fact rejected by the people in 2020. He must understand the challenge he faces. The President must first show us that he is sincere. The President was supported by 134 MPs a few months ago. Now it’s down to 121. Even the people who brought him in are losing faith,” he said.
The MP said that if the government was sincere about helping the people and bringing people friendly proposals, all opposition political parties will support them. Weerakkody said even without debt servicing Sri Lanka is struggling to buy essentials, and that showed how grave the economic crisis was.
As part of the official visit to London for the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, held discussions with academic experts from the British Council on Wednesday [20 May 2026].
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, particularly in the areas of teacher training, English language programmes, education frameworks, and language acquisition skills.
The British Council shared international experience and highlighted its ongoing engagement in Sri Lanka, while expressing readiness to support the country through technical assistance, teacher development initiatives, and policy collaboration.
Discussions also included views on improving quality assurance, expanding research collaboration, and enhancing learning opportunities.
The Prime Minister appreciated the British Council’s continued engagement in Sri Lanka and reiterated the importance of deepening partnerships.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division’
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with members of the Sri Lankan community living in London on Wednesday [20th] and engaged in cordial discussions.
Despite the event being held on a weekday, it was notable that nearly one thousand Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities attended with great enthusiasm.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite natural disasters and international crises, the present government has succeeded in stabilizing the country’s economy while providing relief to the people. She further noted that Sri Lanka’s political culture has now undergone a positive transformation that is irreversible.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, addressing the event, stated that a governance system has now been established in the country where all communities are treated equally and the benefits of economic development are shared fairly among all citizens.
Moving away from the traditional method of political gatherings, the event also provided an open platform for members of the Sri Lankan community to directly raise questions and express their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister.
Commenting on the organization of the event, the organizing committee stated that all expenses, including dinner, were borne by the participants themselves. The organizers further remarked that it is unsurprising that opposition groups, accustomed to organizing such events through the misuse of public funds, appear unsettled by this transparent process.
The occasion was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya currently undertaking an official visit to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom ON Wednesday [20]. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the United Kingdom for the support extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. The Prime Minister also commended the United Kingdom’s support in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister briefed the UK delegation on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and policy priorities, the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, as well as Sri Lanka’s positive growth trajectory.
The two sides also exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long-term energy security.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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