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Aragalaya allegations: Gen. Silva to take action against Wimal

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Amidst accusations and counter accusations over the alleged failure on the part of the armed forces to suppress violent protest campaign that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down last July, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva has sent a letter of demand to National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa in respect of the allegations against him in the recently-published book, Nine: The Hidden Story.

General Silva, contacted for comment, said that his lawyers had recently sent a letter of demand to MP Weerawansa. In his letter of demand, the former Army Commander has said that there is absolutely no basis for accusations directed at him and Army over alleged complicity in the overthrowing of the then government.

NFF leader Weerawansa told The Island that he was ready to face legal action.

The fresh move on the part of General Silva followed 39 politicians including ministers withdrawing a petition filed against General Silva over the failure on the part of the then Army Commander to quell countrywide violence, following the SLPP goon attacks on Galle Face protesters on 09 May, 2022.

The Court of Appeal allowed them to withdraw a petition against then Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Shavendra Silva.The bench consisted of President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar. IGP C. D. Wickremaratne was among the other respondents.

Nearly 70 houses belonging to serving members of Parliament were set ablaze meticulously by well organised gangs across the country on the night of May 09 last year.

Faisz Musthapha, PC, who appeared for General Silva, objected to the withdrawal of the case. The Court of Appeal permitted the withdrawal of the high profile case on the basis of an assurance given by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles to the petitioners to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the May 09 and 10 incidents. Sanjeeva Jayawardena, PC, appearing for the petitioners, sought the court’s permission to withdraw the case. (SF)



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“Siri Dalada Wandanawa” commences with the President’s Participation

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The “Siri Dalada Wandanawa”, the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic,  commenced today (18)  with the participation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

The President placed the first  floral tribute to the Sacred Tooth Relic after which the public were allowed to pay homage. A large number of devotees from all over the country arrived at the Temple of the Tooth Relic today (18) to pay their homage.

The public will have the opportunity to venerate the Sacred Tooth Relic from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m from  tomorrow (19).

Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi along with other Ministers and Ambassadors and High Commissioners representing Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, the Netherlands, India, Myanmar, Palestine, France, New Zealand, Cuba, Egypt, Japan, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada and South Korea, Public officials, Members of the security forces and a large number of local and foreign devotees were also present.

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CIABOC drops 34 cases including those against Johnston and Rohitha

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CIABOC Chairman Iddawala

… Prez Secretariat faulted for not maintaining asset declaration registry

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has decided against refiling 34 cases that were withdrawn during the 2019-2024 period.

The 34 cases are among 102 cases withdrawn during that period, the CIABOC has disclosed, adding that 65 cases had been refiled. Decisions on three others are pending according to statistics made available on 01 March 2025.

The CIABOC provided a breakdown of the withdrawal of cases: 2019 (5), 2020 (0), 2021 (44), 2022 (49), 2023 (02) and 2024 (2).

The current CIABOC consists of Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala (Chairman/Commissioner), K. B. Rajapakse (Commissioner) and Chethiya Goonesekera P.C (Commissioner). Its Director General is R. S. A. Dissanayake.

According to the CIABOC the majority of cases were withdrawn due to the absence of the signatures of all commissioners who served during 2019-2024.

Among the cases dropped by the CIABOC were four involving former Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando. The CIABOC found fault with the Presidential Secretariat (PS) for the collapse of the cases due to the failure on the part of the PS to maintain a proper asset declaration registry at that time. The charge against the then Minister Fernando was the non-disclosure of assets and liabilities during the 2010-2014 period.

Fernando contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket but failed to retain his seat in Kurunegala District.The CIABOC has also decided against refiling the case against MP Rohitha

Abeygunawardena (New Democratic Front/Kalutara District) as the corruption charges pertained to acquisition of illegal assets amounting to Rs. 41.2 mn in 2004 and due to their failure to move court within 20 years.

The CIABOC also disclosed that the case against one-time Chairman of National Lotteries Board A.I. Ismail (2002-2003) charged for wrongful payment of Rs 9.8 mn to a private party had been dropped due to main witnesses former prisons Commissioner G.M.K. Bandara and former Director Public Enterprises K.M. Indrajith having migrated.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

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EC issues revised postal voting schedule

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R.M.A.L. Rathnayake

The Election Commission yesterday announced a revision to the postal voting schedule for the upcoming Local Government Elections, which are set to take place on May 6.According to the updated timetable, postal voting would now be conducted on April 24, 25, 28, and 29, Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said yesterday.

“All government institutions, including the police, tri-forces, schools, corporations, and statutory

boards, will conduct postal voting on these four days,” Rathnayake said, adding that employees of those institutions can mark their postal ballots at their respective offices without any change to the existing arrangements.

A special postal voting centre will be set up at Kandy Girls’ High School to facilitate voting by police personnel on duty at the Sri Dalada Maligawa during the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Arrangements have been made for tri-forces personnel to cast their postal votes under the supervision of designated certifying officers at their respective camps during the same four-day period.

In preparation for the elections, official ballot papers for all eligible postal voters across the 339 local government bodies were handed over to the Postal Department by Returning Officers on April 16. Distribution has already begun and will continue until April 29.

The Election Commission advises any postal voter who has not received their ballot by April 29 to make inquiries at their respective post offices.

The revised schedule replaces an earlier announcement made on March 27, which had designated April 22, 23, and 24 for postal voting at district secretariats and election offices, with April 28 and 29 set aside for those unable to vote on the initial dates.

With the latest changes, April 24, 25, 28, and 29 are now the official postal voting dates for the 2025 Local Government Elections.

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