News

Deals China strikes with Selendiva will be declared null and void without compensation

Published

5 years ago

2022/01/4

Wijeyadasa writes to Chinese President:

SLPP MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has in a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping said any transactions that China enters into with Selendiva Investment Company will be annulled ab initio without any compensation.

In his 45-point letter, Rajapakshe has said that when the present administration ceases to hodl power, the people will call upon the new government to revisit all agreements and contracts entered with foreign nations during the last 15 years. If these agreements are not in compliance with best practices they can be cancelled.

Rajapakshe has also claimed that most of the projects carried out with Chinese funds have been wasteful and large commissions have been paid to the corrupt politicians and officials to secure such projects.

“Transactions you have secured through corruption will be cancelled and we hold no liability to pay back any loans obtained for such contracts. In the event of any restructuring, under no circumstances the period of any agreement will be permitted to exceed a period of 15 years from the date of the inception of such contracts,” he said.

The MP has said that China has assisted Sri Lanka greatly in the past decades in economic, military and diplomatic spheres, but that has changed in recent times.

“The longstanding relations of ours have turned into a different course since your country launched “One Belt-One Road” policy on the pretext of strengthening the foreign policy and economic strategy of China. It is manifestly visible that your friendship with us is no more genuine and candid; instead you use our relations to achieve your ambition of becoming the world power at the stake of lives of our innocent people. Further you are dismantling the peace in our region as well as in the world by making our nation the first victim of your power struggle with other nations of powers that be.”

Rajapakshe has said that since Sri Lanka has got close to China, other major powers in the world, too, are making various demands from Sri Lanka. “Moreover, due to our overreliance on China, other friendly nations have moved away from us, isolating the country in the international sphere.”

(Full text of MP Rajapakshe’s letter to the Chinese President is available at www.island.lk)

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High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/22

Priyan

Security personnel stand guard outside Colombo High Court after escorting the accused involved in Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday attacks of 2019, during the verdict in the trial in Colombo on September 22, 2026 [Aljazeera]

The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.

The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.

The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.

Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.

[Aljazeera]

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Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

Anura / Harini

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.

Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.

Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.

Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.

News

Justice Corea appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea receives his letter of appointment

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.

The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.

Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).

Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.