News

DEW alleges US must have approved removal of Galle Face protesters

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/23

Thilina Walpola

warns electorate not to expect early general election

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Veteran politician DEW Gunasekera (22) said that there must have been a tacit understanding between the new Sri Lankan administration and the Western camp, regarding the deployment of the military and the police to remove Galle Face protesters in the early hours of yesterday.

The former General Secretary of the Communist Party said so when The Island sought reconfirmation as regards his sensational declaration made in an interview with Asoka Dias on Sirasa ‘Pathikada’ earlier in the day that US Ambassador in Colombo ( Julie Chung) must have given the go ahead for ‘military’ action.Asoka Dias emphasised that the television channel wouldn’t accept responsibility for the unsubstantiated declaration made by the former minister.

Ex-lawmaker Gunasekera alleged that the US Ambassador had opposed a move by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to have protesters removed. The President called off the planned operation after the US Ambassador warned of serious consequences of such a course of action, Gunasekera said.The alleged US interference was first raised in Parliament by National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, in Parliament on June 22.

Responding to interviewer Asoka Dias, the ex-minister said that the swift action taken by law enforcement authorities and the military immediately after Wickremesinghe assumed duties as the President should be examined taking into consideration post-Mirihana developments.

The former Minister was referring to violent protests at the then President’s private residence at Pangiriwatta, Mirihana on March 31 night.Video footage on social media depicted masked military personnel grabbing Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) member Lahiru Weerasekera, former Convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF).

Both Asoka Dias and Gunasekera acknowledged that troops moved in the wake of the issuance of a special gazette notification authorizing the deployment of the armed forces. They said the operation took place after protesters’ declaration that they would vacate the area soon.The US embassy didn’t respond to The Island query regarding the accusation, at the time this edition went to press.

Gunasekera said that their camp had fielded MP Dallas Alahapperuma as they firmly believed that his election as the executive President would give some legitimacy to the Pohottuwa administration. Pointing out that that rebel group in the SLPP proposed an interim all-party government on April 11 to the then President, the former Minister alleged that the leader failed to address the challenging issue properly. The CP veteran questioned the rationale in the then President offering the premiership to UNP leader Wickremesinghe after Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Sajith Premadasa declined the offer, respectively.

The former President could have managed the crisis, the ex-minister said. The failure finally paved the way for Wickremesinghe to receive the presidency, he said, adding that the process was constitutional. “Therefore there couldn’t be any issue with the UNP leader taking the presidency. However, a country cannot be ruled solely on the basis of constitutional provisions. Legitimacy is required. Public faith is nothing but a must,” the ex-MP said.

Responding to Asoka Dias, the lawmaker who oversaw the rehabilitation of LTTE cadres after the successful conclusion of the war said that at the time protests erupted in Colombo demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (this was weeks before the embattled leader invited Ranil Wickremesinghe to be his Prime Minister) the embattled administration’s popularity was down to 3 percent by then, according to various surveys.Gunasekera said that the new government and the public protest movement would now try to assess each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

The CP man warned the electorate that President Wickremesinghe wouldn’t go for early general election under any circumstances. Referring to statements made by the new President, Gunasekera said that the new President very clearly indicated that the issues at hand couldn’t be addressed within months. Therefore, there was no likelihood of an early general election though in terms of the Constitution the President exercised the power to dissolve Parliament two and half years after the last election.

Gunasekera asserted that the majority of lawmakers voted for Wickremesinghe as they realized the UNPer wouldn’t dissolve parliament. Responding to the interviewer, Dew Gunasekera declared the vast majority of lawmakers didn’t want to face early elections.

Gunasekera told The Island that Wickremesinghe would strive to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term whatever the public opinion. The UNP leader is entitled to do so in line with the parliamentary vote, the ex-MP said.

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Developing the human resources needed for construction projects remains a key challenge before us – PM

Published

36 seconds ago

2026/06/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Government has already allocated substantial funds for future development activities, including the restoration of areas damaged by the recent cyclone Ditwah, and that one of the key challenges currently faced is securing the necessary human resources, particularly technical personnel, required to carry out the construction and development projects.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Friday [June 19] in Kandy while paying a visit on the Mahanayaka Theros of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters.

During her visit to the Malwathu Maha Viharaya in Kandy, the Prime Minister met with the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thero, Mahanayaka of the Malwathu Chapter, as well as the Anunayaka Theros of the Chapter, the Most Venerable Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thero and the Most Venerable Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thero. The Prime Minister also engaged in a discussion with the Mahanayaka Thero.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister paid a visit to the Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Mahanayaka Thero, Mahanayaka of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Maha Nikaya of Sri Lanka, and the Anunayaka of the Asgiri Chapter, the Most Venerable Narampanawa Ananda Thero.

During the discussions, the Prime Minister briefed the Mahanayaka Thero on the current progress of the new education reforms. She also stated that measures would be taken to recruit teachers in the near future to address the existing teacher shortage. She further noted that the evaluation of answer scripts from the recently held teacher recruitment examination is currently underway and that successful candidates will be recruited expeditiously following a practical assessment.

The occasion was attended by the Members of Parliament, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, and several other officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Children should gain experience through activities such as aesthetics and sports from the primary education stage – PM

Published

1 hour ago

2026/06/20

Priyan

Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that if Sri Lanka is to nurture the future leaders, children must be exposed from the primary education itself to the experiences and values gained through fields such as aesthetics and sports.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in the “Punchi Hapannu 2026” occasion to recognize and appreciate the winners of the Primary Literary Skills, held on Thursday [8 June]at Polpithigama National School during an educational inspection tour in the Kurunegala District.

The event was organized to recognize the winners of the “Punchi Hapannu 2026” Language and Literary Skills Competition, which was conducted with the participation of students from 49 primary schools in the Polpithigama Education Division, based on a concept initiated by the Divisional Director of Education. The occasion was further featured by aesthetic performances presented by students who had won across 17 different competition categories.

During the event, certificates were awarded to the winners by the Prime Minister.

Addressing the occasion, the Prime Minister further stated:

“The initiative undertaken within the Polpithigama Education Division is an example for the entire country. Primary education is a broad and multifaceted field. The foundation provided through primary education is important in guiding a child along the right path. A child has only one opportunity in life to experience primary education, and it is our responsibility to ensure that this opportunity is provided in the most appropriate way.

Today, we witnessed how effectively the children of the Polpithigama Education Division utilized the opportunity given to them to creatively showcase their aesthetic talents. Likewise, we are striving to build an education system that provides opportunities for children across Sri Lanka to develop their hidden talents”.

Following the ceremony, the Prime Minister visited Makulpotha Maha Vidyalaya in the Polpithigama Education Division and layed the foundation-stone for a new two-storey school building.

The construction project, implemented with an investment of Rs. 45 million, is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and handed over for students in January 2027.

The event was graced by the presence of members of the Maha Sangha, and attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Kurunegala District Member of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Geetha Herath, education officials of the North Western Province, parents, principals, and several other invitees.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Inaugural session of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya Student Parliament held at the Presidential Secretariat

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/20

Priyan

The inaugural session of the Student Parliament of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo, was held on Friday (19) morning at the Old Parliament Chamber of the Presidential Secretariat.

The event was organised under the ‘Vision’ programme series, a joint initiative of the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya was selected to participate in this programme as part of the initiative.

During the event, Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Hemali Weerasekara, addressed the students on leadership, personality development and parliamentary traditions.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, explained the role of the President’s Fund and highlighted the programmes implemented for the benefit of school students.

Senior Presidential Adviser on Science and Technology, Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya, emphasised that life’s challenges can be overcome by critically examining every experience. He also highlighted the importance of encouraging children, from their school years onward, to explore diverse fields beyond a single subject area and to develop an innovative mindset through experimentation and discovery.

Among those present were Director General of Public Relations to the President, Dharmasiri Gamage, Director (Communications) of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Samantha Mallawarachchi, Deputy Director (Administration) of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Chintha Madhubhashini, Director of the Tri-Forces Coordination Unit at the Presidential Secretariat, Air Commodore Asiri Gallage; Assistant Director Lieutenant Colonel Nadeeka Dangolla; Principal of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Dr. Sumedha Jayaweera; Principal of Ananda College, Colombo, D. M. Lal Dissanayake; as well as teachers, parents and students.

(PMD)