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DEW: Near 2/3 majority meaningless; Sabry’s prediction may come true

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘Success of countrywide protest warning to govt. leaders’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Veteran Communist Party politician DEW Gunasekera says the developing economic-political-social crisis cannot be resolved by exploiting the parliamentary system.

The former Minister warned the ruling SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) government of dire consequences unless it addressed the issues at hand immediately.

The one-time General Secretary of the CP said so referring to what he called a clandestine operation that thwarted a joint Opposition bid on Thursday (05) to elect Ranjith Siyambalapitiya as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament.

Instead, SLPP Chairman and Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris declared the SLPP’s support, too, for Siyambalapitiya while the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) fielded Imthiaz Bakeer Markar as their candidate, ex-MP Gunasekera said.

Of course, SLFPer Ranjith Siyambalapitiya won the contest with a huge majority but at the expense of much needed unity among the Opposition, required to pressure both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the incumbent Cabinet-of-Ministers, including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gunasekera said.

Responding to another query, Gunasekera said that the SLPP appeared to have ignored severe warning issued by Justice and Finance Minister Ali Sabry, PC, on the previous day, over the status of the national economy. Had the SLPP at least realised the gravity of the situation, the outspoken ex-lawmaker said, the SLPP would not have gone ahead with high the profile operation to have Ranjith Siyambalapitiya re-elected.

Sabry did not mince his words when he declared that unless the country recognized the threat and responded accordingly, Sri Lanka could end up as Lebanon or Venezuela.

MP Siyambalapitiya could have simply withdrawn his letter of resignation handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa about a month ago, the CP veteran said, adding that the whole exercise was meant to compel the divided SLPP to vote for the Kegalle District MP, to counter growing challenge to Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and thirdly prevent possible threat to the Leader of the Opposition as a result of the emergence of a larger parliamentary opposition.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told a hastily arranged media conference on Thursday the SJB had no option but to field a candidate of its own in the wake of Prof. Peiris declaring the SLPP’s support for the Opposition candidate.

Strongly endorsing Minister Sabry’s reading of the current situation, ex-Minister Gunasekera said that despite the SLPP showing a near two-thirds majority in Parliament, both the government and the country remained vulnerable to a toxic combination of political crisis, economic fallout and rising public anger. Asked whether the rapidly growing public protest campaign could be suppressed by a police crackdown and a show of military force, the former MP said “absolutely not. I am sure, those at the helm of political authority quite clearly realized that the public are not in a mood to give up the high-profile protest campaign.

The CP man said that the ‘Go Gota Home’ campaign completed 28 days on Thursday whereas the ‘Go Mahinda Home’ campaign reached 10th day. Against the backdrop of police tear gas attacks on protesters, mostly members of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) on Thursday late evening, they have put up another protest site near Polduwa junction, Gunasekera said. They would continue to receive wide public support if the government failed to address the economic issue expeditiously, the ex-MP said, drawing the government attention to the growing public discontent.

Despite assurances given by the Presidential Media Division (PMD) early this week, the government could not prevent countrywide strike with all key public sector services joining the campaign. Unfortunately, the government was still struggling to settle issues within the SLPP and save Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa’s position at any cost much to the disappointment of the vast majority of those who voted for the SLPP at the 2019 presidential and 2020 parliamentary polls.

The outspoken CP veteran reiterated that the incumbent Cabinet including the Prime Minister should quit now to facilitate a consensus among all stakeholders. Noting even Dullas Alahapperuma, MP, quite politely asked for the entire Cabinet-of-Ministers to resign, ex-MP Gunasekera said unless political parties represented in Parliament restored much needed stability the country could not expect the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to proceed with negotiations.

Gunasekera said that long suppressed public anger exploded at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at the Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana, on March 31. That was followed by the countrywide protest on April 03 and then they launched the ‘Go Gota Home’ protest on April 09, the former MP said.

It would be pertinent to ask whether the government had taken tangible measures to address the issues raised by the Opposition as well as the public against the backdrop of the worst ever economic crisis experienced by Sri Lanka, Gunasekera said.

Asked whether he had an opportunity to advise the SLPP seniors, Gunasekera said that they were in no mood to listen or to engage in a dialogue. Instead, they continued to pursue the same old strategies that might not be relevant in the current situation, the former Minister said.

Gunasekera said that it would be a mistake for the SLPP grandees to think the re-election of Ranjith Siyambalapitiya meant the rebel SLPP group had given up their struggle. That was not so, the former Minister said, urging the government to address the issues at hand or face the consequences.

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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

41 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

45 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

52 mins ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]