News

Field Marshal warns govt members of his physical prowess

Published

6 years ago

2020/09/25

By Saman Indrajith

SJB Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka says that he has enough strength to take on all government members in the front row numbering 25 together single handedly in case they try to surround the Opposition MPs.

Participating in a debate at the time of adjournment of the House on the progress report of the Election Commission on Wednesday (23), Field Marshal Fonseka said so referring to a statement made on Tuesday by Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage that the government had a two-thirds majority in the House and the government MPs could outnumber their Opposition counterparts three to one.

Field Marshal Fonseka said: “His figures are wrong. To have that ratio you need a three-fourths of majority not two-third. This shows that there are MPs who could not receive education beyond the Grade Eight. I would like to tell the government members not to dare think of surrounding us just because you have more numbers. I single handedly can take all of those in your front row. To take on your second row, we’ll send someone of the calibre of our fellow MP Chaminda Wijesiri. We know that there are some among you who have the experience of tasting the power of his blows. For your second row, which has Dayasiri Jayasekera, who knows Karate, we can send someone such as MP Diana Gamage, because she is a black-belt holder in Karate. So do not speak of taking us on that easily. Remember we are not afraid of threats just because you have a two-thirds majority.”

MP Fonseka said that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution had progressive provisions and the attempt to undo them by the incumbent government was a threat to democracy. “I have very little experience in politics but even before entering politics the election culture in this country was not something we could be proud of. The elections after 1994 were marred by thuggery, attacks on counting centres, vote rigging, intimidation and undue influence on voters in mega scales. The Election Department was helpless. But after 2015, the Elections Commission came into being and that independent commission was given powers under the 19th Amendment to the constitution. We hope that the government rank members understand the need to safeguard those democratic mechanisms. If they are going to vote blindly and pass the 20th Amendment as it is, then they should remember they are playing the role of king Sirisangabo, who offered his head. The 20th Amendment has a provision enabling the Elections Commission to issue regulations on private media. That is not democratic. Media should be free from such regulations.”

The front row on each side of the Well in the Chamber has seats for 25 MPs.

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News

Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.