News
GL alleges Wijeyadasa’s move ruse to put off national polls
… dares SLPP to move court against rebel group
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Top Opposition spokesperson Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (16) dismissed Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s attempt to introduce a new system for electing MPs as a politically motivated project to sabotage national elections. Such an exercise couldn’t be justified under any circumstances at a time the Provincial Council and Local Government polls, too, had been put off indefinitely, he said
Prof. Peiris stressed that the government continued to disregard the specific Supreme Court directive given in early March to conduct Local Government polls, and he dared the SLPP to go to court against its dissident MPs in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that endorsed the expulsion of rebel SLMC MP Nazeer Ahamed for switching allegiance to the government.
Prof. Peiris said that the SLPP would not under any circumstances seek a court order against them, having elected UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President at the vote in July last year at the expense of Dullas Alahapperuma, who was fielded by the SLPP.
He said so in response to a media query at the weekly media briefing conducted at the Nawala office of the Nidahasa Jathika Sabhawa. The SLPP rebel group consists of 12 MPs.
The SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is on record as having said in Parliament, shortly after the SLPP elected Wickremesinghe to complete the reminder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, that he voted for SLPP candidate Dullas Alahapperuma. “We are prepared to present everything in court in case they resort to legal action,” Prof. Peiris said, declaring that whoever voted for Wickremesinghe had acted against the interests of the party. “They continue to do so,” Prof. Peiris said, asserting that the government’s efforts were geared to postponing elections, at all levels.
Prof. Peiris said that those at the helm of the SLPP should bear the responsibility for defeating their own man. Wickremesinghe received 134 votes against Alahapperuma receiving 82votes. “Let the court decide who resorted to treachery,” Prof. Peiris said, questioning the overt and covert moves made by the government to put off national elections indefinitely.
Having being elected to complete the remainder of his predecessor’s term, President Wickremesinghe was making a bid to hold onto Office, the SLPP National List MP said. The former minister alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa alliance was trying to postpone elections in the guise of introducing far reaching constitutional reforms.
Prof. Peiris stressed that Environment Minister Ahamed’s case had absolutely no relevance as the Supreme Court found fault with him for voting with 2022 Budget vote, contrary to a decision taken by the party.
Commenting on the simultaneous abolition of executive presidency and announcement of early general elections, Prof. Peiris said that such an exercise couldn’t be undertaken in a hurry. The former Law Professor emphasized that the abolition of executive presidency should be included in a brand new Constitution. The lawmaker explained that the executive is related to subjects, ranging from independent commissions to appointment of Governors of Provinces. Hence the responsibility of introducing a new Constitution should be left for the next government, Prof. Peiris said, calling for a consensus on early parliamentary elections.
The ex-Minister declared that the Opposition is of the view that early general election could lead to the formation of a government to undertake a holistic examination of constitutional needs to address current challenges.
Prof. Peiris said that the President’s decision to grant another three-week extension to IGP C.D. Wickremaratne couldn’t be justified. Pointing out that Wickremaratne had been given two three-month long extensions since March this year, Prof. Peiris pointed out, declaring this decision was contrary to the position taken by the Constitutional Council.
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
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.
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.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the most part of the island after 1.00 p.m
GS1 Lanka drives Sri Lanka’s shift to 2D barcodes
Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations
Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area
Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.
Sri Lankan troops in joint anti-terrorist exercise in Russia
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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