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GL tears into Ranil saying that under his leadership people have suffered immensely
“…. led an arrogant, insensitive, and thoughtless government”
By Saman Indrajith
The only people who should vote for Ranil Wickremesinghe in the presidential election on 21 September are those who wish to endure needless suffering for another five years, SJB MP Prof. G. L. Peiris has said in a televised interview.
Prof. Peiris said that under Wickremesinghe’s leadership, Sri Lankans had suffered immensely and that he had done nothing to build a resilient, strong economy capable of facing future challenges.
“He speaks of ‘continuity’, but the only continuity you experience is continued suffering. Over the past two years, poverty has doubled, we now have a 27 percent child malnutrition rate, around 500,000 children have dropped out of school, 1.1 million households have had their electricity cut off, and approximately 250,000 small and medium enterprises have collapsed. This is unprecedented. We have an arrogant, insensitive, and thoughtless government,” he said.
Prof. Peiris remarked that the standard of living had drastically declined during the past two years, making claims of economic improvement under Wickremesinghe baseless.
He noted that a large number of Sri SLPP MPs had joined Wickremesinghe, putting their political futures at risk. “I don’t think anyone seriously believes that Wickremesinghe will win the presidential election on 21 September. What has happened to the SLPP MPs who joined him?” he asked.
Prof. Peiris added that he had been campaigning in the north for the past few weeks, and the voters there were keen to support Premadasa. He mentioned that northern voters as in the rest of the country were concerned about the rule of law, the collapse of the health and education systems, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
“Additionally, the sheer incompetence of this government is shocking. Look at the chaos they’ve caused with the issuance of passports. They are unable to provide the most basic services. The Constitution guarantees the freedom of movement and the right to choose one’s residence within Sri Lanka, as well as the right to return to the country. Whether one uses one’s passport for foreign travel is not the government’s concern. This is a government incapable of guaranteeing basic needs, but Wickremesinghe’s supporters attempt to portray him as a genius,” he said.
Prof. Peiris also criticised the government’s race to embezzle as much money as possible within the limited time available to ministers, citing the VFS scam, which cost the country billions.
“We can make noticeable changes in six months if we simply get the basics right. With the correct policies and efforts to curb corruption, we will see positive results in just a few months,” he said.
He noted that while professionals were forced to pay exorbitant taxes, many billionaires paid none at all. “Tax breaks have been given to these billionaires, and the state has lost billions in revenue. When offering tax breaks, we must ensure that they lead to increased economic activity that offsets the losses. There have been instances where we questioned officials about the rationale behind certain tax breaks, and they had no idea what the expected outcomes were. Clearly, these tax breaks were intended to benefit friends of politicians,” he added.
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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 31 March 2026, valid for 01 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
Govt. rations stocks as imports falter
By Ifham Nizam
The government faces a looming fertiliser crisis ahead of the 2026 Yala season, with a sharp shortfall in urea threatening paddy yields and food security.
Experts have warned that the fertiliser shortage will take its toll on the yala harvest.
With just over 100,000 tonnes of fertiliser in stock by early March—barely enough for paddy cultivation alone—and more than half of expected imports either cancelled or delayed, the government has moved to ration supplies through Agrarian Service Centres, based on last year’s consumption.
Leading crop scientist Professor Buddhi Marambe has warned that while rationing is unavoidable, it will reduce productivity. “Even last season we applied below recommended levels. This year, the gap will be worse,” he said.
Authorities are prioritising paddy, followed by maize and tea, as limited stocks are stretched across crops.
However, experts estimate yields could fall by 15–20% if nutrient shortages persist—raising the risk of higher food prices in the months ahead.
The crisis has been worsened by global disruptions, including Gulf conflict affecting fertiliser shipments and precautionary export restrictions by key suppliers, such as China.
Although the Government is pursuing deals with countries like Russia, supplies remain uncertain.
With global urea prices surging and production costs rising, smallholder farmers are expected to be the hardest hit.
“This is a wake-up call,” Prof. Marambe said, urging urgent steps to build buffer stocks and strengthen Sri Lanka’s long-term food security strategy.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda says the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court order that the ruling JVP hand back the FSP’s Kirindiwela office, grabbed by a group of JVP politicians on 02 September, 2025, has shown that the government cannot undermine the law.
Jayagoda said that the FSP had been compelled to move the court against the JVP as the Gampaha police refused to intervene due to political pressure. “They probably thought we were going to give up that office. Perhaps, the ruling party felt they could forcibly occupy other FSP offices,” Jayagoda said.
FSP’s Administrative Secretary Chamira Koswatta and trade unions, which operated from the Salmal Garden office, sought the court intervention to confirm the ownership of that building in the FSP. The court initially transferred the building to the police and issued a directive to law enforcement authorities to remove the JVP/NPP from that building.
Among the 20 respondents was Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP. Those now identified themselves as FSP quit the JVP in 2011 and later formed their own party.
Gampaha Additional Magistrate Shilani Perera on Monday ruled that the legitimate owner was the FSP. The Magistrate ruled that the FSPers had been forced out of that office, illegally.
Jayagoda said that the FSP considered the court ruling a victory for democracy and a devastating blow to the increasingly authoritarian JVP/NPP rule.
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Showers expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces in the evening or night
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district
Urea shortage threatens Yala harvest: Experts
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