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Govt., Opposition clash over alleged bid to tax EPF

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/9

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando told Parliament yesterday that there was a cold war within the SJB for the Opposition Leader’s post.

“Incumbent Opposition Leader is so upset and is trying to prove his relevance as other members in his party see a better and qualified leader in Patali Champika Ranawaka. Owing to this pressure, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has lost control of his mind and speaks whatever comes to his mind,” Minister Fernando said.

He said so during a heated debate that ensued in Parliament yesterday following Opposition Leader Premadasa, asking the government to withdraw a gazette announcing the Surcharge Tax Bill, which seeks to tax the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that the new Bill was a government plan to help itself to workers’ savings.

The Opposition Leader making a special statement demanded to know the government’s position with regard to the decline of usable foreign reserves to US $ 700 million. He questioned the measures taken by the Finance Ministry to contain the rising cost of goods, reasons for high inflation, among other key economic issues. He asked whether the Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa had requested a report on the financial situation under Financial Bill no 58 of 1948. He questioned the gazette notification issued on Monday 07 February 2022, according to which the government proposes a 25 percent tax on EPF. The Opposition Leader insisted that the government should answer his question.

Minister Fernando said that the government would not be able to reply to the gossip spread by the Opposition Leader.

“Opposition Leader Premadasa has come up with gossip. However, the Finance Minister will answer all questions he has raised in writing on another date,” he said.

Opposition Leader Premadasa:

“I only raised concerns about the financial crisis and never gossip.”

Presiding Member Deputy Chairman of Committees Angajan Ramanathan

said that the government would respond to the latter’s questions later. “The Leader of Opposition, the government will answer your question on another day,” he said.

Opposition Leader Premadasa:

“What nonsense is this? I raised pertinent questions which should be answered.”

Presiding Member Angajan Ramadanan:

The government will respond. I cannot allow more time than this. The Opposition Leader is not confining himself to the topic and then the government opposes that. This cannot go on.

SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva

said that the government was trying to take over the workers’ savings.

SJB MP Kabir Hashim

also said that the government should provide an answer to the questions raised by his leader, and the Chief Government Whip had no brains.

Opposition Leader Premadasa:

I need a microphone. The Finance Minister is not in the House.

Chief Government Whip Fernando:

The Finance Minister and State Minister both are attending another function. We will respond to your questions soon.

Opposition Leader Premadasa:

According to parliamentary tradition, when the Opposition Leader is on his feet, his microphone should be on. But mine has been switched off.

Chief Government Whip Fernando:

We have clearly stated that we would respond. MP Hashim said I have no brains. But the capacity of the brains of those in the Opposition was shown when they had to lose power in four and half years. The Opposition Leader is scared that he would lose his post to Champika Ranawaka.

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Sri Lankan singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke passes away at the age of 68

Published

20 hours ago

2026/07/10

Priyan

(Pic facebook)

It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68

She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

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Sallay’s wife further complains to HRC over continuing violation of husband’s FRs by CID

Published

23 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.

In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.

Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.

I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.

I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his

legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.

This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.

In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:

1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;

2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;

3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and

4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.

This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.

I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.

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SC upholds Commercial HC ruling that Weerawansa violated intellectual property rights of JVP

Published

23 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.

A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.

The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.

The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.