News
Harsha won’t join govt. but ready to spearhead all-party economic revival plan
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) is ready to support newly elected Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to build an all-party consensus on an ambitious economic revival plan, but it will not accept any minsterial positions.
The SJB secured 54 seats, including one National List slot, at the last parliamentary election in August 2020. Its National List member Diana Gamage later switched her allegiance to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), but for some reason they were not able to kick her out of that seat.
SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday (17) said that he was ready to provide leadership to the parliamentary watchdog, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF). The Colombo District lawmaker said he intended to give the leadership for the preparation of an economic revival plan to address the current issues at hand.
Dr. de Silva said so when The Island asked whether he would accept the repeated requests made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe for the Opposition MPs to join the government.
Asked whether he was confident of receiving the SLPP’s blessings for the plan, Dr. de Silva said that the SJB informed PM Wickremesinghe of their offer. He assured that if he was given the opportunity, measures would be taken to prepare a blue print for the economic revival.
Dr. de Silva said that an all-party government could have been formulated with the participation of the SJB, too, if President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had resigned, as demanded by the people.
Dr. de Silva emphasised that he wouldn’t under any circumstance, betray the party and the ongoing public protest campaign by declaring allegiance to the government.
‘Gota Go Gama’ campaign has launched a poster campaign in Colombo and its suburbs declaring opposition to what it called ‘Gota-Ranil’ unholy alliance.
Dr. de Silva said that the SJB would propose him as the new Chairman of the COPF. Pointing out that Parliament couldn’t pass any Financial Bill without the approval of the COPF, Dr. de Silva said that the outfit could provide the much needed leadership as the country struggled to cope with the forex crisis.
Currently, SLPP’s Anura Priyadrashana Yapa heads the COPF. Kurunegala District lawmaker Yapa yesterday told The Island that the COPF was scheduled to meet later this week. MP Yapa said that he was aware of the offer made by Dr. de Silva in the wake of him being increasingly coming under pressure to accept the finance portfolio. In addition to the COPF, SLPP lawmakers, Prof. Charitha Ratwatte and Prof. Tissa Vitharana, head the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and COPA (Committee on Public Accounts), respectively.
Commenting on how the SLPP had thwarted SJB’s nominee, lawmaker Rohini Kaviratna’s bid for the post of Deputy Speaker on Tuesday (17), Dr. de Silva said that a divided SLPP seemed to be pulling in different directions.
The former UNP lawmaker de Silva said that he was ready to take up the challenge. The MP expressed the view that as COPF Chairman he could play a role as important as that of a minister.
Dr. de Silva said that the plan worked out by the COPF could be cleared by Parliament through an all-party consensus for implementation.
The top SJB spokesman said as pointed out by Premier Wickremesinghe, in his address to the nation on Monday (16) the economy was in bad shape urgent action was required to revive it.
The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a fisherman from a local fishing trawler that encountered distress due to adverse weather conditions off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The rescue operation took place on 17 July 2026, approximately 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil. The operation was launched following information received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.
In response, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu along with additional craft to conduct a search operation in the designated sea area, where they successfully located the distressed fisherman.
Following the rescue, the individual was brought aboard SLNS Vijayabahu, where naval personnel administered preliminary first aid. He was subsequently brought to the mainland and rushed for further medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Navy, along with the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to swiftly respond to the eventualities faced by maritime and fishing communities operating within the island’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
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Showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
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