News

ITAK sans EPRLF, TELO and PLOTE confident of securing majority of seats in N&E

Published

2 years ago

2024/11/1

Thilina Walpola

Shanakiyan

…ponders future course of action

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Batticaloa District Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK) contestant Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said that they would decide on a future course of action after the conclusion of the parliamentary election.

The former MP said so when The Island asked whether the TNA would consider backing the National People’s Power (NPP) government.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently hinted at the possibility of possible consensus between some Tamil political parties and his government. President Dissanayake had separate meetings with ex-parliamentarians EPDP leader Douglas Devananda and Sivagnanam Shritharan of TNA.

Rasamanickam declared that the ITAK could secure 13 seats, including two National List slots. “Regardless of all sorts of claims and criticism directed at us by political rivals, we are still the dominant party in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

.That’ll be reiterated at the Nov. 14 general election,” Rasamanickam said.

Responding to another query, the outspoken politician said the EPRLF, TELO and PLOTE had quit the ITAK-led Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the ITAK also known as the Federal Party was contesting general election on its own.

According to Rasamanickam when compared with the number of Tamil political parties that had been represented in the last parliament, the number of parties and independent groups contesting in the Northern and Eastern districts was much higher.

In the last parliament, altogether five political parties were represented. The TNA contesting under ITAK symbol ‘House’ secured 10 seats, including one NL slot, EPDP (2), AITC (2) including one NL), TMVP (1) and TMTK (1).

Declaring that they had absolutely no problem in retaining the same number of seats as in the previous parliament, Rasamanickam said the oldest party in that part of the country was aiming 13 seats.

One-time TNA MP Pakkiyaselvam Ariyaenthiran who contested the recently concluded presidential election as an independent candidate was not in the fray at the general election, Rasamanickam said. However, those who backed him at that election were contesting on the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) ticket, Rasamanickam said.

“TELO and PLOTE that represented the TNA in parliament previously are with the DTNA,” Rasamanickam said, adding that their symbol originally belonged to Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). Asked about ex-TNA lawmaker Sivagnanam Shritharan’s status, Rasamanickam said that Shritharan was on their Jaffna district list. Differences over him backing the candidature of Pakkiyaselvam Ariyaenthiran at the presidential election had been resolved, Rasamanickam said, urging the Northern and Eastern electorates to have faith in the ITAK.

Rasamanickam asserted that national parties would find it extremely difficult to win sufficient support among the predominately Tamil speaking electoral divisions (Jaffna, Vanni, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Digamadulla) to make a difference.

Rasamanickam noted that at the last general election, Angajan Ramanathan entered parliament from Jaffna on the SLFP ticket, the only district that party contested under its own symbol. Ramanathan is now contesting under the ‘post box’ symbol.

The SLFP is not in the fray at the parliamentary election.

Two former prominent LTTE personnel are also in the fray in the East. Karuna Amman and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan, both former lawmakers are contesting the Batticaloa district from different political parties. According to Rasamanickam Chandrakanthan is on the TMVP Batticaloa district list whereas Karuna is contesting on the ticket of a political party registered by ex-MP Chathura Senaratne.

Rasamanickam emphasised on the responsibility on the part of the President and the parliament to address the grievances of the Tamil speaking people.

Referring to the conclusion of the conflict in 2009, Rasamanickam said that those who had been at the helm of political power never made a genuine effort to address the issues. Instead they played politics, the Batticaloa district candidate said, urging the electorate to help build a strong opposition against the backdrop of NPP’s repeated urgings that the parliament be filled by its candidates.

All News Advertisement

News

Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation

Published

26 mins ago

2026/09/14

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.

The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.

Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.

Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.

News

CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.

Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.

The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.

Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.

Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.

Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.

The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.

Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.

The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.

The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.

SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.

Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

News

GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Dhammika

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.

GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.

Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.

(SF)