News
JVP terror cannot be left out in debate on Batalanda detention centre: SJB
The SJB yesterday (09) said that what had happened at the Batalanda detention centre (Batalanda Housing Scheme of the State Fertiliser Corporation) couldn’t be debated leaving out the JVP terrorism in the late ’80s.
The top SJB spokesman Mujibur Rahuman said that the JVP, that made an abortive bid to assassinate the then President J.R. Jayewardene, inside Parliament, on 18 August, 1987, as they opposed the signing of the Indo-Lanka peace accord on 29 July, 1987, couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for the atrocities it perpetrated at that time.
The Colombo district MP said that the SJB intended to use today’s debate on the Batalanda detention centre to remind the country of the JVP’s brutal conduct at that time.
Responding to another query, the former UNPer said that this debate couldn’t have been held at a better day. Declaring that the UNP had no option but to fight back in the face of JVP terror, the outspoken lawmaker said that the attack on President JRJ claimed the life of Deniyaya MP Keerthi Abeywickrema and wounded several others, including then National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali, who was later assassinated by an LTTE gunman.
Reminding that the first lawmaker killed by the JVP, after the signing of the Indo-Lanka accord, was Tangalle MP Jinadasa Weerasinghe, MP Rahuman said that the Parliament having to debate Batalanda in the very Parliament where JVPer Ajith Kumara threw two hand grenades at the UNP parliamentary group meeting was nothing but a twist of fate.
The majority of the JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) may not know that the JVP later recognised the grenade attacker by accommodating him in their decision-making politburo. At the 1999 Provincial Council election, the JVP fielded Ajith Kumara as their chief ministerial candidate, the SJBer said.
Referring to the seven MoUs/Agreements signed by Sri Lanka and India recently, MP Rahuman said that the JVP declared a ban on Indian goods at the onset of its second insurrection. The JVP found fault with the then Chairperson of State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC), Dr. Mrs. Gladys Jayawardena, for importing medicine from India. The JVP assassinated her in early September, 1989, at the height of the insurgency, lawmaker Rahuman said. Having killed people to enforce the boycott of Indian goods ordered by them, President Dissanayake last week entered into a slew of agreements with India, the Opposition lawmaker said.
The MoU on medicine may compel Sri Lanka to procure as much as 80 percent of supplies from Modi’s India, MP Rahuman said.
The MoU on Defence Cooperation may cause catastrophe and place the country in an extremely risky situation, MP Rahuman added.
The Colombo District MP said that the breakaway faction of the UNP would have to take the responsibility of defending the party as it was not represented in the current Parliament.
During that period, the government adopted counter-insurgency strategies. The armed forces and police acted on the orders of the political leadership, he said, challenging the NPP government to reveal the exact number of persons detained under JRJ’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979. “We believe at least 15 people have been taken into custody since the last presidential election. If I’m wrong, the Public Security Ministry can set the record straight. Recently a youth was detained under PTA for pasting a sticker against Israel,” MP Rahuman said.
Rahuman mentioned that the JVP killed several thousand people and destroyed may be billions worth of public property. “We intend to ask the relevant authorities to disclose the total number of law enforcement and armed forces officers and men killed by the JVP during that period,” Rahuman said. Those who felt the debate could be used to tarnish the image of the UNP may end up with egg on their face, Rahuman said.
The MP said that Batalanda had never been an issue for the JVP. Had that been an issue, how could they have joined the UNP at the time I was with that party to support retired General Sarath Fonseka’s candidature at the 2010 presidential election, MP Rahuman asked.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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
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
Nine Indian poachers brought to KKS with their boat
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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