News
JVP vows to go all out to torpedo 20 A

JVP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya flanked by former MP Bimal Ratnayake and NPP Leadership Council member Attorney-at-Law Lal Wijenayake addressing a press conference held at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte,
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP-led National People’s Power yesterday called the proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution a betrayal of mandate the people had given to the government at the last general election.
Addressing the media at the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the government, claiming to respect people’s sovereignty, had unveiled a draft amendment to concentrate more powers in the executive presidency at the expense of the rights of the people. The draft of the amendment envisaged stripping the Prime Minister and Parliament of their powers. Those who drafted the bill had shown that they had no trust in either their political enemies or the PM or their parliamentary group. The proposed amendment wouldgive more powers to the executive presidency than when it was under the J. R. Jayewardene government.
Amarasuriya said it was tragic and ironic that there were some Cabinet minsters who opposed the executive presidency in 1978, but were now fighting for the passage of the 20th Amendment which further strengthened it. “We see that some of those who had to go to jail because they opposed executive presidency are today supporting the 20th Amendment. We have decided to fight in and out of parliament against the proposed amendment and to take whatever measure to defeat it.”
Former JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake: “We have been warning the people of the dangers of giving a two-thirds power to any government. We are planning to create a public discussion on the 20th amendment. The most dangerous provision envisaged in the draft bill is to reduce Parliament’s powers as regards control over public finance. In parliamentary systems in the world, the control over public funds comes under the purview of Parliament. The proposed 20th Amendment is to remove those powers from parliament and this will pave the way for a dictatorship. The Amendment also seeks to remove the powers of the Auditor General to audit state sector corporations. We had the opportunity to bring corrupt state sector corporations such as SriLankan before the parliamentary watchdog committee – COPE. Such action would not be possible if the 20th Amendment is passed.
NPP Leadership Council member Attorney-at-Law Lal Wijenayake: The executive presidency is a threat to democracy. Therefore, Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power twice, promising to abolish it. President Maithripala Sirisena too promised to do the same. Now, these presidents have come and gone but the executive presidency remains. The proposed 20th Amendment will make the situation far worse. We urge the people to oppose this undemocratic amendment.
News
Cop who accepted Rs 3000 bribe nabbed by CIABOC

A police officer attached to the Raddolugama police station who accepted a bribe of Rs 3000/- from a motorist has been nabbed by officers attached to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Monday (14) evening.
It is alleged that the police officer demanded Rs 3000/- from the motorist to return his driving licence without prosecuting him for a traffic offence.
News
GMOA swings into action on Vithana’s disclosure of MPs’ salaries, etc.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has sought an explanation from Parliament regarding how PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is applied to parliamentarians.
GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa has written to the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Information was sought on 09 July, 2025, in the wake of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Kalutara district parliamentarian Jagath Vithana posting his pay sheets from January to May this year on his Facebook.
In addition to information on PAYE, the GMOA has posed a number of other questions to the Secretary General regarding the parliamentarians’ salary as well as pensions.
Parliament passed the RTI Act on 24 June, 2016, and it came into effect on 03 February, 2017. This act, introduced through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, in 2015, is meant to promote transparency and accountability in government.
New controversy has erupted in the wake of Nawa Janatha Peramuna lodging a complaint with the CIABOC seeking an investigation into Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne abusing public property, a claim denied by the Secretary General of Parliament.
According to Vithana’s May pay sheet, his monthly allowance is Rs. 54,285, entertainment allowance Rs 1,000, telephone allowance Rs 50,000, sitting allowance Rs 5,000, office allowance Rs 100,000, fuel allowance Rs 97,428.92 and transport allowance Rs. 15,000. His take home pay is Rs 317, 760.92 after the deduction of Rs 1,200 for catering, stamp duty Rs. 25 and Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT).
Asked whether he regretted the releasing of pay sheets, lawmaker Vithana told The Island that in the run-up to the last parliamentary elections, held in November 2024, he had promised the Kalutara electorate he wouldn’t draw his salary. The MP said that however, he later felt the salary should be accepted and used in support of public welfare projects undertaken by him. “Therefore, the money was used appropriately,” he said, adding that both the government and Opposition MPs reacted with resentment. “I feel sort of isolated in Parliament. Hardly anyone talks to me,” MP Vithana said.
Dr. Sugathadasa said that having perused the pay sheets posted online, the GMOA had felt the urgent need to seek a clarification from Parliament as the lawmakers appeared to have received special status. The top GMOA official emphasised they wanted to establish the truth and used the RTI law to obtain information regarding the MPs’ salaries, pensions and other related information. “The GMOA made the request on 09 July, 2025. We are confident the Parliament will answer our queries,” Dr. Sugathadasa said.
Parliament meets only eight days a month. Attendance is not compulsory and there is no fixed time for lawmakers to attend sittings. Over the years, sittings have been suspended for lack of quorum.
The Island asked the GMOA official whether they would seek the intervention of the RTI Commission in case the Parliament declined to reveal the information sought by them. Dr. Sugathadasa said that the Executive Committee of the GMOA would decide the course of action if Parliament withheld information.
A few years ago Chamara Sampath, of Wijeya Newspapers, successfully moved the Court of Appeal against the Parliament after the latter refused to disclose names of Members of Parliament (MPs) who had handed over their respective declarations of assets and liabilities in 2018 and list of names of MPs who have handed over their Declarations from 2010 to the time he made the request (21 June, 2018).
The Court on 28 February, 2023, reaffirmed the RTI Commission’s stand that Declarations of Assets and Liabilities Law of 1975 (DALL) didn’t prevail over the Right to Information Act no. 12 of 2016 (RTI Act).
According to the Parliament website, an MP is paid Rs. 54,285, entertainment allowance Rs 1,000, driver’s allowance Rs 3,500 (only if driver is not provided by government). Fuel allowances are paid based on the distance from Parliament to the electoral district which each MP was elected and the approved market price of one litre of diesel on the first day of every month, telephone allowance Rs 50,000, transport allowance for personal staff Rs 10,000, and stamps worth Rs 350,000 issued to each MP annually.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
News
Udaya alleges Prez hasn’t given up efforts to bring in outsider as AG

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and former Minister Udaya Gammanpila says President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has delayed making a permanent appointment to the post of Auditor General in a bid to bring in an outsider early next year.
Addressing the media yesterday (14), Attorney-at-Law Gammanpila said that three civil society members of the Constitutional Council, who opposed the President’s move, would be completing their term in early January next year. Instead of appointing Dharmapala Gammanpila as the Auditor General, the President had given him only an extension in service so as to get rid of him at the first available opportunity and bring in his crony from the Kelaniya University.
The former lawmaker said that the success of the President’s plan depended on the appointment of pliant civil society members to the CC, ready to help advance the NPP’s agenda.
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