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Karu tells the country to follow Ukraine’s example!
Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) and former Speaker, Karu Jayasuriya yesterday urged Sri Lankans to follow the example set by Ukraine and to join hands to formulate a common minimum programme to respond to the country’s current crisis.
Issuing a press release Jayasuriya said that the fuel and electricity crises had disrupted the everyday lives of the people. The economic activities are grinding to a standstill, he said.
“There appears to be a lack of consensus within the government on possible solutions, thereby further delaying the resolution of these many issues. Instead, various parties to the government are presenting their own opinions on the matter adding to the existing chaos and confusion. The only obvious solution to face a catastrophe of this scale is to at least temporarily form a united national front. However, it can only be built if the government extends the hand of friendship to all other relevant parties,” he said.
Jayasuriya added that the National Movement for Social Justice had come up with a proposal, prepared with the assistance of local and foreign academics and scholars under the leadership of Prof. Rohan Samarajiva.
“A majority of the leading political leaders who participated in the discussion agreed that these proposals were suitable to be taken up for initial discussion. There was also a positive response from religious and civil society leaders. It is noteworthy that several members of the ruling party have also shown interest. The next few days of the week will be devoted to a public discussion entitled “A Minimal Common Programme to Respond to Sri Lanka’s Current Crisis.” We then intend to present a national resolution to the country after including proposals from various quarters,” he said.
Given below are the excerpts of the press release: “In spite of these facts, the government should take immediate action to alleviate the sufferings of the people. Immediate solutions must be provided for the issues in transportation and electricity. The CEB can easily restore the power supply. If the railways and bus services collapse, the whole country will come to a standstill.
“It must be noted that the state apparatus is continuously failing to take decisions based on one point of view and is instead issuing statements expressing varying opinions and decisions leading to further chaos. For example, the President, the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board are all expressing different views on fuel supply these days. It would be a relief to the people and allow them to plan their work around the power disruptions
“If they can stick to a proper time table for power disruptions in a specific area instead of announcing a lengthy time period during which they may experience many power outages, it would be a relief to the people and would allow them to plan their work accordingly.
“During this harvesting season, the suffering of the farmers due to the lack of diesel is evident through media reports. Their grievances are heartbreaking. There is also a severe shortage of medicinal drugs in the country. This is a dangerous situation.
“Our people are beset not only by shortages of essential items, but also by escalating prices. In the month of January alone, food inflation has risen by 24%. The main reason for this is the excessive printing of currency.
“Ihe government must be flexible and take the lead in the effort to save the country with the support of all. We believe the leaders of the opposition will cooperate and act in a responsible manner. However their support can be obtained not by summoning political dissidents to the BMICH and by retaliating through presidential commissions, but by initiating mutual cooperation.
“It is the duty of the government to earn their trust. Engaging in political revenge but telling people that they abide by the ‘One Country, One Law’ policy only to blatantly violate it will not invoke their trust. It should be understood that the people do not approve of that process of the government.
“Governments that come to power with a large majority must bear in mind that they are the custodians of a country and not its owners who in reality are the people of the country. Therefore, one should not regard the mandate given to him by the people as an arbitrary power. It should also be noted that the people, who are the real owners of the government, will not allow such any arbitrary acts.
“In the last presidential election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa received 6,900,0000 votes while at least 6,200,000 votes were against him. Therefore, the government should have realised that introducing any constitutional amendment or drafting the constitution that would suit its political agenda and not the country such as the 20th Amendment would only lead to the deterioration of itself and the country.
“The position of the National Movement for Social Justice is that under the 20th Amendment, Sri Lanka will no longer be a free country. It will take Sri Lanka to a new feudal system and plunge this country into a severe political and economic recession.”
Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s 94 helped Sri Lanka chase down 169 with ease against Pakistan. Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne together started strongly, putting up a 159-run stand as Sri Lanka won with eight balls to spare.
With the ball, right-arm seamer Chethana Vimukthi, who was called up as the injured Shashini Gimhani’s replacement. for the T20 World Cup, made an impact for Sri Lanka, finishing with figures of 4 for 31. Vimukthi broke the 60-run stand between openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza, following which Pakistan lost wickets regularly. Captain Fatima Sana top-scored for Pakistan from No. 7 with 37 to push the total past 150. In reply, Sri Lanka made easy work of the chase, with Athapaththu itting five sixes and nine fours in her 56-ball stay.
Scores:
Sri Lanka Women 169 for 1 in 18.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 94, Vishmi Gunaratne 63*; Fatima Sana 1-20 ) beat Pakistan Women 168 for 8 in 20 overs (Muneesha Ali 36, Gull Feroza 26. Ayesha Zafar 10, Saira Jabeen 12, Fatima Sana 37, Aliya Riyaaz 22; Sugandika Kumari 1-33, Chethana Vimukthi 4-31, Malki Madara 1-19, Nimasha Meepage 1-16) by nine wickets
(Cricinfo)
Open hearing of evidence into alleged irregularities in coal procurement is scheduled to begin in the first week of July, while the Presidential Commission of Inquiry continues recording statements from relevant officials, investigators said.
So far, the Commission has recorded statements from around 40 government officials, including members of procurement committees and other personnel attached to institutions involved in coal-related transactions.
Officials said that, depending on evidence gathered during the ongoing inquiry, statements may also be obtained from former ministers if required.
The Commission has also received 28 complaints in connection with alleged irregularities in coal imports and related procurement processes.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on April 17 appointed a three-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry under the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 07 of 1978 to probe alleged malpractice in coal imports and electricity generation since the inception of coal-based power generation up to April 16, 2026.
The Commission is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga, with Court of Appeal Judge Aditya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeewa Somaratne serving as members. Former State Ministry Secretary P.V. Bandulasena acts as Secretary to the Commission.
The inquiry covers alleged procurement irregularities, possible financial losses to the State, import of substandard coal, quality inspection failures, contractual breaches and operational issues in power generation, including whether corrective measures were taken where necessary.
It will also identify responsible political authorities, officials of Sri Lanka Coal Company (Private) Limited and suppliers, while recommending legal or administrative action and measures to prevent future lapses.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) is also preparing to table its report on coal procurement in Parliament, with officials from relevant institutions having been summoned during its proceedings. COPE Chairman MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera said audit findings had also been considered, and any matters requiring further investigation would be referred to law enforcement and anti-corruption authorities.
Trincomalee District TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has submitted a motion to Parliament calling for the immediate repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), arguing that the controversial law has enabled arbitrary detention, torture and the targeting of minority communities for more than four decades.
In his motion, now published in the Addendum to the Order Book of Parliament, the MP urged the Government to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, No. 48 of 1979, in its entirety and refrain from introducing any replacement legislation containing similar provisions.
Rasamanickam contended that the PTA had been used for over 40 years to facilitate prolonged arbitrary detention and to obtain false confessions through torture. He further alleged that the law had disproportionately affected minority communities and civil society groups.
The motion states that there is no justification for maintaining a permanent counter-terrorism law that grants sweeping powers to the authorities.
The TNA legislator argued that existing legal provisions were sufficient to address security threats, noting that terrorism-related offences could already be prosecuted under the Penal Code.
He also pointed out that the Government retained the power to declare a state of emergency when circumstances warranted extraordinary measures, rendering a permanent anti-terrorism framework unnecessary.
Accordingly, the motion calls on Parliament to resolve that the Government take immediate steps to abolish the PTA without replacing it with legislation containing comparable powers.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act, enacted in 1979, has long been the subject of criticism from human rights organisations, civil society groups and international bodies, which have raised concerns over provisions relating to detention without trial and safeguards against abuse.
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