News
Lanka’s Ambassador in Myanmar accused of campaigning for SLPP, SLFP
… envoy seeks clarification
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney-at-law Nishantha Palliyaguruge, in a letter to the Election Commission (EC), has accused Sri Lanka Ambassador in Myanmar Prof. Nalin de Silva of campaigning for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) as well as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
The SLFP contests on the SLPP ticket in all districts except Kalutara and Jaffna where the party submitted nominations under its symbol.
Palliyaguruge alleged that in spite of several complaints lodged with the EC, action was yet to be taken in that regard.
The EC consists of Mahinda Deshapriya, Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole and Nalin Abeysekera, PC.
Attorney-at-law Palliyaguruge has said that Ambassador de Silva used a website and his Facebook account to promote selected candidates, including Prof. Channa Jayasumana (SLPP Anuradhapura District), Dinesh Gunawardena (SLPP Colombo District) and Maithripala Sirisena (SLPP Polonnaruwa).
Alleging that Prof. De Silva had been unfairly critical of EC members, the complainant furnished several articles authored by the academic to justify his accusations. Lawyer Palliyaguruge questioned EC how a government servant paid by taxpayers money engaged in such political activity.
Prof. De Silva was among those who received diplomatic appointments after the change of government in the wake of November 2019 presidential poll.
Prof. De Silva, in his response to Attorney-at-law Palliyaguruge with copies to members of the EC, has asked what were the specific violations perpetrated by him as regards the Parliamentary Election law. The outspoken academic declared that he was not a government servant while finding fault with the lawyer for not writing his name properly.
Prof. De Silva made available the complaint against him as well as his response, both in Sinhala, to The Island.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Catholic Council reconvenes after nine years
ICC to widen Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE departs following replenishment visit
PM meets Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
Tennessee execution called off after failed lethal injection
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
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