News

Lawmakers, Speaker challenged to reveal their choice to counter bribery allegations

Published

4 years ago

2022/07/20

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Senior Front line Socialist Party (FSP) spokesperson Pubudu Jagoda yesterday (19) urged all members of Parliament, including Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, to reveal whom they would support at today’s vote to elect a President.

Acting President and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, SLPP’s Dullas Alahapperuma and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake are in the fray.

Acknowledging that the scheduled process would be a secret vote, Jagoda said that the members of Parliament should have the strength to declare their choice.

The breakaway JVP faction, the FSP played a critical role at times in barbaric protests that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to leave the country.

Those who voted for them have a right to know how their representatives responded to the unprecedented political crisis, the activist said. The FSP’s Education Secretary emphasized that the outfit felt that the MPs taking an open stand would be a prerequisite for creating what he called a level playing field.

Responding to another query, Jagoda said that by declaring their choice before the vote, lawmakers could quite easily counter allegations pertaining to the bribing of members. Noting that voters could mark second and third preferences, Jagoda challenged all political parties and individual lawmakers as well not to take cover behind parliamentary privileges, but to openly declare their first, second, and third choices.

The Parliament, as an institution, repeatedly faulted for its failure to ensure financial transparency and discipline that contributed to the current crisis, could redeem itself by conducting a clean election, devoid of controversies.

Jagoda noted that so far only Vasudeva Nanayakkara has publicly declared his support for Dullas Alahapperuma. Referring to the continuing controversy surrounding the ruling SLPP’s stand on today’s vote with party Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris challenging the party secretary Sagara Kariyawasam’s declaration in support of Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s candidature, Jagoda said that the electorate would never get such an opportunity to test the integrity of those elected at the 2020 general election.

The lawmakers should be able to justify their actions, Jagoda said, adding that those who intended to abstain, too, should explain their decision.

Fifteen political parties and alliances are represented in parliament. They are Sir Lanka Podujana Peramuna (145 seats), Samagi Jana Balavegaya (54), Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (10), Jathika Jana Balavegaya (03), Ahila Illankai Tamil Congress (02), Eelam People’s Democratic Party (02), United National Party (01), Sir Lanka Freedom Party (01), Our Power of People’s Party (01), Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (01), Muslim National Alliance (01), Tamil Makkal Thesiya Kutani (01), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (01), National Congress (01) and Sir Lanka Muslim Congress (01).

The Parliament consists of 196 elected and 29 appointed members. Of the 29 National List slots, the SLPP and the SJB won 17 and 07 seats, respectively.

Jagoda said that it would be the responsibility of the new President and the proposed all-party government to address the issues at hand taking into consideration the problems highlighted by protesters. The activist stressed that the outcome of Wednesday’s vote shouldn’t in anyway undermine the formation of a genuine all-party government.

Asked whether the FSP was aware of a group of persons seeking to register a political party on the basis of their involvement in the protest campaign against the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government, Jagoda said he didn’t know anything more than what was reported in print and electronic media.

A delegation from the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) on Monday (18) met SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to discuss latest developments. The meeting took place ahead of Premadasa quitting the presidential race. The IUSF which spearheaded the campaign against the Rajapaksa administration is affiliated to the FSP. IUSF convener Wasantha Mudalige led the delegation.

Responding to the IUSF’s call for the implementation of an agreed set of proposals within a specific time frame, lawmaker Premadasa pointed out the difficulty in achieving targets ahead of deadlines.

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

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

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

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.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

4 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

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.