News

Mujibur slams Prez for ‘false claims’

Published

4 years ago

2023/02/27

Thilina Walpola

demands to know why UNP submitted nominations

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SJB mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Mujibur Rahuman yesterday denied President Ranil Wickremesinghe having asked him not to quit Parliament to contest the forthcoming local government polls. MP Rahuman resigned on 01 Jan.

The former Colombo District MP said so in response to President Wickremesinghe’s recent claim that he advised MP Rahuman not to resign as the LG polls wouldn’t be held.

Rahuman first entered Parliament, on the UNP ticket, at the 2015 general election, and was re-elected, in August 2020, on the SJB ticket, having switched allegiance to Sajith Premadasa, in early 2020. Rahuman was among 54 SJB members elected at the last general election.

The leading SJB candidate, vying to be Colombo Mayor, alleged that President Wickremesinghe, who is also the leader of the UNP, inadvertently exposed his despicable plan to put off LG polls indefinitely. The President and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena coordinated ill-advised government efforts to delay polls, Rahuman said, pointing out that their plans went awry because the Election Commission and its Director General didn’t succumb to intense pressure.

Having been rejected by the masses and the party reduced to just one National List MP in Parliament at the last general election held in August 2020, the UNP realized the extremely difficult situation the party faced at the forthcoming LG polls, the ex-MP said.

Rahuman recalled how the Prime Minister summoned the EC twice, before the President, too, called the EC, as the government top leadership went flat out to disrupt the LG polls.

Asked whether he had received calls or messages from the UNP leader in the recent past regarding some other matter, Rahuman said that he was offered an opportunity to join the government soon after the then President swore in Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister on May 12, 2022.

“I was offered a ministerial portfolio,” Rahuman said, adding that the offer was renewed in the wake of parliament electing Wickremesinghe on July 20 as the eighth executive president. The largest party in parliament the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) overwhelmingly voted for Wickremesinghe at the expense of their own man Dullas Alahapperuma, MP, Rahuman said.

The parliament elected him to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term and take tangible measures to stabilize the national economy, the former MP said. Instead, the President has been working overtime to consolidate his position, Rahuman alleged, explaining that otherwise, Wickremesinghe wouldn’t have sought to sabotage the LG polls that had been already delayed.The last LG polls were held on Feb 10, 2018. The next LG polls should have been conducted in early 2022.

Responding to another query, Rahuman said now that President Wickremesinghe owed an explanation why the UNP itself handed over nominations for LG polls if he believed the March 09 date was not properly fixed.

Rahuman said Wickremesinghe’s political strategy was transparent. “The President is exploring the possibility of rolling back the election calendar. If he succeeded in sabotaging the LG polls on the basis of insufficient funds, the next presidential and parliamentary polls too could be put off citing financial woes,” he said.

The highly articulate Colombo Mayoral candidate asked whether the President consulted the SLPP regarding his proposal to put off the LG polls indefinitely. Perhaps, the President and the SLPP bosses agreed on the LG polls postponement at the onset of their marriage of convenience meant to protect the utterly corrupt SLPP administration, Rahuman alleged.

The former MP said that the President and the SLPP were in a quandary over the continuing deterioration of the economy. In spite of boasting about international support for the Wickremesinghe-led administration, they hadn’t been able to finalize the deal with the IMF for USD 2.9 bn, Rahuman charged. However, postponement of the LG polls couldn’t be justified on lack of funds against the backdrop of the Parliament approving Rs 10 bn for the EC in the 2023 budget, he said.

Rahuman said that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena couldn’t absolve himself of the responsibility for ensuring the implementation of the budget. The Speaker shouldn’t play a role in the President’s strategy, the ex-MP said. “The beleaguered President is trying to cause chaos. But, we are in such a desperate situation, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary will have to respond to the developing situation,” Rahuman said.

The former MP declined to comment on a retired Army officer moving court against the LG polls. “We cannot find fault with the retired officer for exercising his right. But, the right of millions of voters to exercise their franchise, too, should be taken into consideration.”

All News Advertisement

News

Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation

Published

16 hours ago

2026/09/14

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.

The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.

Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.

Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.

News

CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process

Published

18 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.

Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.

The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.

Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.

Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.

Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.

The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.

Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.

The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.

The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.

SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.

Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

News

GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015

Published

18 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Dhammika

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.

GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.

Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.

(SF)