News

Opposition, particularly minority, parties urged to support President’s initiative

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/25

NPC also urges involvement of UN, international community

Appreciating President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s speech at the UNGA, the National Peace Council (NPC) has urged the Opposition to back the President’s initiative. Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director, NPC, said:

“The President’s intention to deal with contentious issues requires the support of the parties in the Opposition, especially the minority parties which have democratic mandates with them and we call on them to accept the invitation that the President extends.”

The NPC is represented at the Sri Lanka Collective for Consensus (SLCC) engaged in a dialogue with the government.

The following is the text of Dr. Perera’s statement issued on Wednesday: “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s address to the UN General Assembly was short, simple and dignified. The President covered the main issues that confront the world with his focus on Sri Lanka. These included the Covid pandemic, economic difficulties, environmental degradation and violence that are global problems and which his government, which received two democratic mandates, has had to face.

“In his speech in New York, the President sought international assistance to overcome the setbacks in the economic situation in the country. He also pledged to address the core issues that had given rise to violence through internal mechanisms, that would address issues of accountability, restorative justice and reconciliation. The National Peace Council welcomes the President’s statement that it is his Government’s firm intention to build a prosperous, stable and secure future for all Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender. We are ready to engage with all domestic stakeholders, and to obtain the support of our international partners and the United Nations, in this process.”

He has also invited the Diaspora to a dialogue in the process.

“We urge the President to take action in society necessary for national reconciliation. There is a need to overcome the cynicism and mistrust that has grown due to the many lost opportunities and unmet promises. As immediate actions we would urge the release of long-term and short-term prisoners held without trial, under the PTA. and facilitate truth seeking and reparation in the process of addressing the issue of missing persons as well as the Easter bombing. We would also urge the government to obtain UN assistance and that of international personnel to improve the internal mechanisms already established and work together on ones to come.

The President’s intention to deal with contentious issues requires the support of the parties in the Opposition especially the minority parties which have democratic mandates with them and we call on them to accept the invitation that the President extends. As the meeting with the TNA has been on hold for long the onus is on the President to give priority to that meeting. The already established reconciliation mechanisms need to be activated and efficiently managed for trust-building of the people.

We believe it is possible to overcome the country’s challenges of peace, justice and development with the involvement of all stakeholders including the UN and international community.”

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News

Educational equipment Provided to University Students through the President’s Fund

Published

28 mins ago

2026/06/19

Priyan

A programme to provide educational equipment to selected university students was held on Thursday (18) morning at the Head Office of the President’s Fund.

During the event, laptop computers were distributed to 14 students selected from applications received through Divisional Secretariat offices across the island. The President’s Fund has allocated Rs. 5.8 million for this initiative.

Accordingly, the President’s Fund has provided educational equipment to approximately 30 university students in 2025 and 2026. More than Rs. 9.8 million has been spent on this programme to date.

The event was attended by Secretary to the President’s Fund and Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, along with senior officials of the President’s Fund, parents, and other invitees.

(PMD)

News

Creditor receives USD 2.5 mn as Lankan public bears loss from theft of Treasury funds

Published

13 hours ago

2026/06/19

Thilina Walpola

Amidst ongoing accusations that the theft of USD 2.5 mn (nearly 1 bn Rupees) from the Treasury hadn’t been properly investigated, The Island learns that the relevant payments had been made to the actual creditor on the instructions of the Finance Ministry.

Confirming the inquiries made by us, authoritative sources said that payments had been made to several accounts through the US banks. Earlier, Sri Lanka released funds to fake foreign accounts in spite of warnings regarding the suspicions about the process.

The funds were part of a bilateral debt repayment to Australia with a settlement due in September 2025. The payment was part of a $ 22.9 million debt settlement.

The lapses occurred in the wake of far reaching changes regarding the debt management functions. In terms of a particular condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka’s debt management functions that had been previously handled by the Central Bank were transferred to a new institution established under the General Treasury—the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).

Sources said that regardless of the loss of USD 2.5 mn, Sri Lanka couldn’t have defaulted and therefore payments had been made.

Sources who closely followed the issue said that the government owed an explanation and public apology regarding the loss of USD 2.5 mn and how fresh payments were made.

Sources said that the USD 2.5 mn paid to fake accounts had been lost and could never be traced. CoPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva has said that the NPP government has told the IMF that stolen USD 2.5 mn would be recovered from the public by introducing an amendment to the budget.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

Former Minister Nalin raises defence of double jeopardy

Published

13 hours ago

2026/06/19

Thilina Walpola

Nalin Fernando

The Court of Appeal yesterday (18) postponed until June 25 the hearing of a petition filed by former Minister Nalin Fernando seeking the dismissal of an indictment brought against him by the Attorney General in connection with the controversial ‘Carrom Boards’ case.

The petition was taken up before a bench comprising Justices P. Kumararatnam and Pradeep Hettiarachchi.

Appearing for the petitioner, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Ramzi Bacha, informed court that Fernando had already been convicted and sentenced to 30 years rigorous imprisonment in a case instituted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) arising from the same incident.

Counsel argued that the Attorney General had subsequently filed a separate case based on the same set of charges and maintained that subjecting an accused person to a second prosecution for the same offence was contrary to law.

He submitted that preliminary objections on the issue had been raised before the Colombo High Court but were dismissed by the trial judge.

The petitioner has therefore sought a declaration from the Court of Appeal that the indictment filed by the Attorney General is unlawful and requested that the charges be set aside.

The court directed that the matter be called again on June 25, when the Attorney General is expected to present submissions on the petition.

The case stems from allegations that during the 2015 presidential election campaign, 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 checkers boards were imported and distributed through Lanka Sathosa outlets for allocation to political offices of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs. 39 million to the State.

Based on those allegations, the Attorney General has instituted proceedings against Fernando before the Colombo High Court under the Public Property Act.