News
PM praises 20A, explains what went wrong with 19A brought in to ‘suppress Rajapaksas’
By Saman Indrajith
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (21) told Parliament that he was happy and proud of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution for it would become law without any political deals to get it passed in Parliament.
Participating in the second reading stage debate on the amendment bill, the Prime Minister said that instances of constitutional reforms in history were full of political deals to obtain votes from other parties to pass those bills. “There is neither such pressure nor political deal in this instance,” he said.
The 20th Amendment was brought to remove the 19th Amendment which had plunged the country into anarchy and was rejected by the people, Prime Minister Rajapaksa said.
The PM said people had given the SLPP to strengthen the position of the President and therefore the 20th Amendment had been brought in to strengthen national security and repeal the 19th Amendment which destabilized the country.
The Prime Minister said that the government was not planning to continue with the existing Constitution would introduce a new constitution to build the nation fulfilling the long awaited aspiration of the people.
“No other Constitution has been criticised as much as this Constitution. Dr. NM Perera, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva and Sarath Muttettuwegama were the ones who initially opposed this constitution but, they are not alive today. However, we have no choice but to maintain this constitution. Although the SLFP opposes this Constitution, the Presidents produced by the SLFP have formed governments under it. Although UNP leader J.R. Jayewardene had introduced the present Constitution to prevent the SLFP from coming to power, the SLFP had ruled the country for the longest period by producing the highest number of residents. Therefore, all of us have been subjected to political ridicule under this constitution. But we have not been able to change this Constitution because one party could not get a two- thirds majority in Parliament under the PR system, but we have won a two-thirds majority. The people of this country wanted a government that would safeguard the sovereignty of the people without succumbing to foreign pressures and breaking up into factions.”
The PM said that when a Constitution was amended it was normal for various debates to arise in Parliament. “However, certain amendments in history have been made with MPs kept under pressure. But, we are not bringing this 20th Amendment to Parliament through political deals or by securing votes by exerting influence on anyone. That is why at this moment when the 20th Amendment is being brought, there is room for debate. On the other hand, I would like to ask whether the same could be said about the 19th Amendment. At that time the Maha Sangha or anyone was not allowed to protest. Therefore, we can be happy about the manner in which the 20th Amendment is being debated respecting the democratic rights of the people without any underhand deal making involved.”
The PM said that the 19th Amendment was solely aimed at taking revenge from the Rajapaksa family and to target the civic rights of the Rajapaksas. But unfortunately, it had only jeopardised the national security and unity of the country.
“Some people rejoiced when the President’s wings were clipped, not realising that such action would endanger national security. The Head of former State Intelligence Service has revealed before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the Easter Sunday attacks that at least 10,000 officials had been aware that the terror strikes would happen but could do nothing to prevent the attack.”
In addition the Prime Minister noted that the president did not even have the power to remove the IGP even after such a tragedy or even to transfer inefficient police officers. “Only the Police Commission can do that. But it was a mystery as to who the Police Commission was answerable to.
“The state intelligence and other intelligence services were very strong during our time. But after the introduction of 19th Amendment, the CID was used to hunt down Opposition politicians. As a result, the efficiency of services such as the CID intelligence deteriorated. Now, the CID could not apprehend Rishad Bathiudeen fast. Rishad’s younger brother who was allegedly linked to terrorists has been released on bail by the police. No there is nothing that can be done about that.”
Prime Minister Rajapaksa said that officials from the Attorney General’s Department had been summoned to Temple Trees to conduct an anti-corruption committee during the previous regime. For five years Temple Trees had spent a colossal sum of money to maintain that committee. “Even the officials of the then Attorney General’s Department have publicly stated that the committee was illegal. But has the Independent Audit Commission audited the huge expenditure incurred by this committee? Is there a report submitted to this country after such an audit?”
The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee which arrived in Sri Lanka for replenishment purposes, departed the island on 04 Mar 26.
In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo
A day after a US submarine sunk an Iranian Navy warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Sayed Abbas Araghchi, has warned that the US would “pay bitterly” for targeting a ship in international waters, The Tribune has reported.
Araghchi posted on social media platform X on Thursday saying, “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.”
The frigate IRIS Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning, said the Iran Foreign Minister, adding, “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, on Wednesday confirmed that a US submarine fired a torpedo and sank the Iranian Navy vessel IRIS Dena west of Sri Lanka.
In a way, the Iran and US-Israel conflict has reached close to the Indian coast. The strike today at sea was almost 4,000 kms away from Iran, significantly expanding the radius of war. Already, fearing Iranian missile strikes, several US warships have moved eastward towards India.
These ships are in international waters. India has denied that any US Navy assets were using Indian ports. The Iranian ship, hit on Wednesday, was returning after participating in the international fleet review and exercise Milan hosted by India at Visakhapatnam.
The Iranian ship went down with almost 130 sailors on board missing. The Sri Lankan Navy, acting on a distress call, rescued 32 of the Iranian sailors. Hegseth confirmed the act by the US forces, saying the ship was hit in the Indian Ocean, stating, “an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. .. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo”.
Hegseth did not name the Iranian ship that was attacked. But earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy reported the distress call from IRIS Dena when it was some 40 kms west of Galle, located on the south-western part of the island country. On February 16, the Iranian ship had sailed into the port of Visakhapatnam, where seventy-four nations participated.
Warships from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and dozens of others were anchored alongside the now-sunk Iranian vessel. Iran’s Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, held talks with India’s Chief of Naval Staff on strengthening maritime security cooperation.
The theme was “United through Oceans.” Notably, the US Navy was supposed to send the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney to the exercise Milan; however, the ship was diverted to Singapore on February 15. The US did not field its warship in Milan, which had ships from Russia and Iran.
The exercise ended on February 25. Three days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury. The IRIS Dena was transiting home. This morning at 5:08 a.m. local time, the IRIS Dena issued a distress call. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, informed parliament that two navy vessels and an aircraft were deployed. Thirty crew members were rescued and admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle.
The Straits Times reported 32 critically wounded survivors. Reuters reported 101 missing and 78 wounded. The Sri Lankan Navy spokesman said the operation was conducted in line with the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has warned of a possible risk of power cuts due to the use of inferior quality coal affecting generation capacity at the Lakvijaya Power Plant, according to a recent commission report.
The commission said the risk to the continuous electricity supply was assessed based on the peak demand forecast submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for 2026.
According to the report, the analysis assumed that hydropower plants could contribute up to 1,300 MW to meet the night peak demand, while the Lakvijaya Power Plant (LVPS) would be able to contribute only up to 690 MW due to a capacity shortfall, assuming a 40 MW generation capacity reduction from each unit.
The PUCSL said the assessment was carried out taking into account the planned maintenance schedule submitted by the CEB. Under the schedule, Unit 1 of the Lakvijaya plant is due to undergo maintenance checks and repairs in June for a period of 25 days, while Unit 2 is scheduled for maintenance in July for another 25 days.
The report also noted that the 270 MW West Coast Power Plant is scheduled to undergo maintenance in April for 10 days, while the 150 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant (KCCP 2) is expected to undergo maintenance during May, June and July.
Under normal conditions, the report said, there is a potential risk of a generation capacity shortage if electricity demand reaches 3,030 MW in April, 3,070 MW in June and 3,000 MW in July.
The highest recorded night peak demand so far in 2026 was 2,949 MW on February 25.
The PUCSL further warned that if one coal unit or any major power plant becomes unavailable from the existing generation mix, there would be a significant risk of a generation capacity shortage to meet the night peak demand, particularly during April, June and July.
Energy sector analysts said the use of substandard coal could further aggravate operational challenges at the Norochcholai plant, potentially affecting generation efficiency and reliability if corrective measures are not taken promptly.
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