News

Prez would not have taken on judiciary without SLPP’s backing – GL

Published

3 years ago

2023/03/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

G L Peiris

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Top Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (13) alleged that President Ranil Wickremesinghe would not have taken on the judiciary without the backing from the ruling SLPP.

The former External Affairs Minister said so when the media sought his response to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa declaring the SLPP’s readiness to face local government polls at any time. The SLPP Chairman made the declaration at a public rally held in Moneragala over the weekend.

Prof. Peiris said that though the SLPP declared so, it worked closely with President Wickremesinghe to undermine the electoral process. The academic said that the UNP leader with just one MP in parliament couldn’t have pursued the high profile project without the SLPP’s support.

The rebel SLPP National List MP said that if the SLPP was genuinely ready to face the electorate, the party should ask the President to release funds required by the Election Commission.

Regardless of whatever the President and the SLPP say, the government parliamentary group both in and outside parliament challenged the Supreme Court directive, Prof. Peiris said.

Referring to a statement issued by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in respect of declarations made by Premanath Dolawatte, MP, and State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe as regards the Supreme Court intervention, Prof. Peiris alleged that the government was trying to overwhelm the judiciary. The ex-minister strongly criticised the move to summon members of the judiciary before the House Privileges Committee.

Prof. Peiris said that both the UNP and the SLPP knew they would face heavy defeat at Local Government polls. They realised in the wake of such devastating loss, the government couldn’t prevent public movement for a national level election.

The ex-minister said that the current parliament didn’t reflect political environment in the country. Therefore a general election was needed to pave the way for a Parliament that would earn public respect. Instead of seeking a way out of the crisis, the government was trying to pit the legislature against the judiciary in line with Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa strategy.

Prof. Peiris said that as Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was overseas, an Opposition delegation led by SJB and Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa took up issues at hand with Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse. Strongly condemning indiscriminate violence unleashed on protesting University students recently, Prof. Peiris alleged that Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa strategy was threatening the very basis of the Constitution.

Those at the helm of political power should realise that at the end of the day they couldn’t ignore the Supreme Court directive, Prof. Peiris said.

In spite of internal strife, the SLPP parliamentary group which consists of 120 MPs is the largest party in parliament and facilitated Wickremesinghe’s strategy, the ex-minister said. The President couldn’t last 24 hours without the SLPP’s backing, he declared.

All News Advertisement

Related Topics:G L Peiris Prof G L Peris

Up Next

SLEA mourns the loss of its senior member Sarath Vidanagama

Don't Miss

SJB MPs tell Speaker they received death threats

Click to comment

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.30 noon 12 March 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 12 March 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

Latest News

Nasa spacecraft weighing 1,300lb due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

The two Van Allen Probes were launched in 2012 [BBC]

A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of “uncertainty” in the timing.

The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.

The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as “low” risk.

The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts.

It was not immediately clear where in Earth’s atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.

Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.

The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.

Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.

The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.

Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere before 2030.

[BBC]

News

PM Visits the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on 11 March 2026, and held bilateral discussions with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development.

During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by Sri Lankan paddy farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted issues affecting the sector such as productivity constraints, climate-related impacts, and the need to support farmers through improved agricultural practices and technological innovations.

Both sides also discussed the importance of introducing modern techniques and research-driven approaches to rice cultivation in order to enhance productivity and ensure long-term food security. In this regard, IRRI shared insights on ongoing global research initiatives aimed at improving rice varieties, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

The discussion further focused on the potential for expanded collaboration between Sri Lanka and IRRI, particularly in areas such as research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Sri Lankan agricultural institutions and farmers. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening cooperation with IRRI to support the development of the country’s rice sector and to improve the livelihoods of paddy farmers.

The visit reaffirmed the importance of science-based agricultural innovation and international collaboration in addressing food security challenges and enhancing sustainable rice production in Sri Lanka.