News

Several opposition parties to work together in areas where they share common ground

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/7

SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa Wednesday told a Colombo meeting attended by several opposition parties and groups sharing common ground on forthcoming legislation that the proposed Anti-Terrorist law now moved to the back burner by the government endangered Sri Lanka’s entire 22 million population of being labeled terrorists.

The meeting at the Mandarin Hotel in Colombo on World Media Day was attended, in addition to the SJB by SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem, SLPP dissidents Prof. GL Peiris, Mr. Gevindu Cumaranatunga, Ven. Athureliya Ratana, Chandima Weerakkody, SJBs Lakshman Kiriella, Ranjith Maddumabandara,Imthiyaz Bakeer Markar, Harshana Rajakaruna, Gyanatha Karunathilake and a representative of the Kandurata Janata Party’s leader C Chandrasekran.

Premadasa said that despite some differences among them, they shared a lot of common ground on many matters related to what the government was doing and they would act together to resist such developments.

“Different political parties have their own standpoints on many matters,” Premadasa said. “But today we have to come together on a number of issues that are nationally important. The Broadcasting Authority Act the government is preparing today for media control, is one example. We are all of the view that it will deal a death blow to media freedom. So also the Anti-Terrorism Act to democracy.”

SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem said that there was no need for a new anti-terror law. Emergency law provisions under the Public Security Ordinance are sufficient to counter threats of terrorism. Minority parties in the opposition have a strong position on the Anti-Terrorism Act, he said. It is their position that any act of terrorism could be controlled through laws such as the Penal Code, the Criminal Law Provisions Act and the Evidence Act.”

Prof. GL Peiris raised the X-Pess Pearl issue that had created massive environmental devastation and will come up for discussion in parliament next week. The possibility of obtaining USD 6.4 million damages (not a loan) has been endangered by what the government is doing. This was over double the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility and much worse than the Central Bank bond scam.

Many questions on this issue must be raised and presented to the people to build up massive public opinion.

SLPP dissident MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said that the attention must be paid during parliamentary discussions to the X-Press Pearl matter and the unconstitutional Central Bank Act as determined by the courts.

“Only one day has been reserved for the debate on the Central Bank Act. The court suggested alternatives to all 46 basic clauses. This could be passed subject to those alternative proposals being adopted. The Speaker announced this determination distorting its meaning. After MPs protested about this, it had to be read again,” he said.

SLPP dissident MP Aturaliye Ratana thero said that opposition parties must come together to find common answers to the country’s present problems.

“In today’s world, there is no left-right divides. At this time, there is a major issue on why the Anti-Terrorism Act is being presented when a solution should be sought for the present crisis,” he said.

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Record 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/18

Priyan

More than 1,600 students sat this year’s Russian Classical Ballet Examination, the largest number ever to take part in the examination in Sri Lanka. Exams were held in Colombo from 5, to 18, October and in Galle on 10 October.

Students aged four and above came from across the island, including Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Negombo, Matara, Kelaniya, Panadura, Wattala, Kiribathgoda, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Bandarawela and Badulla. They are taught by 15 dedicated teachers trained in the Vaganova method, the renowned Russian system of classical ballet training.

They were examined by Dr. Oxana Karnovich of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, a distinguished academic and curator.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing was established in 2001 by Michael Ustinov, Buddhapriya Ramanayake and Mrs Chandi Aluvihare, with Mrs Galina Pleshakova as its founding instructor. Today the School is led by Director Madam Maria Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka.

News

Buddhist hierarchy demands prison perks for monk convicts

Published

22 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

MONETABRIEF– Sri Lanka’s two most senior Buddhist chapters, Malwatte and Asgiriya, demanded special concessions for monks serving prison sentences, following the disrobing of convicted monk Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara in line with established procedures.

The chief prelate of the Asgiriya chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, told Prisons Commissioner Senaka Palletenna that Ven. Gnanasara, who is serving a six-year sentence for contempt of court, must be released immediately.

Prison authorities have no power to release or pardon convicts, but Palletenna told the monk in Kandy on Friday that he would convey his request to the relevant government authorities.

“There is no point in talking about this and that… The entire country has been shaken (??????? ) . He must be released,” the Asgiriya chief prelate said.

The Malwatte chief prelate, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, appeared to accept the court verdict against Ven. Gnanasara, but asked the prisons chief whether a separate section could be established for convicted monks.

Palletenna noted that a special ward for the clergy already existed at Welikada Prison.

At least 63 convicted Buddhist monks are currently incarcerated within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a group of 34 Buddhist monks named in a Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court order to vacate the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat ended their protest and dispersed after lunch on Friday.The monks are demanding an unconditional pardon for Ven. Gnanasara, who has previously been imprisoned, making him a reconvicted prisoner.

News

Debate on NCM against Speaker postponed indefinitely

Published

22 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

The debate on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been postponed indefinitely pending the Attorney General’s opinion on certain technical issues in the motion.

Government representatives raised the matter at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, pointing out that several provisions of the motion required clarification and that the Attorney General’s advice should be obtained.

As obtaining the opinion would take time, the debate could not be scheduled for the next parliamentary week, parliamentary sources said.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka said a date for the debate would be decided after the Attorney General’s advice was received.

Meanwhile, Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 20 to 23, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera announced.

The parliamentary business for the week was finalised at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Friday (16) under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih.

On each sitting day, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be allocated for parliamentary business under Items 1 to 6 of Standing Order 22. Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

On Tuesday, October 20, an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, October 21, a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act and a Supplementary Estimate will be taken up for debate and approval from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The annual reports of five statutory institutions will subsequently be presented for approval without debate, while questions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Thursday, October 22, the Second Reading debates on two Bills to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Bills Nos. 79 and 80) will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual reports of five statutory institutions will then be taken up for approval without debate, followed by an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Friday, October 23, the Second Reading debate on the Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Government-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated during the final half-hour of the sitting.