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SLPP defends PTA, calls for probe into ‘terror’ angle

Published

4 years ago

2022/08/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

“Who takes responsibility for the destruction of over 70 MPs’ houses, 600 other properties?”

By Shamindra Ferdinando

General Secretary of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Sagara Kariyawasam, MP, yesterday (23) said that there should be no holds barred investigation into violence in the run-up to the May 09 incidents, at Galle Face, and outside Temple Trees, and after the resignation of the then Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa.

SLPP National List MP and Attorney-at-Law Kariyawasam strongly defended the utilization of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to deal with some of those who had been arrested, in connection with incidents, related to the so-called public protest movement.

Kariyawasam said so in response to Opposition political parties, a section of the diplomatic community, as well as some local and foreign NGOs, condemning the issuance of detention orders in terms of the PTA.

Referring to detention orders issued in respect of three persons, including Wasantha Mudalige, convenor, Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), affiliated to the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), lawmaker Kariyasawam said that interested parties had quite conveniently forgotten the destruction of houses, and other properties, belonging to one-third of lawmakers, killing of Polonnaruwa district SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale, and causing grievous injuries to Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama.

How could a public protest campaign, dubbed as peaceful, destroy houses and other properties belonging to as many as 72 MPs, within a matter of 24 hours, lawmaker Kariyawasam asked. Almost all of them were members, elected on the SLPP ticket, MP Kariyawasam said. The SLPP parliamentary group consists of 145 members.

The SLPP official pointed out that a month later the protest movement destroyed the then Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence,at 5th Lane, Kollupitiya.

When The Island pointed out that violence erupted at an unprecedented scale, only after the then government unleashed UPFA goons against those protesting at Galle Face and outside Temple Trees, lawmaker Kariyawasam said that peaceful public protest campaign couldn’t have stormed so many guarded houses, meticulously, across the country.

In fact, organized groups attacked residences of five SLPP lawmakers, less than a week before the May 09 eruption, MP Kariyawasam said. Among those who had been attacked were Gamini Lokuge (Colombo district), Ramesh Pathirana (Galle district) and Roshan Ranasinghe (Polonnaruwa district), lawmaker Kariyawasam said.

Responding to another query, MP Kariyawasam asserted that police, in consultation with Foreign and Defence Ministries, should brief the diplomatic community of the actual situation. They should be provided with video footage of the destruction caused by organized gangs, MP Kariyawasam said, adding that as many as 600 other properties, belonging to ex-Provincial Council and Local Government members, were attacked.

The MP said that those who had been so concerned about the arrests and detention of suspects, including in terms of the PTA, never bothered to condemn the lynching of Amarakeerthi Atukorale, in the Nittambuwa police area. The first time entrant to Parliament was lynched, along with his police bodyguard, on the evening of May 09, at Nittambuwa, MP Kariyawasam said. MP Welgama was almost killed at Makumbura, Kottawa, the top SLPP official said, alleging that the whole operation must have been planned over several weeks, if not months, in advance.

Lawmaker Kariyawasam stressed that groups of motorcyclists, wearing full face helmets, led the attacks. Having failed to protect the residence of MPs and Local Government representatives, the police shouldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for apprehending those responsible for violence.

The MP said that violent elements obviously exploited the extreme economic difficulties, experienced by the public ,to stage violence.

The SLPP General Secretary said that law enforcement authorities, and intelligence services, should conduct a thorough inquiry. The then Minister Dinesh Gunawardena alleged, in Parliament, the deployment of drones to monitor targeted properties, including his own, whereas former MP M.M. Zuhair, too, made reference to the use of such technology in the well calculated operation, the MP said.

Lawmaker Gunawardena said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared Emergency in line with the overall strategy to meet the threat. The MP said that he couldn’t comprehend why some of those, whose properties were senselessly destroyed, voted against the Emergency, thereby played into the hands of those seeking to subvert the country.

Lawmaker Kariyawasam said that the role, played by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in the public protest movement, was questionable. The politician said that he raised the issue, as a member of Parliament, and an attorney-at-law. Instead of taking, what he called, a balanced view, the BASL has thrown its weight behind the violent protest campaign, with some members acting in a manner completely contrary to the oaths taken by them, lawmaker Kariyawasam said.

Declaring that the SLPP elected UNP leader Wickremesinghe to complete the remainder of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term, as there was no alternative, lawmaker Kariyawasam alleged the country was about to succumb to terrorism when the ruling party stepped in. Unfortunately, some of those elected, and appointed on the SLPP ticket, and National List, respectively, conspired against their own government.

Lawmaker said that those who asked the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to quit, behaved in a treacherous manner and were still pursuing the same strategy. The SLPP official emphasized that the so-called rebel group shouldn’t expect the ruling party to nominate any of them for positions in Parliament as in terms of the Standing Orders. “Positions will be shared by the government and the Opposition. There is absolutely no space for those who operate as independent MPs,” the SLPP General Secretary said, urging all political parties, represented in Parliament, not to condone violence, at any level.

The lawmaker pointed out that even the rebel group was sharply divided over the contentious matter of President Wickremesinghe declaring Emergency.

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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]