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SLPP rebels question legality of Prez, AG meeting EC members as accusations grow over bid to postpone LG polls

Published

4 years ago

2023/01/10

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The SLPP rebel group, Nidahasa Jathika Sabhawa, yesterday (09), questioned the legality of President Ranil Wickremesinghe twice meeting members of the Election Commission (EC) to discuss the scheduled Local Government polls.

Prof. G. L. Peiris said President Wickremesinghe shouldn’t have summoned them as he was a leader of a political party contesting the election.

President Wickremesinghe met EC members late last year and on January 05 this year.

The former Foreign Minister raised this issue while addressing the media at Nawala, close on the heels of President Wickremesinghe’s declaration that the EC was sharply divided over the conduct of the poll amidst continuing economic instability.

Displaying a gazette notification, dated Dec 29, 2022, issued by the EC, pertaining to the nominations for the LG polls, Prof. Peiris pointed out that contrary to claims by the President and various other government spokesmen the EC was unanimous in its decision.

A senior spokesperson for the EC confirmed the meetings. According to him, all five members namely Nimal Punchihewa (Chairman), M.M. Mohamed, S,B. Divaratne, K.P.P. Pathirana and Mrs. P.S.N. Charles attended hitherto not reported first meeting. However, Pathirana had not been present at the second meeting as he was receiving medical treatment. Director General, EC Saman Sri Ratnayake has attended both meetings.

Alleging that the EC was under tremendous government pressure, Prof. Peiris said that it could be dealt with in terms of the Penal Code.

Referring to Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC’s role in the whole affair, the former top law academic stressed that the government Chief Legal Officer shouldn’t get involved at all. Prof. Peiris questioned the AG’s participation in a meeting chaired by President Wickremesinghe on January 05.

The former Law Professor referred to two Supreme Court rulings given by one-time Chief Justice Priyasath Dep and the late justice Mark Fernando to underscore that scheduled LG polls couldn’t be put off.

In terms of the Constitution, new LG bodies have to be established by March 20, 2023.

Alleging that the government has been engaged in a propaganda campaign to justify planned postponement of LG polls on the basis of unavailability of funds, the ex-Minister said that the postponement of elections was not the prerogative of the President, Cabinet-of-Ministers or the Finance Ministry.

Acknowledging the continuing economic hardships experienced by the population, Prof. Peiris challenged the government to remove all 39 State Ministers to save much needed funds.

Prof. Peiris said that the Supreme Court would take up on January 18 two petitions filed by the Opposition seeking the apex court’s intervention. Samagi Jana Balavegaya, two SLPP rebel groups, the SLPP and TNA have moved the Supreme Court.

Attorney-at-Law Punchihewa has declared that nominations would be accepted from January 18 to 21.

Prof. Peiris pointed out that the UNP was determined to put off polls as it realized the certain defeat it would suffer. In spite of the SLPP being the largest political grouping in parliament even after three groups of its MPs declared intention to operate independently, it was in total disarray, the former minister said.

Therefore, the Wickremasinghe-Rajapaksa government’s ongoing efforts to put off the election was understandable, he pointed out.

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Related Topics:President Ranil Wickramasinghe Ranil Wickramasinghe

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

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Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.