News
SLPP urged not to back President’s ‘constitutional misadventure’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Former SLPP Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris has urged his former party not to back what he called a constitutional misadventure hugely detrimental to the electoral process.
Top Opposition Spokesman Prof. Peiris emphasised that the ruling party with the largest single group of MPs could quite easily thwart President Ranil Wickremesinghe contentious move to amend Article 83(b) with an ulterior bid to pave the way for a referendum ahead of the presidential election constitutionally scheduled to be held between Sept 17 and Oct 16 this year.
The one time-Foreign Minister said so in response to a query by The Island yesterday (18).
On the evening of the previous day, Prof. Peiris told a hurriedly called media briefing that President Wickremesinghe’s camp was going ahead with a despicable project to cause turmoil. “Their objective is clear. Having accepted the position of the President to complete the remainder of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five year term, the UNP leader is exploring ways and means of extending his period in office,” Prof. Peiris said.
The retired top law academic said that as 2/3 approval was required for the proposed constitutional amendment for the operation to be moved to the next stage, the holding of a referendum, the SLPP couldn’t under any circumstances vote for this amendment.
Prof. Peiris said that the SLPP could put an end to this nonsense by depriving the parliamentary backing for the move. Recalling the circumstances President Ranil Wickremsinghe made Local Government polls
disappear in early last year, Prof. Peiris declared that the cost of a proposed referendum was estimated at Rs 10,000 mn.
The former minister said that the government couldn’t secure backing of 150 MPs though it commanded a healthy simple majority in parliament. Having been reduced to just one MP at the last parliamentary election, the hapless UNP entirely depends on the SLPP to see the controversial amendment through.
The SLPP secured 145 seats at the last general election though approximately 25 MPs had switched their allegiance to the Opposition since early 2022.
Prof. Peiris said that if MPs backed the move meant to derail scheduled presidential polls, fresh countrywide turmoil could erupt. Consequences would be quite devastating, Prof. Peiris said, pointing out that failed bids to move the Supreme Court successfully against the presidential election showed the bankruptcy of the UNP-led grouping.
“We haven’t heard of people complaining of their fundamental rights being violated by holding elections. Such rights are violated by putting off elections,” Prof. Peiris said, urging the lawmakers to be mindful of the growing threat posed by a President who sought to extend his term through other means.
Protesting Development Officers continued their hunger strike near the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (01), for the seventh consecutive day.The protesters, who are members of the Lanka School Development Officers’ Association, are demanding that they be absorbed into the teacher service as they have served as teachers in state-run schools for nearly seven years.
Secretary of the Association, Viraj Manaranga, said the protesters were seeking an urgent meeting with the President. He added that a presidential aide had visited the protest site and offered to arrange for a meeting with the President on 03 Feb., but the union insisted on an earlier date. Manaranga warned that failure to grant a meeting could trigger a massive protest in Colombo today (02).
Four officers participating in the hunger strike have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while two more joined the fast on Saturday (31).
In a bid to raise awareness of their grievances, on 30 January a delegation of the All Island Development Officers’ Association visited Most Venerable
Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, and subsequently with the Chapter’s Registrar, Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera. The prelates said promises that had been made to them should be fulfilled.
The protest began on 26 January as a satyagraha, after authorities failed to respond to repeated requests to integrate the officers into the teaching service. The escalation into a fast-unto-death underscores the protesters’ frustration over the prolonged delay
by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon
The long-vacant post of Auditor General would be filled on 03 Feb., after months of controversy and delays, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake said on Friday (31) in Kandy.
The Constitutional Council met at the Parliamentary complex on Friday to discuss the appointment but failed to reach a decision on a suitable candidate. The President had previously proposed four names on four separate occasions, all of which were rejected. The Council is now set to consider the fifth nominee.
The post has remained vacant since April 2025, following the retirement of Chulanta Wickramaratne, who served as the 41st Auditor General. More than 10 months have passed without a permanent appointment.
Sources said a female officer in the Auditor General’s Department has been nominated again, though her previous recommendation was rejected due to some allegations against her.
Meanwhile, senior audit officer Dharmapala Gammanpila, with 31 years of service and the department’s most senior official, has received backing from the Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas, the Maha Sangha, and several civil society groups for appointment as the 42nd Auditor General.
Sources noted that the three civil society representatives on the Constitutional Council will play a crucial role in the final decision.
by Chaminda Silva and SK Samaranayake
Two 18-year-old youth were arrested by the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division on 31 January for allegedly aiding and abetting two murders carried out in Dehiwala and Kohuwala. ICE (crystal meth) was found in their possession at the time of arrest.
The suspects are residents of Mount Lavinia and Boralesgamuwa, according to the police. They are accused of having helped carry out a murder at a hotel in the Dehiwala Police Division on 9 January, 2026, and an attack on a person travelling in a three-wheeler at Bodhiyawatta, Kohuwala, on 12 December, 2025.
Police said the charges included sending photographs of the victims to a criminal living overseas.
Investigations revealed that the youth had acted under the direction of a criminal known as Sando.
Under the guidance of Janaka Kumara, Director of the Southern Division of the Western Province Crime Division, investigations are being led by Police Inspector Hemanta Kumara, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Prasanna Gunathilaka and Prasanna (40248), and Constables Chaminda (72987), Anil (79598), Kumar (88762), and Senanayake (19363), who are continuing the probe.
by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva
Showers expected in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Central provinces
Development Officers threaten to intensify their protest
Auditor General to be appointed tomorrow
Two arrested for aiding and abetting murder
CID summons former First Lady again
Remembering Upali Wijewardene, founder of Upali Group of Companies
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
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