News
Speaker, Opposition Leader accuse each other of telling lies
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday in Parliament accused Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena of backtracking on the latter’s statement that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had expressed his willingness to step down if party leaders made a request to that effect.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said that the Speaker had informed the Party leaders’ meeting that President Rajapaksa was willing to resign if all the party leaders wanted him to do so. “Now we all are ready to ask him to do so. We all demand that the President should resign immediately,” the Opposition Leader said.
Speaker Abeywardena denied having told the party leaders that President Rajapaksa was ready to resign if the leaders of political parties requested him to do so. “There are social media posts that I informed party leaders of the President’s willingness to resign if they make a request,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition Premadasa said: “The Speaker informed the party leaders of the President’s willingness to resign. I am not a fool to distort what you said. Don’t deny your statement. You are a Tom Pachaya (inveterate liar).”
Speaker Abeywardena: “It is you who are coming up with tom pacha (blatant lies). I only said the President was ready to hand over the government to anyone who commanded a majority in the House.”
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella supported Premadasa’s claim.
Speaking on the Rambukkana shooting incident, the Opposition Leader said that an independent inquiry should be conducted by a group of retired Supreme Court judges into the incident. We do not think an investigation by the police would reveal the truth. We know how the Welikada shooting incident was investigated. Now, it is being reported that the government got its henchmen to set a bus on fire during the Mirihana protest. We as a party will look after the family of the person who was killed in police shooting at Rambukkana.
“This is a government that kills people. We condemn the attempts by Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to mislead this House as regards the Rambukkana incident. The person was killed K.D. Chaminda Lakshan was a resident of Narambedda, Hiriwatunna in Rambukkana. He was a father of two. He was participating in a protest. It is his constitutional right. He has a right to engage in politics and freedom of expression. He has a right to protest. The government should take full responsibility for the killing of the innocent man.
News
Cabinet nod for MOU between Sri Lanka and Romania on the cooperation in the Labour Field
Romania, a country that has maintained diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka for several decades in various fields, has become an increasingly popular destination among Sri Lankan skilled and semi-skilled Labour categories, especially in the fields of construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and services sectors.
At present, the recruitment of Sri Lankan workers to Romania is carried out by licensed private employment agencies under the
supervision of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau. However, since both parties have recognized the need of establishing a more organized and sustainable recruitment method due to increasing demand, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of Romania regarding cooperation in the field of the labour sector with the following objectives.
• Establishment of proper mechanism for recruitment and management of workers.
• Promotion of ethical and transparent recruitment practices.
• Protection of rights and welfare of the migrant workers.
• Facilitation of regular discussions between the formal and relevant authorities ofboth countries.
• Improvement of technical cooperation, skills recognition, and capacity building in the labour sector.
News
New circular to replace Management Services Circular No. 01/2019
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance,
Planning, and Economic Development to repeal Management Services Circular No. 01/2019 , dated 15-03-2019, issued regarding the implementation of development projects, and to issue a new management services circular including updated provisions instead.
News
Four Chief Prelates urge President to appoint NAO official as Auditor General
Chief Prelates of the Malwathu, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas, in a joint letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has expressed concern over the protracted delay in appointing a permanent Auditor General.
The Chief Prelates have said that the appointment of an outsider as the Head of the National Audit Office (NAO) responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability in public finances will be inappropriate.
The Chief Prelates have said that they are of the view that Dharmapala Gammanpila, a senior officer with extensive experience within the Auditor General’s Department, is the ideal candidate for the top post. They have also emphasised that his appointment will strengthen the government’s efforts to promote economic prosperity.
Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.
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