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Suppression of dissent won’t help reach consensus on all-party govt. – SJB

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4 years ago

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By Shamindra Ferdinando

The SJB alleges that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government is bent on suppressing political dissent in a bid to prevent a large-scale public protest campaign similar to the one that forced his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to flee the country, last month.

SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said yesterday the entire Opposition was opposed to the continuing crackdown on the protest movement, especially the use of the dreaded Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against suspected individuals.

The top SJB spokesperson said so in response to The Island queries pertaining to what he called an all-out crackdown amidst President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to reach a consensus on the formation of an all-party government.

Lawmaker Rahuman asked whether President Wickremesinghe, in spite of being the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and the Defence Minister, was not in overall control of the government’s response to the public protest campaign. Having elected Wickremesinghe, to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) seemed to be flexing its muscles, MP Rahuman said.

 Referring to the recent meeting US Ambassador Julie Chung had with Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles, at the latter’s office, where the envoy focused on the clampdown, MP Rahuman found fault with the government for relentlessly pursuing activists.

Asked whether the SJB acknowledged the responsibility, on the part of law enforcement authorities to apprehend those who had been suspected of torching residences of incumbent members of Parliament and President Wickremesinghe, in the second week of May, MP Rahuman said there couldn’t be any issue over that.

“Of course, nobody will find fault with the government for taking into custody those responsible for attacks on the houses of MPs. They should be arrested and appropriately dealt with in terms of the relevant laws,” lawmaker Rahuman said.

 Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena recently said that the so-called protest movement destroyed houses and properties of 72 lawmakers in a matter of 24 hours.

 MP Rahuman alleged that the government seemed far more interested in apprehending those who took selfies inside the President’s House. The police should be ashamed for arresting those who sat on the President’s chair, MP Rahuman said.

He suggested that, perhaps the government should go after those who wrongly advised the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, leading to the unprecedented economic fallout.

Lawmaker Rahuman said that if President Wickremesinghe was genuinely interested in forming an all-party government, he should reach a consensus with the SLPP over ongoing police action against the protest movement.

Responding to another query, lawmaker Rahuman said that the detention of Wasantha Mudalige, convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) affiliated to the Front line Socialist Party (FSP), was meant to scare those who led the protest campaign. The MP said that the government was making an attempt to depict Mudalige, now detained in terms of the PTA for a period of 90 days, as a person who may have been involved, or allegedly planning a terrorist attack.

Lawmaker Rahuman defended the protest movement as having received heavy public support as they were fed up with the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. The MP warned that public anger couldn’t be suppressed by intimidating political parties and civil society.

Commenting on the May 09 violence that actually set the stage for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster, exactly two months later, lawmaker Rahuman said that the police owed an explanation regarding the investigations into the indiscriminate attack carried out by UPFA goons, at Galle Face, on May 09. The public have a right to know how law enforcement authorities handled the investigation as no less than the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had been asked to surrender his passport.

The MP said that two members of Parliament, arrested in connection with the May 09 attacks, were granted bail, pending investigations.

Calling it a mystery, SJB lawmaker Rahuman said they would like to know the current status of the investigation. The government hadn’t so far taken action against security chiefs who allowed the UPFA goons to go on the rampage and then turned a blind eye to well organized attacks on the properties of MPs, he said.


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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district

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20 hours ago

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2026/04/1

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 31 March 2026, valid for 01 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Urea shortage threatens Yala harvest: Experts

Published

20 hours ago

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2026/04/1

By

Prof. Marambe

Govt. rations stocks as imports falter

By Ifham Nizam

The government faces a looming fertiliser crisis ahead of the 2026 Yala season, with a sharp shortfall in urea threatening paddy yields and food security.

Experts have warned that the fertiliser shortage will take its toll on the yala harvest.

With just over 100,000 tonnes of fertiliser in stock by early March—barely enough for paddy cultivation alone—and more than half of expected imports either cancelled or delayed, the government has moved to ration supplies through Agrarian Service Centres, based on last year’s consumption.

Leading crop scientist Professor Buddhi Marambe has warned that while rationing is unavoidable, it will reduce productivity. “Even last season we applied below recommended levels. This year, the gap will be worse,” he said.

Authorities are prioritising paddy, followed by maize and tea, as limited stocks are stretched across crops.

However, experts estimate yields could fall by 15–20% if nutrient shortages persist—raising the risk of higher food prices in the months ahead.

The crisis has been worsened by global disruptions, including Gulf conflict affecting fertiliser shipments and precautionary export restrictions by key suppliers, such as China.

Although the Government is pursuing deals with countries like Russia, supplies remain uncertain.

With global urea prices surging and production costs rising, smallholder farmers are expected to be the hardest hit.

“This is a wake-up call,” Prof. Marambe said, urging urgent steps to build buffer stocks and strengthen Sri Lanka’s long-term food security strategy.

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2025 property grab: Court orders JVP to hand back Yakkala office to FSP

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20 hours ago

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2026/04/1

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FSP's Nuwan Bopage addressing the media

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda says the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court order that the ruling JVP hand back the FSP’s Kirindiwela office, grabbed by a group of JVP politicians on 02 September, 2025, has shown that the government cannot undermine the law.

Jayagoda said that the FSP had been compelled to move the court against the JVP as the Gampaha police refused to intervene due to political pressure. “They probably thought we were going to give up that office. Perhaps, the ruling party felt they could forcibly occupy other FSP offices,” Jayagoda said.

FSP’s Administrative Secretary Chamira Koswatta and trade unions, which operated from the Salmal Garden office, sought the court intervention to confirm the ownership of that building in the FSP. The court initially transferred the building to the police and issued a directive to law enforcement authorities to remove the JVP/NPP from that building.

Among the 20 respondents was Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP. Those now identified themselves as FSP quit the JVP in 2011 and later formed their own party.

Gampaha Additional Magistrate Shilani Perera on Monday ruled that the legitimate owner was the FSP. The Magistrate ruled that the FSPers had been forced out of that office, illegally.

Jayagoda said that the FSP considered the court ruling a victory for democracy and a devastating blow to the increasingly authoritarian JVP/NPP rule.

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