News
Udaya, Wimal deny having met MR
‘There will be no rapprochement between SLPP and dissidents’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila has denied reports that he had talks with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP, recently.Gammanpila rejected as baseless a claim that he had discussed with Rajapkasa the IMF bailout and the move to privatise profit-making state enterprises.
“I haven’t met Mr. Rajapaksa for about one year,” Gammanpila told The Island.
He said a social media platform was spreading a rumour that he and NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa were trying to iron out differences with the SLPP.In March 2022, the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa sacked both Gammanpila and Weerawansa after they moved the Supreme Court against the Yugadanavi deal with a US energy company, New Fortress Energy.
MP Gammanpila alleged that interested parties were trying to divert public attention away from real issues by propagating lies. “Unsubstantiated claims pertaining to divisions within the Opposition are obviously part of the government strategy,” MP Gammanpila said.
Both Gammanpila and Weerawansa represent the recently formed Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya, which consists of SLPP constituents and those SLPP members who quit the government parliamentary group last July.
MP Weerawansa said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa dispensation was working overtime to mislead the public. Responding to another query, Weerawansa said that there hadn’t been any discussions with Mahinda Rajapaksa.
SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman, who resigned from Parliament to contest for the post of Colombo Mayor, told The Island that the government was carrying out a propaganda campaign to dupe the public.
Rahuman said there was no truth in the government’s claim that some Opposition MPs were trying to join it. Having postponed scheduled Local Government polls, the government was on a collision course with the judiciary, Rahuman said.
The continuing controversy over the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill and accusation that the government had misinterpreted a Bill pertaining to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka underscored the crisis it was in. “Who would want to join President Wickremesinghe unless he or she expected personal benefits?” he asked
Four of the SJB’s 54 MPs have so far switched their allegiance to President Wickremesinghe. National List MPs Dayana Gamage and Harin Fernando and elected MPs Manusha Nanayakkara and A. Aravindh Kumar have received ministerial portfolios.
Latest News
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
The IMF Executive Board approved emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), providing Sri Lanka with immediate access to SDR 150.5 million (about US$206 million,
equivalent to 26 percent of quota) to help Sri Lanka address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability.
In response to severe weather impacts, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a diving and technical assistance operation on Friday (19 Dec 25) to clear major debris obstructing vital infrastructure.
Heavy rainfall caused a significant rise in the water level of the Mahaweli River, washed large quantities of debris, including logs and bamboo, downstream. These remain lodged in the Diyakapanathota in Gatambe, Peradeniya and Lewella bridges, obstructing the smooth flow of water.
Acting promptly upon request, a Navy diving team executed a coordinated operation in collaboration with the Road Development Authority. The team removed the accumulated debris, restoring normal water flow through the bridges.
Latest News
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
The Landslide Early Warning Centre of the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has extended the Landslide Early Warning issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya till 08:00AM on Sunday (21st December 2025)
The LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Medadumbara, Doluwa, Ududumbara and Minipe in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna, Hanguranketha, Mathurata and
Walapane have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have also been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Passara, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Lunugala and Kandeketiya in the Badulla district, Thumpane, Harispattuwa, Udapalatha, Kundasale, Akurana, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Pathadumbara, Pasbage Korale, Gangawata Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Panvila, Pathahewaheta and Deltota in the Kandy district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Matale, Ambanganga Korale, Rattota, Pallepola, Wilgamuwa, Yatawatta and Laggala Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara-Eliya in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secetaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Haputhale, Haldummulla, Ella and
Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Alawwa, Mallawapitiya,
Polgahawela and Mawathagama in the Kurunegala district, and Kothmale East, Ambagamuwa Korale, Kothmale West, Thalawakele and Norwood in the Nuwara-Eliya district.
IMF Executive Board approves US$206 Million in Emergency Financial Support for Sri Lanka
Navy clears major bridge obstructions in Peradeniya and Lewella
Landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Badulla, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya extended till 8AM on Sunday (21)
Trump says US launched large-scale attacks on ISIL in Syria
Showers will occur in the Eastern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Central provinces and in Polonnaruwa district
PM says govt. will introduce a new Constitution to abolish executive presidency
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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