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UNP Gen. Secy. alleges SJB, section of TNA supporting Basil

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/2

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rasamanickam questions Ranil’s pact with Rajapaksas

By Shamindra Ferdinando

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara has accused Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa of supporting the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) on the sly.

Former lawmaker Bandara alleged that Premadasa, the serving Opposition Leader, was supporting SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa, MP, though he publicly attacked the ruling coalition.

The UNPer alleged that Premadasa was simultaneously functioning as the Opposition Leader and Basil Rajapaksa’s protector. Having failed to retain his Puttalam district seat at the last parliamentary election in August 2020, Bandara received the post of UNP General Secretary in January 2021.

One-time State Minister for Irrigation and Water Resource Management Bandara said so at a recent meeting held at ‘Sirikotha,’ where he also alleged TNA lawmakers, M.A. Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam of taking a stand supportive of Basil Rajapaksa.

MPs Premadasa, Sumanthiran and Rasamanickam opposed the proposed 21 Amendment to the Constitution in line with Basil Rajapaksa’s strategy, the top UNP official said.

Declaring that MP Premadasa should have unconditionally backed the 21st Amendment, if he genuinely loved the country, Bandara alleged the SJB leader was working overtime to sabotage the ongoing efforts to reach a consensus on the proposed amendment.

The former policeman said that MPs Sumanthiran and Rasamanickam opposed the 21st Amendment, though the TNA backed the current initiative. Claiming that the proposed amendment was much stronger than the 19th amendment enacted in 2015, Bandara alleged that the likes of Premadasa, Sumanthiran and Rasamanickam wanted to retain executive powers.

The UNPer said that the 21 st Amendment reflected the ‘Gota Go Home’ sentiments. According to him, SJB leader’s opposition to the 21 Amendment couldn’t be justified under any circumstances as it drastically reduced executive powers and strengthened anti-corruption efforts.

The UNP General Secretary alleged that the SJB leader appeased the Rajapaksas primarily for two major reasons. The ex-MP claimed that the Premadasas were eternally grateful for the Rajapaksas for blocking investigations after the arrest of Dulanjali Premadasa allegedly with forged Rupee currency notes amounting to Rs 20 mn.

The former law enforcement officer said that a person who had been arrested with forged 100 Rupee currency notes faced a jail term whereas the detection of Rs 20 mn worth forged currency notes hadn’t been at least investigated.

Bandara alleged that the Rajapaksas also stymied investigation into the alleged misappropriation of Rs 11 bn belonging to the Central Cultural Funds during the 2015-2019 yahapalana administration. Bandara served as State Minister during that period.

The former State Minister appealed for public support to sustain Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s untiring efforts to restore political stability. The UNP General Secretary said that the economy couldn’t be revived unless agreement was reached on a political settlement. According to him, the 21 Amendment was the key to political consensus, the ex-MP asserted. Therefore, all should set aside political differences and work towards achieving political stability, the UNP General Secretary said.

Lawmaker Rasamanickam said that the UNP General Secretary should direct his accusations at Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The TNA MP questioned the rationale of a section of the TNA being accused of cooperating with the Rajapaksas while the UNP leader now served the ruling coalition as its Prime Minister.

MP Rasamanickam said that Bandara had conveniently forgotten how the politically insolvent UNP with just one National List slot in Parliament accepted the premiership. The UNP should be ashamed of falling prey to the Rajapaksas as they were struggling to cope up with the growing public anger over ruination of the economy, MP Rasamanickam said.

Responding to another query, the Batticaloa District MP said that actually the Premier should be called Ranil Rajapaksa as he was the saviour of the notorious Rajapaksa brothers.

Rasamanickam also declared that Ranil Rajapaksa was the fifth Rajapaksa brother and now only second to Gotabaya.

Rasamanickam recalled how the TNA had intervened when President Maithripala Sirisena staged the constitutional coup in Oct 2018. Bandara appeared to have forgotten how the TNA fought for sacked Premier Wickremesinghe as the party stood for the people’s right.

MP Rasaminckam said that the UNP couldn’t deceive the masses by making unsubstantiated allegations. How could a one-seat party cover-up its shameless pact with the Rajapaksas that enabled Gotabaya Rajapaksa to save his presidency for the time being.

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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]