News

Vasu alleges SJB’s role in Basil’s plan to save Mahinda and govt.

Published

4 years ago

2022/04/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

… main Opposition party denies charge

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Close on the heels of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila’s declaration that the SLPP rebels and the SJB had the required strength to move a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the government, fellow rebel lawmaker Vasudeva Nanayakkara has accused the SJB of trying to save the incumbent dispensation.

The General Secretary of the Democratic Left Front (DLF) Nanayakkara yesterday (26) told a hastily arranged media briefing, at his Maradana office, how the SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had cooperated with the SLPP strongman Basil Rajapaksa to undermine their efforts to move the proposed NCM.

Fielding questions, former Water Supply Minister Nanayakkara claimed that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, appeared to have been involved in the conspiracy.

The Opposition Leader’s Office dismissed MP Nanayakkara’s allegations.

Referring to UNP leader Wickremesinghe’s recent statement in Parliament where he had urged members to delay whatever action until Finance Minister Ali Sabry, PC, briefed the House of the outcome of his talks with the IMF, lawmaker Nanayakkara accused the ex-PM of interfering with their strategy.

Those who had been asking the current dispensation to quit were now playing a different tune, Nanayakkara said, questioning the SJB leader’s attitude towards the moves underway to get rid of the government.

Responding to another query, MP Nanayakkara said that SJB leader Premadasa desperately wanted an early general election. However, MP Premadasa appeared to have sought an assurance from SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa to provide the required support to form a government as the SJB on its own couldn’t muster a simple majority, MP Nanayakkara said.

Nanayakkara said that the SLPP rebel group would go it alone at the next general election.

Asked how Basil wielded so much power as various groups pulled in different directions, MP Nanayakkara alleged the former Finance continued to interfere in their efforts to compel the entire Cabinet of Ministers including PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to quit.

The DLF General Secretary said while a group of protesters sustained a high profile ‘Gota Go Home’ protest opposite the Presidential Secretariat, Basil Rajapaksa continued to protect the PM.

When it was pointed out that both Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa remained in office in spite of the growing demands for their immediate resignations, MP Nanayyakara urged the public to send in postcards to the Premier asking him to leave. According to him, Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa remained in office after having promised to step down on more than one occasion.

Nanayakkara said that the government in an obvious bid to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF) even before an agreement could be reached with the outfit, had depreciated the rupee, abolished price controls and increased interest rates, thereby causing the sudden increase in prices of all commodities and services.

Nanayakkara said the SLPP was now down to 106 members.

At the last general election, the SLPP secured 145 seats and the SJB 54.

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News

Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

13 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

Latest News

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

Published

21 hours ago

2026/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

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

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.

News

Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

Published

22 hours ago

2026/04/27

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.