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Wajira raises issue of onus on settling defaulted payments

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/2

UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena said yesterday that the onus was on the government to take constructive steps to address the issue of defaulted payments on international sovereign bonds by diverting money allocated for certain other projects for settling them, and by entering into discussions to restructure such payments, without resorting to outright ceasing of such payments, as it will have a direct negative impact on the economy.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Abeywardena said that the decision taken by the Government to cease all international payments on sovereign bonds, has, in effect,taken a, high toll on every sector of the country, including many successful businessmen.

“Even though the present Government is insolvent, it did not affect the business activities of our businessmen who were making profit through their day-to-day business. However, the drastic decision taken by the Government has resulted in most businesses closing down,” he said.

The UNP Chairman said that the Constitution has granted full powers to Parliament on handling Public Finance, as per the provisions of Articles 148, 149 (1), 151 (1). But despite such full powers being granted to Parliament, Sri Lanka became an officially insolvent country in April 2022.

“In such a dire economic circumstances, the public must be made aware of the fact that recent economic analyses have shown that certain treasury bills issued by the Sri Lankan Treasury have lost recognition in international bond markets. It was incumbent upon the Government to pay around $ 70 million on sovereign bonds in April this year, and another $ 1.5 billion by 15 June,” he said.

Abeywardena added that although it has been stipulated in the budget that such payments shall be made in due time, if the Government is unable to fulfil such payment due to poor inflow of revenue, such fact must be duly reported to Parliament in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Constitution, following which Parliament has the mandate to establish a Contingencies Fund, despite any provisions to the contrary being stipulated in Articles 149 and 151.

Abeywardena added that the Ministry of Finance should bear direct responsibility for the great tragedy that has befallen the country. “Any citizen whose name appears in the Crib is denied any loan facility by Sri Lankan banks. It is an onus on the Government, too, to keep in mind that it is now in the same situation.

“If foreign nations refuse to grant loans to Sri Lanka, we will end up as a bankrupt country. Therefore, similar concessions need to be granted to Sri Lankan businessmen who have become insolvent due to imbecile decisions taken by the Government,” he said.

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Sri Lankan singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke passes away at the age of 68

Published

13 hours ago

2026/07/10

Priyan

(Pic facebook)

It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68

She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

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Sallay’s wife further complains to HRC over continuing violation of husband’s FRs by CID

Published

16 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.

In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.

Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.

I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.

I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his

legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.

This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.

In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:

1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;

2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;

3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and

4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.

This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.

I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.

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SC upholds Commercial HC ruling that Weerawansa violated intellectual property rights of JVP

Published

16 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.

A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.

The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.

The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.