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Yugadanavi deal: SJB challenges Vasu, Udaya and Wimal to leave Cabinet

Published

5 years ago

2021/12/13

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Top Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman says those Ministers who challenged the sale of the Yugadanavi Plant should be either sacked by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa or they should quit the Cabinet, without further delay, if they genuinely believe the government entered into an agreement at the expense of national security.

The Colombo District lawmaker insists Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara (General Secretary, Democratic Left Front), Wimal Weerawansa (Leader, National Freedom Front) and Udaya Gammanpila (Leader, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya) can’t have it both ways.

Responding to The Island queries, MP Rahuman pointed out that having made submissions to the Supreme Court as regards what they called, a corrupt energy deal, they voted for the Budget and continue to serve the cabinet. MP Rahuman said that all eight members of the DLF, NFF and PHU voted for the final vote on the 2022 Budget.

MP Rahuman questioned the rationale in them remaining in the Cabinet after having alleged that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa manipulated the Cabinet process to pave the way for the sale and purchase agreement for New Fortress Energy Sri Lanka Power Holding LLC to acquire 40 percent of issued share capital of West Coast Power (Private) Limited.

Lawmaker Rahuman said that following the explosive statement made by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, last Friday, after having tabled a copy of the agreement, Minister Weerawansa made a desperate bid to play down the importance of the JVP Leader’s disclosure in Parliament. The former UNP MP said that the Opposition repeatedly asked the government to table the agreement. In spite of promising to do so, the government conveniently failed to table the agreement, MP Rahuman said, pointing out that MP Weerawansa claimed that his former colleague could have received a copy from a member of the Cabinet.

The JVP leader is on record as having said that several members of the Cabinet asked for copies of the agreement from him.

The Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Ven. Elle Gunawansa, the SJB and the JVP moved Court against the Yugadanavi agreement.

MP Rahuman said that in addition to the DLF, NFF and PHU, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), with 14 members, the Communist Party, and a couple of other MPs, declared their opposition to the Yugadanavi deal. But all of them voted for the Budget, MP Rahuman said, alleging that those who opposed the US energy deal continue to defend the same government while faulting anti-Sri Lanka agreement, the SJB spokesperson said.

The main Opposition party challenged them to take a stand if they are genuinely opposed to the deal. MP Rahuman said that the Yugadanavi fiasco caused, rapid deterioration of the government against the backdrop of serious corruption charges regarding the importation of Chinese carbonic fertiliser and liquid urea fertilizer from India.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake told The Island that the Presidential Media Division (PMD) had organised a briefing for journalists recently to justify the Yugadanavi deal. He asked whether the PMD knewthat the Chief Government Valuer P. P. D. S. Muthukumarana had given an opinion so soon in response to the Director General, Department of Public Enterprises request dated 9 and 13 July, 2021. Muthukumarana responded on July 14, 2021.

MP Dissanayake said that whatever the members of the Cabinet said for and against the Yugadanavi deal, the public couldn’t be deceived. A two-thirds majority for Budget 2021 didn’t mean a thing, MP Dissanayake said, asserting that disclosure of corrupt transactions pertaining to fertiliser imports from China and India and the Yugadanavi deal had caused a debilitating setback to the SLPP, the JVPer said.

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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara

Published

5 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.

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Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya

Published

5 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.

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Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.

The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.

The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).

Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]