• AKD and Govt. decide to build strong ties with countries other than India, China; focus on Middle East
• Monkey lands Sri Lanka on international media; Energy Minister’s claims result in calls for resignation
• Adani takes out nearly $ 500 m investment project; RE projects worth over $ 3.5 b in limbo
• AG moves to temporarily suspend 27 Jan. directive to CID on discharging 3 suspects in Lasantha case
• CID report with evidence on the 3 suspects sent to AG on Monday; AG mixes up Magistrate’s Court
• Ahimsa writes to BASL President on concerns over AG’s review decision, exposes double standards
• AG’s failure to adhere to duties and following 2020 report of GR’s CID to discharge suspects exposed
• Govt. to move ahead with pledge to set up Independent Prosecutor’s Office; resistance by some at AG’s Dept.
• Sunil exposes Police transfer based on faulty intel report; Cardinal advises AKD on justice pledge
• Calls for probe into compensation payments for MPs’ burnt houses; assets declarations to be probed
• Office for Reparations had not made payments; Prathiba says payments illegal as maximum is Rs. 2.5 m
• Rent for a Madiwela complex house to remain at Rs. 2,000 per month; Rs. 75,000 rent payment unpaid
• New buffet menu in House restaurant irks some MPs; one MP criticises move by Govt. MPs without food culture
• Samantha asks reason for Opposition parties to stop welfare projects; Sajith responds, says will resume
• Govt. focuses on LG Polls, plans to pass bill with two-thirds in the House; Opposition seeks a delay
• RW returns from the UK after controversial interview; leaves for Oman before going to India
• RW convenes 2nd Opposition party leaders’ meeting at Amari; CBK says not interested, Maithri attends
• Discussion focuses on building broad Opposition alliance and inviting main Opposition SJB to also join
• Namal calls for probe on USAID role, projects in Sri Lanka; Wimal accuses of plot to reduce population
• UNP Working Committee decides to continue talks with SJB to form alliance; Ruwan, Thalatha to lead
• UNP to contest Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle under ‘elephant’; others under common symbol
• SJB stands firm on ‘telephone’ symbol for LG Polls; Ranjith blamed by SJBers for accommodating UNP
• Sujeewa’s protest campaign to intimidate; Harsha sidelined, Sajith retains party lead and Colombo lead
• Speaker assures necessary action over USAID; Julie meets Namal a day after protest outside embassy

After a week of much talk on monkeys, power cuts, the President’s shirt button, and the continuing controversy surrounding the killing of senior journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) is all set to deliver the much-anticipated maiden Budget of his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government tomorrow (17). 

AKD’s 2025 Budget will set the course, especially on the economic front, for the country for this year while also deciding the future of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme with Sri Lanka and the disbursement of the next tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The general public will also keep a close watch on the 2025 Budget since they expect the promised relief to be included in it.

There’s no doubt that AKD’s 2025 Budget will be a decisive one for the country like several key budgets in the past. Key among them are the 1970 Budget presented by the United Front Government by then Minister N.M. Perera that converted the Right-wing economy into a Leftist one. In the same manner, the 1977 Budget presented by then Minister Ronnie de Mel reconverted the country into a Right-wing open economy from the previous Left-wing one. It will therefore be interesting to watch the path that will be taken by the President with Marxist roots.

Bloomberg Economics meanwhile has said Sri Lanka will achieve the tax targets of the IMF through Budget 2025, while the Government will have to balance relief for people.

“We think he could manage both, helped by a hefty primary surplus last year and a likely boost to revenues through a recent lifting of a vehicle import ban,” it said.

Also, Bloomberg Economics said that the Government was likely to set a revenue target of 15.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Budget as it was a mandatory requirement by the IMF and that the Government could attain this target.

Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe meanwhile has said that there is no possibility of reducing taxes this year and that steps should be taken to gather 15.1% of GDP in taxes in line with the IMF agreement. 

“A reduction in indirect taxes will have to be done over time. We cannot expect a tax reduction within this year. According to the IMF, we should collect a certain amount of tax from the GDP of 15.1%. But once we come out of this process, when the efficiency of revenue collection increases, there is a possibility of giving those concessions back to the products of those industries,” the Deputy Minister has been quoted as saying.

“Going beyond that, the new Government hopes to provide tax concessions, especially for technological investments in the banking and industries sectors. The Government hopes to provide the necessary facilities and support, especially to industries, through the Budget. The Government’s objective is to create a suitable environment for industries in the next few years,” Abeysinghe has added.

UAE visit

Meanwhile, on the foreign policy front, President AKD seems to be focused on developing ties with the Middle Eastern region. It seems like the President and the JVP/NPP Government, realising that balancing India and China will be quite a task with difficulties in depending on either of the two countries, is now looking at developing new ties.

It is learnt that President AKD, who had been informed of the possibility of attending the ‘AI Action Summit’ that was held in Paris last week and meeting with several global leaders on its sidelines, had opted instead to focus on the UAE visit with future plans in mind.

The President met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the UAE and the discussions had focused on strengthening trade relations and diversifying markets between the two countries. Both leaders had also deliberated on the importance of adopting a new strategic framework to enhance economic cooperation. AKD met with several other leaders representing Middle Eastern countries as well.

President AKD meanwhile has sought the assistance of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to boost Sri Lanka’s economy when the two leaders met in the UAE last Tuesday (11). “During the meeting, I briefed him on the investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka’s healthcare, ports, and tourism sectors. I also invited him to direct potential investors towards these opportunities,” the President said in a post on social media.

AKD also met with several global leaders on the digital front during his UAE tour.

Upon his return to the country, AKD was greeted by hundreds of Sri Lankans at the airport and he met with a popular Sri Lankan band, Jayasri, and spent time having a brief chat before posing for a selfie with the band members.

The button issue

However, while President AKD’s UAE tour has been referred to as a very successful one, photographs and video clips of the shirt worn by him with the buttons not properly done when he had attended a gathering of Sri Lankans in the UAE went viral on social media platforms in Sri Lanka.

AKD is also seen re-buttoning the shirt properly after the error being pointed out. Nevertheless, his detractors in Sri Lanka claimed that the President had embarrassed Sri Lanka in a foreign country while some others claimed that it was retribution for the JVP/NPP for earlier ridiculing former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his loose pants.

Be that as it may, the incident, while making an important point to President AKD and his team to be mindful of the President’s attire and image in public, also revealed another key fact. It was AKD’s simplicity and that he did not take along with him a personal staff on his overseas tours for his grooming like some Sri Lankan presidents have done in the past.

Monkey business

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka made headlines internationally last week after Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody initially claimed that the islandwide power outage experienced last Sunday (9) was due to a monkey clash at the Panadura grid sub-station. Jayakody’s statement resulted in many memes on monkeys being shared on social media platforms as well.

However, the security who was on duty at the substation in Panadura told the media that no monkey had been in the area at the time of the blackout and that it had happened after one of the transformers had released fiery sparks and smoke.

The power outage lasted for several hours on Sunday and once power was restored, the sudden breakdown resulted in the Norochcholai coal power plant tripping afterwards, causing blackouts once again in some parts of the island. The Government had to generate thermal power to supply power to these areas.

However, by Sunday evening, the Energy Ministry issued a statement blaming previous governments for their failure to carry out programmes to stabilise the national grid and their shortsightedness for the islandwide power outage.

The statements made by Energy Minister Jayakody last Sunday, first about a monkey causing the power outage and later blaming the shortsightedness of the previous Government, resulted in comments making the rounds on social media questioning his ability to manage the energy sector. 

One post on Facebook stated: “He (the Minister) first said electricity tariffs cannot be reduced by 30% and that it could be done within three years. Later, he agreed to reduce tariffs after the commission asked the Government to reduce tariffs. This time he said it was a monkey that had caused the blackout; now he is blaming the previous Government. Can he make up his mind?”

Calls for resignation

The ongoing power crisis, dissemination of misinformation to the public by the Energy Minister, and lack of transparency have resulted in calls by the Opposition for the Minister’s resignation. 

However, the Energy Ministry last week appointed a committee to make recommendations to avoid such blackouts in the future. This move seemed a case of closing the stable door after the horse had bolted since Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) officials had informed the heads of the CEB and the Energy Ministry about the instability in the grid. The Sunday Morning also warned of the impending disaster in an article published several weeks back.

Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa shared on X a letter from the CEB’s Deputy General Manager (System Control) from November last year, which highlighted the instability caused by rooftop solar installations and low system inertia during weekends and holidays.

He also posted on X: “First, they blamed the monkeys. Then, they blamed past governments. But the real issue? A fragile grid that can’t handle solar growth and low-demand periods. Misinformation won’t fix power outages – serious reforms will, especially in the power sector. A real system change starts with transparency.”

Adani moves out

Meanwhile, India’s Adani Green Energy last Wednesday (12) informed the Board of Investment (BOI) that it would withdraw from two proposed wind power projects that amounted to a total investment close to $ 500 million, two weeks after the Sri Lankan Government said it was seeking to lower the cost of the power generated.

The group withdrew from the projects as they were “financially unviable,” an Adani spokesperson said. “It was learnt that another Cabinet-appointed negotiations committee and project committee would be constituted to renegotiate the project proposal,” the letter to the BOI Chief noted.

“This aspect was deliberated at the board… and it was decided that while the company fully respects the sovereign rights of Sri Lanka and its choices, it would respectfully withdraw,” Adani Green Energy added.

More projects in limbo

Meanwhile, the Government’s push for renewable energy is continuing to face a major setback as bureaucratic delays threaten to stall over $ 3.5 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). A consortium of 43 renewable energy developers has directly appealed to President AKD last week, urging immediate intervention to resolve stalled projects approved under the 2021 Expression of Interest (EOI) process.

Despite meeting all regulatory requirements and securing provisional approvals, developers warn that the lack of progress is jeopardising the country’s ability to attract and retain investment in clean energy. If the delays persist, Sri Lanka could lose thousands of jobs, increase its reliance on fossil fuels, and undermine its national energy security goals.

Opposition Leader Premadasa expressed concerns over foreign investors leaving the country during last Friday’s (14) Parliament sessions and noted that it was a serious situation. He noted that while there was no issue in ensuring competitiveness and transparency, foreign investors were leaving the country, and added that the Government needed to seriously look into the matter.

AG’s reversal in Lasantha case

Meanwhile, the case on senior journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge’s murder that was under the spotlight recently over the Attorney General’s move to discharge three suspects related to the case, resulting in widespread condemnation and a protest outside the Attorney General’s Department, witnessed a new development last week.

The Attorney General has informed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to temporarily suspend the previous directive given concerning the release of three suspects involved in Wickrematunge’s murder. The Attorney General, it is learnt, has informed that the suspension will remain until the latest summary report sent by the CID is reviewed.

The CID last Monday (10) had sent a 40-odd page report to the Attorney General outlining the evidence required to continue with the litigation process related to the three suspects in the Wickrematunge case who were being discharged by the Attorney General. Following the receipt of the CID report, the Attorney General had moved to issue the two-sentence letter dated 11 February to temporarily suspend his previous decision to discharge three suspects.

The Attorney General had previously provided his legal advice to the CID regarding the possible release of three individuals, including a military intelligence officer, who had been named as suspects in the case. This legal advice was conveyed in a letter sent to the Director of the CID on 27 January. 

The letter sent by Attorney General, President’s Counsel Parinda Ranasinghe Junior to the CID Director on case number B 92/2009 at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court, with copies of the same to the Mount Lavinia Magistrate, the Director of the Police Legal Division, and an Officer-In-Charge of a particular CID section, informed the CID Director that she (the CID Director) should inform the Magistrate that he (the Attorney General) did not intend to pursue legal proceedings against three suspects – Premananda Udalagama, Hettiarachchige Don Tissasiri Sugathapala, and Witharana Arachchige Sirimevan Prasanna Nanayakkara – and that they could be released from the case.

Further, the Attorney General had instructed the CID Director to report on the court action upon being informed of the same to him (the Attorney General) within 14 days of the receipt of this letter. Justifying the discharge, the AG had cited a lack of evidence. 

Wrong magistrate

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Attorney General, in his haste to issue the letter to the CID calling for a suspension of his previous decision on the three suspects, had inadvertently copied it to the Magistrate of the Colombo Magistrate’s Court instead of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate who is hearing Wickrematunge’s case.

The letter sent by the Attorney General to the CID on 27 January was copied to the Mount Lavinia Magistrate, Director of the Police Legal Division, and OIC of a section in the CID. The second letter on 11 February was copied only to the magistrate, it is further learnt, and that also to the wrong magistrate.

The evidence

It is learnt that the list of evidence related to the three suspects in the Wickrematunge case include: the original Investigation Books (IBs) and production registers that show clear signs that pages have been ripped out and new ones glued in; photocopies of the original pages that were ripped out, brought into evidence by Inspector Sugathapala who preserved them in full knowledge that he was being ordered to commit a crime; statements made to the Mount Lavinia Magistrate by Inspector Sugathapala and his then Superintendent confessing to what he did, who ordered him to do it, and how he maintained photocopies to support a future investigation into Wickrematunge’s murder; statements made to the Police by Inspector Sugathapala’s fellow officers corroborating every aspect of his account; and mobile telephone records that help prove the role played by senior Police officers in ordering the destruction and doctoring of these Police records.

These facts have also been referred to by Wickrematunge’s daughter Ahimsa Wickrematunge in her letter to Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Anura Meddegoda, PC sent last Friday.

Ahimsa writes to BASL

Amidst the ongoing controversy over the slain Editor’s case, Wickrematunge’s daughter Ahimsa once again put pen to paper and this time around her letter was addressed to BASL President Meddagoda.

Ahimsa’s letter, referring to the objections raised by the BASL over the review of decisions of the Attorney General, went on to expose the double standards adopted by the senior member of the Judiciary: “Your decision to protest the alleged undermining of the independence of the office of the Attorney General when it comes to a flagrant abuse of his power in my father’s case is rich in hypocrisy. You and the Bar Association clearly had a different standard when it came to the interests of one of your clients.”

Ahimsa notes: “You represent the interests of the family of the late Mahesh Indika Prabath, who was killed on 12 October 2022, shortly after his arrest by the Police Special Task Force (STF). The Balapitiya Magistrate ruled that your client was murdered, and ordered a Police investigation into the events, under Balapitiya Magistrate’s Court Case No. AR 2049/2022. In this matter, like my father’s investigation, despite a mountain of evidence, the Attorney General decided on 27 August 2024 not to pursue charges against the STF officer who allegedly executed your client in cold blood. You personally protested this decision vigorously and publicly. Your client, the wife of the deceased, on your advice, wrote to the President on 21 October 2024, pleading for Government assistance to review the Attorney General’s decision, just as I wrote to the Government for the same reason. President Dissanayake, in this case too, called for the Attorney General to explain his decision.”

“Why is it that when the Attorney General sabotaged a murder investigation into one of your clients, you called it ‘obstruction of justice,’ sought Executive review, and the Bar Association kept silent when you received it? Why is it that when that same Attorney General sought to intervene in and unravel the investigation into one of the most critical limbs of my father’s murder investigation, and I sought Executive support to save the investigations, that you and the Bar Association suddenly sprint into action in his defence?” the slain Editor’s daughter questions.

One paragraph that is especially noteworthy reads: “If your interest or that of the BASL is indeed in protecting the integrity of the justice system and the rule of law, you must address the elephant in the room. Under this Attorney General, a pattern has emerged of abusing the office and effectively sabotaging or terminating criminal proceedings into State-sponsored killings. In your own protest against his decision not to charge the murderer of your client, you vowed that you would ‘not allow this to become another Mahara case’.”

Mahara exposé

Ahimsa has also gone on to reveal the Attorney General’s actions in relation to the suspects in the controversial Mahara case.

“You (Meddegoda) were no doubt referring to the killing of 11 inmates at the Mahara Prison on 26 November 2020. This was yet another investigation where the Police investigated under the auspices of a magistrate (Welisara Magistrate’s Court Case No. B 3118/2020) and collected evidence of cold-blooded murder. In this case too, like my father’s, the Attorney General did not wait until the Police completed their investigations. Nor did he consider all available investigative material. Instead, he once again relied on cherry-picked extracts from a bygone era to decide to discharge all suspects, give no further advice to the Police, and effectively wind down the investigation into this atrocity,” she noted.

Duties of the AG

The ongoing controversy surrounding the Attorney General’s office has resulted in the need to look at the duties of the Attorney General. These include ensuring impartiality in reviewing all relevant facts and investigative material before arriving at a conclusion; determining whether the available material supports a decision to prosecute; and if the available material does not support an immediate decision to prosecute, to determine whether further investigations could result in a prosecution – a) if so, he should advise or order such further investigations be conducted and only revisit the matter thereafter; b) if not, and only if not, should he order the discharge of suspects, and end the proceedings against them.

Ahimsa in her letter to the BASL President has noted that the Attorney General “has clearly failed on each of these counts when it came to the investigation into my father’s murder”.

“Mr. Ranasinghe in his decision relied entirely on material submitted to him in 2020 by Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s CID. He was aware that investigations were not complete and he made no effort to obtain complete extracts of the investigations from the CID before rendering his decision. He instead knowingly chose to ignore the vast bulk of the investigative material and relied on dated files concocted under a corrupt regime.

“In determining that the material he reviewed was insufficient to support a prosecution, he took no steps to consider what further investigations, if any, could be conducted by the Police to change his position. Instead, he took the decision to terminate criminal proceedings without providing any advice to the CID on the conduct of additional investigations.”

She further adds: “We have never demanded anything more than a thorough, impartial criminal investigation into my father’s murder, and for their findings to be impartially reviewed by a prosecutor, who would bring the accused before a court of law to decide on their guilt or innocence. But it is not for the Attorney General to render a verdict on whether someone is ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty.’”

Outlining all these, Ahimsa reiterates her previous call for the impeachment of the Attorney General.

Independent prosecutor

Amidst the increased focus on the probes into many cases of crime, fraud, and corruption and their progress as well as the conduct of the Attorney General’s Department, a campaign is gradually emerging calling on the JVP/NPP Government to initiate the Independent Prosecutor’s Office that was in the party’s policy statement launched for last year’s elections.

The Ministry of Justice and National Integration last week announced plans to establish an Independent Prosecutor’s Office, aligning with the JVP/NPP’s manifesto pledge. Issuing a statement, the ministry outlined its proposal to form a technical committee as the first step towards establishing the new office.

Accordingly, the committee will comprise the Attorney General or two representatives from the Attorney General’s Department, the secretary to the Ministry of Justice, a senior judge with expertise in judicial services, and the president of the BASL or a nominee appointed by the BASL president.

The ministry further noted that a concept paper on the establishment of the Independent Prosecutor’s Office would be drafted soon with public and civil consultations being conducted to gather input as well.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa told the Cabinet briefing last week that the Independent Prosecutor’s Office would function with more capacity than the Attorney General’s office. “It will be free of any allegations such as those the Attorney General’s Department has had to face recently,” Jayatissa said.

However, the Minister maintained that the position of the Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Department would not be abolished with the establishment of the proposed Independent Prosecutor’s Office.

Resistance

The Legal Officers’ Association of the Attorney General’s Department meanwhile issued a statement last week warning that it would oppose any efforts to remove the Attorney General from office. The association also expressed concern over what it says are factually incorrect and misleading media reports regarding legal advice issued by the Attorney General on 27 January.

The association further emphasised that proper procedures were followed in advising the discharge of three suspects. It said the decision was made based on all relevant material facts and legal considerations, asserting that political or public opinion did not influence the outcome.

The statement was signed by Legal Officers’ Association Acting Secretary Tashya Gajanayake.

Sunil’s bombshell

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala’s recent allegation that a Police official who was instrumental in a drug raid had been transferred on false charges attributed to an intelligence report shocked many.

Watagala states that the Police officer, who was attached to the Maharagama Police station, had been subsequently transferred to Mullaitivu following a drug bust.

Upon inquiry, the Deputy Minister noted that he had been informed that intelligence reports indicated that the Police officer had an illicit connection to a drug trafficker, based on which the officer had been transferred. 

“A considerable number of people visited us at the ministry to inquire into this transfer, stating that the Police officer was responsible for drug busts in the area. At least 10-12 people in the area came to us to attest to the Police officer’s actions,” he said.

Watagala observed therefore that the Police had to take great care in their duties, adding that he did not wish to find fault with the Police.

AKD displeased

Meanwhile, President AKD had convened a meeting of his Cabinet last Sunday (9) since the usual meeting of the Cabinet could not be held on Monday (10) due to his official visit to the UAE.

However, the scheduling of a meeting of the Cabinet Ministers on Sunday had resulted in a low turnout, with some ministers informing that they were engaged in pre-scheduled political work in their constituencies.

When AKD had walked into the meeting at the scheduled time, there had been around 12 ministers at the meeting, it is learnt, and the President had looked a little displeased and started the meeting saying: “Sunday is a busy day for the ministers it seems.”

Cardinal’s advice

President AKD meanwhile received a reminder from Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith recently about honouring the pledge to ensure justice to the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. He has noted that he expects the incumbent Government to deliver justice to the victims unlike former Presidents Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The Cardinal has warned the President that he will not hesitate to take action against the current Government if it too neglects its responsibilities. He had made this observation during a discussion held at the Colombo Archbishop’s House recently.

“The new Government should be given sufficient time to fulfil that promise. Since the officers of the CID who conducted the initial investigations have resumed the current investigations, there is some hope that justice will be served,” Cardinal Ranjith has said, promising that he will not give up his fight until justice is served to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.

He reminded the audience that he had stated during the last election campaign that a new change should be made and had explained the reasons behind that move, noting that it was because he believed in the promise made by AKD in the Archbishop’s House. 

Focus on LG Polls

On the political front, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne last Friday (14) announced in Parliament the Supreme Court determination on the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill. 

The court determination had stated that the bill was inconsistent with the Constitution and a majority in the three-judge bench had held that it should be passed with a special majority in the House while one judge had determined that the bill could be passed with a simple majority.

The JVP/NPP Government however is prepared to pass the bill with a two-thirds majority in the House given that the party holds 159 seats.

A group of Opposition party representatives meanwhile have called on the Election Commission to delay the holding of Local Government (LG) Elections until after the April New Year.

Main Opposition SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said it was essential to take into account the April New Year and the GCE Ordinary Level Examinations. “The Opposition has a lot to do during the Budget presentation due to the adjournment debate. Opposition members will be required to attend Parliament sittings. Is the Government attempting to block Opposition MPs in Parliament and conduct the election?” he questioned.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that election campaigning activities would be affected as the 2025 Budget would be presented in Parliament this month. He said the Budget proposal would take place for a period of one month from 17 February, concluding only at the end of March, which would affect their election campaigning activities.

“All members of the parties are from various parts of the nation and have to engage in election campaigning. This will not be possible for 66 Opposition members as they will be required to attend the Budget debate, which will affect their election campaigning activities,” Jayasekara said. 

Samantha’s question

The JVP/NPP Government, which is under pressure to address the increasing requirements of the general public, recently saw Minister Samantha Vidyaratne claiming that some Opposition parties that carried out welfare programmes had now stopped them.

The Minister was referring to the welfare programmes that were carried out by Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa during the past years. Vidyaratne questioned as to why the programmes had been halted by the Opposition party.

Sajith responds

Premadasa, responding to Vidyaratne’s query as to why the Opposition had stopped several welfare programmes that had been carried out prior to last year’s elections, said during an event in Nugegoda that the party’s ‘Sakwala’ programme for the education sector and ‘Husma’ programme for the health sector would continue after the LG Elections.

“Some are asking if the ‘Sakwala’ and ‘Husma’ programmes have been stopped. That is not the case. We have temporarily paused them to avoid any complaints that we are engaging in donations targeting elections. Once the LG Elections conclude, we will resume these initiatives,” Premadasa stated.

Probing compensation

The Government meanwhile is looking at probing the compensation paid by the former Wickremesinghe Government to former politicians whose houses had been burnt during the 9 May 2022 mayhem. 

Government Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa recently revealed in Parliament a list of 43 politicians who had been paid over Rs. 1.2 billion by the former Wickremesinghe Government as compensation payments for their houses that had been burnt. He noted that it was important to see if the relevant politicians who had claimed millions as compensation payments had actually listed these asset values in their assets and liabilities declarations.

“One politician had said that several ebony chairs and antiques in his house were destroyed by the fire and that the compensation payments made were insufficient. We will check if these valuable possessions have been declared in their assets and liabilities declarations,” he added.

The Minister also explained that there were doubts over the valuations carried out on the houses of some of the politicians, given that there were cases where valuers had faced pressure by the relevant politicians to increase the valuation amounts of their respective houses. 

Jayatissa further noted that there had been reports that some of the politicians had taken insurance payments for their destroyed assets while also claiming millions of rupees as compensation from the former Government. 

According to the Minister, following the probe, a proper valuation will be done to determine the actual values of the burnt houses and the additional amounts paid as compensation by the Wickremesinghe Government will be taken back.

The main Opposition SJB has also called on the Government last week to investigate how the valuations were conducted on the burnt houses and to also probe the assets and liabilities declarations of the politicians who had claimed millions of rupees as compensation payments.

The SJB also pointed out that the Government should address the issue in a proper manner through probes.

Focus back on MR

Meanwhile, some JVP/NPP supporters were seen sharing posts on social media noting that it should be former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) who should actually pay the compensation to the former MPs whose houses were burnt on 9 May 2022.

They have noted that it was MR who had incited the violence by getting Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) supporters to Temple Trees that day and riling them up to unleash violence on the protesters at the ‘GotaGoGama’ in the Galle Face area. The assault on the ‘Aragalaya’ protesters resulted in a clash between the protesters and the supporters with the SLPPers that eventually resulted in the burning of houses of SLPP politicians islandwide.

Therefore, the pro-JVP/NPPers claim that the compensation payment for the former MPs whose houses were burnt should have been paid by MR as the key instigator of the mayhem.

Irregular payments

However, there are now statements being made that the payment of compensation amounting to billions of rupees was done outside the proper process, with the Office for Reparations claiming it had not made the compensation payments.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Prathiba Mahanamahewa has pointed out that the Disaster Management Act has outlined that the compensation payment for a completely destroyed house is Rs. 2.5 million. He has further questioned the legal basis on which millions of rupees were paid for the burnt-down houses.

According to Mahanamahewa, the recommendation to make the relevant compensation payments to the politicians had been made by a committee appointed by the Public Administration Ministry at the time. “Some MPs had been paid compensation even though they had not requested it. How did it happen? Who authorised them?” he has questioned.  

Stopping rent

Meanwhile, the JVP/NPP Government has so far not paid the Rs. 75,000 monthly payments given to MPs as house rent. This payment is made for MPs who do not have houses in Colombo and have not been allotted residences in the Madiwela MPs’ Housing Complex since the complex can only accommodate 120 MPs.

The Rs. 75,000 per month allocation is made as rent for a house in close proximity to Parliament. However, this monthly rental payment had reportedly not been issued for several months.

The Parliament’s House Committee meanwhile had recently discussed whether the monthly rent for the Madiwela MPs’ Housing Complex should be revised. The monthly rental for a house at the Madiwela complex is Rs. 2,000 at present. The rent was Rs. 1,000 from 1994 till 2023 and the rent amount was increased to Rs. 2,000 in 2023.

However, the committee has decided following deliberations not to increase the monthly rent for the houses at the complex at present. The issue of rent for Madiwela houses came about after SLPP members questioned whether MPs occupying the houses paid the actual rent according to the value of the premises. 

Meal issues

Meanwhile, the revision of meal prices served at the Parliament MPs’ restaurant has gathered mixed reactions from legislators in both the Government and Opposition. 

Groups of MPs representing both sides of the divide have expressed their displeasure over the increase in meal prices, with some claiming the food served in the House is not worth Rs. 2,000, while some others, especially from the Government side, have noted that their daily allowance for attending Parliament has been reduced to just Rs. 500 after deducting the meal payments.

Nevertheless, another issue related to the meals served in Parliament was witnessed during the last parliamentary session the previous week. A senior member of the Opposition representing the Colombo District had expressed displeasure over the new menu introduced in the House restaurant. It is learnt that the buffet at the restaurant now consists only of rice and curry while the respective Opposition MP consumes a healthy meal that includes boiled vegetables and a protein. 

The MP had walked in for lunch at the restaurant and seeing there were no food items he could consume, had expressed his displeasure and had complained to the restaurant manager as well. It is learnt that the MP had explained that not every MP could consume food on the new menu as some had dietary restrictions and that he had always consumed a healthy meal even during previous parliaments. 

The MP had further claimed that a group that did not understand food culture was now ruining Parliament. The restaurant manager had assured the MP that he would be served his healthy meal in the future.

RW returns after interview

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe returned to Sri Lanka last week after concluding his visit to the UK, where he had attended an interview at Al Jazeera.

There have been various versions of Wickremesinghe’s participation in the Mehdi Hasan show ‘Head to Head’.

Some accounts of the interview shared on social media applications stated that Wickremesinghe had behaved in an appalling manner during the interview while also losing his cool on several occasions. “Childish, arrogant, flippant, rude, smug, embarrassing, dismissive,” were among the words used to describe Wickemesinghe’s behaviour during the meeting.

The former President had at some points shouted at the host, talked over the host, and had not answered some questions. However, Wickremesinghe loyalists noted that some questions posed by the host were not relevant to him (Wickremesinghe) and that there were questions focused on the past.

Interestingly, Wickremesinghe’s interview is to be telecast on Al Jazeera early next month, which is almost a month after the interview was conducted.

To Oman and India 

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe left for Oman yesterday (15) to attend the Indian Ocean Conference. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath is to represent Sri Lanka in an official capacity at the summit.

Wickremesinghe is to return to Sri Lanka on Wednesday (19) and is due to leave for India soon after.

Meeting party leaders

Wickremesinghe meanwhile on Thursday (13) convened the second meeting of Opposition party leaders at the Amari Colombo hotel to discuss the current political situation and action to be taken. The first meeting was held several weeks back, prior to Wickremesinghe’s visits to the UK and Oman.

It is learnt that the turnout at last Thursday’s meeting was quite lower than at the first meeting. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK), who had earlier said while excusing herself from the first meeting that she would attend the next one, had responded saying that she was no longer interested in politics in Sri Lanka and had not attended the meeting. However, former President Maithripala Sirisena had attended it.

Former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the General Secretary of a party formed by a group of SLPP dissidents, Ramesh Pathirana, had been notable absentees at the meeting. Members of the main Opposition SJB were not present at this meeting while several members representing minority parties in the SJB alliance had attended the first meeting last month.

However, former MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Udaya Gammanpila, Nimal Lanza, Rajitha Senaratne, Ruwan Wijewardene, Sagala Ratnayaka, and several others had attended the meeting.

The discussion had lasted for around two hours and the main focus had been on the need for a broad Opposition alliance and the possibility of forming this alliance prior to the upcoming LG Elections. It had also been discussed that the SJB should be invited to be part of the broad alliance in the making.

SJB-UNP talks in limbo

The talks between the SJB and United National Party (UNP) to form an alliance meanwhile are now in limbo, with the SJB leadership deciding to take a firm stand on the alliance leadership and electoral symbol.

A group of young SJBers loyal to Premadasa have already launched a campaign that they claim is aimed at ‘saving the SJB from Ranil (Wickremesinghe)’. This group had made representations to the SJB leadership that the talks between the SJB and UNP were being used as a ruse by Wickremesinghe to break the SJB and usurp its leadership from Premadasa.

After several such discussions between Premadasa and this group of young SJBers, the SJB leadership, it is learnt, had told them that there was no point in discussing an alliance with the UNP and Wickremesinghe after the latter had asked people to vote for either him (Wickremesinghe) or AKD at the Presidential Election.

Ranjith under attack

It is learnt that SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara is under attack by Premadasa loyalists who accuse him of being a ‘double agent’ and trying to betray the SJB to the UNP and its Leader Wickremesinghe.

Madduma Bandara has been in the line of fire since the talks commenced between the SJB and UNP, and the attacks intensified after pro-Premadasa SJBers accused him of accommodating SJB defector and Wickremesinghe loyalist Harin Fernando at a decisive discussion on forming the alliance.

The opposition mounting against Madduma Bandara also includes what Premadasa loyalists claim as his failure to adhere to the Party Leader’s directive to ensure that the alliance will be led by the SJB under the party’s ‘telephone’ symbol and proposing that the alliance should contest under the ‘telephone’ symbol in some areas and under the UNP’s ‘elephant’ symbol under some areas at the upcoming LG Elections. 

Premadasa, it is learnt, had told the group of young SJBers trying to block the SJB-UNP alliance that he too had concerns over the manner in which the SJB side had conducted the negotiations and that a discussion would be held with Madduma Bandara on the matter.

Apart from Madduma Bandara, there are several other SJB seniors who are being accused of being in a deal with Wickremesinghe prior to last year’s elections and still carrying out his (Wickremesinghe’s) bidding.

No protest

Meanwhile, the protest campaign that was to be held by a group of SJBers last week against the ongoing talks for an SJB-UNP alliance was not held as previously planned. The protest was to be held under the theme of ‘saving the SJB from Ranil (Wickremesinghe)’.

It is learnt that a group of young SJBers led by Sujeewa Senasinghe had announced the protest with the blessings of the party leadership. However it had later been decided that the announcement of the protest campaign should only be used to intimidate the SJB seniors who are pushing for an SJB-UNP alliance. 

Hirunika hits out

Former MP Hirunika Premachandra meanwhile lashed out at the ongoing talks between the SJB and UNP to form an alliance.

Premachandra claimed that the SJB leadership should be mindful not to put a hand into a snakepit. She went on to list out the instances when the UNP leadership had betrayed SJB Leader Premadasa, including at the 2019 and 2024 Presidential Elections.

Therefore, Premachandra noted that the SJB leadership should not allow itself to be betrayed by the UNP leadership yet again.

Harsha sidelined

Meanwhile, Colombo District MP Harsha de Silva, who was expected by many SJBers to lead the party in the Colombo District, was not appointed as the SJB’s Colombo District leader when the party leadership appointed seven district leaders last week.

Interestingly, the SJB Colombo District leadership was retained by SJB Leader Premadasa. This move took some by surprise, while some others felt that it was obvious that de Silva would be sidelined following discussions and proposals by some party members to give the SJB leadership to de Silva after Premadasa failed to bring victory to the party at last year’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

However, Premadasa, when questioned why de Silva had not been given the Colombo District leadership of the SJB, said that there was no clash within the party. When the media noted that de Silva seemed disgruntled over the matter, Premadasa smiled and responded: “How can he be disgruntled, as I said he would be the finance minister?”

“There’s no issue between us (with de Silva). The General Secretary of the party is the Leader of the Monaragala District and I’m the Leader of the Colombo District. So, what’s the issue?” Premadasa further questioned, while asking the media personnel not to ask questions based on an allowance received for providing voice cuts that would make headlines.

De Silva meanwhile said: “It (the Colombo District leadership) would either be given or not. I am the most senior MP from the Colombo District, but the Leader has retained it, apart from holding the national leadership.” 

When the media asked if he would accept the SJB’s district leadership, de Silva said: “This is not something you can ask for. You might get appointments or not. This is my fourth consecutive time in Parliament. I have no intention of asking or crying for posts.”

UNP WC meet

Meanwhile, the UNP Working Committee (WC) met last Friday (14), where the discussions between the UNP and SJB to form an alliance was one of the key topics of discussion.

General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale, it is learnt, had informed the committee that the talks to form an alliance with the SJB were facing some stumbling blocks. The WC had given the green light for talks of reunification with the SJB to continue. It was decided that the UNP must be flexible in its talks with the SJB to ensure a favourable outcome. UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene and General Secretary Atukorale have been tasked with the talks.

However, the UNP had also decided that the party would contest under the ‘elephant’ symbol from Local Government bodies in Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Galle at the upcoming election. The party has also decided to contest under any suitable symbol under an alliance at the LG Elections. A final decision on this matter is to be made by Thursday (20).

UNP Working Committee Member Dinouk Colombage, speaking after the meeting, stated that the party’s main focus was unifying the Centre-Right political parties. 

“The new Government has destabilised the system, promised a system change, but has only succeeded in spreading uncertainty and instability. The UNP recognises that a united political front of similar ideological groups must step forward. 

“Nearly two million voters stayed away between the Presidential and General Elections last year. That points to dissatisfaction with the old guard and the new Government. We have recognised that and are telling the other parties to put aside our minor differences and work together. We are ready to give space in our nomination list to those parties if they have stronger candidates. 

“This election is not about an individual, but about the stability of the country. A weak government, regardless of the numbers in Parliament, and a rudderless president will lead to a collapse similar to what we saw in 2022. We urge the SJB to reunite with us and prevent this from happening,” he said.

Meanwhile, former MP and Governor Navin Dissanayake was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the UNP.

SLFP takes the ‘chair’

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is set to contest the upcoming LG Elections under the ‘chair’ symbol of the People’s Alliance (PA).

Following a lengthy discussion within the SLFP on whether the party should contest under its ‘hand’ symbol, it was decided to contest under the ‘chair’ symbol since most of the coalition partners had sided with the latter. 

SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said that the decision to go with the ‘chair’ symbol had been made as the PA had a history of election victories and appealed to Left-wing voters.

He also noted that the party was currently working to gain support from its former allies and groups while striving to contest in as many electoral districts as possible and that the party was also holding meetings across the country to strengthen its grassroots organisation.

Namal takes on USAID

Meanwhile, SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa has taken on US President Donald Trump’s anti-USAID stance.

Namal has called for an investigation into the programmes carried out in Sri Lanka utilising USAID funds, especially the organisations and individuals who had received funding given the allegation that the fund’s monies had been used to “cause chaos and destabilisation in other countries under the pretext of humanitarian aid”.

“I call upon the Government to conduct a probe on these projects and grants operated under USAID and present a detailed report to Parliament,” Namal posted on X.

A group of young Opposition MPs, it is learnt, is also contemplating calling for an investigation on MPs who have received funds from NGOs and on what they have utilised such funds.

Meanwhile, former SLPP MP Wimal Weerawansa last week accused the USAID of funding programmes in Sri Lanka with the aim of harming the country’s culture as well as to reduce Sri Lanka’s population by supporting LGBTQIA+ initiatives in the country.

Julie meets Namal

Given the ongoing controversy over USAID-funded projects in Sri Lanka, a protest was held outside the US Embassy in Colombo last Thursday with senior SLPPer, former Minister Sarath Weerasekera playing a key role, along with several other SLPPers. The protesters called on US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung to ‘go back home’.

Interestingly, the following day, Friday, Chung visited the SLPP Headquarters in Battaramulla and met with a party delegation led by Namal.

Namal, it is learnt, had raised the issue of USAID with Chung during the discussion. Namal and the SLPPers had also briefed the Ambassador about the party’s proposal for a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the use of USAID funds by both registered and unregistered NGOs in Sri Lanka, with a focus on ensuring transparency in the allocation of US taxpayer resources, as called for by US President Trump.

Meanwhile, Speaker Wickramaratne informed Parliament last Friday that he was planning on taking necessary action over requests by some MPs regarding the allegations concerning USAID funding in Sri Lanka. The Speaker made this statement in response to a question posed by Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara on whether a PSC would be appointed to probe USAID funding issues in the country.