• AKD’s Independence Day speech, reduction in expenditure, National Anthem in Tamil commended
• President to commence UAE visit tomorrow to attend ‘World Government Summit’ and hold meetings
• AG’s decision to drop three suspects in Lasantha’s case stirs a hornet’s nest; vast opposition, protests
• AKD summons AG for a meeting attended by IGP, Harshana Nanayakkara, Ananda, Ravi, and CID; asks case details
• AG says dept. independent, can make decisions based on evidence; CID officers show evidence
• CID investigators to send fresh report with evidence to AG; AG asked to review and inform of decision
• Ahimsa writes to Harini urging impeachment of AG; Harini assures justice in Lasantha’s case
• AG’s Dept. issues statement clarifying decision; BASL writes to AKD about AG’s independence
• Dayasiri, Sajith clash with Govt. over SC’s LG Polls decision; Speaker intervenes, says yet to receive verdict
• Paddy and rice crisis increases; farmers object to certified price of PMB, seek divine interventions
• Ministers continuously confronted by people; fishermen confront Minister over high fuel prices
• SJB-UNP talks run into obstacle after Harin attends meeting at Harshana Rajakaruna’s residence; SJBers object
• Sajith loyalists ask Ranjith why there were no objections over Harin’s attendance at a key meeting
• Sujeewa, Chathura, Prasad raise concerns over SJB-UNP alliance; campaign to save SJB from RW 
• Hesha says SJB-UNP alliance must be led by Sajith under ‘telephone’ symbol; Govt. forces hit out
• Sajith works to build united front; meets Opposition party leaders to discuss issues, role in the House
• SJB prepares list of names for parliamentary representation; Gayantha says Govt. has to agree first
• Nalinda’s revelation of compensation payments amounting to billion earns Sajith a commendation
• RW advises to let JVP/NPP work without objections; Wajira compares 77-year curse vs. 77-day actions
• RW to assist Tamil youth in the UK to find answers; doubts over delay in airing Al Jazeera interview
• RW says AKD did not object to MR’s official residence in Colombo when decided during ‘Yahapalana’ period
• MR awaits official letter to vacate Wijerama premises; Govt. says no letter, looks at alternatives for MR
• MR tries to play unifier with SLPP dissidents while Namal opposes; dissidents unhappy with Namal
• Yoshitha seeks threat assessment on him and permission to hold a firearm; Namal on a village campaign

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government received much public commendation over the manner in which the country’s 77th Independence Day was marked in a low-key, yet dignified manner last Tuesday (4), amidst the many challenges faced by them in the face of growing public dissension over matters related to the cost of living and the latest being the ensuring of justice in emblematic cases, especially the murder of senior journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.

Independence Day last week was marked with the participation of many, but with scaled-down public expenditure. It was in such a backdrop that a revelation was made about the expenses incurred by the previous Government to celebrate Independence Day.

The number of participants in the Independence Day parade was reduced by 40% from 3,384 to 1,873 individuals and there were no military armed and artillery vehicles in the parade either. The number of aircraft that participated in the parade was reduced to three from last year’s 19. The cost this year was reduced from Rs. 200 million to Rs. 80 million. 

Meanwhile, civil society activists last week revealed the corresponding cost incurred during former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s term in office. The cost incurred for the Lion Flag that was hoisted in 2023 was Rs. 1.4 million and Rs. 2.8 million in 2024; for refreshments, Rs. 2 million in 2023 and Rs. 4 million in 2024; for lodging facilities, Rs. 1.2 million in 2023 and Rs. 2.6 million in 2024; water supply, Rs. 4.3 million in 2023 and Rs. 8.6 million in 2024; floral garland for D.S. Senanayake statue, Rs. 40,000 in 2023 and Rs. 80,000 in 2024; and Rs. 32.8 million for mobile toilet units for both years.

Apart from President AKD’s Independence Day speech, which could be viewed as one focused on the future path of the country, the singing of the National Anthem in Tamil at the conclusion of the ceremony sent out a clear message that the incumbent Government was committed to inclusivity and dignity for every community in the country.

UAE bound

President AKD, who is on a path to developing foreign ties of the JVP/NPP Government, will undertake a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from tomorrow (10) till Thursday (13) at the invitation of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to participate in the ‘World Government Summit 2025’.

During the visit, AKD will address the summit in Dubai and hold bilateral discussions with the UAE President on a range of areas of mutual interest. He is also scheduled to meet UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The President is to hold bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Governments from several countries who will attend the summit.

Lasantha’s case

Be that as it may, President AKD and his Government last week witnessed first-hand the gravity of one of their election pledges – justice to journalists abducted, assaulted, and killed during the past few decades. 

The Attorney General’s (AG) Department’s directive to drop three key suspects in the assassination of journalist Wickrematunge caused quite a stir. Wickrematunge’s case is an emblematic case that has gathered much local as well as global attention since his murder on 8 January 2009. Successive governments, including the Government led by Wickrematunge’s good friend former President Wickremesinghe, had ignored/failed to ensure justice for his family.

Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe Jnr.’s recent move drew sharp criticism from media rights activists and civil society groups, who accused authorities of failing to uphold accountability despite repeated assurances. While the Working Journalists’ Association and Free Media Movement issued a statement on the matter, the Young Journalists’ Association organised a protest outside the Attorney General’s Department last Thursday (6).

The protesters, while calling for the Attorney General’s removal, questioned whether the previous decisions of the Attorney General’s Department to not discharge these suspects were faulty and also questioned what had become of the evidence that had existed earlier and was ‘missing’ now.

In a letter dated 27 January 2025, now public, the Attorney General’s Department had informed the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that legal proceedings would not continue against Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama, former Mount Lavinia Crimes OIC SI Tissasiri Sugathapala, and former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara. 

Udalagama, who was a member of the military intelligence unit, is accused of abducting and intimidating Wickrematunge’s driver Devamullage Karunaratne. Udalagama is also accused of abducting and attacking journalists Keith Noyahr and Upali Tennakoon. Sugathapala and Nanayakkara were accused of suppressing evidence related to Wickrematunge’s murder. 

The fact that Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara, who had informed the Mount Lavinia Magistrate of the Attorney General’s message about the lack of evidence against the three suspects, had on an earlier occasion informed the same court that there was sufficient evidence that suspect Nanayakkara had suppressed evidence related to the case and that further inquiries were being held to determine whether he was part of the murder as well, is quite baffling.

On 1 June 2018, details were revealed about Sugathapala and Nanayakkara’s involvement in Wickrematunge’s murder. Attorney Rasika Weerasuriya who had appeared for Sugathapala had told court that his client had been threatened by Nanayakkara not to inquire into the numbers of the motorbikes that were written in Wickrematunge’s notebook. 

It was also stated that Sugathapala had been threatened that he (Sugathapala) and his family would face the same fate as Wickrematunge and his family if the investigation was conducted into the contents in the notebook. The lawyer had further stated that his client had handed over the details in his possession and the notebook to Nanayakkara.

However, Sugathapala had made and hidden photocopies of Wickrematunge’s notebook as well as all the relevant pages of the Police Investigation Books (IBs) and production registers on his way to DIG Nanayakkara’s office. While at the DIG’s office, Sugathapala has alleged that Nanayakkara had ordered him to rip out the pages of the IBs and production registers in which the notebook was mentioned and to surrender the pages to him along with the notebook.

This account has been corroborated by Sugathapala’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hemantha Adhikari, who was an eyewitness to the events. Several then officers of the Mount Lavinia Police have also corroborated Sugathapala’s discovery of the notebook and of hastily making copies after being summoned with the registers and evidence to the DIG’s office. DIG Nanayakkara on the other hand has denied on record that Wickrematunge’s field notebook was produced into evidence.

It is learnt that a key reason for the growing suspicion is the timing of the move to discharge the three suspects including Nanayakkara as it has taken place after Nanayakkara had been summoned by the CID to record a statement a few weeks back. 

Govt. to study

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, responding to questions on the Attorney General’s decision, said that the Government was looking into the AG’s recommendation to release three suspects in the assassination of journalist Wickrematunge and that the Government would review it. 

“The Government has no intention of sweeping this under the carpet. We have no intention of setting the guilty free. The Government will take some time to study this matter and we will do justice to the citizens of this country. We will not dishonour the people’s mandate,” Jayatissa said.

Impeachment talks

However, the controversy arising from the Attorney General’s move with regard to releasing several suspects in Wickrematunge’s case had resulted in talks emerging on conducting an inquiry into the Attorney General on the matter.

The role of the attorney general in the country has witnessed changes under different governments and the incumbent holder of the office was appointed by former President Wickremesinghe. 

At the time the incumbent Attorney General was appointed by Wickremesinghe, the most senior official at the AG’s Department who would have naturally succeeded to the post was Ayesha Jinasena, the current Justice Ministry Secretary. 

Wickremesinghe however overlooked Jinasena and appointed the incumbent to office. Many political analysts believe that Jinasena was overlooked by Wickremesinghe since he did not want the Attorney General’s Department to proceed with some key cases.

It is in such a backdrop that talks of the Government moving to impeach the Attorney General over his conduct with regard to the Wickrematunge case started doing the rounds.

However, Minister Jayatissa last week said the Government had not decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the Attorney General’s actions with regard to Wickrematunge’s case or whether the Attorney General should be impeached depending on the findings of this committee.

Ahimsa’s letter

Wickrematunge’s daughter Ahimsa Wickrematunge wrote a letter to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya last Thursday (6) calling on the Government to impeach the Attorney General for gross abuse of power/gross neglect of duty in connection with the criminal proceedings on Wickrematunge’s assassination. 

“I write with grave concern about the action taken last week by the Attorney General, Mr. Parinda Ranasinghe, to discharge three individuals who had been named as suspects in Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court Case Number B 92/2009, the inquiry into the assassination of my father, Lasantha Wickrematunge. I am also grateful to your Government for its swift announcement that it will review the decision despite the political risks stemming from the NPP’s pledge to foster a criminal justice system independent of political interference,” she notes.

Ahimsa further notes: “Any lawyer who had ever forwarded an indictment or won a conviction in a High Court trial would appreciate the mountain of evidence against DIG Nanayakkara, and the value of Inspector Sugathapala as a prosecution witness against those who sought to prevent an investigation into my father’s assassination. If there was a gap in the evidence, any competent prosecutor would have directed the CID to conduct further investigations, not to throw out one of the most critical investigative avenues in this case outright. I understand, however, that during Mr. Ranasinghe’s career, he has never won a single prosecution of a single accused for any offence.”

Explaining details of the probe, Ahimsa states: “Following the victory of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in November 2019, the new Government moved swiftly to dismantle and scuttle all ongoing criminal investigations into complex or emblematic crimes, and to punish those Police officers who dared to investigate these crimes as well as witnesses who had dared to come forward.

“As a part of this effort, the new CID leadership cherry-picked a smattering of evidence and forwarded a request to the Attorney General’s Department in 2020 to discharge all suspects and to wind down investigations. The material forwarded did not highlight most of the facts that are outlined above. The then Attorney General, Dappula De Livera, was aware of what the Government was trying to do and instructed his officers, at great risk to themselves, to decline the CID request and to withhold a formal response, thereby preventing the CID from taking further action in connection with the case until investigations could one day resume.

“I became aware of these facts through correspondence I began with the National Police Commission (NPC) on 17 June 2020, to protest the appointment of another suspect in my father’s case as the Director of the CID. The NPC confirmed to me on 11 January 2021 that the then CID Director, SSP Prasanna Alwis, was indeed suspected of sabotaging my father’s investigations. They however took no action to remove him or protect the integrity of the investigations. I wrote back on 9 March 2021, copying the Attorney General, referencing his file number, CR1/40/2020, highlighting the risks to the integrity of the investigations.

“Yet it is these doctored and cherry-picked extracts from five years ago that Mr. Ranasinghe relied upon to reach his decision to drop the cases against Premananda Udalagama and DIG Nanayakkara. This is a simple matter.”

Finally, Ahimsa writes: “If Mr. Ranasinghe was not aware of the above facts when he made his decision, he is guilty of gross neglect of duty. If Mr. Ranasinghe was aware of the above facts when he made his decision, he is guilty of gross abuse of his office. In either event, he is no longer fit to serve as Attorney General. My family is fortunate that my father’s career and reputation resulted in this matter receiving wide publicity and public outcry. But if the Attorney General could act so callously in such a high-profile matter, I cannot imagine the anguish suffered by ordinary people who rely on Mr. Ranasinghe to lead the public’s efforts to bring criminals to account.”

Harini’s assurance to Ahimsa

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Amarasuriya, while confirming in Parliament last Friday (7) that she would personally respond to Ahimsa for her letter, assured Ahimsa of justice over her father’s murder.

“Our Government’s position on this incident is very clear. We are ready to deliver justice regarding the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge, and that was our position in the past. That is our position today as well,” the Prime Minister said in the House, adding that the Government was determined to deliver justice and would even consider fresh indictments.

“I can understand Ahimsa’s concerns and the pain she undergoes at this moment. I assure her that we will do everything possible to deliver justice in this matter. We allow the Office of the Attorney General the necessary independence to act on this behalf and follow the necessary legal procedures. We have also discussed extensively with the President in this regard,” the Premier noted.

She said that if there was a need to initiate a new investigation or re-gather evidence, action would be taken towards that end. “If it is necessary, new cases will be filed and we will take every possible legal measure to ensure justice,” Amarasuriya added.

AKD meets AG

Meanwhile, President AKD summoned the Attorney General for a meeting at the President’s Office last Thursday (6). The meeting was attended by several officials from the Attorney General’s Department (Additional Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya and Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara), Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya, investigating officers of the CID, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, Public Security Ministry Secretary Ravi Seneviratne, and Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and ministry officials.

The Attorney General had arrived at the President’s Office at around 1.45 p.m. for the meeting scheduled at 2 p.m. It is learnt that the President had questioned the Attorney General over the reason behind his decision to discharge three suspects in the Wickrematunge murder. AKD, it is learnt, had firmly stated that the Attorney General needed to give him the legal reasons and that he (the President) would explain the political implications.

The Attorney General, it is learnt, had said that the AG’s Department was an independent institution and that the Attorney General had the right not to continue litigation if there was a lack of evidence against some suspects.

AKD, it is also learnt, had continued to ask the Attorney General about the lack of evidence claimed by him. The President was informed by the learned counsel that there was no evidence that Wickrematunge’s notebook had been destroyed. Everyone at the meeting had been taken by surprise by this statement since the investigation was based on this very fact and there was evidence to prove that the notebook had been removed from the evidence and destroyed. 

The Attorney General had fumbled at some points when trying to explain the evidence or the lack of it that had resulted in his move to push for a discharge of the suspects, adding that the dismissed suspects were not related to the main case on Wickrematunge’s murder. 

The President had clearly asked the Attorney General once again the basis on which he had claimed there was no evidence to pursue litigation against the suspects. The Attorney General, while insisting there was no evidence, had however failed to provide clear reasons to back his claim.

AKD had then turned towards the CID investigators at the meeting and asked the senior officer in the murder investigation to explain the case and whether there was evidence to pursue with the litigation against the three suspects. The respective CID officer had in detail explained the case and the evidence stacked against the three suspects the Attorney General was trying to dismiss. It was pointed out that the suppression of evidence was linked to the main murder probe.

The President had then turned to the Attorney General for a response and seeing the silence maintained by the latter, had asked him to reconsider his decision based on the evidence presented by the CID investigators. “If one cannot work with responsibility and accountability, they should not hold office. It is important to understand the change sought by the people and every legal action has to be taken to ensure justice,” AKD had said.

It was then decided that the CID would send in a fresh report with the evidence against the three suspects and that the Attorney General could review the report and inform of his response.

AKD, it is learnt, had concluded the meeting stating that the JVP/NPP Government would not go back on its word in ensuring justice and that the Government would not hesitate to take the required actions for the purpose.

The meeting had concluded after two hours at around 4 p.m.

Govt. turns to Sonali

Meanwhile, as pressure mounted on the JVP/NPP Government to act on Wickrematunge’s murder investigation, the Government turned to Wickrematunge’s widow, Sonali Samarasinghe.

The Government decided to appoint Samarasinghe as the Minister Counsellor to the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations (UN) in New York. However, the timing of the Government’s decision drew quite a bit of criticism, with some claiming it was a political appointment and a move to suppress the mounting pressure on the Wickrematunge case.

Samarasinghe was appointed to the Sri Lankan Mission in New York during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government by then Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. However, the JVP/NPP Government has also decided to grant a diplomatic posting to Samarasinghe once again. 

AG’s Dept. responds

Amidst the spotlight on the Attorney General over Wickrematunge’s case, the AG’s Department issued a statement on Friday pointing out that the investigation into Wickrematunge’s murder was ongoing.

The department stated that the recommendation to release three suspects was not related to Wickrematunge’s murder case and that it was in relation to the abduction of Wickrematunge’s driver.

Detailing further, the statement said that Wickrematunge’s driver’s abduction had been filed under the same case number, 92/2009. Citing several lapses in the legal proceedings, the Attorney General’s Department noted that there was insufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution against one suspect, Udalagama, and that there was no evidence against the other two suspects over the allegation of suppressing evidence in the case.

BASL jumps in

Meanwhile, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) also jumped into the discussion by issuing a letter to President AKD over the review of decisions of the Attorney General.

The letter, signed by BASL President Anura B. Meddegoda, PC and Secretary Chathura A. Galhena, has expressed concerns about media reports that the Cabinet of Ministers may be considering reviewing a decision of the Attorney General in connection with the discharge of three suspects in Wickrematunge’s case. The BASL had focused on the statement by the Government Spokesperson that the Cabinet would review the Attorney General’s actions.

“The BASL is firmly of the view that decisions of the Attorney General in criminal matters should not be reviewed by political authorities, including the Cabinet of Ministers, as that would undermine the independence of the office of the Attorney General, which is crucial to uphold the rule of law,” the letter has stated.

The BASL is at present preparing to elect its new office bearers, with Meddegoda being a frontrunner for the election to the post of BASL president.

Udaya’s revelation

Amidst all these developments, former Minister Udaya Gammanpila last week posed eight questions to the Government and the Police to respond over the ongoing Easter Sunday attacks probe and the alleged move to arrest former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) and former Chief of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General Suresh Salley.

Gammanpila has accused the Government, during a press conference, of attempting to fabricate a new “mastermind” behind the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks to protect those he claims are truly responsible within the administration. “The objective is to establish the false claim that Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service carried out the Easter bombings to benefit Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election,” he has noted.

Gammanpila has referred to a three-member presidential investigation committee, comprising a former Supreme Court Judge, a former Air Force Commander, and a President’s Counsel, which he has said had dismissed allegations made by a UK-based Channel 4 documentary linking Sri Lanka’s intelligence agencies to the attacks. Gammanpila has accused the Government of ignoring the report and pushing a misleading narrative.

He has also alleged that Asad Maulana, the key witness in the alleged Government plot, faces multiple criminal accusations, including fraud and identity deception. Gammanpila has further claimed that the Government is facilitating Maulana’s return to Sri Lanka to obtain a statement against intelligence officials while suppressing investigations into his alleged crimes.

LG Polls clash

Meanwhile, the holding of the delayed Local Government (LG) Elections resulted in a verbal clash in Parliament last week following the Speaker’s announcement that he was yet to receive the Supreme Court decision on the elections.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne on the Supreme Court determination on the petitions challenging the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill. The Supreme Court had announced on 27 January that its decision would be confidentially sent to both the President and the Speaker.

However, the Speaker’s response gave way for senior Opposition members including Premadasa and Members of Parliament (MPs) Dayasiri Jayasekara and Gayantha Karunatilleka to question a statement made to the media the previous week by Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Jayatissa that the Speaker had been delivered the Supreme Court observation and that it would be read during the upcoming parliamentary session. 

Following the verbal clash between the Opposition and Government sides, the Speaker claimed that he had the authority on the matter and that he had not received the Supreme Court verdict.

Rice pot boils

The rice crisis meanwhile continues to affect the JVP/NPP Government, with farmers’ associations expressing displeasure over the Government’s failure to set a certified price that takes into account the cost incurred by farmers. 

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne, who served as the National Organiser of the All-Ceylon Farmers’ Federation prior to being appointed as a Deputy Minister, is now at the receiving end of criticism levelled by farmers over the Government’s failure to address the paddy and rice issues.

Meanwhile, a large-scale mill owner, Dudley Sirisena last week called on the Government to address the issue of paddy and rice prices by addressing the issues with the farmers. He further claimed that he should not be blamed for the issue of prices and shortages of rice in the market. “Don’t try to blame me. I will not allow anyone to play with me this time around,” Sirisena claimed.

It is in such a backdrop that Agriculture Minister K.D. Lalkantha last Wednesday (5) announced the certified prices at which the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) would be purchasing paddy.

However, farmers’ organisations around the country expressed their displeasure at the prices assigned by the Government to purchase paddy and farmers decided to sell their paddy to large-scale mill owners at a price higher than the PMB prices. The recently cleaned PMB warehouses therefore remain empty.

‘Deva kannalawwa’

Meanwhile, a group of paddy farmers in the Mawathagama area engaged in a ‘deva kannalawwa’ (making a plea to the gods) on the bund of a tank in the area, seeking divine intervention to enlighten the relevant ministers and Government officials on the hardships faced by farmers and to address them.

The farmers called on the gods to enlighten Minister Lalkantha, Deputy Minister Karunaratne, and officials to understand the issues and provide solutions, including a certified price for paddy purchasing, soon. Afterwards, the farmers dashed coconuts before concluding the ritual.

Fishermen confront Minister

Meanwhile, certain sections of the general public have started to question members of the Government about honouring the pledges given by the JVP/NPP during the election campaigns last year. Such an incident was reported recently from the Mirissa area.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage had recently visited the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour on an inspection tour when fishermen had confronted him, asking for a fair price for fuel. The fishermen had pointed out that they had been holding protests from last year demanding a reduction in fuel prices and that the Government had assured that fuel would be reduced to Rs. 100 per litre. They had further noted the difficulties in engaging in their livelihoods due to the high fuel costs.

United front

Meanwhile, the talks between the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) to form an alliance saw some positive developments, with SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara saying that the two parties would contest together at the upcoming LG Elections.

The SJB-UNP talks which commenced last month faced a hurdle over the symbol of the new alliance. The UNP wanted the alliance under the ‘elephant’ symbol of the UNP while the SJB was not agreeable to it and wanted the alliance to be formed under the ‘telephone’ symbol of the SJB. 

The UNP side’s next proposal for the alliance to be formed under a common symbol also did not go well with the SJB, with a majority of the SJBers saying it was not wise for the party to contest under a common symbol at the upcoming LG Elections since there was not much time to create awareness of the new symbol among the grassroots level. 

However, it is learnt that the two sides are looking at contesting as an alliance where the candidates will contest under the UNP’s ‘elephant’ symbol in some LG bodies where the UNP has the chance of winning such as in Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, and Kuliyapitiya, while other bodies will be contested under the ‘telephone’ symbol.

More suspicions

However, some loyalists of the SJB leadership continue to block the formation of an alliance between the SJB and UNP by making various conspiracy theories. 

One theory is that Wickremesinghe is planning on breaking the SJB by getting several SJB MPs to defect from the party while the SJB is engaged in discussing an alliance. Another conspiracy theory that has emerged more recently is that Wickremesinghe and the UNP are attempting to unseat Premadasa as the SJB Leader.

The suspicion had arisen when former Minister Harin Fernando, who is believed to be a Wickremesinghe loyalist now, had attended a recent meeting held at MP Harshana Rajakaruna’s residence. 

It is learnt that Fernando, who was not among the representatives of the UNP who were to attend this meeting, had turned up with Wickremesinghe’s knowledge. This had prompted suspicion among the SJBers as to the reason behind the former President’s decision to let Fernando attend the alliance talks.

The UNP side was to be represented by UNP General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale, Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, and H.S. Samaratunga. However, Wijewardene had not attended the meeting at Rajakaruna’s residence. The SJB side was to be represented by Madduma Bandara, Gayantha Karunatilleka, Rajakaruna, and Mujibur Rahman.

Questioning Ranjith

Fernando’s attendance at the meeting at Rajakaruna’s residence had resulted in Premadasa loyalists speculating that the UNP and its leadership were engaged in some sinister plan to break the SJB. These SJBers had also questioned why the SJB side at the meeting had not expressed their reservations over Fernando’s participation at the meeting.

Several senior SJBers loyal to Premadasa have said that the SJB side should have refused to engage in the discussion that day and are questioning the UNP’s motive in allowing a member who was not among the agreed representatives to attend an important meeting. 

Fernando had first joined the SJB after defecting from the UNP and was sent to Parliament following the 2020 Parliamentary Elections by Premadasa through the SJB’s National List. Afterwards, Fernando defected from the SJB and returned to the UNP to join Wickremesinghe in 2022. However, after returning to Wickremesinghe, Fernando was a great critic of Premadasa and the SJB. Fernando therefore had earned the wrath of the SJB leadership and his supporters.

Madduma Bandara, responding to allegations over Fernando’s attendance at the meeting and the alleged sinister plan behind it, had said that there were no permanent friends or enemies in politics.

Govt. campaign

Meanwhile, it is learnt that forces affiliated to the Government have commenced a social media campaign against the moves to form an alliance between the SJB and UNP.

The campaign includes sharing posts on social media claiming that the rogues are trying to get back together. Also, videos containing statements made by the likes of Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara that were critical of Premadasa and his wife Jalani after defecting to the UNP from the SJB are once again being shared on social media.

This campaign by Government forces against the SJB-UNP alliance is believed to be aimed at preventing the formation of an alliance that could lead to the emergence of a broad Opposition political alliance.

Planning protest

Meanwhile, a group of SJBers last week discussed the holding of a protest against the formation of an alliance between the SJB and UNP outside the SJB Headquarters.

The organisers of the protest have discussed the need to put pressure on the SJB leadership to not fall for what they claim is a trap laid by UNP’s Wickremesinghe.

Madduma Bandara however has said that the party’s backbenchers are supportive of forming an alliance with the UNP and that it is only a small group of individuals who are opposed to it.

Premadasa loyalist Sujeewa Senasinghe last Friday told the media that the campaign to save the SJB from Wickremesinghe was being launched.

Some SJBers support

Meanwhile, the campaign being carried out against the SJB-UNP alliance by pro-Government forces has received a further boost from some sections of the SJB as well.

Several young SJBers, including Sujeewa Senasinghe, Prasad Siriwardana, and Charith Abeysinghe, who are Premadasa loyalists, have expressed concerns over uniting with the UNP and have said they object to it. This campaign being carried by a group of young SJBers against an alliance with the UNP has even resulted in Party General Secretary Madduma Bandara also being in the line of fire and being criticised for being accommodative of the UNP.

Abeysinghe in fact has stated that the SJB is displeased with the party decision to discuss the formation of an alliance with the likes of Harin Fernando and that forming an alliance would result in the SJB facing a negative sentiment among the people. He has noted that the SJB should focus on reforming the party and further strengthening it without looking at discussing with Wickremesinghe or the UNP.

Hesha Withanage meanwhile has stated that the SJB could form an alliance as long as the leader was Premadasa and the symbol was the ‘telephone’ and that the alliance should not include individuals accused of fraud and corruption.

Sajith’s meeting

Amidst the ongoing SJB-UNP talks, Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa convened a meeting with Opposition parties last Wednesday (5).

The meeting saw Opposition Party Leaders and MPs attend to discuss the current political situation in the country and the role of the Opposition.

MPs Gayantha Karunatilleka, J.C. Alawathuwala, Ajith P. Perera, Rishad Bathiudeen, Namal Rajapaksa, Dilith Jayaweera, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Ravi Karunanayake, Jeevan Thondaman, Sivagnanam Shritharan, P. Sathiyalingam, A. Adaikalanathan, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Rauff Hakeem, Nizam Kariapper, V. Radhakrishnan, Anuradha Jayaratne, D.V. Chanaka, Kader Masthan, and others had attended the meeting.

Good move

Opposition Leader Premadasa meanwhile received what seems a rare commendation from his SJB MPs last week for not accepting the role of prime minister when former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had asked him to assume the position during the economic crisis in 2022.

Premadasa’s decision to issue conditions to accept the premier post during the crisis period and holding back on accepting the post was criticised by many SJBers, who claimed that Premadasa had lost the chance of eventually taking over the post of president and leading the country.

However, a group of SJB MPs last Thursday had noted that Premadasa had made the right move in 2022 following the revelation made by Minister Jayatissa in the House that day.

Jayatissa told Parliament that the former Wickremesinghe Government had paid over Rs. 1 billion as compensation to 43 members of the GR Government when their houses were burnt down during the 9 May 2022 mayhem. Jayatissa listed out the monies that were paid to the 43 individuals, including former ministers, as compensation by the Wickremesinghe Government.

“If Sajith (Premadasa) had taken the position (of prime minister and later president), we (the SJB) would have had to bear this burden (of Jayatissa’s revelation) as well,” several SJBers had discussed in the Opposition lobby in the House.

Opposition committees

Meanwhile, Opposition party members who recently met at a meeting convened by former President Wickremesinghe at the Amari Colombo hotel had started work on appointing two committees to address the grievances of Opposition members inside and outside Parliament.

Former Minister Kanchana Wijesekera had proposed that a legal aid committee be appointed under the leadership of former Minister Susil Premajayantha. The legal aid committee is aimed at extending support to Opposition members who will require such when facing inquiries launched by the Government. A similar committee has already been launched by the SLPP recently by opening an office for the SLPP Legal Aid Division to extend legal assistance to SLPPers whenever they require such support.

The other committee is co-chaired by former Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Udaya Gammanpila to study and make observations on the policies of the incumbent Government.

The Opposition parties have also decided to inform the Inter-Parliamentary Union of the grievances of former and incumbent Opposition parliamentarians.

Ready with names

The main Opposition SJB meanwhile has prepared the list of Opposition MPs to be appointed to parliamentary committees.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilleka said the list prepared by the Opposition for parliamentary committees would be submitted only after the Government responded positively to increasing Opposition representation.

Karunatilleka noted that they expected a positive response from the relevant parties, including President AKD and the Speaker of Parliament, regarding their request for increased Opposition representation on parliamentary committees.

The waiting game

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe had met with a group of party seniors at his office on Flower Road, Colombo 7 before he left for the UK last Monday (3). 

During the meeting, he had advised his partymen to allow the incumbent Government to carry out its work without hindrance despite the growing displeasure of the masses. 

Wickremesinghe had pointed out that people had to face difficult times whenever there has been a Left-wing party in Government. “This happened during the 1970-1977 period. In 1977 we got a five-sixth majority in the House afterwards,” he had said.

Wickremesinghe had also noted that the JVP/NPP Government had no option but to follow the economic path set by him to get the country on the right track. “People who voted for the Government will feel disgruntled and start moving away from them (the Government).”

RW in the UK

Wickremesinghe was in the UK last week to participate in the coveted interview by Al Jazeera, ‘Head to Head.’ 

The hard-hitting interview, hosted by Mehdi Hasan, sees the former President in the spotlight over allegations of inaction in corruption cases and the Government’s response to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks as well as the conduct of the Sri Lankan Government during the 30-year civil war. 

Filmed at the Conway Hall in London, many members of Sri Lanka’s diaspora had been in attendance. 

During the segment open for questions from the audience, a young Tamil man had attempted to ask a question in Tamil. Despite Wickremesinghe indicating that he would be happy to take the question, Hasan had appeared to have halted the question for unknown reasons. 

Following the filming, this young man had approached Wickremesinghe informing him that his father had been reported missing in the final stages of the war. Wickremesinghe had promised to look into this, taking his details and informing his staff back in Colombo to inform the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and make arrangements for the necessary evidence to be gathered. 

A notable attendee was former BBC correspondent in Sri Lanka Frances Harrison. During the show, she had been challenged on her claim made in her book that 40,000 individuals had been reported killed in the final stages of the war. Highlighting that the OMP currently had 16,000 Sri Lankans reported missing since 2000, her figures had been questioned. 

Interestingly, despite having made headlines with her book, which was released in 2012, Harrison had backed down, claiming she had never said 40,000 people had been killed.

Despite the show being recorded on Wednesday (5), the former President’s staff had since been informed that it would be aired on 6 March. This had raised a few questions as to why a pre-recorded debate would take more than a month to be aired.

77-day curse

UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena meanwhile had made an interesting comment last week, comparing what he claimed was the 77-year curse and the 77-day curse. 

Abeywardena had said during an event of the UNP’s Lak Vanitha Unit that the incumbent Government had assumed office after claiming the country needed to be saved from the 77-year curse where elitist political parties had ruled the country. “It now needs to be seen whether it is a 77-year curse or a 77-day curse,” he had said.

Abeywardena had pointed out that a coconut that had been around Rs. 160 during Wickremesinghe’s tenure was now around Rs. 250-300, while a kilo of rice that had been around Rs. 160 had now increased to around Rs. 300. “Achievements in 77 days have definitely outdone the 77-year curse,” he had added.

RW’s revelation

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe had recently revealed some details about MR’s controversial official residence. He has said that former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena as well as AKD had attended the meeting where he (Wickremesinghe) was also present during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government when approval was given to provide an official residence on Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 to MR.

Wickremesinghe had said that AKD had not objected to it at the time or inquired about the land extent or details about the premises. Interestingly, Wickremesinghe had refrained from commenting about the approval given for the utilisation of public funds worth hundreds of millions of rupees to renovate the Wijerama Mawatha residence.

The Government meanwhile is in the process of submitting a bill to Parliament to remove former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) from his official residence. MR has meanwhile stated that he is prepared to vacate the Wijerama Mawatha residence if the Government informs him officially to do so.

No letter to MR

Meanwhile, the Government, while stating on some occasions that it is looking for an alternative residence for MR, has said there was no need to send him (MR) any letters for him to vacate the premises.

Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Jayatissa last week said that there was no need to send a letter to former President MR requesting him to vacate his Wijerama residence. “There is no need for us to send a letter. Perhaps the people can send him letters asking him to vacate the house,” he said at the weekly Cabinet press briefing.

The Minister said this in response to questions from journalists about why the Government had not formally communicated its stance to the former President in writing.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam meanwhile has said that MR was willing to vacate his official residence if the Government officially requested him to do so.

Referring to the court ruling on former President Sirisena’s residence, Jayatissa noted that MR, as a lawyer, should be able to understand the situation. “If his brother, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, could vacate his residence without a letter, why would he wait for one?” the Minister questioned.

Jayatissa however added that the Government was also considering an alternative residence suitable for MR and his spouse.

MR the unifier

SLPP Leader MR has now taken on the role of a unifier and has held several meetings with SLPPers who had defected from the party during the Presidential Election last year in support of former President Wickremesinghe.

Several senior SLPPers have proposed to MR that since dissident SLPPers were comfortable talking to him, he (MR) should take the lead in talking to them and look at getting them back to the party fold.

Several dissident SLPPers had also met with National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa to discuss the SLPP’s future path and the possibility of them rejoining the party.

Some dissidents undecided

Meanwhile, several senior SLPP dissidents are undecided on whether to return to the SLPP.

A group of SLPP dissidents had recently discussed whether they should indicate to MR whether they wanted to return to the SLPP fold. Prasanna Ranatunga has stated that he had not decided on returning to the SLPP while Mahindananda Aluthgamage has noted that he had temporarily retired from politics. 

Ramesh Pathirana, Kanchana Wijesekera, Bandula Gunawardena, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and Shehan Semasinghe have refrained from making any comment on whether they would meet with MR. However, Janaka Wakkumbura and several other dissidents had met with MR at the Wijerama Mawatha residence. 

The dissident MPs who had gathered at MR’s residence had noted that all Opposition parties had to unite to present a strong force. MR had agreed saying that such a discussion should be started.

Yoshitha seeks a weapon

Meanwhile, MR’s second son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who was arrested and released on bail recently over allegations of money laundering, has recently requested the Defence Ministry for a firearm to be issued to him.

Yoshitha had requested the Defence Ministry to assess his request and issue a firearm to him depending on the threat level.

Seven firearms that had been in Yoshitha’s possession were recently returned to the Defence Ministry. In fact, five firearms had been returned earlier and another two were returned recently after the Defence Secretary revealed publicly that Yoshitha was still in possession of two firearms. 

Namal’s bombshell

Yoshitha’s brother Namal meanwhile had dropped what seemed like a political bombshell after listening to the dissident MPs and MR’s responses.

Namal, it is learnt, had said that while his father (MR) was prepared to open the ‘saloon door’ (to accept dissidents) and let in all those who had left the party, he personally did not agree with it. “My belief is that regardless of who leaves the party or returns, we should ensure that those who stayed with us without defecting from the party in the past months should be protected and strengthened in the SLPP,” Namal had noted.

The dissidents, who by then had expressed positive sentiments of rejoining, had been surprised by Namal’s statement. The group of dissidents after leaving MR’s residence following dinner had discussed Namal’s words and noted that such statements by the likes of Namal meant returning to the SLPP fold might not be the best political move for them (the dissidents). 

Promoting Namal

Meanwhile, with the Attorney General filing an indictment against Namal over the controversial Krrish deal and the likelihood of his arrest in the coming days, the SLPP has moved to promote Namal’s image at the grassroots level by launching the party’s campaign targeting the Local Government Elections under his (Namal’s) name.

Accordingly, the SLPP launched its grassroots outreach programme under the title ‘Namal Samaga Gamin Gamata’.

The initiative was launched in Anuradhapura with religious observances near the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi on the morning of 1 February, followed by its official inauguration. SLPP General Secretary Kariyawasam stated that all arrangements had been made to carry out the programme islandwide.

The first public event under the programme was held in Nochchiyagama, where discussions were held on the current political situation, the SLPP’s future plans, and Government policies. The public events are expected to focus on raising awareness about the alleged oppressive measures taken by the Government.

The SLPP is planning to carry out the programme to cover 14,000 villages, including those in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Dilith to the villages

Meanwhile, Sarvajana Balaya Leader Dilith Jayaweera, it is learnt, has also planned a programme targeting the grassroots level. Like the SLPP and Namal, Jayaweera and the Sarvajana Balaya are also planning on going to the villages.

Both Namal and Jayaweera are currently engaged in a battle to gain the position of de facto Opposition leader inside and outside Parliament.