• AKD takes charge of talks with US on trade tariffs; last two-hour talks help Sri Lanka secure 20% tariff
• UNP seeks clarity on ‘meaningful trade and security arrangements’ reached with US to finalise deal
• Sajith wants Govt. to talk further with US to secure 15% tariff; Harshana says will continue with talks
• Govt. yet to decide how it will trade with China amidst US pressure; US has asked high tariffs for China
• Other foreign markets could also ask for better tariffs from Sri Lanka; challenges continue for Govt. 
• Govt. looking at purchasing oil from US to tighten trade gap; also looking at buying Boeing craft
• UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka to lapse in September; UK and Core Group to move fresh resolution
• AKD, Namal take same UL flight to the Maldives; exchange pleasantries, but avoid talking about politics
• Namal visits the Maldives for former Deputy President’s daughter’s wedding; goes to court upon return
• Seven PSD officers transferred after buying foreign liquor illegally from duty-free shop while on duty
• FR petition seeking order to appoint RTI chair cites AKD as respondent; Tissa issues apology to AKD
• Milinda begins work on forming coalition; discusses with Opposition political leaders, former ministers
• Majority working on Opposition coalition wants RW, Sajith informed of move, but kept out due to issues
• Lalkantha retracts statement on Dudley’s hotel; says only the fence can be removed, later says no
• Cabinet to discuss bill on slashing MPs’ pension; Retired MPs’ Collective objects, threatens legal action 
• Slashing ex-Presidents’ entitlements gazetted; MR to remain till law enforced, CBK to move to Horagolla
• GR avoids media during recent visit to Kandy; GR says ready to testify in Lalith-Kugan case in Colombo
• Namal granted bail over warrant issued while in the Maldives; Johnston says Namal is the next president
• Rohitha’s daughter surrenders, no jail space for her; daughter and son-in-law both granted bail
• Ranjith, Shanthini seek bail amidst appeal, SM granted bail; Rohitha’s case to proceed in absentia

Months of anticipation over Sri Lanka’s economic recovery process in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs on Sri Lanka reached a positive conclusion with the reduction of trade tariffs from the initial 44% to 30% later and being finalised at 20% on Thursday (31 July). The new trade tariffs are to become effective from Thursday (7) and countries are to sign and seal the new trade deals with the US within the next few months.

The role played by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) in personally intervening in negotiations with the US Trade Department is noteworthy. 

The last-minute operation launched by President AKD and the team of negotiators, it is learnt, had managed to change the US’s initial stance of not reducing the trade tariff on Sri Lanka. It is further learnt that the US Government even on Wednesday (30 July) had maintained there was no change in the trade tariff on Sri Lanka from the 30% mark. However, the final round of negotiations carried out under President AKD’s supervision during the last two hours prior to the US side finalising and announcing the trade tariffs resulted in the tariff being reduced to 20%.

It is further learnt that President AKD had to make some tough choices to obtain a favourable tariff for Sri Lanka given the impact it would have on the country’s exports sector, which plays a key role in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery programme.

President AKD or ‘brand AKD’ yet again showed that the full weight of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government was being shouldered by him.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the US Mahinda Samarasinghe had also played a pivotal role in negotiating a 20% tariff for Sri Lanka with a social media campaign being carried out by some sections commending Samarasinghe’s role in the process.

Questions and answers

Meanwhile in a statement, the United National Party (UNP) urged the Government to make a clear statement on the ‘meaningful trade and security arrangements’ reached with the US Government.

“The new order of the US Government has stated that goods of trading partners will remain subject to the additional ‘ad valorem’ duties until such agreements are concluded and a subsequent order will be issued memorialising the terms of these agreements,” the UNP statement noted.

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma told the media on Friday (1) that the Government aimed to open the domestic market in ways that would generate mutual benefits for both countries.

According to Suriyapperuma, Sri Lanka has positioned itself as a net importer of energy, raw materials, and advanced machinery – products largely sourced for industrial and consumer use.

He added that discussions had focused on minimising both tariffs and para-tariffs, with trade facilitation identified as a major component of the offer. 

While the UNP urged the Government for details on trade and security arrangements reached with the US, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa noted that Sri Lanka should aim at getting the tariff reduced to 15%. 

“The reduction of the US tariff to 20% will put us with Vietnam and Bangladesh while India pays 25%. We should aim at under 15% to give our exporters a real lift. We should have a team of trade economists and lead negotiators to keep pushing,” Premadasa posted on X.

Treasury Secretary Suriyapperuma meanwhile further noted that the Government would continue engagements with the US with the hope of getting further tariff reductions if possible.

“The primary goal was to determine how Sri Lanka could move forward while preserving its competitive position in the regional market,” he said, adding that the focus was not solely on the tariff percentage but on maintaining market share for Sri Lankan exporters of goods and services.

No clarity on China

However, it is no secret that Trump has sought countries that traded with the US to impose high taxes on raw materials imported by the respective countries from China. 

It is learnt that the US has sought from Sri Lanka, like it has done with other countries, an assurance on imposing tariffs similar to the ones imposed by the US on China on raw material imported to Sri Lanka from China for the manufacturing industry. Sri Lanka reportedly imports 40% of raw materials required for the manufacturing industry from China.

Sri Lanka however has not yet made it clear how it will engage in trade with China in the backdrop of pressure from the US.

How Sri Lanka will manoeuvre this issue of trading with China without affecting the deal with the US and be prepared to face requests from other foreign trading partners for lower tariffs from Sri Lanka for their exports, like the US has done, will have to be seen in the coming months. 

It is therefore wise to state that the victory over the US trade tariff negotiations and Sri Lanka’s economic recovery will be short-lived if President AKD and the Government fail to prepare for future challenges in the global trade sector that will emerge in the coming months.

Purchasing Boeings

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Government, it is learnt, is continuing to explore ways to minimise the trade balance between the US and Sri Lanka.

The Government is looking at purchasing oil from the US and it is learnt that the US has dispatched samples of its crude oil to be tested for viability in Sri Lanka. The oil samples are to reach Sri Lanka in the coming weeks.

Apart from exploring the possibility of procuring oil from the US, it is learnt that Sri Lankan authorities are also exploring the possibility of purchasing several Boeing aircraft to minimise the trade balance with the US.

It is learnt that when looking at the possibility of procuring several Boeing aircraft, the authorities had understood that the National Carrier, SriLankan Airlines, was not able to make such a purchase. The next airline being looked at to purchase Boeing aircraft is the budget airline FitsAir. It is also learnt that several senior Government members have proposed to the budget airline to explore the possibility of purchasing Boeing aircraft for its operations.

FitsAir is being operated under the Expolanka Group, which was earlier headed by Hanif Yusuf, who is now the Western Province Governor. Yusuf resigned from all the positions held by him at Expolanka when he assumed office as the Governor.

However, a final outcome on purchasing Boeing aircraft is yet to be reached.

UNHRC spotlight

Be that as it may, following the AKD Government’s success in negotiating a lower tariff for Sri Lankan exports to the US, the Government now has to prepare to face yet another challenge before the international community when the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions commence in Geneva next month.

It is learnt that the current UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka will lapse in September and that the council will look at a fresh move on Sri Lanka next month.

The UNHRC adopted a resolution in October last year extending the mandate of Resolution 51/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka despite the country’s rejection of it under the JVP/NPP Government.

It is also learnt that the UK and other members of the Core Group on Sri Lanka – Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia – are looking at moving a fresh resolution to be adopted by the UNHRC at next month’s session to provide a further impetus to pursuing issues of accountability and other remaining matters. 

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Acting General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran had told the media last week that he had learnt from UK officials in London recently that such a resolution would be moved in September this year for the UNHRC to press ahead with its Sri Lanka project.

Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who engaged in a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka from 23-26 June this year, is to present a report on his findings related to Sri Lanka at next month’s session.

Agreements with the Maldives

Meanwhile, President AKD, who was on a State visit to the Maldives from Monday (28 July) till Wednesday (30 July), held bilateral discussions with Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and several senior officials from the Maldivian Government.

After the discussions, agreements were exchanged between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which included a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Foreign Service Institute of the Maldives (FOSIM) and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, as well as an agreement on mutual legal assistance.

“These agreements are expected to strengthen relations and cooperation between the Maldives and Sri Lanka across various sectors. The first agreement aims to provide mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, while the second is an MOU on diplomatic training and the exchange of related information and documents between the respective institutions,” the President’s Media Division stated.

AKD, Namal on same flight

However, an interesting incident had taken place during President AKD’s flight to the Maldives. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa had also been on board the same flight to the Maldives last Monday. 

While the President was heading to Malé on a State visit, Namal was travelling to attend a wedding ceremony. The duo had been seated in Business class on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 101 from Colombo to Malé.

Namal stated after returning to the country that they had sat on opposite sides of the flight and had not engaged with each other. However, both AKD and Namal had exchanged pleasantries on the flight, but had refrained from speaking about matters of a political nature.

It is learnt that Namal had travelled to the Maldives to attend the wedding of the daughter of former Vice President Abdulla Jihad.

PSD officers transferred

Meanwhile, seven officers attached to the President’s Security Division (PSD) were transferred pending investigation after they had allegedly purchased liquor from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) duty-free shops.

The PSD officers had been deployed to the BIA last Monday as an advance security team to ensure the security of the President who was leaving the country on an official visit to the Maldives.

It is learnt that these officers had purchased and taken away around 50 bottles of liquor from the duty-free shop at the airport without presenting a valid air ticket or travel documents.

The incident had come to light when airport officials had lodged a complaint about it. Among the seven officers who have been transferred with immediate effect to areas in Galle, Elpitiya, and Matara are a Chief Inspector and a Sub Inspector.

A civil organisation has also lodged a complaint about the incident to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

FR against AKD

Meanwhile, President AKD has been named as a respondent in a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition that has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order to direct the President to appoint an acting chairperson to the Right to Information (RTI) Commission.

Journalist Mithun Jayawardhana along with the Deyata Saviya organisation had filed the petition, naming President AKD, the Secretary to the President, the Speaker, and the members of the Constitutional Council as respondents.

The petitioner has stated that the position of chairperson of the RTI Commission has remained vacant since March this year, resulting in a suspension of inquiries into information requests. The petitioner has argued that it has resulted in the violation of the FR of both the petitioner and the general public.

The petition has further stated that no appointment has been made since the resignation of retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne on 9 March. 

The chairperson’s role, as defined under the RTI Act No.12 of 2016, is essential for the effective functioning of the commission and for upholding the public’s constitutional right to access information.

An apology to AKD

While the President has been named as a respondent in the FR petition, last week saw a member of the SLPP submitting an unconditional apology to AKD over a statement made in 2023. 

Former Member of Parliament (MP) of the SLPP Janaka Thissa Kuttiarachchi had unconditionally apologised in court for making a defamatory statement regarding President AKD. 

Kuttiarachchi had informed the Colombo District Court that he unconditionally regretted the statement he had made regarding President AKD. The announcement was made through his lawyers during a hearing of the case filed by AKD seeking compensation of Rs. 10 billion for defamation. 

When the case was heard on Tuesday (29 July) at the Colombo District Court, Kuttiarachchi had appeared in person and the two parties had reached a mutual settlement.

The case was filed due to a statement made at a public meeting held by the SLPP on 19 August 2023 in central Colombo, where Kuttiarachchi had reportedly claimed that President AKD had “invested five billion in Malta”.

AKD had argued that Kuttiarachchi’s statement was intended to portray him as corrupt and acting with dishonest intentions, suggesting he had received large sums of money from overseas for ulterior motives.

Milinda’s new role

Meanwhile, Opposition political party representatives continue to dabble in talks to explore the formation of a broad political coalition. It is in such a backdrop that former Minister and former High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda seems to have made a comeback in the local political scene with moves being initiated by him to form a broad political coalition. 

Moragoda has worked closely with several former presidents, but his key political move was witnessed when he joined a group of 18 members of the UNP when Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Opposition Leader to defect to the then Mahinda Rajapaksa Government. Afterwards, Moragoda contested the Colombo Municipal Council mayorship under the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) but was defeated by A.J.M. Muzammil who represented the UNP at the time.

Moragoda re-emerged in the political scene during the tenure of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) when he was appointed as the High Commissioner to India with power vested with a Cabinet portfolio. Afterwards, during President Wickremesinghe’s tenure in office, Moragoda once again developed a close friendship with the former. 

It is learnt that Moragoda is currently playing an active role behind the scenes by meeting with politicians, activists, and members of civil society for discussions in a bid to form a broad alliance. Among the politicians in close conversation with Moragoda are Nimal Lanza, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and Dayasiri Jayasekara, as well as dissidents of the SLPP who had supported Wickremesinghe at the last Presidential Election.

Not including RW and Sajith

However, it is learnt that several members of Opposition parties who had held discussions so far to form a broad political alliance, including with Moragoda, have expressed their displeasure at the way both Wickremesinghe as well as Opposition Leader Premadasa have been handling Opposition politics. One of the key issues they have discussed is the personality and ego clash between Wickremesinghe and Premadasa, which has posed a great barrier in forming a unified Opposition.

“We want to speak with both Wickremesinghe and Premadasa and get their blessings for the coalition, but it is difficult to form an alliance with them since their personality clashes and leadership issues will have a negative impact,” an Opposition party leader noted.

Lalkantha’s Dudley drama

While the Opposition parties are developing a framework to form a coalition, the JVP/NPP Government continues to be under close public watch, with some incidents receiving much coverage in the public domain. One such incident is the recent statement made by Minister K.D. Lalkantha that steps are being taken to remove illegal constructions on tank reservations regardless of who owns the structures.

The issue was further compounded by challenges posed to Lalkantha to act against businessman Dudley Sirisena’s hotel adjacent to the Parakrama Samudra in Polonnaruwa. Responding to the challenge, Lalkantha first claimed that the authorities had commenced the project to demarcate the tank reservations, adding that any construction encroaching on reserve land would be demolished and that there would be no special treatment for Sirisena.

Speaking at an event in Monaragala, the Minister said: “We have initiated the process of clearing unauthorised structures on tank lands starting from Anuradhapura, beginning with the Nuwara Wewa. As soon as we started, I noticed people on social media challenging the Government to remove Dudley’s hotel.”

“We will address Dudley’s hotel when we begin this activity in the Polonnaruwa District. People have given us a mandate for good governance, so regardless of social status, any illegal structures on tank reserves will be removed,” he added.

Lalkantha further stated that Sirisena himself should hold a press conference and declare that he is willing to vacate any land under the Department of Irrigation, if necessary.

However, the Minister also noted that, according to the information currently available, the hotel in question did not appear to have been built within the boundaries of the Parakrama Samudra.

“As per the information I’ve received, he has leased the land from the tourist board for a certain period. However, a section of tank land is being fenced and used for the hotel’s activities. Based on what we know so far, if anything has to be removed, it would only be the fence built on tank land. The hotel itself is not on property belonging to the Irrigation Department,” Lalkantha claimed afterwards.

Security and helicopter rides

Meanwhile, Lalkantha also spoke of President AKD’s security, saying that he believed the security convoy for the President should be strengthened.

He has said during a public event that while he himself used a double cab for travel, senior officials in his ministry, including the Secretary and Additional Secretaries, used luxury V8 vehicles. “These days, they have started to feel a bit embarrassed. Recently in Vavuniya, my Ministry Secretary asked how they could continue like this; earlier, eight of them had been travelling in a van.”

Referring to social media posts showing the President’s motorcade, Lalkantha has noted: “When the President travels, there is a group that must accompany him. This cannot be avoided.”

He has further stated that comparing the current security setup to those in the past is unreasonable. “I think it’s foolish to criticise this. In my personal view, the President should have a much larger security detail. There should be massive security, no matter who criticises it. Comrade Anura doesn’t like that, but I believe even a helicopter should be provided, if necessary,” Lalkantha has added.

Tussle over pension

Meanwhile, what seems like a tussle has emerged between the Government and former MPs following moves to present a bill to Parliament to abolish the pension currently being paid to MPs.

The Retired MPs’ Collective has stated that in the event the Government moves ahead with its plans to slash the pension paid to former MPs, legal action will be taken through the Supreme Court against the violation of MPs’ Fundamental Rights.

Collective Secretary Pemasiri Manage has noted that if legal action does not resolve the issue, further action will be taken including taking the matter to the UNHRC in Geneva, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Amnesty International.

“I believe that the pension of a person, be it an MP or someone else, cannot be abolished retrospectively,” he had told the media last week.

He had further explained that there were those who became MPs after leaving various positions in the public service and that becoming an MP deprived them of pensions applicable to their service in the public service.

A former MP receives one-third of the salary for serving as an MP up to five years, two-thirds for serving up to 10 years, and the entire salary if they have served for 15 or more years.

The Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry last week announced that the proposed bill to abolish the pensions of MPs would be presented to the Cabinet this week and that it had been drafted by the Justice Ministry and forwarded to the Attorney General for review.

Axing ex-presidents’ perks

Apart from slashing the MPs’ pension, the Government also moved ahead with one of its key election pledges – to revoke benefits granted to former presidents.

The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill, which seeks to revoke the special benefits granted to former presidents and/or their widows, was gazetted on Thursday (31 July). 

According to the gazette notification, the draft bill prevents the provision of granting special benefits, such as any residence, monthly allowance, monthly secretarial allowance, official transport, and other such facilities to former presidents or the widow of a former president.

The draft bill also stops the monthly pension paid to the widow of a former president.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s (MR) son, MP Namal Rajapaksa meanwhile stated after the gazette was issued that MR was ready to return the official residence on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7 once the proposed bill was enacted as a law.

CBK moves out

Meanwhile, it is learnt that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) has decided to move out of her official residence on Independence Avenue in Colombo 7 and return to her ancestral home in Horagolla.

CBK had initially looked at moving into a residence owned by the family in the Colombo area, but since there was no vacant space, she had decided to move to Horagolla. It is learnt that CBK has slowly begun moving out of her official residence.

GR avoids media

Meanwhile, former President GR had recently avoided the media during a visit to Kandy.

GR was invited to tour the newly-opened wax museum at the Ehelepola Walawwa that was declared open by President AKD. The project to renovate and convert the walawwa into a wax museum to attract tourists was mooted during GR’s tenure as President and monies were allocated for the project during former President Wickremesinghe’s tenure in office.

On the evening of the opening, with former President GR due to visit the walawwa at around 7 p.m., the media had gathered outside the venue by 6.30 p.m. However, it is learnt that GR had avoided arriving at the walawwa at 7 p.m. after hearing about the gathering of media personnel outside and had instead waited until the media had dispersed at around 7.30 p.m.

GR had reportedly arrived at the walawwa at 8 p.m. and toured the facility.

Ready to testify

Former President GR meanwhile has informed the Supreme Court that he is prepared to testify in the case concerning the 2011 disappearance of activists Lalith Kumar Veeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan but has requested that the hearing be held in Colombo, citing security concerns.

GR’s counsel, President’s Counsel Romesh De Silva, has informed the court that GR is prepared to give evidence but has requested to give evidence in Colombo due to security concerns.

This position was stated during the hearing of an appeal filed by the parents of the missing activists, represented by Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage. The families were challenging a previous Court of Appeal ruling that quashed a 2019 summons issued to GR by the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court to appear as a witness in the habeas corpus case.

A three-judge Supreme Court bench – comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Kumudini Wickremasinghe, and Shiran Gooneratne – had directed that a motion be filed at the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court within four weeks, requesting appropriate directions based on GR’s current stance.

Lalith and Kugan were reported missing on 9 December 2011.

Namal granted bail 

Meanwhile, MP Namal Rajapaksa was granted bail last week by the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court after issuing an arrest warrant earlier to arrest him for failing to appear before court. 

The Hambantota Magistrate’s Court on Monday (28 July) issued the arrest warrant after Namal had failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.

Namal was in the Maldives attending a private event when the arrest warrant was issued and he was expected to return to Sri Lanka the following day (29 July). In fact, Namal was onboard the same flight on which President AKD travelled to the Maldives for his official State visit. 

However, upon returning to Sri Lanka last Tuesday, Namal appeared before the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court after his lawyers filed a motion and the Magistrate had granted him bail.

Namal had later told several of his confidants that he had got the dates of the hearing mixed up.

Johnston’s next president  

Former SLPP MP Johnston Fernando meanwhile made an interesting claim last week that several foreign embassies in the country had identified Namal as the country’s next president.

Fernando had said during a recent event in Ratnapura that public discussions, particularly at the village level, reflected growing support for Namal’s potential candidacy.

“As a party, we believe Namal Rajapaksa’s journey is progressing well. Villagers are already talking about him becoming the next president,” he had said, while alleging that the Government was attempting to discredit Namal with false accusations due to fears about his rising popularity.

“When they are scared, they file cases and attempt to imprison him. It’s because they know that Namal Rajapaksa is coming. Intelligence agencies have already given their reports on this,” he had said, adding that leaders of several countries and diplomats he had met during recent embassy visits had expressed similar expectations about Namal’s political future.

Rohitha’s daughter surrenders

Meanwhile, the probe on a vehicle allegedly assembled illegally that implicated the families of two politicians – the SJB’s Jagath Withana and the SLPP’s Rohitha Abeygunawardena – saw Abeygunawardena’s daughter, who refrained from making a statement to the Police, surrendering to the Panadura-Walana Anti-Vice Squad.

Abeygunawardena’s daughter was wanted over the sale of an illegally imported and registered vehicle to Withana’s son. The vehicle was initially registered under the name of Abeygunawardena’s daughter, Melanie, and later sold in October 2024 to Withana’s son.

At the time, even though Withana claimed the vehicle had been purchased for Rs. 45 million, investigators had noted it had been declared at only Rs. 20 million, prompting suspicions of document forgery and tax evasion. Soon after, Abeygunawardena’s son-in-law was arrested and remanded over the case, while his daughter had evaded arrest.

However, Abeygunawardena’s daughter was granted bail on Thursday (31 July) by the Matugama Magistrate’s Court on two sureties of Rs. 2 million each. 

Following his daughter’s release, Abyegunawardena noted that neither he nor his children had committed any wrong and that the truth would be revealed before court. He further noted that he could not be intimidated by political witchhunts and that they would only serve to further strengthen his resolve.

Abeygunawardena’s son-in-law was released on bail last Friday (1).

No space in prison

Meanwhile, it is learnt that after Abeygunawardena’s daughter had surrendered to the Police on Wednesday, the Kalutara Prison had been prepared to bring her to prison once she was presented to court and arrested.

However, she was not taken to prison since she was granted bail the following morning when she was presented before court.

It is learnt that there had been concerns among Kalutara Prison officials as to how they could make space for Abeygunawardena’s daughter in the remand prison since it was already overcrowded. The three wards in the prison are reportedly overcrowded and the prison officials are facing difficulties in accommodating remanded individuals. 

Former Minister to be arrested

Meanwhile, there were reports that a Minister of the former Government is likely to be arrested soon on a charge of misappropriating over Rs. 5,000 million in State funds.

Some news reports on social media quoting sources from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) have stated that the Minister from the previous Government was being probed following complaints received against him. The commission has reportedly recorded statements from officials of the ministry that was under the purview of this former Minister.

The former Minister is facing allegations of misuse of State funds, obtaining bribes from businesses over job quotas, and granting certain privileges to selected professionals.

Seeking bail

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister of the North Central Province S.M. Ranjith and his sister-in-law Shanthini Chandrasena, who are currently serving 16-year rigorous prison sentences for corruption, have filed a petition at the Colombo High Court requesting release on bail pending appeal.

The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Sahan Mapa Bandara. President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, appearing for the petitioners, had argued that since an appeal had already been filed, they could be granted bail until a final decision was delivered.

The Judge has scheduled the next hearing for 25 August.

Ranjith is the brother of former Minister S.M. Chandrasena. Shanthini is Chandrasena’s wife. She had served as the Private Secretary to Ranjith during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2012 to 2014.

SM gets bail

While Ranjith and Shanthini have filed a petition seeking bail, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has on Friday (1) granted bail to former Minister Chandrasena.

Chandrasena was previously arrested and remanded over corruption charges in connection with causing a loss to the Government by distributing maize seeds to his political associates in order to gain an advantage at the 2015 Presidential Election. 

The court had released him on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 5 million each. The court, which imposed an overseas travel ban on the suspect, had also ordered that his passport be surrendered to the court.

The court had then ordered that the case be called up on 9 January 2026.

Case against Rohitha

Meanwhile, the Colombo High Court has ordered that a corruption-related case filed by the CIABOC against former Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will be called on 30 October to set a trial date for proceedings to be held in his absence.

The order had been issued by Colombo High Court Judge Mahesh Weeraman after considering submissions by the CIABOC.

The commission had reportedly requested to proceed with the case in absentia, citing information that the accused was currently overseas. Accordingly, the order was issued by the court on Friday (1).

The CIABOC had filed the case against the former Minister over allegations that he had committed the offence of ‘corruption’ under the Bribery Act. The former Minister is accused of having influenced the then Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) in 2006 to improperly pay over Rs. 1.5 million for hotel and exhibition expenses in order to attend an investment promotion exhibition held in London, violating Treasury regulations.