That the honeymoon period for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government is now long gone is evident by the continuing crises and controversies faced by them. Criticism towards the President and Government which was slow last year is seen to be gradually changing with an increase in criticism among the public and a decline in the number of individuals defending them.
While trying to push the country into a growth trajectory, the many issues and controversies faced by the Government and the way in which some issues have been handled have resulted in some even saying that the JVP/NPP Government is also behaving like its predecessors.
However, President AKD, the brand that is holding the Government together, continues to push for strong reforms and action against corruption and fraud. His recent speech in Matale, where he claimed the importance of strengthening law and order in the country and reiterated his firm commitment to act against any wrongdoing, regardless of positions held by individuals accused of such wrongdoing, is required to be seen in action. These actions spoken of by AKD should not only be targeted towards members of the Opposition, but also towards members of his own JVP/NPP holding office in the Government.
Namal’s Indian googly
Meanwhile, last week’s Indian Republic Day became quite a significant event in the local political scene, with much chatter being generated about it in Government as well as Opposition political ranks.
One of the key events related to the Indian Republic Day that captured the attention of both the public and political circles alike was the event attended by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser, Member of Parliament (MP) Namal Rajapaksa in the State of Odisha in India. A 10-member delegation consisting of young politicians representing the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the SLPP left for India the previous weekend to attend a Republic Day event at an institution in Odisha.
The SLPP was represented by Namal, Indika Anuruddha, Milinda Rajapaksha, and several others while the SJB was represented by Chathura Galappaththi, Chithral Fernando, Prasad Siriwardana, and Chamindranee Kiriella.
However, the Sri Lankan delegation’s visit was portrayed on social media in Sri Lanka as a visit led by Namal with a group of Opposition politicians.
The event attended by the Opposition politicians was organised by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Odisha. It was interesting to see KIIT and KISS Founder Prof. Achyuta Samanta referring to Namal as the Leader of the Opposition on his social media handle. Prof. Samanta had also referred to SJB’s Fernando as the leader of the 10-member delegation from Sri Lanka.
However, one can only wonder how the Professor mistook Namal as the Opposition Leader.
Close watch on India
Be that as it may, the Government, it is learnt, has decided to keep a close watch on India’s actions, especially its political moves.
Indian diplomatic sources, it is also learnt, have informed some members of the Government that Namal Rajapaksa and the youth politicians, including Opposition MPs, had only attended a Republic Day event at an institution in Odisha and not India’s National Republic Day celebration attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Highly-placed Government sources however have noted that despite the impression being created that the visit of Namal and the other youth politicians to India was not a fully official one, the delegation had met with Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Santosh Jha at India House in Colombo prior to their departure. The members of the delegation had on a previous occasion participated in an Indian Government-sponsored tour of India, which took place last year.
While some ruling party members have opined that the antics of Namal and the SLPP could be ignored since he had actually attended an event at an educational institution, and that there needs to be a close watch on India’s sentiments towards Opposition politicians, it is learnt that some others have noted that the Government has been open to India, even causing some discomfort to the JVP’s longtime ally, China.
China has so far openly expressed its frustrations with the JVP/NPP Government and party seniors and continues to express concerns over what the Chinese claim to be “external interventions” in Sri Lanka.
SLPP’s political game
However, the SLPP in usual form got its communication divisions on overdrive on all social media platforms by highlighting Namal’s visit to India.
Many videos and posts shared on social media created the impression that Namal is being viewed as an emerging leader in Sri Lanka by India. Videos of his arrival in India, leading the Sri Lankan delegation, and accepting a guard of honour at a Republic Day event (without giving proper details), were all framed to create an impression of the leadership role played by Namal in India and that he was being supported by four SJB MPs as well.
The SLPP even went to the extent of saying that Namal’s successful Indian tour and his recognition by the Indian Government as the next leader of Sri Lanka have resulted in the Government escalating its hunt against Namal.
SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told the media that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had informed Carlton House in Tangalle on Monday (26 January) that Namal had to appear before the CID at 9.50 a.m. that day.
Call from Singapore
Meanwhile, the four MPs from the main Opposition SJB who had participated in the recent youth MPs’ delegation that attended the Indian Republic Day event in Odisha created quite a stir within the SJB as well.
The chatter within the SJB was mainly focused on questions on why Namal was leading the Opposition delegation when there was a recognised main Opposition party in Parliament and as to why four SJB MPs were in a delegation led by Namal walking behind him, looking as if they were part of the SLPP National Organiser’s own delegation.
Hearing these questions and after seeing video clips of the event in India and the stories being posted on social media, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa had telephoned the SJB Media Unit from Singapore. Premadasa at the time had been in Singapore on a study tour.
Premadasa had informed the SJB Media Unit that he was aware of the SJB MPs participating in the programme in India and that they had travelled with his blessings. He had further noted that there was no space for speculation of SJB MPs breaking rank or that the party was looking at aligning with Namal and the SLPP. Premadasa, it is learnt, had vehemently noted that there should not be any room for speculation on the SJB looking at aligning with the SLPP, since his party would not engage in such an action.
IMF’s double review
On the economic front, following the conclusion of the latest visit to Sri Lanka by an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, it is learnt that the fund is discussing the possibility of combining the fifth and sixth reviews of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with Sri Lanka, since approving the fifth review was delayed due to Cyclone Ditwah last December. This fact has been stated by IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Evan Papageorgiou. After concluding a mission to assess the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, he had told journalists in Colombo that combining reviews was a “live discussion”.
While each review leads to the disbursement of about $ 371 million to Sri Lanka, in the event the two reviews are combined and jointly approved by the IMF Executive Board, Sri Lanka would receive a total amount of about $ 720 million.
Meanwhile, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva is to visit Sri Lanka this month during her Asia trip to review the country’s economic reform programme and to demonstrate the fund’s solidarity following recent natural disasters, IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan said.
Srinivasan had made the announcement during his latest mission to Sri Lanka, where he led one of the largest IMF delegations to visit the country. He had noted that the Managing Director’s visit would serve a dual purpose: to acknowledge the progress achieved under the IMF-supported reform programme and to express direct support to communities affected by the recent catastrophe.
“She’ll be here both to look at the success of the programme and to express the solidarity we have with you,” Srinivasan had told President AKD.
The bouncing cheques
Meanwhile, the country’s ongoing rebuilding programme following Cyclone Ditwah generated some negative publicity following news reports that some cheques for compensation payments issued to affected persons had bounced due to a lack of funds in the accounts. There were also reports of cheques being retrieved from recipients by divisional secretariat officials, stating that they would be returned shortly.
However, Minister Susil Ranasinghe later tried to clarify the reasons behind reports of bounced cheques, saying that the issue had affected a limited number of families who had opted to upgrade their housing by purchasing new properties valued at Rs. 5 million.
He has stated during a public event that formal agreements with these families had not been finalised yet. “Some attempted to cash the cheques before renewing their agreements with the Government, which led to difficulties in accessing the funds,” Ranasinghe has said, adding: “The Opposition is now using this to claim the cheques were not honoured.”
Nevertheless, many civil society members engaged in groundwork in cyclone-affected areas have noted that the Government should work more responsibly and in a professional manner, especially when dealing with persons who have lost loved ones, house, and property as well as livelihoods due to Cyclone Ditwah.
Treasury Secretary steps in
Meanwhile, the continuing controversy over the delay in appointing a permanent auditor general took a new twist last week, with President AKD reportedly assigning the financial management operations of the National Audit Office to the Treasury Secretary.
The President has made this move to prevent the issues that had arisen regarding matters related to finance management due to the lack of a permanent auditor general for nearly 10 months.
The Auditor General’s Department is facing many issues related to the release of audit reports of State institutions as well as the national audit report for 2025. Parliamentary committees that conduct probes on audit reports are also faced with difficulties in carrying out their duties due to the lack of required audit information.
The position has remained vacant since former Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne retired in April 2025.
Pressure on for an auditor
However, pressure continued to mount on the Government to appoint a permanent auditor general, with even the Maha Sangha stepping in to urge the President to resolve the continuing crisis over the vacant auditor general post.
In a letter sent to the President, the Chief Prelates of the three main Buddhist chapters said that Dharmapala Gammanpila, a senior officer with long experience in the department, would be an appropriate choice for the post and called for an urgent appointment. Gammanpila was appointed as Acting Auditor General, but his tenure had ended in December 2025.
The prelates have stated that delays in the appointment have led to public debate over State financial oversight and could fuel negative perceptions about the Government’s economic programme.
They have further stressed that the auditor general’s post is crucial for ensuring transparency in public finance, and that appointing someone outside the department would be inappropriate.
AKD proposes new name
Amidst growing pressure from Opposition politicians, civil society, and now even the Maha Sangha, President AKD had last week sent the name of another new nominee for the post of auditor general.
The proposed nominee is reportedly W.M.K.G. Wickremasinghe, an Open University official who is also a graduate of the University of Kelaniya.
However, the Constitutional Council (CC) that had met on Friday (30 January) had not reached a final decision on the President’s latest nominee. The CC was also expected to meet again yesterday (31 January).
The President has already proposed three names to the post of auditor general last year and all three names were turned down by the Constitutional Council.
Another name proposed
Meanwhile, President AKD had proposed another name for the auditor general post to be considered by the CC which met yesterday.
The council was presented with the name of Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne. Given the Opposition’s continued demand for a permanent appointment to the auditor general post without appointing an individual in an acting capacity and that the next auditor general should be from the department, President AKD had decided to nominate Jayarathne’s name to the post.
However, several news reports have stated that the President’s latest nominee, Jayarathne, is currently facing a probe on alleged financial irregularity that had commenced last year.
Taking a step back?
The Government meanwhile seems to have taken a step back on moving to remove the Attorney General.
The Free Lawyers group that has expressed solidarity with the Attorney General has stated that the withdrawal of the move to remove the Attorney General is a defeat faced by the Government and a victory for democracy and the judicial process.
Nevertheless, some senior members of the Government have made public statements recently to the effect that the Attorney General should resign or that he will be removed.
Slowing down IPO
However, the Government, which promised the setting up of an Independent Prosecutor’s Office (IPO) in the ruling party’s pledges in the run-up to the elections, is now dragging its feet on forming the IPO.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has said that an IPO cannot be formed in a hurry and that a concept note is currently being prepared in line with the existing laws. He has explained that the concept note has to be prepared after studying the legal provisions with an Attorney General’s Department that was hundreds of years old.
The committee headed by Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda is said to be continuing with the process to prepare the concept note for the IPO.
The Cabinet of Ministers had approved the proposal to set up an IPO on 7 May 2025, and the appointment of a technical committee headed by Kodagoda. It is now over eight months since then and the delay in even finalising the concept note for the IPO has become a concern for many members of civil society.
Once the concept paper is prepared, a drafting committee will have to be formed while the concept note will be subjected to public consultations. These steps would also take over six months and the many stages of the drafting of the proposed legislation to set up the IPO could mean that the JVP/NPP Government might not set up the proposed office and thereby fail in another one of its key promises to the people.
Harshana under attack?
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Nanayakkara’s role as a mediator in the clash between the Attorney General’s Department and law enforcement authorities, which has resulted in civil society agitation against the Attorney General, has resulted in gathering criticism from pro-JVP/NPP civil activists.
It is the criticism and concerns being expressed by pro-JVP/NPP activists that are of concern, given that it could lead to unpleasantness within the NPP.
Minister Nanayakkara however has stated that he does not pay any attention to the criticism on social media, saying that no one would be able to carry out their duties if they were to follow such criticism.
Conspiracies against the State?
Meanwhile, the ruling party, it is learnt, is looking into what party seniors believe are a series of conspiracies against the State. Sri Lanka has witnessed several conspiracies against the State, with one of the main political conspiracies dating back to 1962. Since then, there have been political conspiracies targeting the State in the years that followed. Among such conspiracies are the assassination of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and the insurgencies in the 1970s and 1980s.
At present, some of the key conspiracies against the State that seem to have captured the Government’s attention are the controversies over the proposed Grade 6 education reforms and the procurement of low-quality coal shipments.
The CID is already probing an alleged conspiracy against the State that had taken place when finalising the material required to implement the proposed education reforms. The complaint was filed at the CID by the Education Ministry Secretary himself.
The other issue, the procurement of low-quality coal shipments and the alleged loss of billions of rupees as a result, is now being investigated by the ruling party as yet another conspiracy, especially in the way information about the issue had reached the media. The way the details had been publicised by the media and the Opposition taking the matter as a main hitting point at the Government has resulted in the ruling party conducting a separate probe into the matter.
The Government has two options to resolve the issue of low-quality coal: cancel the current tender since the coal has failed several quality tests and go for an emergency spot tender or conduct tests at each loading point and reject shipments with low-quality coal.
However, the Government is in a difficult spot in the issue of coal procurement since the Norochcholai coal power plant will require the unloading of all coal required till the end of the year prior to April this year. After April, the seas in the area where the unloading deck and plant are located become rough and shipments cannot be unloaded during that period.
Therefore, if the plant does not receive the required coal for storage by April, the country faces the risk of a power crisis with lengthy power cuts, and the Government believes that the Opposition could organise mass anti-Government rallies during this crisis.
Criticising the Opposition
It is in such a backdrop that President AKD and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa were seen criticising the Opposition over the ongoing controversy regarding the proposed education reforms. The Government has temporarily suspended the proposed Grade 6 education reforms due to the inclusion of undesirable content in the Grade 6 English curriculum and textbooks. The other proposed reforms have been implemented.
President AKD accused the Opposition of changing its position on the Government’s education reforms, saying during an event in Gampola that attempts to create confusion would not derail the administration’s reform agenda.
He said the Government remained committed to moving forward despite what he described as efforts to build false narratives around the reform process. “I saw one person who was strongly opposing these reforms now asking why they were stopped,” AKD stated, taking a swipe at Opposition Leader Premadasa.
Minister Jayatissa meanwhile criticised the Opposition and some media outlets for the issues over the education reforms. He accused some television channels of promoting the views of some Opposition MPs to create a perception that reforms posed a threat to children.
Jayatissa urged journalists to examine the proportion of their coverage that opposed the reforms, saying: “You have to see whether your channels reflected public opinion at the time.”
Opposition Leader Premadasa meanwhile blamed the Government for the controversy over the proposed Grade 6 education reforms. While stating that the Opposition was willing to support the proper implementation of the proposed education reforms, he had stressed that the responsibility for halting reforms lay with the current President and Government, not the Opposition.
He had noted that experts in the education sector should be consulted to remove flaws and implement reforms correctly and swiftly within this year.
Lal vs. Chamara
Meanwhile, senior JVP/NPPer Minister K.D. Lalkantha has been making several controversial public statements that indicate the Government’s changing stance towards policies and criticisms.
While Lalkantha’s recent statement about hitting back at those critical of the Government became a talking topic in public and political circles, his comment that the Government would hit its detractors like the late famous martial arts actor Bruce Lee resulted in many interesting comments on social media.
It was what Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake stated that captured quite a bit of attention. Dasanayake, while challenging Lalkantha on his statement, declared: “If you are Bruce Lee, I am Mike Tyson.”
Dasanayake had responded to Lalkantha’s remarks on physical strength and confrontational politics. “I have one thing to tell Lalkantha. If you are Bruce Lee, I am Mike Tyson. I will give you two punches and you will fall to the ground.”
The Opposition MP had also criticised the conduct of the current administration, claiming that 159 JVP/NPP MPs remained silent while the public continued to face economic hardship, and accused them of acting like “stone statues” instead of addressing people’s grievances.
He had gone on to say that he was currently facing 14 court cases with indictments being issued against him recently, with further hearings scheduled at the Colombo High Court and the Badulla Magistrate’s Court. Despite the legal challenges, Dasanayake stated that he would continue to speak out on behalf of the public.
Dasanayake also took a swipe at the ruling party MPs who have been gathering much flak over their claims about being fluent in English and then failing in it. He had said that many politicians claimed fluency in English for political image-building, while he had been honest about his limitations, saying he was not fluent in English.
Abhayarama back in action?
Meanwhile, the Abhayarama Temple on Thimbirigasyaya Road, which was once the temporary headquarters of the SLPP when the party was being formed by the likes of Basil Rajapaksa after the defeat of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) 2015, has played a key role in many political activities and seems to be back in the limelight.
The temple’s Chief Incumbent Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera has played a key role in MR’s political career as well as in the formation of the SLPP. This time around, it is learnt, the Abhayarama Temple is to be used as a base to form a sangha collective. This collective, it is further learnt, is to be formed to oppose and counter what is being noted as threats and intimidation against the religious clergy by members of the Government and its supporters.
A discussion on the need to form a sangha collective had been held during an almsgiving that was held at the temple to mark Ven. Ananda Thera’s birthday.
RW’s case expedited
Meanwhile, another key political event that took place last week was the ongoing case against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the alleged misuse of around Rs. 16.5 million during a visit to the UK when he was President.
When the case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara on Wednesday (28 January), the Attorney General’s Department had informed that investigations into Wickremesinghe were expected to conclude within a month, with formal charges likely to be filed by March. The submission was made by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.
The Additional Solicitor General had also noted that the Attorney General’s Department was looking at requesting a three-member trial at bar to hear Wickremesinghe’s case.
Investigators had also informed the court that there was evidence indicating that Wickremesinghe had undertaken an unofficial visit to the UK.
Tensions had also flared in court during proceedings with prosecutors questioning how the former President was seated in court as a suspect and raising concerns over his previous hospital stay after he was remanded.
Additional Solicitor General Peiris had told the court that Wickremesinghe was present in court as a suspect and questioned the manner in which he was seated. “How can a suspect sit like that? He must obtain the court’s permission,” Peiris had said, prompting objections from the defence.
Magistrate Neththikumara had agreed with the prosecution’s position, stating that there was a proper procedure for court seating arrangements. “There is a proper procedure for seating in court and it must be followed,” he had said.
Peiris had also raised concerns over Wickremesinghe’s hospitalisation after he was previously remanded, alleging misuse of public resources. “After being remanded, he was admitted directly to the Intensive Care Unit at the National Hospital and spent time with his associates there, even reading Boris Johnson’s book,” he had claimed.
He had further claimed that a medical report had been submitted to court without a request from the Judiciary, and that the prosecution had not received a copy of the report. “This suspect illegally stayed in the ICU and misused public property,” Peiris had alleged.
Defence lawyers had rejected the claims, arguing that many of the allegations did not relate to their client and that the authenticity of an invitation letter for Wickremesinghe’s UK visit had not been properly investigated.
The case is to be taken up again on 29 April.
Saman’s bail rejected
Meanwhile, the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court remanded former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, named as the second suspect in the case, until 11 February after rejecting his bail request.
The Magistrate said bail could not be granted under the Public Property Act without exceptional circumstances.
The balcony seat
Meanwhile, an interesting discussion was witnessed on social media following a statement made by Peiris in Wickremesinghe’s case in court last week. The comment was in reference to the seat that had been allocated to Wickremesinghe at the graduation ceremony at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK.
Peiris had stated that Wickremesinghe’s seat had been allocated on the balcony of the hall where the graduation ceremony was held and that it was not in the front row or in the VIP seating area.
Following this statement, images said to be of the graduation ceremony of Wolverhampton University and an individual resembling Wickremesinghe on the balcony of the hall were posted on some social media posts with claims that Wickremesinghe would have been assigned VIP seating if he had attended in an official capacity.
Interestingly, pro-Wickremesinghe individuals have countered these claims using the same photographs as well as photographs of similar halls, claiming that balcony or box seats were allocated for royalty and VIPs.
Not recording statements
Meanwhile, members of Wickremesinghe’s legal team held a news briefing at his political office on Flower Road in Colombo 7 where they claimed that the CID team that had visited the UK to probe the authenticity of an invitation received by Wickremesinghe had failed to record statements from officials of the University of Wolverhampton.
“The CID team has recorded statements only from officials of the Sri Lankan High Commission. They have also recorded a statement from former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK Saroja Sirisena. However, no statements have been recorded from anyone affiliated with the University of Wolverhampton,” Attorney-at-Law Kumar Dunusinghe has said, adding that the legal team would soon submit evidence to court to substantiate their claims.
GR issued notice
The Supreme Court meanwhile has directed that notice be issued on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) and several others named as respondents in a Fundamental Rights petition related to the 9 May unrest in 2022.
The case seeks recovery of compensation allegedly obtained unlawfully by former ministers for damages caused when their houses were set on fire during the violent incidents that erupted across the country following an attack on the ‘Aragalaya’ people’s struggle.
Accordingly, notices are to be sent to former President GR, former Secretary of Defence Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne, former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne, former Public Security Ministers Prasanna Ranatunga and Tiran Alles, and former Secretary to the Public Security Ministry Jagath Alwis, as ordered by the court.
The petition was filed by environmental lawyer Dr. Ravindranath Dabare.
Shiranthi’s no show
Meanwhile, there was much talk in political circles earlier last week over the summoning of former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). A statement is to be recorded regarding investigations into alleged financial irregularities linked to the ‘Siriliya’ account maintained during former President MR’s tenure.
News of the FCID summons issued to Shiranthi on 23 January to record a statement on Tuesday (27 January) resulted in speculation that the former First Lady was likely to be arrested after recording a statement.
However, on Tuesday, Shiranthi had informed the FCID that she was unable to appear before the division that day and had sought two weeks to record her statement with the FCID. The two-week extension had been sought from the FCID in writing through her lawyers.
Namal’s hit at Govt.
Meanwhile, Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s son, the SLPP’s Namal Rajapaksa, hit out at the Government saying that it was engaged in a cover-up operation by summoning Opposition members to court.
Namal told the media outside the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (29 January) that the Government was trying to cover up the scandals and scams within by distracting the public through court cases.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has meanwhile sent a reminder to the Attorney General to expedite his legal advice regarding a plaint filed against Namal and four others over their alleged involvement in laundering money amounting to Rs. 15 million in a company allegedly owned by Namal. The CID had informed the court that it was yet to receive the Attorney General’s advice regarding future legal action against the suspects.
Summoned by CID
However, it is learnt that both Shiranthi and Namal Rajapaksa have been summoned by the CID to record statements on Tuesday (3).
While Shiranthi had been summoned by the CID on an earlier occasion to record a statement, she had requested another date stating she was unable to make the visit on the assigned date.
Shiranthi is reportedly being summoned to record a statement regarding an ongoing probe into her ‘Siriliya Saviya’ programme, while Namal has also been summoned by the CID’s commercial division to record a statement on the same day.
Drones above MR’s house
Meanwhile, there was news of several drones being flown over MR’s residence in Colombo on Tuesday (27 January). This was stated as a possible security threat to the former President.
SLPP seniors have expressed suspicion over the drones that had flown above MR’s residence since law enforcement authorities had not taken any action over the complaint lodged about the incident.
MR had moved into his new rented residence in Colombo a few months back and has since maintained a low profile.
SJB-UNP talks continue
Meanwhile, talks between the main Opposition SJB and the United National Party (UNP) are slowly entering the next phase where both parties would have to sit, discuss, and draft the proposed common work programme.
Premadasa has described the talks as being “successful” and expressed optimism that they will conclude with a victory, signalling continued efforts to strengthen Opposition unity.
The SJB’s leadership is likely to reach out to the UNP side this week to further discuss the proposed common work programme.
Harin accepts Sajith’s lead
Meanwhile, UNP Deputy General Secretary Harin Fernando has said that Opposition Leader Premadasa will assume greater responsibility following the formation of a proposed alliance between the UNP and SJB.
He had made this statement during a recent event at the UNP Headquarters, Sirikotha.
Fernando said that talks on the proposed alliance had entered their final stage, indicating negotiations between the two parties were nearing completion.
Some senior members of both the SJB and UNP have already made statements noting that Premadasa will lead the SJB-UNP alliance while Wickremesinghe will play a senior advisory role in it.
Hitting sixers and off to Singapore
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Premadasa recently participated in a friendly cricket match that was organised by a media association. Premadasa, who played a bit of cricket that day, ended up hitting a six off a ball thrown by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage.
Several Opposition MPs who had also attended the event, after seeing Premadasa’s sixer, had said it was nice to see the Opposition Leader hitting a sixer off a Government ball.
After participating in the cricket match, Premadasa had attended several meetings at the Opposition Leader’s Office before leaving for Singapore on a study tour.
During the visit, Premadasa had met former Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo, where they had discussed governance, economic transformation, and public policy reform. The meeting had taken place at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
UNP’s religious observances
While talks continue to finalise a common work programme with the SJB, the UNP last week organised religious observances at the Party Headquarters, Sirikotha to invoke blessings on the party as well as on the country.
An all-night pirith-chanting ceremony was held on 24 January followed by an almsgiving for the Maha Sangha the following day, 25 January. The event was attended by party organisers and members as well as party seniors including UNP Leader Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene.
Some UNP seniors noted that the religious observances had been held to invoke blessings as the party geared up to embark on a new path.