President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government are riding quite high these days due to several recent positive developments. Key among them are the continued support pledged by a high-level delegation that visited Sri Lanka, which indicates an acknowledgement of the economic policies of the Government, and Sri Lanka’s overall improvement in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, which is in line with AKD’s and the JVP/NPP’s anti-corruption stance.
Sri Lanka has improved its standing in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, moving up from rank 121 to 107 out of 182 countries. Per the latest report, Sri Lanka has moved from last year’s position of 121 with a score of 32 to 107 with a score of 35 in 2025.
The ruling JVP/NPP was also satisfied with the warm reception of President AKD during an impromptu visit he undertook to a tea estate when he was on his way to Nuwara Eliya for a public event. The visit and the photo campaign was used by the ruling party to take the pulse at the grassroot level given the ongoing campaign by the Opposition that the President and Government were fast losing popularity among the masses. AKD’s effortless charm among the common man is being used by pro-JVP/NPP spin doctors in competition with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR), who is seen as a political leader who continues to appeal to the masses.
All these and President AKD’s second official visit to India since assuming office, which was revealed by ‘The Black Box’ last week, are expected to create the impression that the country is on a new, progressive path.
Be that as it may, what the JVP/NPP and its spin doctors need to comprehend is that the popularity and appeal enjoyed by President AKD, who has built a strong brand that continues to hold the Government together, is not extended to the Government. If the inexperience and arrogance of many senior JVP/NPP members of the Government continues without change, it could result in a situation similar to that of MR and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), where MR continues to enjoy a mass appeal that the party has failed to secure.
It would be wise for President AKD and his JVP/NPP to actually follow the messaging in his Independence Day speech where he referred to an African proverb – “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”
The irony is that the incumbent Government has failed to comprehend and follow the words of the President and their party leadership. ‘Going far together’ is the one thing that this Government seems to have not understood. The lack of interest in engaging in broad dialogues with stakeholders, the lack of patience to heed an opposing view, and the failure to differentiate between mud-slinging campaigns and constructive criticism by citizens who wish the country well are but a few instances where the ruling JVP/NPP has failed to comprehend the meaning of the words uttered by AKD on Independence Day.
Instead of inclusive governance, the JVP/NPP Government has opted for exclusive governance where the views of a few, which include some with prejudicial views on many matters, are discussed by an exclusive group of party seniors before moving ahead with key decisions and national policies.
One can therefore only wonder whether President AKD’s Independence Day message was to Sri Lankan citizens and Opposition political parties or whether it was actually directed at his own party cadre.
Gearing for Georgieva
Meanwhile, the Government is preparing for a series of meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva’s three-day official visit to Sri Lanka this week starting tomorrow (16).
The IMF announced last month that its Managing Director would be visiting Sri Lanka to engage in discussions with Sri Lankan authorities and to receive a firsthand understanding about the economic situation in the country.
The IMF and the Government are currently exploring the possibilities of combining the sixth and seventh tranches for Sri Lanka under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF) since the passage of the fifth IMF review and the Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) with Sri Lanka were postponed last December due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah and the fund’s approval for a Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) instead.
Following her visit to Sri Lanka, Georgieva is to engage in an official visit to India starting Wednesday (18).
EU urges timely delivery
However, President AKD and the JVP/NPP Government received a somewhat stern reminder of Sri Lanka’s commitments to the European Union (EU) on repealing and amending regressive laws as part of the conditions to obtain the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade concessions for Sri Lanka.
During a high-level EU delegation’s visit to Sri Lanka last week, the Government had expressed plans to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and seek amendments to the Online Safety Act (OSA). Along with these assurances, the Government had also expressed plans to re-apply for the GSP+ trade facility when its current term comes to an end.
“I expressed deep appreciation for the EU’s GSP trade facility, which has been vital for Sri Lanka’s economic growth and conveyed our interest in re-applying when the current cycle ends,” Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated on X.
In reference to speaking to European External Action Service (EEAS) Acting Managing Director for Asia and Pacific Paola Pampaloni, Herath noted that the Sri Lankan Government was pursuing “significant legislative reforms,” which include the repealing of the PTA and amendments to the OSA.
However, the EU has urged the Government to ensure time-bound delivery of its commitments under the GSP programme. “The EU stressed the importance of the time-bound delivery on the commitments under the current GSP+, including in particular the work on the anti-terror legislation, bringing it in line with the international conventions.”
“In this regard the EU encouraged engagement with the UN competent bodies on counter-terrorism. Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the 27 core conventions under the current GSP+ scheme. The EU encouraged regular updates on progress,” the joint statement has further noted.
Heads to roll
Meanwhile, in a bid to address some key issues in the governance and administrative structures, the Government is planning on making changes to several top positions in State institutions as well as in ministries.
While there has been much talk about the impending changes, Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa last week confirmed the changes that were to take place.
“The Government intends to make changes in the coming days to several positions, including chairpersons and heads of boards of directors of State institutions. Discussions are ongoing regarding the names. You will be informed which institutions and officials are involved. There is no need to be anxious; we will announce the changes soon,” he noted.
Jayatissa further explained: “When a government functions, changes are made in institutions. Some officials request transfers for personal reasons or to take on other responsibilities. In some cases, we also consider that changes would be beneficial. All these factors are considered when making such decisions. The public will be informed in due course.”
CIABOC’s mandate
Meanwhile, proceedings of an ongoing high-profile court case have witnessed an interesting point of view being presented by a defence counsel when speaking of the mandate of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
A senior lawyer has reportedly told court that the CIABOC did not have the mandate to file cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Attorney-at-Law Chaminda Atukorale, who is appearing on behalf of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s cousin U.D.M. Seneviratne Bandara Rambukwella, who is the second accused in the ongoing case against Rambukwella, has reportedly told court that his client is being charged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act when the CIABOC is mandated to probe allegations of bribery or corruption and act on such.
The counsel has noted that the CIABOC could also probe allegations related to computer crimes, public property, and wrongdoings listed under Chapter 41 of the Penal Code and that a probe could be extended to the area of alleged money laundering only if there is a revelation that there had been financial inducements involved in the alleged incident of money laundering.
According to the counsel, the CIABOC could conduct a probe in the event it has been revealed that monies earned through bribery or corruption have allegedly been used to launder money or park it outside the country. He has further noted that without following this process, the CIABOC could not charge an individual under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Probing Speaker
The CIABOC meanwhile has come under the media spotlight once again over the complaints being lodged against Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne.
Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Harshana Rajakaruna lodged a complaint on Wednesday (11) against Speaker Wickramaratne with the CIABOC over the alleged disruption of another complaint filed against him (Wickramaratne) by the suspended Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne.
Rajakaruna has alleged that the Private Secretary to the Speaker of Parliament is attempting to obstruct an active corruption investigation.
The latest complaint concerns a letter reportedly sent by the Speaker’s Private Secretary to the Secretary General of Parliament, requesting a report on the specific allegations currently under review by the CIABOC. “We hope that the CIABOC will handle matters in an independent manner,” Rajakaruna told the media after lodging the complaint.
In his complaint to the CIABOC on 2 February, Kularatne had accused Speaker Wickramaratne of several counts of financial misconduct, including the unlawful use of official residences, exceeding vehicle entitlements, and the unauthorised collection of dual fuel allowances.
Ex-JVP MPs to act
Meanwhile, a group of former JVP MPs, who had later defected from the party, has decided to seek legal redress to demand the monies of their MPs’ salaries that were deposited in the party account when they served as JVP MPs in the House. These MPs have claimed that their MPs’ salaries were deposited in a party account and that they now need the money returned to them since the Government is planning on abolishing the MPs’ pension scheme this week.
Following the announcement of the Supreme Court observation by the Speaker of Parliament during the last House sessions that the proposed legislation to do away with the MPs’ pension scheme was consistent with the Constitution and could be passed by a simple majority in Parliament, the Committee on Parliamentary Business decided to debate and take a vote on the proposed bill on Tuesday (17).
Several former JVP MPs have already stated in public that they are now living on the MPs’ pension and that they would be deprived of their source of living if it were to be repealed by the Government.
It is learnt that a group of President’s counsels are currently assisting this group of former JVP MPs to prepare for a legal battle against JVP seniors to demand that their MPs’ salaries that were deposited in the party account be returned to them. Former JVP MP Pemasiri Manage representing the Retired MPs’ Collective has said that they will commence a struggle to obtain their MPs’ salaries that were deposited in a JVP account at the time.
The draft bill to abolish MPs’ pensions received approval from the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice, and Civil Protection and is set to be taken up during this week’s House sessions.
RW’s indictment
Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Department is in the process of preparing the necessary documents to file an indictment against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe before the Colombo High Court prior to 29 April, when his case on the alleged misuse of public funds during a visit to the UK during his tenure as President is taken up at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.
Once the indictment is filed, the Attorney General’s Department is also looking at requesting for a trial-at-bar to expedite the hearing of the case.
The second witness in Wickremesinghe’s case, former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, who was remanded last month, appeared before court on Wednesday (11). He was further remanded till Wednesday (18).
Probing GR-era CID Head
Meanwhile, former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) W. Tillakaratne, who was appointed to the said post by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR), was arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in connection with the alleged illegal imposition of overseas travel bans on 704 CID officers in 2019.
Tillakaratne was taken into custody on Monday (9) and later produced before court, which ordered his release on bail of Rs. 1 million.
Investigations relate to a decision taken during his tenure as CID Director to impose foreign travel restrictions on CID personnel without obtaining a court order. Under Sri Lankan law, overseas travel bans can only be enforced through judicial authorisation.
Tillakaratne had reportedly told investigators that while he had imposed the ban, he was unaware of the legal basis for doing so.
However, former Acting IGP C.D. Wickramaratne has denied issuing any such directive, stating that even if such an order had been given, it would have been unlawful and could have been disregarded.
The travel ban was reportedly imposed following the departure of senior CID officer Nishantha Silva from the country in late 2019, shortly after GR had assumed office as President.
GL takes the lead
Meanwhile, discussions have recommenced among several Opposition politicians to recommence the formation of a joint Opposition platform that faced a temporary hurdle following the rally held in Nugegoda in November last year.
After the Nugegoda rally, there were many issues among the Opposition parties that attended the rally, while the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and several others including Dilith Jayaweera’s Sarvajana Balaya announced their decision to not be part of the platform. This scenario resulted in some political analysts claiming that the joint Opposition platform was also hit by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused much devastation to the country in November last year.
However, once again, it is former Minister G.L. Peiris who is leading efforts to recommence the programme to form a broad Opposition platform. Peiris and several other Opposition political leaders, including Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Udaya Gammanpila, and Prasanna Ranatunga, recently met with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to discuss the ongoing issues in the country, the political landscape at present, and the need to form a common Opposition platform.
Following the conclusion of the meeting with Premadasa, the group of Opposition political leaders said that the Opposition Leader had responded positively to the need for an Opposition platform.
Peiris and the group, it is learnt, had met with former President Wickremesinghe to engage in a similar discussion prior to Premadasa’s meeting.
At the outset of the meeting with Wickremesinghe, the discussion had focused on the ongoing legal case against Wickremesinghe. It is learnt that Wickremesinghe had stated that there was no proper case against him and several lawyers in the group had agreed with him.
Afterwards, the discussion had moved towards the formation of a broad Opposition platform. Wickremesinghe had agreed to the proposal, and it had been decided to meet again soon after Peiris concluded his discussions with other Opposition parties.
Waiting for SJB
Wickremesinghe meanwhile had told Peiris and the group that he was hoping to first reach an agreement with the SJB on an alliance and to then work on forming a broad alliance consisting of other Opposition parties.
However, Wickremesinghe had noted that the formation of the broad Opposition platform could commence because the SJB-United National Party (UNP) alliance seemed to be taking more time. He had also said that the SJB was yet to respond to the proposal submitted by the UNP Working Committee to the SJB on the way forward for the two parties to reach a common work programme.
According to Wickremesinghe, he had expected Premadasa to respond to the UNP Working Committee proposal once the latter returned to Sri Lanka from Singapore, but it had still not happened.
RW meets Namal
Meanwhile, it is learnt that former President Wickremesinghe is planning on meeting with SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa.
It is now evident that Wickremesinghe is adamant on getting Namal’s support for Peiris’ proposed joint Opposition platform. Of late, Wickremesinghe seems to be focused on the fact that he too should try to woo the Sinhala nationalist voters due to the belief that the candidate who has the support of a majority of the Sinhala Buddhist vote bloc will win at the next Presidential Election.
Another reason for Wickremesinghe’s attention towards the Sinhala Buddhist vote base could be the fact that the ruling party, especially President AKD, has managed to woo minority voters in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
However, it will be interesting to see how Namal will respond to Wickremesinghe’s overtures since it will play a decisive role in Namal’s and Wickremesinghe’s political futures.
Harin courts Namal
While Wickremesinghe continues with his push to align with Namal, UNP Deputy Secretary General Harin Fernando has also started to court Namal.
Fernando gathered much flak from Opposition leaders as well as on social media after he referred to Namal as the ‘prince of the stage’ at the joint Opposition rally that was held in Nugegoda last November.
However, Fernando has once again spoken in favour of Namal by noting that all Opposition political parties should unite while indicating that the UNP should also look at reaching a consensus with Namal and the SLPP.
CBK, Maithri out
However, it is learnt that former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) and Maithripala Sirisena have so far not expressed interest in joining Peiris’s latest move to form a broad Opposition platform.
Sirisena, it is also learnt, has already stated that it is not going to be easy to topple the incumbent Government given that it holds 159 seats in Parliament. He has noted that a political strategy is required to plan for the next national elections.
SJB anniversary celebrations
Meanwhile, the SJB recently celebrated its sixth anniversary by giving priority to religious observances. The events were held at the Kiri Vehera temple in Kataragama and the Vedahiti Kanda temple. An overnight pirith ceremony and an almsgiving was held at the Kiri Vehera temple.
The religious observances were led by Party Leader Premadasa and senior SJB officials. One of the main activities was praying for the lost souls of Cyclone Ditwah and invoking blessings on the country and its people.
During the religious sermon, one of the senior monks had also referred to the ongoing discussions between the SJB and UNP to form a common work programme. The monk had commended the SJB’s decision to form an alliance with the UNP, saying that it was a good move for the country.
Saying no to SLPP
After concluding the SJB’s sixth anniversary celebrations in Kataragama, Premadasa had travelled to the Ampara District to attend a youth convention organised by SJB MPs Prasad Siriwardana, Chithral Fernando, Chathura Galappaththi, and several others.
It is learnt that one of the key topics discussed by the youth who had attended the meeting was the formation of an alliance between the SJB and UNP. While the youth members have commended the move by the SJB to talk with the UNP, one youth member had asked about reports that the SLPP might also join the alliance.
Premadasa had re-posed a question to this youth, asking what his view was on the SJB forming an alliance with the SLPP. The youth and the others around him had responded saying that such an alliance would be to the detriment of the SJB and that it would also have an adverse impact on the SLPP. The youth at the meeting had expressed the view that there would not be a necessity to align with any other party if the SJB and UNP were to form an alliance.
After listening to what the youth had to say, Premadasa had noted that the SJB could not align with the SLPP since the parties had two very different policies.
Champika’s meeting with Navin
Meanwhile, news of a meeting between a certain individual in the Opposition and a senior UNP member about the ongoing moves to form an alliance between the SJB and UNP was publicised on social media. It was later learnt that the individual being mentioned is former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and the senior UNPer is Navin Dissanayake.
It is learnt that following the discussion between the two, Dissanayake had conveyed details of this meeting to several of his close friends and the other senior UNPers currently engaged in the discussions with the SJB. He had explained that Ranawaka had spoken negatively about the move to form an alliance between the SJB and UNP and had made critical comments about the SJB leadership as well.
Dissanayake had also informed Premadasa of Ranawaka’s meeting.
Hearing about this latest development, the Tamil Progressive Alliance’s (TPA) P. Digambaram had also asked Dissanayake if the story was true. Dissanayake had informed Digambaram that it was.
However, Ranawaka has remained silent so far.
Meeting at Rosmead Place
Meanwhile, Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa had also been a key topic of discussion during a recent meeting of Opposition party leaders held at a residence at Rosmead Place in Colombo 7.
While leaders of many Opposition parties had attended the meeting, a representative of the SJB had also been present, in addition to former Minister G.L. Peiris.
During the discussion, a former Minister and a leader of an Opposition alliance had addressed the SJB representative, making critical comments about the SJB leadership. The former Minister had noted that if the SJB leadership failed to take a strong stance, another Opposition political leader could take the leadership away from Premadasa.
Sajith at Abhayarama
It is in such a backdrop that Opposition Leader Premadasa had visited Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera at the Abhayarama Temple in Thimbirigasyaya on Friday (13).
While Abhayarama Temple Chief Incumbent Ven. Ananda Thera is known to be a supporter of former President MR and his party, the temple premises served as the headquarters of the SLPP for a while when the party was being formed by the likes of Basil Rajapaksa following MR’s electoral defeat in 2015. The SLPP later moved to its current headquarters at Nelum Mawatha in Battaramulla.
Premadasa’s visit to meet Ven. Ananda Thera therefore made many Government and Opposition politicians curious. Many believed that Premadasa had met with the monk to discuss the ongoing movement being planned by the latter with other Buddhist monks against what is being called the incumbent Government’s anti-Buddhist actions.
It is learnt that Premadasa had discussed the current political situation in the country, the sidelining of Buddhism and the Maha Sangha by the current Government, and actions that are once again pushing the country towards extremism. He has also proposed the establishment of a national reconciliation council headed by the President and including senior Buddhist monks as well as leaders of other religions.
“Reconciliation among religious and ethnic groups is important. The peaceful coexistence of all religious and ethnic groups is important. A government is bound by the Constitution to safeguard Buddhism and to allow those who believe in other faiths to engage in their religious activities in a peaceful manner,” Premadasa had observed during the discussion.
Following the conclusion of the discussion, it is learnt that Ven. Ananda Thera had blessed Premadasa and his future political path as well.
Namal’s take on racism
Meanwhile, the recent arrest of several Buddhist monks including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera over an incident involving a Buddha statue on disputed land resulted in many Opposition political leaders slamming the JVP/NPP Government for failing to safeguard Buddhism. The monks were however granted bail last week, after which Ven. Kassapa Thera made critical comments about the incumbent Government.
Opposition Leader Premadasa, delivering a special statement prior to the granting of bail to the Buddhist monks, noted that the Government was attempting to transform Sri Lanka into a secular state while systematically undermining the country’s religious foundations. He argued that while the Constitution mandated the State to accord Buddhism the “foremost place” and protect the Sambuddha Sasana, the Government was failing in this duty.
The Opposition Leader alleged a disturbing pattern of “harassment, intimidation, and pressure” directed at the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders.
The SLPP’s Namal Rajapaksa also weighed in, noting that defending the Buddha Dhamma, Buddha Sasana, and the Maha Sangha was not an act of racism.
He told the media outside the SLPP Headquarters at Nelum Mawatha that a majority of Sri Lankans were Buddhists and that protecting Buddhist culture and philosophy benefited all religions in the country. “I am a Sinhala Buddhist, and I also work to protect other cultures. I have been able to preserve my culture because I believe in my religion.”
D-day for SLFP
Meanwhile, the coming week will be a decisive one for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), with a key verdict on a case filed by ousted SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara expected on Tuesday (17). The outcome of the case this week will determine the future path of the party since the case challenges its new office-bearers.
In the event the court rules in favour of the petitioner, the current office-bearers of the SLFP will lose their positions, paving the way for the holding of an all-island Executive Committee meeting of the party to appoint new office-bearers. However, in such a scenario, the incumbent office-bearers could also file an appeal, thereby further dragging the litigation process the party faces.
Jayasekara has further challenged that due to the legal dispute over the appointment of new office-bearers to the party, the decisions taken by them were also illegal. This fact has been publicly stated by Jayasekara on several occasions, including when the SLFP recently appointed a new Senior Vice President and a National Organiser.
Demanding PC Polls
Amidst the ongoing developments in the Opposition political arena, Opposition parties have decided to exert continuous pressure on the Government to hold the delayed Provincial Council (PC) Elections.
Several Opposition MPs have already expressed displeasure at the ruling party’s delay in nominating members to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to study the issues preventing the holding of the delayed polls and to make recommendations on how to overcome them. The Election Commission has also stated that letters sent by the commission to the Presidential Secretariat requesting clarity on holding the PC Elections have not received a response.
It is in such a backdrop that the SLPP’s Namal has challenged the Government to hold PC Elections, insisting that the Opposition is ready to face any poll at any time.
Namal had told the media that the Government was mistaken if it believed it could win elections by suppressing the Opposition, marginalising the Buddhist clergy, undermining the country’s culture, and making policy decisions to suit the diaspora.
“If the Government has confidence, it should stop making excuses and hold Provincial Council Elections just as it held the Local Government Polls. Then the people will have the opportunity to clearly express their mandate and see where the Government truly stands,” he has noted.
Meanwhile, former Minister Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that a secret Government survey has shown that voter support for the Government has fallen below 25%, which he claimed is the reason for PC Elections being continuously delayed.
He has noted that if the elections are held at present, the Government will not be able to win a single council and has warned that further delays could result in an even sharper decline in its level of voter support, back to the previous level of 3%.