• SLPP whips up war hero rhetoric, writes to Mahanayakes; AKD responds to Namal, visits Nandikadal
• SF makes explosive revelations about MR, Gota during final stages of war; AKD claims Katchatheevu
• Questions over Sri Lanka’s absence at SCO; Foreign Ministry says no invite, Nalinda says received invite
• Nalinda attributes pending New York, Japan visits for AKD’s absence at SCO; some blame US tariff talks
• RW’s 19-second thank you message raises concerns; UNP convention postponed due to RW’s health
• UNP announces moratorium on suspension of defectors, restores memberships of SJBers; SJB says no invitation yet
• Neutral venue determined to enable SJB, Opposition members’ attendance; convention likely on the 21st 
• Ravi pushes for unity between UNP, SJB; SJB torn between middle path and Right-wing path for party
• Basil loyalist Ranjith sends strong note to SLPP leaders, cautions against RW ploy, asks not to sell party
• Opposition party secretaries focus on maintaining momentum; Opposition leaders to meet tomorrow
• SLFP holds convention at Party Headquarters; Dayasiri cries foul, says party convention held illegally
• FR to be heard against RW; two more probes into RW ongoing; Fort Magistrate receives promotion
• RW’s arrest believed to be a test to set precedent; CID backtracks on questioning RW’s Secretary Saman
• More probes into 10 former State institution heads over alleged misuse of State funds on foreign trips
• Fresh probe launched into Treasury bond scam; SJB dismisses reports of Sajith being summoned by CIABOC
• CIABOC probing cases on Sajith; one on State Engineering Corp., the other on renovating Sirikotha
• Sirikotha land was first purchased by JVPers to set up JVP Headquarters; then UNP Govt. acquired land
• SF says MR should be jailed for 400 years over alleged corruption; talk of MR’s official residence to CID
• Court informed of probe into Udaya under ICCPR; Udaya files court petition, loyalists meet Sajith, RW
• Handcuffed Rajitha appears before CIABOC; Rajitha likes prison pol sambol, asks for 2 meals from home
• JVP-FSP clash leaves several FSPers receiving treatment; FSP notes failure to follow proper procedures
• Police informs court ruling assigning FSP’s Yakkala office to JVP; FSP hands in 16-question RTI letter to IGP

While there are many challenges facing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government, the three most prominent current challenges could be listed as facing the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions, recording positive progress in the country’s economic recovery programme, and adopting a foreign policy that will support Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

On the matter of economic recovery, President AKD and his Government are continuing with negotiations with the US to sign and seal the US trade tariffs on Sri Lanka in a manner beneficial to all parties while also being focused on further strengthening bilateral and trade ties with many foreign countries.

However, it is the upcoming UNHRC sessions that have posed quite a challenge to the Government at present with the nationalist camps in the country in overdrive with the usual talk of ‘persecution of war heroes’ and giving into ‘diaspora demands’ taking centre stage. It is interesting however that another slogan that was touted during UNHRC sessions – sending the President who won the war and war heroes to the ‘electric chair’ – is now not being used after the awareness created by the former ‘Yahapalana’ Government that no such action would take place since Sri Lanka has not ratified the Rome Statute and thereby is not party to the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

Nevertheless, racial political trends have started to re-emerge in the north and south. President AKD has said that this is a manoeuvre adopted by defeated politicians to protect their lost power. He said during his recent visit to Jaffna: “Racism in the north is a tool of politicians. Racism in the south is also a political tool. Racism is a dangerous tool used by defeated politicians for their re-emergence. We will assure you that the Government will never leave room for racial politics in the country again. I hope, as people, you also refute any form of racism.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on Tuesday (2) briefed the Colombo-based heads of diplomatic missions on current developments in Sri Lanka while urging the international community to recognise the country’s progress and engage in constructive dialogue.

Writing to the Mahanayakes

It is in such a backdrop that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had taken steps to write to the Mahanayake Theras of both the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters, raising concerns over what it has described as the Government’s attempts to suppress war heroes – referring to the military soldiers who had fought to end terrorism in the country.

Letters signed by SLPP General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam dated 2 September have the party warning that while terrorism had ended 16 years ago, the ideology persists and have accused the present Government of taking steps that satisfy groups hostile to war heroes, allegedly under pressure from external actors who supported the Government’s rise to power.

The SLPP has claimed that war heroes are being unfairly persecuted and that there is an “unspoken understanding” between the Government and anti-military groups. The letters have also criticised the Government for neglecting the annual commemorations of fallen war heroes and instead tolerating events that glorify terrorism, both locally and overseas.

The party has further noted that safeguarding the dignity of war heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom is a national responsibility.

These sentiments were further reiterated by SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa during his meetings last week with the Mahanayakes. Rajapaksa had noted that war heroes were being persecuted for incidents that had taken place 15–20 years ago.

However, President AKD responded to Rajapaksa’s claim during his visit to Jaffna last week. AKD claimed justice for crimes that had been committed, adding that they would not be ignored and allowed to be buried in time.

SF’s revelation

Meanwhile, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka (SF), who was the Commander of the Army during the final stages of the war, has made several revelations about the final stages of war, where he has accused former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) and then Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa of attempting to delay the military victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

During a recent event, Fonseka has said that despite sustaining critical injuries during the war, he had been branded a traitor by the very leaders under whom he had served. “I have to make a revelation about the leader who made this statement that I don’t love my country. In 2009, the Sri Lanka Army had surrounded Puthukkudiyiruppu from three sides. We only had to advance 10 more kilometres,” he has explained, recalling that the Army had captured Mullaitivu on 26 January 2009, and within 12 hours had advanced towards Puthukkudiyiruppu from the south. 

However, he has stated that the following day, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had questioned whether he was exhausted and suggested he hand over command to General Jagath Jayasuriya in Vavuniya. “At that point, we were close to victory. They already knew Prabhakaran and his group were about to be destroyed. But they wanted me to delay their defeat.”

The former Army Commander has alleged that despite the Army being on the verge of defeating the LTTE, then President MR had announced a ceasefire between 31 January and 1 February 2009. According to Fonseka, the Security Council had opposed the decision, but the military was ordered to respect the 48-hour truce.

“The result was that my Army had to retreat five kilometres. I lost around 500 soldiers. This ceasefire gave the LTTE a chance to regroup and relaunch its attack,” he has noted, further alleging that the ceasefire was intended to allow LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and other senior figures to escape, citing alleged discussions with Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim.

Fonseka’s revelations have come as the SLPP and its leaders continue to tout the war victory and speak of war heroes.

AKD visits Nandikadal

While the SLPP and its leaders relaunched their nationalist campaign based on the war victory and war heroes, President AKD visited Nandikadal in the north during his visit to the Northern Province last week. Nandikadal is a key area in Sri Lanka’s civil war that dragged on for nearly three decades, with the final war being fought in the Nandikadal Lagoon area.

The President launched a project to construct a bridge – Vadduvakal Bridge – across the Nandikadal Lagoon on the Mullaitivu-Paranthan Road.

Responding to Vijay

During his visit to the north, President AKD also responded to claims by South Indian actor-turned-politician ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay that Sri Lanka’s Katchatheevu Island should be vested with India as part of a solution to the issues faced by Indian fishermen. 

The President, addressing a public gathering in Jaffna on Monday (1), noted that while there was much focus on Katchatheevu Island, it was the Government’s responsibility to ensure that the land and seas of Sri Lanka would be protected for future generations and that it would not yield to any form of pressure.

AKD also made history as the first Sri Lankan President to visit Katchatheevu Island during his recent visit to Jaffna. The feasibility of a tourism development project that will connect Neduntheevu (Delft) and Katchatheevu is also being studied.

SL absent at SCO

Be that as it may, while President AKD continues to score points on his relations with the Northern Province, the JVP/NPP Government continues to face many challenges in its foreign policy.

This time around, eyebrows were raised in Colombo over the mixed messages from the Government on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit that was held last week in Tianjin, China. The summit saw the highly anticipated meeting between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s President Xi Jinping take place after seven years. While the summit set the stage for a potential shift in geopolitical relations, Sri Lanka was left wanting. 

As a dialogue partner of the SCO since 2009, Sri Lanka has been a regular participant in the summits and side events. Surprisingly, on this occasion Sri Lanka was absent from the summit. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was the first Sri Lankan Head of State to attend the summit in 2023, with previous attendance being at ministerial level. 

Why AKD chose not to attend the summit does raise questions, with some observers questioning whether the two previous visits by JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva and Minister of Industry Sunil Handunnetti made for an uncomfortable third visit by AKD. It was only last month that diplomatic circles were alight with rumours of a second visit to China by AKD, following his previous official visit in February this year. 

While an official from the Foreign Ministry had stated that Sri Lanka had not received an invite for the summit since there had been several high-level visits by Sri Lankan Government members including President AKD this year and the impending visit of the Prime Minister to China next month, Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa claimed that Sri Lanka had received an invitation for the SCO but that the President was unable to attend since he had an official visit to New York for the UN General Assembly and another to Japan planned for this month. These contradictory statements do not bode well for either AKD or his Government, which is yet to find a balance in its foreign policy.

Meanwhile, there was talk in political circles about reasons that may have compelled Sri Lanka not to attend the SCO. One such sentiment was that with New Delhi unimpressed by the slow progress made by the Sri Lankan Government on development projects, sections of the Government were being pressured to demonstrate their willingness to maintain a balanced relationship between China and India. The other was that President AKD and his Government had been advised by some foreign policy advisers not to attend the summit since Sri Lanka was still negotiating the trade tariffs with the US and would therefore not want to be in US President Donald Trump’s bad books.

Nevertheless, President AKD and his Government will need to sooner than later carve out a foreign policy that is best suited for the country and not one that will serve the interests of individuals/groups with divergent agendas.

RW’s 19-sec. message

While the Government is faced with ongoing challenges internationally, on the local political front, former President Wickremesinghe last week made an appearance before camera after returning home after being granted bail. Wickremesinghe issued a 19-second special video message to his supporters who had stood by him during his recent arrest and remand.

In the brief video message, Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude to all his supporters, including those online. “I thank all those who stood by me, including those online, during my arrest. I intend to meet all of you at a future date. Thank you again,” he said.

However, it is learnt that some party supporters as well as Opposition party members have expressed their displeasure at Wickremesinghe over his gratitude towards “those online,” questioning what the former President had meant by it. Several Opposition leaders, it is learnt, had informed several United National Party (UNP) leaders to be mindful when Wickremesinghe made public statements since the support garnered during his case should not be lost due to wrong statements.

Postponing convention

Meanwhile, the UNP, which had previously planned to hold its 79th convention at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC) in Colombo yesterday (6) under the patronage of its Leader, Wickremesinghe, eventually decided to postpone the event at the party’s Management Committee meeting.

The committee, which met last Tuesday (2), had decided to postpone the convention to another date in September. The decision had been made based on the advice of doctors of the former President. 

It was then decided that the convention would be postponed in order to ensure the attendance of the Leader, who would be a unifying figure. It is also learnt that the UNP might look at fixing the date for the convention around 21 September.

UNP’s moratorium

In the run-up to the party convention, prior to the decision to postpone it, the UNP had announced a moratorium on the suspension of its former members who had defected from the party by inviting them to attend the UNP’s annual convention. This moratorium had even been extended to senior members of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), including Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa. 

It was announced that the party memberships of the UNPers who had joined the SJB, which had previously been cancelled, had been restored. 

The UNP had also decided to invite leaders of all Opposition political parties for its convention as well as former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena.

UNP-SJB union

It is learnt that the UNP, which had initially planned on holding its convention at the Party Headquarters, Sirikotha, had later changed the venue to invite the SJB and facilitate the participation of SJBers at the event.

A neutral venue had been proposed to enable the participation not only of the SJB but also other Opposition parties, including the SLPP.

However, several members of the SJB claimed that the UNP had extended an invitation to the party to attend its convention while some claimed that no such invitation had been received by the SJB. 

Nevertheless, some pro-Premadasa members of the SJB claimed they had no plans to join the UNP. They also claimed that the UNP could, however, join with the SJB.

When inquired, a senior SJBer said: “We can be friends and work together, but we don’t need to form any alliances at the moment.”

Ravi pushes for unity

Meanwhile, former Assistant Leader of the UNP Ravi Karunanayake notes that disgruntled UNPers could be encouraged and activated only through unity.

He claimed that he had been pushing for the UNP and SJB to work together for the sake of both parties as well as the country. However, he noted that he had been targeted by several individuals in the UNP with close affiliations to the party leadership whenever he had attempted to rebuild the UNP.

“Don’t hit the elephant who is trying to bring the rest of the elephants together,” Karunanayake noted.

SJB’s two paths

Meanwhile, the main Opposition SJB, it is learnt, is split between the adoption of two political paths. One group is pushing for the adoption of a middle path in the party’s political approach while another group is pushing for a more Right-wing path for the party.

It is learnt that a group of SJB seniors had recently held a discussion on the need to formulate a middle political path for the party together with the support of intellectuals and professionals. Another group that consists of several young SJBers in the pro-Premadasa camp have maintained that the SJB could achieve victory by following the Right-wing path.

Basil’s friend’s warning

Meanwhile, the SLPP, which also joined the recent joint Opposition campaign to protest and demand the release of former President Wickremesinghe from prison, is yet again at a crossroads – this time on whether to join a joint Opposition campaign or not. 

It is in such a situation that a loyalist of SLPP Founder Basil Rajapaksa, Prof. Ranjith Bandara has warned SLPP leaders not to sell the party to Wickremesinghe. “He (Wickremesinghe) should be allowed to carry the burdens of his failures. We don’t have a journey with him,” Prof. Bandara has stated via a post on social media. 

He refers to the joint Opposition campaign for Wickremesinghe as “the three nights and four-day operation”.

According to Prof. Bandara, Wickremesinghe has worked to distort and destroy the SLPP’s policies and principles and has caused much damage to the SLPP. “He works only in his interest and not even for his party.”

“Ranil [Wickremesinghe] will be strong as long as we remain divided. We have witnessed and continue to witness how he attracted and grabbed prominent figures of our party. If the SLPP does not work with awareness, the party could become a tool used by Wickremesinghe to meet his political desires,” he has warned.

Prof. Bandara has further stated: “Our party’s Founder Basil Rajapaksa has said never to expect instant victories. Time and patience are important in politics. Our duty is to continuously safeguard the party. Unity, discipline, and commitment to our founding principles are our strength.”

Secretaries’ meeting

Meanwhile, the committee of Opposition party general secretaries formulated during the joint Opposition meetings led by Opposition Leader Premadasa held a meeting last Monday (1). The meeting held at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo was attended by the SJB, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and People’s Alliance (PA). 

The SLPP was a notable absentee at the meeting.

During the discussion, several participants had pointed to the need to sustain the joint Opposition action that had been launched during Wickremesinghe’s arrest, noting that more Opposition politicians would be taken into custody as part of the ongoing probes.

Following the meeting, SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said that the meeting had been held to discuss actions to be taken as a joint Opposition against the “suppression” being carried out at present and was in no way aimed at forming political alliances.

Another meeting of Opposition party leaders is scheduled to be held tomorrow (8).

SLFP Convention

The SLFP meanwhile held its 74th Convention on Tuesday (2) at the Party Headquarters at Darley Road, Colombo 10. SLFP leaders as well as senior politicians from other political parties including former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena attended the convention.

It was quite surprising to see how the SLFP conventions of the past that were held at public grounds and even the Sugathadasa Stadium have now been reduced to the auditorium at the Party Headquarters. The continuous splits in the SLFP have resulted in many party members either joining other political parties or completely moving out of politics.

Addressing the gathering, SLFP Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva claimed that he was prepared to make way for young leaders to take over the reins of the party.

Dayasiri cries foul

Meanwhile, Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who has also claimed to be the official General Secretary of the SLFP, noted that the convention held at the Party Headquarters last Tuesday was illegal.

According to Jayasekara, the party convention is being chaired by a Leader whose position has been disputed and a General Secretary who has not been appointed to the position in line with the laws of the party and hence the convention is illegal.

Jayasekara further noted that he had not been invited to the convention.

FR against RW

Meanwhile, cases against former President Wickremesinghe seem to be mounting, with the Supreme Court on Monday (1) granting permission to proceed with a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition that was filed against Wickremesinghe, several former Cabinet members, and other respondents.

The petition has claimed that during the previous Government’s tenure, phosphate stocks extracted from the Eppawala deposit had been exported to several favoured companies at prices significantly lower than approved market rates, constituting a violation of fundamental human rights.

The petition was submitted by the Centre for Environmental Justice.

Thirty-two respondents were named, including former President Wickremesinghe, former Cabinet members, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, its Director General, and the Attorney General.

It is also learnt that several other probes implicating Wickremesinghe are ongoing, with the investigation on the building taken on rent for the Agriculture Ministry during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government, which is known as ‘Sabeetha’s building,’ being accelerated.

New appointments

Meanwhile, the Fort Magistrate who ordered the remand of Wickremesinghe and later granted him bail was among the 18 new High Court judges appointed by President AKD last Wednesday (3).

The letters of appointment were formally handed over to the 18 new judges – 17 Special Class judicial officers and a Senior State Counsel serving in the Attorney General’s Department – at the Presidential Secretariat and the appointments were made by the President in accordance with Article 111(2) of the Constitution.

Testing waters

However, it is no secret that Wickremesinghe’s arrest is only one incident in a series of high-profile cases as well as arrests to follow. This is evident through statements by senior Government officials and news reports quoting law enforcement officials that probes have been intensified on several former Presidents.

Among the former Presidents facing probes are Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Although earlier statements claimed there were probes into former President MR, it is learnt that while there are no direct cases linked to MR, there are several cases related to his immediate family members as well as his personal staff that would implicate him as the final authority.

It is therefore evident that Wickremesinghe’s arrest and remanding was more of a litmus test or an experiment by the Government to check the pulse of the public as well as Opposition parties.

CID backtracks on Saman

Meanwhile, the case regarding former President Wickremesinghe’s travel to the UK that landed him behind bars last month took a new twist, with former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake first being summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to make a statement on Monday (1) regarding Wickremesinghe’s visit to the UK and later being asked not to appear before the CID.

While media cameras were all focused on capturing Ekanayake making his way to the CID, the CID on Monday morning had informed Ekanayake that there was no need for him to visit the department that day to record a statement. It is learnt that Ekanayake had been on his way to the CID when he had received the message.

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe’s media division released another set of documents, which it said had been received by his lawyers from Wolverhampton University in the UK, aimed at countering allegations levelled by the State surrounding the trip.

More probes into trips

Meanwhile, it is learnt that law enforcement authorities have intensified probes into more cases of alleged misuse of public funds on overseas trips by former heads of State institutions. It is further learnt that probes are currently ongoing into at least 10 former heads of State institutions, who have allegedly misused public funds on overseas trips during their tenure in office.

Among those being probed are reportedly four former heads of State corporations as well as a former senior official of Parliament.

Fresh probe into bond scam

A fresh probe has also been launched into the controversial Treasury bond scam that took place during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government in 2015. It is learnt that the probe has commenced in line with the Government’s commitment to ensure action against any form of fraud or corruption that had taken place under previous governments.

A senior member of the Government alleged that although some key evidence related to the bond scam had been swept under the carpet, law enforcement officials along with legal counsel were now working on uncovering the suppressed evidence.

It is in such a backdrop that the court had recently issued summons on former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Arjuna Mahendran, who has been accused of being involved in the bond scam, to appear before court.

Probing Sajith

Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) about an incident that had allegedly taken place at a ministry held by Premadasa during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government.

The complaint has stated that the State Engineering Corporation, which was under Premadasa’s purview at the time, had assigned personnel from the corporation to a private business establishment owned by his wife, Jalani Premadasa. Accordingly, 19 personnel from the State Engineering Corporation had allegedly been assigned for work at Jalani Premadasa’s business establishment.

Sirikotha trouble for Sajith

Meanwhile, Premadasa, it is learnt, is also facing another CIABOC probe over a complaint that Government funds were used to renovate the UNP Headquarters, Sirikotha, during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government.

The complaint has reportedly alleged that State funds had been allocated for the development of Sirikotha, despite it being the property of a political party. The CIABOC has therefore launched an inquiry and is expected to record statements from Premadasa as well as other officials linked to the project. Former General Secretary of the UNP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam had reportedly appeared before the CIABOC in connection with the probe as well.

However, SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna dismissed reports that Premadasa had been summoned by the CIABOC, saying that the Opposition Leader had not been summoned by the commission to record statements.

JVP’s history with Sirikotha

Meanwhile, an interesting story about Sirikotha’s past and a connection to the JVP has emerged. This connection was first revealed by former JVP Leader, the late Somawansa Amarasinghe, when he said that the UNP Headquarters was built on land that belonged to a JVP member.

It is also interesting that the JVP’s connection to the Sirikotha land has re-emerged at a time when the land where the Welikada Prison stands has been associated with UNP Leader Wickremesinghe’s ancestors.

It is learnt that the land where Sirikotha is located was originally owned by one Liyanage. The land extent of around two acres had at the time been taken care of by one Jayasena Perera.

However, in 1979, this land had been divided into 10-perch blocks and put up for auction by a company in Borella. The JVP had then decided to acquire several plots from this land to build its Party Headquarters. The party had then made arrangements to purchase four plots of land adjoining each other for this purpose.

Two of the plots had been purchased on behalf of the JVP by Shantha Bandara’s father Seneviratne. Shantha Bandara was a Politburo member of the JVP who was among the party’s leaders during the second insurrection. The other two plots had been purchased by two individuals who were friends of the party. The remaining blocks had been purchased by a group of traders from Pitakotte.

However, when the UNP had learnt of the JVP’s plan to set up its Party Headquarters on the four plots of land that had been purchased at the auction, the then Government led by the UNP had reportedly acquired the land through a gazette. In 1983, the individuals who had purchased the land plots had been paid compensation by the Government according to a certified valuation. 

The acquired land had later been allocated to build the UNP Headquarters, Sirikotha, and it was opened on 29 May 1985.

400 years for MR

Amidst ongoing probes into former presidents, Field Marshal Fonseka has alleged that former President MR should be imprisoned for 400 years over what he has described as severe acts of corruption during MR’s 2010 regime.

The former Army Commander, addressing a recent event, has criticised successive leaders, claiming they had lacked vision for national development while contrasting them with international figures like Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad, and Rwanda’s Juvénal Habyarimana. He had said these leaders had taken strong stances against corruption.

“In Sri Lanka, you can call a private jet from Uganda to fly to Tirupati, claiming it was sent by a friend,” Fonseka has noted, referring to a past incident without naming individuals.

Fonseka had also recalled a 2010 Government trip to China under MR’s administration when 65 individuals were reportedly taken on an official visit onboard a SriLankan Airlines flight.

The former Army Chief has noted that he did not condone the actions of former President Wickremesinghe and supported the precedent set by the current administration in holding officials accountable. 

“I don’t say what Ranil Wickremesinghe did was right. It saddens me to see his fate. He is the one who brought me to politics. But in this case, I approve the precedent that this Government has set,” Fonseka has noted, adding that based on that precedent, the likes of “Rajapaksa would have to be sentenced to around 400 years”.

MR’s residence for CID

Meanwhile, there were reports last week that the official residence currently occupied by former President MR on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7 was to be assigned to the CID.

The CID is currently housed in an old building close to the Police Headquarters with poor facilities and requests have been made to the Government for several of the State-owned bungalows formerly occupied by ministers to be assigned to the department.

However, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has said that while a request has been made for the allocation of several State-owned bungalows to the CID, it has not been discussed by the Cabinet ministers and that no official decision has been reached on the matter.

Udaya’s petition

Meanwhile, the probe being initiated into former Minister and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act has resulted in Gammanpila filing a petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to prevent his arrest under what he claims as the misuse of the ICCPR Act.

Gammanpila, who is currently overseas, had filed the petition last Monday (1) through his legal team. The petition has requested writs of prohibition and certiorari against attempts by the CID to arrest him. Gammanpila has argued that the ICCPR Act is being wrongfully invoked with the hidden purpose of subjecting him to prolonged detention, possibly up to a year in remand custody, without trial.

The petition has named the Secretary to the Public Security Ministry, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), senior CID officials, and the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration among the respondents. The petition was submitted through Gammanpila’s power of attorney holder in Colombo.

The former Minister has outlined his political and professional background, including his past roles as a Cabinet Minister and vocal critic of the LTTE, and has claimed that his recent public statements, particularly his criticism of the arrest of former Commander of the Navy Nishantha Ulugetenne based on testimony from a former LTTE leader, have been mischaracterised as incitement.

Gammanpila has further insisted that his remarks were aimed solely at exposing the impropriety of relying on testimony from former LTTE members to implicate senior military officers and not at stirring ethnic or religious hatred. He has also noted that the term “kotiya” used in his media remarks referred exclusively to members of the LTTE and not to any ethnic community.

The petition has also referred to statements recorded from several journalists by the CID regarding his media briefing and interviews, which he has claimed were being used to build a case against him.

Meeting Sajith and RW

Meanwhile, a group of members from the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya has met with Opposition Leader Premadasa and former President Wickremesinghe last week to brief them on the ongoing probe into Gammanpila and the court action initiated by the latter.

The meeting with Premadasa took place at the Opposition Leader’s Office on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha in Colombo 7 while the meeting with Wickremesinghe had taken place at his residence in Colombo.

Following the meetings, Gammanpila’s party members told the media that he had travelled overseas for higher education activities and that he would be returning to the country this coming week, around 10 September. 

Rajitha’s 5 hours at CIABOC

Meanwhile, former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who is currently in remand custody, was taken to the CIABOC last Wednesday (3) to record a statement.

Senaratne was taken to the commission by Prisons Department officials. When Senaratne was taken to the CIABOC, his son Chathura Senaratne was seen standing outside the premises to see his father being taken into the office.

The former Minister had spent five hours at the commission recording a statement and was taken back to prison afterwards. 

Prison pol sambol

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Senaratne, who has requested for meals to be received from home while in prison, has asked the family not to send breakfast for him.

When inquired about the reason for not wanting breakfast from home, Senaratne has said that he preferred to have the pol sambol and bread that is served in prison in the mornings. Hearing this, several Opposition politicians noted that Senaratne seems to have developed a liking for the prison pol sambol.

JVP clash with FSP

Amidst all these goings-on, the ruling JVP and its splinter group, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), were involved in a violent clash in the Yakkala area last week, with several FSP members receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained. The FSP has accused a group of JVP members of having forcibly taken control of its office on Kirindiwela Road in Yakkala, Gampaha.

JVP members had allegedly assaulted people at the office and later taken control of the property.

A Police officer at the scene had informed FSP members that the JVP had filed a complaint with the Yakkala Police, stating that a court order had been received regarding the property and that requests by the Police from the FSP members for a discussion on the matter had not received a response.

However, FSP members allege that if a court order had been issued, the property should then be officially taken over under the supervision of the relevant officials. 

FSP Politburo Member Duminda Nagamuwa told the media that his party had been using this property for key party activities for over 10 years and that the JVP had been eyeing the property for a long time.

According to Nagamuwa, the JVP’s move to forcibly take over the property is an abuse of its current powers and an indication of things to come. 

RTI to IGP

The FSP meanwhile has requested the IGP to provide information on the incident that had taken place at the party’s Gampaha District office.

Filing a Right to Information (RT) request, the FSP’s Nagamuwa had sought information from IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya to 16 questions regarding the Police force’s actions related to the incident.