• Opposition notes Govt. failures to honour undertaking at last Budget, says achievements were from past
• AKD says Govt. ready and funds allocated for PC Polls, House must finalise law on electoral system
• Faiszer makes history by defeating report presented by him; no constitutional dictatorship, says AKD
• Harsha opens Budget debate for Opposition; notes failure to show growth path, no relief for masses
• Sabry commends JVP/NPP for continuing IMF programme; Sunil back in the limelight over ‘Aswesuma’
• Sajith returns from India prior to Friday’s Budget; meetings with Indian ministers, no meet with Modi
• Ratama Ekata hits JVP/NPP, Peliyagoda UC Councillor resigns; party decides no exception for members
• CIABOC to extend assets probes to senior Police, military officers; report on constitutional violations
• After loses at cooperative societies, ruling party loses maiden budgets in Kolonna, Soranathota LGs
• Opposition members meet again at GL’s, no SLPP; discuss politics, budget, impending rally on 21st
• SLPP wants RW pushed out from 21st rally; Namal takes the lead, plans to bring thousands to Nugegoda
• Move to leave RW out first at joint press con.; Sagara says ex-presidents won’t attend, but best wishes
• Wajira pushes RW and tries to get funds for rally; RW tries final push by attending rally, no speeches
• Namal checkmates RW; SLPP says Namal won’t attend rally if ex-presidents, especially RW, attend
• UNP seniors discuss RW not attending rally; seniors to also stay away, only Harin to attend rally
• SJB alliance member TPA says won’t attend rally; Patali, Rajitha, and several others to not attend rally
• SJB split over participation; pro-Sajith group says won’t attend, other SJBers yet to decide on attending
• Maithri says using another’s vehicle since no vehicle for him; ex-MPs in trouble over ‘Aragalaya’ attack

Presenting the second budget of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government on Friday (7), President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) firmly stated that the country would not face another economic crisis come 2028, as predicted by Opposition parties. He said the Government would not allow the country to slide back into a crisis. 

The 2026 Budget seemed focused mostly on development and increasing investments, while the provision of relief to the masses, other than offering some respite in some areas, seems to have been left for the next budget. There does not seem to be relief for middle-income families and downwards as the ‘unseen poor’ category continues to silently witness an increase.

AKD, after arriving in the Chamber carrying the Budget presentation in a leather folder, delivered a marathon Budget speech that lasted nearly five-and-a-half hours. While the President continued to bat on nonstop with the Government’s economic path for 2026, members of the Government as well as the Opposition were seen walking in and out of the Chamber, taking what seemed to be breaks. Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ramanathan Archchuna, who had arrived in the country that morning from an overseas visit, was seen dozing off during the Budget presentation.

The 2026 Budget has also given prominence to the Clean Sri Lanka and Ratama Ekata programmes that have been launched by the Government, with AKD also reiterating his commitment to continue with the anti-corruption drive. 

The President further referred to the debt and losses incurred due to some large-scale projects that had been initiated by previous governments that continue to be dormant and pledged special probes to uncover those responsible for losses amounting to billions of rupees in public funds that had also contributed to the country’s economic crisis. 

AKD also took a swipe at the Rajapaksas, stating that those responsible for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis had even been named by the Supreme Court.

He also noted, while presenting the JVP/NPP’s development budget, that some Opposition members who were currently seated in the front row had levelled numerous allegations against the JVP/NPP during the election period, including that a government under the JVP/NPP would acquire private property. 

The President noted that the country’s official reserve assets were expected to approach $ 7 billion by year-end. Some of the key macroeconomic and fiscal directions set in the 2026 Budget are a deficit of 5.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reflecting continued fiscal consolidation; State revenue is expected to rise to 15.3% of GDP by 2026, aligning with debt sustainability targets; debt-to-GDP ratio will be reduced to 95%, and further to 87% by 2030; inflation will be maintained below 5% through disciplined monetary policy; and the economy is projected to grow at 7% annually, driven by investment and productivity-led expansion.

According to AKD, Sri Lanka has achieved $ 823 million in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) by September this year.

One of the key revenue generation mechanisms the Government seems to have planned for 2026 is the reduction of the threshold for Value-Added Tax (VAT). The latest proposal is to reduce the current threshold of Rs. 60 million per year to Rs. 36 million per year. AKD explained that some business entities that were splitting their businesses in two to avoid paying VAT would now be brought into the VAT system by reducing the threshold.

Another key feature was the increase of the maximum import duty rate from 20% to 30%, though para-tariffs will be phased out. High para-tariffs as well as import duty in Sri Lanka have been pointed out by economic experts as paving the way for politically connected businesses to exploit customers with high prices in some key economic areas.

The President also noted that the Government would make allocations next year to provide vehicles, especially double cabs, to MPs on the basis of return after the end of the MP’s term. He said the Government’s current fleet was inadequate and that a large portion of the vehicles and machinery was obsolete, resulting in heavy expenditure on repairs and maintenance.

Therefore, he said the Government had decided to procure essential vehicles and machinery for Government institutions, along with vehicles for MPs that must be returned to the State at the end of their parliamentary term. For this purpose, Rs. 12,500 million has been proposed as the initial allocation.

While President AKD read out the 2026 Budget, some Opposition members were preparing their counterarguments and key among them was the fact that the Budget has been ‘proofread’ by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is keeping a close watch on the Budget since the release of the sixth tranche is dependent on it.

Once AKD concluded his lengthy Budget speech, MPs, invitees, and officials made their way to the MPs’ restaurant for the post-Budget tea party.

Funds for PC Polls

The President in his Budget presentation also allocated a sum of Rs. 10 billion to hold the delayed Provincial Council (PC) Elections. Through this statement, the JVP/NPP Government is seemingly trying to respond to questions by the Opposition on whether the Government will hold the delayed PC Elections in 2026.

AKD said in his Budget speech: “We are ready to hold elections. Rs. 10 billion has been allocated in the Budget for it. Have a look. Didn’t you read? I cannot decide when the elections will be held.”

However, the President also noted that the necessary law had to be determined by Parliament to finalise the electoral system under which the delayed election could be held. By this statement, AKD has now thrown the ball into Parliament’s court to determine the fate of the delayed PC Polls.

AKD also explained that the Government that had presented the delimitation report for the Provincial Councils had also voted to defeat the report in Parliament. “There is no delimitation to finalise the electoral system. Then Minister of Local Government Faiszer Musthapha presented the Delimitation Committee report to Parliament and voted against it. That was the first time in history that a minister had presented a report and voted to defeat it,” he claimed, amidst laughter from the Government side.

“Parliament will have to decide when the elections will be held. Make the law that is required to hold the election. Earlier there were no elections or money. Now we have given the money, but you must make the electoral system to hold the election. If the President resorts to making the law, it will then become a constitutional dictatorship. The President will not make the laws, it is up to Parliament,” AKD further noted.

Meanwhile, former Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya last week claimed that there were legal impediments in a Provincial Council being governed by a governor appointed by the Executive.

Opposition preparation

Meanwhile, the parliamentary Opposition held a discussion in the Opposition Leader’s Office in Parliament on Thursday (6) to prepare for the JVP/NPP Government’s 2026 Budget. The meeting was held under the guidance of Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa and all Opposition parties in the House were represented at it.

The Opposition has also organised post-Budget workshops for Opposition MPs.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilleka told the media that while the first workshop had been held on Thursday (6), there would be several more in the coming days. “All Opposition MPs are expected to participate in the workshop,” he said. 

Opposition criticism

Following Friday’s Budget speech by President AKD, the Opposition’s charge against the 2026 Budget was led by Opposition Leader Premadasa, who claimed that it was a budget that did not provide any relief to the people and had been dictated by the IMF. “Why are people being misled? Why follow the IMF in this manner?” he questioned.

Several MPs representing the main Opposition SJB claimed that the Government had failed to honour the Budget presentations given at the last Budget.

MP Harsha de Silva said that there was no talk of how the economy would be developed in the Budget. “There was also no talk about the property tax that is to be implemented. There are lots of areas that have not been touched in the Budget.”

De Silva added that the Government seemed confused.

Several other SJBers made statements critical of the Government’s move to provide double cabs for MPs. “Just because their MPs (JVP/NPP) are in need of vehicles and they want to give them vehicles, they have dragged us also into it,” one Opposition MP said.

No growth path

One of the key points presented by the Opposition about the 2026 Budget is that the JVP/NPP Government has failed to present a clear action plan to drive the country’s growth path.

The other key area is the Government’s anti-corruption drive. The Opposition has pointed out that while there was support for the anti-corruption programme, it could not be a political witch-hunt.

Opening the debate for the 2026 Budget on behalf of the Opposition, SJB MP Harsha de Silva claimed that despite President AKD noting the successes of the past year, they had not been achieved by the JVP/NPP Government but were the results of actions taken by the previous Government.

He noted that the President’s statement on FDIs received this past year concerned those received from projects that were signed and brought in during previous governments. “The Government has tried to show that foreign investors are now coming into the country due to their faith in it. But it is not so. It has nothing to do with what you (the Government) have done.”

De Silva further noted that the Government had failed to understand the increasing ‘unseen poor’ population in the country that consists of many middle-income families and to provide relief to this segment as well.

Pointing out that the JVP/NPP Government had failed to honour the pledges in the previous Budget, he said it had also failed to meet the aspirations of the youth who had voted for the ruling party at the elections. The Opposition MP went on to list out the economic failures of the JVP/NPP Government.

“Talk is cheap, Mr. Speaker,” de Silva claimed.

De Silva also pointed out the alleged irregularities in the Government’s procurement processes, especially in the procurement of double cabs. He claimed the tender for the double cabs should be cancelled and probed.

The SJB MP also focused on the controversial 323 containers released by Sri Lanka Customs without investigation earlier this year and the lack of action on the issue as well as the failure to publicise the probe report.

De Silva further noted that the anti-corruption drive should be conducted in a responsible and fair manner.

Sabry weighs in

Meanwhile, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Finance Ali Sabry has praised the JVP/NPP Government for staying on course with the IMF parameters in Budget 2026. 

Sabry has noted in a statement that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration had taken decisions that few would dare to take in the face of public anger, decisions that had cost him the presidency but saved the nation from bankruptcy.

“Leadership is also measured in continuity, in the ability to recognise what must endure beyond political rivalry. And that is where President Anura Kumara Dissanayake deserves genuine credit. To continue these very same reforms, which his movement once fiercely opposed, is no small act of courage,” Sabry has noted. 

Sunil does it again

Meanwhile, senior Government Minister Sunil Handunnetti last week gathered flak on social media once again over a statement made by him that receiving the ‘Aswesuma’ social welfare payment should be a matter of shame, especially as a society. “It is like begging in a legal manner. Why? Because we are taking someone’s, even the Government’s, money,” he said at a public event last week.

Although Handunnetti’s intention, it is learnt, was to explain the ruling party’s commitment to ensuring the eradication of poverty and the need for social welfare mechanisms, the manner in which the message was made public seems to be where the issue lies.

Self-sufficiency by 2028

While Handunnetti created quite a stir with his remark about ‘Aswesuma’ recipients, another senior Government Minister, K.D. Lalkantha, made yet another populist statement without much substance by saying that the Government was working towards achieving full food self-sufficiency by 2028, ending the import of rice varieties such as keeri samba. 

Addressing a public event, he urged farmers to expand cultivation to meet local demand, highlighting that domestic production of certain rice types remained insufficient.

The JVP/NPP Government, which waxed eloquent about its understanding of the issues faced by farmers and its ability to immediately resolve these issues through the party’s already prepared set of solutions, has failed to address the issues faced by farmers as well as consumers even after one year in office. 

Hailing from a family engaged in farming from an agricultural zone, Lalkantha and his Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne, who also hails from a similar background, have thus far failed to effectively address the continuing issues in the agriculture sector.

Lalkantha added that the current Government had taken steps to rebuild the economy, eliminate corruption, and strengthen agriculture as a cornerstone of sustainable national development.

Sajith’s Indian tour

Meanwhile, Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa, who undertook a three-day official visit to India, was back in Sri Lanka on time to attend the 2026 Budget presentation.

Premadasa’s visit to India caused quite a stir within the SJB since senior party members had found out about the official visit undertaken by their Party Leader from external sources. Worst of all, Premadasa’s decision to get three of his confidantes to accompany him instead of senior party members further irked SJBers.

During his visit to India, Premadasa met with several senior Indian Government members, including the Indian Finance and External Affairs Ministers, but did not meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Doval’s take on Sri Lanka

While Premadasa was touring India, the Indian media reported Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval as saying that “poor governance” was the reason behind uprisings that led to changes of governments in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka over the past three-and-a-half years.

Delivering the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on ‘Governance’ on National Unity Day on 31 October, Doval has said that governance plays a “seminal role” in the “nation-building process” and in securing the nation-state.

“The rise and fall of the great empires, monarchies, oligarchies, aristocracies, or democracies is actually a history of their governance. In the recent cases of regime change through non-constitutional methods in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and others, these were actually cases of poor governance,” Doval has been quoted as saying at the event by The Hindu.

Ratama Ekata hits NPP

Meanwhile, the JVP/NPP Government was put in a tight spot last week when family members of one of the NPP’s Local Government Councillors at the Peliyagoda Urban Council were arrested by the Police while in possession of narcotic drugs.

It was first reported on Wednesday (5) that a Principal of a primary school in the Eppawala area in Anuradhapura and his son had been arrested with over one kilogramme of heroin. Police said the raid had been conducted by the Anuradhapura Divisional Crime Investigation Unit based on information obtained from a 30-year-old suspect arrested the previous week in the Nallamudawa Road area of Eppawala. A few hours later, it was reported that the Principal is the husband of an NPP Local Government Councillor at the Peliyagoda Urban Council.

The arrest and the connection to an NPP Local Councillor came as a surprise to the JVP/NPP since President AKD had only the previous week launched the Ratama Ekata programme to combat the narcotic drug and organised crime networks in the country.

However, the JVP/NPP, it is learnt, had held a discussion and decided that given the ongoing campaign under the Ratama Ekata programme that called on those engaged in drug and crime networks to ‘quit,’ the same principle should be applied to ruling party members and representatives as well. 

The NPP had immediately demanded that Disna Niranjala Kumari resign from her seat in the Peliyagoda Urban Council even before the investigations into the incident were concluded. Accordingly, Kumari stated that she was deeply distressed by the incident and had decided to step down as a personal and ethical decision.

Kumari had addressed her resignation letter to the Gampaha District Returning Officer, with a copy sent to the NPP General Secretary, and had stated that she wished to assist the ongoing legal process and support efforts to uphold a culture of clean politics promoted by her party.

Senior JVP/NPP members made public statements that the law applied to all and that there would be no exceptions to ruling party members. “If a JVP/NPPer is arrested for any wrongdoing, including engaging in narcotics or crime, the law will be applied to them and we will not go and hug them and protect them, as was done in the past,” a senior JVPer told ‘The Black Box.’

Probing more assets

Meanwhile, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has decided to expand its ongoing probes in the anti-corruption drive to include investigating the assets of senior officers of the Police and military. 

This move has been mooted following President AKD’s warning to Police personnel who maintain links with organised crime networks to leave the force, adding that even members of the military are under probe due to criminals gaining access to military firearms.

The CIAOBC, it is learnt, has decided to first start probing the assets of senior officers and to expand the probe to cover junior officers as well. It is further learnt that the commission has also made plans to probe the assets of senior officers of several other key departments like the Prisons Department and Sri Lanka Customs, where there have been allegations of irregularities.

Probing constitutional violations

The Government meanwhile is looking at getting a comprehensive report prepared on instances where the Constitution has been violated through conspiracies and other means during former governments, it is learnt.

While there have been many instances in which the Constitution has been violated, no comprehensive probe has been conducted into this matter.

It is learnt that although the Government is yet to make a policy decision on probing instances of constitutional violations in the past, several legal experts affiliated to the Government have pointed out that preparing a comprehensive report on these violations could be useful in the future.

All is not well

Be that as it may, the ruling JVP/NPP is now beginning to face challenges at the grassroots level, first with the ongoing challenges in winning slots in cooperative societies and the latest being the defeat of the budget of the Kolonna Local Government body led by the JVP/NPP.

The JVP/NPP secured nine seats and the Opposition parties jointly secured 10 seats at the Local Government Elections held a few months back. The ruling party managed to secure power of the council by getting the support of one councillor from the Opposition camp at the inaugural session.

However, when the 2026 Budget of the Kolonna Local Government body, which is the maiden budget of the council since the elections this year, was taken up for vote on Thursday (6), it was defeated by the Opposition with 10 votes against and nine votes in favour.

On Friday (7) the ruling JVP/NPP also lost another budget in a Local Government body – the Soranathota Pradeshiya Sabha budget. The budget had received five votes in favour while eight votes had been cast against it.

The JVP/NPP had secured six seats while the Opposition parties had secured 10 seats in the Soranathota Pradeshiya Sabha at this year’s Local Government Polls. However, the ruling party had secured the support of two Opposition councillors during the secret ballot held to elect the chairperson of the Local Government Council. Both the ruling party and the Opposition had presented eight seats each and the chairperson had been finally selected by drawing lots. Accordingly, the chair of the Soranathota Pradeshiya Sabha was secured by the JVP/NPP.

However, the 2026 Budget presented by the ruling party was defeated by the Opposition. One JVP/NPP councillor and two councillors from the Opposition had not been present at the council session on Friday.

Meeting at GL’s

Meanwhile, a meeting of Opposition politicians was held last Monday (3) evening at the residence of former Minister G.L. Peiris in Colombo 5. Similar meetings had been held at Peiris’ residence during the past few months, aimed at forming an Opposition platform.

However, the meetings at Peiris’ residence did not take place in the past few weeks when the discussion on forming a joint Opposition coalition was led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe after he was granted bail in August. 

Both Wickremesinghe and SJB Leader Premadasa have been wary about participating in the discussions at Peiris’ residence, believing that the coalition being discussed is likely to be a front for the likes of Milinda Moragoda, who is said to be looking at entering active politics. A senior Opposition politician noted that Peiris was known to serve the role of a coordinator to form political alliances given past experiences. 

Nevertheless, the meeting last week at Peiris’ residence indicates that the Opposition parties are also exploring alternative avenues in forming coalitions beyond Wickremesinghe and Premadasa.

Among those who participated in last Monday’s meeting were Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Nimal Lanza, Mahinda Amaraweera, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Dayasiri Jayasekara, and Mano Ganesan. The discussion, it is learnt, was focused on the current political developments, the ongoing movement to form an Opposition coalition, and the country’s economic path according to the 2026 Budget.

SLPP absent

However, one of the key organising parties of the Opposition’s ‘Maha Jana Handa’ rally on the 21st of this month, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), had not attended the meeting at Peiris’ residence. In fact, the SLPP, it is learnt, had not attended several meetings organised by Opposition parties involved in the 21st rally. The party has instead resorted to holding its own meetings with party seniors.

All Opposition parties attending the 21st rally are banking on the SLPP and its National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa to deliver the crowds for the event.

SLPP pushes out RW

The SLPP meanwhile has strategically moved to ensure that the lead of the ‘Maha Jana Handa’ rally to be held on the 21st in Nugegoda is vested with Namal Rajapaksa by claiming that former presidents would not be attending the rally but would only extend their best wishes to it.

The SLPPers engaged in organising the joint Opposition rally have discussed that former presidents should not attend the ‘Maha Jana Handa’ rally. Accordingly, former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK), Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR), Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR), and Wickremesinghe will not be attending the rally. It is evident that this move is aimed at keeping none other than Wickremesinghe at bay at the rally to ensure that it will be led only by Namal.

Senior SLPPers have held several discussions, it is learnt, to analyse the impact Wickremesinghe’s association with Namal could have on the latter’s image that is being built as the country’s next leader. Given that anti-Wickremesinghe sentiments are still strong among the masses, the SLPP has made a decision that the rally should proceed sans Wickremesinghe.

Sagara’s intervention

This decision of the SLPP resulted in party seniors drawing a strategy to keep Wickremesinghe off the stage on the 21st. This was first witnessed during a recent press briefing held by representatives of the political parties of the joint Opposition.

When a journalist posed a question on whether leaders like Wickremesinghe, MR, Sirisena, and Premadasa would be attending the rally and whether their blessings had been given to this political endeavour, former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa responded saying, “Yes.”

However, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam was seen immediately intervening to say, “Not attendance, but their blessings are there.”

Kariyawasam reiterated this stance last week when he said that no former presidents would be attending the rally, but that their best wishes had already been extended for the event.

Taking the anti-Wickremesinghe campaign further, the SLPP announced yesterday (8) that SLPP Leader, former President MR would not be attending the Nugegoda rally since past presidents would not be attending it.

RW not ready to move

However, it seems that United National Party (UNP) Leader Wickremesinghe is not yet ready to give up his chance of leading an Opposition campaign. While the idea of expanding the coalition of Opposition parties that joined forces was first mooted when Wickremesinghe was remanded in August this year, the former President continued to push for it after he was granted bail and pushed to plan a joint Opposition rally in Colombo followed by 1,000 public meetings islandwide.

However, the former President understood that his party, the UNP, together with a group of SLPP dissidents affiliated to him, could not lead such an endeavour due to an inability to muster crowds. 

It is the difficulty faced by the UNP in showing the numbers at public rallies that prompted Wickremesinghe to push the SLPP and Namal in particular to join the joint Opposition programme. Even at the initial discussions on holding a public rally in Colombo, Wickremesinghe and the rest of the Opposition parties currently representing the so-called joint Opposition had assigned the responsibility of bringing down crowds to Namal.

Nevertheless, when indications became clear that Namal would only attend the rally if it was being led by him, Wickremesinghe got his loyalists, especially UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena, to make a push for his (Wickremesinghe’s) leadership for the rally. It is in such a backdrop that the UNP Chairman has publicly stated on several occasions in the past few weeks that Wickremesinghe is the only leader who can save the country from the economic crisis.

It is also learnt that Abeywardena has also been tasked with one of the most important duties in planning the rally, which is the raising of funds required for organising work.

Wickremesinghe seems to believe that with his team raising funds for the rally while Namal sorts out the crowds, the joint Opposition platform could be co-led by him and Namal. 

It is further learnt that Wickremesinghe and his loyalists are also looking at the possibility of the former President attending the rally and remaining silent without making any speeches. 

RW meets his match

Be that as it may, it seems Wickremesinghe has finally met his match in a politician much younger than him – Namal.

While Wickremesinghe is confident of making a play to lead the joint Opposition initiative through his usual political games, Namal also does not seem ready to fall for Wickremesinghe’s political games and be pushed out of leading the initiative. 

It is interesting to see that Wickremesinghe – who in the past was well known for his political manoeuvrings that were only revealed years later – seems to have had his latest moves checkmated much faster by Namal than has happened in the past.

Namal and several senior SLPPers, it is learnt, have discussed that in the event Wickremesinghe is unwilling to understand the SLPP’s requirement of ensuring that no former presidents are on stage at the rally and decides to get on stage, Namal might decide not to attend the rally.

Pressure on RW

Given the SLPP’s hard stance against Wickremesinghe’s attendance at the rally, it is learnt that several senior UNPers have advised the former President against attending.

Several party seniors have discussed with Wickremesinghe that neither he nor other UNP seniors should attend the rally. Instead, they have proposed that former Minister Harin Fernando, who was recently appointed as the UNP’s Deputy Secretary of Political Mobilisation, be asked to represent the party at the rally.

Clashes within SJB

Meanwhile, the joint Opposition rally has resulted in a clash within the main Opposition SJB. There is a clear split within the SJB on whether the party should join the rally.

It is learnt that a group that believes the SJB should join the joint Opposition in the making and attend the rally had recently met in Colombo and discussed that the party leadership should be pressured to push the SJB to join the joint Opposition rally. 

However, another larger group of the SJB continues to maintain that the SJB will not attend the rally, while some SJBers might attend on a personal level and not in their official capacity.

It is in such a backdrop that President AKD claimed in Parliament while presenting the 2026 Budget that the Opposition Leader had stood firmly against the corrupt and had demanded action against corruption, including the Central Bank bond scam. “I know the Opposition Leader is firm in his stance and will not join with the corrupt. He doesn’t even look at the corrupt and for that I am thankful.”

TPA backs out

Meanwhile, a coalition partner of the SJB alliance, the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) announced on Tuesday (4) that the TPA would not participate in the 21st rally.

The TPA’s Mano Ganesan said the alliance would not participate in the rally due to certain reasons but refrained from listing them. “We wish them (the organisers of the rally) all the very best. After all, they are fulfilling the role of the Opposition. But we will not be attending due to several other reasons,” he said after attending the meeting at Peiris’ residence on Monday.

Noting that he was not sure of the SJB’s decision regarding its participation in the rally, Ganesan stated that the TPA’s decision was not due to issues with SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa or any other politician.

Uncertainty increases

However, there seems to be an increasing amount of uncertainty with some Opposition parties and politicians already announcing that they will not be attending the rally.

Apart from the SJB, Sarvajana Balaya, and TPA stating they will not be attending the rally, several Opposition politicians like Patali Champika Ranawaka and Rajitha Senaratne have also expressed doubts on attending the event.

Ranawaka said that he would not be attending the rally and that he had already explained his stance concerning it.

Meanwhile, Senaratne said that while there were pros and cons to holding the Opposition rally, he had not reached a final decision on his attendance at the event yet. He further stated that former President Wickremesinghe would not be attending the rally either.

Case against former MPs

Meanwhile, the Attorney General had informed the Supreme Court last week that several former MPs were among the 31 suspects identified in connection with the May 2022 attack on the Galle Face protest site known as ‘GotaGoGama.’

Senior State Counsel Sajith Bandara, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, had informed the court that indictments were expected to be filed against the suspects under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

He had further revealed that steps were being taken to file charges against then Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was the highest-ranking officer present on the site at the time. The update had been shared during the hearing of five Fundamental Rights petitions filed by a group of protesters, who had alleged that the failure of law enforcement to prevent the attack on 9 May 2022 constituted a violation of their basic human rights.

The petitions had been heard before a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Shiran Gunaratne and Achala Wengappuli on Tuesday.

Counsel Sanjeewa Weerawickrama, appearing for Tennakoon, had objected to the petitions being heard while criminal proceedings were being prepared against his client, stating that it would be unjust. He had proposed that the petitions be considered only after the criminal proceedings were clarified.

The parties had reportedly also agreed not to proceed with the petitions against former Prime Minister MR and Namal Rajapaksa, as criminal charges were not being filed against them.

Maithri at CIABOC

Meanwhile, former President Maithripala Sirisena appeared before the CIABOC on Friday (7) to record a statement relating to an ongoing probe. It is learnt that the probe is related to the renting of a building for the Agriculture Ministry during the ‘Yahapalana’ Government.

While making his way out of the CIABOC after the statement, Sirisena, when asked whether he was happy with his new abode after vacating the official residence, said that he was very happy.

When asked if he was keeping well, Sirisena said that he was and that he was currently travelling in a vehicle belonging to another since he did not have one.

ITAK objections

Meanwhile, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) in a letter to President AKD has expressed its opposition to the appointment of former military and defence officials to the Office for Reparations.

ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam posted on X that the ITAK has written to the President opposing the appointment of ex-military and defence officials to the Office for Reparations.

“For years, families of victims have said they have no faith in domestic accountability. They’ve been clear: they can’t trust institutions led by the same people connected to their suffering. The Government keeps promising a domestic process, but if these names go through, it’ll only confirm every fear those families have expressed,” he has stated. 

The ITAK had also written to the President over four months ago requesting a meeting to discuss concerns, but there has been no reply yet.