• Many programmes launched under AKD’s patronage as one year in office nears; positive news on econ.
• Chinese envoy Qi shows closeness with AKD; Prez exposes nexus between criminals, politicos
• AKD issues warning to State-sector officials; Bimal cracks the whip on public sector, says work or leave
• Sajith laments lack of time in House to raise people’s issues; Bimal says more time for budget debate
• Talk continues on acting against Deputy Minister of Defence; Dayasiri proposes action via public property laws
• CIABOC publicises politicos’ assets declarations; Opposition scrutinises assets of several Govt. members
• Ex-JVPer Nandana says ‘full-time’ JVPers unable to work, earn; pro-NPPers note affluent ex-Left leaders
• SJB finds eighth wonder in increasing assets of JVPers; Sajith seeks more time to submit asset details
• Wasantha explains assets, says earned via inheritance, work; Lalkantha says inheritance pumped assets
• Sunil complains to CID over social media campaign on ‘false’ assets, threatens to initiate legal action
• Namal notes his luck in accumulating assets through wife’s inheritance, challenges probe into his assets
• MR speaks to media after settling in Tangalle, says happy to return home and hints of new ‘sulanga’
• SLPP moots campaign ‘Mahinda Sulangin Namal Suwanda’; ‘Mahinda Sulanga’ architect Wimal meets MR
• GR and wife visit MR; pro-MR supporters continue visiting Carlton House from all parts of the country
• Former CJ Sarath visits MR; after public apology in 2014 for not jailing MR, Sarath makes U-turn now
• Group appointed to find suitable abode for MR in Colombo; location, security given priority status
• Govt. says MR’s Wijerama Mawatha house had cost around Rs. 510 m between 2021 and 2023
• Maithri says he does not bring down people to visit him; Hema had silently left State residence in 2019
• UNP Working Committee lifts ban on SJBers; comm. headed by Tilak Marapana to look into legal issues
• Wajira says obstacles on SJBers to rejoin UNP removed; motion adopted to express gratitude to parties
• UNP holds 79th convention at Monarch Imperial hotel under RW; SJB and all Opposition parties invited
• SJB decides against Sajith’s participation at UNP convention; party represented officially by SJB Gen. Secy.
• SJB alliance partners Mano, Rauff, Rishad, Diga, Radhakrishnan, and Dayasiri, as well as Rajitha and co. attend event
• RW-Namal meet at Paradise Inn; Minister Vijitha and Deputy Minister Sunil sit with Opposition politicos under probe

Today marks one year since the 21 September 2024 Presidential Election. As President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) completes his first year in office this week, it would be correct to say that while laying the foundation for a change in the country’s governance system, there is still a long path, albeit with potholes, to reach the destination set by him for Sri Lanka in the run-up to last year’s Presidential Election. 

While on its anti-corruption drive that has included probes on assets possessed by members of former governments, President AKD and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government last week faced quite a lot of scrutiny over the publicising of assets owned by members of the incumbent Government. 

Although members of the ruling party have claimed in unison that the publicised assets amounting to hundreds of millions of rupees could be justified and that they have set an example by being transparent, there has been criticism being levelled by former members of the JVP on the accumulation of such assets.

Meanwhile, as President AKD completes one year in office, outspoken senior Government Minister K.D. Lalkantha dropped a political bombshell last week by bringing back the topic of abolishing the executive presidency.

Lalkantha told the media after a recent event that the issue of abolishing the executive presidency needed to be taken to the forefront again. 

He had also taken a swipe at some members of the Government, saying that some of these members should be mindful of the fact that they were now in Government and not in the Opposition. “If one wants to do the work they did when in Opposition, then there is no necessity to take charge of the Government. Some have got this mixed up. Some affiliated with the Government and even in Parliament behave like they are still in the Opposition. Now we are in the Government and we must engage in governance.”

Lalkantha has further noted that there is still the question of whether to continue with the executive presidency or not. “We need to continue the discourse on this (abolition of the executive presidency). That is in relation to democratic principles.”

However, the past week also saw the President and senior members of the Government attending several events to launch programmes under the country’s development plan, while there were also several positive announcements about the country’s economy, which is on the mend as well. 

First was the announcement by the Department of Census and Statistics that Sri Lanka’s economy had grown 4.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025.

The next was the announcement by S&P Global Ratings, which raised its long- and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Sri Lanka to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘SD/SD.’ It also affirmed its ‘CCC+/C’ long- and short-term local currency ratings. It was stated that the outlook on both the long-term foreign and local currency ratings was stable and that the transfer and convertibility assessment remained ‘CCC+.’

S&P has also noted that while Sri Lanka has been actively negotiating with creditors on the remaining commercial debt still in default, including SriLankan Airlines’ Government-guaranteed bonds, it believed that, based on the passage of time, further resolution was unlikely under current circumstances.

It has further noted that Sri Lanka’s economy had recovered steadily from the country’s 2022 economic crisis, with some macroeconomic indicators already surpassing pre-crisis levels. However, its debt burden remains high even after the restructuring of most of its external debt.

“We therefore raised our foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Sri Lanka to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘SD/SD’ (selective default) to better reflect our forward-looking opinion of Sri Lanka’s creditworthiness. At the same time, we affirmed the ‘CCC+/C’ local currency ratings. The outlook on the ratings is stable,” the ratings agency has noted.

“The stable outlook reflects a balance between our expectation of Sri Lanka’s continued economic recovery, supported by fiscal reform and external improvements, and the country’s high debt and heavy interest burden over the next one to two years,” it has added.

It is in such a backdrop that President AKD is set to travel to the US tomorrow (22) to participate in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During his visit, the President is to hold bilateral meetings with several heads of state and government officials, as well as with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 

Following his engagements in the US, President AKD is to proceed to Japan on Friday (26) for a State visit at the invitation of the Japanese Government.

While in Japan, the President is scheduled to attend the World Expo international trade fair on Saturday (27) and engage in high-level discussions with senior Japanese officials.

Chinese support

Meanwhile, speculation that had been brewing that the Chinese were siding with the Rajapaksas – after seeing Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong visit former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) hours before he vacated his official residence on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7 following the enforcement of a piece of legislation pushed by the Government to slash the entitlements offered to past presidents – was put to rest after seeing the Chinese envoy in a close and friendly chat with President AKD last week.

Ambassador Qi extended warm congratulations on the resumption of construction of the Kadawatha-Mirigama section of the Central Expressway while stating that Sri Lanka had entered a “new era” following the election of President AKD.

The Ambassador has noted in his speech that due to well-known reasons, the first section of the expressway project had been forced to move forward with reduced efficiency in past years. However, the envoy had stated that with the election of the new President to office, the project had regained momentum.

“The resumption of this project marks a major turning point. The Chinese Government, financial institutions, and Embassy reaffirm the longstanding friendship between China and Sri Lanka,” Ambassador Qi has added.

AKD reveals nexus

Meanwhile, President AKD also made several key points during his speeches at several public events held last week. Warning State-sector employees, especially the agitating employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), not to block the progressive path undertaken by the incumbent Government, he had noted that information had been uncovered on former ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) who had maintained links with underworld figures. 

President AKD had further noted that investigations into the group of organised crime leaders arrested in Indonesia recently had revealed these details. 

“The group had been responsible for over 50% of narcotic drug operations in Sri Lanka. They had also been involved in over 75% of the underworld activities in the country. They have also provided cash in various ways to our politicians,” he had said, adding that some MPs had received money from these organised criminals and underworld figures by visiting their houses every month. 

“Like collecting taxes, some MPs have visited the houses of these figures every month to receive money. Some ministers have brought these people to their residences every month. This information has now been unravelled,” he had said. 

President AKD had also given an assurance to curb organised crime and underworld activities that these individuals had unleashed through a large network in the country. 

No time for issues

While President AKD made these revelations on criminal activities in addition to warning public sector officials on the need to give priority to the country, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa, who is engaged in a campaign to visit the grassroots under the ‘Gamin Gamata Dorin Dorata’ programme, noted that the time allocated in Parliament for the Opposition to raise real issues faced by the people was being curtailed.

Premadasa had made this observation during a visit to Medawachchiya under the said programme.

The Opposition Leader had noted that the time allocated for Opposition members was being curtailed by switching off microphones as and when the MPs rose to speak.

More time to debate

Meanwhile, Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake has stated that the time allocated for the budget debate, especially during the committee stage, will be increased.

Accordingly, he said that the sessions of Parliament during the 2026 Budget debate would begin at 9 a.m. each day during the committee stage and continue till 6 p.m. 

The committee stage debate will begin on 15 November and continue till 5 December. The vote on the third reading will be taken up at 6 p.m. on 5 December.

Acting against deputy ministers

Opposition members, meanwhile, are looking to continue with the debate on the no-faith motion presented by the Opposition against Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara and the Speaker’s decision to not proceed with the motion. Heated arguments were witnessed in Parliament during the last session over the Speaker’s decision with sessions being suspended for several minutes on one particular day.

Opposition members, it is learnt, are looking at initiating legal action against deputy ministers under the Public Property Act for using perks and privileges such as staff payments and allowances. 

Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said: “The Speaker has clearly said that deputy ministers do not bear responsibility to Parliament. Therefore, they should be considered as ordinary MPs. They cannot claim perks in this scenario. Therefore, we are contemplating filing legal action against them under the Public Property Act.”

“I don’t know about other Opposition MPs, but I won’t accept the statements made by deputy ministers in Parliament anymore. I also want to request public servants not to follow instructions given by deputy ministers,” Jayasekara has noted in a statement to the media.

The asset conundrum

Be that as it may, one of the key talking topics of the past week was the assets declarations of several members of Government. The declarations were publicised by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in line with the new anti-corruption laws.

There has been much scrutiny over the declarations of several Government ministers and deputy ministers like Wasantha Samarasinghe and Sunil Watagala, among others. While Opposition parties have questioned how members of a ‘common man’s party,’ who claim to have engaged in full-time Leftist politics, living off offerings made by party members and well-wishers, have managed to accumulate assets amounting to hundreds of millions of rupees in some instances, ruling party members have responded saying their assets were mostly ancestral assets as well as those of the entire family.

The irony, however, is that some Opposition members who are currently facing probes over how they had accumulated their assets are now ridiculing and questioning how assets had been accumulated by those who had initially lodged bribery and corruption complaints against them, who actually held more assets than them (the accused).  

“The innocent JVP members who paid for the fuel of these senior JVPers and donated rice and other food items required by them must now feel hurt and used,” a senior Opposition member noted. Another senior Opposition politician said that young university students had spent hours in the scorching sun collecting money in tills on the roads to build the JVP Headquarters and had donated their earnings to the party thinking their leaders were like them, when in reality, they had been funding a group of affluent JVPers.

Meanwhile, one-time senior member of the JVP, Nandana Gunathilaka, who also contested as the JVP candidate at the 1999 Presidential Election, questioned how members of the JVP, especially full-time members of the party, had engaged in business work since the concept of ‘full-time’ meant total commitment to party work and no other.

He explained during a political debate on an electronic media station that he had not gained any assets or wealth since he had been engaged in full-time political work in the JVP and had not engaged in any paid employment.

However, a counterargument presented by pro-NPPers is that Leftist politics doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be led by poor individuals. They noted that in the past, Leftist leaders like Philip Gunawardena, Colvin R. de Silva, and others hailed from affluent families, and had been educated at schools in Colombo and overseas in addition to their ability to converse fluently in English. Also, the circumstance that JVP seniors increasing their wealth while engaging in political work would serve to encourage youth to enter the Leftist movement is another argument put forward by the NPPers.

Nevertheless, it is evident that it will not be easy for the JVP to return to its previous ‘common man’s party’ slogan given that most of the senior JVPers are millionaires. It will also not be easy for the JVP to expect its members to bear the cost of maintaining their senior party comrades with their hard-earned monies as well.

SJB finds the eighth wonder

Meanwhile, the SJB has noted that it has come across the eighth wonder of the world by seeing the increasing wealth of some ruling party members, including Minister Samarasinghe.

SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardana has said during a news conference: “One wonders as to how these ministers have become millionaires as their salaries go to party funds. This is indeed another wonder of the world.”

“Also, some ministers are getting fat as their wealth grows,” Jayawardana has added.

Wasantha explains

Minister Samarasinghe meanwhile responded to the allegations being levelled against him over the way he had accumulated his assets during a television programme aired on a private channel. He had noted that he had inherited some of his wealth from his family and that he had engaged in business activities for over 28 years.

“I have some assets inherited from my family. I ran tuition classes from 1997 and continued them even after entering university. I started an education institution in Thambuttegama town 28 years ago and have developed it into a three-storey building by now and rented it out,” he had said, adding that he hailed from a large and old family in Thambuttegama. 

Samarasinghe had said that the land owned by his family in the Thambuttegama town was a valuable one and that the building on it had been valued in his assets declaration.

He had also noted that he possessed gold, solar systems, and even cryptocurrencies as circulated in social media.

“My wife and I purchased gold from 2006 when a pound of gold was at Rs. 6,000. My son who is clever in IT opened a crypto account when we were at home during the Covid-19 period,” he had further noted.

The Minister said he had never earned a cent from public money as a politician. “I am someone who has a TIN number and a tax file,” he had added.

Sunil goes to CID

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala, who also faced scrutiny over his assets declaration, has submitted a complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding hateful and false statements being posted against him on social media.

He has further stated that legal action will be initiated under civil and criminal law against the individuals who had created and circulated the statements via social media.

Some social media posts last week had claimed that Deputy Minister Watagala had purchased an apartment at a luxury residential complex in the Colombo area.

However, Watagala had clarified in a post on Facebook that this was a false and defamatory statement and that he had never engaged in any act that would damage the trust placed in him by his party or the public. “These fabrications are part of a coordinated smear campaign,” he has noted in the statement, while linking the timing of the campaign to his recent efforts to expose drug trafficking networks and those allegedly connected to them.

Lal’s asset increase

Meanwhile, senior Minister K.D. Lalkantha noted that while he had continuously submitted his assets declaration, there had been a sudden increase in his assets in one particular year.

He explained that following the deaths of his parents, he had inherited all the land that had been with the family as the only son in the family. “My asset declarations have clearly shown my assets and their increase, as well as how the increase had happened,” Lalkantha has noted.

The Minister further stated that anyone who had an issue with the asset declarations given by him or other members of the Government could lodge a complaint calling for a probe.

Namal’s luck

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Namala Rajapaksa, who has faced continuous scrutiny over assets accumulated by him, noted that he had been declaring his assets since 2010 and that he had always declared assets and liabilities whenever required.

He noted that there had been some confusion over the assets possessed by him since they had also been mixed with assets belonging to his wife, whose family had been engaged in business work for the past 40-odd years.

“There are people like us who have received assets due to marriage. My wife’s assets have been mixed up with mine. My wife’s father had been in business even before I was born and had earned their assets before we got married,” he said, adding that anyone could probe his assets and appropriate anything owned by him that was not in the declaration.

In a lighter vein, when asked whether Namal was among those men who had benefited from marriage, he responded with a laugh saying that there was truth to the statement. “Yes, my wife’s family has more money than ours as a business family. You must be lucky to be in such a position as well (to receive monies and assets through marriage).”

Sajith seeks more time

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Premadasa has sought more time from the Secretary General of Parliament to submit his assets and liabilities declaration in a digital format to be uploaded to the website.

With much attention being focused on the assets declarations of Government and Opposition politicians, reports emerged that Premadasa’s declaration was not among the documents publicised by the CIABOC.

It is learnt that while Premadasa had submitted his declaration on 23 April with an acknowledgement by Parliament of its receipt, the House has requested the said declaration in a digital format to be uploaded to the website.

Premadasa had then requested Parliament in writing for more time to submit his declaration in line with the given digital format to enable it to be uploaded to the website. 

Bimal gets tough

The JVP/NPP Government meanwhile is continuing to test its footing among public-sector officials, with senior ministers continuing to clash with officials on their speed and efficiency in implementing the Government’s policies and development work.

During a District Development Committee meeting last week chaired by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya with Minister Bimal Rathnayake serving as co-chair, the latter had to read the riot act to the State-sector officials at the meeting.

Rathnayake spoke of the changes being made to the overall expressway plan including the one leading to the Colombo Port. “Don’t try to fool us since we will not be fooled. If an issue needs to be resolved, we must be given the necessary details for it. Otherwise, what is our job? 

“Nothing will happen until you all change gear. I have seen the least prepared meeting today. We are developing roads in Colombo spending around Rs. 100 billion. There’s no point in us allocating money if you do not give the necessary leadership for the work,” he has noted.

In another meeting with Sri Lanka Railways officials, Rathnayake had again cracked the whip, asking the staff to either work and fix the railway service or leave.

“Commuters are suffering. Why is this being allowed to continue?” he has asked, accusing railway staff of neglecting their professional responsibilities. “I’m constantly apologising to commuters. Are all your relatives travelling in Mercedes-Benz vehicles? Do you not know anyone who travels by train?” he has further questioned.

Speaker and his stethoscope

Meanwhile, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, who is a doctor by profession, was seen treating patients at a free medical clinic that was organised by the Government in Polonnaruwa last Thursday (18).

Wickramaratne had walked into the medical clinic, surprising the medical staff as well as the people who had arrived at the clinic. He had then asked everyone to proceed with what they were doing.

Everyone had been surprised to see the Speaker getting a stethoscope and beginning to treat people who had lined up at the medical clinic.

MR speaks

Meanwhile, former President MR recently spoke to a private electronic media channel after he settled down at Carlton House in Tangalle after leaving his official residence located at Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7.

A smiling MR has said that he is happy to be back in his own home since that joy could not be experienced by staying at any rented house. “I’m happy to be home. There’s never a place like home.”

He has also noted that he is prepared to face any challenge that comes his way since it was part of politics. “Criticism and all that goes with it are part of politics and if you cannot bear it, then you should stay home instead of engaging in politics,” he has said.

When asked if he felt the incumbent Government was engaged in a political witchhunt against the Rajapaksas, MR has said: “It is not only the Rajapaksas; the Government is also acting against anyone who opposes and challenges it.”

Last Monday (15), a post on MR’s Facebook noted that a politician who was not bound by feelings with the people could never become a people’s leader.

He had noted that though the term of a presidency could end, the people’s love would never end. “Most of my life passed among the people. It is the same even today. The term of a presidency can end, but people’s love exceeds the term. That never ends. People stood with Mahinda Rajapaksa when in power and when not in power,” the post had noted.

MR hints of new ‘sulanga’

Meanwhile, MR has also hinted at the emergence of a new political campaign, saying that he feels the formation of a new wind (‘sulanga’).

When asked if he believed that another campaign like the ‘Mahinda Sulanga’ would start again, MR noted: “It could be a Mahinda ‘sulanga’ or another new ‘sulanga.’” He reiterated that he felt that such a wind was about to blow.

There is much anticipation among the SLPP rank and file that the increasing public attention on MR could once again pave the way for a fresh political campaign like it did in 2015.

New ‘Namal Suwanda’

Following MR’s statement about a new ‘sulanga,’ the SLPP announced the launch of a new campaign – ‘Mahinda Sulangin Namal Suwanda’ (From the wind of Mahinda to Namal’s fragrance).

Several media reports quoting SLPP sources noted that the party was looking at launching a new political initiative.

Amidst reports of a new political campaign by the SLPP, one of the architects of the ‘Mahinda Sulanga’ campaign, former Minister Wimal Weerawansa also visited MR in Tangalle last week. After defecting from the last SLPP-led Government, Weerawansa and several others including former Minister Udaya Gammanpila formed a separate political campaign. 

However, Weerawansa has put aside political differences with MR to visit him in Tangalle to express solidarity with the Head of State who had defeated terrorism. 

GR visits MR

MR’s younger brother, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) and his wife Ayoma visited MR in Tangalle last Friday (19). 

GR and Ayoma visited Carlton House and were warmly welcomed by MR after the couple worshipped him. They then joined a conversation MR was having with a Buddhist monk who had arrived prior to GR’s arrival.

Meanwhile, a couple from Galgamuwa, Kurunegala had undertaken a six-hour motorcycle journey to Tangalle to visit MR at Carlton House. The couple had said that they had decided to make the trip due to their affection for the former President after learning that he had arrived in Tangalle from Colombo.

The husband works for the Galgamuwa Local Government body as a backhoe driver. However, SLPP sources claimed that following his visit to MR, the backhoe driver had been asked to hand over his backhoe to another driver.

Another group of visitors to see MR included preschool children, accompanied by their parents.

However, the visitors list continues to result in SLPPers also expressing concerns over MR’s security due to the influx of individuals from all parts of the country to see him.

Sarath’s U-turn

Among the visitors to MR in Tangalle was former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva. Silva visited MR last week together with former MP Premnath Dolawatte. MR was seen warmly embracing Silva upon his arrival at Carlton House.

It was interesting to see Silva visiting MR in a show of solidarity given that on a previous occasion, he (Silva) had said on a public stage that he was the reason MR was not behind bars and went on to make a public apology for it. 

“This person (MR) is in this place (presidency) because of me. I was asked by a JVP comrade why I didn’t put him behind bars when I had the chance to do so with just one sentence. I said, ‘I’m sorry, comrade.’ I now tender an apology to the whole country. If I had sent that man to jail at that time, the country could have been saved,” the former Chief Justice had said in 2014.

Silva made this public statement and apology during an Opposition rally at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre in Nugegoda in 2014 organised by a movement led by the JVP.

However, Silva seems to have had a change of heart since 2014 as he had last week opposed the move to send MR out of his official residence on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo. He had said that he opposed MR being sent out of his official residence in Colombo, especially when MR was in need of medical attention. 

High expenses over MR’s house

However, details of expenditure incurred by the State over MR’s former official residence on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo, released by the Government, show that a sum of around Rs. 510 million (Rs. 510,090,238.93) had been spent between 2021 and 2023 on maintaining the residence.

The breakdown on how this amount was channelled to cover the expenses shows that the Prime Minister’s Office had allocated Rs. 472,529,073 while the President’s Office had allocated Rs. 37,561,165 for the purpose. 

Returning to Colombo

Meanwhile, senior SLPPers have noted that MR will be returning to Colombo once suitable housing facilities are arranged for him in the city. However, a house that meets all the requirements of the former President is yet to be identified.

Security concerns as well as medical treatment concerns have played a key role in the decision to look for a house for MR in Colombo.

It is learnt that a group of individuals, including several party members, are currently engaged in inspecting houses for MR in Colombo. A senior SLPPer noted that since MR would have to meet with diplomats and other foreign dignitaries, there was a requirement for a house in Colombo for MR for such purposes.

It is also learnt that attention is being paid to security as well as road access to the house while ensuring that it is fit for a former Head of State.

Maithri’s response

Meanwhile, former President Maithripala Sirisena has noted that he did not organise and bring people to visit him.

Sirisena had made this statement in response to a question posed to him by journalists on the sidelines of an event about people visiting former President MR at his Tangalle residence and whether there were people coming to visit him. “I don’t bring people,” he had said.

When asked if he meant that MR was organising people to visit him, Sirisena had reiterated: “I don’t bring people.”

Sirisena had further noted that he was in the process of packing his belongings from his official residence in Colombo. 

Hema’s silent departure

While there has been much talk about former Presidents leaving their official residences following the decision to slash their privileges by the incumbent Government, there has not been much attention on former First Lady Hema Premadasa.

Following the assassination of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, the former First Lady was entitled to perks and privileges allocated through the Presidents’ Entitlements Act. Accordingly, she had received an official residence, official vehicles, security, and a pension.

However, what many are unaware of is the fact that Hema Premadasa had not utilised any of these facilities since 2019. 

When former Presidents were discussing action against the incumbent Government’s move to slash the entitlements of former presidents and their widows, it is learnt that Hema Premadasa had refused to join such action, saying that she would not join any such campaign. 

It is also learnt that she had responded saying that the incumbent Government had already announced its policies and that she did not object to the Government now working to implement them.

Indian HC meets RW

Meanwhile, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had another high-ranking diplomat as a visitor the day after his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong.

High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha met with Wickremesinghe at his residence on 5th Lane in Colombo 7 on the evening of 13 September. The meeting had been requested by the Indian side. This was the first meeting between an Indian official and the former President since the latter was granted bail after being remanded last month. 

It is learnt that the discussion between Wickremesinghe and the Indian High Commissioner had focused on regional political developments as well as the political situation in Sri Lanka.

Jha meets Namal

After meeting with Wickremesinghe, Indian High Commissioner Jha had met with SLPP National Organiser Namal.

The Indian High Commission posted on X that the meeting had taken place at the India House in Colombo. The High Commission further said that both parties had engaged in a discussion on developments in India and Sri Lanka, as well as their wide-ranging bilateral partnership.

RW-Namal meet

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe and Namal had met last week during a wedding celebration. It was Wickremesinghe’s first public outing since being granted bail. 

The wedding at Paradise Inn in Bolgoda was of a senior journalist’s son and witnessed many politicians from both sides of the divide converging. 

Wickremesinghe was seen engaged in a conversation with Namal along with Namal’s brother Yoshitha Rajapaksa. The United National Party’s (UNP) Wajira Abeywardena was seen standing next to Wickremesinghe at the time.

It is learnt that Wickremesinghe had also asked Namal to join him at the table, but Namal had said he would join in a while after speaking to several other guests.

However, Wickremesinghe had left a short while later. 

Vijitha and Rajitha

Minister Vijitha Herath and Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala had also attended the wedding.

They were seen seated at a table with many Opposition politicians. Among these Opposition politicians was former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who was recently granted bail after being behind bars for several weeks. Herath and Senaratne were seen talking to each other.

Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara was also seen engaged in a conversation with Minister Herath.

Among other politicians who had attended the wedding were Eran Wickramaratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, Charitha Herath, and Mervyn Silva.

Working Committee meet

Meanwhile, the UNP Working Committee met last Tuesday (16) under the patronage of Party Leader, former President Wickremesinghe. The meeting was held at the Party Headquarters, Sirikotha.

During this meeting, it was decided to lift all bans and disciplinary actions previously imposed on members of the UNP who had joined the SJB.

It was also decided to appoint a committee headed by former Attorney General and President’s Counsel Tilak Marapana to study the possible legal implications arising from the move to lift the ban and disciplinary action against SJB members.

UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena had said the latest move would remove the obstacle that had previously prevented dissident UNPers who had joined the SJB from reuniting with the UNP and working together.

The UNP Working Committee had also unanimously adopted a resolution to extend gratitude to all parties that had supported collective political efforts since the arrest of former President Wickremesinghe.

UNP convention

Meanwhile, the UNP was last week busy making arrangements to hold the party’s 79th convention, which was postponed earlier this month.

UNP Chairman Abeywardena had stated that all Opposition political parties would be invited for the convention scheduled for yesterday (20) at 9 a.m. at the Monarch Imperial hotel in Thalawathugoda.

While the UNP anniversary is on 6 September, the convention could not be held on that day this year due to Party Leader Wickremesinghe’s medical condition.

Yesterday’s convention was held under Wickremesinghe’s patronage. Former Ministers Ravi Karunanayake, G.L Peiris, Udaya Gammanpila, and Rajitha Senaratne, as well as Ven. Baththaramulle Seelarathana Thera, among others, were in attendance. 

SJB sends Ranjith

However, with the announcement of the UNP’s annual convention and its move to invite all Opposition parties including the SJB after even lifting the ban on SJBers who had defected from the UNP, there was much interest to see if the SJB leadership would attend the UNP convention.

While the SJB announced that it had received an official invitation for the UNP convention, after much deliberation, it was decided on Friday (19) evening that SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara would attend the convention on behalf of the SJB.

Meanwhile, UNP Chairman Abeywardena had also made personal telephone calls to some SJB members inviting them for the UNP convention. This move was criticised by many SJBers, stating that some UNP seniors were still trying to divide the party.

There was much debate within the SJB rank and file over attending the UNP convention. With some SJBers pushing for the SJB leadership as well as other party members to attend the UNP convention, many others had opposed this, saying that Premadasa should not attend the convention. 

The SJBers opposing the SJB leadership’s participation at the convention had noted that they had defected from the UNP and formed the SJB due to disagreements with the UNP Leader as well as his policies related to the party. They had also pointed out that the UNP leadership had not made any attempt to resolve the issues within the UNP that had plagued the party and pushed it to its current position. 

Therefore, they had opined that the SJB Leader should not attend the convention and that the party could be represented by the General Secretary as a show of good faith.

Alliance partners attend

Meanwhile, the SJB’s alliance partners attended yesterday’s UNP convention, among them Mano Ganesan (Tamil Progressive Alliance – TPA), Rauff Hakeem (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress), Rishad Bathiudeen (All Ceylon Muslim Congress), P. Digambaram (TPA), and V. Radhakrishnan (TPA).

Several SJB alliance leaders also addressed the gathering.

Ganesan, while expressing his best wishes to the UNP, noted that he saw the attendance at the convention as a sign of unity. He further noted that there was now an opportunity for Opposition parties, especially the UNP and SJB, to unite and that the parties of the SJB-led alliance would support the move.

Others who addressed the gathering include Madduma Bandara, Hakeem, and Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The elite club meet

Meanwhile, a recent meeting of several senior SJBers headed by Party Leader Premadasa was held at an elite club in Colombo. The meeting, it is learnt, was attended by Party General Secretary Madduma Bandara, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, J.C. Alawathuwala, Jagath Withana, and several others.

The discussion had focused on current political developments and the challenges faced by the party that affected its victory.

Withana, it is learnt, had pointed out several shortcomings on the side of the party. He had noted that these shortcomings had resulted in the SJB losing control of several Local Government bodies in the Kalutara District whose administrations could have been formed by the party. “As a result, the JVP/NPP gained control of these bodies,” Withana had said. 

“I asked for either the Party Leader, an Assistant Leader, or the General Secretary to be sent to Kalutara to meet with the elected SJBers. But it did not happen. This is why I intervened and managed to gain control of the Matugama Local Government body that was won by them (the ruling party). I had to work alone,” Withana had further noted.

Premadasa had agreed that the point Withana had made was a valid one. Withana had further pointed out that some party seniors were not even in the country to ensure that the SJB gained control of some Local Government bodies that could have been easily won. This statement had resulted in Madduma Bandara and Withana engaging in an argument.

Alawathuwala had intervened to end the argument between Madduma Bandara and Withana, and the meeting had continued with the discussion of the SJB’s future path.

RTI appeal to Prez’s Office

Meanwhile, the President’s Office was once again in the spotlight following an appeal filed by a YouTuber against the decision of the Information Officer to reject the provision of information he had requested under Section 31(1) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, relating to the expenditure incurred for domestic travel and accommodation by President AKD during the past 12 months.

According to reports, YouTuber Jinath Premaratne has urged the authorities in his appeal to reconsider and release information regarding the President’s domestic travel and accommodation expenses.

The appellant had reportedly stated that his request was strictly limited to financial expenditure data such as total costs, aggregated amounts, and trip/location breakdowns which did not reveal operational or security-sensitive information. He had further noted that disclosure of such expenditure aligned with the principle of transparency underpinning the RTI Act and did not compromise security. 

In a letter dated 27 August, the Information Officer of the Presidential Secretariat had informed the YouTuber that the request had been rejected under Section 5(1)(b)(i) of the RTI Act, on the grounds that the information being sought was directly connected to security-sensitive matters concerning the President.

Increasing expenses

Meanwhile, the intensified probes conducted by the CIABOC and their increasing expenditure were discussed at the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) recently, with Committee Chair Dr. Harsha de Silva raising concerns over the proposed 2026 Budget for the CIABOC, highlighting the sharp increase in salary provisions.

According to the new proposal, salary allocations will rise from Rs. 354 million under the current framework to Rs. 777 million, reflecting plans to expand the CIABOC’s staff from 489 to 967 and establish regional offices across the country.

De Silva had questioned whether such a large upfront allocation was necessary, emphasising the need to align spending with actual staffing levels and infrastructure readiness. “Allocations should reflect real operational needs, not just projected growth,” he had noted.

CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake had defended the budget, explaining that the increase was required to recruit and train new staff under Section 26 of the Anti-Corruption Act, ensuring the commission was fully operational by December 2026, as outlined in its Strategic Action Plan.

Treasury officials, including Deputy Secretary A.K. Seneviratne, had however expressed concerns about releasing the full amount at once, citing potential inefficiencies and the risk of unused funds being returned, and had proposed phased funding aligned with recruitment milestones.

De Silva meanwhile had agreed that a rolling budget made sense, but reiterated the importance of monitoring disbursements to prevent lapses and ensure accountability, while CIABOC officials had warned that delays in recruitment could compromise the commission’s functioning.

However, the COPF had approved the 2026 Budget estimate of the CIABOC.

Confiscating funds

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has said that the State has so far frozen and confiscated funds and assets amounting to around Rs. 5,000 million through the ongoing anti-corruption and anti-crime drive. The assets and funds confiscated in this manner are said to be those that have been allegedly accumulated in an illegal manner.

Wijepala has said that most of these assets and funds had belonged to organised crime leaders.