• House to debate Govt. economic policy; undecided whether AKD, Harini, or Jayantha will present report
• ADB, World Bank, JICA concerned about Electricity Act amendments; Kumara slams development trio
• Harini meets Türk before leaving for Canada, assures commitment to work with the Rights Chief’s Office
• Vijitha, Harshana express commitment to repeal PTA; say new legislation will be sent to the House
• Türk meets families of missing, visits Chemmani mass grave; Tamil parties hand over joint letter for justice
• AKD tells Türk his party is well aware of the pain of families of missing persons; assures positive action
• Opposition suspicious over message from Parliament on Türk’s meeting with party leaders in House
• Foreign dignitaries usually meet Opposition party leaders separately; Govt. changes agenda to fit all
• IMF’s Gita had not met with Opposition members during recent visit, only engaged with Govt. members
• Türk’s meeting with MPs in House turns intense; Archchuna clashes with Bimal, Namal notes HR agenda
• Sajith notes need for broader focus on human rights; repealing PTA, OSA; and ensuring media freedom
• Türk makes special visit to JVP/NPP Pelawatte office; meets JVP’s Tilvin, Bimal, Saroja, and NPP’s Nihal
• Tilvin returns after trip to China; believed to have set ground for another official Chinese visit by AKD
• CMC holds first meeting, SJB’s Roy and Mahendra note legal issues; sessions adjourned for 10 mins
• SJB conducts post-mortem on CMC defeat; questions over failure to stage walk out, take away quorum
• SJB seniors, youth push for party reforms; Rehan pushes self-reflection and return to founding policies
• Two NPP councillors ‘abducted’ before inaugural meeting of Weligama LG; chaos postpones sittings
• Jailed Mahindananda’s wife Senani predicts in FB post the win of group backed by her husband in UC
• CID informs Fort Magistrate of probe on RW’s overseas visits; Shiranthi’s Siriliya accounts also probed
• Shiranthi’s brother Nishantha arrested over SriLankan Airlines; Rajitha in line to be named as suspect
• Politicians owning residences in luxury apartment complexes under probe; focus on asset accumulation
• Hunt on to apprehend 18 officials for allegedly assisting politicians in corruption; five officials overseas

Sri Lanka is yet again in the spotlight of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) following UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s visit to the country last week and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government have received a report card on Sri Lanka’s current human rights situation and the issues in need of urgent action. 

The human rights commitments undertaken by Sri Lanka at the UNHRC have been on the backburner in the past few years with all focus on the country’s economic recovery path. However, with the September sessions of the UNHRC coming up, when the High Commissioner will submit his findings on Sri Lanka during his visit along with reports from key members of the Core Group on Sri Lanka – the UK, Canada, and Germany – the Sri Lankan Government definitely has its work cut out.

President AKD and the JVP/NPP Government must now add human rights commitments to the long list of items to be carried out, with the economic recovery programme still holding the key position.

The coming week will also be decisive for Sri Lanka on the economic front with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the US in terms of the proposed trade tariffs.

The Executive Board of the IMF is to meet on Tuesday (1 July) to discuss again the Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) reached between the fund and Sri Lanka and decide on the disbursement of the pending tranche from last year. Despite the conclusion of the SLA several months back, the disbursement of the tranche was delayed until the Sri Lankan Government increased electricity tariffs in line with the proposed pricing mechanism.

On the proposed US trade tariffs, clarity is still lacking on Sri Lanka’s position in finalising a deal with the United States Trade Representative. This has left many businesses, especially the exports sector, in limbo.

Former Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana’s words during a television interview last week ring true. He had emphasised that Sri Lanka was currently at a critical stage where further economic progress had to be carefully managed and that the country had gained some breathing space through debt restructuring, but that it was essential to use this opportunity wisely to implement the necessary economic reforms.

It is in such a backdrop that the uncertainties in the Middle East region shone the spotlight on Sri Lanka’s economic vulnerabilities, especially in the power and energy, aviation, and maritime industries.

The Economic Times stated last Sunday (22) soon after Iran’s announcement about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that any blocking or disruption of traffic through the strait – a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea – would have significant global and regional impact, including on India’s energy security, citing strategic affairs experts.

Nearly 30% of global oil and a third of the world’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) passes through the strait daily and its closure would immediately reduce global supplies, triggering a spike in prices.

However, US President Donald Trump intervened and brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The fragile ceasefire could easily come to an end, as Trump himself stated last week.

It is learnt that Trump, who had earlier stated a decision would be made within 14 days on whether the US would respond to Iran and took measures to bomb several facilities in Iran, had taken a U-turn and pushed for peace after Iran carried out a targeted attack on a US military base in Qatar.

It is interesting that Iran chose the US military base in Qatar for a targeted attack when there are more US military installations in the Middle East. After all, it is Qatar Airways that has placed an order for 210 aircraft from the US’s Boeing, amounting to a deal worth $ 96 billion in favour of the US. The White House in May stated that the deal would support 154,000 jobs in the US during each year of production and marked the largest-ever order of 787 Dreamliners. 

Economic challenges

Be that as it may, Sri Lanka needs more focus on its economy and recovery path. The country needs to earn more dollars to keep its economic growth at 5% and it won’t be easy to shift US exports elsewhere if tariff talks fail, Bloomberg has stated.

A Bloomberg report said that Sri Lanka had kept its economic growth at around 5% and tax revenues as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) were higher by more than two-thirds. “But maintaining the recovery momentum won’t be easy. Sri Lanka needs to earn more dollars, both to buy imported fuel and to pay down debt,” it said.

According to the report, a quarter of Sri Lanka’s exports go to the US, while President Trump’s original set of ‘reciprocal’ tariffs threaten to impose a 44% rate on those goods. “That would make President Dissanayake’s job much tougher, if not impossible.”

Bloomberg said that it would also be challenging for Sri Lanka to shift those exports elsewhere.

Vijitha heads committee

Meanwhile, a gathering of Cabinet ministers had discussed at length last week the Middle East tensions and the fragile ceasefire that was in place at present.

According to Minister Samantha Vidyaratna, a committee has been appointed to examine the possible impact of the Middle East tensions on Sri Lanka, especially economically, and to make recommendations to address these issues. 

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has been appointed to lead this committee. Each ministry is expected to explore the challenges that would befall the country and to present alternatives. The other members of the committee are Ministers Vidyaratna (Plantation and Community Infrastructure), Wasantha Samarasinghe (Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development) and Kumara Jayakody (Energy).

Another committee comprising secretaries to the ministries has also been appointed to assist the Cabinet subcommittee prepare the required recommendations.

Clashing with multilateral agencies

Meanwhile, the country’s power sector seems to be moving towards a head-on clash with several key development partners, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and World Bank jointly writing to Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister regarding several key issues concerning the amendments to the Electricity Act of 2024 published in the gazette. 

The three development partners had highlighted four issues in the version of the amendments to the Electricity Act, which they believed impeded the original intent and spirit of the act regarding sector efficiency, good governance, and financial sustainability, all with the ultimate objective of ensuring a high quality of service to consumers at affordable prices. The four areas highlighted were permanent Government ownership, the National Transmission Network Service Provider (NTNSP), the distribution company, and the role of the regulator in tariff setting.

“These changes could undermine the overarching objectives of the Electricity Act and the commitments made by the Government under the ADB’s policy-based loan and the World Bank’s Development Policy Operation. It will also weaken the attractiveness of Sri Lanka for investors, contrary to the Government’s intentions. We urge the Government to consider the points stated in this letter and amend the clauses to ensure they align with the core objectives of the Electricity Act – good governance, competitive procurement, regulatory independence, and financial sustainability.”

However, Energy Minister Jayakody strongly rebuked the joint letter from the development partners, claiming that their public approach regarding the Electricity Act amendment was undiplomatic and politicised the issue.

“This is not how it should be done. They can’t work with us like this. They should have handled it more diplomatically instead of going public,” the Minister had said during a televised interview last week.

Focus on human rights

Amidst the ongoing economic concerns, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk visited Sri Lanka on an official tour from Monday (23) to Thursday (26).

Türk’s first high-level meeting during his visit was with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who he met a few hours after his arrival in Sri Lanka. It is learnt that the Premier’s meeting had been scheduled for the night of the High Commissioner’s arrival since she had to fly out of the country for an official engagement in Canada.

During the meeting between Amarasuriya and Türk, the Prime Minister had reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working constructively with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Referring to the mandate received by the incumbent Government at the polls from all communities in the country, the Premier had further noted the Government’s commitment to protecting and promoting the full spectrum of human rights, including social, educational, health, and economic rights, and emphasised that reconciliation remained a priority, supported by strengthening domestic mechanisms such as the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), the Office for Reparations (OR), and the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR).

Abolishing PTA

The Government meanwhile assured High Commissioner Türk that the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would be abolished. This was communicated to the UN official by Foreign Minister Herath.

Herath had stated that a new piece of legislation replacing the PTA would be presented to Parliament soon.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara had also met with Türk and had given the same assurance as his colleague, Herath, on the matter of the PTA.

Suspicion over meeting

Meanwhile, Opposition political parties last week expressed suspicion over a meeting that was to be held at the Parliamentary Complex between Türk and Government and Opposition legislators.

The Secretary General of Parliament had informed parliamentary party leaders that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights would meet with Government and Opposition leaders on Tuesday (24) at 4.30 p.m. in Committee Room No. 2 in Parliament.

Seeing this message, several Opposition party leaders have discussed why such a meeting was being convened since the High Commissioner could meet with Opposition party leaders separately. One Opposition party leader had noted that foreign dignitaries usually meet with the Opposition Leader and other political party leaders separately and the move to hold one meeting for all MPs including party leaders could be an attempt by the Government to prevent the High Commissioner from meeting leaders of the Opposition separately.

Sajith’s inquiry

Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa meanwhile had decided to inquire into more details about the message from the Secretary General of Parliament about the scheduled meeting between parliamentary party leaders and the Human Rights Chief.

Premadasa, it is learnt, had inquired from the Secretary General why Opposition and Government MPs were to attend a joint meeting with the Human Rights High Commissioner since it could cause an open clash of ideologies, resulting in unwanted confrontations. He had further noted that such open confrontations could be used by certain sections of the diaspora to further their agendas among the international community.

However, regardless of Premadasa’s concerns, the meeting with the High Commissioner proceeded as planned on Tuesday.

No meeting with Gita

It is learnt that one of the main reasons for the growing suspicion among Opposition party leaders about possible attempts by certain sections of the Government to prevent foreign dignitaries from meeting with them was the failure of IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath and her delegation from Washington, DC to meet with members of the Opposition during her recent visit to Sri Lanka.

While officials from the IMF usually meet with members of the Opposition, at least the Opposition Leader, during their official visits to Sri Lanka, the lack of meetings between Gopinath and Opposition party leaders was therefore notable. This has therefore paved the way for the Opposition parliamentarians to suspect whether the Government is blocking Opposition parties from engaging with foreign dignitaries visiting the country.

Sajith focuses on PTA, OSA

However, at the scheduled meeting between High Commissioner Türk and parliamentary party leaders, the Speaker, Leader of the House, and Opposition Leader sat at the head table with the High Commissioner.

Opposition Leader Premadasa had emphasised the urgent need for a constitutional amendment with a broader focus on human rights and fundamental freedoms in Sri Lanka.

He had stated that there was focus on the PTA, the Online Safety Act (OSA), and the need to ensure media freedom. He had further stated that alongside civil and political rights, basic human rights, including economic, social, and religious rights, must be guaranteed. With the rising cost of living, he had pointed out that even the right to life was being compromised, as many people were struggling to afford basic necessities, emphasising mostly the conditions imposed on Sri Lanka by the IMF.

Premadasa had gone on to explain that the UNHRC could intervene to assist Sri Lanka by helping to gain some relief from these conditions. He had also pointed out certain constitutional provisions in some countries like South Africa which recognised that high economic burdens on the masses were a violation of human rights.

The Opposition Leader had also noted that the establishment of the OMP, OR, and ONUR were steps towards fostering post-war reconciliation, unity, and friendship, and were crucial components of protecting human rights in Sri Lanka.

Meeting becomes tense

Following Premadasa’s presentation to High Commissioner Türk, the meeting had become tense following a statement made by outspoken independent MP from the Jaffna District, Ramanathan Archchuna.

Archchuna had said at the meeting that there had been war crimes committed in the Northern Province and that there needed to be an inquiry into this matter.

Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake had immediately countered Archchuna and the exchange of words that had followed between the two had surprised the Human Rights High Commissioner.

Meanwhile, following this exchange of words, MP Namal Rajapaksa had addressed Türk saying that this was a problem in Sri Lanka since the issue of human rights had become highly politicised and was being used for various agendas, resulting in the actual human rights issues being sidelined.

Ensuring justice

During his visit, Türk also travelled to Trincomalee and Jaffna where he met families of those reported missing during the war and also expressed solidarity at an event held for the victims of the alleged Chemmani massacre.

The families of the missing, who had spoken to Türk in Trincomalee, had urged him to ensure accountability.

A group of residents of the Eastern Province had also handed over petitions to the UN Human Rights Chief, with appeals related to enforced disappearances, acquisition of lands, and threats faced by civil activists.

At the Chemmani mass grave, Türk had met with lawyers and complainants and had afterwards joined families of the disappeared at the ‘Unextinguished Flame’ vigil near the Chemmani junction, laying flowers in a symbolic tribute. 

Joint letter

Meanwhile, a joint letter by several Tamil political parties had been handed to Türk, in which the need for a sincere and genuine approach to ensure accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka had been highlighted.

The letter had been signed by representatives of political parties such as the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), and civil organisations. 

The joint letter had reportedly pointed out that the UN Human Rights Chief’s visit came against the backdrop of 16 years of no significant progress on the question of accountability for crimes committed during the four-decade-long war.

“We are concerned that your visit will be used and is being used by the Government of Sri Lanka as an exercise in boosting its legitimacy and to weaken the resolve of your office and that of the UN Human Rights Council to take concrete steps towards ensuring accountability in Sri Lanka,” the letter had stated.

Visit to Pelawatte

The High Commissioner also made a special visit to the JVP/NPP Headquarters in Pelawatte, where he engaged with senior members of the JVP and NPP.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva and other senior members including Ministers Bimal Rathnayake and Saroja Paulraj as well as NPP General Secretary Nihal Abeysinghe had attended the meeting with Türk.

It definitely was an interesting development since visits to ruling party headquarters to meet with office bearers had not been included in the agendas of previous foreign dignitaries visiting the country. However, under the JVP/NPP Government, meetings with Silva at the Party Headquarters has become an inclusion in the agendas of visiting foreign dignitaries.

AKD’s past experience

Meanwhile, the Human Rights High Commissioner met with President AKD as one of his last meetings prior to concluding his visit.

During the discussion, AKD had pointed out to Türk that as a political movement that had directly faced the experience of missing persons, his administration had a deep understanding of their pain. The President had expressed commitment to implementing the necessary reforms to ensure national unity, foster reconciliation, and safeguard human rights across the country.

While emphasising that restoring economic stability remained a top priority of his administration, AKD had further noted to the High Commissioner that international cooperation, including the support of the UN Human Rights Office and other global institutions, was essential for accurately conveying Sri Lanka’s actual circumstances to the global community and improving the nation’s international reputation.

The High Commissioner meanwhile had commended the current political and social transformation taking place in the country and noted that people in both the north and the south had placed strong confidence in the President and the Government.

Türk to report to UNHRC

However, concluding his visit to Sri Lanka, Türk held a press conference in Colombo at the UN Compound on Thursday (26) where he called for a moratorium on the use of PTA and the repealing of the OSA, among several other legislative amendments.

The UN Human Rights High Commissioner is expected to present a report on his visit to Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions this September.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that several key members of the Core Group on Sri Lanka have also conducted their own fact-finding missions and will submit reports to the UNHRC at the upcoming sessions in September.

FDI figures disputed

Meanwhile, on the economic front, questions have been raised about the figures presented by the Government concerning the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) secured by the country in the first quarter of this year.

It was SJB Member of Parliament (MP) Harsha de Silva who first questioned the credibility of the Government’s reported FDI figures for the first quarter of 2025.

De Silva, taking to X, had pointed out a contrast between the figures publicly cited by Minister Sunil Handunnetti and the actual inflows. “Sunil H claimed $ 650 million in FDI for Q1 2025 and now the President @anuradisanayake boasts $ 4.67 billion. But the truth? Only $ 80 million is estimated from 11 new deals signed this quarter,” he had written.

The Opposition MP had further noted that an additional $ 203 million had come not from new investor confidence, but from legacy agreements signed during 2022-2024. “We demand the real facts,” de Silva had added, suggesting that the numbers being quoted by the Government may be misleading and did not accurately reflect the current investment situation.

President AKD had also posted on X that Sri Lanka saw a 90% increase in FDI in Q1 2025 – a $ 96 million rise – along with a $ 21 million increase in domestic investment and $ 176 million growth in exports. According to him, total FDI for 2025 now stands at $ 4.67 billion.

“The Board of Investment is focused on new sectors and sustainable growth. It’s time to move beyond missed opportunities,” the President had stated.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa had also commented on the FDI conundrum, calling on President AKD to provide a clear and accurate breakdown of the FDIs received and those still pending, accusing the Government of creating confusion over the actual figures.

Namal, via a post on X, had criticised the conflicting statements made by the President and senior ministers. “There seems to be utter confusion in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration. While the President initially stated that his Government had attracted $ 96 million in FDI in Q1 2025, his Minister, Sunil Handunnetti, claimed the figure was $ 650 million,” he had stated.

“The President later revised his statement and said his Government had attracted $ 4.6 billion in investment proposals so far this year. However, this amount has yet to enter the country. These conflicting statements suggest that the President is in a complete state of confusion and is unaware of what is happening within his own administration,” Namal had further stated.

Special House session

It is in this backdrop that a special parliamentary session is to be convened tomorrow (30) where the Government plans to present the public finance management report. The office of the Leader of the House has stated that the statement will outline the Government’s economic path.

The adjournment debate that is to follow tomorrow’s statement by the Government on the country’s current economic policy and the challenges that require urgent attention will shed light on key economic issues.

It is learnt that President AKD, in his capacity as Finance Minister, is prepared to present the report to Parliament. Nevertheless, as at last evening (28), the Government was yet to decide on whether AKD, Prime Minister Amarasuriya, or Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando would present the report to the House tomorrow.

AKD back to China

Meanwhile, there is talk that President AKD is expected to engage in another official visit to China. However, it is still unclear whether the visit will take place in July or August.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva and a delegation from the party led by him were in China recently. During his 10-day visit to China, Silva met with many senior officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC). It is believed that Silva’s visit to China was to lay the groundwork for AKD’s next visit to the country.

It is interesting that there have been several back-to-back visits of Government ministers and MPs to China in the past few months, indicating an increase in engagement between the two countries, with several agreements also being signed.

CMC inaugural meeting

Meanwhile, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) held its inaugural meeting last Thursday (26) with Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar at the chair.

However, the session became quite tense with the Mayor temporarily adjourning the session for a few minutes after several Opposition members of the council had claimed that the agenda of the meeting that day was illegal.

SJB Councillor Roy Bogahawatte had claimed that according to the Municipal Councils Ordinance, the agenda of the council meeting had to be shared with all councillors four days prior to the scheduled meeting. However, the agenda for the meeting last Thursday had been distributed just prior to the meeting and Bogahawatte had claimed that the meeting agenda therefore was illegal.

Bogahawatte had further questioned the Mayor and the CMC Commissioner whether it was right or wrong.

SJB Councillor Mahendra Silva had then noted that if standing committees were appointed by the CMC under an illegal agenda, such committees could also be deemed illegal.

However, when Silva had further called for the session to be adjourned and postponed for another date, Deputy Mayor Hemantha Kumara had stated that the sessions could be adjourned for about 10-15 minutes and reconvened.

The Mayor had then adjourned the session for a few minutes and had also stated to the council that steps would be taken to ensure that such shortcomings (the failure to distribute the meeting agenda four days earlier) would not take place in the future. The session continued afterwards with the SJB failing in its attempt to postpone the inaugural official session.

SJB’s post-mortem on CMC

Meanwhile, SJB seniors along with some Colombo organisers had last week engaged in a post-mortem of the formation of the CMC administration.

Questions had been posed as to why the SJB’s councillors in the CMC had failed to stage a walkout of the council like the members of the Seethawaka Local Government authority who had walked out, ensuring that the council could not proceed without a quorum.

The SJB’s failure to obtain the support of independent groups has been viewed as another reason for the party’s defeat at the CMC.

Court halts LG meet

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal on Monday (23) issued an interim order suspending the inaugural meeting of the Wanathawilluwa Pradeshiya Sabha, which was scheduled to be held the following day, Tuesday (24).

Interim relief was granted by Justice Priyantha Fernando following the consideration of a petition filed by SLPP group leader Samantha Munasinghe over alleged irregularities in the allocation of seats under the Proportional Representation system.

Missing councillors in Weligama

Meanwhile, proceedings of the inaugural meeting of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha had come to an abrupt halt on Friday (27) following a tense situation that had erupted in the council after it was reported that two JVP/NPP members who were on their way to the council had been ‘abducted.’

It was reported that the two JVP/NPP members had been abducted while on their way to the election to appoint the chairman of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha and the tense situation that had arisen afterwards had prevented the council from holding its session.

It was then reportedly proposed to resume the proceedings of the House only upon the return of the two abducted NPP members.

The SJB meanwhile alleged that JVP/NPP members had deliberately disrupted proceedings to delay a scheduled vote at the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha.

SJB Weligama Organiser Rehan Jayawickreme had claimed that JVP/NPP members had informed the council of the alleged abduction and the absence of their two members.

According to the SJB Weligama Organiser, despite the missing members, the Commissioner had decided to proceed with the vote. 

During the proceedings, a group of around 250 JVP/NPP supporters had reportedly forced entry into the Pradeshiya Sabha, damaging property and interrupting the session. “They broke the doors and held everyone inside, effectively halting the vote,” Jayawickreme had claimed, adding that this was an unprecedented incident in the history of the council.

However, the two JVP/NPP councillors were found that evening near the Dewata coastline in Galle.

According to the Police Media Division, both councillors were found unharmed. One of them has since reported to the Kananke Police.

Mahindananda’s group wins

Meanwhile, an interesting development was witnessed at the Nawalapitiya Urban Council when an independent group reportedly backed by convicted former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had secured control of the council following its inaugural meeting held on Wednesday (25).

Former Chairman Amal Priyankara, who had contested under Independent Group 2, had been re-elected as Chairman with nine votes while K. Sureshwaran from Independent Group 1 had secured the post of Deputy Chairman, also receiving nine votes.

The candidates proposed by the JVP/NPP – Tilak Amarasiri Sirisena for chairman and Hewage Prasanna for deputy chairman – had received five votes each.

The 15-member council comprises five from the JVP/NPP, five from Independent Group 2, two from Independent Group 1, two from the SJB, and one from the United National Alliance (UNA). With no party holding a clear majority, the two independent groups had joined forces to form a majority and take control of both top posts.

Priyankara later claimed that he was a protégé of Aluthgamage and that he would continue with his vision for Nawalapitiya.

Earlier last week, Aluthgamage’s wife Senani Jayaratne had posted on her husband’s social media page a lengthy statement where she had also gone on to predict the victory of the group backed by her husband (Aluthgamage) in the Nawalapitiya Urban Council.

Push for SJB reforms

However, with the formation of Local Government bodies now nearing completion, the main Opposition SJB continues to face the need for reforms, with many party seniors as well as youth members urging the party leadership to act in this regard.

The SJB’s Rehan Jayawickreme last week called on his party to reflect and reform if it hoped to regain public support and win future elections. He had stated during a political interview on an electronic media channel that public support for the SJB had declined due to a departure from its founding principles.

“We built this party for change. If we’re just repeating the past, what’s the point? If I’m expelled for speaking the truth, so be it. I’d rather that than be remembered as a failed politician who stayed silent.”

RW’s trip under scrutiny

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has summoned two senior officials who had served under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to question them over an overseas visit undertaken by the latter during his tenure as President.

It is learnt that the two officials were overseas and that the CID had sought assistance from the Foreign Ministry to assist it record statements from these officials.

The CID on Tuesday (24) informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court of the investigation being conducted under the Offences Against Public Property Act. 

It is learnt that the investigations are mainly focused on Wickremesinghe’s visit to the United Kingdom in 2023 to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony.

The Police has stated that the event had been held at the University of Wolverhampton, that the former President had participated in the ceremony, and that the trip had reportedly taken place on 22 and 23 September 2023.

It is further stated that approximately Rs. 16.9 million in Government funds had been spent on this visit and a group of 10 individuals is said to have accompanied the former President on this trip.

It has also been revealed that Wickremesinghe had been on an official visit to Cuba and the US at the time and that he had travelled from the US to the UK on this private visit.

It was earlier reported that around Rs. 1.27 billion had been spent on 23 overseas visits undertaken by Wickremesinghe during his two-and-a-half years in office.

However, the office of former President Wickremesinghe issued a statement denying media reports pertaining to his visit to the University of Wolverhampton in the UK in September 2023, calling them misleading and false.

While denying the allegations, Wickremesinghe’s office has stated that a formal statement will be released soon.

Probing Shiranthi’s Siriliya

Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities are carrying out a probe into the accounts of Siriliya Saviya, which was initiated by former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa during her husband Mahinda Rajapaksa’s (MR) tenure as President.

The ongoing probe was revealed by Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala in Parliament recently. He claimed that investigations had found that the mandate form that had been drawn when opening the account of Siriliya Saviya in a State bank had gone missing and that millions of rupees had passed through the account.

Shiranthi’s brother remanded

Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s brother, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, meanwhile was arrested and remanded on Friday (27) by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The CIABOC had filed three corruption-related charges against Wickramasinghe, who is a former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines.

The charges relate to incidents that occurred during his tenure at the National Carrier in 2014, resulting in financial losses to the Government: 1. Flight diversion loss – on 22 January 2014, flight UL319, scheduled to operate from Kuala Lumpur to Katunayake, had been diverted, reportedly causing a financial loss of $ 4,512 to the State; 2. Passenger diversion loss – on 25 January 2014, 75 passengers travelling from the Maldives to France via Colombo had been sent from flight UL563. The commission alleges this action led to a loss of $ 19,160; and 3. Misuse of State funds – on 19 December 2014, Rs. 1.25 million of Government funds had allegedly been used for election campaign activities at the 18th Mile Post Grounds in Katunayake, in support of the former President.

Wickramasinghe was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and remanded till Tuesday (1 July).

Rajitha a suspect

Meanwhile, the CIABOC has on Friday (27) informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that former Minister of Fisheries Rajitha Senaratne is likely to be named as a suspect in connection with the controversial sand dredging project at the Kirinda Fishery Harbour.

The CIABOC had made this observation before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga, who had inquired whether additional arrests would be made in the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation (CFHC).

The former Chairman of the CFHC in 2012, Upali Liyanage, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission in connection with a corruption charge, was granted bail on three sureties of Rs. 5 million.

Appearing on behalf of the commission, Counsel Sulochana Hettiarachchi had stated that the investigation had been initiated in 2013 following an anonymous tip-off, which had claimed that a dredging vessel belonging to the corporation was being illegally sold for scrap. During the investigation, it had been revealed that a project proposal had been forwarded to a Korean company for the purpose of extracting and purifying sand from the Kirinda Fishery Harbour and distributing it to the local market.

It had further been revealed that the project had been awarded to the company without following the required legal procedures. Although the then Fisheries Minister Senaratne had put forward the proposal, it had not been submitted to the Cabinet through the ministry’s Secretary for approval, as required by protocol.

Politicians with luxury houses

Probes have also been launched into politicians of former governments who have gained sudden wealth and purchased expensive luxury housing units in prime housing complexes in Colombo as well as houses and property in prime locations in the country.

It is learnt that the CID is conducting these probes under illegal asset accumulation and that assets of politicians as well as family members are now being scrutinised.

Officials to be arrested

Meanwhile, the CID and CIABOC have initiated an investigation into 18 former ministry secretaries and senior Government officials who had allegedly aided ministers and senior politicians from previous governments to engage in various financial frauds and corruption.

It is learnt that discussions are also underway between the two authorities to look at getting down five former State officials who are currently overseas.