• Govt. faces challenges in finalising US trade tariffs; difficulties in setting timelines for oil, gas purchases
• Public officials working by the book could result in delays in awarding tenders, procurement processes
• Vijitha’s tourism earnings data contradicts CBSL’s official data; Ruwan tries to clarify discrepancies in data
• Tilvin reveals CPC’s belief that a govt. needs to be in power for 15-20 years to implement meaningful reforms
• Chinese loans return; AKD says Chinese agreed to give yuan loan for Central Expressway development
• Harini’s reply to ‘Chichi’s rocket’ in House creates a stir; SLPP hails PM, Wasantha backtracks, hits BOI
• Wasantha claims satellite still missing; SupremeSAT Chairman Manivannan gives location of satellite
• Opposition unites to sign no-faith motion against Dep. Min. of Defence; Speaker to be given motion this week
• House passes historic motion removing Deshabandu; Namal cites legal point, Speaker moves ahead
• SJB says will support motion, but 30 MPs absent during voting; 15 other MPs including 5 JVP/NPP MPs absent
• Ruling party says 30 SJB MPs absent during Deshabandu vote were supportive of RW and followed him
• AKD nominates Acting IGP to Constitutional Council to fill vacancy; council to meet this week to decide
• Queries remain over Deshabandu’s status in Police, in or out; JSC suspends five judges within a week
• MR, Sajith meet at funeral, discuss politics; GL holds meeting at residence with 17 Opposition leaders
• Namal meets dissident SLPPers, discuss their return to party fold; Sanjeewa says reunification soon
• Govt. presents bill slashing entitlements of ex-presidents; CBK already moving, GR says no opinion on it
• Namal says MR will leave when bill is passed in Parliament; MR says ready to move to Medamulana
• Former senior JVPer Nandana gets emotional, says ready to destroy himself and other responsible
• Wasantha says Govt. can look at ‘Aswesuma’ for former MPs, VIPs in need; Nandana hits out at Wasantha
• Govt. releases another list of politico families and relatives benefited by President’s Fund scholarships
• Harshana responds to inclusion in Govt.’s latest list, drags in Wijeweera; Bimal hits back, clears Wijeweera
• Low-income generating LGs facing difficulties in paying staff salaries; Govt. money only for part of pay
• Govt. says 63 persons arrested for bribery and corruption so far in 2025; five politico relatives arrested
• Shasheendra remanded over bribery charges; admitted to M2 Ward of CRP, family asks to send meals
• RW’s Pvt. Secretary, former Prez’s Secretary quizzed by CID; probe on RW’s foreign trips on State funds
• Sagala mixes up CID and FCID, quizzed by FCID; Chamara complains to CIABOC over Police recruitments

The fact that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government is centred on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) continues to be evident, given the manner in which he has had to intervene in many key issues as well as respond to many questions and criticisms posed by the Opposition. This was witnessed in President AKD’s address to Parliament last Thursday (7).

AKD’s sudden visit to Parliament last week and the speech delivered by him in the House came as a surprise for many Members of Parliament (MPs), especially those in the Opposition. The fact that the President intended to address Parliament was not known about by many until Wednesday (6) evening.

However, upon commencing his speech in the House, it seemed like the President was hitting sixes in a cool and calm manner while responding to almost every question that has been posed by the Opposition – ranging from the US trade tariffs on Sri Lanka, economic growth, supremacy of the law, anti-corruption drive and arrests being made, and acting against the underworld, as well as conspiracies to topple the Government. 

AKD gave a clear response on the US trade tariffs saying that no agreement had been finalised on the proposals submitted by the US. “There is no final agreement signed yet with the US, although we have come to a certain level of progress in discussions,” the President said. He noted that the Opposition had been engaged in various efforts to mislead the public on the tariff negotiations with the US, but stated that there was no truth to predictions that the US reciprocal tariffs imposed on Sri Lanka would rise to 44%.

The President also noted that there would be no changes to the vehicle importation policy, stating that the Opposition was engaged in efforts to destabilise the market with rumours of a policy change. “We are expecting Letters of Credit to be opened between $ 1,500-1,800 million by December, for which we are making necessary preparations,” he said.

He further commended the previous Government for its action related to stabilising the economy while reiterating the JVP/NPP Government’s commitment to push the country towards economic growth.

Be that as it may, while President AKD’s style of governance and his charisma have managed to steer Sri Lanka on a continued economic recovery path, Sri Lanka still has a long way to go – even in the case of US trade tariffs on Sri Lanka.

Tariff challenges

While Sri Lankan authorities continue discussions with the US on finalising a trade deal between the two countries, US President Donald Trump’s tariff war with India could be beneficial for Sri Lanka. The 50% tariff currently being imposed on India due to the latter country’s decision to procure oil from Russia could be converted to Sri Lanka’s gain through astute negotiations by the Sri Lankan side with the US.

Nevertheless, the US stance that its reciprocal trade tariffs on Sri Lanka are aimed at reducing the US trade gap with Sri Lanka and the pressure on the Sri Lankan side to ease tariffs on US exports into the country as well as purchase oil and gas from the US all pose formidable challenges for President AKD and the JVP/NPP Government to manoeuvre.

While Sri Lanka must test oil samples from the US to look at compatibility of refining the product at the Sapugaskanda Refinery, which is accustomed to refining Murban oil to the end product, procurement processes involved in oil and gas purchases are lengthy as well as time-consuming. The months-long processes include calling for tenders, evaluation, negotiation, testing, and finally, procurement.

It is also important to note that the ongoing anti-corruption drive of the Government and related probes will result in Government officials engaging in their work by the book without any deviations, leading to much red tape and delays. This could result in the delay in finalising oil and gas procurement deals with the US by a considerable amount of time that could in turn have an adverse impact on the relations between Sri Lanka and the US.

Also, the removal of tariffs on a large number of US exports to Sri Lanka would have an impact on Sri Lanka’s revenue generation as well.

It is therefore evident that the President and the Government have a long path ahead to secure the best terms for Sri Lanka in global trade.

Swipe at Harsha

President AKD meanwhile also levelled some criticism against Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva over claims by the latter that the country would be slapped with high trade tariffs by the US.

De Silva responded, however, saying that the Opposition was happy about the reduced US trade tariffs and that they never wished for the country’s downfall. AKD nevertheless noted that the likes of de Silva should think twice before making certain claims since his words (given de Silva’s economic background) carried weight.

The President further accused the Opposition of hoping for the country’s collapse instead of supporting national recovery efforts. “First you expected Colombo to be bombed during Indo-Pakistan tensions, and then face a crisis with US tariffs,” he said.

“Just two days ago, they (the Opposition) said the US tariffs would rise to 44%. That was their wish. You always dream of an economic collapse in this country. But nothing collapsed. Stop dreaming of economic ruin. Change your political lens,” he added.

No presidents-in-waiting

Continuing further with his critical comments against the Opposition, President AKD mocked predictions that had been made by some Opposition politicians about political changes that would take place this year.

“There were claims that there will be a new president by August this year. It is now August and the so-called ‘president in August’ is not even in Parliament,” he said, laughing.

The President continued saying that SJB MP Kabir Hashim had predicted that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa would be president by December this year. AKD then turned towards Hashim while laughing. After listening to what the Opposition had to say, the President laughed and replied: “Kabir said Sajith (Premadasa) will be president in December. So, let’s clarify it. What Kabir Hashim had said is that Sajith will be president in December, but not in any specific year.”

Contradictions on earnings

However, while President AKD provided some clarity in the House about the country’s economic recovery path and the revenue generated, there was much debate earlier last week over the notable discrepancy between a statement made by Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath and official statistics of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) regarding Sri Lanka’s tourism earnings in 2025.

Herath had stated during the opening of a new meditation hall at the Seetha Amman Temple in Nuwara Eliya that Sri Lanka had earned $ 3.7 billion from tourism during the first six months of 2025, with a similar income target expected for the next half of the year.

However, official CBSL data contradicted the Minister’s claim, with the latest report showing tourism earnings for January to June 2025 standing at $ 1.71 billion, which is a 10% increase compared to $ 1.56 billion during the same period in 2024.

The discrepancy of nearly $ 2 billion between the Minister’s statement and the CBSL figures resulted in questions being posted on social media on Herath’s estimate. There were also questions about whether additional sources or future projections were mistakenly cited as current revenue.

However, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe later provided a clarification regarding Herath’s statement: “I believe the Central Bank data we have only goes up to the end of June. The calculations for July have not been included. Accordingly, the Central Bank report states that by the end of June, Sri Lanka’s tourism earnings stood at $ 1.7 billion. That is the accurate data... There is a significant discrepancy between the Minister’s statement and the actual data, and I personally don’t think we would have earned that much in July alone.”

Tilvin’s revelation

Meanwhile, the JVP’s powerful General Secretary Tilvin Silva recently revealed details of a discussion between the JVP delegation led by him and the officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in June this year.

Silva has said in an interview that the CPC was of the view that a government must remain in power for at least 15-20 years to implement meaningful reforms in Sri Lanka.

“They (CPC officials) said it will take around 15-20 years to implement the changes envisioned, and that means winning another three to four elections. They said we can’t make the changes we envision within five years. It took them about 30-40 years to transform China,” Silva said in the interview.

He further noted that discussions with Chinese officials had focused on long-term governance, party development, and economic management.

“We can’t operate like an opposition anymore. We need to be more efficient and move quickly. There is a lot we need to learn about governance, management, and the economy, which they have said they will help us with,” Silva has added.

Chinese loans return

Meanwhile, President AKD says that China’s Export-Import (Exim) Bank has agreed to provide a new concessionary loan in Chinese Yuan to resume the Kadawatha-Mirigama section of the Central Expressway.

He told Parliament last Thursday: “Work on the Mirigama-Kadawatha section of the Central Expressway was halted due to the failure to continue with the previous loan repayment due to bankruptcy. The construction work is contracted to a Chinese firm. Our agreement is with the Chinese firm. Due to the suspension of the construction work, all their machinery and equipment have become dilapidated and unusable,” he explained. 

The President, however, stated that the Chinese company had proposed recommencing the construction work if the Government paid compensation for its ruined machinery and equipment. “We can’t grant the compensation overnight. Several discussions must be held. Both sides have submitted proposals on the compensation value. We must conduct an estimation for the compensation,” he said. 

According to AKD, the loan provided by China’s Exim Bank previously for the project is insufficient at present, under the current circumstances, and a higher loan is required. 

“Due to this requirement, we need to conduct more rounds of discussions. We are happy to announce that China’s Exim Bank has agreed to provide a loan in yuan with many concessions. Once we get the loan, we can settle the contractor’s compensation and recommence the project,” the President added. 

Chichi’s ‘rocket’ in House

Meanwhile, one of the key topics of discussion in Parliament last week as well as in the public domain was the controversial SupremeSAT satellite project that was launched during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s (MR) second term as President.

The satellite project that was headed by MR’s youngest son, Rohitha Rajapaksa, also known as Chichi, caused much public discussion at the time over the large amounts of monies spent on such a project, especially to satisfy the desires of presidential progeny. The criticism resulted in Rohitha also being referred to as ‘Rocket Rohitha,’ ‘Rocket Chichi,’ etc.

However, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by MR and steered by National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa had decided that a question should be posed to the Government on the SupremeSAT satellite project in a bid to clear Rohitha’s name in the backdrop of the incumbent Government’s intensified action against alleged financial irregularities, fraud, and corruption of the past.

It is in such a backdrop that SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka posed a question to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya a few weeks ago requesting details of the SupremeSAT satellite project including investments as well as revenue generation.

The Prime Minister last week responding to Chanaka’s query submitted a detailed account in Parliament on the project. She stated that Government funds had not been utilised for the SupremeSAT satellite project.

Amarasuriya told the House that on 23 May 2012, SupremeSAT Ltd. had signed an agreement with the Board of Investment (BOI) to establish a satellite system and provide telecommunication services. The project, however, had commenced commercial operations on 28 July 2015.

The Premier read that as of 2019, the company shareholding stood as follows: Supreme SL Investments Ltd.: 20% (47,180,200 shares) and Supreme Global Holdings Ltd.: 80% (188,344,970 shares).

Citing BOI data, Amarasuriya noted that the SupremeSAT company had generated the following revenue: 2015/’16 – Rs. 19,617 million; 2016/’17 – Rs. 28,133 million; 2017/’18 – Rs. 29,106 million; 2018/’19 – Rs. 34,169 million; 2019/’20 – Rs. 42,960 million; 2020/’21 – Rs. 62,545 million; 2021/’22 – Rs. 87,789 million; and first half of 2023 – Rs. 39,590 million. 

MP Chanaka then thanked the Prime Minister for addressing what he described as one of the major allegations made against investors in Sri Lanka. He claimed that the project, commonly referred to as ‘Chichi’s rocket,’ had resulted in a $ 300 million investment going unaccounted for.

Chanaka further claimed that when he had initially raised the issue, MP Bimal Rathnayake had alleged the satellite had disappeared.

“The Prime Minister has clarified that not a single Sri Lankan Rupee was invested and that the project has generated substantial annual income and Foreign Direct Investment,” the SLPP MP said.

When Chanaka continued to point out the claims made by the JVP/NPP and the Prime Minister’s response, Amarasuriya clarified that her statements were based solely on BOI data.

“I have not given any personal analysis on whether the project was large or small. This matter was publicly discussed for different reasons. If there are further questions on that, I can respond separately. But this is factual information based on official reports. Whether it is good or bad will be determined by the public,” she added.

Wasantha’s clarification

However, the SLPP propaganda machinery immediately got into action mode and launched a social media campaign based on Prime Minister Amarasuriya’s response in Parliament. It was evident that the campaign was an attempt at ridiculing the ruling party as well as clearing Rohitha’s name from the controversial satellite project. Some social media posts hailed Prime Minister Amarasuriya while criticising the rest of the JVP/NPP.

There were nevertheless doubts and questions in the public domain as to the revenue the BOI had claimed the SupremeSAT satellite project had generated as well as the reason for the SLPP and the Rajapaksas to wait for over a decade to give clarity to criticism over a project that had caused much disrepute to the Rajapaksas and the governments led by them. 

“If the Rajapaksas and the SLPP had all these details, why didn’t they do this (pose a question in Parliament) much earlier? Why did they wait all these years? They could have even cleared it during Gota’s (former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) time. The fact that they waited all this time and the doubts over the data provided by the BOI that is being questioned raises a lot of questions,” a senior Government member claimed.

The incumbent Government meanwhile backtracked on Prime Minister Amarasuriya’s response in Parliament about the SupremeSAT project. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe claimed in Parliament that the data provided the previous day by the Prime Minister were inaccurate since the BOI had provided incorrect data and that the project had failed.

Samarasinghe further stated that several discrepancies had been found regarding the SupremeSAT satellite project and that according to current data, SupremeSAT Ltd. had signed an agreement with the BOI in May 2012 to establish a satellite system and provide telecommunication services, and the project had been launched in November of the same year. 

He noted that data had shown that Rs. 12.14 billion had been declared as assets by the company in 2012 and financial reports for 2013 and 2014 had shown an investment of nearly Rs. 12 million for a lease-based satellite. The Minister further claimed that the financial reports of 2014 and 2015 did not contain details of the previously declared assets, liabilities, and investments, and that the whereabouts of the satellite could not be located either. He added that there were no financial reports after 2022.

Samarasinghe claimed that these developments, from providing incorrect data to the Prime Minister to the financial discrepancies witnessed in the financial reports, called for an investigation into the matter.

However, his clarification resulted in the SLPP’s Chanaka stating: “Was Rs. 80,000 million or Rs. 300 million recorded as revenue from the project? Who is correct? The Prime Minister or the Minister? All I wanted to know was whether Government funds had been used and if it had brought in profit.”

Criticising Harini

Meanwhile, certain sections of the ruling party as well as the public were critical of Prime Minister Amarasuriya over her response in Parliament to the question posed on the SupremeSAT satellite project. Some even claimed that Amarasuriya had helped clear a great folly of the Rajapaksas.

The Prime Minister, however, has maintained that she had only given the response that was submitted by the BOI, which held the relevant data. For this, some critics including some JVP/NPP supporters questioned whether the Prime Minister should parrot every document given to her by a State institution.

However, regardless of the criticism levelled against Amarasuriya, it is imperative for a prime minister to be impartial and hold the dignity of that office. This means the ability to stand above public perceptions when carrying out duties.

The Prime Minister informing Parliament of the BOI report is not the issue; the issue is to inquire into the allegation being levelled over the information released – the manner in which the document presented by the Premier in the House had been prepared, the accuracy of the data, and the officials involved in preparing it.

Satellite’s location revealed

Amidst the continuing drama over the SupremeSAT satellite project, SupremeSAT last Friday (8) issued an official statement reaffirming that its satellite remained in orbit at 87.5° East and that no Government funds had been used for the project.

SupremeSAT Chairman R.M. Manivannan stated: “Discussions about our private company accounts, conducted without our participation, are both inappropriate and misleading, especially when driven by those lacking the technical understanding and operational insight necessary to comment on a complex, globally integrated business such as ours.”

In the statement, the Chairman had noted that SupremeSAT operated under stringent contractual, regulatory, and technical obligations across multiple jurisdictions. “Our operations meet and exceed internationally recognised standards in performance, compliance, and transparency, consistent with the practices of leading global satellite operators.”

“While we remain unaffected by baseless claims, we are firm in expressing our dissatisfaction with the continued misrepresentation of our work. SupremeSAT will remain focused on delivering its projects, honouring its commitments, and upholding its reputation as a trusted, world-class operator in the space sector,” Manivannan had added.

No-faith motion

Meanwhile, Opposition MPs commenced a campaign to sign a no-faith motion against Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara. The motion was signed at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Parliament and is to be handed over to the Speaker of Parliament this coming week.

The motion signed by Opposition members has alleged that Jayasekara has violated the Code of Conduct for MPs, including sections related to acting with integrity and earning public trust as he had failed to uphold public responsibility, particularly in his current role overseeing the Ministry of Defence.

The motion has expressed concern over Jayasekara’s role as the Commander of the Security Forces (East) during key incidents linked to the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, including the Vavunathivu Police killings and the Sainthamaruthu explosion, both considered pivotal moments associated with the bombings. 

It has further stated that a potential conflict of interest exists as Jayasekara, now holding a powerful position in the Ministry of Defence, may influence subordinates or witnesses involved in the ongoing probes, risking impartiality.

The motion has also referred to statements by Catholic Church leaders, including Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando, questioning the credibility of the investigations and a statement made by President AKD acknowledging challenges in probing the attack from within the Government itself.

The motion urges Parliament to remove Jayasekara from his ministerial post.

IGP’s removal

While the Opposition prepared a no-faith motion against the Deputy Minister of Defence, the country witnessed a historic incident where a motion to remove suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon from office was taken up in Parliament on Tuesday (5). It was the first time that an IGP was removed by a motion in Parliament.

The motion was passed with a total of 177 MPs voting in favour of the motion while no MP in the Chamber at the time had opposed the resolution. MP Ramanathan Archchuna abstained from voting.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilleka announced earlier that day that the SJB had decided to vote in favour of the resolution to remove IGP Tennakoon from the post.

However, 30 SJB MPs were not in the Chamber at the time of the vote. Among the other MPs who were not in the House at the time of the vote were five JVP/NPP MPs, five MPs of the New Democratic Front (NDF), three SLPP MPs led by Namal, MP Dilith Jayaweera of the Sarvajana Balaya, and MP Kader Masthan of the Sri Lanka Labour Party.

Doubts over 30 SJBers

However, an interesting talk started to do the rounds in political circles after 30 SJB MPs stayed away from Parliament during the vote on Tennakoon’s removal.

Given that the SJB had announced its decision to support the motion, it was expected that the party would vote in favour of the motion. The absence of a majority of SJB MPs in the House at the time of the vote on the motion resulted in some governing party MPs talking among themselves about whether the 30 MPs who had abstained were in fact supporting former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The criticism and probe against Tennakoon resulted in Wickremesinghe also gathering flak for appointing him (Tennakoon) as the IGP during his time in the office as President.

Hence, the rumour among ruling party political circles was that a majority of SJB MPs were more partial towards Wickremesinghe and followed his directives.

Namal’s legal point

Meanwhile, speaking during the debate on the motion to remove Tennakoon, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa claimed that the Speaker of Parliament and the Government had violated Standing Orders in moving the resolution to remove Tennakoon.

He pointed out that in terms of Standing Order 91 F, there was a special procedure to debate a matter that is sub judice and urged the Speaker to make a statement that the outcome of the debate was not prejudicial, nor would it cause substantial damage to the ongoing court case.

He noted that his statement was not in favour of any individual but that he wanted to point to the correct procedure to be followed by Parliament.

Rajapaksa, while noting that there were nine pending cases related to Tennakoon, also pointed out that the Speaker must be satisfied that the outcome of the debate would not cause any prejudice or substantial damage, and make a statement regarding that before moving the debate.

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne however noted that he had decided to move the debate after studying Standing Order 91 F.

AKD’s nominee

Meanwhile, President AKD on Tuesday (5) approved the letter removing Tennakoon from the post of IGP following the communication sent by the Speaker on the passage of the motion. 

The next IGP will be appointed after the President sends his nomination to the post to the Constitutional Council, and AKD has nominated Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya to be appointed as the next IGP. 

The Constitutional Council on Thursday (7) had been informed of the President’s nominee, and it had been decided that the council should meet again on Tuesday (12) to further discuss and decide on the nominee for IGP.

However, there were several questions that are currently being discussed in political circles, including whether Tennakoon has been dismissed from the Police Department and whether he will once again become a Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) of Police after being removed from the post of IGP.

Apart from Weerasooriya, there were two other frontrunners to the post of IGP – SDIG Lalith Pathinayake and SDIG Sanjeewa Dharmaratne.

Five judges suspended

While the country witnessed the removal of an IGP, there were reports that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had suspended five judges from duty within a week. This news was reported in a State-run newspaper.

The report stated that the suspended officials include Moratuwa Magistrate Thilina Gamage, Mahiyanganaya Additional District Judge Rangani Gamage, and three newly-appointed magistrates who had not completed their probationary periods yet.

The JSC is chaired by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, with Supreme Court Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena serving as a member. A third seat has been vacant since Justice Gamini Amarasekera’s retirement and is yet to be filled by the Constitutional Council.

MR-Sajith meet

Meanwhile, former President MR and Opposition Leader Premadasa had met recently during the funeral of former Minister P. Dayaratna. 

MR had paid his respects to the late Minister when Premadasa had also arrived at the funeral. Both political leaders had then sat and started to talk when MPs Sujeewa Senasinghe, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Mano Ganesan, and P. Digambaram had joined them.

Premadasa had inquired about MR’s health and the latter had responded that he was doing well. Afterwards, the chat had turned towards politics, with Senasinghe inquiring about the arrest warrant issued by court on Namal. MR had responded saying that Namal never missed a court date, but in this instance, he had accidently marked the wrong date for this relevant case. “He had marked the date a month later,” MR had said.

When Senasinghe had said that many people who had voted for the Government were happy to hear that a warrant had been issued on Namal, MR had smiled and said that the people who had voted for the Government had no other reason to be happy.

Meeting at GL’s

Meanwhile, it is learnt that former Minister G.L. Peiris had held a discussion on Thursday (7) with leaders of around 17 political parties at his residence in Narahenpita.

The discussion had focused on the current economic and political situation in the country and the US trade tariffs on Sri Lanka as well as the conduct of the incumbent Government. The gathering has also discussed how best to continue with their political work in the current political climate.

Among the politicians who attended the meeting were Rauff Hakeem, Mano Ganesan, Jeevan Thondaman, Palani Digambaram, Kabir Hashim, D.V. Chanaka, Ramesh Pathirana, and Shehan Semasinghe.

The returning SLPPers

While Opposition politicians continue to meet and discuss their future political path, the SLPP, it is learnt, is in the process of uniting its defected members with the party. Several dissident SLPPers had recently held a discussion with SLPP National Organiser Namal.

Former SLPP MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna has said that the party is currently in the final stages of bringing defected members to the party fold. He explained that SLPPers who had held ministerial and deputy ministerial portfolios as well as been MPs would be among those who would be reuniting with the party in the coming months.

Bill on ex-presidents

Meanwhile, the Government last week moved ahead with the proposed legislation to slash the entitlements of former presidents and their widows. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the bill in Parliament last Thursday (7).

The Minister earlier stated that the Government had received the mandate at last year’s elections to present and enforce the proposed piece of legislation. 

Nanayakkara further observed that more legislation aimed at slashing more unwanted perks, privileges, and expenditure would be presented in the future as well, adding that the public should not bear the burden of providing perks and privileges to former politicians and VIPs.

MR ready to leave

While former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) has already started to move out of her official residence on Independence Avenue in Colombo 7, former President MR has not indicated plans of moving out of his official residence on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7 any time soon.

However, MR’s son, MP Namal Rajapaksa says that the former President will leave the official residence the minute the proposed legislation on slashing entitlements of former presidents is passed in Parliament.

Rajapaksa has further explained that the entitlements for former presidents were granted due to their need for security after relinquishing office due to the impact of certain decisions taken by them while holding office. Therefore, he has noted that removal of the entitlements of former presidents could eventually boomerang on the incumbent President, who is moving to slash them.

MR responds

Former President MR meanwhile made a brief statement to the media last week after attending an event in Colombo about the Government’s move to slash the entitlements of former presidents. He brushed off concerns over the Government’s move, saying the real privilege lay with the people.

MR said with a smile that he was not concerned about the Government’s attempts to remove certain benefits offered to former presidents, suggesting it was a move born of political vengeance.

When asked if he would move out of the official residence and return to Medamulana, MR said: “Medamulana is much better than Wijerama Mawatha.”

“They can remove any privileges from us. What matters is the privilege I have from the people,” the former President added.

GR’s no comment

Meanwhile, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR), when posed the same question by journalists after the same event attended by MR, after trying to avoid the media, said that he had no statement about the matter.

“I don’t know. I have no opinion about it,” GR said.

Nandana’s threat

However, former senior JVP MP Nandana Gunathilaka, who was also the party’s presidential candidate in 1999 and later defected from the party, issued a powerful and emotional statement against the Government’s move to do away with the MPs’ pension.

Taking to Facebook, Gunathilaka has highlighted the severe financial hardships faced by former MPs who had dedicated their lives to politics and activism.

Recounting his journey, especially when he was a member of the JVP, Gunathilaka has noted that he gave up his university education in the early 1990s to join the JVP’s dissident struggle full-time, taking up arms during a volatile political era. He has said that he had spent years without a stable income, using personal assets – including his family home – to cover legal and medical expenses for fellow comrades.

Now at the age of 63, Gunathilaka has said that he survived solely on the Rs. 68,000 monthly pension received as a former MP and that after paying rent, utility bills, and medical expenses, he was left with just Rs. 700-800 per day for food and other costs.

“There are over 200 former MPs like me – from the JVP, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), United National Party (UNP), and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) – suffering in silence,” he has claimed.

Gunathilaka has claimed he will destroy himself and those who take away his means of survival since he had no other option.

‘Aswesuma’ for politicians

Meanwhile, some members of the Government have stated that in the event former presidents and MPs face financial difficulties and are unable to survive after their entitlements are removed, along with pensions in the case of former MPs, the Government could look at it on a case-by-case basis and look at formulating a programme like ‘Aswesuma’ to support them.

This was stated by Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe in response to a question posed by the media. 

“If there are any individuals who will face difficulties when pensions and other entitlements are removed, we can look at something like ‘Aswesuma’ for them,” he noted, adding that no other country had systems whereby the public was burdened with maintaining former politicians and VIPs.

Nandana slams Wasantha

However, Minister Samarasinghe’s statement drew a response from Gunathilaka, who by then had already made a public comment against the Government’s move to slash the MPs’ pension. Gunathilaka questioned whether ministers of the incumbent Government lived on ‘Aswesuma’ social benefits.

He once again took to social media stating that one wondered whether Minister Samarasinghe lived on ‘Aswesuma’ as they (JVP/NPP ministers) contributed their salaries to the party. “Wasantha (Samarasinghe), you must be living on ‘Aswesuma’ since you have to contribute your salary to your party,” Gunathilaka has said in a Facebook post. 

Slashing insurance

Amidst the move to slash pensions and entitlements of former presidents and MPs, the Cabinet had approved a proposal to reduce the annual insurance coverage for MPs from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 250,000. The new policy is to take effect from 9 October.

The proposal was submitted by Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala as part of the Government’s policy to slash privileges granted to MPs. 

The insurance scheme that was introduced in May 2023 had been designed to provide each MP with a maximum annual coverage of Rs. 1 million, enabling MPs to claim medical or life insurance benefits up to the specified amount.

Another list by the Govt.

Meanwhile, the Government, which has released several lists of politicians and family members who have allegedly misused public funds including the President’s Fund, released yet another list on the President’s Fund.

While earlier lists were released by Chief Government Whip, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, this time around, it was Minister Anura Karunathilake who revealed in Parliament a list of children and relatives of former presidents, ministers, and MPs who had allegedly benefited from the President’s Fund. 

The Minister told Parliament last Tuesday (5) how the Presidential Fund’s Scholarship had been used between 2005 and 2014.

He read out the list with the following persons, whom he claimed had benefited from the President’s Fund: MP Harshana Rajakaruna – son of former Gampaha District MP Sarathchandra Rajakaruna; I.N. Kodituwakku – relative of former Colombo District MP Karunasena Kodituwakku in 2006; K. Radhakrishnan – relative of former National List MP V. Radhakrishnan in 2006; Dinesh Dodangoda, through political affiliations in 2006; and K.K. Paranavithane in 2006.

The Minister further revealed the sums of money for scholarships that had been disbursed during this period: over Rs. 73 million in 2005; over Rs. 75 million in 2006; over Rs. 33 million for 42 individuals in 2007; over Rs. 11 million for 18 persons in 2008; over Rs. 3 million for four persons in 2009; over Rs. 3 million for three people in 2010; over Rs. 1 million for two individuals in 2011; over Rs. 3 million for two persons in 2012; and over Rs. 500,000 for one person in 2014.

Harshana drags in Wijeweera

However, SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna, whose name was stated in the list of relatives of politicians who had benefited from the President’s Fund, responded saying: “We applied for assistance from the President’s Fund for my postgraduate studies. There was nothing illegal about it. I was selected as a recipient after being subjected to an interview.”

Rajakaruna went on to say: “Even JVP Founder Rohana Wijeweera was awarded a scholarship, while late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali was also awarded a scholarship to study abroad.”

However, a tense situation erupted in the House over Rajakaruna’s reference to the JVP’s Founding Leader Wijeweera.

Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake immediately responded to Rajakaruna’s statement saying the Government could not help it if Opposition members tarnished their own images through their actions. 

“What can we do if Opposition members tarnish their own image? They are trying to draw Rohana Wijeweera into the issue. Wijeweera went to study abroad through a scholarship offered by the Soviet Union to the Communist Party of Sri Lanka,” Rathnayake said. 

After Rathnayake’s statement, the Speaker called for the resumption of parliamentary business, when the Opposition demanded time to respond to Rathnayake. The House was in uproar after Speaker Wickramaratne refused to permit time for the Opposition.

When Opposition MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam noted that the Opposition member’s privileges issue should be referred to the parliamentary Privileges Committee and that the Speaker could not just dismiss it, the Speaker noted that the SJB MP had made references to the JVP’s Founding Leader outside the statement that had been sent to the Speaker’s Office.

Struggling to pay salaries

Meanwhile, some of the Local Government (LG) bodies that have been constituted, especially the low-income generating LG bodies that are led by Opposition parties, are currently facing difficulties due to the lack of funds. It is learnt that some such LG bodies are facing difficulties in paying staff salaries.

The reason for the difficulty in paying staff salaries is due to the Government’s decision that the LG bodies must pay 20% of the salaries from the funds in the relevant body. In the case of urban councils, the Government provides 60% of the salary of staff members while the remaining 40% must be provided from council funds. In pradeshiya sabhas, the Government provides 80% of staff salaries while the remaining 40% must be made by funds of the LG body.

Meanwhile, the Government has announced the allocation of Rs. 35,000 million for the development of LG bodies.

Arrests in 2024 and 2025

The Government, which is committed to its anti-corruption drive, has released details about individuals arrested for bribery and corruption in 2024 and 2025. Prime Minister Amarasuriya told Parliament last week that around 63 persons had been arrested for bribery and corruption so far in 2025 while 86 persons had been arrested in 2024.

The arrests this year include 28 State employees. “A total of 86 individuals were taken into custody on bribery charges in 2024. A total of 34 individuals have been arrested on bribery charges and 29 on corruption charges by 30 June 2025,” the Premier informed the House. She said that among them were seven politicians and former politicians who had been arrested over corruption allegations. 

Regarding Government officials and former officials, Amarasuriya said that a total of 58 individuals had been arrested for bribery in 2024 and 28 more had been arrested for bribery and 14 for corruption, totalling 42 arrests by 30 June this year.

As for civilians, the Premier said that 28 had been arrested on bribery charges in 2024, while by mid-2025, six more had been arrested for bribery and three for corruption, totalling nine arrests. 

According to Amarasuriya, relatives of politicians accounted for five arrests based on corruption allegations as of June 2025.

Shasheendra’s case

Meanwhile, former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa was arrested in connection with corruption allegations by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and was remanded until 19 August.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court remanded Shasheendra after he was arrested by the CIABOC. 

Shasheendra was admitted to the M2 Ward of the Colombo Remand Prison (CRP) and kept in a cell with nine others. It is learnt that prison doctors had examined him and given him a clean bill of health as well.

It is also learnt that Shasheendra’s family has requested prison authorities for permission to provide his food from home.

According to the CIABOC, Shasheendra was arrested in connection with a probe into corruption and the misuse of a property belonging to the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka.

The commission has noted in a statement that Shasheendra is accused of illegally constructing a farm building on land belonging to the Mahaweli Authority, located near the Kiriibbanwewa Reservoir in Sevanagala. However, the building had been destroyed during the ‘Aragalaya’ public protests on 9 May 2022, and it was later confirmed that the land belonged to the Mahaweli Authority. 

Shasheendra is accused of having pressured relevant officials and misusing his authority to secure approval for the reconstruction of the building. 

The CIABOC has therefore noted that Shasheendra’s actions constituted corruption, conspiracy, and illegal occupation of State property.

Questioning RW’s staff

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is continuing with the probe into former President Wickremesinghe’s overseas tours during his tenure as President, with special focus on one tour where it has been alleged that he had used public funds.

In the ongoing investigation into a foreign trip allegedly funded using financial allocations from the Presidential Secretariat, the CID recorded a six-hour statement from former President Wickremesinghe’s Private Secretary Sandra Perera last Monday (4).

Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake was also summoned before the CID to record a statement on the same investigation the following day, Tuesday (5).

Sagala’s mix-up

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe’s former Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka appeared before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on Wednesday (6).

It is reported that Ratnayaka had been summoned by the FCID, but he had first arrived at the CID. After being informed by the CID that it was the FCID that had summoned him, Ratnayaka had told reporters that he had arrived at the wrong department. Soon after, he was seen reporting to the FCID.

Ratnayaka left the FCID after recording a statement for about eight hours.

Chamara to CIABOC

Meanwhile, outspoken Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake visited the CIABOC last week to lodge a complaint against the Public Security Minister and senior officials of the ministry.

The complaint has been lodged over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Police inspectors in 2024 and a gazette notification that had been issued in 2024 for the recruitment of Police officers.

Following aptitude tests conducted according to that gazette, appointments had been planned for 100 qualified individuals in November 2024.

However, Dasanayake alleged that these planned appointments had not been granted to the 100 qualified individuals and that the Government was now preparing to reissue the gazette and grant new recruitments instead.

He added that the ministry had spent public funds to redo the process which was a waste and therefore wanted the CIABOC to initiate a probe into the matter.  

Wimal’s revelation

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa meanwhile claimed that officials of the Sri Lankan Government had failed to work in the best interest of the nation when discussing the proposed digital identity card project with Indian authorities. 

He told a news conference that there had been a meeting on Zoom between Indian authorities and Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy Ministry officials on 25 July and that the ministry’s Acting Secretary had joined the Zoom meeting from the Indian High Commission in Colombo instead of from his ministry office. 

“Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) CEO Sanjaya Karunasena, and Presidential Adviser Hans Wijayasuriya had joined the meeting,” he alleged, while further accusing Wijayasuriya of being partial towards India in the digital ID project.

According to Weerawansa, the Sri Lankan side, at this meeting, had responded to a question posed by the Indian side about the need to amend the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), saying that the latter would be amended within a month.

The former Minister further claimed that Electronic National ID Card Project Acting Director V.D.G. Perera had sent a letter on 25 July to the Digital Economy Minister citing 22 points on why it would not be suitable to assign the relevant project to India.