Last week marked a political milestone for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) as it marked seven months since he assumed office following the Presidential Election last year. It has definitely not been an easy ride for President AKD given the multiple challenges faced by the country, especially with the economy still on the mend.
AKD and his Government are also facing emerging challenges by way of the proposed reciprocal trade tariffs on Sri Lanka by the US, the upcoming review of the European Union’s (EU) Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade concessions granted to Sri Lanka, and the growing tensions between neighbouring India and Pakistan – all of which could play a pivotal role in either making or breaking the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, the Government’s international diplomacy mechanism was in full gear last week. Alongside the overtures to the US and the Vatican, the growing tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attacks in Kashmir threw the AKD Government into the deep end as well.
Interestingly, despite the attacks taking place in Pahalgam on Tuesday (22), it was not until Friday (25) that AKD had spoken to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, social media users have pointed out that his phone call to the Indian Prime Minister was made a full 48 hours after former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had dispatched a letter to the Indian Premier offering his condolences over the attacks.
In a further development, breaking from the norm, the statement from the President’s Office announcing the phone call had appeared to go to great lengths to emphasise that it had lasted 15 minutes. However, a bigger test awaits in the event of hostilities breaking out between the nuclear neighbours.
Trade tariff conundrum
Meanwhile, the Government is working on negotiating the US’s proposed new trade tariffs on Sri Lanka that are on a 90-day hold, with a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma visiting the US to seek relief from the tariffs.
There were two Government delegations in the US last week – one to attend the annual Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) while the delegation led by Suriyapperuma was in Washington, DC for meetings on the trade tariffs.
The discussion on Tuesday (22) had taken place between the Sri Lankan delegation and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington.
Following the meeting, President AKD claimed in Sri Lanka during a public rally that the discussions between the Sri Lankan delegation and the US Government on reciprocal tariffs were fruitful and that Sri Lanka and the US would make a joint statement. “The Deputy Minister of Finance informed me that the discussion with the US has been fruitful,” he said.
However, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said on Thursday (24) that the visiting Sri Lankan team had managed to hold a discussion with the Office of the US Trade Representative on the recently imposed reciprocal tariffs in line with discussions on the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, indicating that the Sri Lankan delegation had not met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent or US Vice President J.D. Vance, who are handling the issue of the new trade tariffs.
On Friday, a statement originating from the Sri Lankan Government was released to the public, outlining the progress made in the negotiations. Accordingly, it was outlined that a copy of Sri Lanka’s proposals had been handed over to US Trade Representative Greer, before being sent to meet Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch along with Director for South and Central Asia Emily Ashby.
No clear indication was given on the proposals or the US’s response to them.
Political analysts have pointed out that representations to the US Trade Representative aside, dealing with the Donald Trump administration requires engaging Bessent and Vance, both of whom are key confidants of President Trump. A question that now arises is, why did AKD promise a joint statement and what has the Sri Lankan Government proposed to the US Government in hopes of reducing the tariffs?
Former President Wickremesinghe meanwhile also commented on Sri Lanka’s discussions with the US on trade tariffs, stating that contrary to the President’s statement, no agreements had been reached between Sri Lanka and the US on the trade tariffs.
“The US is yet to complete its deliberations with China and the larger nations. It will focus on larger nations initially. They will focus on smaller nations later,” Wickremesinghe noted.
The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) has meanwhile stated that Sri Lanka’s apparel exports to the US will be reduced by at least 25% if the reciprocal tariffs are implemented while the country is facing risks in sustaining GSP+ conditions.
Speaking at a webinar organised by Bartleet Religare Securities, JAAF Deputy Chairperson Felix Fernando has noted that if the tariffs are implemented, total apparel exports to the US will decrease by at least 25% in the initial stages as companies will not be able to bear the cost. He has stated that this could lead to apparel companies downsizing themselves, while some Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) sector apparel companies will have to close down their businesses.
Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data meanwhile has shown that Sri Lanka’s foreign holding in the Government securities market has decreased by over Rs. 10 billion since the US announcement of reciprocal tariffs on 2 April. Since the week of 2 April, the foreign holdings in Treasury bills and bonds have decreased from Rs. 97.85 billion to Rs. 87.82 billion as foreign investors move towards more attractive longer-term US bonds.
Meanwhile, the average yield of the Sri Lanka Treasury bonds had fallen across all the maturities in the week ending on 17 April when compared to the previous week.
GSP+ review
It is in such a backdrop that a high-level GSP+ Monitoring Mission of the EU is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from tomorrow (28) until 7 May for the upcoming review.
The EU states that the purpose of the mission is to assess Sri Lanka’s progress in meeting the conditions tied to the GSP+ trade concessions. The visit is part of the EU’s regular biannual monitoring process, to which the Sri Lankan Government has committed in order to continue benefiting from the GSP+ facility.
During their stay, the EU delegation is to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including Government officials, relevant State institutions, politicians, civil society organisations, business associations, and trade unions. The mission is to also include site visits to observe implementation on the ground.
Eligibility for GSP+ requires the ratification and effective implementation of 27 international conventions covering human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, climate change, and good governance. Key among legislation that would be subject to review are the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Online Safety Act (OSA).
Mahinda addresses forum
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana had delivered a comprehensive overview of the country’s economic turnaround at the IMF-WBG Spring Meetings’ Capacity Development Forum, highlighting the pivotal role of IMF-backed reforms and domestic policy commitment in steering the country out of its worst financial crisis since independence.
Addressing a panel alongside the former Chief of the IMF Mission to Sri Lanka Peter Breuer and economists Ozlem Aydin and Cindy Negus of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, Siriwardana had recounted the severity of the crisis that emerged in April 2022.
“Our revenue-to-GDP ratio had fallen to around 8.3%, among the lowest globally,” Siriwardana had stated, adding: “Chronic fiscal and external imbalances, policy missteps, and external shocks combined to push the economy into a tailspin.”
“The IMF’s technical support was instrumental in helping us design and implement wide-ranging reforms,” Siriwardana had observed. “These spanned fiscal consolidation, monetary policy, institutional governance, and financial sector resilience.”
He had pointed out that central to the reform agenda were debt restructuring, enhanced revenue mobilisation, and institutional strengthening, while the Government had also expanded social protection mechanisms to mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable populations.
“Significant efforts were made to improve fiscal transparency, digitise public finance, and address longstanding structural weaknesses. These were not just stopgap measures; they were essential to resolving the underlying causes of the crisis,” Siriwardana had noted.
It was also pointed out that the reforms had begun to yield results. “After contracting by 10% over 2022 and 2023, the Sri Lankan economy grew by 5% in 2024. Inflation, once at record highs, has stabilised near zero. Gross official reserves have rebounded to over $ 6 billion, and the Government has recorded primary budget surpluses for two consecutive years.”
However, Siriwardana had also acknowledged the fragility of the economy: “We recognise the fragility of this recovery. Maintaining momentum on reform is essential to ensure long-term economic stability.”
Report to Executive Board
The IMF’s Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) on the fourth review of the fund’s EFF programme with Sri Lanka is now before the fund’s Executive Board for final approval prior to the disbursement of the next tranche.
“The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision,” the IMF stated.
Sri Lanka on Friday (25) reached an SLA with the IMF on the fourth review, where the IMF has also touched on the proposed new US trade tariffs stating that the global trade policy uncertainty poses significant downside risks to Sri Lanka’s economy. “If these materialise, authorities and staff will work together to assess the impact and formulate policy responses within the contours of the IMF-supported programme,” the IMF statement noted.
The IMF, while commending Sri Lanka’s growth trajectory, has expressed concerns over the failure to implement a cost-reflective electricity tariff structure. “Most structural benchmarks due by end-April were either met or implemented with delay. However, the continuous structural benchmark on cost-recovery electricity pricing remains not met.”
It is also important to note that the IMF’s fourth review covered the economy-related policy initiatives that were put in place by the previous Wickremesinghe Government, which continued till the 2025 Budget that was adopted last month. The fourth review was scheduled for the end of last year, but was delayed due to the holding of two key national elections during the period. The economic policy direction of the incumbent Government will mostly be subjected to appraisal during the next review.
Growth amidst concerns
The World Bank meanwhile has commended Sri Lanka for its quicker-than-expected recovery from the country’s worst economic crisis since independence, while also expressing growing concerns, cautioning that the island nation is still not entirely out of the woods.
“While Sri Lanka’s economy is bouncing back stronger than expected, a significant portion of the population – about a third – remains in poverty or is at risk of falling back into poverty,” said World Bank Country Division Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka David Sislen. “To ensure this recovery works for everyone, especially those who have been hit hardest, Sri Lanka can focus on policies that create jobs and support the poor.”
For Sri Lanka, medium-term growth and poverty reduction depend on maintaining macroeconomic stability and implementing key structural reforms amid an increasingly uncertain global environment. The World Bank has noted that despite the recovery, the medium-term growth is expected to be modest, reflecting the scarring effects of the crisis, structural impediments to growth, and significant global economic uncertainties.
Chinese message
Meanwhile, China has approached Sri Lanka, which is on the lookout for alternative means to address the adverse impact the US trade tariffs could have, following a recent meeting in Beijing.
The Chinese, who have waged war against the US move to impose over 100% trade tariffs on Chinese products, it is learnt, have sent a message to Sri Lanka on the joint action that would have to be taken by the countries affected by the tariffs in the Asian region.
President Xi Jinping recently summoned all Chinese ambassadors in the Asian region to discuss and strategise China’s approach to the US tariffs as a country and as a region.
Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong had also attended the meeting that was convened. The Chinese envoy to Sri Lanka had explained Sri Lanka’s current economic situation and the impact the new trade tariffs could have on the recovery process. The meeting had then discussed the role China could play in facing the US tariffs as the Asian region.
It is also learnt that a set of proposals related to Sri Lanka that had been prepared following this meeting had been handed over to the Sri Lankan Government and that President AKD has assigned the Government to study the proposals and make recommendations.
Meanwhile, China’s move to expand trade ties with Pakistan and Bangladesh has irked India, with the Indian Government acting against Bangladesh by blocking trade routes. Xi had also visited Malaysia, Cambodia, and Vietnam recently as part of China’s Asian outreach in the face of US trade tariffs.
China meanwhile has called on the US to cancel its sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods entering the US as a sign that President Trump is serious about resolving the trade war between the two countries. A Chinese official was quoted by BBC as saying there had been no trade talks with the US, despite suggestions otherwise from the Trump administration.
Indian consent
Meanwhile, the growing pressure on the Government to reveal the contents of the agreements signed between Sri Lanka and India during Indian Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka took a new twist last week, with Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stating that Sri Lanka required India’s consent to publicise the details in the agreements.
Jayatissa told the weekly Cabinet briefing that the Government would present all seven Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with India recently in Parliament, but that it would take some time since the consent of both parties was needed to reveal some of the information. However, the Minister earlier stated that journalists would have to seek details about the MOUs signed with India under Right to Information (RTI) laws.
The Indo-Lanka defence MOU has also irked the Chinese, given the stand-off with the Government on the issue of Chinese research vessels entering Sri Lankan waters. With what seems like an agreement between Sri Lanka and India not to let the land and seas of Sri Lanka be used for any action that could threaten India’s security, especially given the increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s relations with the Chinese will definitely be put to the test.
Complaints against ‘monitor’
Meanwhile, President AKD has received complaints from several senior Opposition politicians that a senior Minister of the JVP/NPP Government is behaving in a condescending manner towards the Opposition in Parliament and that this relevant Minister disregards members of the Opposition and acts in an arbitrary manner in the House.
It is learnt that the senior Opposition members had made these complaints to the President after the all-party meeting that was convened by him recently at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the impact of the US trade tariffs on Sri Lanka and the counteraction to be taken.
It is also learnt that the relevant Government Minister had been referred to as the ‘class monitor’ for his behaviour in the House.
Seeking more time
Be that as it may, the issue of ensuring justice for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks continues to pressure the AKD Government, with the hold on honouring a pledge given by the President during elections.
President AKD meanwhile stated last week that the Government, while accepting the responsibility of revealing the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks and bringing justice to the victims of the attacks, would require more time to reveal the attacks’ mastermind since the investigation was currently being carried out thoroughly along with more information that had been gathered.
The Public Security Ministry Secretary meanwhile handed over the full report of the Presidential Commission on the Easter Sunday attacks to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on a presidential directive. It is learnt that some of the report’s content that were previously reported as missing have also been handed over to the CID.
While claiming that the greatest tragedy perpetrated in order to seize power had taken place during Easter of 2019, President AKD noted that several sections of the Presidential Commission report had not been handed over to the CID earlier by previous governments in a bid to suppress information that could have helped identify the mastermind and that all these details were now with the CID.
“There were hidden sections in the report, which were not shared earlier, but now we’ve sent all of it to the CID. There are also various unanswered questions and doubts that still exist. Who left a jacket at the site where two Police officers were killed in Vavunathivu before the terror attacks? Who used certain mobile phones with specific IMEI numbers? These are things that the CID will have to investigate fully,” AKD noted.
Church hopeful
Archdiocese of Colombo Communications Committee member Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando meanwhile noted that the Church continued to remain hopeful of justice for the attacks’ victims.
“We believe that the present Government is conducting a more effective probe on the incident. We therefore hope that those who supported Zahran and his team to carry out the attacks will be revealed. We also want to see as to why others supported Zahran to carry out the attacks and who had prior knowledge of the attacks and neglected warnings,” he said.
Fr. Fernando also called on relevant organisations such as the Attorney General’s Department to act in an independent manner when dealing with the probe.
Meanwhile, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith stated during the commemoration event held to mark the sixth anniversary of the attacks that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed by then President Maithripala Sirisena to investigate the 2019 attacks had failed to find the broader forces involved in the attacks.
The Cardinal further pointed out that the PCoI report had revealed two recommendations, which were to investigate Easter attacks mastermind Zahran Hashim’s involvement in extremism and to probe the inaction of the political leaders and intelligence chiefs of the time, despite their having received prior intel from India, which needed to be penalised.
However, he noted that the commission had failed to identify the broader forces at work, those who were involved in the operations, and those who had assisted/aided the attacks, and had also failed to issue recommendations to address these factors.
The Cardinal also outlined several factors that the commission had failed to probe: what happened to the wife of the Katuwapitiya bomber, Sarah Jasmin?; who is ‘Sonic Sonic’?; what is his link to Matale Podi Zahran and the reasons for involving ISIS?; the incident of a senior Police officer preventing the inspection of a truck near Gelanigama on the Southern Expressway; the actions of a senior Police officer who attempted to conceal details regarding the murders of two Police constables in Vavunathivu; and investigating the links between the seventh bomber and State intelligence.
Uncovering two questions
However, President AKD noted that two out of six unresolved questions related to the Easter attacks had now been solved, with the remaining four expected to be resolved soon.
The President revealed during a public rally last week that the person responsible for planting a jacket to mislead the Vavunathivu double murder investigation had been identified. He also confirmed that the owner of a mobile phone linked to an IMEI number provided by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been traced. “These were two critical issues that needed to be resolved and we have now solved them,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shani Abeysekara was last week appointed to the committee investigating the PCoI report on the Easter Sunday attacks, increasing its members from four to five. Abeysekara’s appointment was made by Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya.
A four-member committee chaired by Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Asanka Karawita was appointed on Tuesday (22) to study the report of the PCoI into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The other members of the committee are the DIG of the CID as well as the directors of the CID and Terrorism Investigation Division (TID).
Namal’s concern
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has raised concerns over Abeysekara’s inclusion in the Police committee appointed to study the PCoI report on the Easter Sunday attacks.
He posted on X that it was completely inappropriate for someone who had not only been involved in the original investigation but also named in the report and summoned as a witness to now be placed in a position of oversight. Namal pointed out that this was not merely a procedural misstep but a breach of every ethical standard.
“This casts a dark shadow over the credibility of the entire process. Justice must not only be done, but it must also be seen to be done. When public trust is already fragile, such decisions only deepen suspicion and disillusionment,” he added.
Stating that Abeysekara, as Director of the CID during the time of the attacks, was at the heart of the initial investigations, Namal has noted that to place him now in a role that demands objectivity and detachment is ironic, and raises justifiable concern, especially when the report itself names him.
Maithri speaks
Meanwhile, former President Maithripala Sirisena, who was the President at the time of the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, was found guilty by the Supreme Court of failing to prevent the attack, and was ordered to pay compensation for the victims of the attacks, recently spoke about the attacks probe.
During an interview with a private television channel, Sirisena noted that he was occupied with thoughts about the upcoming Vesak Poya these days, and that while he remembered the Easter Sunday attacks, there was nothing specific for him to think about.
When asked about the failure to uncover the mastermind behind the 2019 attacks, Sirisena said that the Catholic Church had asked for the mastermind to be revealed and that successive governments had failed to do so. He further claimed that a report released by the Central Intelligence Agency (referring to the US FBI) of the US had stated that ISIS was the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks.
Responding to a question on whether he regretted his failure to prevent the attacks, Sirisena turned to the period of the war, saying: “If so, you will have to ask the question from former Presidents like J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga since there were hundreds of thousands who were killed during the war that spanned 30 years.”
When the difference between the people killed during the war and the 2019 attacks, since the latter had not been prevented even with information available about it, was pointed out, Sirisena noted: “Then why did the former presidents also fail to prevent bomb blasts during the war? There were two groups that attacked the Dalada Maligawa. Prabhakaran and another group (without referring to names) both attacked the Dalada Maligawa. Everybody knows these.”
When questioned on why he had refrained from naming the other group that had attacked the Dalada Maligawa, Sirisena said: “There’s nothing for me to say, the whole country knows this.”
On the matter of former LTTEer-turned-politician Pillayan’s alleged involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks, the former President said that it was a matter for the CID. As to whether Pillayan could be considered a criminal, Sirisena noted: “He was a member of the LTTE.”
When a follow-up question was posed on the fact that Pillayan had joined the then Government and held a ministerial post, Sirisena cut in, saying: “I’m not the one who made him a minister. You should ask the person who made him a minister why such an individual was given a portfolio. It was wrong to have done that (give a portfolio). They were responsible for the murder of Buddhist monks in Ampara and many others. Everyone knows these things. There’s actually no need for me to say it.”
When asked if he was referring to Pillayan and Karuna Amman, Sirisena said that what had been done by the LTTE was known and that he would not name people, even Pillayan and Karuna, since they could harm him.
Upon being questioned about the confidential information given by him about the attacks, Sirisena noted that it was up to the Government to determine whether to disclose the classified information to the public. He however added that it was not about the mastermind behind the attacks.
Mujibur’s revelation
Meanwhile, SJB Member of Parliament (MP) Mujibur Rahman made several revelations related to the Easter Sunday attacks while questioning the investigators on whether they had answers to his questions.
He revealed during a media briefing last week that the hotel rooms that had been occupied by Zahran and the suicide bombers at the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo had been occupied by another group before Zahran had checked into the room. He added that investigators needed to look into this fact and identify the individuals who had occupied the rooms.
“Everyone knows that Zahran was supported by some people to carry out the attacks,” Rahman said, adding that the Government had vowed to reveal these elements that had supported Zahran in planning the attacks.
Rahman posed several questions related to the Easter Sunday attacks probe. One question was on whether the investigators had sought Indian assistance to locate Sarah Jasmin and whether there was any sharing of information about her. The other question was whether the investigators had probed into the persons who had previously occupied the room that was taken by Zahran at the Shangri-La. Zahran and another suicide bomber had checked into the Shangri-La Colombo on the night of 20 April 2019 before carrying out the attack the following day.
“It is learnt that the investigation had taken information about all the occupants at the Shangri-La hotel from 3 April 2019 till 21 April 2019. However, the occupants of room 616 on 14 and 15 April that year are not stated in these records. This was the room later occupied by Zahran prior to the attack.
“Details of the occupants of all other rooms of the hotel are available, but not the details of the occupants of the room occupied by Zahran. However, data of the use of keycards to access the room have shown that the relevant room was occupied on 14 April since it has been reported that there’s a record that a guest card had been accepted. When a guest card is swiped, all other rooms have recorded the guest’s name and that the card has been swiped. But the card swipe on the 14th had only stated that the guest card had been accepted.
“Since there are no records of the room being occupied from 14 April till Zahran checked in to the room prior to the attacks, is this issue being probed at present? Members of the hotel management have told the court that the room occupied by Zahran was occupied earlier,” Rahman claimed.
The SJB MP further claimed that occupants of room 623, which was near the room occupied by Zahran and who were at the hotel during the attack, had gone missing since the 2019 attack and that it had been reported following the final count of individuals who were at the hotel that had been taken by the hotel, including the dead and injured in the attack. “Have they been identified? Who are they? Are they locals or foreigners? Have they been questioned?” Rahman questioned.
Focus on Ibrahim
Meanwhile, former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has expressed concerns over the failure of the investigators to establish the connection between the Ibrahim family and terrorism. Mohammad Yusuf Ibrahim was a member of the JVP National List in 2015 and two of his sons were among the suicide bombers in the 2019 Easter attacks.
Ranawaka noted that there should be a focus on how the Ibrahim family was now carrying out their businesses as usual and their connections with senior political leaders. He claimed that these details would be revealed in the coming days.
He went on to observe that given the deaths of several members of this family after having exploded themselves as suicide bombers during the Easter Sunday attacks, an extensive probe should be conducted and their assets in any other country acquired. “These assets should have been taken to pay compensation to the victims,” Ranawaka claimed.
The former MP further noted that the investigators into the Easter Sunday attacks could look at how Zahran and his extremist group had received guidance from an overseas force by carrying out a jihad, how some extremist political elements after losing power in 2015 used Zahran and the group to gain power in the country, and how Zahran and his ISIS group had carried out the attacks with the knowledge of intelligence units or by misleading them. “These are the three scenarios that we need to look at in the probe,” he noted.
Justifying RW’s attempt
Meanwhile, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale justified former President Wickremesinghe’s recent attempt to contact Pillayan while detained at the CID, as he had served as a State Minister in his Government. Atukorale has said in Kegalle that Pillayan was someone who had assisted Wickremesinghe in addition to serving in his Government.
She has further said that it was his responsibility to inquire if a member of his regime had suddenly been taken into custody, adding that Wickremesinghe had merely fulfilled this responsibility. Stating that there was no other reason behind this, Atukorale has said they would like it if they could summon the former President to the CID and question the reason for his attempt to contact Pillayan via telephone.
Udaya’s Rambo role
Meanwhile, former MP Udaya Gammanpila, who has announced that he would provide legal representation for Pillayan, says that he feels like he has taken over the role of celluloid hero Rambo.
“Today I feel like Rambo. When I was little, I watched Rambo fighting alone against a huge army, and I thought such things only happened on screen, not in real life. But now, if you take speeches from the President to any unknown MP, they all attack me,” Gammanpila observed, adding that being targeted by such a large group was a sign of victory before the battle even began.
The former MP criticised the Government’s move to press charges against Pillayan, claiming that the arrest was part of a plot to falsely portray him as the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Gammanpila further claimed that there was confusion surrounding the official arrest receipt, which only listed sections of the PTA, but did not provide any clear reasoning for the arrest.
RW at Bribery Comm.
Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe, who came to the defence of Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake who is behind bars over a bribery case, stating that he was aware of the monies of the Uva Provincial Council used by Dasanayake when he was the provincial Chief Minister, has requested a change of dates to appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for a second time.
Wickremesinghe was first asked to appear before the CIABOC on 17 April, but he had requested another date due to the New Year holidays. The former President was then given Friday (25) to appear before the commission. However, he has informed that he will appear before the CIABOC tomorrow (28) since his legal counsel will be back in the country by then.
Acting against friends
However, there have been claims by some members of the Opposition that the President and the current Government will not act against some politicians due to personal connections. Even Opposition MP Dasanayake, who is currently behind bars, had claimed recently that the Government would act only against ‘small fish’ and would not act against some Opposition members.
President AKD, during the Presidential Election campaign, however vowed that the JVP/NPP would not take into consideration any form of friendship when taking action against individuals for fraud, corruption, and crimes. The President at the time made this statement in reference to former President Wickremesinghe addressing him (AKD) as ‘my friend’ during a Presidential Election meeting last year.
Nevertheless, apart from the delay in acting against certain Opposition members, there are continuous discussions among political circles about special security provided by the Government to some politicians despite the decision to curtail security provided to ministers and MPs.
VIP security at temple
Nevertheless, it is in such a backdrop that a VIP security contingent was recently witnessed at Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera’s Alanmathiniyarama Temple in Colombo. An event was recently organised at the temple to mark the Thera’s birthday.
Several former MPs and ministers had attended this event. However, everyone had been surprised by the VIP security convoy that had accompanied a former minister when security provided to former presidents and incumbent ministers had been curtailed by the Government. One member of the Opposition had told another politician next to him that he had thought it was the President arriving at the temple until he saw the former minister exit the vehicle.
New units for probes
Meanwhile, the Government, it is learnt, is looking at setting up internal affairs units within State entities as part of its anti-corruption programme. The proposed units will be assigned the task of monitoring public sector workers and identifying officials who accept bribes to carry out their work for the public.
State entities have reportedly been informed about the setting up of these new units by the President’s Office. These new units are also expected to submit progress reports to the CIABOC every three months. The report should include the number of complaints received by the unit, action taken with regard to the complaints received, the identification of areas within the relevant State entity where corrupt activities could take place, and proposals on how to address these corrupt activities.
Advice to Kavinda
Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe, who never shies away from giving advice to former UNP MPs, it is learnt, had last week advised SJB Gampaha MP Kavinda Jayawardana to visit the Vatican and pay his final respects to His Holiness Pope Francis.
Jayawardana and fellow SJB MP Hector Appuhamy touched down in Italy to attend the funeral, while the Government announced that it would be dispatching Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath for the event.
Many eyes in Sri Lanka will certainly be on the Vatican in the coming days and weeks as the world awaits the selection of a new pope. In Sri Lanka, stories were making the rounds that Malcom Cardinal Ranjith was a frontrunner for the position. However, the church has denied the story as social media users were quick to ridicule the report, drawing attention to international media reports highlighting the internationally perceived frontrunners, which did not include the Cardinal’s name.
LG Polls
Meanwhile, political parties seem to have intensified their campaigns for the upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections following the New Year holidays.
The Court of Appeal on Monday (21) ordered the dismissal of about 60 writ petitions filed challenging the rejection of nominations related to the LG Elections and gearing up for the polls is now on a high note.
The JVP/NPP is confident of recording a landslide victory at the upcoming polls, with the JVP General Secretary predicting that the party will secure around 70% of the votes.
Complaints against AKD
Meanwhile, the SJB lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) with regard to a statement allegedly made by the Government that no funds would be allocated for Local Government institutions that would not be under JVP/NPP control following the upcoming LG Elections as well as several proposed actions by the Government that would allegedly involve misusing political power during an election period.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara noted that these concerns went against President AKD’s role as the Finance Minister and that the Finance Minister’s claims on fund allocations to LG bodies were tantamount to influencing the public’s right to vote.
He further stated that the President (as the Finance Minister) had claimed he would provide ‘Aswesuma’ benefits for 400,000 more individuals and that an additional Rs. 15,000 fertiliser subsidy would also be given to farmers, which all amounted to the misuse of political power to unfairly influence elections – a serious threat to democracy.
Meanwhile, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) General Secretary, Attorney-at-Law M.A. Sumanthiran raised concerns over President AKD’s recent statement regarding the allocation of funds for LG bodies ahead of the election.
Taking to X, Sumanthiran noted that it was regrettable that the President had chosen to repeatedly offer bribes to voters by stating that funds would be more easily allocated to councils governed by the NPP and not to others. The former MP pointed out that this was false and that it was an election offence.
“This is all the more serious as Article 33(c) of the Constitution stipulates that one of the functions of the President is to ensure the creation of proper conditions for the conduct of free and fair elections, at the request of the Election Commission. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Will the Election Commission of Sri Lanka act?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, the Kaduwela Municipal Council candidates of the United Republic Front (URF), led by former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, held a silent protest outside the Election Commission last week against the recent statement made by the President.
AKD’s explanation
However, President AKD responded to the growing criticism against his statement on fund allocations to LG bodies that would be won by Opposition parties, saying that he had never said no funds would be allocated for local bodies that were not controlled by the JVP/NPP.
“The Central Government has taken great efforts to collect funds for the Treasury by curtailing wasteful expenditure and looting. If the LG body is not following the same policy and misuses funds and loots them, we cannot allow that to happen. I said we will not allow the LG bodies to misuse and loot funds,” AKD clarified during a rally in Nuwara Eliya.
He further claimed that it was those with a guilty conscience who had jumped to the conclusion that his statement meant that funds would not be allocated to LG bodies not won by the JVP/NPP at the upcoming polls.
Letter to President’s Office
The Election Commission meanwhile has sent a letter to President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, requesting him to inform President AKD not to make statements that could hinder a free and fair election process during the campaign for the LG Elections.
Election Commission Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake noted that the commission had written to the President’s Secretary regarding the matter, following several complaints.
“We received many complaints about the President’s statement. Through such remarks, one group of candidates is subjected to prejudice while another gains an unfair advantage. We wrote to the President’s Secretary and asked him to inform the President not to make such statements again,” Rathnayake said.
RW on stage
Meanwhile, UNP Leader, former President Wickremesinghe was seen at the party’s LG Election campaign last week claiming that the JVP/NPP would not win the upcoming polls.
Wickremesinghe also referred to the JVP/NPP Government as the ‘L-board people,’ stating that they had crashed the car. “I said not to give it to L-board people, but to give it to more experienced people. But L-board people were elected. Now, the vehicle has already crashed, right? Is there anything remaining to be collected?” he has questioned.
He has further stated that the UNP expected to seize power by collectively securing the majority via its campaign. “I do not know about the SJB, but several other groups have voiced their support for this move. The chairman of a council is elected based on the number of party members in the council, so our aim is to elect as many members as possible to these councils.”
Wajira’s prediction
Meanwhile, UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena says that Wickremesinghe will become the 10th executive president of the country by the end of the year.
Abeywardena recently predicted that the country would once again face an economic crisis like in 2022 due to the incumbent Government’s inability to steer the country into economic prosperity. He noted that Wickremesinghe would once again be asked to take charge and salvage the country, adding: “Ranil Wickremesinghe will therefore become the 10th executive president of the country.”
According to the UNP Chairman, the Government is making unrealistic promises and working against the framework provided by 15 legislations, which were enacted by the previous Wickremesinghe Government, which will lead to the downfall of the nation.
Basil’s direction
The SLPP meanwhile maintains that its theoretician continues to guide the party on its LG Elections campaign. This was revealed by SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa.
While stating that Basil is continuing to provide advice and directions to the party from overseas, Namal has noted that Basil is even speaking to some LG candidates at an individual level.
Deshabandu drama continues
Meanwhile, the saga over suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon is continuing, with the Matara Magistrate’s Court last Monday (21) ordering him to appear before court on Friday (25). The Magistrate had issued the summons over allegations that Tennakoon had violated court orders when leaving the court premises after being granted bail on 10 April.
The owner of the car used to escort Tennakoon out of court was also ordered to appear before the Matara Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The court order was issued after the Attorney General had submitted a motion to the court on Monday stating that Tennakoon had violated court orders when he had left the Matara Magistrate’s Court complex after being granted bail.
On Friday, Matara Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa had directed the Attorney General to initiate proceedings before the Court of Appeal against Tennakoon for contempt of court for allegedly violating his bail conditions.
The granting of bail to Tennakoon on 10 April just prior to the New Year holidays caused much controversy, with the State Counsel announcing that the bail order would be challenged in a superior court.
The Matara Magistrate, while granting bail to Tennakoon, had noted that reasonable time had been given for the investigation into Tennakoon and that since the others accused had been granted bail, Tennakoon was also being granted bail. The bail order issued by the magistrate had been 16 pages long.
Assistant Solicitor General, President’s Counsel Dileepa Peiris told court that he would challenge the bail before the High Court.
Meanwhile, Parliament is set to appoint a committee to probe Tennakoon and submit a report to the House justifying his removal from the post of IGP.
A high-level committee chaired by Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, with Court of Appeal Justice Neil Iddawela and National Police Commission (NPC) Chairman Lalith Ekanayake serving as members, was appointed last week to investigate the allegations of misconduct and abuse of power against Tennakoon.
The Attorney General meanwhile has nominated Additional Solicitor General Peiris and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera to assist the committee.