President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government have faced several large-scale hurdles since assuming office in 2024, but the events that unfolded last week undoubtedly posed one of the biggest challenges faced thus far. The extension of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (ME) into the Indian Ocean and almost to Sri Lanka’s doorstep was quite a test for AKD as well as his Government. 

Until the US attacked and sank an Iranian vessel – the IRIS Dena – in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), both the ruling party and the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) were engaged in planning a show of strength in Colombo through the International Women’s Day celebrations organised by the respective parties today (8). Both the JVP/NPP and SJB have planned large-scale celebrations with the participation of thousands of party members and supporters.

However, the planning and pre-event hype that was to be witnessed publicly were eclipsed by the ongoing ME conflict and its impact on Sri Lanka.

It would suffice to say that the unfolding of events last week clearly indicated to the Government the far-reaching impact of a conflict in any part of the world, especially in the Middle East, and how it reaches one at the most unexpected moment.

When President AKD attended Parliament last Tuesday (3) and delivered a speech, little did anyone expect that all hell would break loose for him a few hours later. Although the members of the Opposition expected the President’s address to cover the country’s stance on the Middle East crisis, he refrained from making any statement that would reveal the Government’s stance on the ongoing tensions. Instead, AKD’s speech was mainly focused on issues related to the energy sector. Also, a reference made by him during his speech became a viral topic on social media until around midday the following day (4).

However, amidst many issues faced by the Government, it seems the JVP/NPP’s foreign policy continues to be put to the test with the latest issue being the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Government, which earlier believed that handling geopolitical sensitivities was limited to managing the interests of India and China, has been rudely awakened to how the world operates.

News about an Iranian vessel in distress seeking assistance from Sri Lanka started to trickle in on Wednesday (4) morning, with questions even being raised in Parliament, which was in session at the time.

Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara stated in Parliament that an Iranian ship in distress about 40 nautical miles off Galle was being assisted by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), but clear information had still not been received at the time.

It was a few hours later that Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed the House that it was the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena that was in distress with about 180 personnel on board. He explained that Sri Lanka had received a distress call at around 5.08 a.m. and that the first Sri Lanka Navy craft had been deployed by 6 a.m., with another naval vessel deployed shortly afterwards. He noted that around 30 Iranian sailors had been brought ashore and admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital for treatment.

The death of over 80 Iranian sailors due to the sinking of IRIS Dena and the reason for the failure to save more lives became a topic of much discussion.

The Sri Lanka Navy stated that when the naval crafts had reached the point of distress, there had been no vessel and that there had been an oil patch with several lifeboats and personnel floating in the sea. The SLN noted that it did not know details about the vessel but that it was able to identify that the stranded sailors were from an Iranian vessel.

Nevertheless, there were still questions on whether the SLN activated its rescue operations effectively or whether there were delays in getting to the sailors in distress.

However, the controversy surrounding the IRIS Dena further intensified the following day (5) with news of a second Iranian vessel off the shores of Panadura. The name and details of the vessel were not known immediately except that it too was in distress with hundreds of passengers.

Once again there were questions on how President AKD and the Government should respond to the second Iranian vessel. The key question was whether the Government, which now had ample time to save the lives of hundreds of Iranians, would intervene in line with international humanitarian laws and save them or wait till that vessel was also destroyed, killing many, as in the case of the IRIS Dena.

There is no doubt that it was a difficult decision given the pressure by the US, considering that it was the US military that had attacked IRIS Dena, and India’s stance, given that the Iranian vessels were in the Indian Ocean due to an invitation extended by India.

Be that as it may, by Thursday (5) evening, after a lengthy Security Council meeting and discussions with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry as well as foreign policy and maritime law experts, President AKD permitted the rescue of some 200 Iranian personnel aboard the second vessel – the IRIS Bushehr – in Colombo while the vessel would be docked in the Trincomalee Port.

AKD’s decision and announcement captured global attention with much international commendations flowing in internationally, albeit not from the US and locally.

President AKD noted that no civilian should die in wars: “Our approach is that every life is as precious as our own. We jealously guard our non-aligned policy while ensuring that humanitarian values and the saving of lives remain our top priority.”

He further noted: “What the world urgently needs today is peace. There is a real risk of a severe global economic crisis, and entire societies are facing serious and complex challenges. We call upon all parties to demonstrate a firm commitment to peace. As a state, Sri Lanka stands ready to support every step towards ending hostilities. All our actions are aimed at saving lives and ensuring that humanity prevails.”

Foreign policy test

However, with the incident having taken place within Sri Lanka’s EEZ, the safety and security of the country’s shipping lines as well as the main East-West shipping lane are now being brought to the forefront. 

The military action by the US Navy has violated the 1971 United Nations Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. Ironically, it was Sri Lanka which tabled this resolution, jointly with Tanzania, and analysts have suggested that the country’s foreign policy has a responsibility to safeguard the declaration. While Sri Lanka’s silence on this matter is raising alarm bells in Colombo, internationally India has also chosen to remain silent despite the attack taking place within its neighbourhood.

The JVP/NPP’s foreign policy was questioned by the Opposition in Parliament, with Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Mujibur Rahman stating that the Iranian naval vessel that sank off the southern coast of Sri Lanka had sought permission to dock at the Galle Harbour, but the Government had failed to respond in time. 

According to Rahman, the Iranian naval vessel had participated in a military training programme in India along with 74 other countries, including Sri Lanka. “The ship had left India after the training, but had to change course due to the Middle East conflict. As such, it was in the waters 40 nautical miles from Sri Lanka for nearly 11 hours. The ship had requested to dock at the Galle Harbour, but the Government had not responded,” he has said. 

Rahman has also pointed out that the US submarine had been in the Gulf and had received information about the Iranian Navy ship, after which it had targeted the vessel close to Sri Lankan waters. 

“Why did we allow the Iranian ship to wait for 11 hours? We are bound by international laws and conventions. Why did we not allow the vessel to berth at Galle Port? Why the delay?” Rahman has questioned.

Slap on local intel 

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the SLN had extended an invitation to the IRIS Dena to call at Sri Lanka when the two mission commanders had met during the International Fleet Review (IFR) that was held at Visakhapatnam in India during the end of February. While some believe that the IRIS Dena had sought permission to enter Sri Lankan waters due to this invitation, it is also learnt that such invitations being extended to one another is common during such IFRs, but that actual calling at a port takes place after following several procedures.

Be that as it may, the SLN faced an embarrassing moment last week when it stated that it could not be determined whether the IRIS Dena had suffered a torpedo attack from the US and that it was unlikely. A few hours after the statements by the Navy Spokesperson at a press briefing that was also attended by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Spokesperson to explain the SLAF’s support in the rescue of sailors from the IRIS Dena, the US announced that it had indeed attacked the IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean while also releasing video footage of the attack.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that “an American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters” but instead “died a quiet death”.

A Pentagon video said to have captured the attack showed the IRIS Dena being hit by a huge explosion which blew apart the rear of the vessel, lifted it out of the water, and caused it to begin sinking from the stern.

This revelation by the US would have undoubtedly pushed the SLN into an uncomfortably embarrassing situation not only locally but internationally as well.

It is this reason that resulted in Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioning in Parliament how a foreign submarine was able to enter Sri Lanka’s EEZ without the Government being aware of it.

Premadasa raised this point during the debate held in Parliament on Friday (6) on extending Emergency Regulations. He noted that it was concerning that authorities claiming national security was at its highest level appeared to be unaware that a submarine had entered Sri Lanka’s EEZ and carried out an attack on an Iranian vessel.

He said that the Government had to explain how a submarine was able to operate in Sri Lankan waters without detection, especially at a time when Emergency Regulations had been imposed, citing national security concerns.

“If a submarine had entered our waters 40 nautical miles from Sri Lanka, did we not have the technology to detect it? Do we not have surface radars? Sonobuoys or underwater sonar networks? Do we not have towed sonars or satellite surveillance? At a time when our national security was at its highest level, a submarine entered our EEZ and carried out an attack. But the Government said it was not sure of the cause. This alone shows the level of our national security,” he noted.

It would be wise for President AKD as Commander-in-Chief to inquire more into the failures in Sri Lanka’s maritime defence systems before another crisis unfolds on Sri Lanka’s doorstep and the country is caught unawares.

RW’s meeting cancelled

Meanwhile, it is learnt that on Wednesday (4), when the IRIS Dena was attacked by the US in Sri Lanka’s EEZ, senior officials of the US Embassy in Colombo had cancelled almost all of their planned meetings for the day, raising further suspicion over US involvement in the attack on the Iranian vessel before the US officially announced the attack.

It is also learnt that a senior official of the US Embassy in Colombo had earlier scheduled a meeting with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe at 10 a.m. on Wednesday but Wickremesinghe’s office had been informed at around 7.30 a.m. that the official would not be able to make it for the meeting due to the need to attend to some other urgent work.

Wickremesinghe, being a seasoned politician with a keen sense in diplomatic affairs, had known immediately that there was something brewing and started to make inquiries. It was then that news of the IRIS Dena reached his ears and it had taken him but a minute to figure out what had happened. 

However, after discussing the development with several of his confidants, Wickremesinghe had decided to keep silent and watch the events that unfolded afterwards, especially the response of the Government and the SLN.

Second Iranian vessel

It is also learnt that by Wednesday evening, Wickremesinghe had also heard of a second Iranian vessel – the IRIS Bushehr – in the seas off the shores of Panadura. This news was confirmed after his meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka the following day (5) when he had visited the Iranian Embassy in Colombo to sign the condolence book for the late Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Hosseini Khamenei. 

Once Wickremesinghe informed several members at his office on Flower Road in Colombo of the second Iranian vessel, news about the vessel in Sri Lanka’s EEZ was released to the media.

Soon after hearing about the second Iranian vessel, Opposition Leader Premadasa questioned in the House whether the Government was aware of another Iranian vessel within Sri Lankan waters.

Chief Government Whip, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa responded saying that there was indeed another Iranian vessel within Sri Lanka’s EEZ and that the Security Council and the Government were aware of the matter and that the Government was making maximum intervention regarding the people on the vessel.

“The Government is aware of the matter. We are making necessary interventions to resolve this issue, minimise loss of lives, and ensure regional security. This vessel is not in our territorial waters. It is within the EEZ. Yet we are making maximum intervention regarding these lives. We will submit a complete report in Parliament,” Jayatissa added.

By this time, the Presidential Secretariat was a hive of activity with back-to-back meetings to decide Sri Lanka’s response while maintaining the country’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It is not easy to balance the US and Iran given that both countries play a significant role in Sri Lanka’s economic activities. 

The pressure on the Government following the death of over 80 sailors who were aboard the IRIS Dena also played a key role in its decision to intervene and assist the IRIS Bushehr.

A missing third vessel

Meanwhile, following the attack on the IRIS Dena and the rescue of the IRIS Bushehr on humanitarian grounds by Sri Lanka, there was focus on a third Iranian vessel – the IRIS Lavan – that had also entered the Indian Ocean along with the IRIS Dena and IRIS Bushehr.

WION News Assistant Editor – Foreign Affairs Sidhant Sibal had posted on X that while three Iranian vessels had been in the Indian Ocean region to participate in the Indian Navy exercises  – the IRIS Lavan, IRIS Bushehr, and IRIS Dena – only the IRIS Dena had participated. It is learnt that IRIS Bushehr had not participated in the IFR since it had accompanied the IRIS Dena as a supply vessel.

Meanwhile, Indian experts began to state that three Iranian warships had entered the Indian Ocean for Milan 2026 and that the world knew what had happened to two of them while nobody was talking about the third. They noted that there was silence over the IRIS Lavan and its whereabouts.

According to reports, the IRIS Lavan is an Iranian amphibious warfare vessel, bearing hull number L514. It was in the Indian Ocean region with the other two ships for Milan 2026. It did not participate in the exercise, according to Reuters, with the Milan website listing only the IRIS Dena as a participant. 

The IRIS Lavan has not been struck in any United States Central Command (CENTCOM) briefing, any Pentagon press conference, or any Sri Lankan statements either. The US Department of Defense briefings through 4 March had not contained any mentions of the IRIS Lavan.

However, the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan had called in India last year as well. According to the Western Naval Command of India, the Iranian Navy’s training flotilla, comprising the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan, had engaged in a goodwill and training visit to Mumbai from 25 to 28 February last year. The deployment at that time had been led by Capt. Mohammad Saberi as Mission Commander, with Sr. Capt. Seyed Ali Madani commanding the Lavan and Cdr. Hamed Bahramian commanding the Bushehr.

After much speculation about the IRIS Lavan, Indian Government sources were quoted in the Indian media on Friday (6) stating that Indian authorities had allowed an Iranian naval vessel to dock at Kochi days before the attack on the IRIS Dena.

Reports have further noted that Iran had approached India on 28 February seeking urgent permission for the IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi after it had developed technical issues while in the region following the IFR and that approval had been granted on 1 March. The vessel had docked at Kochi on Wednesday (4) with its 183 crew members currently being accommodated at naval facilities in the city.

However, this development has drawn attention as it involves the third Iranian naval vessel linked to the events unfolding in the Indian Ocean last week.

India’s silence

India has long been considered the net security provider for the region, a stance bolstered by its key involvement in the Colombo Security Conclave (a regional maritime security forum comprising Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives, which recently included Mauritius, Bangladesh, and the Seychelles). 

However, the continued silence from New Delhi likely indicates one of two possibilities: India was in the know regarding the US military mission in the Indian Ocean and agreed to stay silent, or India was unaware and a major security lapse occurred within its sphere of influence. Either way, India’s foreign policy and national security have now come under scrutiny from both domestic and foreign actors.

Even by yesterday (7), the Indian Government had not directly responded to the US sinking of the Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean. 

The widening US-Iran conflict has now reached the Indian Ocean, but India has made it clear that it will not be pulled into the war narrative. However, following controversial remarks by Douglas Macgregor – a retired US Army Colonel, combat veteran, and former Senior Adviser to the US Secretary of Defense – suggesting that American forces were using Indian ports for strikes against Iran, New Delhi issued a sharp rebuttal. The Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the claim as fake and warned against spreading fabricated information about India’s role.

The Indian Government’s silence meanwhile has drawn criticism, with Indian Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi questioning on X the Government’s lack of response to the incident. He has written: “The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing.”

Former Foreign Secretary of India Kanwal Sibal had also posted on X on Thursday that “the Iranian ship will not be where it was if we had not invited it to take part in our Milan exercise. We were the hosts. I am told that as per protocol for this exercise, ships cannot carry any ammunition. It was defenceless.”

Sibal had also noted that “the US has ignored India’s sensitivities as the ship was in these waters because of India’s invitation. We are far from politically or militarily responsible for the US attack. Our ‘responsibility’ is on a moral and human plane.”

Indian strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney had posted on X that the US torpedoing of the Iranian warship in India’s “maritime neighbourhood” was “more than a battlefield episode” since it was a “strategic embarrassment” for New Delhi.

“By sinking a vessel returning from an Indian-hosted multilateral exercise, Washington effectively turned India’s maritime neighbourhood into a war zone, raising uncomfortable questions about India’s authority in its own backyard,” Chellaney had posted.

Australians in US subs

Meanwhile, Australia was also dragged into the theatre of war following the US attack on the IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean. Australian broadcaster 9News reported that two Australian sailors had been aboard the US submarine that torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

According to the 9News report, the two Australian sailors were serving aboard the nuclear-powered US submarine as part of a training arrangement linked to the AUKUS security partnership. Australia’s Department of Defence at the time had declined to disclose the rank or role of the sailors on the vessel. A defence spokesperson said there were “long-standing arrangements relating to third-country deployments” to ensure Australian interests were properly managed. The spokesperson had also stressed that the strike was carried out by the US and Israel, not Australia.

ABC reported that Foreign Minister Penny Wong had been questioned on the matter in Parliament but had said that she could not comment on specifics regarding Australian personnel.

However, an interesting interpretation was reported in the Australian media following information from the Australian Government that in October last year defence officials had stated that more than 50 Australian Defence Force personnel were serving on American fast-attack submarines based out of Pearl Harbour, that roughly 100 more were training in the US, and that the US authorities had identified the submarine that fired on the Iranian warship as a fast-attack submarine that had fired a single Mark 48 torpedo. In other words, Australian sailors were serving on the US submarine that had attacked the Iranian vessel.

However, in a surprising development on Friday (6), Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that two of the crew members aboard the US nuclear-powered submarine were Australian. These sailors were serving aboard the US vessel as part of an ongoing AUKUS training programme. 

While foreign personnel serving aboard a military vessel report to the host country’s command structure, naval sources have confirmed that military courtesy dictates that the host country informs the visiting personnel’s command prior to any active military involvement. The question that will now be directed to Australia is whether it was supportive of its personnel engaging in military action within the EEZ of a regional neighbour.

Iran speaks out

The Iranian Government responded to the attack on the IRIS Dena on Thursday (5) with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stating that the ship that was sunk in the Indian Ocean was unarmed and full of training officers. He noted that attacking such a vessel was a war crime.

Araghchi had made a sharp response over the sinking of the IRIS Dena and had also mentioned India in a post on X. He had posted that the frigate was “a guest of India’s Navy” and slammed the US for perpetrating an “atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores”.

He had noted that the vessel “was struck in international waters without warning” and stated: “Mark my words: the US will come to bitterly regret [the] precedent it has set.”

US pressure on SL

Meanwhile, the US has once again started to put pressure on the Sri Lankan Government, urging Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian sailors rescued following the sinking of the IRIS Dena. This was revealed by an internal US Department of State cable reported by Reuters.

The cable, dated Friday (6), has reportedly stated that the US Embassy in Colombo had conveyed to Sri Lankan authorities that survivors from the IRIS Dena and the crew of the second Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, currently in Sri Lankan custody should not be sent back to Iran.

US Embassy in Colombo Charge d’Affaires Jayne Howell had emphasised to Sri Lanka’s Government that neither ​the Bushehr crew nor the 32 Dena survivors should be repatriated to Iran.

The cable has said: “Sri Lankan authorities should minimise Iranian attempts to ​use the detainees for propaganda.”

The cable has stated that Howell had also told the Israeli Ambassador to India and Sri Lanka that there was no plan to repatriate the crew to Iran. The Envoy had asked Howell whether there had been any engagement with the crew to encourage “defection,” the cable has further noted. This latest development has also resulted in questions being posed in the international media on whether Israel was now dictating US foreign policy.

Given this revelation, it also seems that the US has adopted a position where it will continue to put pressure on Sri Lanka after catalysing the events that unfolded in the Indian Ocean in Sri Lanka’s EEZ, resulting in the country’s intervention to save lives in line with international humanitarian laws.

It will also be interesting to see how the US will approach India regarding the crew of the IRIS Lavan and how India will respond to US pressure.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated during a discussion at the Raisina Dialogue in India that Sri Lanka would act in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in relation to the Iranian sailors from IRIS Dena and IRIS Bushehr.

Looming global crisis

Be that as it may, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East not showing signs of abating as yet, its impact will be felt hard by the global economy and Sri Lanka’s economy in particular since it is still on the mend.

CT Smith Research has noted that the coordinated military campaign by the US and Israel against Iran has triggered renewed volatility in global financial markets and raised concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

Meanwhile, Qatar Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times in an interview  published on Friday that he expected all Gulf energy producers to shut down exports within weeks if the Iran conflict continued and drove oil to $ 150 a barrel.

Qatar halted its production of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) on Monday (2), as Iran continued to strike Gulf countries in retaliation for the Israeli and US attacks.

“Everybody’s energy price is going to go higher. There will be shortages of ​some products and there will be a chain reaction of factories that cannot supply,” ​Kaabi has stated.

Sri Lanka’s power crisis

A looming global energy crisis will have a compounded impact on Sri Lanka given that the country is already facing the threat of an energy crisis due to the use of substandard coal at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) in its latest report handed over to the parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee looking into the issue has noted that the country is likely to face a power crisis around April, June, and July due to the use of substandard coal at Lakvijaya.

According to the report, the analysis has assumed that hydropower plants can contribute up to 1,300 MW to meet the night peak demand, while the Lakvijaya Power Plant will be able to contribute only up to 690 MW due to a capacity shortfall, assuming a 40 MW generation capacity reduction from each unit.

The PUCSL said that the assessment had been carried out taking into account the planned maintenance schedule submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). Under the schedule, Unit 1 of the Lakvijaya Power Plant is due to undergo maintenance checks and repairs in June for a period of 25 days, while Unit 2 is scheduled for maintenance in July for another 25 days.

The report has also noted that the 270 MW West Coast Power plant is scheduled to undergo maintenance in April for 10 days, while the 150 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant (KCCP 2) is expected to undergo maintenance during May, June, and July.

The report has further noted that there is a potential risk of a generation capacity shortage if electricity demand reaches 3,030 MW in April, 3,070 MW in June, and 3,000 MW in July. The highest recorded night peak demand so far in 2026 was 2,949 MW on 25 February.

According to the PUCSL, if one coal unit or any major power plant becomes unavailable from the existing generation mix, there will be a significant risk of a generation capacity shortage to meet the night peak demand, particularly during April, June, and July.

It is learnt that engineers at the Lakvijaya plant have already warned authorities of a possible breakdown in parts of the generation plant due to damage caused by using substandard coal.

Amidst these warnings by the PUCSL, it is learnt that the Government has also extended the time period for the tender that was issued recently to procure coal shipments due to the low number of bids received.

Given these factors, it is evident that while Sri Lanka is facing a real threat of a power crisis by next month, an extended conflict in the Middle East and an impact on fuel supplies will further aggravate the country’s power crisis.

The Energy Ministry however denied reports about an impending power crisis in a statement issued yesterday (7).

Opposition discussion

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Premadasa noted in Parliament on Tuesday (3) that the SJB would condemn the recent attack on Iran and called on the Sri Lankan Government to issue a similar statement.

Addressing Parliament, Premadasa said the Government led by President AKD should not hesitate to denounce the act of aggression in violation of international law, including Articles 2(4) and 2(7) of the United Nations Charter.

“I propose that the entire House condemn this, as it was an attack against a sovereign nation. It is good if the Government issues a statement condemning this. We should not be afraid of it,” he said.

The Opposition Leader also said that Sri Lanka should condemn retaliatory attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. 

Premadasa on Tuesday also convened a meeting with MPs representing Opposition political parties at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Parliament to discuss the impacts of the ongoing Middle East conflict on Sri Lanka.

Premadasa had noted that there were extensive discussions on the military crisis unfolding in the Middle East region with special focus being placed on Sri Lanka’s significant imports and exports linked to Iran and the wider Middle East. Participants at the meeting had highlighted the potential economic consequences. 

It is learnt that attention had also been directed towards safeguarding the lives of nearly one million Sri Lankan workers employed in the Middle East.

Several Opposition leaders had noted at the meeting that the Government seemed to be looking at using the conflict in the Middle East to cover up its shortcomings. MP Dayasiri Jayasekara had noted that the Government also seemed to be trying to use the conflict to increase tariffs and prices in the power and energy sector to cover the losses incurred due to the use of substandard fuel.

Premadasa has further said that the Opposition leaders had emphasised the need for greater Government focus on ensuring these workers’ safety and protecting their employment, stressing that these issues require urgent attention. 

RW criticises Trump

Former President Wickremesinghe meanwhile has stated that the actions taken by US President Donald Trump to change governments in other countries are unacceptable and harmful to countries like Sri Lanka.

‎Wickremesinghe, commenting to the media on the current conflict involving Iran and the actions of the US and Israel, described the situation as a “very serious and complex issue”. 

‎“Removing a government by force, using this kind of method, is not something we can accept,” he said, adding: “Countries such as Switzerland and Norway have already pointed out that these actions are not in line with international law and accepted global practices.”

‎Wickremesinghe said that Sri Lanka was unlikely to face an immediate fuel shortage even if Iran’s fuel supply was disrupted, noting that other countries produced sufficient oil to offset such losses.

‎“Iran losing oil alone will not create a major shortage. Other countries can increase production,” he said.

However, he warned that the situation could worsen if Iran were to target oil transport routes. “If Iran starts attacking oil tankers passing through the region and halts shipments, then it will become a serious problem. That has not happened yet,” he added.

Wickremesinghe also noted that Trump’s approach reflected an attempt to shape global affairs according to personal preferences. “Trump wants the world to function the way he prefers, but this is not good for us,” he said, terming the issue “a deeply troubling matter”.

MR weighs in

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) has said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East must be ended as soon as possible, urging the involvement of powerful nations to help resolve the crisis.

He made the remarks in response to a question raised by journalists after attending the ‘Saddharma Varsha’ religious sermon held at the historic Imbulakanda Sri Sambuddhi Viharaya in Homagama.

Rajapaksa said that the war should be concluded at the earliest possible moment and expressed belief that other influential countries should intervene to help bring about a resolution. 

FSP condemns US attacks

Meanwhile, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), which is a splinter group of the key coalition party of the ruling JVP, has strongly denounced the recent attacks carried out by the US and Israel against Iran, describing them as violations of international law and conventions.

In a statement, the party said the strikes had been launched under the contested claim of nuclear threats, despite ongoing diplomatic engagement and without credible evidence. It noted that this was the second time military aggression had occurred, even as negotiations continued.

The FSP condemned the brutality of the war, pointing to the airstrike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, which killed hundreds of young girls. The party said the attacks had included targeted assassinations of political leaders and military officials, alongside massive bombings that had caused severe civilian casualties.

The party also stressed that regime change in Iran must be determined by the Iranian people themselves, not through imperialist invasions. It warned that if not resisted, Iran could face civil war and subjugation to imperialist interests, like Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

French invite to AKD

Prior to the eruption of the conflict in the Middle East propelled by the US and Israel, President AKD was in the process of strengthening Sri Lanka’s relations with foreign nations. It is learnt that the President was also planning on engaging in an official visit to France around the middle of the year.

One of the key bilateral meetings held by President AKD during his recent visit to India was with French President Emmanuel Macron. During the bilateral meeting, AKD had informed Macron that he was planning a visit to France and Macron’s response had surprised AKD. The French President had immediately invited AKD to visit France on an official visit, making it a State visit.

AKD will be the second Sri Lankan president to visit France on a State visit, with Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) being the first Sri Lankan President to engage in an official visit to France in 2001. Former President Wickremesinghe had also visited France during his presidency, but it was to attend an international conference and not on a State visit on the invitation of the French Government.

Gor’s visit

President AKD also met with US President Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor during his visit to India where he also held a discussion with French President Macron.

AKD had met Gor earlier when he visited the US last September to attend the UN General Assembly. Gor had, at the time, informed AKD that he could connect with him over the telephone at any time.

When in New Delhi, AKD and Gor met on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit and the latter had informed the President that he planned to visit Sri Lanka in April.

Exposing internal crisis

Meanwhile, the arrest of the former Head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay continues to be a leading topic in political circles as well as on social media, with Sallay now becoming a key protagonist in discourses related to governance, accountability, and the Easter Sunday attacks probe.

Sallay’s arrest has also exposed another concerning matter – issues related to the internal coordination within the country’s defence and law enforcement establishments as well as the external coordination within the two establishments. 

It is no secret that the defence establishment and law enforcement authorities have been at constant loggerheads since the previous ‘Yahapalana’ Government over investigations related to several emblematic cases. Senior law enforcement officers at the time continuously accused members of the defence establishment of blocking several key investigations.

This situation seems to have resurfaced yet again, with news that senior members of the defence establishment and law enforcement were unaware of Sallay’s arrest until he was taken into custody. While a weekly Sinhala news outlet has publicised this news item, the Government has not responded to it.

If such a situation had taken place, President AKD and his Government would have to be concerned about the state of affairs in the country, especially in the areas of national security and law enforcement. If the President, who is the Defence Minister and the Commander-in-Chief, was unaware of the arrest of a former Intelligence Chief, does it not pave the way for the buildup of anarchy? Worse still, what could be expected in the coming months and years for the Government as well as the country as a whole by disturbing the intelligence network?

The sooner the President and his Government find answers to these questions, it would be better for all, especially the Government. The last time the country faced such chaos, with clashes between the defence establishment and law enforcement as well as the National Security Council being ignored, Sri Lanka was hit by the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019.

Sallay’s case

While Sallay’s arrest and detention have been pushed out of the spotlight by the Iranian naval vessels’ saga, Opposition parties continued to criticise the Government for arresting and detaining Sallay, with some Opposition members claiming that a Minister of the current Government had represented the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks, Zahran Hashim, in courts. 

This fact was revealed by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who has claimed that it was ironic that lawyers who defended individuals such as Zahran were appointed to ministerial portfolios, while Intelligence officials like Sallay were imprisoned and subjected to hardship.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last Thursday (5) had informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that Sallay, currently being detained and questioned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), had been named the third suspect in the Easter Sunday attacks investigation. It is interesting that the CID had informed court the previous day (4) that Sallay was yet to be named as a suspect in the Easter Sunday attacks case.

Following the CID statement to court that Sallay was yet to be named a suspect in the attacks, Opposition members including MP Dayasiri Jayasekara questioned how Sallay was being held on a detention order when he was not even named a suspect in the case.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara had inquired from the CID whether there was sufficient evidence to list Sallay as a suspect and the CID had informed the court that based on investigations conducted so far, evidence had emerged to name him as a suspect.

Meanwhile, Sallay’s lawyers have said that his residence was searched by Police personnel without a search warrant and that he was not allowed to speak to his lawyers in private.

Amidst these developments, Sallay’s family has expressed fear of a possible threat to his life and sought permission to send his meals from home.

Push for a reshuffle

Meanwhile, the continuing coal controversy and other issues related to the Government have resulted in the President being urged to consider a Cabinet reshuffle. The call for a reshuffle is aimed at ensuring the ruling party honours its pledge of transparency and accountability as well as rule of law and to send out a message to all members of the Government that the JVP/NPP leadership will not hesitate to act when required.

Several social media activists supportive of the ruling party have already shared several posts on social media hinting about an impending Cabinet reshuffle.

The last time there was talk of a Cabinet reshuffle was last year when President AKD ended up making a few minor changes to the portfolios held by ministers at the time.

This time around, the call is for a proper Cabinet reshuffle after conducting a thorough review of the work carried out by the Cabinet of Ministers, public perception of their work, and the impact of their conduct on the Government.

CIABOC indicts Minister

Meanwhile, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated legal action against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody over a complaint received about an alleged financial irregularity that had taken place when the Minister was employed at the State Fertiliser Company. 

It is interesting to note that the Energy Minister is to face indictment before a court of law when the country is moving towards a power crisis. It is also important that action is taken soon to address the need for an individual to lead the country’s energy sector without creating a trust deficit between the political authority and State officials.

The Minister had earlier, through his lawyer, requested the CIABOC for an opportunity to submit an explanation regarding the allegations levelled against him. The commission at the time permitted the presentation of a written explanation.

However, the CIABOC has moved to file an indictment before the Colombo High Court against Jayakody for allegedly causing unlawful profit and benefit to a private company through a carpet contract relating to the warehouse premises of the fertiliser company, thereby causing a loss of more than Rs. 8.8 million to the Government while serving as the Deputy Procurement Manager of the fertiliser company in 2016.

The commission has reportedly filed charges under Section 70(a) of the Bribery Act, alleging that the accused had committed the offence of corruption.

The indictment of a Cabinet Minister before court would have been major news if the country’s attention had not been focused on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its possible impact on Sri Lanka.

Close watch on three MPs

It is also learnt that a group of SJB seniors has decided to keep a close watch on three SJB MPs over what seems to be their ‘close connections’ with the Government. These three SJB MPs, it is also learnt, are not members of the SJB, but had entered Parliament after contesting under the SJB-led alliance at the 2024 elections.

The suspicion over the three Opposition MPs had increased due to their friendship with several senior Government members as well as the knowledge possessed by the ruling party with regard to certain actions planned by the Opposition.

Namal’s return

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka on Monday (2) morning after concluding his recent visit to the UK. Namal had arrived in Sri Lanka on a SriLankan Airlines direct flight from London to Colombo.

Upon arrival, many people at the airport including the staff had asked how his trip was and said that it was good that he had taken a direct flight instead of opting to fly via the Middle East.

After speaking to several individuals who had approached him, Namal had said that Party General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, who was with him, would fill in the details.

The SLPPers who returned to the country with Namal have said that they had attended several discussions with Sri Lankan expatriates in the UK, which included individuals who had supported the JVP/NPP. However, they said that the JVP/NPP supporters who had met Namal and the SLPPers had expressed their displeasure at the Government and had noted that they would not support the party in the future.

Key SLPP meeting

Meanwhile, the SLPP’s Politburo and Working Committee met at the Party Headquarters on Nelum Mawatha, Battaramulla on Friday (6). The meeting was presided over by former President MR with Namal by his side.

It is learnt that the meeting of the two key decision-making bodies of the party had been held to make several key decisions about the SLPP’s next course of action considering current political developments in the country.

It is also learnt that Namal is looking at focusing on strengthening the party’s position at the grassroots without waiting for the formation of a joint Opposition platform since there are no firm decisions being made by Opposition parties yet regarding the formation of such a platform. 

Another Rajapaksa in trouble

Meanwhile, another Rajapaksa family member is in trouble over an ongoing probe and an outstanding warrant issued by the courts to apprehend him. This Rajapaksa is former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s son Shamindra Rajapaksa, and the probe is reportedly over the alleged accumulation of assets.

Shamindra once served as the Private Secretary to former President MR when he served as a Cabinet Minister in former President CBK’s Government.

However, since Shamindra is a US citizen, finding his whereabouts has not been easy for law enforcement officers. It is also learnt that Shamindra is residing in Los Angeles and is keeping a low profile by living a very private life.

However, there are some reports that state that the court warrant has been sent to the US and that the US authorities have located Shamindra’s residence in the US, resulting in the summons being served on him by US officials.