The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has presented a new set of challenges to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government, which until now was focused on the country’s economic recovery path and trying to honour its pledge to the people on ‘system change’. However, the conflict in the Middle East, which US President Donald Trump claimed would conclude in a few days, continues and the disruption to one of the world’s key supply routes has caused significant chaos in many parts of the world outside the Middle East, with the South Asian region being one of the most affected.
While the ongoing conflict has created a risk of an energy crisis, making many countries in the Asian region adopt emergency mechanisms, it has also dealt a blow to Asian exports to the West and tourism due to increasing airfare.
It is now evident that missiles fired between countries in the Middle East are continuing to hit Sri Lanka from multiple angles, including the energy, tourism, and exports sectors. Sri Lanka’s ailing economy was banking on steady growth in the tourism and export industries to bolster the country’s revenue while gearing up to repay foreign debt following the end of the moratorium in two years’ time.
The ordinary citizen was hit by Middle Eastern missiles when the reduction in fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies coming out of the Middle East region resulted in price hikes and low supplies in the market, especially in the case of LPG due to shipment delays, which resulted in price hikes in the local market.
Senior Government ministers issued warnings of the impact the Middle East conflict could have on Sri Lanka’s supply chain. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe warned that the ongoing conflict could lead to increases in global fuel and gas prices, which would also affect Sri Lanka. He said that the current conflict was impacting not only Sri Lanka but also the entire world, particularly disrupting shipping routes used for imports and exports and affecting certain air travel routes.
Samarasinghe also noted that Sri Lanka could not control global price increases, especially if oil and gas supplies were to decline, adding that price hikes were already being reported in international markets and such increases would inevitably affect Sri Lanka as well.
Iran meanwhile has warned that no oil may pass through the Strait of Hormuz if attacks against the country continue, cautioning that global oil prices could surge to $ 200 per barrel while a barrel price has already shot above $ 100.
The over 80% increase in aviation fuel has resulted in many airlines minimising flights while significantly increasing airfare, impacting global air travel and the tourism industry. Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities noted last week that there have been around 700 flight cancellations since the onset of the conflict, resulting in a 30% decline in tourist arrivals to the country.
Many Asian countries including several in the South Asian region have adopted emergency mechanisms to preserve fuel and LPG stocks by reducing workdays to four, closing schools, and limiting the fuel pumped for each vehicle, while some hotels have stopped à la carte menus and serve only a limited list of food items to all guests.
When questioned whether similar mechanisms would be adopted by Sri Lanka in the face of a looming energy crisis, some members of the Government seemed very cool when responding that there was no need to opt for such mechanisms yet. Hearing such responses, there have been questions posed by many social media activists as to whether the Government actually had a back-up plan in the event the conflict in the Middle East continued and whether senior Government members understood the gravity of the situation which other countries in the region seemed to have understood.
The Cabinet of Ministers meanwhile approved a proposal by President AKD to establish an Economic Monitoring Committee chaired by Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha Fernando to evaluate and respond to potential risks arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The newly-appointed committee has been tasked with continuously monitoring the situation, assessing risks across different sectors, and recommending necessary policy measures.
Looming crisis threat
However, despite trying to maintain a cool head, the Government, or at least some of its key members, seem to have understood the repercussions it would face in the event the Middle East conflict continues, resulting in a full-blown energy crisis.
It was just four years ago that a President who assumed office with a majority vote and a Government with a two-thirds majority in Parliament were ousted by the people due to an energy crisis that caused prolonged power cuts and long queues for fuel that resulted in the deaths of several citizens. While the country was facing an unprecedented economic crisis at the time, Sri Lanka’s economy is still in recovery mode, with the existing reserves expected to start depleting once debt instalment payments commence.
It is therefore important for the Government to understand that monies from the forex reserves cannot be spent freely on payments for fuel shipments that are continuing to see an increase in prices due to supply shortages.
It is learnt that fuel supplies in some instances are now being diverted to the highest bidder, with shipments initially due to one country being diverted at the last minute to another country that has offered a higher amount for the same shipments. Cross-trading and undercutting appear to have taken over the fuel trade, with suppliers making deliveries to the highest offer. Such situations would not bode well for small states like Sri Lanka given the economic difficulties in making high offers for fuel shipments.
It is also learnt that apart from difficulties in sourcing oil and LPG from the key producers in the Middle East, there is a shortage of fuel and gas tankers to transport any goods secured due to the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz. This further compounds the energy crisis with supply delays over and above the high prices.
Sri Lanka would therefore have to use its existing fuel and LPG supplies sparingly due to difficulties in sourcing shipments at high costs and the possible delays in receiving them.
Although the Government has dismissed any rationing of fuel and LPG supplies in the local market, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman D.J.A.S. De S. Rajakaruna last week called on the public to reduce non-essential travel and use fuel sparingly in view of the energy challenges arising from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Rajakaruna warned during a media briefing last Tuesday (10) that the current situation was serious and called on citizens to act responsibly until global conditions stabilised. “This is not a normal situation; it is a very grave condition,” he noted, while appealing to the public to collectively help manage the crisis by limiting travel, purchasing fuel only for essential needs, and maintaining the lowest possible level of fuel consumption.
However, the Government took one key step in preparation for the looming energy crisis by increasing the price of fuel items in the market last week.
Rajakaruna attributed the increase in fuel prices partly to panic buying across the country and noted that excessive fuel purchases over the past few days, driven by fears of a potential shortage, had contributed significantly to the price surge.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL) Managing Director Mayura Neththikumarage told the media that the recent fuel price increase had been implemented to prevent a much larger hike later due to the rise in global fuel prices. “We usually increase prices by adjusting to the oil prices of the previous month. Although we have fuel stocks sufficient for 30 days, the prices of incoming fuel shipments for the coming month are rising sharply,” he said, explaining the reasons for the increase in fuel prices.
However, the increase in fuel prices has had a cascading effect with an increase in commodity prices and transportation costs.
While the National Transport Commission noted that there would not be an increase in bus fares, the All-Island School Children’s Transport Association noted that the fares charged for transporting school children would be increased by 5% due to the increase in diesel prices.
Opposition hits out
While the public started to grapple with the sudden increase in fuel prices, members of the Opposition began to question the reasoning behind the Government’s move to increase the prices of existing stocks of fuel.
University of Peradeniya Department of Economics and Statistics Senior Professor Prasanna Perera questioned the rationale for increasing the price of existing stocks of fuel when a price increase could be expected when fuel from a new shipment purchased at a higher price was sold in the market.
Opposition politicians meanwhile referred to President AKD’s speech in Parliament the previous week where he stated that the country had fuel stocks for over a month and questioned the sudden increase in fuel prices.
Member of Parliament (MP) Namal Rajapaksa has raised concerns over the increase in fuel prices, saying it contradicts Government assurances that the country has sufficient oil reserves for 45 days.
Namal told the media outside the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Headquarters on Nelum Mawatha that although the President and the Minister-in-charge had assured the public that there was no need to worry, oil prices had nonetheless risen in line with global market trends.
Given the sudden increase in fuel prices, he further linked it to the alleged coal scam, describing it as “a huge fraud” and that the financial losses from it had been shifted to the people.
Chaos after dissolution
Meanwhile, amidst the looming crisis in the energy sector, the Government, or rather the Energy Ministry, decided to implement the power sector reforms by dissolving the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), creating quite a lot of chaos in the power sector.
The historic restructuring of the CEB, which saw the 56-year-old institution replaced by six State-owned companies aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the power sector, did not receive the support of the employees’ trade unions at the CEB.
The move to implement the CEB restructuring process with the dissolution of the institution within a few days (the gazette was issued on 6 March announcing that the new entities would commence work from 9 March) without a phased-out programme resulted in chaos among the former CEB employees as well as the public.
People who turned up to pay their electricity bills on Monday (9) had to turn around and leave since there was no way to make the payments. Also, electricity breakdowns were reported from many parts of the country, and again, the public did not know whom to call in order to report the breakdowns.
One of the main reasons for the chaos was the lack of clarity among the CEB employees on which of the six companies they would be employed at following the dissolution of the board. It is learnt that at the time of the CEB’s dissolution, thousands of appointment letters had been pending to the employees who were to be absorbed into the new entities. It is further learnt that since the accounts of the new entities were starting afresh, there were difficulties in making immediate payments for necessities of each of the entities.
The CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) had raised concerns over what it described as a haphazard reform process in the power sector carried out over the past three to four years. The union stated that repeated concerns about potential dangers and alternative reform models had been ignored by authorities.
Also, 25 electricity trade unions decided to carry out trade union action claiming that they had not received any favourable response from the six new State-owned companies formed following the dissolution of the CEB.
CEB Technical Engineers’ and Superintendents’ Association Vice President Nandana Udayakumara had told the media that discussions held earlier in the week with the chairpersons of four of the newly-established companies had failed to address the unions’ concerns.
The trade union action however was called off following a discussion with the heads of the new entities and the chaos caused by the ad hoc restructuring process took a back seat due to the larger threat of an energy crisis on account of the Middle East conflict.
Respecting SL’s stance
Meanwhile, President AKD and his Government, whose foreign policy was put to the test recently with the attack and sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by a US submarine and Sri Lanka’s decision regarding the IRIS Bushehr, were concerned about the US response to the country’s decisions.
However, a US State Department spokesperson said regarding the incident involving the Iranian warships IRIS Dena and IRIS Bushehr that the US respected and recognised Sri Lanka’s sovereignty in the handling of this situation.
The spokesperson noted that the final decision regarding the vessel, its crew, and the Iranian sailors rescued at sea rested solely with Sri Lanka, in accordance with the country’s domestic laws and international legal obligations.
The remarks came after Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told a conference in New Delhi that Sri Lanka was caring for 32 sailors rescued from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena under the country’s international treaty obligations.
China breaks silence
Meanwhile, China last week made a stern statement with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying that the joint US-Israeli military offensive against Iran should “never have happened,” calling for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to diplomacy.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Wang warned that the use of military force would not resolve the crisis in the region. “Military means will never resolve the problem. A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle,” he said.
The Chinese meanwhile have announced that the Red Cross Society of China will send $ 200,000 in emergency humanitarian aid to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has noted that the funds will be specifically designated for parents of students who have been killed in the war.
Chinese gathering intel
Amidst the ongoing developments in the Middle East, news has reached of a Chinese military intelligence ship that is sailing off the Middle East collecting real-time data for the Iranians.
Reports citing Military Watch Magazine have noted that the deployment of a naval contingent led by a Type 055 destroyer to the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean is said to include a Type 052D destroyer and an intelligence-gathering vessel, the Liaowang-1.
The magazine had published these details in a report in early February when the US was courting military action against Iran. “At a time when the United States and several of its security partners in the Western world are considering launching an attack on Iran, these reported deployments have fuelled speculation that the Liaowang-1 and accompanying destroyers may be in the region to monitor the movements of US Navy and other Western warships, allowing intelligence to be passed onto Iran,” the report noted at the time.
Focus on SL
While the immediate concern is the security of Sri Lanka’s EEZ, the potential for further geopolitical tension in the region has increased following the news of a Chinese intelligence-gathering vessel closer to the Indian Ocean region.
Since 2023, Sri Lanka has imposed a moratorium on foreign research vessels entering its waters. This decision was taken after New Delhi and Washington both flagged the presence of Chinese research vessels, which both countries claimed were “spy vessels”.
However, the Sri Lankan Government will now have its hands full with China, which has been urging the Sri Lankan authorities to implement the much-delayed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enable Chinese research vessels to call at Sri Lankan ports, which had been drafted during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure. The SOPs are to determine the regulations foreign vessels must abide by if they enter Sri Lankan waters.
Sri Lanka will once again find itself in a delicate balancing act with India and China given that the issue over Chinese research vessels has become a sour point in relations between Sri Lanka and China.
With a US submarine engaging in an attack on the IRIS Dena in Sri Lanka’s EEZ, the Chinese have once again turned their attention to Chinese research vessels calling at Sri Lankan ports.
Talks with Russia
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has begun discussions with Russia to secure fuel supplies as concerns grow over disruptions to global energy supply chains due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
It is learnt that the Government has been engaged in many discussions over the growing difficulties in sourcing fuel and LPG while the prices also continue to increase. Despite a proposal being presented to the Government that a dialogue should be initiated with Russia to explore the possibility of securing fuel from the country, senior members of the Government had expressed difficulties in doing so due to the sanctions imposed on Russian fuel by the US.
The Government’s position that it could not look at sourcing fuel from Russia due to US sanctions without even initiating a dialogue with the US first had caught some hardline JVPers by surprise, wondering whether the ruling party was now being too aligned with the US and India while sidelining China and Russia.
However, with the US State Department informing Moscow that the sanctions would be temporarily lifted for a period of 30 days due to the increasing strain on energy supplies owing to the conflict, President AKD and the Government turned towards Russia to secure urgent energy supplies.
It is also learnt that like China, Russia too had been harbouring some concerns over the conduct of the Government. Nevertheless, the Russian Embassy in Colombo had responded positively to a request by the Foreign Ministry on Friday (13) for a meeting between the Ambassador and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.
Accordingly, Herath held an urgent meeting with Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Levan S. Dzhagaryan at the Foreign Ministry to discuss the possibility of purchasing Russian oil.
The previous week, Russia had noted an increase in demand for its oil and gas as the conflict in the Middle East had disrupted global energy supplies. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the war had led to a significant rise in demand for Russian energy resources and Russia continued to be a reliable supplier of oil and gas, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Anti-Govt. conspiracies
Amidst the Middle East conflict and the resultant energy crisis, there are anti-Government conspiracies making the rounds once again. These conspiracies are led by several Opposition politicians who are hopeful of ascending to office using the crisis to push them towards their goal.
Given the experiences from 2022, many Opposition leaders have commenced discussions on being prepared to take over government in the event the incumbent Government fails to manage the mounting challenges, resulting in an energy crisis that would deal a severe blow to the country’s ailing economy. The lack of experience of the Government and several other contributory factors have given a further boost to the belief that the Opposition could reinvent the scenarios of 2022.
However, with the Government thus far managing to steer through the growing challenges, it is learnt that several senior members of Opposition parties are now keeping a close watch on individuals whom they believe are assisting the Government overcome the challenges.
Spot tender saga
Meanwhile, the Opposition continues to attack the JVP/NPP Government over the substandard coal purchased for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. The coal saga also took an interesting twist over the emergency procurement process that was initiated to secure coal supplies in the event of a shortage of coal due to the use of substandard coal.
It is learnt that there had been six bidders for the emergency coal procurement tender, with the lowest bid being from Trident Chemphar, the current supplier, which is at the centre of the substandard coal controversy. Trident’s quoted price had been around $ 120 per MT.
It is further learnt that the second lowest bid had been Taranjot Resources, with a bid of around $ 142 per MT. Another company had quoted around $ 174 per MT.
Upon hearing about the outcome of the tender, several Opposition members including Opposition MP Ajith P. Perera claimed that there was a conspiracy in place since the supplier of the substandard coal was likely to be awarded the emergency procurement tender in the event the Government proceeded with the procurement.
However, it is learnt that the Government had also been surprised to hear that Trident was the lowest bidder in the tender, with energy experts affiliated to the ruling party urging the Government to rethink the tender given the adverse repercussions it could have.
Opposition’s ‘coal’ seminar
Meanwhile, the Opposition platform Maha Jana Handa (People’s Voice) held a seminar at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) on Monday (9) to expose what was termed as the ‘coal robbery’ of the JVP/NPP Government.
The event, it is learnt, had been initiated and planned by the SLPP, with the party also taking the lead in promoting the event on social media. This was the second public event organised by the Opposition platform after the public rally in Nugegoda last November.
Leaders of all Opposition parties including former President Wickremesinghe attended the event while Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa refrained from participating.
It is now evident that the Opposition parties have already drawn parallels between the coal controversy under the JVP/NPP Government and the Central Bank Treasury bond scam under the previous ‘Yahapalana’ Government.
RW’s invite to Namal
All eyes were focused on Wickremesinghe and the SLPP’s Namal since the latter had been asked by the former to take the seat next to him.
However, former Minister G.L. Peiris had already taken the seat next to Wickremesinghe and Namal had then sat next to Peiris. The former President was seen leaning over Peiris and speaking to Namal.
Once the seminar concluded, some of Namal’s friends had asked him what Wickremesinghe had told him. Namal had laughed and said that the former President had inquired about his recent visit to the UK, especially the cancelled events by the Oxford and Cambridge universities.
SJB-UNP alliance
However, while the Maha Jana Handa Opposition platform decided to launch an anti-Government campaign based on the substandard coal controversy, discussions between the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and United National Party (UNP) to reach a common work programme seem to have cooled down.
UNP Leader Wickremesinghe meanwhile had recently expressed displeasure over the delay in forming the alliance with the SJB. He had told a group of party seniors, including several who had attended discussions with Premadasa, that the alliance had to be formed soon and that the SJB was dragging the process. He had interpreted the scenario as a lack of interest on the part of the SJB to move forward on the alliance.
With Wickremesinghe expressing his frustration over the delay in finalising the SJB-UNP union, a senior UNPer had recently spoken to a senior SJBer noting that the talks between the two parties needed to be expedited and that a final agreement needed to be reached soon.
RW’s real motive
It is learnt that the UNP is pushing for the alliance with the SJB to be formed as soon as possible due to the need for a strong political standing with Wickremesinghe’s ongoing legal battle. This fact is not lost on the SJB either, with several senior SJBers noting that forming a common work programme between the two parties should not be rushed.
It is also learnt that during a recent discussion between the SJB leadership and a group of party seniors, it had been discussed that there was time to form an alliance with the UNP since alliances between two key parties were formed in the run-up to key elections. They had noted that the alliance between the SJB and UNP should be a properly planned and strategic one and not one formed in a haphazard manner.
Opposition coalition meets
Meanwhile, the Maha Jana Handa coalition, which is led by former Minister Peiris as its Convenor, met at the Amari hotel in Colombo last Wednesday (11). The meeting was convened under the theme ‘Protecting Democracy, Rule of Law, and the Sovereignty of the People’. However, the main Opposition SJB was a notable absentee at the meeting.
Looking at the key topics discussed during the press briefing, one of the key focuses of the coalition was to express solidarity with Wickremesinghe. A message by the former President was also presented by UNP General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale. Wickremesinghe had stated in the message that Opposition parties had to unite to successfully face the challenges currently emerging in the country. He had noted that there was no alternative to unity if the Opposition was to succeed.
Peiris said that there was a strong need for a joint programme among Opposition parties to address serious political issues while fully protecting the identity of each party. He also spoke of whether there could be a differentiation between an executive president’s official work and personal life in reference to Wickremesinghe’s ongoing court case.
Among the attendees at the press briefing were former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and former Ministers Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Mahinda Amaraweera, Duminda Dissanayake, Udaya Gammanpila, and Tiran Alles. Parliamentarians Dayasiri Jayasekara and Mano Ganesan as well as former MPs Asanka Navarathne, Premnath C. Dolawatte, and Ajith Mannapperuma, SLPP Media Spokesman Sanjeewa Edirimanna, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, UNP General Secretary Atukorale, and UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena were also present.
It was interesting to see Ranawaka and Gammanpila representing the same side after over a decade.
Ranawaka spoke of the Government’s three fears during the briefing. He noted that the Government’s greatest fear was when it was reminded of its past – policies, actions, and statements – and that the next fear was the inefficiency and incompetence of its members. The final fear, according to Ranawaka, is the emergence of efficient individuals in the Opposition.
Following the briefing, several Opposition leaders had discussed the need for the SLPP’s Namal to also attend discussions of the joint Opposition along with the likes of MP D.V. Chanaka and Edirimanna who attend discussions on behalf of the SLPP.
Champika and Udaya
However, there is much interest among political circles about one-time allies turned political opponents, former Ministers Ranawaka and Gammanpila, who are now beginning to be seen in public at the same forums. The duo had faced an unlikely situation during the event held to launch a book written by former Minister Channa Jayasumana recently.
The event was attended by many Opposition politicians, including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR). All the politicians invited were allocated seats in the first and second rows.
Gammanpila had arrived at the event on time and had taken the seat allocated to him. Ranawaka, however, had entered the venue a little late and several individuals who had seen him entering the hall had placed a chair at the front, inviting him to take the seat.
It was only after sitting down that Ranawaka had noticed that he was seated next to Gammanpila. Since breaking away from the Jathika Hela Urumaya, both Ranawaka and Gammanpila had avoided each other and have not been on the same side politically.
However, the most interesting incident had been when MR had got up to leave the venue – seeing Ranawaka and Gammanpila seated next to each other, he had smiled and said that it was nice to see them seated together, adding that it was a positive political development.
SLPP’s condition
While discussions continue on further strengthening and expanding the Opposition coalition, talks have also commenced on holding a joint May Day rally this year. These discussions commenced when SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa was on a tour of the UK.
The SLPP, at a decisive joint meeting of the Politburo and Executive Committee held the previous week, had given Namal the power to decide on the party’s next political path.
Since the discussions had been held in Namal’s absence, several SLPP representatives had posed an interesting question to the other party leaders during the discussion. The SLPPers had asked if the final speech at the joint May Day rally would be given to Namal.
It is usual practice at May Day rallies for the leader of a party or the main figure of the event to deliver the final speech. However, the other Opposition members at the meeting had not responded to the question posed by the SLPP.
Namal meanwhile had met with a group of SLPPers last week to discuss the ongoing talks on holding a joint May Day rally. At the outset of the meeting, everyone had noted that the SLPP’s Women’s Day rally in Matale had been a success. With the discussion being focused on the Women’s Day event and other meetings, it resulted in the talk on the proposed joint May Day rally being limited to a few lines.
The SLPP had also discussed that the party could look at holding a separate May Day rally or decide not to hold one given that 1 May is a Poya day.
Intensifying probes
While several Opposition parties are reorganising the joint Opposition platform that was formed last November, the ruling party has refocused attention on expediting the ongoing probes into allegations of fraud and corruption that had taken place during previous governments.
A recent meeting between a group of senior ruling party members had also discussed the delays in initiating legal action against some of the ongoing probes by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as well as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
It is learnt that the discussion between the ruling party seniors had been focused on conducting a progress review on the ongoing probes including several related to key figures of previous governments. It is also learnt that it had been decided to look at what needed to be done to expedite the ongoing probes and to seek the necessary assistance from senior members of the Government.
Allegations against Salley
Meanwhile, the CID had informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court last week that former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Maj. Gen. (Retd) Suresh Salley, who is currently being held on a 90-day detention order, was facing three main allegations in connection with investigations related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
Presenting a further report to court, the CID had noted that Salley had been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) as a suspect over allegations of misleading investigations into the Vavunathivu Police killings and the Sainthamaruthu explosion.
Investigators had also alleged that an intelligence informant had been used to show the Katuwapitiya church to Muslim extremists prior to the Easter Sunday attacks.
According to the CID, Salley had pressured investigators to conduct a third DNA test related to Sara Jasmine, despite two earlier tests failing to confirm her death following the Sainthamaruthu explosion.
Salley’s counsel, however, had rejected the allegations, telling the court that the former Intelligence Chief had not been in Sri Lanka at the time of the Easter attacks and had been in Malaysia.
The case was taken up before Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara and further reports are to be filed on 25 March.
Wimal’s rats
Meanwhile, former Minister Wimal Weerawansa has claimed that while being detained for questioning, Salley is being forced to sleep on newspapers, rats are running over him, and the poor sanitation conditions have caused him severe discomfort.
Government Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has however rejected Weerawansa’s claims that Salley is being ill-treated while in CID custody.
Responding to the allegations, Jayatissa has noted that to his knowledge no complaint has been received regarding such conditions at the CID.
He has added that if such allegations had been made, the CID could look into the matter and investigate if necessary.
Seeking former jobs
Meanwhile, the recent move by the Government to slash the pension paid to former MPs has resulted in a group of former legislators requesting the Government to re-install them in their previous places of employment, where they had held jobs prior to entering Parliament, by granting them promotions and salary increments due to them.
According to Retired MPs’ Collective General Secretary Pemasiri Manage, they are requesting the Government to re-employ them in the institutions in which they had worked prior to becoming MPs along with the promotions and salary increments they had missed due to resignation from their jobs in order to enter Parliament.
He has explained that if such a move were to be initiated, many former MPs would be able to obtain the pension payment they would have received had they continued in their employment without entering Parliament.
Some former MPs have claimed that the pension received from Parliament is their sole livelihood and that they need assistance for survival as well as to support their families.