• JVP’s 60th anniversary held without fanfare with Prez.; JVP seniors sit on the steps with party members
• AKD says JVP/NPP mandate secure, will hold 122 seats in House with final results at recent LG Polls
• Elections likely to form administrations in 263 LG bodies; combined Opposition focused on power in 130 LG bodies
• SJB split over forming alliances with UNP; SLPP to secure power in LG bodies as combined Opposition
• SJB undecided on mayoral candidate for CMC; SJB split likely to result in JVP/NPP gaining CMC control
• Conspiracy claims against some SJB Media Unit members; another campaign against some party seniors
• SJB leadership accused by some seniors of allowing SLPP’s comeback; no alliance with SJB, says SLPP
• Namal questions JVP/NPP on how ‘rogues’ in SLPP are good to form alliances with when ‘independent’
• RW meets Opposition parties at Flower Road office; Wajira claims UNP, RW leading combined Opposition
• Dilith calls Wajira’s bluff, denies calling in support; SJB, SLPP retreat, say will work together, no aligning
• Meeting of party general secretaries cancelled; Opposition party reps meet at Amari Hotel in Colombo
• Sajith hits back at RW by convening meeting of Opposition parties; all parties including SLPP attend
• Jeevan, Diga clash over LG bodies in Nuwara Eliya District; Diga wants power equally divided with CWC
• Radhakrishnan talks with Minister Ramalingam; if deal reached, some SJBers could side with JVP/NPP
• Sarvajana Balaya to remain neutral; SJB’s Rohana claims having received death threats over LG bodies
• Karu writes to AKD seeking standing committees towards improving accountability, performance
• Opposition members discuss ‘political witch hunt’ by Govt. at meeting with RW; decide to stand united
• RW clashes with CIABOC over Chamara’s case; says misleading comments in court, vows legal action
• RW visits recuperating MR at Wijerama Mw. residence; Sajith starts ‘Udagamin Udagamata’ programme
• Mahindananda implicates Shasheendra in anticipatory bail application; Shasheendra under probe next

The nucleus of the ruling National People’s Power (NPP), the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), reached a milestone last week when it marked its 60th anniversary with a rally held on Wednesday (14) at the Viharamahadevi Open-Air Theatre. The event was held without much fanfare with JVP/NPP Leader, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) taking centre stage and making history as the first President produced by the JVP in its 60-year history. 

It was however noticeable that there were no images of JVP Founding Leader, the late Rohana Wijeweera, on the stage. Senior JVPers now holding ministerial portfolios were seen seated on the steps of the open-air theatre along with other party members, creating the impression of a ‘common man’s’ party with no divide between the leaders and membership.

There’s no doubt that the JVP has had a long journey since its inception in 1965 as a product of a discussion held by Wijeweera and a group of his friends in Galle on a Vesak Poya day. The JVP along its path had tried to take over control of the State machinery through two armed insurgencies in 1971 and 1988 and later entered mainstream politics, eventually building itself up to the point of being capable of assuming the office of the President in addition to a two-thirds majority in Parliament. 

After entering mainstream politics following the 1971 insurrection, Wijeweera contested as the JVP’s presidential candidate at the 1982 Presidential Election. However, the JVP was among the parties that were banned by then President J.R. Jayewardene in 1983 during the ethnic riots. Developments since 1983 resulted in the JVP-led second insurrection during the 1988-’89 period. 

However, towards the end of the 1990s, the JVP witnessed a change in its policies, with the leaders at the time turning towards a nationalist programme and aligning with nationalist and ultra-nationalist parties.

The JVP witnessed a radical change once AKD assumed party leadership in 2014 following the late Somawansa Amarasinghe’s retirement from the position. It was under AKD’s leadership that the JVP moved from being exclusive to being more inclusive and opened up by forming a broader alliance with civil society participation under the NPP.

The JVP’s evolution under the NPP is now history with the JVP and NPP Leader addressing the JVP’s anniversary rally as the country’s Executive President.

Operation for LG Polls

However, the main focus in the local political arena at present is on the formation of Local Government (LG) bodies, especially in the bodies where the JVP/NPP while securing victory had fallen short of securing a majority.

It is learnt that the JVP/NPP had prior understanding that the party was going to find it tough to secure a majority in some LG bodies. It is further learnt that the JVP/NPP had launched an operation from the JVP Headquarters prior to the LG Elections to monitor the sentiments at grassroots level. This programme had in turn given prior warning to ruling party seniors on the decline of the party at the grassroots. This fact had been revealed in weekly surveys that had been conducted by the JVP/NPP at village level in the run-up to the recent elections. 

These surveys had shown that the JVP/NPP’s popularity at grassroots level had declined to around 46% in some areas. It is these reports that had made the party decide to get President AKD to lead the JVP/NPP campaign at the LG Elections as well as to hold a massive May Day rally at the Galle Face Green. 

The JVP/NPP had also launched a special propaganda campaign with the assistance of university students to increase its vote bank at the polls. However, despite these efforts, the ruling party’s decline in the vote bank at the recent polls could not be avoided.

AKD gets tough

Be that as it may, President AKD’s speech – which was more a threat to Opposition parties – at the JVP’s 60th anniversary celebration, where he mentioned that the ruling party was determined to wrest control of the LG bodies by using all powers currently enjoyed by the JVP/NPP made many wonder for a while whether it was one of the previous regimes making the statement.

President AKD said the Government would amend laws if someone challenged and tried to disrupt the mandate, while claiming that the JVP/NPP had the right to form administrations in local bodies where the party had secured a majority as per the mandate. “Remember we have a two-thirds majority in Parliament,” he claimed.

He noted that the NPP had the mandate to govern 267 LG bodies and that the party had a clear majority in 152 local bodies to form administrations on the first day of convening, adding that administrations for the remaining 115 bodies would be formed afterwards.

“If someone is going to work against the mandate, we are ready to use the Constitution, law, and politics to respond to them,” the President claimed.

He criticised Opposition parties, stating that they lacked the mandate to govern, with some only securing one or two members per council.

“We respect and are bound to work as per the mandate. No one can play with the mandate. We have a two-thirds majority in Parliament, if prevailing laws are not sufficient. How can a collection of scraps (small parties) challenge the mandate? They must understand the mandate very well. Let them form councils and run for three or four months,” he said.

“We challenge them to contest any election as a united opposition. If they unite, they will not get even the results they got as divided groups,” AKD added.

JVP/NPP majority

President AKD went on to state that despite claims by some that the JVP/NPP had lost its mandate, it was not so.

He explained that going by the latest votes polled by the JVP/NPP, the ruling party would still hold 122 seats in Parliament, which was a majority. He further claimed that in 1994, then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) had only 106 seats in Parliament when forming the Government. 

“In 2001, then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government had 105 seats. The 2004 alliance Government had 106 seats,” AKD said, adding: “You cannot compare Parliamentary Election results with LG Elections, but even if such a comparison is made, the JVP/NPP would still hold 122 seats in Parliament. So, where has the public mandate been lost? The mandate is with us and we are bound to it.”

Opposition hits back

However, AKD’s strong statement at the JVP’s 60th anniversary celebrations gathered much flak from Opposition parties, who claimed that threatening to use Executive powers and a two-thirds majority in Parliament to amend laws according to one party’s desire was a bad precedent.

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran, who had earlier praised AKD and the NPP during last year’s election campaigns, made one of the most critical comments, saying that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

He posted on X: “President Anura Kumara Dissanayake threatens that he has a two-thirds majority in Parliament— and strangely (or is it?) — he refers to the Executive power in his hands! Power corrupts, and absolute power (indeed) corrupts absolutely. Arithmetic also goes out the window when he claims that 10 out of 41 seats in the Jaffna Municipal Council constitute a majority!”

However, it is now learnt that President AKD’s strong words were a result of hearing about a meeting that was taking place at the time among Opposition political parties to form LG bodies.

Opposition scrambling

Be that as it may, looking at the actions of Opposition parties and their leaders this past week, it is evident that President AKD’s threat at the JVP’s 60th anniversary celebrations was premature since the JVP/NPP could rest assured that it would take more than a month for the Opposition parties to reach a consensus on forming a combined Opposition to take power in LG bodies.

Many analysts have pointed out that the long-standing clash of egos of United National Party (UNP) Leader, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa would continue to pose a stumbling block to the formation of a combined Opposition in LG bodies. 

“There’s no need for the JVP/NPP to worry. They (the JVP/NPP) seem to have overestimated the Opposition party leaders if they thought the Opposition parties could easily unite even if the opportunity to do so has presented itself,” a senior political analyst said, adding that the parties in the Opposition were stumbling over themselves.

Elections for 263 councils

However, the final results of the LG Elections have paved the way for the holding of another election at LG level due to the failure of any party to obtain 50% of the seats in the respective councils.

Accordingly, elections are likely to be held in 263 LG bodies in order to form the administrative bodies of the respective councils. The elections are to be held under the commissioners of LG bodies in the relevant districts. 

Focus on 130 LGs

The Opposition meanwhile is working on securing power in 130 LG bodies where the combined Opposition has a majority over the ruling party. The ruling party had failed to secure a majority in these bodies at the recently-concluded LG Elections.

The main Opposition SJB has taken the lead in holding discussions with other Opposition parties and independent groups, with the JVP/NPP focusing on their discussions with independent groups that have secured seats in these 130 LG bodies.

SJB’s hesitance

However, the main Opposition SJB is facing a conundrum in forming administrations in some key LG bodies, including the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

It is learnt that while the SJB has already declared that it will form the administration in the CMC by appointing a mayor with the support of other parties in the Opposition including independent groups that had secured seats, the party is once again facing an internal clash over the matter.

While one group of SJB seniors keeps pushing for the party to form a coalition within the CMC together with other Opposition parties like the UNP and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), another group of SJBers loyal to the party leadership have objected to forming an alliance with parties like the UNP and SLPP. The latter group, it is learnt, have informed the SJB leadership that forming an alliance with the UNP and SLPP would be detrimental to the SJB since the party had openly criticised the two parties and their actions.

It is further learnt that the SJB is also facing an issue in determining the party’s mayoral candidate. The SJB’s declared mayoral candidate Ruvaiz Haniffa had failed to win his ward and the party has to now decide on a candidate from among its CMC members for the post of mayor.

CMC for JVP/NPP

Given that the SJB is hesitant to form an alliance with the UNP and SLPP to secure power in the CMC, it is likely that the ruling JVP/NPP will ultimately form the council’s administration with the support of a group of independent councillors.

Following the conclusion of the LG Elections, there has been much attention on the CMC, with Opposition parties claiming to wrest control of the council. The JVP/NPP secured 48 seats in the council while the combined Opposition secured 69 seats.

The UNP claimed that it would support the SJB to form the CMC administration in a bid to grab power from the ruling JVP/NPP.

In the event the JVP/NPP forms the council’s administration, it will be the first time a Leftist party controls the council after the 1950s.

Meanwhile, the SJB’s Hector Appuhamy has declared that the Opposition is set to establish control in nine out of the 12 LG bodies in the Puttalam District. “They (the JVP/NPP) can only form administrations where they have 50% or more. They should not even try to take over where they lack the numbers. The Opposition will take control of nine councils in Puttalam. The SJB, leading the Opposition in the district, is fully prepared to take administrative power,” he said.

Campaign to hit

Meanwhile, some in the pro-Premadasa camp have once again started a campaign to criticise the SJBers pushing for the formation of broad alliances in LG bodies to secure power. The SJBers pushing for negotiations with parties like the UNP and SLPP are being labelled as ‘traitors’ in these campaigns with accusations being levelled at several party seniors for trying to betray the party to the UNP and SLPP.

A similar campaign was carried out last year and earlier this year during discussions between the UNP and a group of senior SJBers to form an alliance to contest last year’s Parliamentary Elections and this year’s LG Elections.

It is learnt that the SJB seniors in discussion to form alliances in LG bodies to secure power for the party are now disgruntled, with some even claiming that the party leadership will yet again block the party from expanding its political power.

Conspiracy theories

The SJB internal crisis has resulted in conspiracy theories as well. The latest conspiracy theory has been levelled against some members of the party’s Media Unit.

Several party seniors have claimed that some members of the SJB Media Unit are engaged in a conspiracy against the SJB Leader as well as those loyal to him. The senior members being accused of hatching a conspiracy against the party leadership are being accused of carrying out a failed campaign during the last Parliamentary Elections by failing to respond to the ruling party’s social media campaigns and sidelining young leaders loyal to the party leadership. 

Young SJBers like Prasad Siriwardana, Charith Abeysinghe, and Waruna Rajapaksha are being kept away from propaganda work, these party seniors have claimed.

Making way for SLPP

However, the continuing internal clashes in the SJB will give the edge to the SLPP, which seems to be on a growth trajectory judging by the improvement in the party’s performance at this year’s Local Government Elections when compared to last year’s Parliamentary Elections.

The SLPP’s appointment of former MP Johnston Fernando as the its Head of Operations indicates that the party is gearing to go all out to regain its lost political footing. The post of operations head was first formed by the SJB, where it was held by former Minister Harin Fernando.

Several disgruntled SJB seniors point out that the shortcomings of the SJB Leader and a group of his loyalists misleading him have resulted in the party failing to capture power at last year’s elections despite being the main Opposition. 

“It is usually the main Opposition party that gains power, defeating a ruling party. However, at the last Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, we saw a party that held only 3% of the vote bank gaining victory and assuming power, pushing the main Opposition aside. This happened mainly due to the failures of the Party Leader and a group of his loyalists,” a senior SJBer pointed out.

Going by the words of the SJB senior, it seems likely that the SLPP, which is building itself up from a 3% vote base recorded at last year’s Parliamentary Elections, will politically pass the SJB if it fails to comprehend the intricacies of politics and adopt shrewd politicking. 

The growing dissension against the SJB Leader and some of his loyalists could eventually reach a make-or-break situation.

SLPP reorganises

Meanwhile, SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa, who led the party’s Local Government Elections campaign, has now taken the lead in reviving the SLPP.

Following the conclusion of the LG Elections, Namal had convened a meeting with a group of SLPP organisers to discuss the next course of action for the party. During this meeting, Namal had informed the others to look at getting SLPP members who had distanced themselves from the party in the past few months back into active politics.

Namal had further pointed out that the SLPP should now work with great focus to build itself from the recent election results, adding that the party should also ensure that it did not repeat the same mistakes it had made in the past.

No alliance with SJB

The SLPP has maintained that it will also not move to form any political alliance with the SJB. The SJB is already clashing internally over obtaining the SLPP’s support to form the administrations in some LG bodies. “We have always held that the party (SLPP) will not form any political alliance with Sajith Premadasa or the SJB. Our policies and their policies are poles apart,” SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has noted.

He has also stated that the SLPP would however support the formation of administrations of LG bodies where elections would be held to elect the mayor/chairperson.

According to Kariyawasam, the main objective of the SLPP is not to take power in the LG bodies, but to ensure the victory of the party’s candidate at the 2029 Presidential Election.

Namal also took a swipe at the ruling party, stating that while criticising SLPPers, the JVP/NPP were now engaged in discussions with some SLPPers who had contested the Local Government Elections as independent groups. “When they were in the SLPP, they were called rogues, but now they are good since they contested as independents,” he added.

RW’s masterplan

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe took the lead in getting all key Opposition parties in one room to discuss the need to form alliances in Local Government bodies where the ruling party had failed to secure a 50% majority. The meeting was convened on Wednesday (14) at Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road office in Colombo 7.

It was evident that Wickremesinghe had decided to take the lead in getting Opposition political parties together since the Opposition and SJB leadership had failed to convene such a meeting since the conclusion of the LG Polls on 6 May. While Premadasa and his loyalists continue to debate and discuss the pros and cons of forming alliances with Opposition political parties, Wickremesinghe has yet again seized the opportunity to present himself as the de facto leader of the Opposition and unifier of the parties.

The meeting convened by Wickremesinghe was attended by SJB, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), SLFP-led People’s Alliance (PA), SLPP, Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) members. The SLFP was represented by Nimal Siripala de Silva and Duminda Dissanayake, while the SLPP was represented by Namal Rajapaksa. The SJB was represented by Nalin Bandara.

Other members at the meeting included Jeevan Thondaman, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Mano Ganesan, P. Digambaram, Udaya Gammanpila, Sugeeshwara Bandara, Asanka Navarathne, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Nimal Lanza, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, Premnath C. Dolawatte, and Mohammed Muzammil. The UNP was represented by General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale, Party Chairman Wajira Abeywardena, and National Organiser Sagala Ratnayaka.

The party leaders have stated that they believe the law permits Opposition parties to form administrations in local bodies if they have secured a greater number of seats in a given council.

Former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was assigned the task of coordinating between the party leaders of the combined Opposition.

Dilith refutes Wajira

Meanwhile, a statement made by the UNP’s Abeywardena soon after the Opposition party leaders’ meeting resulted in Sarvajana Balaya Leader Dilith Jayaweera issuing a denial.

Following the meeting, Abeywardena had told the media that although Jayaweera had not attended the meeting with Wickremesinghe, he had connected with Wickremesinghe over the phone. Several media institutions had included this comment in their news reports.

However, Jayaweera immediately issued a statement via social media that the statement made by Abeywardena was false and that he had not done so. Jayaweera further claimed that he had also asked Abeywardena to clarify his statement.

SJB, SLPP stay back

However, Abeywardena seems to have caused more damage through his statement that the initiative to unite the Opposition in the LG bodies was being initiated by the UNP and its Leader Wickremesinghe, which did not sit well with the main Opposition SJB and the SLPP.

As soon as the UNP announced the Wickremesinghe-led initiative, several SJBers responded claiming that the party had not agreed to any proposal to join with the UNP or work under the party and Wickremesinghe’s lead.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara noted that while the SJB would not participate in any further meetings convened by the UNP or Wickremesinghe, the party was committed to forming joint administrations in LG bodies.

The SJB’s Nalin Bandara, who had attended the Flower Road meeting, also said that the SJB had participated at a meeting that was attended by all Opposition parties where it had been agreed to work together and form the administrations of LG bodies where the combined Opposition had a majority.

SLPP General Secretary Kariyawasam also aired a similar sentiment, adding that the party’s policies differed from those of the UNP and some other parties in the Opposition and therefore it had no intention of forming any Opposition alliance.

Kariyawasam noted that the SLPP would support the Opposition to form administrations in LG bodies, but would not form any alliances under any other party leader.

Secretaries meet cancelled

However, the day after Wickremesinghe’s meeting with representatives of key Opposition parties, general secretaries of the political parties were set to meet for a further discussion on Thursday (15). The meeting of the general secretaries was aimed at forming the lists of names for the LG bodies.

However, with the SJB and SLPP announcing they would not attend further meetings convened by the UNP or Wickremesinghe, the meeting of the general secretaries was cancelled. Instead, a meeting was held at the Amari Colombo hotel that was attended by seniors of Opposition political parties. The UNP, SLFP, PA, TPA, and seniors of several other parties attended this meeting.

Following the meeting, the TPA’s Mano Ganesan said that the discussion was on constituting LG bodies, but that final decisions could be reached at the meeting scheduled by Premadasa on Saturday (17).

Sajith meets Opposition

Meanwhile, Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa decided to convene a meeting with Opposition political parties yesterday (17) at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo 7. 

Premadasa’s step could also be seen as a move to scramble the process initiated by Wickremesinghe to unite the Opposition parties in the LG bodies.

It is however interesting to note this development since Premadasa failed to convene a meeting of Opposition political parties following the conclusion of the LG Elections until Wickremesinghe convened such a meeting last Wednesday. Such reactionary measures do not bode well for an Opposition politician vying to assume office at the next Presidential Election.

Leaders representing all Opposition political parties attended the meeting, including the SLPP. The SLPP had attended the meeting despite the SJB’s stance of not aligning with the party.

The SLPP’s Namal, when questioned why his party would attend the meeting convened by Premadasa, had said that the Opposition Leader had invited the Opposition political parties for a meeting and therefore the SLPP, as a party in the Opposition, had also decided to attend it.

Independent councillors missing

Amidst the ongoing chaos over the formation of many LG bodies, several independent candidates who were elected at the recent polls have gone missing. 

It is learnt that several candidates elected to LG bodies have decided to switch off their mobile phones to avoid receiving calls from ruling as well as Opposition parties in the battle to gain power in councils.

It has also been claimed that the political poaching that is currently taking place has also witnessed financial perks being offered by all sides trying to secure numbers.

Sarvajana Balaya neutral

Meanwhile, the Sarvajana Balaya led by Dilith Jayaweera, which showed great promise at the recently-concluded elections, is also playing a decisive role in LG bodies that are facing difficulties in forming administrations.

While Jayaweera has already claimed that the party will not form alliances with any other parties in the LG bodies, it is learnt that the Sarvajana Balaya might adopt a neutral stance when key appointments like those of mayor/chairperson are being made to the bodies.

Thonda-Diga clash

Meanwhile, the formation of administrations in LG bodies in the Nuwara Eliya District has resulted in a clash between the CWC’s Jeevan Thondaman and the SJB’s Palani Digambaram. The discussions held on Thursday (15) between the CWC and SJB to form administrations jointly in the Nuwara Eliya District LG bodies had ended without reaching a final decision.

Thondaman, it is learnt, has proposed that the chair in the Kotagala, Nuwara Eliya, Agarapathana, and Norwood LG bodies be given to the CWC and for any other party to take the lead in the councils of Hatton-Dickoya, Talawakelle-Lindula, Maskeliya, and any other body in the district. Digambaram however has objected to allowing the CWC to form the administrations in LG bodies situated in areas with a high number of voters. 

Digambaram has further noted that he will not agree to support the CWC in forming any administration in the Nuwara Eliya District’s LG bodies if the CWC does not agree to equally share the lead in the LG bodies in the district. He has added that his party will remain in the Opposition without extending support to any party to form the administrations.

According to Digambaram, the ongoing discussions between parties to form administrations in LG bodies goes beyond the formation of administrations and are targeted at how alliances would work at the next Presidential Election.

Radhakrishnan talks to NPP

Meanwhile, the Up-Country People’s Front (UCPF) and the ruling JVP/NPP have held a discussion on forming administrations in LG bodies. The discussion, it is learnt, had taken place between the UCPF’s V. Radhakrishnan and Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar.

It is also learnt that the UCPF has councillors elected to LG bodies in the Central Province from the party as well as through the alliance with the SJB.

However, in the event talks between the UCPF and JVP/NPP succeed, UCPF members in the local councils who have contested under the SJB will also extend support to the ruling party.

Death threats

Meanwhile, the SJB’s Rohana Bandara has claimed that he has received death threats over the formation of LG bodies in Medawachchiya and Kebithigollewa in the Anuradhapura District. 

Bandara alleges that he has received a threatening document stating that the LG bodies for Medawachchiya and Kebithigollewa have been finalised and that any attempt to disrupt this process will result in adverse consequences, including death. 

“The letters state that this is the first and last warning,” Bandara alleges, adding that the letter has also asked him not to intervene in or obstruct the formation of the administrations of the two LG bodies mentioned and has noted that statements critical of the Government should also not be made. 

He further alleges that the senders of these anonymous letters have issued death threats to prevent the SJB from working to form the administrations of LG bodies in Anuradhapura. The letter had been inside an envelope with a ‘T’ seal and upon inquiry from the post office, Bandara says he was told that the stamp is placed on letters that arrive without a stamp.

Karu writes to AKD

Meanwhile, National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Chairman, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has written to President AKD urging the immediate introduction of standing committees in newly-constituted LG bodies, calling it a vital step towards improving accountability and performance.

Jayasuriya welcomed the Government’s swift action to establish local bodies following the 6 May elections and acknowledged the President’s recognition of their role in supporting national priorities such as economic recovery and the Clean Sri Lanka initiative.

The former Speaker has emphasised that standing committees are a cornerstone of effective governance in representative bodies across the world. “These committees enhance oversight, ensure accountability, and improve the overall performance of elected institutions,” the letter has noted.

Furthermore, Jayasuriya has pointed out that although current legislation permits the formation of such committees, the Local Authorities Act lacks detailed provisions on their establishment and function. 

It has been proposed to issue a gazette notification containing by-laws that will enable the immediate formation of standing committees in municipal councils, urban councils, and pradeshiya sabhas. “To facilitate this, we have attached a model by-law based on earlier drafts prepared by the ministry,” the letter has further noted.

FSP threat

Meanwhile, a splinter group of the JVP, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), has vowed to launch public campaigns against what the party has referred to as anti-people moves by the current administration, adding that collaborative action must be taken to prevent such moves from negatively impacting the people.

FSP Leader Kumar Gunaratnam told a news briefing last week that one of these campaigns aimed to abolish the Memoranda of Understanding between Sri Lanka and India, which he described as ‘anti-people.’

“We will initiate a public campaign to abolish the economically destructive programme that forces the bitter medicine prescribed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the people to oppress them, while offering relief to the ultra-rich,” he claimed, alleging that IMF-advocated measures, including those related to electricity tariffs, had been harmful and were likely to continue.

Discussing witch hunt

Meanwhile, the meeting of Opposition party representatives convened by Wickremesinghe last Wednesday had also discussed another key topic that has affected some senior members of the Opposition.

During the meeting, several Opposition members had cited the arrest of Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake as an example of what they had claimed as a ‘political witch hunt’ by the Government. They had further noted that the Government was trying to suppress dissent and that all parties in the Opposition should stand united to fight against the Government.

On Friday (16), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) had filed indictments against former Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and former Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI) Jayanta Edirisinghe over the alleged misuse of BOI funds in 2014. 

According to the charges, the accused had caused a loss of over Rs. 1.74 million to the Government by placing advertisements in 11 newspapers using BOI funds to mark the anniversary of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second presidential term on 19 November 2014.

Mahindananda blames Shasheendra

Meanwhile, former Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage last week implicated former State Minister of Agriculture Shasheendra Rajapaksa over the ongoing controversy related to payments made for an alleged consignment of substandard organic fertiliser that was imported to the country during the Government of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Aluthgamage last Wednesday filed an anticipatory bail application before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, seeking to prevent his arrest over a payment made in 2021 to a Chinese firm for the alleged consignment. 

In the application, it had reportedly been stated that the importation of the alleged consignment had been carried out by the State Ministry of Agriculture and not by the Agriculture Ministry held by him (Aluthgamage). The petition had further stated that Aluthgamage had only submitted the relevant Cabinet papers to the Cabinet of Ministers and that he had no involvement in the process apart from that.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued a notice to the Bribery Commission, asking it to present its case before the court tomorrow (19).

Shasheendra next?

However, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday (16) issued an arrest warrant against Aluthgamage over the controversial organic fertiliser case following a request by the CIABOC.

Given the manner in which the case is proceeding, it is likely that Shasheendra will be next in line for the CIABOC to act on after Aluthgamage.

RW clashes with CIABOC

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe had a run-in with the CIABOC over Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake’s case, with Wickremesinghe threatening to resort to legal action against the commission.

Wickremesinghe issued a statement on Friday (16) claiming that court submissions by the CIABOC referencing him were misleading and legally flawed.

The former President said in a statement: “Media reports highlighting submissions alleged to have been made in court today by the Counsel for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption with reference to me do not mention that the application to cancel bail already granted to Hon. Chamara Sampath MP has been rejected by court, nor is any mention made of the fact that the Counsel for the accused objected to these submissions made by the Counsel for the commission.”

“I am consulting my lawyers as to action to be taken,” he added.

Earlier that day, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court had rejected the request by the CIABOC to cancel the bail granted to Dasanayake and to have him remanded again in connection with the case on alleged financial irregularities committed during his tenure as a member of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Colombo Chief Magistrate Lakmali had rejected the request made by the commission.

The CIABOC had claimed in its motion to court that the suspect, through his wife, had interfered with the ongoing investigations by requesting former President Wickremesinghe to hold a press conference and that the former President is said to have made false statements regarding the incident, effectively exonerating the suspect’s conduct at this press conference.

Tackling corruption

Amidst the ongoing action against alleged corruption in the past, Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata has stated recently that Japan was a victim of corruption in Sri Lanka, and expressed optimism that the Government would tackle the issue.

Responding to the President’s remarks at the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan that politicians belonging to the ruling party are not involved in any form of corruption, the Japanese envoy has said at a recent event that it is equally important to address the same involving bureaucrats.

Asked whether Japan was ready to undertake fresh loan projects since the country had completed debt restructuring, he said his country was ready to consider this if there was a request from the Sri Lankan end. However, he had said that it depended on Sri Lanka’s debt servicing ability.

Looking for a house

Meanwhile, former member of the JVP and incumbent member of the SJB, Waruna Deepthi Rajapaksha claims that authorities are on the lookout for a residence in Colombo for President AKD. The President, since assuming office, has been spending time between the Presidential Secretariat and the JVP Headquarters in Pelawatte.

However, Rajapaksha claims in a YouTube programme that it has been discussed within the party that the long commute for the President from Pelawatte to the President’s Office posed a security risk and therefore he needed to reside at a residence in Colombo.

Given that President AKD has already denounced occupying the official residence of the President in Colombo or any other VIP bungalow, the party, it is learnt, is looking for an ordinary residence in the Colombo area.

RW meets MR

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe took an unannounced trip after Vesak Poya. The trip was to the official residence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7.

Wickremesinghe had made the trip to visit former President MR, who is currently recovering after a knee surgery.

Both RW and MR, it is learnt, had engaged in a friendly chat that had also included the current political situation in the country.

Sajith visits udagam

Meanwhile, Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa has commenced a programme of visiting the udagam that were developed by his father, the late Ranasinghe Premadasa, under the ‘Gam Udawa’ programme. The new programme has been named ‘Udagamin Udagamata’.

The new programme is aimed at inspecting the current situation in the udagam as well as inquiring into the issues faced by the people living in these villages. The first visit under the programme was to the Ulele Maasmulla Uda Gammanaya under the Kamburupitiya Divisional Secretariat in the Matara District.