Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National List MP, former State Minister Dr. Sudarshanee Fernandopulle, has pledged her support for Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election.
She announced her decision after a meeting with Sajith Premadasa this morning.
The group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) members who decided to support incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the 2024 Presidential Election is scheduled to launch a new political party next week.
MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the necessary steps required for this purpose are currently underway.
He made these remarks during a special meeting of the “Forum of Former Local Government Heads”, Yesterday(10).
All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader Rishad Bathiudeen, MP, yesterday (09) said that he would consult supporters at district level before announcing their stand on the forthcoming presidential election.
The former Trade and Commerce Minister and Vanni District lawmaker said so when The Island asked him whether the ACMC quit the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)-led Samagi Jana Sandanaya, formed to back Sajith Premadasa’s candidature at the presidential election.
MP Bathiudeen said that he couldn’t have joined the launch of the new alliance on Thursday (08) at the Sugathadasa International Stadium as he was out of the country and yet to consult the electorate.
The ACMC contested the last parliamentary election held in August 2020 on the SJB ticket. Altogether, the breakaway UNP faction won 54 seats, including seven National List slots.
Responding to another query, the MP indicated that though his party contested the general election on the SJB ticket, that didn’t necessarily mean the ACMC had to support Premadasa’s candidature. The former Minister said that his party would choose either Premadasa, or incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is in the presidential fray as an independent candidate.
However, all other political parties namely, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Democratic People’s Front (DPF), National Union of Workers (NUW) and Upcountry People’s Front (UPF), that contested the last general election, entered into a fresh electoral pact with the SJB. The Tamil Progressive Front consists of DPF, NUW and UPF. However, ACMC skipped the event held at the Sugathadasa International Stadium.
Reiterating that the ACMC decision would be guided by their supporters’ stand on the presidential polls, MP Bathiudeen said that he would begin consultations in the northern and eastern districts, except Jaffna and Puttalam, over the next few days. “Our decision will be announced next week, probably on August 17,” MP Bathiudeen said.
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem declared, at the launch of the new alliance, that President Wickremesinghe should be taught a lesson for bribing lawmakers to switch their allegiance ahead of the presidential poll. Referring to the recent ouster of long serving Bangladeshi Premier Sheikh Hasina following a violent public uprising, the former Minister warned President Wickremesinghe that such fate could befall those pursuing dictatorial agendas.
MP Hakeem also slammed President Wickremesinghe over the massive fraud perpetrated through the introduction of a new On Arrival visa scheme. Pointing out that President Wickremesinghe allowed the corrupt deal that was even worse than the Treasury bond scams, perpetrated in 2015 and 2016, MP Hakeem said that they should decide whether to hand over the country to such a leader.
The former Minister said that the 2015 Treasury bond scam was carried out a few months before the general election. Likewise, the Online Visa scam was launched in the run-up to the presidential polls.
In addition to the SLMC and constituents of the TPA entering into the agreement with the SJB, Nidahasa Janatha Sabhawa, consisting of a group of rebel SLPP MPs, joined Sajith Premadasa’s campaign. The group consists of Prof. G.L. Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, Dilan Perera, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Upul Gallappatty, K.P.S. Kumarasiri, Charitha Herath, Lalith Ellawela, Tilak Rajapaksa and Gunapala Ratnasekera.
Sajith Premadasa’s grouping also included the SLFP faction led by Dayasiri Jayasekera, and the civil society grouping Purawasi Handa Bahujana Vyaparaya. Former captain of the national cricket team and ex-Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, too, pledged his support to the SJB leader.
Parliamentarian Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who had been engaged in a running battle with his leader Sajith Premadasa, has resigned as Chairman of the party in the wake of him paying Rs 75,000 cash deposit to contest the presidential election as an independent candidate.
The former Minister and Commander of the warwinning Army called his first media briefing at the Waters Edge Hotel to explain the circumstances leading to him coming forward again as an independent. Fonseka lost to Mahinda Rajapaksa by a huge margin at the 2010 presidential poll.
MP Mujibur Rahman said that with the Supreme Court ruling that unseated Ministers Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando for switching allegiance to President Wickremesinghe, at the expense of the party they were elected from, couldn’t have been given at a better time.
The Supreme Court yesterday (09) ruled that the SJB’s decision taken on July 18, 2023, to suspend the party membership of Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando was lawful.
The SC unseated the Ministers while dismissing a petition filed by them seeking an order that the SJB decision is unlawful.
The decision was announced by the three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Achala Vengappuli and Arjuna Obeysekara.Bandulalal Bandarigoda will succeed Manusha Nanayakkara who entered Parliament from Galle District, whereas Harin Fernando represented the SJB National List.
The Sri Lanka Mahajana Party has pledged its support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election.
Party leader Asanka Navaratne explained that although there were initial proposals to field a candidate from within the party, after thorough discussions, the decision was made to support one of the major candidates already in the race.
He said that in his personal view, an election is not currently necessary for Sri Lanka. However, he acknowledged that, in accordance with the Constitution, an election must be held.
Despite their personal perspectives and party policies, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party has resolved to back President Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure his continued leadership.
He added that while the party does not view Ranil Wickremesinghe as the sole path forward for Sri Lanka, they consider him the most viable option at this time.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs who left the government and have now joined an alliance with the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) first approached the National People’s Power (NPP), its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.
Speaking at an event in Gampaha on Thursday August 08, Dissanayake said the NPP said no to this group of legislators.
“The SLPP is now split to three factions: one is with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, another with MP Namal Rajapaksa and the other with opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. A lot of them knocked on our door before going to the SJB. What did we do? We said ‘ayubowan’ and told them that their record in not that good,” said Dissanayake.
The NPP leader claimed that the visiting MPs were told in no uncertain terms that they had represented a party accused of spreading racism and engaged in corruption, and were shown the door.
“Thanks for knocking on our door but we cannot let you in,” he quoted the NPP spokesmen as saying.
Dissanayake also mentioned the name of MP Nalaka Godahewa who is among the SLPP MPs who have declared their support for the presidential candidature of SJB leader Premadasa.
Dissanayake further said a future NPP government will bring in legislation to prevent members of parliament from crossing over.
“This politics of jumping from side to stop must be stopped one day. Only a movement that won’t embrace those who jump can stop it,” he said.
“We make one guarantee: this is the last time they jump. An NPP government will draft a law that will send them home if they cross over.
“This is what corrupted this country’s politics. They come into power and do anti-people things as they see fit, and fish out opposition MPs as they like. This is our biggest catastrophe,” he said.
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL CERT) has launched an investigation into a fake website similar to the official Election Commission website.
Senior Information Engineer Charuka Damunupola of SL CERT confirmed that a complaint has also been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding this issue.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission announced that the period for accepting postal voting applications for the upcoming presidential election ended at midnight yesterday (09).
Although the relevant period was scheduled to end at midnight on the August 7, steps were taken to extend the period of accepting applications in consideration of possible mail delays and requests made to the commission.
SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa met ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran today where the two discussed issues facing the North and East as well as the development of the districts if Rajapaksa secures victory in the September 21 Presidential Election, Geethanath Cassilingham, Politbureau Member of SLPP representing the Northern Province told Daily Mirror.
Cassilingham said that Rajapaksa informed Sumanthiran that he was ready to work with the Tamil Parliamentarians from the North and East to address the grievances of the people in the area as well as provide livelihoods and a better future for the youth.
Rajapaksa said irrespective of whether he secures victory in the Presidential Elections, he wanted to ensure that citizens in the North and East had a brighter future and he also intended to develop these districts into international trading hubs.
Meanwhile, Rajapaksa has stated during the meeting that he intends to hold discussions with the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) in the near future as well, MP Sumanthiran said.
Sumanthiran in return said he would discuss these matters raised by Rajapaksa in the ITAK’s central committee meeting which would convene tomorrow and appreciated Rajapaksa’s efforts in working for the people in the North and East, Cassilingham said.
US Ambassador To Sri Lanka Julie Chung noting that the United States recognizes human trafficking is a multi-dimensional crime that requires multidimensional approaches, stressed that the US values its partnership with Sri Lanka that is establishing effective victim-centered, trauma-informed policies and strategies to end human trafficking.
“For example, earlier this year, we worked with Police Investigators from the Women & Children’s Bureau, the Attorney General’s Department Prosecutors, Police Training Bureau Instructors, National Child Protection Authority Investigators, and several civil society advocates to enhance their forensic interviewing skills through training on “Forensic Interviewing Skills for Child Abuse Investigations,” to help forensic interviewers when talking to survivors of human trafficking and child abuse. I want to thank DIG Renuka Jayasundara from the police here today who has been a vital partner in all this,” she added.
The U.S. is actively supporting the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force in Sri Lanka, advising on prevention, prosecution, and survivor support. This includes backing the Task Force’s National Action Plan for 2021-2025.
While recognizing Sri Lanka’s progress, such as increased convictions of labor traffickers and proactive measures by Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad, Ambassador Chung noted that significant challenges remain.
The U.S. State Department has urged Sri Lanka to intensify its efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and to ensure that victims are not penalized for actions stemming from their trafficking ordeal.
The U.S. Embassy has announced an additional commitment of USD 24.5 million (Rs. 7.2 billion) from the American people to further the United States’ long-standing investment in the people of Sri Lanka and the US-Sri Lanka partnership.
The additional funding was announced during a visit to Sri Lanka by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia Michael Schiffer at an event held at the Ministry of Finance. USAID Sri Lanka and Maldives Mission Director Gabriel Grau also participated in Friday’s ceremony alongside State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe, the US Embassy in Colombo said.
The funds, committed through a Development Objective Grant Agreement between USAID and the government of Sri Lanka, will strengthen Sri Lanka’s market-driven growth, foster environmental sustainability and resilience, and promote good governance practices. As a result of our partnerships across government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society, the funds support collaborative efforts that are making a positive difference in the lives of Sri Lankans, it added.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung underscored the continued commitment of the American people to investing in economic growth and good governance with this additional funding: “Since 1956, the United States has invested in Sri Lanka’s people, empowering them in their entrepreneurial pursuits, strengthening Sri Lanka’s resilience to climate change and macro-economic shocks, and enriching lives across the country. This additional funding demonstrates our steadfast commitment to working with local partners in Sri Lanka. Together, we are building a foundation for lasting stability and prosperity for communities across the country.”
“The United States and the American people are proud of our longstanding partnership with Sri Lanka and its people,” USAID Assistant Administrator for Bureau of Asia Schiffer said. “This funding is an investment to further support the country’s locally led initiatives to drive sustainable solutions for Sri Lanka’s development challenges.”
The United States has provided more than US $2 billion (Rs. 598 billion) in assistance to Sri Lanka since 1956 to support Sri Lanka’s agriculture, education, health, environment, water, sanitation, infrastructure, governance, and business development and provide humanitarian assistance to people in need. Over the last seven decades, U.S. support has helped modernize Sri Lanka’s diesel coaches, supported its Thriposha supplemental nutrition program, supported the development of electric vehicle charging stations, and empowered women entrepreneurs to drive economic growth.
Ministers Harin Fernando and Manush Nanayakkara lost their Parliament seats following another landmark ruling by the Supreme Court that the decision taken by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to suspend their party membership was lawful.
The Supreme Court dismissing a petition filed by Tourism and Sports Minister Harin Fernando and Foreign Employment Minister Manush Nanayakkara challenging the decision taken by the SJB to remove them from the party.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that the decision to suspend the party membership of the two MPs, who joined the Government of Ranil Wickremesinghe, was legal.
The two MPs have now lost their Parliament seats and their Ministerial portfolios.
The Supreme Court ruled last year determining that the decision taken by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress to sack Minister Naseer Ahamed from the party was valid.
Later Diana Gamage was stripped of her Parliament seat following a Supreme Court judgement.
The Supreme Court ruled that Gamage was not legally qualified to hold a parliamentary seat.
