The Attorney General’s Department has filed indictments in the High Court against 607 individuals, including leading politicians and high-ranking government officials, over the past five months (January to May) of this year.
Among those facing charges are former ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Namal Rajapaksa, Nalin Fernando, Keheliya Rambukwella, and Ravi Karunanayake. Yoshitha Rajapaksa, renowned cricketer Sachithra Senanayake, and several influential drug traffickers are also reported to be among the accused.
Hon. Harshan Suriyapperuma, National List Member of Parliament for the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (NPP) and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, has tendered his resignation from Parliament.
The Secretary-General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, has formally informed the Chairman of the Election Commission of this development.
According to Deputy Minister Suriyapperuma’s resignation letter, his departure is effective from June 20, 2025. Consequently, the Secretary-General has informed the Election Commission Chairman that the seat of (Dr.) Harshan Suriyapperuma’s seat in the Tenth Parliament is now vacant, as per Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981.
Reports indicate that two names have been proposed within the Jathika Jana Balawegaya for the vacant parliamentary seat. These include Mr. Wimal Ketippeaarachchi, who contested and lost the last general election representing the Colombo District, and Attorney-at-Law Upul Kumarapperuma, who similarly contested and lost representing the Matara District.
However, intellectuals supporting the Jathika Jana Balawegaya are advocating for the nomination of Attorney-at-Law Lal Wijenayake. Mr. Wijenayake serves as the Secretary of the United Left Front, which supports the NPP, and is also a member of the Jathika Jana Balawegaya’s Executive Committee.
Furthermore, these scholars propose the establishment of a new Ministry of Constitutional Affairs under Attorney-at-Law Lal Wijenayake, with the mandate to introduce a new constitution as promised in the ‘A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life’ policy statement.
InfoSriLanka.lk has learned that a final decision on this matter is expected today.
A significant dispute has erupted regarding the future of the dental faculty at Sri Jayawardenepura University, with a prominent association strongly opposing attempts to utilize the National Dental Teaching Hospital and the Maharagama Oral Health Institute for student training.
The association emphasizes that these institutions, under the Ministry of Health, are designed to provide free healthcare services to the public and are entirely unsuitable for the clinical training of dental students. They express strong opposition to any moves that would curtail free healthcare services to accommodate clinical training.
In a clear statement outlining their position, the association presents two definitive demands:
Option 1: Establish a Fully Independent Faculty
The association insists that the Ministry of Higher Education must allocate all necessary facilities, dental equipment, dental surgical chairs, and related apparatus to maintain the Sri Jayawardenepura University Dental Faculty as a completely independent entity.
Option 2: Closure of the Faculty and Student Transfer
If independent funding for another dental faculty is not feasible, the association proposes that a responsible economic and scientific decision would be to close the faculty. In this scenario, all students should be transferred to the Faculty of Dental Sciences at the University of Peradeniya to ensure the continuity of their education without disruption.
The association urges His Excellency the President and the current government to make a timely and appropriate decision on this critical issue. They stress the need for a scientific, cost-effective, and successful solution that serves the best interests of all Sri Lankan citizens.
Startling information is emerging regarding Dr. Maheshi S. Wijerathne, a specialist doctor at Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital, suggesting her alleged involvement in brutal racketeering has been sustained by powerful political backing.
The “Lanka” newspaper, approximately 12 years ago, featured an exposé by journalist Janaka Wijegunathilaka titled “Satan’s Daughter,” which unveiled numerous details about Dr. Wijerathne. However, despite these revelations, the alleged brutal rackets reportedly continued, initially under the full patronage of the Rajapaksa family, and subsequently with the blessings of a group including Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa. It has been revealed that Udena Wijerathne, formerly the Gampaha District leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa, is Dr. Wijerathne’s full sibling. Furthermore, Dr. Wijerathne is reportedly the daughter of Mahendra Wijerathne, a former UNP Minister of Livestock, and a granddaughter of Philip and Robert Gunawardena.
Adding to the gravity of the allegations, Dr. Wijerathne is also accused of providing a medical report that misled the court in connection with the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra by Duminda Silva. This individual appears to be a manifestation of the various forms of drug mafia operating within the country.
Despite the “Lanka” newspaper’s exposé titled “Satan’s Daughter” or “Daughter of the Devil,” Dr. Wijerathne reportedly offered no response and continued her alleged illicit activities. It is abundantly clear that the strong political protection she enjoyed served as the foundation for her perceived impunity.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) successfully secured control of the Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha today (20), a local council where the opposition holds a majority based on the recent local government election results.
Faizer Naseer, the SJB candidate, was elected as the new Chairman of the Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha. Notably, this opposition victory occurred while Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa was present in the council.
In related developments, the SJB also secured power in the Galle Rajgama Pradeshiya Sabha today, with Dulaj Tharanga elected as its new chairman. Similarly, in the Matale Laggala Pallehama Pradeshiya Sabha, the SJB gained control, and Bandula Padmasiri was elected as the new chairman.
Meanwhile, Priyantha Godagama Sahabandu, who was appointed as the Deputy Mayor of the Galle Municipal Council in alliance with the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB), has had his party membership suspended. This decision was announced in a statement signed by Attorney-at-Law Sagar Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
The statement indicates that disciplinary action will be taken against Mr. Godagama. The SLPP had previously informed him on how to act during the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Galle Municipal Council. However, the statement asserts that Mr. Godagama acted contrary to party instructions during the vote, which resulted in his election as Deputy Mayor.
Consequently, his SLPP party membership has been suspended with immediate effect, and he has lost all rights to positions and responsibilities within the party.
As reported by InfoSriLanka.lk several months ago, Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, is slated to become the new Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. It is understood that he has resigned from his parliamentary seat to take on this new position.
During today’s parliamentary session, Dr. Suriyapperuma was reportedly granted an additional five minutes for his address, signaling his impending transition.
The former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mahinda Siriwardena, recently retired and is expected to depart to assume a directorial role at the Asian Development Bank.
Dr. Suriyapperuma is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and holds an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, along with a Doctorate in Business Networking and Performance from the University of Management and Science.
He has extensive experience in finance and administration within the private sector, and notably served as the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka from 2013 to 2021. Since 2022, he has also been a member of the Economic Council of the National People’s Power (NPP). He was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament for the NPP in the 2024 general election.
Attempts to contact Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma for comment were unsuccessful.
The opposition, led by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), secured significant victories in the local council elections, gaining control of the Neluwa Pradeshiya Sabha in the Galle district, along with the chairmanship, today (17). This outcome reflects the opposition’s majority in the Galle district following the recent local government elections.
Ajith Chandana of the SJB was elected as the chairman of the Neluwa Pradeshiya Sabha after securing the majority vote in the election held today.
In a similar vein, the SJB’s Mohamed Mahdi was elected as the mayor of the Kynniya Municipal Council in the Trincomalee district, having also obtained the majority of votes in the election. Furthermore, the Ratnapura Pradeshiya Sabha also fell under the control of the opposition.
Hikkaduwa Liyanage Nimal Munasinghe of the SJB was appointed as the chairman of the Ratnapura Pradeshiya Sabha after gaining the majority in the voting process.
However, the election for the new chairman of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha, scheduled for today, was postponed indefinitely.
The voting process commenced under the guidance of the Western Province Commissioner, Sarangika Jayasundara. During the session, two proposals were presented regarding the voting method – whether it should be a secret ballot or an open vote.
As the Commissioner held the authority to decide, she opted for a secret ballot. This decision led to a protest by 24 members who walked out of the council chamber.
Consequently, the lack of a quorum forced the Commissioner to adjourn the council for 30 minutes. Despite the recess, the situation did not improve, leading to the indefinite postponement of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha meeting.
As a result, the appointment of a chairman and vice-chairman for the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha did not take place today.
Vraie Cally Balthazaar has been elected as the Mayor of Colombo with 61 votes in an election held during the Colombo Municipal Council’s inaugural meeting yesterday (16th). The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate, Reza Sarook, received only 54 votes.
This outcome comes despite the SJB presenting a list of 62 signatures purportedly supporting their candidate the day before. When they requested an open vote yesterday, they still only managed to secure 54 votes, indicating that eight signatories had voted against their stated intention.
The process of electing the mayor was contentious, with disagreements arising over whether to hold a secret or open ballot. The SJB and the United National Party (UNP) had requested an open vote, while the opposition threatened legal action against the Provincial Commissioner if a secret ballot was held.
Following her victory in what was ultimately a secret ballot, the newly elected Mayor Kylie Balthazar stated that all 117 council members should unite to develop Colombo.
Meanwhile, SJB representative Waruna Deeptha Rajapaksa alleged at a press conference that the Provincial Commissioner of Local Government, Sarangika Jayasundara, had not followed the guidelines of the Ministry of Public Administration in the mayoral election. He further claimed that key government ministers and deputy ministers held a secret discussion with state officials regarding this matter the previous day.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa also made a special statement yesterday, highlighting guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government in 2025 concerning the election of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons in instances where no single party or independent group secures over 50% of the total membership in a local authority. He stated that while the SJB and the opposition had gained control of several councils by adhering to these guidelines, the current government was exerting pressure to alter them.
Premadasa pointed out that page 7 of these guidelines details the process for deciding on a secret or open vote, including questioning each member by name. He accused authorities and local government commissioners of unilaterally changing these guidelines in various areas because the SJB and the opposition were gaining power in councils by following them.
The Opposition Leader expressed gratitude to the local government commissioners who implemented the guidelines correctly. He questioned how a request for an open vote, signed by 60 Colombo Municipal Council members, could be disregarded. He also demanded to know which parties had pressured officials to change the guidelines and implement their agendas, despite earlier assurances that the guidelines would be followed. Premadasa condemned the blatant violation of these guidelines in Colombo and several other local authorities as a blow to democracy.
He further alleged that there were pressures from higher authorities to deviate from these guidelines, leading to their disregard in several places, which he deemed a violation of democracy and fundamental rights due to the inconsistency between open and secret ballots in different areas. Premadasa vowed to take all necessary steps against this anti-democratic action.
Duminda Nagamuwa of the Frontline Socialist Party stated that the recent secret ballot for Colombo Municipal Council positions indicated that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) had also started engaging in political deals.
In a separate incident, UNP council member for the Colombo Municipal Council, Uluwaduuge Sandamali, was reportedly seriously injured and admitted to the Colombo National Hospital following an assault by activists of the National People’s Power (NPP).
The injured council member is currently receiving treatment in the emergency care unit of the Colombo National Hospital. A complaint has been filed with the police station at the hospital regarding the incident. Further reports indicate that the political attack occurred near Uluwaduuge Sandamali’s office.
The council member was reportedly attacked while recording NPP activists behaving disruptively and setting off firecrackers near her office on her mobile phone. A video reportedly shows the council member’s account of the brutal attack.
It has been reported that the council member, who was subjected to a collective assault by a group of NPP activists, cried for help, and her husband and several neighbors came to her aid, only to be assaulted themselves.
Despite the assault, the council member was eventually taken to the hospital with the assistance of a passing vehicle.
According to the results of the recent local government elections, the NPP secured 48 seats out of the 117 total seats in the Colombo Municipal Council, while the SJB won 29 seats. The UNP obtained 13 seats, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 5 seats, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress 4 seats, and the Sarvajana Bala Wegaya 2 seats. The remaining seats were distributed among other political parties and independent groups.
In a surprising turn of events at the recent local authority elections, Vraie Cally Balthazaar of the National People’s Power (NPP) has been elected as the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council, despite no single party securing a majority.
Ms. Balthazaar secured 61 votes, narrowly defeating Mr. Riza Sarook, who received 54 votes.
The inaugural meeting of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has commenced today (16) amidst a tense atmosphere. No single party secured a majority in the recent local government elections. The meeting is being presided over by the Western Province Local Government Commissioner, Sarangika Jayasundara.
A heated debate has erupted within the council regarding the method of electing the Mayor – whether it will be through a secret ballot or an open vote.
A relevant gazette notification was recently issued by the Local Government Commissioner. According to the notification, the first order of business at the meeting held at the Colombo Town Hall is the election of the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
According to the results of the local government elections, the Janatha Janatha Peramuna (JJB) secured 48 seats out of the total 117 in the CMC. In comparison, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) won 29 seats. The United National Party (UNP) obtained 13 seats, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) secured 5 seats, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) gained 4 seats, and the Sarwajana Bala obtained 2 seats. The remaining seats were distributed among other political parties and independent groups.
As no party obtained more than 50 percent of the seats in the election results, a vote is scheduled to be held at today’s inaugural meeting to elect the key officials of the Colombo Municipal Council.
Meanwhile, the Sarwajana Bala executive committee has decided to support the candidate nominated by the opposition parties contesting for the mayoral position of the Colombo Municipal Council. Accordingly, Sarwajana Bala will vote against the candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP).
