With reports suggesting that Provincial Council elections are slated to be held within the first three months of next year, a significant political development is unfolding as four Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Members of Parliament (MPs) are reportedly preparing to resign from their parliamentary seats.
These four MPs have already informed their party leader and Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, of their intentions.
Targeting Chief Ministerial Roles
The MPs have conveyed to Mr. Premadasa their aspiration to contest the upcoming Provincial Council elections and vie for Chief Ministerial positions in their respective provinces on behalf of the SJB.
They have reportedly explained that serving as a Member of Parliament does not provide sufficient facilities to adequately serve the people in their regions. However, they believe that assuming the role of a Provincial Chief Minister would grant them a multitude of resources and opportunities to better serve the public, a key factor in their decision.
Is the Story a ‘Political Ploy’?
Nevertheless, political sources suggest that this news might be a strategic “ploy” orchestrated by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya itself. There is speculation that the story has been manufactured to draw public attention to the party’s activities and leadership in the lead-up to the Provincial Council elections.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a key ally in the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) government, is exerting significant pressure on the highest political authorities to introduce a new constitutional amendment to abolish the Provincial Council system entirely, rather than holding the proposed Provincial Council elections.
The JVP’s primary argument is that despite the Provincial Councils being dissolved for over five years, the country’s administrative functions have continued without hindrance.”Provincial Councils are a White Elephant.”
The JVP emphasizes that the public has practically realized that Provincial Councils, which waste public money and allocate a large portion of national wealth, are a “white elephant.” They believe this is the most opportune moment to abolish the system . Government’s Policy Promise and Conflicting Views
The NPP government, in its policy statement, promised to hold Provincial Council elections within one year of coming to power. However, the elections have been delayed due to the unfinished delimitation process and the lack of a final decision on the electoral system.
Conflicting opinions within the government regarding the elections have also emerged:
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath expressed confidence in Parliament last week that elections could be held within the first six months of 2026.
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva stated his belief that elections could be held by the end of next year.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that India and several Western countries are also strongly pressuring the government to promptly hold Provincial Council elections to strengthen democracy. Undeveloped Funds
Provincial Councils in Sri Lanka were dissolved between 2017 and 2019. It has been revealed at District Development Councils and in Parliament that less than twenty percent (20%) of the funds allocated by the government to these Provincial Councils in the last budget had been spent by the end of the year.
This situation further strengthens the JVP’s arguments for the abolition of Provincial Councils.
The Provincial Council system was established in 1987 under the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, in accordance with the Indo-Lanka Accord.
In a move aimed at accelerating and enhancing the efficiency of government development targets in line with the 2026 budget, a new cabinet reshuffle has been enacted.
The reshuffle has seen the appointment of three new ministers and ten deputy ministers. The new ministers sworn in under the cabinet amendment are as follows:
Mr. Bimal Niroshan Rathnayake: Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development.
Mr. Anura Karunathilaka: Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation.
Mr. Herath Mudiyanselage Susil Ranasinghe: Minister of Housing, Construction, and Water Supply.
The government’s decision is to reallocate responsibilities within certain ministries and make new appointments to successfully address future development challenges. This amendment primarily targets increasing efficiency within the state sector.
However, political commentators, commenting on the matter, suggest that the government’s shortcomings cannot be resolved by a mere cabinet reshuffle.
A statement made by an opposition Member of Parliament regarding the government’s tender to purchase 100 low-floor buses has sparked widespread debate on social media. Many are accusing the tender process of being deliberately manipulated to prevent the provision of comfortable public transport services.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Prasad Siriwardana revealed in Parliament that the core issue lies in a tender condition that allegedly favors imported buses by excluding local bus assemblers.
The Rs. 6 Billion ‘Turnover’ Condition Under Scrutiny
The two main local companies vying for this tender are Lanka Ashok Leyland PLC, which locally assembles Ashok Leyland buses, and DIMO PLC, which imports TATA buses.
According to the tender condition, a bidding company must demonstrate an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 6 billion in at least three of the past five years.
Lanka Ashok Leyland has exceeded this limit in two years, but in one year, its income was comparatively lower Rs. 5.4 billion.
DIMO PLC, which imports vehicles of various brands in addition to TATA, boasts an annual turnover ranging from Rs. 40-50 billion.
This disparity has fueled strong suspicions that the condition was intentionally included to disqualify Ashok Leyland from the tender process.
Stock Market Behavior Raises Eyebrows
While working capital is typically more crucial than annual turnover for large bus orders, the focus in this tender has been heavily placed on the income limit.
The behavior of stock prices in the wake of these tender conditions has also raised suspicion:
Before the conditions were announced, investors expected Ashok Leyland to secure the tender, causing its share price to rise.
Following the announcement of the tender conditions, DIMO PLC’s share price began to climb significantly, recording an unusual 49% surge today (October 9th). (It’s noteworthy that the primary shareholders of DIMO are Dhammika Perera’s Hayleys company and family members of its CEO.)
Critics are questioning the connection between this abnormal stock market activity and the Rs. 6 billion ‘turnover’ condition, calling for an immediate investigation into the tender process.
While Lanka Ashok Leyland technically could have submitted a joint venture bid with its Indian parent company, the opposition is questioning whether this condition was a deliberate tactic to exclude local assemblers.
The name of a special female aide, initially scheduled to attend the World Trade Organization’s annual conference in Cameroon with Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, has been removed from the travel roster today (October 9) following questions raised in Parliament.
The controversy arose yesterday (October 8) when MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake questioned in Parliament the purpose of taking the individual, identified as a public relations officer, to such a conference.
Reports indicate that the President’s Office intervened to remove the name of Nimodi Wickremesinghe, Minister Samarasinghe’s public relations officer, from the delegation.
Meanwhile, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe addressed Parliament today (October 9) to clarify the necessity of taking a coordinating officer to the World Trade Policy Review discussions in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Minister stated:
245 questions have already been submitted regarding Sri Lanka’s trade policy, requiring answers within three days.
Given the likelihood of follow-up questions during the response process, there is a need for a “Contact Point” to liaise with Sri Lanka from abroad.
The Minister further added that some opposition factions have acted without understanding the matter, and various things have been published on opposition-friendly social media. He stated that necessary actions would be taken regarding this in the future.
A long-standing legal battle between the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) over a party office in Yakkala took an unexpected turn today at the Gampaha No. 02 Magistrate’s Court, as the presiding magistrate recused himself from the case.
The case, which was scheduled for today, saw the JVP request additional time to present their arguments, leading to an adjournment until October 21. However, the most significant development was the magistrate’s declaration that he would be withdrawing from the case due to “personal reasons.”
Consequently, the dispute concerning the Yakkala party office will now be heard before the Gampaha No. 01 Magistrate’s Court. Notably, it was the same magistrate who had previously issued an interim order for the JVP faction to vacate the Yakkala office, placing it under the custody of the Yakkala Police.
This property dispute between the two parties is now set to continue under a new judicial authority in the coming days.
The World Bank has issued a stark warning to Sri Lanka, highlighting a significant shortfall in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, which are crucial for the nation’s economic objectives. The institution emphasizes the urgent need for a series of rapid structural reforms to achieve its economic goals.
Massive FDI Gap
According to World Bank representatives, while FDI should ideally constitute 1.5% of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the country currently attracts a mere 0.5%. This figure is deemed woefully inadequate for the nation’s development aspirations.
This decline is particularly concerning given that regional peers like Vietnam and Malaysia are attracting significantly higher FDI, with inflows reaching 3% of their respective GDPs. Sri Lanka’s FDI has further deteriorated from its previous level of 1%.
Speaking at a media briefing today to update the country’s situation, Richard Walker, the World Bank’s Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka, stated that Sri Lanka would need to implement “numerous significant changes” to achieve the government’s target of attracting US$36 billion in FDI by 2030.
Major Barriers Deterring Investors
Mr. Walker specifically drew attention to two key structural barriers that are discouraging investors:
1. Difficulty in Accessing Land:
Foreign investors are deterred by the fact that 80% of the country’s land is state-owned and remains under bureaucratic and ministerial control.
This situation has particularly negative impacts on investments in the agricultural sector.
2. Outdated Labor Laws:
Labor laws, more than six decades old, restrict business flexibility, posing another significant challenge.
Mr. Walker also pointed out that these laws limit employment opportunities for women in certain sectors, thereby hindering economic growth.
Mr. Walker sternly warned that if these structural issues are not addressed promptly, Sri Lanka will be unable to compete globally for foreign investment.
Therefore, the World Bank underscores that improving land governance, modernizing labor regulations, and creating a more investor-friendly business environment are absolutely critical steps to boost FDI inflows and achieve economic targets.
Parliamentarian and attorney Dayasiri Jayasekara today submitted a privilege issue to the Speaker, alleging that members of the Constitutional Council were misled during the appointment of High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake as the Director-General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
The MP’s primary accusation is that Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake, brought disrepute to the entire Parliament by presenting false information to the Constitutional Council.
Controversy Surrounding the Appointment
The final two candidates for the Director-General position were Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon from the Attorney General’s Department and High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake.
According to the Constitutional Council meeting minutes, Madhawa Tennakoon secured the highest score (80.55 out of 100), while Ranga Dissanayake was in second place (78.00).
However, in a subsequent vote, Ranga Dissanayake was recommended for the position with 5 votes, while Madhawa Tennakoon received 4 votes.
Key Allegations Against the Leader of the House
Dayasiri Jayasekara’s allegations center on recommendation letters provided by two Governors (Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri Jinadasa and Champa Janaki Rajarathna) in favor of Ranga Dissanayake.
Political Interference: These recommendations were initially discussed by the Constitutional Council as ‘political interference’ given that they were from individuals holding politically appointed Governor positions.
Presentation of False Information: It is alleged that the Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake, informed the Constitutional Council that these recommendation letters were submitted before the individuals were appointed as Governors.
Misleading the Council: Believing this statement, Professor Dinesha Samararatne, a member of the Constitutional Council, cast her vote for Ranga Dissanayake, which ultimately led to his victory.
However, it was later revealed that the Gazette notification for the appointment of the Governors was published on September 27, 2024, and they had recommended Ranga Dissanayake after their appointment as Governors.
Speaker Called Upon for Clarification
In light of this situation, Professor Dinesha Samararatne has also submitted an affidavit to the Speaker, expressing her immediate protest.
MP Dayasiri Jayasekara alleges that presenting false information to a Parliamentary Committee with the intent to deceive is a serious offense under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, and that this offense was deliberately committed by the Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake.
He has requested that this matter be immediately referred to the Privileges Committee for a breach of privilege, and that the Speaker, as the head of Parliament and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, provide a clarification to the House.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) stalwart Waruna Rajapaksha has fiercely rebutted criticisms leveled against party leader Sajith Premadasa, who has been accused of political inactivity and “sleeping.” Rajapaksha’s sharp remarks were directed at Priyanjith Vitharana (blogger “Rate Rala”), a former member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the National People’s Power’s predecessor.
In a video statement, Rajapaksha questioned Vitharana’s proposal to unite with individuals like Udaya Gammanpila, who have been associated with spreading racist ideologies such as the “Womb War.” Rajapaksha emphasized that the SJB cannot align with individuals who hold such stances without first apologizing for their past wrongs.
The InfoSriLanka.lk editorial board commends Mr. Waruna Rajapaksha for his forthright statement and expresses its disdain for Mr. Priyanjith Vitharana.
Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant demographic shift, with the Department of Registrar General announcing a massive decrease of 80,945 births in 2024 compared to 2020. This alarming trend has prompted serious attention to the changing structure of the country’s population.
Sharp Decline in Birth Rates
According to data from the Department of Registrar General, a continuous decline in birth rates has been observed:
Year
Recorded Births
2020
301,706
2021
284,848
2022
275,321
2023
247,900
2024
220,761
The reduction in births from 2020 to 2024 stands at a staggering 80,945. In 2024, Colombo District recorded the highest number of births, while Mullaitivu reported the lowest with only 846 births.
Rising Deaths and Declining Marriages
In addition to the drop in birth rates, the report indicates a significant increase in deaths from 2021 to 2023:
Year
Recorded Deaths
2020
132,371
2021
163,936
2022
179,792
2023
181,239
2024
171,194
Furthermore, statistics from the Department of Registrar General reveal a decrease of 12,066 marriages in 2024 compared to 2023.
Experts warn that these changes in population growth and marriage rates will impact Sri Lanka’s workforce, healthcare sector, and economy in the coming years.
