Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP for the Colombo district Mujibur Rahman made a startling revelation about irregularities and malpractices at Lanka Sathosa, and charged that a tender for system audit had been offered to a company that belongs to Duminda Hulangamuwa who now serves as the advisor to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Delivering his remarks in Parliament during the budget debate, he said the previous tender for system audit which was opened on February 28, 2025 was scrapped since Hulangamuwa’s company had not been selected.
He charged that a fresh tender calling had been done purely for this particular company to qualify. The SJB MP charged that Lanka Sathosa is riddled with corruption in the purchase of supplies such as eggs and rice and transporting coconuts.
“In the past, Lanka Sathosa had always been tainted with corruption and fraud. Today, it is under the purview of a Minister who spearheaded the anti-corruption watch at that time. Despite your past role in an anti-corruption movement, you have miserably failed to address corruption at an institution which is under your purview. You raised your voice against corruption and fraud at that time. Today, you have failed. I wonder whether you remain silent or are incapable of addressing it. Or else, I wonder whether you pretend to not know anything,” he said.
Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe was present at that moment.
He said that the current Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lanka Sathosa had interfered in the tender process for rice purchases, and an audit inquiry is now underway in this regard. He said the Acting CEO had been appointed initially as Deputy General Manager- Internal Audit.
“Now, he operates in two positions,” Rahman said.
Responding to the allegation,Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe said there has been no violation of tender procedures in awarding the systems audit contract to a company of Presidential Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa.
Denouncing the allegation, Minister Samarasinghe said any company which is qualified will be awarded contracts irrespective of ownership.
“The opposition alleged that a contract had been awarded to a company which is said to be owned by the President’s advisor. However there has been no violation of procedures in awarding the contract. A company owned by anyone can secure a contract if it is qualified. A number of government contracts have been awarded to a number of companies owned by a few members of the present Parliament. I don’t want to reveal their names,” he said.
(dailymirror.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailymirror.lk on March 19, 2025, has not been edited by SLM staff)
Sri Lankan athletes delivered strong performances at the 2025 Taiwan Open Athletics Championship, with Nadeesha Lekamge securing a silver medal in the women’s javelin throw and Chamod Yodhasinghe earning bronze in the men’s 100m sprint.
Lekamge’s Season-Best Throw Secures Silver
Nadeesha Lekamge recorded a season’s best throw of 56.62 meters, finishing just behind India’s Annu Rani (56.82m), who took gold.
Lekamge’s performance highlights her consistent form ahead of upcoming international competitions.
Yodhasinghe’s Speed Earns Bronze in 100m
Chamod Yodhasinghe clocked 10.38 seconds in the men’s 100m finals, securing third place behind Australia’s Jiseph Ayoade (10.34s) and Japan’s Bruno Dede (10.36s).
The Sri Lankan sprinter had earlier impressed in the heats with a 10.29-second run, showcasing his potential on the international stage.
In a major relief for Sri Lankans married to Filipino citizens, the Philippine government has officially begun issuing 5-year Temporary Residence Visas (TRVs), replacing the previous 2-year permits.
The move follows years of advocacy by the Sri Lankan community in the Philippines, who faced difficulties due to frequent renewals and prolonged passport retention by authorities. Many struggled with travel restrictions, especially for business and emergencies.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Chanaka Talpahewa, prioritized the issue upon assuming office, engaging in high-level discussions with top Philippine officials, including the Vice President, Foreign Secretary, and key ministers. His persistent efforts led to the policy change, easing bureaucratic hurdles for binational families.
The extended visa validity reflects deepening Sri Lanka-Philippines relations, offering stability to Sri Lankan expatriates. Previously, the short-term TRVs caused financial and logistical strain, with families facing repeated paperwork and delays.
The Ministry of Defence says that approximately 3,000 members of the Sri Lankan armed forces have been taken into custody for failing to report for duty without formally resigning.
The arrests were made during the period from February 22 to the present, as part of a coordinated operation conducted jointly by the tri-forces and the police.
Among those detained, 2,261 are members of the Sri Lanka Army.
The Ministry stated that the operation aims to enforce military regulations and ensure discipline within the armed forces by taking action against those who have gone absent without leave (AWOL).
