News

Tissa Attanayake withdraws from SJB – UNP discussions

Published

4 weeks ago

February 16, 2025

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Tissa Attanayake, National Organiser of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), announced on Monday (16) that he has withdrawn from the committee tasked with holding discussions with the United National Party (UNP) and will no longer participate in future talks between the two parties.

Addressing a special press conference, the former parliamentarian criticized the lack of clarity surrounding the dialogue process, stating, “Our Working Committee and Management Committee had decided to initiate these discussions.

If there was any ambiguity regarding the process, it should have been reported.” Attanayake emphasized that if the SJB-UNP discussions are deemed unnecessary, the party should formally discontinue them rather than engage in internal blame games.

“Blaming each other is not relevant to the matter. If the party has taken a certain stance on these discussions, I will not rejoin until the next Working Committee decides on that stance,” he asserted.

His withdrawal marks a significant setback in efforts to foster collaboration between the SJB and UNP, both key players in Sri Lanka’s opposition politics.

The development raises questions about the future of potential alliances ahead of critical political engagements.

News

Misuse of plantation funds and lands exposed in parliament

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyarathna, addressed Parliament, alleging that numerous associates and officials, including former ministers, have recently received substantial sums of money and government lands under the pretext of various cultivation projects, which were subsequently not implemented. He announced that investigations will be initiated into these matters.

Minister Vidyarathna accused former Minister Salinda Dissanayake of acquiring 76 acres of fertile land from the Kurunegala Plantation Company through a company he personally established.

Additionally, he claimed that a friend of former Minister Arundika Fernando was allocated 21 acres of fertile land belonging to the same company, misrepresented as barren land, with the transaction allegedly authorized by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister further alleged that Anoma Gamage, wife of former Primary Industries Minister Daya Gamage, received 140 million rupees purportedly for an agricultural project, which was never executed.

These allegations were presented during the debate on the expenditure head of the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure.

He also stated that former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda was granted 180 million rupees for a cultivation project, and that 82 million rupees were given to the son of former Ministry Secretary Bandula Wickramarachchi for a similar initiative.