Out of the box (English)

The Police Headquarters has announced that four senior police officers have been transferred, effective from February 5. These transfers have been approved by the National Police Commission.

The officers reassigned are:

• Senior DIG P.P.S.M. Dharmaratne – Transferred from Senior DIG in charge of Sabaragamuwa Province to Senior DIG in charge of Western Province.
• Senior DIG K.P.M. Gunaratne – Transferred from Senior DIG in charge of Western Province to Senior DIG in charge of Sabaragamuwa Province.
• DIG G.A.N.L. Wijesena – Transferred from DIG in charge of Kalutara District to DIG in charge of Sadhana District.
• Female DIG W.J. Padmini – Transferred from DIG in charge of the Welfare District to DIG in charge of Kalutara District.

Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, has announced that the government will not issue a formal request for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to vacate his official residence. Instead, a bill will be presented in Parliament to legally address the matter.

He questioned whether it is morally justifiable for a single individual to occupy a vast 30,000-square-foot mansion.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that rather than sending an official letter, the government will follow legal procedures to remove the former President through an Act of Parliament.

Commenting on the issue, Mr. Watagala stated:

“30,000 square feet… Oh, Mr. President, if you have a conscience, reflect on it. If not, then leave. The bill will be tabled in Parliament in the coming days. No letters will be sent—only an Act of Parliament. The process will follow legal provisions. If he chooses to leave voluntarily, it would be an honorable decision. So, he should reflect on it.”

Responding to Deshaya newspaper, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision to revoke his official residence and security was a move to satisfy the Tamil diaspora that contributed to his electoral victory.

Rajapaksa emphasized that many have forgotten the past, reminding the public that it was the heroic tri-forces who halted the LTTE’s wave of destruction. He recalled the Central Bank bombing, the Dehiwala train attack, the Air Lanka bombing, and aerial attacks on Colombo, which were countered under his leadership.

Reflecting on the past sacrifices, he mentioned how villages frequently received sealed coffins of fallen soldiers. He asserted that his leadership was instrumental in ending the violence that claimed thousands of innocent lives, including those of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa.

Rajapaksa remarked that the government would witness public sentiment in the upcoming elections regarding the decision to withdraw security and accommodation from a former head of state, who remains highly vulnerable to security threats.

Addressing a media briefing at the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Party headquarters today (27), its leader, lawyer Udaya Gammanpila, emphasized that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake cannot abolish pensions for former presidents under the current constitutional framework.

He pointed out that abolishing these pensions was a key promise in the National People’s Power (NPP) election manifesto. However, Gammanpila suggested that the manifesto’s preparation lacked input from individuals well-versed in constitutional law.

He elaborated further:
“Abolishing the pensions of former presidents was a promise by Anura Dissanayake and the leadership of the Compass government, as stated in their policy statement. So why is this topic not being discussed now? Forgotten? No, it hasn’t been forgotten—it has had to be forgotten.

Why? According to Article 36(2) of our Constitution, the pensions of former presidents currently receiving them cannot be revoked. President Anura can only abolish pensions for future presidents. Let us read the relevant section of the Constitution:

‘When a person assumes the office of President, that person shall be entitled to receive such salaries and allowances as determined by Parliament and thereafter to receive such pensions as determined. Any subsequent amendment, repeal, or replacement of this Constitution or any inconsistent law enacted thereafter shall not have retrospective effect.’

This isn’t my claim—it is the declaration of the Supreme Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who pledged to uphold the Constitution, cannot abolish pensions for former presidents already receiving them.

Even if the Constitution is amended or a new law contradicting this article is introduced, it will only apply to the future. Therefore, the current administration lacks the legal ability to revoke pensions already granted to former presidents.”

In an interview on a YouTube channel, former UNP MP Ashu Marasinghe revealed that he has been removed from the UNP Working Committee.

Mr. Marasinghe, who also served as an advisor on parliamentary affairs to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, stated that his name has not been included in the Working Committee for the year 2025 by the UNP leader.

He disclosed during the discussion that, prior to the general election, he and a group within the party firmly advocated for uniting with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Party. However, this proposal faced strong opposition from individuals close to Ranil Wickremesinghe, leading to a conflict of opinions within the party.

Despite his removal, Mr. Marasinghe stated that he has not been given a clear explanation for the decision. He further mentioned that when he sought clarification from party General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala, she acknowledged the presence of an issue but refrained from providing any details.

Italian apparel company Benji Garments has entered a new agreement with Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment to enhance technology for manufacturing bra cups used in world-renowned lingerie brands. This initiative involves a significant investment of $35 million.

Benji Garments, owned by an Italian parent company operating in Sri Lanka under Sirio and Alfa, began producing women’s lingerie in 2006.

With this investment, the company will introduce advanced machinery and equipment to increase bra cup production capacity by 35%, from the current output of 30 million units. According to the Board of Investment, this development is set to eliminate the reliance on bra cup imports from China, retaining valuable foreign exchange within the country.

A fundamental rights petition has been filed seeking an order to reinstate the security forces that were withdrawn from former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In his petition, Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed that the decision to remove his security personnel was made without a proper threat assessment. He highlighted that his current security detail has been reduced to only 60 officers, consisting solely of police personnel.

Rajapaksa emphasized that, as the leader who oversaw the end of a three-decade-long war, he continues to face threats to his life, including those from terrorist groups. He has requested the court to direct the respondents to conduct a comprehensive threat assessment and ensure adequate protection.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and several other ministers have been named as respondents in the case.

The former President has also urged the court to rule that the respondents violated his fundamental rights by arbitrarily reducing his security arrangements.

The Hela Kantha Balaya organization, representing the Patriotic National Force, has raised concerns about an alleged government-backed program promoting homosexual rights.

Lawyer Madumali Alwis, a member of the organization, claimed that evidence suggests efforts are being made to influence children’s perceptions through school textbooks.

According to her, this promotion allegedly undermines the recognition of the existence of two genders in society. She also accused certain non-governmental organizations of being the driving force behind this initiative.

Furthermore, Alwis alleged that a significant medical mafia is involved in encouraging homosexuality among children.

However, she emphasized that while there is no objection to individuals exercising their rights to homosexual advocacy privately.