President Anura Kumara Dissanayake shared an unexpected discovery he made one Friday at the Presidential Secretariat.

Speaking at a National People’s Power (NPP) election rally, Dissanayake said,
"One Friday, I noticed two 60 kg bags filled with fresh vegetables at the Presidential Secretariat. I was puzzled and asked why they were there. I found out these vegetables were sent from Nuwara Eliya, grown on the land surrounding the President's House. They were organic vegetables, and every Friday, the Secretariat received two bags of fresh produce. This was how former leaders operated. They enjoyed exclusive perks, expecting the public to sponsor these luxuries simply because they felt entitled."

He then explained how he dealt with the vegetable bags. "I instructed that these vegetables be used to prepare meals for the officers who provide security," he said.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya assured the public that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be summoned to provide evidence regarding the 2015 Central Bank bond scam.

Speaking at a National People’s Power (NPP) public rally, Dr. Amarasuriya confirmed that the NPP-led government is committed to taking legal action against all individuals involved in the misappropriation of public funds.

Addressing Wickremesinghe’s recent remarks, Dr. Amarasuriya commented: “Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed that I lack understanding of the Constitution and offered to teach me. Should I attend his lessons? He’s been rejected by the people 17 times but still refuses to step down. The sovereignty of the people is central to the Constitution—a concept he seems to overlook.”

She continued, “If he understood this, he wouldn’t have postponed elections, disregarded the Constitutional Council’s decisions, or influenced the judiciary for favourable outcomes. Perhaps he should grasp these basic principles before offering to instruct me.”

“The people have given us a clear mandate, and we are fulfilling it. Under no circumstances will we seek advice from Ranil Wickremesinghe. We have no need for counsel from individuals implicated in the Central Bank scam. Legal action will target not only those involved in the bond scam but all who have misused public funds,” she asserted.

The Supreme Court ordered the dismissal, without a hearing, of a fundamental rights petition filed to reject the nomination of former Member of Parliament Ranjan Ramanayake. He has been nominated by the United Democratic Voice (UDV) to contest the upcoming General Election in the Gampaha District.

The three-member Supreme Court bench, consisting of Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumudini Wickramasinghe  and Achala Wengappuli, issued this order after accepting the preliminary objections presented by the lawyers representing the respondent side.

The petition was submitted by K.M. Mahinda Senanayake, an independent group candidate for the Gampaha District. The respondents named in the case included the Election Commission, its members, Ranjan Ramanayake, the Gampaha District Returning Officer, and several others.

The United Democratic Voice (UDV) expressed uncertainty regarding the legality of Ranjan Ramanayake’s candidacy due to unresolved issues surrounding his civic rights, which were revoked following his prior conviction.

Speaking at a press conference, the UDV’s Colombo district candidate and media spokesperson, Ravi Kumudesh, confirmed that Ramanayake had sent a letter to the President seeking the restoration of his civic rights, a move that would impact his eligibility for Parliament.

Kumudesh explained that although the letter was circulated on social media, there has been no official response from the President. “Ramanayake openly requested the restoration of his civic rights, and while this is a genuine appeal, it remains unresolved,” he said, noting that the lack of response has created uncertainty about Ramanayake’s potential return to Parliament.

Kumudesh clarified that while the UDV’s leadership remains with Ramanayake, questions linger regarding his ability to hold office. “Even if he does not go to Parliament, Ranjan remains the leader of our party, and we follow his guidance,” Kumudesh stated.

He also addressed rumors of potential issues with election laws regarding the matter, dismissing them but acknowledging the complexities posed by Ramanayake’s situation. Kumudesh reiterated the party’s stance, asserting that Ramanayake’s role as leader remains unchallenged despite the ambiguity over his candidacy.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is not seeking votes in upcoming General Election to remain in the opposition; instead, we are asking for a majority of seats to form a government, former MP Eran Wickramaratne said today (29 October).

During a media briefing, Wickramaratne emphasized that the SJB is committed to establishing a government through democratic means, as outlined in the constitution. “The party with the most seats forms the government. We are prepared to fully support the President in tackling corruption, enforcing the law, and abolishing the presidency,” he remarked.

Wickramaratne cautioned that if the economic policies of the National People's Force are followed, the country could face even greater bankruptcy. He highlighted that without reforming loss-making state enterprises, the nation cannot progress. While there are calls to control prices, he noted that such measures are not easily achieved. “There are significant challenges with economic policy that require experience, knowledge, and a capable team to address,” he added.

He pointed out that nearly a month has passed since the current government was appointed, but it does not appear to be fulfilling its promises. "There is no formal government program. In contrast, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya have a clear agenda," Wickramaratne concluded.

A petition has been filed with the Supreme Court requesting an order to reject the nomination of former MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who is contesting the upcoming general election under the "United Democratic Voice" party from the Gampaha District.

The petition, submitted by Gampaha District independent candidate K.M. Mahinda Senanayake, also seeks a ruling declaring that Ramanayake does not have the right to obtain a parliamentary seat or vote.

The Election Commission, its members, Ranjan Ramanayake, the Gampaha District Returning Officer, and several others have been named as respondents in the case.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has deployed approximately 160 election observers across all districts to monitor the misuse of public resources during the General Election 2024.

Since 14 October, TISL has received 70 complaints, many of which are related to new appointments made in public institutions.

“We have received information about a contesting candidate being appointed to a public service position. A formal complaint was lodged with the Election Commission regarding this. We are closely monitoring the new ruling party for any misuse of public resources during its election campaign. Several new governors, ministry secretaries, and chairpersons have been appointed by the interim government, and some may have political affiliations. We remind them to respect election laws, especially as stewards of public property. In the previous election, we saw significant misuse of power and public vehicles by governors for political purposes,” said Thushanie Kandilpana, National Coordinator of the Programme for the Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) at TISL.

Kandilpana was speaking at a media conference held yesterday (23) at TISL’s premises in Nawala. She noted that during the previous Presidential Election, TISL received 117 complaints involving public officials, and the Election Commission subsequently removed over 40 of them from election duties.

TISL received more than 1,000 complaints of public resource misuse in the last election, and investigations into several of these cases are ongoing. “For example, Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd. hired 47 individuals during the Presidential Election period, exceeding the necessary cadre. We are currently following up on this complaint with the Ministry of Industries, and we will not hesitate to initiate legal action if it is not properly addressed,” Kandilpana added.

Gowriswaran Kirupairajah, Senior Programme Manager at TISL, urged citizens to report any misuse of public resources during the election with evidence. Complaints can be submitted via the website www.apesalli.lk, through the hotline at 076 322 3442 (WhatsApp available), or by fax at 011 286 5777. Verified complaints will be forwarded to the Election Commission for further action.

Shaveendra Senarath, Programme Manager for the Political Sector at TISL, also spoke at the media conference. He announced that, in collaboration with other election monitoring organizations, TISL will monitor campaign finance for the General Election and make the information publicly available through chandasallimeetare.lk.

The Supreme Court has informed the Election Commission (EC) that its decision to reject the Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) nomination paper for the Vanni District was not in accordance with the law. The Court also ordered the EC to accept the nomination in question.

The petition was filed by Pararajasingham Udaya Rasa, the party's authorized officer, along with two other candidates. The Chairman and members of the Election Commission, as well as the Vanni District Election Officer, were named as respondents in the case.

The petitioners argued that the District Returning Officer's decision to reject the nomination was unlawful, as all required documents had been duly submitted.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Gazette notification that schedules the General Election for 2024 on 14 November.

The petition was submitted by H.M. Priyantha Herath, a civil rights activist and convener of the "Api Sri Lanka National Organization." He is requesting a ruling that the decision to hold the parliamentary polls on 14 November is unconstitutional.

The respondents named in the petition include the Attorney General, the Secretary to the President, the Chairman of the Election Commission, and other commission members.

The petitioner claims that according to Section 10 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the nomination period was set from 4 October to 11 October. Furthermore, the Act stipulates that the polling date must be fixed between five to seven weeks from the conclusion of the nomination period.

Thus, the petitioner states that the five-week period from 11 October, when the acceptance of nominations was completed, will end on 15 November, while the seven-week period will conclude on 29 November.

However, the petitioner argues that holding the parliamentary polls on 14 November is unlawful, as this date falls outside the mandated period.

The petition also mentions that attempts were made to inform the Chairman of the Election Commission about this error, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

The petitioner has requested the Supreme Court to declare that the scheduled election violates the sovereignty of the people and the Constitution. Additionally, he seeks the Court's guidance on appropriate measures to correct this issue.

Leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sajith Premadasa, expressed confidence in the party's ability to secure a parliamentary majority, stating that there are no issues in working with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Premadasa said that the SJB has assembled a strong team with a clear vision for the country’s development, positioning it as the most suitable choice for leadership in the current political landscape.

“Some question whether it is okay to give a parliamentary majority to a party when the President comes from another party. I think there is no problem with that, because we, the SJB, don’t have any issues working with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake,” Premadasa added.