A proposal has been submitted to Parliament to appoint a special parliament select committee to conduct a full study and report on the lack of preparedness in facing Cyclone Ditwah, and to present its recommendations and suggestions to Parliament.

The proposal was presented in Parliament today (21 Jan) by Opposition MP Gayantha Karunathilleka and was seconded by MP Dilip Wedaarachchi. (Newswire)

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Several former Cabinet Ministers have been questioned by the Bribery Commission in connection with an investigation regarding the leasing of a building in the Rajagiriya area for the functioning of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Opposition MP Gayantha Karunathilaka appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption this morning (11) to provide a statement in this regard.

Karunathilaka, who served as a Cabinet Minister at the time of the incident, was summoned by the Commission to give a statement.

Yesterday, former Ministers Lakshman Kiriella and Mahinda Samarasinghe, who served under the Yahapalana government, also appeared before the Commission to provide statements related to the same incident. (Newswire)

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Opposition MPs Gayantha Karunathilaka, Harshana Rajakaruna, and Kins Nelson have raised concerns over the government’s mentioning of their names in connection to a list of people who had obtained fuel sheds through political links.

Addressing the Parliament today, Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka said that the fuel station mentioned had been obtained by his grandfather, even before he was born.

“The only fuel station in my family was started in 1955 by my grandfather. That fuel station has remained with my family over the last 70+ years. It is not illegal. As such, I do not understand why my name has been mentioned. He urged the government to investigate the history of his family’s fuel shed and consider whether it was just to include his name in the list,” he said.

Also commenting on the matter, Opposition MP Harshana Rajakaruna said his name has also been included in the list of persons who had obtained fuel stations using political influence. 

Refuting the claims, MP Rajakaruna said they were false and that he does not own a fuel station at present.

“My grandfather had owned a fuel station. This was even before I was born. However, we do not own a fuel station now. Our relatives have the right to do whatever business they want. Stop using our names and claiming political influence,” he said. 

Also speaking on the matter, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Kins Nelson, from the Polonnaruwa District, clarified that he does not own any fuel station.

Along with the other SJB MPs, he called on the Speaker to correct the false information regarding them. 

The three SJB Parliamentarians’ comments come after Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra disclosed in Parliament yesterday that several Opposition politicians have associated with a major distributor in the country causing the fuel distribution crisis. 

“We also found out that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the personal security officer of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the sister of former Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and friends of SJB MPs Harshana Rajakaruna, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Gayantha Karunathileka have been associated with the fuel distributor,” the Deputy Minister informed Parliament.

Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra further alleged that the opposition was behind the fuel distribution crisis in the country. (Newswire)

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The Opposition has decided to refrain from appointing representatives or officially participating in several Parliamentary committees, including the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

According to The Morning newspaper, Chief Opposition Whip MP Gayantha Karunathilleka said the opposition will refrain from participating until their representation in Parliamentary committees is increased. 

He said a request had been made from the relevant authorities including the President and both former and incumbent Speakers of the Parliament that the Opposition’s representation in committees such as the Parliamentary Business Committee, the Committee on Public Enterprises, and the Committee on Public Accounts be increased.

MP Gayantha Karunathilleka said, however, there had been no favourable response.

Stating that the Opposition Leader and Chief Opposition Whip can officially attend the Parliamentary Business Committee, he said, however, only four other Opposition MPs are allowed to be appointed to it. 

MP Gayantha Karunathilleka further pointed out that in the previous Parliament, with just six political parties in the Opposition, 10 Opposition MPs were appointed to the Parliamentary Business Committee.

“Now, with 12 political parties in the Opposition, the current representation of four is insufficient. We raised this issue with the former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala. After his resignation, we discussed it with the current Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, and he said that he would study the matter. We also met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the Parliament, and he said that we would be provided with a flexible solution. However, nothing has happened yet,” he alleged. (Newswire)

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Galle District MP of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Gayantha Karunatilleka has been appointed as the Chief Opposition Whip in Parliament.

Karunatilleka served as Minister of Mass Media during the 2015-2019 government, while also serving as the Cabinet Media Spokesperson. (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Gayantha Karunathilaka has assured his support for the party after reports of him attending an event with President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently.

MP Karunathilaka said that he had entered Parliament through the SJB and will continue to work for the party. 

Speaking to reporters, he further said that he would only form a government with the SJB under party Leader MP Sajith Premadasa.

Addressing queries on attending an event held under the patronage of the President in Dambulla, MP Karunathilaka said he had initiated the proposal to award freehold titles to the people during his tenure as Minister of Lands under the Yahapalana Government.

Stating that the proposal which received cabinet approval had been halted due to a court case at the time, MP Karunathilaka said as the project is being implemented now, he had represented the event as the former Minister of Lands and as a representative who had spearheaded the programme. (NewsWire)

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