Former Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has appealed to Sri Lankans working abroad to send money to Sri Lanka through legal banking channels to help support the country’s economy.

His appeal comes as Sri Lanka faces renewed pressure on foreign currency reserves, with concerns over a growing dollar shortage and the Sri Lankan rupee falling to its lowest levels against the US Dollar since the 2023 economic recovery period.

In a statement, Nanayakkara said overseas Sri Lankans had previously helped the country during the economic crisis by sending foreign currency through official channels. He said those contributions played a role in stabilizing the economy during a period of severe financial hardship.

Nanayakkara said political differences should be set aside as the country faces another difficult economic period. He urged migrant workers not to use informal money transfer systems such as “Undiyal,” despite the higher exchange rates sometimes offered through those channels.

He said using unofficial remittance methods could worsen shortages of essential goods and services, including milk powder, fuel and medicine.

“Political ideology can be debated ideologically. But if the economy collapses, ideology alone cannot solve it,” he said.

Nanayakkara also called on overseas workers to help increase Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves by remitting earnings through the formal banking system. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has appeared before the Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police.

It is reported that Nanayakkara has reported to the Division in connection with an ongoing investigation related to undisclosed or unlawful assets. (Newswire)

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The Bribery Commission says former Minister of Foreign Employment and Labour Manusha Nanayakkara has been arrested in connection with the abuse of power pertaining to the agreement signed in November 2023 between Sri Lanka and Israel for supplying workers for the Israeli agricultural sector.

According to the Bribery Commission, Manusha Nanayakkara is accused of abusing the power of his position as the Minister of Foreign Employment and Labour. 

It is alleged that he deprived individuals who were officially scheduled to leave for agricultural employment in Israel of their opportunity, and instead granted this opportunity only to a selected group of people. 

The Bribery Commission pointed out that by doing so, he provided an advantage to himself and that selected group, and caused a wrongful or illegal loss to other groups of people, thereby committing the offence of corruption.

Former Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, who was arrested by officers of the Bribery Commission at 2:31 pm today,  is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption today to provide a statement.

Nanayakkara was summoned to provide a statement in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Bribery Commission into alleged irregularities during the previous government’s program to send workers to Israel for agricultural employment.

A request filed by Nanayakkara before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, seeking release on anticipatory bail in the event of an arrest by the Bribery Commission, was dismissed yesterday. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by former minister Manusha Nanayakkara, seeking to prevent his arrest by the Bribery Commission. 

The anticipatory bail was dismissed by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama today. 

During court proceedings, Manusha Nanayakkara’s lawyer informed the court that he would appear before the Bribery Commission tomorrow to provide a statement.

The anticipatory bail application was submitted, stating that the Bribery Commission was conducting an investigation into alleged irregularities during the previous government’s program to send workers to Israel for agricultural employment, and that he faces a risk of arrest as a result of this investigation.

Accordingly, Manusha Nanayakkara had submitted this anticipatory bail request to the court, asking to be released before any potential arrest by the Bribery Commission. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara filed an anticipatory bail application before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today.

Filing the anticipatory bail application, the former minister has sought to prevent his arrest by the Bribery Commission. 

After reviewing the petition, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama issued notice to the Director General of the Bribery Commission, named as the respondent, ordering him to present his submissions to the court.

The Director General of the Bribery Commission has been ordered to present his submissions by 02nd October 2025. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has arrived before the Police Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID). 

He had previously been notified to appear before the Unit today (20) to provide a statement in connection with an ongoing investigation. (Newswire)

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The Colombo District Court has issued an enjoining order against YouTuber Sudaththa Thilaksiri, following a case filed by former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara.

The order was delivered by Colombo District Court Judge Sadun Withanage today (30), after considering submissions made in Court No. 01.

President’s Counsel Ali Sabry appeared on behalf of the plaintiff, Manusha Nanayakkara, under the instructions of Attorney-at-Law Sanath Wijewardena.

The enjoining order prevents Thilaksiri from making any direct or indirect defamatory statements or engaging in any defamatory conduct against Nanayakkara.

The case will be taken up again on 07 August. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara’s lawyers have withdrawn the anticipatory bail application filed before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The anticipatory bail application was withdrawn after the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) informed the Court that their probe had not disclosed any material to justify the arrest of the Former Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment. 

A legal team, including President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, representing the former minister had filed a petition before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court requesting to issue an anticipatory bail, which was taken up for consideration on 20 January.

Stating that there was no material to justify the arrest of the former minister, the CID informed the court that it did not intend to arrest him, while Manusha Nanayakkara had also recorded a statement for 06 hours with the CID yesterday.

When the petition on the anticipatory bail application was taken up for consideration today, the counsel appearing for the petitioner inquired about the developments in the investigations.

The lawyers requested to withdraw the bail application petition as the CID had informed the court that there was no investigation to arrest the former minister.

Manusha Nanayakkara took measures to file for anticipatory bail after the CID had launched a probe against the minister regarding providing job opportunities for Sri Lankans in South Korea via the E8 visa scheme. 

The probe was launched based on a complaint filed by the incumbent Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment regarding Manusha Nanayakkara having signed an agreement to provide job opportunities via the E8 visa scheme. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that he is prepared to provide a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) regarding providing job opportunities for Sri Lankans in South Korea via the E8 visa scheme. 

Via his lawyers, Manusha Nanayakkara informed the court that he will provide the statement to the CID tomorrow (Jan 21).

The CID reportedly informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that investigations have not disclosed any material to justify former minister Manusha Nanayakkara’s arrest, his lawyers told reporters.

The court was informed in this regard when a petition filed by former minister Manusha Nanayakkara seeking anticipatory bail was taken up for hearing today (Jan 20). 

Meanwhile, Manusha Nanayakkara has also filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition at the Supreme Court stating that there were attempts to arrest him related to providing job opportunities for Sri Lankans in South Korea via the E8 visa scheme.

According to the former minister’s lawyer, the FR petition has been filed stating that the incumbent Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has filed a complaint regarding Manusha Nanayakkara’s signing of an agreement to provide job opportunities for Sri Lankans in South Korea via the E8 visa scheme.

Based on investigations conducted by the CID, there was information that the CID was attempting to apprehend him over the matter, which was a violation of his fundamental rights, the former minister further claimed.

As such, former minister Manusha Nanayakkara had requested the court to issue an interim order preventing his arrest by the CID. (Newswire)

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The brother of former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, who was accused of financially defrauding people by promising foreign employment, has been further remanded.

The Gampaha Magistrate’s Court today further remanded Thisara Nanayakkara until 17 January 2025.

Thisara Nanayakkara was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 28 December 2024 in connection with the alleged financial fraud.

The arrest was made in the Bibile area following a complaint regarding a financial scam involving promises of foreign employment opportunities in Finland.

According to Police, the suspect had allegedly demanded Rs. 4 million, out of which Rs. 3 million had been collected, under the pretence of securing foreign employment for individuals. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has sent a Letter of Demand (LOD) to the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Kosala Wickramasinghe regarding the latter’s accusations related to the Korean E8 visa system.

In his letter, former Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara points out that during an interview with local media, Kosala Wickramasinghe had hinted at financial fraud linked to the former minister. 

Alleging that the SLBFE Chairman had caused significant damage to his reputation, former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has sent an LOD seeking Rs. 01 billion compensation.

Furthermore, former minister Nanayakkara has also called on Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to conduct an investigation into the false allegations levelled against him regarding the Korean E8 visa system.

In a letter to the Foreign Minister, Manusha Nanayakkara said that allegations that he had monetarily benefitted under the visa system had caused severe damage to his political and personal reputation. 

Manusha Nanayakkara has initiated action after the SLBFE revealed it has received several complaints regarding individuals who have defrauded money by promising employment under the Korean E8 visa category.

LOD to SLBFE Chairman (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has issued a letter of demand to Pahiyangala Ananda Sagara Thero, seeking Rs. 500 million in compensation for what he claims are defamatory statements made against him.

In the letter, Nanayakkara’s lawyers state that Sagara Thero made baseless allegations, accusing the former minister of profiting millions through a scheme to send migrant workers abroad.

A video of the monk’s allegations, claiming that a relative of Nanayakkara operates a foreign employment agency through which the former minister benefitted, was aired on a private television channel on September 3, 2024, the letter said. 

Nanayakkara’s lawyers assert that these accusations have severely damaged his political career. (Newswire)

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Presidential Adviser on Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara says while some people may think they have won the presidential election prematurely, President Ranil Wickremesinghe will emerge victorious on September 21 without any doubt. 

The former minister pointed out that the village members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) are fundamentally part of the United National Party (UNP) and these members are ready to support their leader when he systematically works towards building the country. 

“While Nalaka Godahewala, Charita Herath, Dallas Alahapperuma, and G.L. Peiris seem to have an influence over SJB, the United National Party members are steadily aligning themselves with President Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he said. 

Manusha Nanayakkara further said the speech by MP Thalatha Atukorala in Parliament recently will resonate with the grassroots members of the SJB and will likely inspire them to rally around the UNP leader.

“Her speech reached the hearts of the SJB members. I believe many UNP members will make decisions after reflecting on her words. Thalatha Atukorale’s speech in Parliament contains important insights that resonate with many in the political sphere. Even those who didn’t fully understand the United People’s Force might gain some clarity from her words. We have previously highlighted his lack of experience, his impatience to become president, and how he avoided responsibility when it was offered. Thalatha’s statement in Parliament is one that everyone should hear. It prompts reflection on whether it is the Samagi Jana Balawegaya or Sajith Jalani Balawegaya that one is dealing with” he said. 

Commenting on complaints about election-related appointments, Manusha Nanayakkara said such complaints can be filed, but one must read and understand the Constitution first.

“As a presidential advisor, I hold an honorary position, for which I do not receive a salary. There is no obstacle to appointing someone to an honorary position. Two state ministers are working with me in the fields of foreign employment and labour. The ministry secretary and the official board remain unchanged. As the president-minister, they provide necessary instructions and guidance in the same manner. Therefore, the ongoing work will continue as planned. MP Vadivel Suresh, as the State Minister for Labour, is addressing issues related to the labour sector, the pensions of informal sector workers, and the wages of plantation workers,” he said. 

Stating that the incumbent government has been working together for two years, the former minister said that the government has raised the country from where it fell. 

“There is no need for another trial. No one asks to try again. We have done what needed to be done, and now we must move forward. This country should be fully recovered within five years. When we reach our development goal in 2048, we will avoid repeating past mistakes,” he added. 

Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara made the remarks while attending the inauguration ceremony of the new State Minister for Labour Vadivel Suresh today (Aug 22). (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Galle District member Bandula Lal Bandarigoda was sworn in as a Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka today. 

Bandula Lal Bandarigoda took oaths before Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. 

The SJB member fills the vacancy created by the removal of Galle District MP Manusha Nanayakkara. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara says another four (04) or five (05) members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will join President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the next few days.

Addressing an event, Nanayakkara said a total of fourteen (14) SJB members have already extended their support for the President in the upcoming election.

The former minister further pointed out that the SJB camp has a balanced team at present, consisting of those agreeing and opposing the same issues. 

“The SJB now has the support of Rishad Bathiudeen who cut down the Wilpattu Forest reserve and also SLPP MPs who opposed it. The party also has Sujeewa Senasinghe who wrote books on the bond scam, as well as Dullas Alahapperuma who called the scam a daylight robbery. Arjuna Ranatunga who claimed cricket was being ruined through betting is also there, and so is Thilanga Sumathipala who conducts bets. Champika Ranawaka who criticised securing loans through speaking English is also on the SJB side, while so is Sajith Premadasa who is attempting to obtain loans by speaking in English,” Manusha Nanayakkara said. 

The former minister said he has received information that another few more members of the SJB are set to join President Ranil Wickremesinghe soon. 

He made the remarks while addressing a Youth Summit held under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s ‘Puluwan Sri Lanka’ campaign in Aluthgama on Sunday. (Newswire)

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Former Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara have been appointed as Presidential advisors by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, with immediate effect.

Harin Fernando has been appointed as advisor on sports, lands and tourism affairs while Manusha Nanayakakara has been appointed as advisor on labour and foreign employment

The daily news reports that these appointments have been made in accordance with the powers assigned to the President as per Article 41(1) of the Constitution.

Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara earlier lost their MP and Ministerial positions after the Supreme Court upheld the SJB’s decision to expel the duo from the party.  (NewsWire)

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A Gazette notification has been issued declaring that the ministerial portfolios of former ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara will be brought under the purview of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Accordingly, the ministries of Tourism and Lands, Sports and Youth Affairs, and Labour and Foreign Employment have been brought under the purview of the President. 

The move comes after former ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara lost their Parliamentary seats recently as the Supreme Court ruling upheld their expulsion from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). (Newswire)

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The Wages Board has decided to provide the Rs. 1700 daily minimum wage for an estate worker from the tea and rubber industries of Sri Lanka. 

According to former minister of Labour Manusha Nanayakkara, the Wages Board took the decision today to increase the daily minimum wage for an estate worker.

Former minister Nanayakkara said in a post on social media that the decision was taken during a discussion of the Wages Board in charge of the Estate Sector held at the Labour Department. 

The previous decision by the government to increase the daily minimum wage of an estate worker to Rs. 1700 was opposed by several plantation companies, claiming they were unable to provide such pay.

The move by the government to issue a Gazette notification on the increased minimum daily wage was challenged in the Supreme Court.

The court ordered the Gazette to be cancelled and for the minimum daily wage to be paid by the Wages Board.

Accordingly, the Wages Board during a meeting held today has agreed to increase the daily minimum wage for an estate worker to Rs. 1700. (Newswire)

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Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara have stepped down from their ministerial portfolios, following today’s Supreme Court ruling to uphold their expulsion from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Fernando announced his decision to step down as the Minister of Tourism, Lands, Sports and Youth, addressing staff members of his ministries.  

He stressed that his decision to take up a ministerial position was because of his need to serve the country. “If you think I made the decision to take up a ministerial portfolio, I would not have taken it up at a time that Ministers’ houses were being set on fire,” Fernando said. 

The former minister said that he believes that it is the best time to step down, as he has performed well in his duties. 

Sri Lanka clinching the ‘Best International Tourism Board’ award at the Global Tourism Awards 2024, and Sri Lanka Cricket’s recent success, were testaments to his dedication, Fernando said. 

Meanwhile, Manusha Nanayakkara has also resigned from his portfolio as Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment. 

Nanayakkara was informed of the Supreme Court ruling today, while attending a meeting with migrant workers earlier today.

“I am unable to work as Minister from today, but I wish everyone success to carry on with the good work,” he said, commenting on successful foreign employment programmes under his tenure. (Newswire)

The moment Manusha Nanayakkara received the news of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the SJB’s expulsion of him from the party, which resulted in the suspension of his ministerial position pic.twitter.com/3rjyMhWO8D

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) August 9, 2024

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