Government Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa has acknowledged that there seemed to be an error in the figures reported by NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi regarding the cost of SMS sent with festival wishes to the public. 

Addressing a recent political rally, MP Kottahachchi had claimed that the government had saved Rs. 98 million by not sending the annual Sinhala and Tamil New Year SMS message from the President of Sri Lanka this year. 

Speaking to Kalindu Karunaratne of Ada Derana, Government Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said the cost mentioned by the NPP MP seemed erroneous, adding that she had taken it from a report circulated on social media. 

“The NPP is here to make a change in the political culture. As such, we must take extra responsibility for the statements we make. The shortcomings in this end cause harm. We are doing our best to rectify these mistakes,” he said. 

When asked about allegations that the government was making false statements, affecting its credibility, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the party was taking the incidents seriously and had already intervened to rectify them. 

“We have engaged in discussions with party members involved in such incidents and have taken necessary measures to rectify them. Keeping these incidents as examples, we brief and discuss with the entire party in this regard. These matters are not taken lightly,” he added. 

The Government Spokesman pointed out that the actions and statements of one or five MPs cannot lead to the assumption that the entire Government is lying or making false statements. 

Minister Nalinda Jayatissa added that in instances such as these, the government has taken responsibility, and has gone to the extent of rectifying or apologising during Cabinet Media Briefings. 

NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi’s statement had referred to the cost during the previous Ranil Wickremesinghe Government. 

Responding to the claims, officials from former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s camp denied that a sum of Rs. 98 million had been spent on New Year SMS messages sent to the public. 

Taking to ‘X’, Dinouk Colombage, attached to the former President’s office, said that messages wishing the public for Avurudu from the previous Presidents were dispatched free of charge and were a service provided by the telecom providers. (Newswire)

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Officials from former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s camp have denied that a sum of Rs. 98 million had been spent on New Year SMS messages sent to the public. 

Dinouk Colombage, attached to the former President’s office, said that messages wishing the public for Avurudu from the previous Presidents were dispatched free of charge. 

“This is a service provided by the telecom providers,” he said, in a statement on ‘X’. 

His clarification comes after NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi revealed that, according to a news report, last year alone, Rs. 98 million had been spent on sending the annual Sinhala and Tamil New Year SMS message from the President of Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi says Rs. 98 million was saved by the government through not sending the annual Sinhala and Tamil New Year SMS message from the President of Sri Lanka. 

Addressing a political rally, MP Kottahachchi said the President’s New Year message was not sent this year, which was a practice followed by previous regimes.

“The country or the party members did not face any issues just because the President’s message was not sent this year. However, a large sum of money was saved due to this move. According to a news report, last year alone, Rs. 98 million had been spent on this SMS message,” she said. 

MP Kottahachchi said the government has done away with the SMS message which was sent using the public’s money to wish the public, hinting that ending this practice was a victory alone. 

Stating that a President is not appointed to send New Year messages, she added that the correct leader has now been appointed to take forward the country, as he has proven to allocate money for the betterment of the ordinary citizen. (Newswire)

“Rs. 98 million was spent on New Year SMS greetings last year alone,” MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi revealed, adding that skipping the SMS this year has saved the country a significant sum. pic.twitter.com/dRR3uesCY4

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) April 22, 2025

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The awards and certificates of the annual Parliamentary Indoor Sports Tournament, held for the fifth consecutive year, were presented on March 21, 2025, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Billiards Hall in Parliament.

Organized under the leadership of Deputy Sports Minister Sugath Thilakaratne and MP Nalin Bandara, the tournament was supported by the Parliamentary Serjeant-at-Arms Department and included seven indoor sporting events.

The final match of the snooker event took place in the presence of the Prime Minister and the Speaker, where MP D.V. Chanaka emerged victorious against MP Rohana Bandara.

In the exhibition mixed doubles table tennis match, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Attorney Nilanti Kottahachchi secured victory. The opposing pair included MP Varuna Liyanage and Attorney Chamindrani Kiriella.

MP W.H.M. Dharmasena won the carrom (singles) title, with MP B. Ariyavansa finishing as runner-up.

In the men’s table tennis event, MP Varuna Liyanage claimed the championship, while MP Ruwanthilaka Jayakody became the runner-up.

Attorney Nilanti Kottahachchi secured the women’s table tennis title, while Attorney Chamindrani Kiriella finished second.

MP (Dr.) Ramanathan Archuna won the chess event, with MP Rohana Bandara becoming runner-up.

In the carrom event, MP (Retd. Lt. Commander) Prageeth Maduranga won first place, and Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage took second place.

MP Rohana Bandara won the snooker event, while MP D.V. Chanaka placed second.

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National People’s Power (NPP) MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi informed Parliament today that her Parliamentary privileges have been violated due to false news published by a prominent local media institution. 

MP Kottahachchi said the media outlet had published in both its English and Sinhala media platforms an article claiming ‘First-time MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi has said she was asked not to speak to the media by her party’.

Raising the matter in Parliament today, the NPP MP said the news had been circulated widely on social media and print media, emphasizing that it was false. 

MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi said her privileges have been violated by the publishing of such baseless, unconfirmed, and false news.

As such, she requested the Speaker to refer the matter to the Parliament’s Committee on Privileges for a comprehensive investigation and to take appropriate action in this regard.

Responding, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne said the matter will be referred to the Parliament’s Committee on Privileges. (Newswire)

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Former Millaniya Local Councillor Raveendra Namunni, who was arrested for making defamatory statements on social media about National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Kalutara District MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi, has been granted bail.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court released Raveendra Namunni on a Rs. 500,000 surety today.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member was arrested by officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) this morning. 

Government MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi had filed a complaint with the CID through her lawyer on Tuesday (Dec 31), seeking a probe into the defamatory comments. 

Having filed the complaint, Attorney-at-Law Namal Rajapakshe told the media that an SLPP activist was behind the slander.

He said the SLPP activist was spreading false information targetting the reputation of the female MP, making false claims that she had visited a hotel with him for money.

Reiterating that the statements were false and were a personal attack for political vengeance, Rajapakshe urged politicians to act respectfully, noting that MP Kottahachchi is a woman, a wife, and a mother of young children. (Newswire)

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Former Millaniya Local Councillor Raveendra Namunni has been arrested for making defamatory statements on social media about National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Kalutara District MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi. 

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member was arrested by officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today. 

Government MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi had filed a complaint with the CID through her lawyer on Tuesday (Dec 31), seeking a probe into the defamatory comments. 

Having filed the complaint, Attorney-at-Law Namal Rajapakshe told the media that an SLPP activist was behind the slander.

He said the SLPP activist was spreading false information targetting the reputation of the female MP, making false claims that she had visited a hotel with him for money.

Reiterating that the statements were false and were a personal attack for political vengeance, Rajapakshe urged politicians to act respectfully, noting that MP Kottahachchi is a woman, a wife, and a mother of young children. (Newswire)

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A complaint has been filed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) against misinformation being spread on National Peoples’ Power (NPP) MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi on social media. 

Attorney-at-Law Namal Rajapakshe, who filed the complaint on behalf of MP Kottahachchi, told the media that it had been found that a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) activist was behind the slander.

Upon being inquired by the media, lawyer Rajapakshe said the SLPP activist was spreading false information targetting the reputation of the female MP, making false claims that she had visited a hotel with him for money.

Rajapakshe reiterating that the statements were false, called on politicians to act respectfully, noting that MP Kottahachchi is a woman, a wife, and a mother of young children.

Stating that it was a personal attack for political vengeance, he added that the CID has been requested to conduct a comprehensive investigation and initiate legal action against those found guilty.

Watch : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrGDgm-euyo (Newswire)

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