Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, joined by a group of opposition parliamentarians, declared they will not testify before the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into substandard coal imports.

Ranawaka said the JVP’s media Unit under Anura Kumara Dissanayake had shared images of opposition MPs, including S.M. Marikkar, Ajith P. Perera, D. V. Chanaka, and himself on social media, urging them to provide evidence. 

Addressing a media briefing held on Tuesday (12), Ranawaka insisted, however, that they had “no reason to appear before that commission.”

“We will not appear before this commission, which is overseen by Tilvin Silva, a person not voted for by the people or a public representative,” Ranawaka said, adding that the Commission already possesses sufficient documentation. (Newswire)

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The mobile phone of former Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka is scheduled, by court order, to be produced before the court on April 29, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lalith Rohana Gamage told the media on Friday (17). 

Addressing the media, SSP Gamage said the phone is to be taken into custody in connection with a case being heard in the High Court. 

He revealed that the Witness and Victim Protection Division had received a complaint of witness intimidation, prompting a probe. 

During the examination of a phone belonging to a previously arrested suspect, investigators found evidence of deleted WhatsApp exchanges between that suspect and Ranawaka’s phone, which is now considered vital evidence. 

An earlier attempt to obtain the device failed after Ranawaka refused to hand it over, but SSP Gamage said the former minister later appeared before the magistrate and agreed to present it. 

The phone will be submitted to court on April 29 and forwarded to the Government Analyst to uncover significant evidence for the ongoing investigation, SSP Gamage added. (Newswire)

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Former Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka was summoned before the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) yesterday to provide a statement regarding an ongoing investigation.

Speaking to the media, Ranawaka said that a Police B report submitted to court points to a conspiracy against the government.

“We have consistently raised issues about this government backed by proper, scientific evidence. The matter of the 323 containers was highlighted based on a report by the Additional Secretary of the subject ministry. When a power outage was blamed on a monkey, we presented scientific evidence showing it was caused by a trip failure linked to the Victoria Dam. We also exposed the lack of preparedness for Cyclone Ditwah, despite prior warnings, again based on evidence. All these matters were raised with scientific proof,” he stated.

On the issue of alleged substandard coal imports, Ranawaka stressed that this too was raised with sufficient evidence, urging authorities to respond with facts rather than investigations and character assassinations.

He added that they intend to present their views on the coal imports at the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) tomorrow (18).

Ranawaka further warned that if the government moves to increase electricity tariffs, they will launch protests against such a decision. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has proposed raising the Kotmale Dam by another 30 meters.

Addressing the media, Patali Champika made the proposal to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation, K.D. Lal Kantha. 

“I would like to remind the minister that when the Kotmale Dam was built by the Swedish Government, the foundation was built in a way that the land could be raised by 30 metres. This means the dam will be capable of holding twice its capacity of water,” he said. 

Patali Champika proposed that the government obtain the relevant engineering expertise and foreign aid to raise the dam and take steps to safeguard the area. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has strongly criticized the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) over its proposal to curtail solar power generation during periods of low demand, calling it a shortsighted move that undermines renewable energy progress.

In a statement, Ranawaka highlighted that during the February 9 nationwide power outage, more than 50% of the national electricity demand—approximately 800 MW—was met by solar photovoltaic (PV) power. He accused the CEB of attempting to shift blame for its failures by targeting solar energy instead of addressing systemic inefficiencies.

Ranawaka condemned the proposal to cut solar power, stating that reducing renewable energy capacity by up to 50% is a reckless decision that prioritizes fossil fuel interests over national energy security.

“This is a national crime,” he said, warning that the move would harm Sri Lanka’s energy future, the environment, and public welfare. He emphasized that renewable energy is not just an option but a necessity, urging the government to reject the CEB’s plan.

Ranawaka called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take immediate action against what he described as an attempt to protect the coal and oil lobbies at the expense of sustainable energy. He stressed that fossil fuels not only increase costs but also contribute to environmental damage, and warned against allowing vested interests to dictate energy policy. (Newswire)

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Former MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa’s arrest in connection with a 2014 incident involving the distribution of flood relief has drawn sharp criticism from the Leader of the United Republic Front and former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Former MP Ranawaka described the arrest as a politically motivated move and referred to it as the government’s “first hunt”. 

He claimed the administration has failed to act against major offenders responsible for the country’s economic crisis and has instead targeted political opponents.

Ranawaka alleged that the action against Yapa, who is reportedly working to establish a new political alliance, was an attempt to undermine emerging opposition forces. 

The former MP accused the government of using such actions to divert attention from its inability to address economic challenges and improve its popularity.

Ranawaka urged the government to enforce the law against those responsible for the economic collapse and warned of public protests if appropriate action is not taken. (Newswire)

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Patali Champika Ranawaka’s party, the United Republic Front, has officially informed the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) that they are withdrawing from the alliance ahead of the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Former MP Ranawaka, a key political figure, has also announced that he will not be contesting the election.

In a letter to the SJB, Ranawaka pointed out that as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the SJB, the United Republic Front had engaged in campaigning for Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa in the Presidential Election.

He said, however, the SJB had failed to adhere to the regulations pertaining to the Parliamentary Election under the MOU signed between the two parties, thereby, violating the agreement.

As such, Ranawaka said the United Republic Front will not engage in any political activities with the SJB’s Samagi Jana Sandhanaya for the upcoming General Election.

Patali Champika Ranawaka contested the last Parliamentary Election from Colombo.

It is reported that, however, his name had not been included in the SJB’s nominations list for the 2024 Parliamentary Election.

Due to issues stemming from the nominations list, the United Republic Front has announced it will not contest the upcoming General Election. (Newswire)

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Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) member Patali Champika Ranawaka has raised concerns over the involvement of a bank account in Dubai concerning the income received via the visa application process operated by VFS Global at the Katunayake Airport.

Briefing the media on the petition filed at the Supreme Court, together with CoPF members Rauff Hakeem and M.A. Sumanthiran against the VFS visa deal, MP Ranawaka alleged that the income of VFS Global was being transferred to an account in Dubai.

MP Ranawaka further said that it had been found that the money was being deposited from the Dubai account to the Sri Lanka Immigration Department’s account only after a period of one week.

“VFS Global charges US$ 25.77 per tourist. However, it charges less than US$ 4 in Brazil. Therefore, where does the remainder of the money go? It has been found that the money goes to an account in Dubai and after a week is deposited to Sri Lanka Immigration’s account. 

“The account holders can invest this money within that week. Whose account is this? Where does the money go from that account? Where is this GBS institute located?” he questioned. 

MP Ranawaka further said that they had also presented facts in the court that the ministry has not made any correct identification about the background of this institution.

He alleged that the relevant ministry officials have not taken steps to investigate these concerns and have not even conducted a probe into where the VFS institutions are located. 

In July, three petitions were filed at the Supreme Court against Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and the government against the VFS visa procedure introduced at the Katunayake Airport. Opposition MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.A. Sumanthiran, and Rauff Hakeem filed the three petitions. 

In their petitions, they called on the court to issue an order suspending the visa system as there was a potential threat of the breach of vital security data from the nation.

The new visa issuance system by global visa processing service, VFS Global and its charges came under the spotlight after a local passenger had raised concerns over the process, with the video of the incident being widely circulated on social media.

A probe launched by the Committee on Public Finance also found that VFS Global had been picked without calling for official bids and had resulted in the Department of Immigration and Emigration losing out on receiving competitive rates for visa issuance. (Newswire)

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Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka has decided to initiate legal action against a local newspaper over an article published on April 07, 2024. 

The United Republic Front (URF) Leader filed a complaint with the Speaker of the Parliament in April of this year, claiming that his Parliamentary privileges had been violated through the article. 

Issuing a statement, MP Ranawaka said following an investigation conducted by the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, the committee asked him about his course of action and if he wished to initiate legal action.

Accordingly, MP Ranawaka said he has decided to file a case in the Supreme Court and that the representatives of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee have been informed in this regard as well. (Newswire)

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Despite the Supreme Court ruling, the visa and immigration process remains crippled by the dark interventions of rogue politicians, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has alleged.

Taking to ‘X’, MP Ranawaka revealed that state-owned Mobitel was willing to provide its services for visa issuance.

“Mobitel stands ready to resume operations, but the Immigration Controller is under oppressive control,” the MP further said. 

His remarks come after the Supreme Court issued an Interim Order in August, temporarily halting the Cabinet’s decision to outsource its visa application process to GBS Technology Services & IVS Global- FZCO, VFS VF Worldwide Holdings LTD led consortium.

Announcing that this suspension will remain in effect until the petitions filed against the decision are finally resolved, the court also issued an interim injunction on the implementation of the agreements with the two foreign entities.

Several fundamental rights petitions were filed in the Supreme Court calling for action against the procedural violations and abuse of public trust by officials in the procurement of private entities to handle the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for the issuance of visas for tourists visiting Sri Lanka.

The visa issuance system by global visa processing service, VFS Global and its charges came under the spotlight after a local passenger had raised concerns over the process, with the video of the incident being widely circulated on social media.

A probe launched by the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) also found that VFS Global had been picked without calling for official bids and had resulted in the Department of Immigration and Emigration losing out on receiving competitive rates for visa issuance.

“If competitive bids were called for then the government could have obtained the services for a fee less than US$ 25,” CoPF Chairman MP Harsha de Silva said, presenting the CoPF report in Parliament recently. 

Stating that local firm Mobitel had also in the past offered to provide some service for US$1, MP de Silva said however, no specifications had been issued on the criteria for the visa issuance service amidst which VFS Global had been selected. 

He said the CoPF is of the view that if specification documents had been available then, not only Mobitel but other overseas firms would also have had an opportunity to engage in competitive bidding for the visa issuance service in Sri Lanka, adding that an issue has arisen as to why the selection of firms had been conducted without a specification document. (Newswire)

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Three petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court against Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles and the government against the VFS visa procedure introduced at the Katunayake Airport.

Opposition MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.A. Sumanthiran, and Rauff Hakeem have filed the three petitions. 

The petitioners have called on the court to issue an order suspending the visa system as there was a potential threat of the breach of vital security data from the nation.

“I moved the Supreme Court against Minister of Public Security, @TiranAlles  and the Government for allegedly aiding and perpetrating a multi-billion dollar scam involving the IVS visa procedure,” MP Champika Ranawaka said in a post on ‘X’. 

Also speaking to the media today, MP Champika Ranawaka said a decision had been taken to file the said petition taking into consideration that they were members of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (CoPF).

Meanwhile, MP Rauff Hakeem told the media that the VFS visa deal was considered a scam which is 10-fold worse than the Central Bank bond scam. 

The new visa issuance system by global visa processing service, VFS Global and its charges came under the spotlight after a local passenger had raised concerns over the process, with the video of the incident being widely circulated on social media.

A probe launched by the Committee on Public Finance also found that VFS Global had been picked without calling for official bids and had resulted in the Department of Immigration and Emigration losing out on receiving competitive rates for visa issuance.

“If competitive bids were called for then the government could have obtained the services for a fee less than US$ 25,” CoPF Chairman MP Harsha de Silva said, presenting the CoPF report in Parliament recently. 

Stating that local firm Mobitel had also in the past offered to provide some service for US$1, MP de Silva said however, no specifications had been issued on the criteria for the visa issuance service amidst which VFS Global had been selected. 

He said the CoPF is of the view that if specification documents had been available then, not only Mobitel but other overseas firms would also have had an opportunity to engage in competitive bidding for the visa issuance service in Sri Lanka, adding that an issue has arisen as to why the selection of firms had been conducted without a specification document. (Newswire)

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Opposition Parliamentarians Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Patali Champika Ranawaka have refuted reports claiming they are set to join the government.

Taking to ‘X’, MP Sarath Fonseka said reports on local media are inaccurate and that he will not be joining the government.

MP Fonseka also shot down reports of him supporting the presidential candidacy of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, stating that it is completely untrue and baseless. 

“I will not be supporting his presidential candidacy. I request all Sri Lankans to avoid propagating rumours,” he added. 

Also in a post on ‘X’, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said that reports on local media about him joining the government “are baseless and unfound.”

“We will not accept any ministerial portfolio instead will stand for the benefit of the masses,” he added. (Newswire)

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The Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means has instructed the Ministry of Education to provide a report on the progress of the meal programme introduced for primary school children.

Chair of the Committee, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka says a report was called to ascertain whether there has been an increase in student attendance in primary schools following the meal programme.

The Education Ministry has also been instructed to provide a report on schools with less than 100 students with the mid-day meal programme, to provide the number of students in primary grades and the number of students given meals in schools where there are only less than 100 students. 

Apart from the said, MP Patali has also instructed the Ministry of Education to report on the progress regarding the entire school meal programme.

The above matters were discussed when the Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means met at the Parliament premises under the chairmanship of MP Patali Champika Ranawaka recently.

It was disclosed during the Committee meeting that the meals provided to children in government schools have increased from 1.1 million to 1.6 million in 2024, while the Rs. 80 allotted for each child has increased to Rs. 110.

It was also informed that criteria have been prepared regarding the quality of the meal and the follow-up regarding the meal programme will be done by the Provincial Department of Education, Regional Educational Services officers and public health inspectors.

It was reported that 600,000 school students come to school without breakfast, and after the implementation of this meal programme, the attendance of school children has increased.

It was also stated that 16.6 billion rupees are spent on school meals per year, but there is a shortfall of about 4 billion rupees. 

MP Patali said although Sri Lankans abroad are very willing to provide assistance for the school meal programme, they are reluctant to provide such assistance directly to the government. He, therefore, instructed the officials to find out whether there is any legal obstacle to providing such assistance to teachers’ unions and school development societies. 

Furthermore, he instructed to prepare a system for receiving complaints based on social media and stated to use a system such as regular reporting on the quality of food provided through WhatsApp. (Newswire)

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United Republic Front (URF) Leader MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has condemned the recent incident involving the alleged harassment of Russian tourists at a beach hotel in Sri Lanka, stating it is deeply regrettable and unacceptable. 

Issuing a statement, MP Champika Ranawaka said Sri Lanka and Russia have enjoyed a longstanding and strong diplomatic relationship, built on mutual respect and cooperation. 

MP Champika Ranawaka pointed out that such incidents tarnish the reputation of both countries and undermine the goodwill that exists between them.

“As a party, we strongly urge the government to take immediate and decisive action to investigate the matter thoroughly and apprehend the culprits responsible for the harassment. It is essential that justice is served swiftly and that the guilty parties face the maximum punishment under the law if found culpable.

“Furthermore, steps should be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future and that the safety and well-being of all tourists, including Russian visitors, are safeguarded. The relevant authorities must prioritize the protection of tourists and uphold the standards of hospitality and respect that Sri Lanka is known for,” he said.

Reaffirming commitment to maintaining the strong and friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Russia, MP Champika Ranawaka called on the government to take all necessary measures to preserve and strengthen these ties. 

“Let us work together to ensure that all visitors to Sri Lanka, including Russian tourists, feel welcomed, respected, and safe throughout their stay,” he added. (NewsWire)

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Leader of the United Republic Front MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has chastised Leader of the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Sajith Premadasa over his conduct.

Addressing a public event, MP Champika Ranawaka said that they will not allow MP Premadasa to run a one-man show. 

The MP said he along with a few other MPs have been penalised for not walking out with the Opposition during the President’s speech on the government’s policy statement in Parliament recently. 

MP Champika Ranawaka said the time allocated for statements in Parliament by them has been reduced to a maximum of five minutes on the orders of MP Sajith Premadasa. 

Condemning the conduct of the Opposition Leader, MP Champika Ranawaka warned that they will not allow people to prevent their actions and run a one-man show. (NewsWire)

Sajith, if you are thinking of destroying us by putting on a one man show, it is a dream. We are also well-tempered people – Champika Ranawaka criticizes Sajith's behavior pic.twitter.com/CGMkGOpHkq

— Manjula Basnayake (@BasnayakeM) February 12, 2024

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Leader of the United Republic Front MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has pointed out the impracticality of preparing tax files for every citizen of Sri Lanka, in a statement issued today. 

MP Ranawaka highlighted the considerable time and manpower required, indicating that it takes approximately half an hour to process a single tax file while considering all requisite criteria. 

“With only nine officers tasked with this responsibility, the daily processing capacity is limited to 144 files, making the processing of millions of files a daunting and time-consuming endeavour,” he said.

MP Ranawaka further said that prioritising the collection of unpaid taxes from the 1272 defaulters identified by the Inland Revenue Department should take precedence over opening new tax files for every individual. 

However, he criticised the lack of action taken by the current government in this regard, resulting in an undue burden on the populace and the adoption of impractical measures.

Proposing a more streamlined approach, the Parliamentarian advocated for the utilisation of modern technology, such as QR codes, to accurately monitor people’s transactions. 

He cited the successful implementation of QR codes for fuel transactions as a precedent, suggesting that similar measures could be extended to electricity and water bills. 

“By encouraging the widespread adoption of QR codes, the government could obtain precise data on transactions and their values, facilitating a more formalised tax collection process,” he pointed out.

MP Ranawaka also emphasised that embracing technological solutions not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to a more transparent and accountable taxation system. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka Republican Front (SLRF) Leader MP Patali Champika Ranawaka says there is a possibility to raise the country’s income by 50 per cent without increasing any taxes.

Addressing an SLRF public meeting in Kamburupitiya on Sunday (Dec 17), MP Champika Ranawaka revealed that there was a rich family in Sri Lanka living a luxurious life without paying taxes.

He further said that the government was afraid to conduct a proper inquiry into the income of that family and that their income and expenses not being reported correctly had become a problem.

“An issue has arisen because the income of the individuals is not reported, even though the doctor’s salary is reported and taxed,” he said. 

MP Champika Ranwaka pointed out that there will be no need for new taxes if a proper program is prepared to report the income of such wealthy persons.

He also alleged that certain businessmen are earning well and are found to have been avoiding paying taxes. (NewsWire)

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Citizens will have to pay an additional tax amount of Rs. 30,000 to the government from next year, in addition to the current taxes, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said. 

Addressing the Parliament today (Nov 29), MP Champika Ranawaka said the additional tax payment will be the outcome of the government’s decision to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) by 3% from next year. 

He further said the government has taken this decision in order to achieve its tax goals for the year 2024. 

MP Champika Ranawaka pointed out that in order to achieve this, the government aims to impose tax on several more items that were previously exempted from tax.

Video: https://rb.gy/g4yn2q  (NewsWire)

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The Court of Appeal has ordered the temporary suspension of the hearing on the case filed against MP Patali Champika Ranawaka on an accident reported in Rajagiriya in 2016.

The Court of Appeal announced the decision by issuing an interim injunction today (Nov 24). 

The interim injunction is effective until the hearing of a petition put forward by MP Ranawaka challenging the case.

The case was filed against MP Ranawaka for allegedly critically injuring a motorcyclist in an accident involving his Jeep in Rajagiriya in 2016.

The MP, who had reportedly allegedly fled the scene, had been accused of producing his driver in court as the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

MP Ranawaka was later arrested and remanded in December 2019 over the accident on the instructions of the Attorney General but was later released on bail.

The AG thereafter filed indictments against the MP for causing grievous injury to a person by rash and negligent acts and other charges over the accident. (NewsWire)

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