Opposition MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena today questioned the government on the 3% tax that is added when imported vehicles are released from customs within 90 days.

Addressing the Parliament today, he said that the taxes add up to around 45% by the lapse of five months, stating that it places an undue burden on the consumer.

He pointed out issues with vehicles imported under cross-border LCs, which are now languishing at the Hambantota port, and that they incur high demurrages on top of the tax issue

MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena further questioned whether the government intends to make amendments in this regard. 

Responding to the MP, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera said this surcharge has been imposed on importers with the expectation of retaining foreign exchange within the country.

He further said a large sum of foreign exchange leaves the country when a large stock of vehicles is imported and hoarded in the country. 

“The 3% tax has been imposed in a bid to systematically control this. I have monitored the customs process, and so far it has taken only around 2 weeks for large stocks of imported vehicles to be cleared, and not 45 days as claimed,” he said. (Newswire)

The post Govt defends high taxes and demurrage fees on vehicle imports appeared first on Newswire.

The daughter of MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena, who was arrested yesterday in connection with the case of an illegally registered SUV, has been granted bail.  

The Mathugama Magistrate’s Court today released her on two sureties of Rs. 02 million each. 

MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s daughter surrendered to the Panadura-Walana Anti-Vice Squad yesterday over the case related to the sale of an illegally imported and registered vehicle to SJB MP Jagath Vithana’s son.

The Panadura-Walana Anti-Vice Squad arrested MP Jagath Vithana’s son along with the vehicle in question in the Mathugama area on 19 July.

Investigations found that the high-end Jeep was allegedly smuggled into Sri Lanka and fraudulently registered.

The vehicle was initially registered under the name of Abeygunawardena’s daughter, Melanie, and later sold in October 2024 to the son of MP Jagath Vithana.

At the time, even though MP Jagath Vithana claimed the vehicle was purchased for Rs. 45 million, investigators noted it had been declared at only Rs. 20 million, prompting suspicions of document forgery and tax evasion.

Soon after, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s son-in-law was arrested and remanded over the case, while his daughter had evaded arrest. However, she surrendered to the Police yesterday and was arrested. (Newswire)

The post Daughter of MP Rohitha Abeygunawardhana granted bail appeared first on Newswire.

The daughter of MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena has surrendered to the Panadura-Walana Anti-Vice Squad in connection with the case of the illegally registered SUV.

She was wanted over the sale of an illegally imported and registered vehicle to SJB MP Jagath Vithana’s son.

The Panadura-Walana Anti-Vice Squad arrested MP Jagath Vithana’s son along with the vehicle in question in the Mathugama area on 19 July.

Investigations found that the high-end Jeep was allegedly smuggled into Sri Lanka and fraudulently registered.

The vehicle was initially registered under the name of Abeygunawardena’s daughter, Melanie, and later sold in October 2024 to the son of MP Jagath Vithana.

At the time, even though MP Jagath Vithana claimed the vehicle was purchased for Rs. 45 million, investigators noted it had been declared at only Rs. 20 million, prompting suspicions of document forgery and tax evasion.

Soon after, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s son-in-law was arrested and remanded over the case, while his daughter had evaded arrest.

However, she has surrendered to the Police today. (Newswire)

The post Illegal vehicle : MP Rohitha’s daughter surrenders to Police appeared first on Newswire.

The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) has won eight (08) seats in the Kalutara District under the Preferential voting system.

The preferential votes for the Kalutara District are as follows;

NPP – 08 seats

Nalinda Jayatissa – 371,640 votes

Nilanthi Kottahachchi – 131,375 votes

Nihal Abeyasinghe – 96,721 votes

Sanjeewa Ranasinghe – 78,832 votes

Dhanushka Ranganath – 74,502 votes

Oshani Umanga – 69,232 votes

Chandima Hettiaratchi – 50,509 votes

Nandana Padmakumara – 50,452 votes

SJB – 02 seats

Ajith Perera – 43,975 votes

Jagath Vithana – 43,867 votes

NDF- 01 seat

Rohitha Abeygunawardena – 10,204 votes. (Newswire)

The post Kalutara Preferential votes announced appeared first on Newswire.

Former Member of Parliament Rohitha Abeygunawardena became emotional during a rally in Kalutara, as he addressed the crowd in preparation for the upcoming election. 

Struggling to hold back tears, Abeygunawardena passionately stated, “I have worked for the people.”

In his address, he declared his willingness to serve as an opposition MP, signalling his determination to continue his political journey, regardless of position. (Newswire)

Rohitha gets emotional on stage again: “I have worked for the people,” he says while crying pic.twitter.com/tqo4XPpcix

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) November 11, 2024

The post Rohitha Abeygunawardena seen Crying on stage again appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member Rohitha Abeygunawardena says it is better to be killed than to allow his reputation to be tarnished.

Addressing a political rally, the former SLPP MP said that it is not easy to pull him down through mudslinging campaigns. 

“I would like to say to those who hate me, instead of mudslinging and ruining my reputation, you should just destroy my life, like how several leaders were shot and killed or murdered,” he said. 

Rohitha Abeygunawardena said he was ready to sacrifice his life for the nation and politics.

“This is better than mudslinging. Killing me is better than ruining my character,” he emphasized. (Newswire)

The post ‘Killing me is better than ruining my character’ – Rohitha appeared first on Newswire.

Former Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena has vowed to quit politics if it is proven he was linked to the two luxury vehicles that were recently seized in Kandy.

Addressing the media, Rohitha Abeygunawardena denied he had any involvement with the said vehicles.

“I have not been involved in politics to engage in corruption and fraud. I would like to say that if there are incidents like this, then talk about it only after finding the truth,” he said.

Stating that the latest reports claim that the vehicles now belong to his son-in-law’s brother, he questioned “If an associate of mine makes a mistake, is it my mistake? Should I be responsible?”

Rohitha Abeygunawardena further said if he has made a mistake then to raise allegations against him. 

The former minister also said he would quit politics and remove his candidacy for the upcoming Parliamentary Election if in any way it is proven that he is linked to the two luxury vehicles. 

His comments come after the Kandy Crimes Division had found a BMW and a luxury SUV in the garage of a residence in Aniwatte, Kandy recently. 

It was initially reported that the vehicle belonged to a relative of former minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and was suspected to have been illegally brought into the country during his tenure as the Minister of Ports. (Newswire)

The post Seized Luxury Vehicles: Rohitha to quit politics if proven guilty appeared first on Newswire.

The son-in-law of former minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena has refuted reports claiming that two luxury vehicles had been found in his residence in Aniwate, Kandy recently.

Speaking to the media today, he said there was a mud-slinging campaign going around tarnishing his and his father-in-law’s reputations.

Stating that he currently resides in Colombo, he further said that the vehicles had been found in Kandy and that he was not involved in any way. 

Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s son-in-law further said that he has filed a complaint with the Police against the false reports. 

His comments come after the Kandy Crimes Division had found a BMW and a luxury SUV in the garage of a residence in Aniwatte, Kandy recently. 

It was initially reported that the vehicle belonged to a relative of former minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and was suspected to have been illegally brought into the country. (Newswire)

The post Seized luxury vehicles : Rohitha’s son-in-law refutes allegations appeared first on Newswire.

The Kandy Crimes Investigation Division has seized a BMW valued at over Rs. 60 million and a luxury SUV while concealed at the house of a relative of former minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena in the Aniwatte area, it was reported. 

The Police said a team from the Kandy Crimes Investigation Division had found the two concealed vehicles while inspecting the garage at the property. The two cars were seized as no one in the house could make a legal claim regarding the vehicles.

The owner of the house runs a car sale in the Mahayawa area in Kandy and has also served as a high-ranking official at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority under Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s tenure as the Minister of Ports. 

The Police suspect that these two vehicles may have been illegally brought out of the port. The two luxury vehicles are to be handed over to the Government Analysts Department. (Newswire)

The post Two luxury vehicles seized from Former Minister’s relative appeared first on Newswire.

Parliamentarian Rohitha Abeygunawardena has been appointed as the National Convener of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party. 

The decision was taken during a meeting of the SLPP’s Executive Council and Politburo under the patronage of party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, at his residence in Colombo. 

The meeting was held to revise the party constitution in order to introduce a new post for the party, which was the National Convener. (Newswire)

The post New SLPP post for MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena appeared first on Newswire.

The government has approved a proposal on new regulations for the registration of high-engine capacity motorcycles in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena announced.

In a statement on Facebook, MP Abeygunawardena expressed his gratitude to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, and Minister of Transport Bandula Gunawardena for approving the proposal. 

He further said that the income earned through the registration of high-engine capacity motorcycles will be utilised to purchase similar motorcycles for Sri Lanka Police and other essential needs.

MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena said the proposal for new regulations for the registration of high-engine capacity motorcycles in Sri Lanka was presented based on multiple requests from youth and motorcycle lovers of Sri Lanka. 

In March this year, announcing his intention to move a motion in Parliament in this regard, the MP revealed there were already a large number of motorcycles with an engine capacity of over 450CC in Sri Lanka at present.

The MP proposed that it would be appropriate to grant permission under special regulations to register motorcycles with an engine capacity from 450CC to 1300CC.

He further said it has also been proposed to provide driving licences to these motorcycles subject to passing a special test and to implement the already available speed limits without change. (Newswire)

The post High capacity motorbike registration : Update from MP Rohitha appeared first on Newswire.

Several members of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) have tendered their resignation today seemingly over the appointment of the new Chairman to the committee. 

MPs Shanakiyan Rasamanickam (TNA), Hesha Withanage (SJB), Gamini Waleboda (SLPP) and S.M. Marikkar (SJB) have become the latest members to resign from the COPE Committee.

Earlier today, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Charitha Herath also announced his decision to step down from the COPE Committee.

“I have decided to resign from the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and have officially communicated my decision to the Speaker of Parliament today,” he said in a statement on ‘X’.

Previously, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara resigned from the COPE Committee today, stating that he cannot work with a Chairman against whom several allegations have been raised.

“It is unfortunate that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has failed to learn from the ‘Aragalaya’ and respect the people. To instruct State Officials to avoid corruption, the committees in Parliament must also be free of corruption,” he added in a statement on ‘X’.

The resignations come after Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne became the first member to announce his decision to step down from the COPE Committee yesterday. 

“COPE has been established to ensure the observance of financial discipline in Public Corporations and other semi-governmental bodies in which the Government has a financial stake. By appointing a ruling party member as its Chairman, the committee fails to meet its objectives of keeping a check on the executive arm of the government,” he said in a statement. (NewsWire)

The post Resignations continue : 7 MPs have now resigned from COPE Committee appeared first on Newswire.

National Peoples Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath says he is prepared to prove the allegations levelled against Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE ) Chairman MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

Addressing a public event, MP Herath said that the newly appointed COPE Chairman has warned of filing a case against him for his recent allegations, adding that it was a good move.

MP Vijitha Herath revealed he was ready to prove the allegations against MP Abeygunawardena in court.

“By providing facts to the court we can explain why we made such statements, while we can also prove to the citizens the fraud and corruption that has taken place,” he added. 

Earlier, condemning MP Herath’s allegations against him, MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena said he would initiate legal action in this regard.

MP Abeygunawardena had also challenged MP Vijitha Herath to provide evidence before the court to back his allegations, especially the claim referring to him as ‘a thief’.  

A spat had broken out between the two MPs after NPP MP Vijitha Herath had raised concerns over the appointment of MP Abeygunawardena as the Chairman of the COPE Committee, during a meeting with the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation held last week. (NewsWire)

The post NPP’s Vijitha Herath welcomes legal action by COPE Chairman on allegations appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena says he will initiate legal action against National Peoples Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath for a recent statement made against him.

Addressing the media, MP Abeygunawardena said steps will be taken to send a Letter of Demand via his lawyers next week.

“Legal action is being initiated against MP Herath for making a statement related to my recent appointment as the  Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE),” the SLPP MP explained.

Stating that MP Herath had made several allegations against him, MP Abeygunawardena said all recordings from online media have been collected and handed over to his lawyers to initiate legal action. 

MP Abeygunawardena further challenged MP Vijitha Herath to provide evidence before the court to back his allegations, especially the claim addressing him as ‘a thief’.  

NPP MP Vijitha Herath had raised concerns over the appointment of MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena as the Chairman of the COPE Committee, during a meeting with the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation held this week. (NewsWire)

The post COPE Chairman to take legal action against NPP’s Vijitha Herath appeared first on Newswire.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has accused Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena of attempting to assault him in the Parliamentary complex today.

Raising a privilege issue in Parliament, MP Shanakiyan said that the incident had occurred at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Parliamentary complex when he went to meet the Prime Minister concerning an issue in his Batticaloa constituency.

“Stating that I speak against the government, MP Abeygunawardena questioned how I can enter their Prime Minister’s Office. He further challenged me to walk out to the lift, after I had insisted that the Prime Minister was for the entire nation,” he explained. 

The Batticaloa District MP further said that MP Abeygunawardena had insinuated that he could not enter the PM’s Office as he was a Tamil politician. 

He said that State Minister Ashoka Priyantha had prevented MP Abeygunawardena from assaulting him, which was also witnessed by the staff at the PM’s Office.

MP Shanakiyan requested the matter to be raised before the Parliament Ethics and Privileges Committee, adding that in the event it is not raised, he will be forced to file a Police complaint as this incident was a threat to his life. (NewsWire)

I have alerted the speaker of this incident today. This is not the first time where I have been threatened by SLPP members . The parliament privileges committee has failed to investigate and take action against on previous instances and it has now reached to a point of assault https://t.co/5tAwfSxUoj pic.twitter.com/qIveijsqC9

— Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (@ShanakiyanR) March 7, 2024

The post ‘MP Rohitha tried to assault me’ – MP Shanakiyan appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena is scheduled to move a motion in Parliament today proposing new regulations for the registration of high-engine capacity motorcycles in the country.

In his motion, MP Abeygunawardena points out that there are already a large number of motorcycles with an engine capacity of over 450CC in Sri Lanka at present.

The MP has proposed that it would be appropriate to grant permission under special regulations to register motorcycles with an engine capacity from 450CC to 1300CC.

It has also been proposed to provide driving licences to these motorcycles subject to passing a special test and to implement the already available speed limits without change. 

In his motion, MP Abeygunawardena says the proposal has been made to serve justice for the youth and motorcycle lovers of Sri Lanka while keeping pace with the progressing world. 

Commenting on the motion, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam queried if there was a vested interest in the move.

“Former Min Rohitha to move a motion to register bikes with high engine capacity later this afternoon. Hope there is no vested interest in this as I believe this is not the biggest injustice committed to the youth of Sri Lanka as the former minister has stated,” he said, taking to ‘X’. (NewsWire)

Former Min Rohitha to move a motion to register bikes with high engine capacity later this afternoon. Hope there is no vested interest in this as I believe this is not the biggest injustice committed to the youth of Sri Lanka as the former minister has stated pic.twitter.com/lhg1OmJ7vT

— Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (@ShanakiyanR) March 5, 2024

The post MP Rohitha to move motion to register bikes with high engine capacity appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena has called on the Speaker of Parliament to initiate action against a woman, identified as ‘Cake Nona’ from Kalutara, for allegedly slandering him on social media. 

Addressing the Parliament today (Feb 21), MP Abeygunawardena said that the woman was posting malicious posts on social media against him and the Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon.

The SLPP MP revealed that the woman via her social media posts has called him a thief and has also called for him to be immediately arrested.

Stating that it was a violation of his Parliamentary privileges, MP Abeygunawardena pointed out that such malicious statements could result in a threat to his life. 

He further said that such comments would be acceptable only if he had made a mistake, adding that as it was not so, it was unfair to be criticized in this manner. 

MP Abeygunawardena also revealed that the woman known as ‘Cake Nona’ had contested the Parliamentary Elections in 2015. (NewsWire)

I'm tabling several copies of #socialmedia posts, which have been published in a manner detrimental to my reputation as a public representative of the Kalutara District. This is a breach of my privileges. These posts particularly target Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon & me. All… pic.twitter.com/9zMyQWdxE0

— Manthri.LK_Watch (@ManthriLK_Watch) February 21, 2024

The post SLPP MP complains over “Cake Nona’s” FB posts appeared first on Newswire.