News
Opposition Leader says Govt. paddy profit claims don't add up, calls for new pricing formula
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on the government to prepare a proper pricing formula for paddy, warning that serious discrepancies exist in the profit figures currently being claimed for farmers.
Premadasa raised the issue in Parliament today (05), questioning the accuracy of the government's guaranteed price scheme for paddy purchases.
He said that although the government claims paddy varieties yield profits of Rs. 44, Rs. 33 and Rs. 31 respectively, Hansard records from June 24, 2026, show that Nadu was purchased at Rs. 120, Samba at Rs. 130 and Kiri Samba at Rs. 140 during the Maha season.
He noted that the Agriculture Minister had stated that the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute had already calculated production costs during the Yala season had risen to as much as Rs. 137 per kilogram, driven by higher harvesting expenses and increased ploughing costs resulting from rising fuel prices.
He said that while the government itself acknowledges it costs Rs. 137 to produce a kilogram of paddy, it simultaneously claims farmers are making large profits, a contradiction that raises serious questions when set against the guaranteed price actually paid.
The Opposition Leader said farmers themselves reject the profit figures being attributed to them, insisting instead that they are incurring serious losses under the present guaranteed price scheme.
Given these inconsistencies, he proposed that a sound and well considered pricing formula be prepared for paddy from the next season onwards.
Premadasa also pointed out that any government purchases only between 6 and 9 per cent of the total harvest, since farmers retain a portion for their own consumption, and argued that small and medium scale mill owners must be strengthened to handle the purchase of the remaining 90 per cent.
He said many of these mill owners are currently unable to access concessionary loans because they have been blacklisted, and suggested that restructuring their loans, removing them from the blacklist and offering low interest credit would enable them to purchase paddy more effectively.
He added that regardless of which party holds office, these structural problems demand solutions, and called on the government to implement a proper programme to correct what he described as a flawed pricing formula.
*Video: https://youtu.be/Lheq1yxKm1Y*
Opposition Leader cites Supreme Court ruling to challenge Govt.’s judicial tenure plan
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament on Tuesday (03) that any constitutional amendment attempting to alter the retirement age of serving appellate judges must be submitted to a national referendum to avoid violating judicial independence.
Addressing the House under Standing Order 27(2), Premadasa cited a landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling on the Inland Revenue Amendment Bill which affirmed that changing the tenure or retirement terms of incumbent Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges directly infringes on Article 3 of the Constitution.
The Opposition Leader highlighted that the administration's proposed tenure extension has already drawn strong pushback from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) alongside numerous domestic and international legal associations.
Premadasa challenged the government over its selective approach to legal sector reforms, pointing out that a comprehensive 2023 Ministry of Justice report backed by the Asian Development Bank had already laid out clear steps for systemic court efficiency that remain unaddressed.
He observed that simply increasing the retirement age of senior judges fails to offer a practical solution for the estimated 1.1 million cases currently backlogging Sri Lankan courts.
Urging the government to halt unilateral legislative steps, the Opposition Leader demanded that ministers consult legal stakeholders and prioritise structural reforms over constitutional shifts that alter the judiciary's terms.
SJB submits proposal for Parliamentary Select Committee to resolve judicial delays
The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has submitted a proposal to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne requesting the immediate establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to resolve Sri Lanka's mounting judicial backlog and severe prison overcrowding.
Initiated by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the initiative aims to tackle a massive backlog of approximately 1.1 million court cases currently pending across the island's judicial system.
The proposed committee will also focus on finding urgent solutions for the acute crisis within the country's penal system, where the inmate population has surged past 40,000 despite facilities being built to accommodate only around 10,000 prisoners.
President prioritises national consensus over hasty constitutional reforms
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirmed that it is the government's position that the Constitution should be reformed and that the Executive Presidency should be abolished.
However, he stressed that, rather than pursuing a hastily drafted constitutional amendment, the priority at this stage is to build a new national consensus.
The President made these remarks during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives of a six-party alliance representing Tamil and Muslim political parties.
He emphasised the necessity of initiating a broad and inclusive national dialogue to ensure that any future constitutional framework is established on shared national agreement rather than unilateral political moves.
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran noted during the discussions that drafting a new Constitution cannot be undertaken hastily.
He urged that the process be approached as a national dialogue capable of addressing the concerns of Sri Lanka's diverse communities, avoiding the mistake of introducing a Constitution unilaterally as occurred in 1948, 1972, and 1978.
President Dissanayake highlighted that his administration has already laid the groundwork for a unified national identity where citizens act collectively as Sri Lankans, noting that the country has remained free of ethnic unrest under the present administration.
He added that his long-term vision remains a system of governance strictly accountable to Parliament.
The meeting also addressed key regional and socioeconomic matters, including stalled Provincial Council elections and land rights for the Malayagam (Hill Country Tamil) community.
On the subject of elections, President Dissanayake pointed to the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee tasked with studying the conduct of Provincial Council polls, promising direct engagement with the panel to resolve pending issues.
Regarding the Malayagam community, the President announced plans to grant estate workers legal ownership of 10-perch residential land plots, with relevant provisions set to be written into state plantation lease renewals before 2042.
Further commitments were outlined to improve living standards in the Central Highlands and the North. In addition to establishing a dedicated authority to manage environmental sustainability and landslide risks in the Central Highlands, the government plans to increase funding for the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure in the 2027 Budget.
The President also confirmed that the 2027 and 2028 Budgets will allocate funds to build 13,000 houses in two phases for conflict-affected families who lost their homes.
Temporary housing and rental allowances will also be provided for those displaced by Cyclone Ditwah until permanent structures are completed. Addressing concerns raised over land disputes involving state departments in the North and East, President Dissanayake reaffirmed that land rightfully belongs to the people and urged the alliance to frame community issues within the broader national interest.
Red Alert Issued for Strong Winds and Rough Seas
The Department of Meteorology has issued a Red Alert warning for strong winds and rough sea conditions.
Sea areas off the coast from Hambantota to Pottuvil are expected to experience wind speeds increasing intermittently up to 60–70 kmph, with the seas becoming very rough at times.
Accordingly, naval and fishing communities have been advised not to venture into these sea areas until further notice.
Meanwhile, sea areas extending from Puttalam to Colombo, Galle and Hambantota are expected to experience wind speeds increasing intermittently to 50–60 kmph, with rough sea conditions prevailing at times.
Fishing and naval communities engaged in activities in these areas have been requested to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
The Department of Meteorology has also urged fishing and naval communities to closely monitor future updates and advisories issued regarding the prevailing weather conditions.
Dinana Dakuna Collective alleges external influence in judicial policy proposal
The Dinana Dakuna Collective has raised serious concerns over the due process behind a proposal to extend the retirement age of judges, alleging that the relevant Cabinet paper may have been bypassed by external interests without the knowledge of the subject ministry.
The civil society group highlighted the issue in a press release following recent comments made to a national newspaper by Ayesha Jinasena PC, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration. The Secretary stated that she had neither received a concept paper nor prepared a Cabinet paper regarding an extension of the judicial retirement age.
According to the collective, the Justice Ministry Secretary’s admission creates reasonable suspicion that the proposal submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers was drafted and tabled independently of the line ministry responsible for legal and judicial affairs.
The group questioned the transparency and legitimacy of introducing major policy alterations in such a manner, warning that circumventing established ministerial procedures undermines institutional governance.
Govt. must immediately ensure fair price for paddy harvests - Namal
Opposition MP and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa has called on the government to immediately provide a fair price for paddy farmers' harvests, claiming that farmers are facing increasing hardships while the cost of living continues to rise.
Rajapaksa alleged that the government had failed to address farmers' concerns over paddy prices, fertiliser availability and rice imports.
He said farmers have been demanding a price of Rs. 140 per kilogram of paddy and accused the government of failing to honour promises made before the election regarding guaranteed purchase prices.
Rajapaksa also claimed that farmers were being intimidated for demanding higher prices and criticised the continued importation of rice despite earlier assurances that imports would be halted.
Referring to the previous SLPP government, he said a guaranteed price for paddy had been maintained through subsidised fertiliser and purchases by the Paddy Marketing Board, while acknowledging that the organic fertiliser policy introduced later had been a mistake.
He also alleged that despite the government's pledge to purchase paddy directly from farmers, the programme had failed to attract producers, while rice prices had ultimately increased.
Rajapaksa said the rising cost of living and increasing tax burden had made daily life unaffordable for many people and urged the government to immediately present its plan to address the concerns of farmers and the wider public.
Several Athletes Reportedly Go Missing After 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
Police Scotland said it has received reports that several athletes are "missing" and has launched investigations into their whereabouts. Authorities are also coordinating with the UK Home Office regarding the matter.
According to foreign media reports, four members of Uganda's boxing team did not leave Scotland with the rest of their delegation, with a team member reportedly stating that they intend to seek asylum in the country.
The missing Ugandan athletes have been identified as Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Kemis and Emily Nakalema.
Meanwhile, Pakistani media reported that boxer Qudratullah, a member of Pakistan's boxing team, also failed to return home with the team and has been reported missing.
A similar situation occurred following the 2014 Commonwealth Games, also held in Glasgow, when several athletes disappeared. International media reports stated that some of them later applied for asylum, while others were never traced.
UK authorities have stated that any future asylum applications will be assessed individually, with each case considered based on its own circumstances, facts and supporting evidence.
Intel agencies uncover coordinated plot to trigger widespread prison chaos - report
Sri Lankan intelligence agencies have uncovered a coordinated plot involving politicians, prison officials, and inmates to incite violent clashes across five key penal facilities and trigger widespread national destabilization, according to a report published by the 'Divaina' newspaper.
The report states that security forces identified the plan after monitoring suspicious activities linked to recent unrest within Sri lanka's correctional facilities.
The syndicate behind the plot is preparing to target the Dumbara, Kalutara, Galle, Colombo Magazine, and Welikada Female prisons.
Authorities believe this nexus of powerful actors aims to manufacture artificial unrest without any legitimate grievances to exploit for political or criminal gain.
Investigators suspect that the network orchestrating this fresh conspiracy is the same organized group responsible for directing the recent violent outbreaks at both the Negombo and Mahara facilities.
The violence at the Mahara Prison alone led to property destruction valued at over Rs. 150 million, with probes failing to find any reasonable cause or catalyst for the outbreak.
Authorities note that high-ranking members of the Department of Prisons collaborated directly with incarcerated individuals and political figures to coordinate these incidents.
A comprehensive inquiry led by senior investigative teams is currently underway to identify all co-conspirators and dismantle the network before further disruptions take place.
Page 2 of 751