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Governments that rely solely on constitutional mechanisms to cling to power without a popular mandate will ultimately be rejected by the public, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) national organiser Tissa Attanayake said.

Addressing a press breifing at the SJB headquarters in Colombo, the former minister warned that authoritarian regimes rarely maintain long-term stability and cautioned the current government against attempting to cling to power without public support.

Attanayake asserted that political leaders must earn public trust rather than suppress opposition movements to preserve their authority, adding that the main opposition party stands prepared to resist any state intimidation.

He criticized the government for failing to deliver on key pledges and losing public confidence, alleging that official policies aim to dismantle multi-party democracy in favor of a single-party system.

Emphasizing the need to protect democratic institutions, the former parliamentarian stated that the opposition maintains its commitment to respecting the majority will rather than promoting political hostility.

A bank account in Hong Kong holding approximately USD 22 million linked to an associate of the former Rajapaksa administration was frozen following the election of the Yahapalana Government in 2015, former Member of Parliament Ashu Marasinghe alleged.

The former MP, who also served as an advisor to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, made these remarks yesterday (07), detailing political interference within the then administration.

According to Marasinghe, initial legal proceedings were set in motion at the time to hold the responsible party accountable, but key figures within the then government intervened to block the investigation from progressing further.

He pointed out that several individuals currently leading campaigns and criticising the present government are themselves facing serious allegations of corruption originating from past regimes.

In light of these historical compromises, he questioned the political credibility of elements within the current opposition in campaigning against the sitting government on anti-corruption grounds.

He emphasised that pursuing legal action against members of the Rajapaksa family must not be viewed as political vengeance, asserting that legitimate judicial processes must be carried out wherever sufficient evidence exists.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has alleged that the government is attempting to subvert the independence of the Judiciary through the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

Speaking at an executive committee meeting of the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya in Naula, Matale District, the Opposition Leader claimed that the legislation will transform the judicial system into an instrument controlled directly by the President and the Executive branch.

Warning of severe economic repercussions, he said that foreign investors would be deterred from bringing capital into the country if they believed the judicial system was subject to Executive control.

He noted that the constitutional changes would steer the nation towards authoritarian rule by eroding the democratic rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly of 22 million citizens.

The Opposition Leader also highlighted governance failures, pointing out that the governement had breached its key campaign promises to lower electricity tariffs and offer discounted fuel prices.

He also expressed concern over the reduction of welfare support under the Aswesuma assistance scheme, asserting that the state was failing to cushion the public against ongoing economic burdens.

The Opposition Leader reaffirmed that his party would oppose any legislative measures that endanger judicial autonomy and deepen the financial distress of the public.

Through September 14, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 93 countries and territories can enter Thailand without a visa for stays of up to 60 days.

Starting September 15, 2026, the visa exemption scheme introduced in July 2024 will be replaced by a revised system. Under the new rules, 60 countries and territories will qualify for visa-free stays of up to 30 days, alongside separate bilateral agreements and other specific arrangements.

As VisasNews reported when the reform was officially confirmed, the changes will not simply shorten the visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days. For 21 nationalities, visa-free entry will disappear altogether.

Thailand: 21 nationalities are being removed from the visa exemption scheme

Starting September 15, 2026, ordinary passport holders from the following 21 countries will need to obtain a visa before traveling to Thailand for tourism:

All of these countries are currently included among the 93 nationalities eligible for Thailand’s 60-day visa exemption, but they are no longer included in the new system taking effect September 15, 2026.

The reduction from 93 to 60 countries does not, however, mean that every nationality removed from the main list will suddenly require a visa.

Some travelers will continue to qualify for visa-free entry under separate bilateral agreements, including nationals of China, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam. Other countries also have bilateral arrangements allowing visa-free stays of varying lengths. Mauritius, meanwhile, will benefit from a new 15-day tourist visa exemption.

Once these separate arrangements are taken into account, 21 nationalities that are currently allowed to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days will need a visa for entries made on or after September 15, 2026.

The e-Visa will become the main option for tourist travel to Thailand

For affected travelers, the reform does not necessarily mean a return to traditional in-person visa applications at Thai embassies or consulates.

Since January 1, 2025, Thailand has expanded its Thai e-Visa system worldwide across its diplomatic network. Foreign nationals can submit their applications online while outside Thailand through the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official portal: thaievisa.go.th.

The process involves creating an account, completing the online application, uploading the required supporting documents, paying the applicable fee when online payment is available, and submitting the application for review by the relevant Thai authorities.

Once approved, the e-Visa confirmation is sent by email. Thailand’s official e-Visa portal states that travelers can print the document and present it to their airline and Thai immigration authorities when required.

Exact requirements, supporting documents, visa fees and processing times may vary depending on where the traveler applies and which Thai diplomatic mission is responsible for processing the application.

Thailand’s TR tourist visa allows stays of up to 60 days

For a standard leisure trip, the single-entry TR Tourist Visa is one of the main options available to travelers who will no longer qualify for visa-free entry.

The Royal Thai Embassy in London states that the single-entry TR Tourist Visa is valid for three months from the date of issuance and allows travelers to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days from the date of entry. A further 30-day extension may be requested from Thai immigration authorities, currently subject to a fee of 1,900 baht.

Because it is a single-entry visa, travelers who leave Thailand will generally need a new visa to re-enter if they are no longer eligible for visa-free entry.

For travelers planning several trips to Thailand, the country also offers a Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (METV). The METV is valid for six months and allows stays of up to 60 days per entry, provided the applicant meets the applicable eligibility requirements.

Travelers entering before September 15 can still benefit from the current rules

The key date is the date of entry into Thailand.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that foreign nationals already in Thailand under the current rules, as well as those who enter before the reform takes effect, may retain the period of stay granted to them upon arrival.

A Colombian, Moroccan, Mexican or other affected national who enters Thailand no later than September 14, 2026, can therefore still be admitted under the current 60-day visa exemption scheme.

The new visa requirement will apply to entries made on or after September 15, 2026.

The four Ministry of Interior regulations implementing the reform were published in Thailand’s Royal Gazette on August 31, 2026, and are scheduled to take effect 15 days after publication.

*Visa or visa-free, the TDAC is still required*

Obtaining an e-Visa does not remove the requirement to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).

Foreign travellers must continue to complete this electronic arrival form before entering Thailand.

Thai authorities have emphasised that the TDAC applies to non-Thai nationals regardless of whether they are entering the country with a visa or under a visa exemption.

Venerable Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero, who was arrested by Batticaloa Police, has been remanded until tomorrow (07) by the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court.

The monk was taken into custody over an incident involving the alleged obstruction of duties performed by officers at the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau office in Batticaloa.

Following his arrest, the Thero was produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate’s Court, where an order was issued to remand him until tomorrow.

Police are continuing investigations into the incident.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa visited the prison premises to check on the well-being of her son, remanded Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

Shiranthi Rajapaksa, who is the wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, arrived at the prison a short while ago to inquire about her son’s condition.

Namal Rajapaksa is currently being held in remand custody.

His father, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had also visited Welikada Prison on Saturday (05) to see the Parliamentarian.

The visits come as the Rajapaksa family continues to maintain contact with Namal Rajapaksa during his period in remand custody.

The Department of Motor Traffic has begun arrangements to issue green-background number plates for electric motor vehicles in Sri Lanka.

Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Thushara Fernando, said around 8,000 number plates featuring the new green background have already been printed.

He explained that the move follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Transport to introduce a distinct registration plate for electric vehicles.

The Commissioner General also said the relevant notification has been submitted for publication in the Government Gazette.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has been requested to notify all police stations that the newly introduced green-background number plates are legally recognised.

The measure will allow electric vehicles to be readily identified through their distinctive registration plates.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the government of hypocrisy over its proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, questioning why President Anura Kumara Dissanayake no longer considers a national referendum necessary for major constitutional changes.

Speaking on Sunday (07) at a political meeting in Rattota to establish the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya electorate committee, Premadasa claimed that the proposed legislation would undermine judicial independence and further erode the rule of law across the country.

He pointed out that while the President had previously insisted on both a two-thirds parliamentary majority and a public referendum during debates on the 20th Amendment, government members are now arguing that a referendum is unnecessary for their own amendment.

Premadasa warned that the current administration is attempting to weaken democratic institutions to establish one-party rule, citing recent controversies surrounding elections for youth clubs and civil security committees.

Criticising the government's political rallies celebrating two years in power as a campaign of misdirection, he challenged the President to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council elections to properly test public sentiment.

The Opposition Leader also alleged that state events were directly harming local livelihoods, claiming that police had prevented local fishermen from entering the Beruwala harbour during a recent presidential rally in the area.

Addressing the government's claims of two successful years in office, Premadasa highlighted a series of unfulfilled election promises, including commitments to lower fuel prices and reduce electricity tariffs by 32 per cent, alongside growing public concerns over critical medicine shortages and lengthening waiting lists for essential surgeries.

He said that while the past two years may have proved advantageous for the government, the public has suffered as a result.

Video: https://youtu.be/CphZg2Zz--I