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With a wide range of criticisms pouring in on the arrest of former President Wickremesinghe, one counter-response came from Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Arun Hemachandra yesterday, shedding more insight into what is meant by “official” and “personal” when one serves in office while stressing that there is no such thing as “semi-official” or “partially official”.

The Deputy Minister wrote on his Facebook page that this is why the recent case of the former President stands apart.

“The invitation from the University of Wolverhampton was for a private academic function, not a state duty, not a multilateral commitment, not a bilateral engagement. To finance such a journey with public money—and to do so lavishly, even with a personal butler—is to betray the trust of the people.”

By contrast, he also provided details of four foreign official visits he had undertaken since assuming duties. Representing the state in an official capacity, he said he had attended the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok, the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, tourism promotion and foreign employment discussions in Seoul, the China–South Asia Expo and bilateral meetings in Kunming.

“I have also ensured that every trip was undertaken with a very minimal and limited delegation in order to reduce costs and maintain discipline. From my allocation of USD 2,152 + EUR 1,232.49 = approximately LKR 1.04 million, the entire unused funds have been returned to the Ministry,” the Deputy Minister said. While stressing that not only him, from the President to the Prime Minister to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Members of Parliament in the NPP government—everyone has returned unutilised funds to government coffers.

“We do not travel to indulge in luxury. We travel to serve the country, to raise our voice on the international stage, and to bring back opportunities for our people. “So far, four trips. Many more to come. Because public money is not for luxury – it is for the people. We shall build our dream nation,” he said.

However, a foreign affairs pundit was to ask, “What about the President meeting his party supporters during an ‘official’ visit abroad? How does one categorise that?”

Audit report flags MPs’ unpaid utility bills and parliamentary staff’s saree-washing cost

According to the agreement MPs sign with the Secretary General of Parliament when they are allocated official quarters at the Madiwela Housing Complex for MPs, they agree to pay the electricity, water and phone bills of their respective housing units continuously and on time.

In its observations on the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Sri Lanka Parliament, the National Audit Office (NAO) had, however, pointed out that as of December 31, 2024, MPs’ electricity bills amounting to Rs. 637,539, water bills amounting to Rs. 590,860 and phone bills amounting to Rs. 303,630 at the Madiwela Housing Complex remained in arrears, and action had not been taken to obtain these payments from the MPs.

The NAO had also raised concerns that although government circulars had repeatedly emphasised the need for government institutions to strictly control their expenses depending on the nature of their work, the bill to wash sarees of staff members attached to Parliament’s Department of Serjeant-at-Arms within the audited year alone amounted to Rs. 171,557.

Let things continue as they are, Ranil says, while vowing UNP revival

Earlier this week, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was one of the many senior opposition politicians to attend the launch of former Minister Bandula Gunawardena’s book on Sri Lanka’s education reforms. The event was held at the auditorium of the Centre for Banking Studies in Rajagiriya.

Others in attendance included former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Dullas Alahapperuma, Susil Premajayantha, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Tissa Attanayake, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe informally discussing his political strategy with opposition politicians who came for the launch of former minister Bandula Gunawardena's latest book

After the event, over a cup of tea, many of the politicians started to engage in political talk. Mr. Wickremesinghe told those present that the NPP government should be allowed to continue with its work through this year. “Let things continue as they are. I will let you know what to do when the time comes,” he had told those around him.

One of those present had mentioned how weak the opposition had become. Mr. Wickremesinghe, though, disagreed, stating that the United National Party (UNP) would begin its reorganisation after its upcoming anniversary. He added that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa had told him that the SLPP too had begun its work at the grassroots level.

He quipped they can choose to join either Namal or him, indicating that he believed the UNP and SLPP will soon become the dominant opposition parties.

Piano becomes tabletop for cups and saucers

The piano being used as a makeshift table

A media conference was held this week to announce the Colombo International Kite Festival, which is scheduled to be held today at Galle Face Green.

Attendees were served refreshments after the media conference at the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, but what shocked many was the lack of care for a grand piano at the Bureau hall, as it was being used as a table to place cups and saucers. It certainly wasn’t a pretty sight.

Archuna proposes fingerprint system for MPs

Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archuna seems to have found the cure for Parliament’s empty seats: a fingerprint machine.

The MP, who is a medical doctor, pointed out that while postmen and clerks are now required to press a finger to prove they exist, the same courtesy has not been extended to the 225 parliamentarians.

“Some have attended only 25 of 66 sittings,” he said, while millions are spent to keep the lights and microphones running for their absent selves.

His remedy is a neat biometric system at the entrance. The MP insisted the treatment must be universal, including in the medical field, police, and legal sector—all to be equally beeped in and beeped out. “As a doctor,
I too have claimed overtime,” he said.

Waiving of presidential immunity is like crossing the Rubicon

Not many would really have thought that former President and six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would be taken into custody on Friday when he was summoned to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for alleged misuse of public funds.

It was the first time that a
former Head of State was arrested and thrown into a jail after being denied bail.

Hours later—realising the significance of the arrest of a former Head of State, who brought a constitutional amendment during his term to undo immunity provided to former Heads of State, is surreal for many. Social media platforms were mixed with various messages, but one stood out. It came from Saliya Pieris PC, comparing the arrest with Crossing the Rubicon—when Julius Caesar, the Governor of Gaul, crossed the river Rubicon with his army against the orders of the Senate in Rome in January 49 BC.

The President’s Counsel, who as President of the Bar Association (BASL) crossed verbal swords many times with the former President, especially during the Aragalaya period, wrote on his Facebook page:

“Once the Rubicon was crossed, there was no going back. That was the point of no return. It ended with a civil war and the ultimate triumph of Julius Caesar. This incident has led to the phrase ‘crossing the Rubicon’ or ‘crossing the point of no return’. There are certain moments in politics or governance which are the moments of ‘crossing the Rubicon’ or that point of no return. Those decisions must be considered decisions and those that are made wisely and with the long-term interests of the country in mind.”

The response to the ‘Rubicon comment’ came from the government hours later. Minister Bimal Rathnayake responded on X:

“It was the people of this Nation who, 11 months ago crossed the Rubicon! They are the spearhead of the movement to make Sri Lanka a true Republic!!,” he wrote.

180 trees for Russian Society’s 180th birthday

The Centre for the Russian Geographical Society in Sri Lanka celebrated the 180th anniversary of the founding of the Society by planting 180 trees in the premises of the Colombo Public Library this week.

The event was attended by Colombo’s Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazar and Russian Embassy officials. The Sri Lankan chapter of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) was inaugurated last year.

Actor Vijay uses Kachchativu as bait for vote catching

Across the Palk Strait, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and popular actor Vijay is the latest to join the group of South Indian politicians who are trying to get political advantage by taking up the Kachchativu issue despite it being settled between the two countries over 50 years ago.

Addressing the party’s state conference in Madurai this week, Mr. Vijay alleged that nearly 800 Tamil Nadu fishermen had been attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy in recent years. “To ensure the safety of our fishermen, retrieve Kachchativu and give it to us.”

The actor-turned-politician who launched his party early this year is repeatedly taking up the ‘fishermen issue’ but is not willing to tell the masses the truth that the dispute over the piece of land has been settled in favour of Sri Lanka following a bilateral treaty. He won’t tell them that it is the Indian fishermen who violate international regulations by entering into Sri Lankan territorial waters and plundering its marine resources through bottom trawling and illegal fishing methods. “Who cares for the truth?” must be Mr. Vijay’s motto as long as he nets in the catch by his illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing expedition for votes.

In northern politics, it’s letter-writing season ahead of UNHRC sessions

Ahead of next month’s United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions, Tamil political activists have begun writing to the UN Human Rights Chief—as though they are keeping a tradition alive—urging him to address accountability issues over alleged wartime excesses by the Sri Lankan government.

First, it was the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), led by MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, that wrote a letter to the UNHRC chief, demanding that Sri Lanka be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes committed during the final phases of the armed conflict. Following him were other Tamil parties and civil society outfits.

The main Tamil political party, the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK), however, refused to become a signatory to one such letter, drawing criticism from rival parties.

This week, another letter was sent to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. The signatories were mainly former MPs, ex-provincial councillors, religious leaders, civic society activists and academics. Also signing the letter were parliamentarians Selvam Adaikalanathan and Dr R. Archuna.

In addition to the call to refer Sri Lanka to the ICC, this group urged the UN to appoint an Independent Investigative Mechanism to probe allegations of human rights violations as well.

Going one step further, a group of diaspora outfits also wrote to the UN High Commissioner and to the UNHRC this week, calling for the setting up of a tribunal to enquire into violations and a ruling in support of a referendum on the “ethnic question”.