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At the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), several trade unions are on strike protesting against the National Transport Commission’s decision to implement a unified bus timetable for SLTB and private buses.

Trade unions affiliated to the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) and its main constituent party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), however, are conspicuous by their absence in this trade union action. This is rather ironic given that they have been at the forefront of opposing a unified timetable for years.

State bus employees' strike: The JVP trade union is not on board

In 2017, the JVP-affiliated All Ceylon Transport Workers Union (ACTWU) wrote a letter to those charged with formulating a national policy for the SLTB. The letter, signed by ACTWU General Secretary Sepala Liyanage, presented the union’s proposals. Interestingly, one of the proposals was to prevent the implementation of a unified timetable for SLTB and private buses. The letter called on the authorities to intervene to defeat efforts being taken by “traitors within the SLTB” to destroy the Board by implementing the unified timetable system.

This week, an audio clip emerged of a phone conversation where an SLTB employee is heard questioning the JVP union leader as to why their union was not intervening to protest the implementation of a unified timetable. In his response, Mr. Liyanage, who had once termed those attempting to implement a unified timetable as “traitors”, took a totally different stance.

“We stand behind the government’s policy. That is all,” Mr. Liyanage says in the audio clip. “The ACTWU is a government trade union now. We fought long and hard to bring this government to power. We will stand with the government’s policies. That is all I have to say,” he adds.

Bimal’s ‘September drama’ comments draw criticism

An event was held at Temple Trees under the auspices of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) on Friday to mark International Day of the Disappeared.

However, some of the comments made by Minister Bimal Ratnayaka at the event have drawn attention, particularly his reference to the ‘dramas’ being enacted close to September (to coincide with the UN Human Rights Council sessions).

“I have visited many mass graves in the country. In May, I visited Chemmani (mass grave site), but there was not even a security guard there. There are certain dramas that get enacted close to September. While it is important to bring the perpetrator to book, enacting dramas using the names of those who are victims should also be denounced,” he said.

His comments have been criticised by some human rights activists who said they belittle the platforms that the family of victims can turn to, to hear their side of the story.

Gammanpila gone overseas ahead of possible arrest

Pivuthuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila has landed himself in trouble over comments he made regarding the arrest of former Sri Lankan Navy Commander Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, who is in remand custody in connection with the disappearance of a man in 2010.

Mr Gammanpila addressed the media after the ex-Navy Commander’s arrest on July 28 to say the government was persecuting ‘war veterans’.

Following this, the CID has swung into action and is seeking to arrest Mr. Gammanpila on grounds that some of his comments at the media conference could incite disharmony among different communities and could amount to an offence under Section 3(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act or under Section 120 of the Penal Code.

However, Mr. Gammanpila has reportedly gone overseas, and attempts to locate him have failed so far.

Action inside and outside court

Champika and Hirunika: Opposition unites outside the Fort's Magistrate's Court

There was a large crowd near the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the bail hearing of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was being taken up. They included a large number of lawyers and politicians as well as media personnel.

However, given the space constraints within the courtroom, except for lawyers who are also politicians, the others had to do with staying outside the court premises. Former MPs Champika Ranawaka and Hirunika Premachandra were among those who mingled with the crowds outside until Mr. Wickremesinghe was released on bail.

Watagala defines those living in fear

The spate of recent arrests of politicians who served in past governments is sending shudders through others as they see some of their ministerial and parliamentary colleagues being locked up, according to the Deputy Public Security Minister Sunil Watagala.

“Even when the postman or the PHI comes to their door, some are frightened to open the doors,” Mr. Watagala said, adding it is similar to the plight of the protagonist in the book Crime and Punishment (by Fyodor Dostoyevsky). “In that the guilty man is always living in fear when someone comes to his door. Now some here are also like that,” he said.

Mr. Watagala said that former presidents, ministers and MPs have become more fearful after the recent high-profile arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe and are trying to come together to safeguard themselves.

Sajith in fresh campaign to save elephants

The growing number of elephant deaths in Sri Lanka seems to have been weighing heavily on the mind of SJB and Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, a wildlife enthusiast and nature lover.

Eager to do his part to mitigate the worsening human-elephant conflict, he made an appeal this week to Britain’s Prince William to support Sri Lanka’s efforts in wild elephant conservation.

In a letter handed to British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick this week, Mr. Premadasa highlighted that the escalating human-elephant conflict tragically claims more than 400 elephants and 150 human
lives annually.

To address this, he proposed the establishment of a National Elephant Conservation and Coexistence Initiative (NECCI), which would unite experts and international partners. High Commissioner Patrick welcomed the initiative, calling it “timely and necessary”.

In one of the episodes of Guardians, the acclaimed wildlife docuseries spearheaded by Prince William and the Royal Foundation, the brave efforts of Sri Lanka’s wildlife rangers in their fight to save the island’s endangered elephants were highlighted.

Oh, public servants, into which of these three categories do you fall?

Mr. Amarasekara presenting a copy of his book to Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath

S. Amarasekara, a highly experienced public servant who has served the public sector for more than 50 years, launched this week his book titled ‘Herding Frantic Cats – The Socioeconomic, Political, and Administrative Pandemonium of Sri Lanka and the Path Ahead’. Among those in attendance were Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, MPs, well-known politicians, and senior state sector officials.

While introducing the book to the audience, Mr. Amarasekara gave some interesting insights into the role of public servants.

In terms of quality, he said there are three categories of government servants. The first is the proactive group. They think ahead, take initiative, and perform their duties at the appropriate time, ensuring issues do not escalate into crises. All previous governments performed satisfactorily due to their contributions. The second is the reactive group. They respond to advice and instructions; they are responsible for maintaining the system and institutional memory. The third is the inactive group, also known as the APATHA group, which has no regard for the institution or society. They do not work under any circumstances, yet they enjoy all rights and privileges and often subvert the work of the government in power.

Despite the shortcomings in the public sector, Mr. Amarasekara underscored the importance of the public servants for the country. “If public service is inactive, the government also becomes inactive. The inaction of the public service is one of the major reasons for economic decline after 2016,” he said.

Photo push for Johnson’s book

Ranil seen with Boris Johnson's book in hand

When former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was discharged from the Colombo National Hospital on Friday, a photograph of him about to leave the hospital went viral on social media.

The photo, first shared by former Minister Harin Fernando, also shows Mr. Wickremesinghe, long known to be an avid reader, carrying a book in his hand. The book was “Unleashed”, the memoir written by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Mr. Johnson’s memoir, released in October last year, details his life in politics, including as UK Prime Minister from 2019 to 2022. Interest in the book seems to have peaked in Sri Lankan social media circles following the release of the photograph.