Tennakoon resigns from ministerial position

Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon

Provincial Council and Rural Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, who represented the UPFA in the current Government, resigned from his portfolio yesterday.

He announced his resignation at a media conference convened at his residence in Dambulla.

He said that he accepted his ministerial portfolio to comply with a SLFP Central Working Committee decision, and he decided to resign from the post due to the existing political situation.

According to sources, the President’s 14 July speech, in which he said that he would stand against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the activities of the United National Party (UNP), had compelled Tennakoon to resign.

Tennakoon said that the President’s speech would be disadvantageous for the party during the election and even called for an emergency Central Committee meeting to discuss the impact of the President’s address.

FR petition filed by Sajin Vass rejected

A Fundamental Rights petition (FR) filed by former Parliamentarian Sajin Vass Gunawardena has been rejected by the Supreme Court.

In the petition, Gunawardena challenged his arrest and detention over fraud allegations.