CIABOC DG in JO’s crosshairs

Saturday 30th May, 2026

The Joint Opposition (JO) has submitted a petition to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), calling for the suspension of CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake and a high-level probe into his allegedly arbitrary and biased conduct. It has claimed that Dissanayake is misusing his position to further the interests of the ruling NPP led by the JVP, and the integrity of the CIABOC investigations has been undermined by his political bias and arbitrary actions.

There are arguments for and against the Opposition’s campaign against the CIABOC DG. Dissanayake himself has denied the allegations against him as baseless, and it is being argued in some quarters that he is in the Opposition’s crosshairs because of the ongoing investigations into corrupt deals under the previous governments. The JO has cited in support of its petition against Dissanayake an affidavit the late SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena submitted to court through his lawyers, claiming that Dissanayake intimidated him.

Allegations against Dissanayake have not been substantiated, but they have adversely impacted the image of the CIABOC. Hence the need for a thorough investigation into the charges contained in the JO’s petition, which is now in the public domain.

There are various allegations against many state officials in key positions. Some officials of the Attorney General’s Department, the police top brass and some secretaries to ministries have also been accused of misusing their authority to advance the government’s political agenda. Some public officials’ partiality and servility to the government in power severely erode public trust in the institutions they represent and make a mockery of the constitutional safeguards in place to ensure their independence. Constitutional provisions alone cannot depoliticise public institutions; state officials in key positions must assert their independence from politicians and be above reproach.

The JVP was instrumental in having the 17th Amendment to the Constitution introduced in 2001, paving the way for the establishment of the Independent Commissions to safeguard the independence of key state institutions vis-a-vis political interference. In 2015, it campaigned really hard to have the 18th Amendment replaced with the 19th Amendment to restore the 17th Amendment in all but name. In 2022, it joined forces with other Opposition parties and civil society groups to do away with the 20th Amendment and bring in the 21st Amendment, which revived the constitutional mechanisms the 19th Amendment had put in place to free the state service from the clutches of politicians.

But today the JVP-led NPP government stands accused of manipulating the Constitutional Council to elevate its loyalists among public officials to key positions in the state service and pressuring officials to toe its line. The Sri Lanka Association of Divisional Secretaries and Assistant Divisional Secretaries has protested against a controversial government decision to provide “Clean Sri Lanka” coordinators, who are said to be JVP cadres, with offices inside Divisional Secretariats. It has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake opposing the government move and warning that such deployment of “Clean Sri Lanka” operatives will only undermine the independence of the public service. The JVP/NPP is accused of trying to establish a parallel administration as part of a strategy to perpetuate its hold on power.

It is imperative that the CIABOC conduct a thorough probe into the JO’s allegations against DG Dissanayake, in a transparent manner. That is the only way it can clear its name, if at all. If the allegations at issue go uninvestigated, they will undermine the integrity of the CIABOC, and provide a fresh impetus to the Opposition’s campaign.

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Sri Lanka’s construction industry losing ground while no one watches

The 21st edition of the “Build Sri Lanka” housing and construction exhibition concluded last week at the BMICH. On the surface, it was a modest success: stalls were staffed, catalogues were exchanged, and the usual dignitaries cut the usual ribbons. But beneath the low hum of polite conversation, a far more urgent story was unfolding – one that policymakers appear to have missed entirely.

For an industry that contributes nearly 8% to Sri Lanka’s GDP and employs over 500,000 people, the quiet profile of this year’s exhibition was telling – the kind that settles over an industry bracing for impact.

The Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) President, Manilal Fernando, used the platform not to celebrate, but to warn. Two specific points he raised should be ringing alarm bells in the Treasury and the Ministry of Housing. But because the event lacked high-level political attendance, these warnings have so far fallen into a policy void.

Fernando noted that after a brutal slump from 2020 to 2023, the industry saw a fragile recovery in 2024. But that green shoot is now withering. “With the rupee volatility due to the war in the Persian Gulf,” he said, “again we are heading for uncertain times.”

According to CCI, Sri Lanka’s construction industry is an importer in disguise. Over 60% of construction materials from steel and cement to tiles, fittings, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) components are either directly imported or have high import content. Even locally manufactured items rely on imported raw materials.

When the rupee depreciates, costs don’t just rise; they leap. And here is the crux according to Fernando : current contractual payment mechanisms do not automatically reflect these real-time cost increases. As he warned, unless cost escalations are correctly reflected in contract payments, many contractors and consultants will simply be unable to perform. That means stalled projects, abandoned housing schemes, and unfinished infrastructure – paid for, but not delivered.

The second issue is even more maddening because it is entirely within the government’s control to fix. Fernando revealed that a set of long-overdue amendments to the Construction Industry Development Act (CID Act) was finalised in 2024. These amendments were developed over six years by the National Advisory Council on Construction, approved by the Legal Draftsman, and could be enacted within two months.

But instead of enacting these ready-made fixes, CIDA is now pushing for a complete overhaul of the Act – a process that will take a minimum of two years to reach parliament.

He pointed out that without these amendments, the industry lacks a fair, transparent price variation mechanism. Right now, MEP contractors and others complain that CIDA’s official price indices do not reflect actual market price fluctuations. The CCI, therefore, proposed a simple solution: a joint committee (CCI + reputable contractors + CIDA) to oversee index compilation. But even that cannot be implemented effectively without the Act’s update.

The construction industry, once a bellwether of national economic health, is now whispering its crises in a conference hall with no television cameras to air high-decibel news stories or make it a headline event.

The builders of Sri Lanka are not asking for subsidies. They are asking for predictability, fairness, and speed. The war in the Persian Gulf is beyond Sri Lanka’s control. But the CID Act and contract index reforms are not.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

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Trump 'prepares 48-hour invasion' of nearby nation: 'This could get messy'

The Trump administration is reportedly discussing a possible military move on a near enighbour, as the White House continues to push for regime change.

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Blundell, Foxcroft and Smith give New Zealand vice-grip on Ireland Test

New Zealand extended their control on the one-off four-day Test against Ireland in Belfast following a dominating performance on the second day with bat and ball. Building on from the strong foundation set by Rachin Ravindra’s century on the opening day, the visitors posted 490 for 8 after scores of 186 from Tom Blundell and 98 from debutant Dean Foxcroft.

After that, seamer Nathan Smith ran through the Irish top-order, claiming a five-wicket haul within 29 balls of his new-ball spell to finish with 6 for 40. That rolled Ireland over for 179, and New Zealand swiftly enforced the follow-on. By stumps, Ireland were 65 for 2 in their third innings, still 246 runs away from making New Zealand bat again.

With the ball, Smith removed four of Ireland’s top-six batters for ducks in the hosts’ first batting innings – a record in Test cricket – and blazed to his maiden Test five-for after New Zealand had declared for 490 just before lunch.

The Irish top-order collapse started two balls into the Test’s second innings when Smith struck with a full ball that jagged inwards, hitting opener Stephen Doheny on the pads in front of the stumps. Four balls later, No. 3 Cade Carmichael tried to play straight to an inswinger but get an edge to Tom Latham at slip. With both out for ducks, Ireland were 0 for 2 after the first over.

After lunch, and under greyer skies, it was Smith tormenting Ireland once again, with a beauty of a length ball that angled in and opened Andrew Balbirnie’s defense. The exposed bat-pad gap was enough to knock Balbirnie’s middle stump back for 13.

In the same spell, Smith got another full ball to sear back and hit Curtis Campher’s front pad, and he was the third batter gone for a duck. Smith would collect his fourth duck victim and get his five-for when Lorcan Tucker pressed forward for a drive, only for the ball to cut him in half and take out his poles. A wicket for Zak Foulkes to dismiss Harry Tector (16) then saw Ireland reeling at 38 for 6.

Andy McBrine and Mark Adair shared a 116-run stand for the seventh wicket [Cricinfo]

A stubborn seventh-wicket stand of 116 between Andy McBrine and Mark Adair, though, brought some respectability to the hosts’ batting response. As they did against England at Lord’s and against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo previously to post Ireland’s two highest partnerships in Test history, the pair held the innings together. Adair didn’t mind playing T20 shots or moving around the crease early on, but once the sun came out, locked in for a more patient batting innings.

McBrine was enterprising with the cut, and survived a Daryl Mitchell drop at slips, to bring up his half-century in the last over before tea. A few balls later, the partnership crossed hundred, and the teams left the field for the session break at 139 for 6.

It was Smith who broke the partnership, with a short ball that rose uncomfortably to Adair. Once he walked back for 40 and with Ireland at 154 for 7, McBrine soon ran out of partners. New Zealand’s seamers opted for a short-ball tactic against the lower-order batters and that saw Thomas Mayes holing out to deep square leg and Reuben Wilson gloving a catch to slip. McBrine remained unbeaten on 73.

After following-on, Ireland made a much better start, with openers Doheny and Balbirnie putting on 42 for the first wicket. Balbirnie was out nicking behind to Blair Tickner, and the bowler added a second by getting Carmichael edging to slip too.

Earlier in the day, overnight batters Blundell and Foxcroft began the morning by wearing down the Irish bowling attack in the first innings after starting from 361 for 5. Ireland were without Adair – the bowler – for the morning session, and as the highest wicket-taker of day one, he was missed.

The two batters were careful against the swinging ball and seaming track in the early stages but once New Zealand went to the first drinks break without any wickets lost, they changed gears with declaration in sight.

Blundell was particularly strong with his pulls and flat-batted shots between midwicket and long on, getting on top of the leg-stump line and short-ball plan that Liam McCarthy operated on. Foxcroft struck six fours and one six in his innings, unafraid to use his crease either laterally or down the track, to get on top of the home side’s bowling.

Their sixth-wicket stand of 158 for the sixth wicket – which followed up from the 217-run fifth-wicket stand between Blundell and Ravindra on day one – pulverised Ireland. Blundell was out for 186 in the 114th over, out at midwicket looking for more big hits off Wilson’s bowling. Foxcroft, two short of a ton on Test debut, got a top-edge to fine leg off McBrine’s offspin in the 119th over.

In between, Nathan Smith was run-out for 17 courtesy a smart team run-out between substitute fielder Jake Egan and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker. New Zealand declared on 490 for 8, giving their new-ball bowlers a few overs before lunch, during which time Smith struck twice to add to the visitors’ advantage en route to his six-for.

Brief scores:
Ireland 179 in 45 overs (Andy McBrine 73*, Mark Adair 40;  Nathan Smith 6-40, Ben Sears 2-27) and [f/o] 65 for 2 (Stephen Doheny 36*; Blair Tickner 2-14) trail New Zealand 490 for 8 dec in 119 overs (Rachin Ravindra 121, Tom Blundell 186, Dean Foxcroft 98; Markm Adair 3-66) by 246 runs

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‘Green Chilies’ returns after seven years to reignite Sri Lanka’s advertising industry spirit

After a seven-year hiatus, one of Sri Lanka’s most loved advertising industry gatherings is making a much-anticipated return. Green Chilies 2026, the iconic festival that once defined the fun, camaraderie and creative spirit of Sri Lanka’s advertising fraternity, returns on 4th June 2026 at Rise Up, Colombo 03, bringing together professionals from across agencies, media, digital, production and marketing for an evening of celebration, entertainment, and industry camaraderie.

Originally launched in 2011, Green Chilies was conceived as a platform to celebrate Sri Lanka’s Young Lions winners as they embarked on their journey to represent the country at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, while also creating a unique opportunity for the industry to come together outside boardrooms and deadlines.

This year’s revival comes at an especially meaningful time, as an entire new generation of industry professionals have entered the business without ever experiencing the culture and energy that made Green Chilies such a defining event. Some key highlights will be the recognition of the winners of the young Lions competition and the much-loved return of The Agency Idol, the wildly entertaining competition where agencies battle it out on stage in a spirited showcase of talent, humour, and creativity, bringing back one of the event’s most iconic traditions.

Speaking about the return of the festival, Ranil de Silva, Founder of Green Chilies and of Metal Factor, said: “When we first launched Green Chilies, the idea was simple. It was to celebrate our Young Lions and create something that brought the industry together as one community. Over the years it became far more than an event, it became part of our industry culture. Seeing it return after seven years is very special, particularly because so many young professionals will now get to experience the spirit that made this industry such a fun and inspiring place to be.”

Green Chilies 2026 is organized by Metal Factor and supported by the 4A’s Sri Lanka.

Event Details:

Venue: Rise Up, Alwis Place, Colombo 03

Date: Thursday, 4th June 2026

Time: From 6.30 PM onwards

Contact : Shelley +94 77 342 3123

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Donald Trump's last-minute schedule change after hospital visit

US President Donald Trump postponed a Cabinet trip to Camp David just after completing a three-hour examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

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Remembrance Day, 19 May 26: Was it traduced?

‘Ferocious in battle, Magnanimous in victory (Col Tim Collins- Brit Army)

Sri Lanka commemorated the 17th anniversary of the end of the 30-year Eelam conflict with a moving War Heroes Remembrance Day ceremony on 19 May 26 at the monument on the Parliament grounds. It was a solemn occasion when the Nation paid tribute to over 29,000 Defence and Police people (women and men) who died in the conflict. Sadly, politics, aberrations and theatrics were also on display.

The gravity of the sacrifices made and consequences of the Eelam war and two Southern terrorist insurgencies (1971 and 1988-9), are felt mostly by those who lost their loved ones in the conflicts as the nation mourns with them. Any hesitation to pay tribute belittle the fallen.

It was regrettable to see that the ceremony was also political. Why were the general public excluded from honouring the fallen? It defies understanding that such actions could take place at an event held sacred by the nation. Is there any other country where citizens are prevented from laying wreaths at a National Remembrance monument?

In the UK, from where this ceremony originates, 10,000 veterans (of an army of 109,000 -just half of Sri Lanka’s) take part in the march past every November. They are selected by their regimental associations from thousands of applications on a first come first served basis. Public access is unrestricted with numbers attending being the only barrier to viewing.

It is shocking that in Sri Lanka while public access is denied (selectively?), ‘invitations’ are given to attend a national Remembrance Day. They were restricted to just three government nominees! Who made this unwise decision and why?

Did the other government cohorts object to being invited? Would they have been embarrassed to come? Is the purpose of this to prevent prominent actors in the victory from receiving overwhelming accolades if they attended? Was there a fear of gate crashing? Perish the thought.

What is the need to make political speeches at an event to honour the nation’s dead? Couldn’t the speeches be made in Parliament or broadcast the day before? Seeing VIPs enjoying a joke at this ceremony hurts.

When laying wreaths at the monument, national customs should be followed by all, as in the past. A traditional low bow with hands clasped humbly, as at funerals, should be the form. In the West the head is bowed. It is unnecessary to imitate Americans by placing one hand over the heart when bowing, as on CNN. Bringing the other hand over the midriff elaborates but is an awkward addition.

The dress for all civilians attending should be similar, respectful and appropriate as for formal events and uniform, matching that of the retired military.

This is the time for the nation to remember and reflect for a moment on the dead in conflict, not only of the Military and Police who sacrificed their lives in thousands doing their duty but also of the innocent civilians who died in tens of thousands. Or, is it that some, other than the NOK, who survived in the North and South, have become hardened to death and do not wish to recall how appalling the losses were? Has death lost its meaning if also not its sting?

During 1988-9, when 60,000 died in 13 months (over 100 a day), a tea planter in Bandarawella was shot dead by Southern terrorists for hoisting the national flag on Independence day.

In the Eelam conflict just one regiment, (regiments are the core and heart of the Army), Gemunu Watch, lost 3,424 KIA and 4,272 WIA. The Imperial British Army after WWII lost 2551 (just over half of the Gemunu Watch number) in war in Korea (1949-51), Falklands (1982), Iraq, Afghanistan (20 years) and 40 years of insurgency in Northern Ireland. (SL Army infantry regiments (SL Light Infantry, Sinha, Gemunu, Gajaba and Vijayba) had about 19,000 of 21,000 of the Army KIA. That is the enormity of the sacrifices made by our indomitable military. Who then struggled to find heroes in the military?

Fisher Weerasuriya from Matara and farmer Vernugopal from Jaffna who never knew each other were brought to a place hundreds of miles from their villages, to blow each other’s brains out. ‘Had they a quarrel? Busy as the devil is, not the smallest. Their political leaders had fallen out; and instead of shooting one another had the cunning to get these blockheads to shoot each other’ (transcribed from ‘Sartor Resartus’ – Carlyle). Do Sri Lankan politicians who stirred the pot not know this when they fervently say they hope to prevent conflict in the future?

Is it correct then to exult that 6,000 troops died in the last phase of the war? Is that an achievement? As FM Montgomery said of the WW1 British Army “Good fighting Generals of the war appeared to have complete disregard for life’.

Reparations are claimed by the winners in wars between nations. After civil conflicts there should be reconciliation. There should be no humiliation. When will commemoration of the dead be national in Sri Lanka? How many from communal minorities attend this ceremony? Every citizen from North to South should be welcomed to attend Remembrance ceremonies in the future. That will hopefully help to sow unity.

The military died without a murmur for their companions so that the nation would survive. Let next year’s commemoration be a truly national event where the focus is on those who died while veterans in large numbers and the next of kin together with the general public, are warmly welcomed.

“If it be life that awaits, I shall live forever unconquered: If Death I shall die at last strong in my pride and free”. – Scottish National Memorial

 

by Old Soldier

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