Wimal Weerawansa: Latest News

COLOMBO (News 1st); Ex-Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that if Sri Lanka wants some form of stability, the Prime Minister and the Government must resign paving the way for a new administration.“They are completely wrong if they assume that they can overcome the economic crisis by forming a majority of 113 MPs by any means,” he told reporters.He was speaking to reporters on Wednesday (13) at a briefing organized by the ‘Taking The Nation On The Correct Path’ movement in Colombo.He said Basil Rajapaksa is still attempting to take control of the administration, and also slammed the appointment of a new State Minister at a time when the country facing a crisis.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Protests have erupted across Sri Lanka since the weekend against the government’s failure to properly manage the economy and over the shortage of essentials.These protestors have been demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa leave and that his government also resign.On Monday (4), Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had offered to award ministerial positions to all political parties, urging them to come together to solve the crisis that has plagued the nation.His offer came a day after one of his former ministers, Wimal Weerawansa, proposed to form an all-party interim government to solve the crisis.On Sunday (3), one of the main political parties in the ruling coalition, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party warned that if a caretaker government is not appointed, all SLFP MPs would resign from their posts and remain independent in Parliament.However, late Sunday (3) night, Sri Lanka’s cabinet ministers resigned en masse after protests over the government’s handling of the worst economic crisis in decades.Massive nationwide protests were planned via social media with ZERO political affiliation or support, and the government on Saturday (2) imposed a social media blackout that was lifted on Sunday (3) evening.However, the Public Emergency proclamation made by the President is still in effect.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa even issued an extraordinary gazette declaring that no person shall be on any public road, railway, public park, public recreation ground, or other public ground or the seashore in such areas, during the period of the curfew.However, protestors defied the curfew and took the streets on Sunday (3) to voice their anger and frustrations.Sunday (3) saw massive protests in several parts of the

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila have been given backbencher seats at the Parliament. Accordingly, Jathika Nidahas Peramuna leader Wimal Weerawansa has secured seat 73 and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila has secured seat 78 at the Parliament, the Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando stated. The Serjeant-at-Arms also stated that S.B.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Sri Lankan Minister Wimal Weerawansa on Friday (4) revealed that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa wanted to become President even before Gotabaya Rajapaksa was nominated as the candidate for the President of the country.“Basil Rajapaksa wanted to use the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna as his personal property to realize his intentions of becoming president,” Weerawansa told reporters in Colombo, in his first-ever briefing after he and Udaya Gammanpila were stripped of their ministerial portfolios on Thursday (3) evening.He said that as the group that created the call for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s return, it was opined that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was most suitable to be the candidate if Mahinda Rajapaksa did not wish to contest.“We worked on that premise and that itself posed challenges to Basil Rajapaksa’s dreams of becoming President,” revealed Weerawansa, adding that Basil Rajapaksa eventually had to accept in a disgruntled manner that Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Presidential Candidate.Wimal Weerawansa also said that after Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated on the 8th of January 2015, Basil Rajapaksa had met with then-President Rajapaksa and requested for the post of Opposition Leader.“However, Mahinda Rajapaksa did not want to do that.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa revealed that he will not accept any ministerial position under the government of the incumbent President.Weerawansa was speaking reporters in Colombo, in his first-ever briefing after he and Udaya Gammanpila were stripped of their ministerial portfolios on Thursday (3) evening.Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerwansa were removed from their ministerial portfolios with effect from Thursday (3) evening, said the President’s Media Division.The PMD statement notes that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa removed Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa and Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila from their portfolios, as per the powers vested in him by the constitution,Watch the Media Briefing Here: 

COLOMBO (News 1st); S. B.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that the government needs widespread unity, and during such a time it should not sack those already with the government.The Minister was attending an event with Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to place the foundation stone for a Technical College in Malambe,Before speaking to the media, Weerawansa was recorded on camera whispering to Minister Dinesh Gunawardena concerned if he would fall into trouble by saying something to the media.Following an assurance from Gunawardena, Weerawansa commenting on the sacking of a government statement said a broad alliance is paramount for the government to overcome the challenges.