At least 11 Sri Lanka’s Members of Parliament (MPs) elected in the 2020 general elections are not anymore the legislature, either due to death or resignation or legal issues, official data showed.

With the latest death of ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) legislator K H Nandasena (69 years) on Thursday (04), the island nation’s Parliament has witnessed three deaths of elected MPs and the resignation of seven MPs.

Amarakeerthi Athukorala (57 years), a SLPP legislator, was killed by angry mobs on May 9, after the supporters of then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa brutally attacked unarmed protesters in capital Colombo.

Later SLPP legislator, State Minister Sanath Nishantha (48 years) was killed in a road accident in January this year.

The MPs who resigned the parliament seat or lost the parliament seat due to legal issue include Ranjan Ramanayaka (SJB), Ajith Nivard Cabraal (SLPP), Mahinda Samarasinghe (SLPP), Basil Rajapaksa (SLPP), Mujibur Rahuman (SJB), Chaminda Wijesiri (SJB), and Uddika Premarathne (SLPP).

Actor-turned politician Ranjan Ramanayaka from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) lost his parliamentary seat in April 2021 after being sentenced to 4 years of rigorous imprisonment on the basis of contempt of court regarding his comments on the corruption of the judiciary.

Ramanayaka was released later in August 2022.

In October last year, Sri Lanka’s former Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed also lost his seat after the Supreme Court, in its ruling deemed the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’s (SLMC) decision to expel Environment Minister from the party as valid and lawful.

Another actor-turned politician Jayantha Ketagoda who came into the parliament under the SLPP national list resigned in July 2021 to facilitate the entry of the party strongman and SLPP strategist Basil Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa was appointed as the Finance Minister in the same month.

However, Ketagoda regained the same opportunity when SLPP national list MP and State Minister of Money and Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reform Ajith Nivard Cabraal resigned to become the Central Bank Governor in September 2021.

Cabraal was not given an opportunity to return to the parliament despite he resigned the governor post.

Later SLPP MP Mahinda Samarasinghe resigned from parliament in September 2021 to take up the Sri Lanka Ambassador post in the United States.

After the country declared sovereign debt default amid an unfolding political crisis, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa resigned from the parliament in June 2022 amid public protests.

Mujibur Rahman, a SJB MP resigned from the parliament in January 2023 to contest as the Mayoral candidate for Colombo Municipal Council. However, the local government election has yet to be held.

Chaminda Wijesiri from SJB resigned in January this year while Uddhika Premaratne from SLPP quit in February 2024.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will lead a second Aragalaya if this year's Presidential election is postponed, SJB Former MP Mujibur Rahman said as the party's May Day rally kicked off in Fort.

Apart from organizing a debate between Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, let us publicly reassure the Sinhalese people, perhaps in a solemn ceremony, that they will not allow the Northern and Eastern regions to gain the right to self-determination, Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne urged today.

SJB Chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka made an early exit from the party's May Day Rally in Fort, a shortwhile ago. Fonseka was seen greeting MPs and Buddhist clergy before he left the rally.

As the Lok Shaba elections campaign heats up in India, the ruling Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) has invited representatives from Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP) to gain awareness on the electoral process there, The Hindu newspaper reported.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said today that Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe will be the Presidential candidate representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He made this revelation during the commemoration ceremony of the late T.B. Ilangaratne.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Tatha Athukorala were notable abesentees at party's May Day Rally in Fort today. All Ceylon Makalal Kachchi Leader SJB alley Rishath Bathiudeen, was another abesentee. Another feature is the prominence given to MPs G. L Peiris and Dilan Perera. They were given front seats.

Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has been acquitted from the case filed against him over allegations of money laundering related to the purchase of a house in Colombo.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has filed a revision application in the Court of Appeal challenging the legality of the enjoining order issued by Colombo District Court preventing him from functioning as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said today President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited her on several occasions to take up a position and support the government. Ms Kumaratunga told reporters that she refused the invitation, claiming that she could not take up any position until thieves were there in politics.

Conducting coaching or tuition classes aimed at the 2023 (2024) G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination aspirants will be prohibited from tonight till the exams are concluded, the Department of Examinations said.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara today hit out at the party's Organizer Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa who has been critical of the party leadership lately. Former MP Soysa was reported to have complained that he has been sidelined by the SJB leadership.

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe expressed confidence in exceeding the $ 5 billion mark by year-end, driven by the strong growth in the tourism sector.

A man in Mullaitivu District claimed to be the tallest person in Sri Lanka. According to BBC Sinhala Service, Gunasingham Kasenthiran, a former cadre of the proscribed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who lives in Kaiveli, Puthukudiruppu is seven feet two inches tall.

In an effort to nip any discord with India in the bud, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction led by Nimal Siripala de Silva as acting chairman called on Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and disassociated itself from remarks by its former Chairman Maithripala Sirisena implicating alleged Indian involvement in orchestrating the Easter Sunday attacks, an informed source said.

The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (Apr 29) compared to last week. According to Seylan Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar are unchanged at Rs. 290.50 and Rs. 301, respectively.

An attempt to send a 17-year-old boy abroad on forged travel documents was foiled and two women suspected of their involvement in the racket were arrested by the Border Surveillance Unit of the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed serious concern over recent remarks made by Minister Tiran Alles, and urging President Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove him from the portfolio of Public Security.

Political tremors are expected on May Day (Wednesday) as members of a few political parties are expected to appear at the UNP May Day rally, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said over the weekend.

The Anuradhapura High Court on Friday passed a death sentence on five police officers who were found guilty of killing eight Tamil civilians at the Bharathipuram village in Kantale 26 years ago. The sentence was passed by High Court Judge Manoj Thalgodapitiya.

Former Army commander Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today (April 26) that the person who had groomed the main Easter Sunday suicide bomber – Zahran Hashim, is the current head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Maj Gen (Rtd.) Suresh Salley.