News
13 A: Political parties miss Ranil’s Feb. 04 deadline for submitting their proposals
Udaya compares constitutional threat with Indonesian crisis in late ’90s
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The government hasn’t received proposals from political parties regarding President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution fully.
President Wickremesinghe, on January 26, requested party leaders to furnish their suggestions, if any, by Feb. 04 as he intended to brief Parliament on Feb. 08 as regards the implementation of land and police powers.
Political parties, represented in Parliament, had not responded to President Wickremesinghe’s request so far, authoritative sources told The Island. Responding to another query, sources said that the President’s Office hadn’t received proposals in support of President Wickremesinghe’s declaration or against it.
Several political parties, including the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) spurned the President’s invitation.
Having declared his intention to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, enacted in Nov. 1987, during Thai Pongal celebrations, in Jaffna, on January 15th, 2023, President Wickremesinghe warned party leaders on January 26 he would go ahead with plans unless the parliament repealed it. Both declarations were made in the presence of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
Sources noted that though several political parties declared opposition and some issued statements supportive of the President’s move, they haven’t submitted proposals in writing.
President Wickremesinghe prorogued Parliament, on January 27, the day after setting Feb. 04 as the deadline for political parties to submit proposals. The new session of Parliament begins on Feb. 08.Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam, MP, told The Island that the decision to fully implement the controversial amendment shouldn’t be taken hastily.
“We are certainly not opposed to the devolution of power. However, we cannot under any circumstances support an agenda that may cause chaos,” National List MP said.
The Attorney-at-Law said so when The Island asked him whether the ruling party submitted its proposals to President Wickremesinghe.The lawmaker said that there was no requirement to do so as he on behalf of the SLPP explained to the January 26 meeting chaired by President Wickremesinghe why 13th Amendment shouldn’t be fully implemented without examining the ground situation.
“Seven past Presidents didn’t do that. Why didn’t they do so? We’ll have to study why they refrained from granting police and land powers in spite of them being part of that Amendment. If the reasons that compelled them not to do so no longer exist, we can consider the proposals,” lawmaker Kariyawasam said.
Declaring SLPP’s commitment to maximum possible devolution, MP Kariyawasam warned of dire consequences if decisions were made on the basis of language and religion.The SLPP that secured 145 seats at the last general election remains the largest party in parliament though over two dozen MPs quit the government group.
MP Kariyawasam emphasized that they couldn’t act recklessly on the issue at hand.Those who quit the SLPP parliamentary group, too, have strongly opposed the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila, MP, compared the developing crisis here with Western project that divided Indonesia in the late 90s.Attorney-at-Law Gammanpila explained how Western countries exploited the economic crisis in Indonesia to compel Jakarta to grant independence to East Timor.
Addressing a public rally at Dehiwela on Feb. 02 in support of Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya contesting March 09 Local Government polls, former Power and Energy Minister said that the challenge faced by Sri Lanka owing to the continuing balance of payments and debt crises was very much similar to the circumstances leading to East Timor independence.
The 13th Amendment would split Sri Lanka on ethnic lines, the Colombo District MP warned.The MP recalled how external powers created an environment that compelled Indonesian President Suharto to resign in May 1998 to pave the way for Megawati Setiawati Sukarnoputri to win the next presidential election. The MP said that Sukarnoputri granted independence to East Timor.
The Election Commission has called on all candidates who contested the just concluded 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections to submit their campaign income and expenditure reports by May 28, in line with the Election Expenditure Regulation Act No. 03 of 2023 although there are no penalties for non-compliance.
Candidates are required to file their disclosures with the Returning Officers of their respective electoral districts. Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake stated that the measure aims to promote trans parency and accountability in the electoral process.
However, Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies(IRES) Executive Director Manjula Gajanayake expressed concern over the lack of enforcement mechanisms, warning that the absence of penalties could undermine the effectiveness of the law.
By Ranil Dharmasena
In view of the upcoming Vesak festival, all liquor outlets, bars, taverns, meat stalls, butcheries, horse race betting centres, casinos, and clubs will be closed for three days from tomorrow (May 12), the Ministry of Public Administration announced.
The closures, effective on May 12, 13, and 14, are part of the official Vesak Week (May 10–16), declared by Cabinet decision. A circular has been issued to relevant authorities, confirming the nationwide observance, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Aloka Bandara said.
The Vesak Week of 2025 (Year 2569 in Buddhist Calender) is marked from May 10 to May 16, as a per a Cabinet decision. The decision has been conveyed to the Secretaries to the President, Prime Minister and Ministers and heads of statutory bodies, Bandara said adding that a circular has been issued on the closure of aforementioned places.
Excise Commissioner General Udaya Kumara said that liquor sales will be strictly prohibited during the three days. Restaurants and tourist hotels have been instructed not to serve alcohol to guests.
An Excise Department official noted the ban is typically in place for two days but has been extended by an extra day this year to coincide with the State Vesak Festival.Liquor license holders have been warned to comply, while the public is urged to report violations via hotline 1913 or 011-2877688.
By Chaminda Silva
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj told parliament on Thursday that justice cannot be served through social media in reference to a teen suicide over sexual harassment.
She said was responding to queries raised by Colombo District Opposition MP Mano Ganesan of government failure to probe mystery surrounding the death of a 16-year-old school girl alleged to have committed suicide after suffering prolonged emotional trauma allegedly caused by sexual abuse at school and the subsequent mishandling of the incident
Minister Paulraj said that she requested the parents of the Grade 10 student—who reportedly died by suicide following an alleged sexual assault by a teacher—to file a formal complaint with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), and that no complaint has yet been filed.
Ganesan questioned whether government action had been delayed because the owner of the tuition center—where the student was allegedly verbally abused again after the incident—is affiliated with the NPP.
Paulraj said “We have obtained a JMO [Judicial Medical Officer] report on this alleged incident of sexual assault to the girl in question. I asked the parents of that child to make a formal complaint with the National Child Protection Authority. I even asked them to come and meet me with a petition, but they have not come forward so far.”
“Justice cannot be served through social media”, she said.
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