News
2020 General Election – SLPP confident of securing majority
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SLPP was preparing to form the next government, party sources said, adding that a two-thirds majority was difficult to achieve. The SLPP sought a two-thirds majority to amend or do away with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in 2015.
Political parties had secured working majorities in Parliament only twice since the introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) system in 1989, sources said.
President Ranasinghe Premadasa secured a simple majority at the 1989 poll and the UPFA led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa obtained 144 seats at the 2010 general election.
SLPP strategist Basil Rajapaksa has said in a newspaper interview that if his party couldn’t obtain a two-thirds majority, talks will be held with other parties.
Countrywide counting of ballot papers is scheduled to commence at 7 am today (6).
Of the 225 parliament members, 29 are appointed through the National List.
Political sources were of the opinion that the SJB would emerge as the main Opposition at the expense of the UNP. The last parliament was represented by 106 UNP lawmakers.
Two of the SLPP constituents, the National Freedom Front (NFF) and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) in the run-up to August 5 poll declared that they wouldn’t be part of the government in case an agreement was sought with extremist elements to secure a two-thirds majority.
A civil society grouping that campaigned against the SLPP effort to do away with the 19th Amendment yesterday told The Island that the new government’s conduct would largely depend on the margin of victory at the August 5 poll. Spokesperson Gamini Viyangoda said that in case the SLPP managed to secure as many as 130 seats, it would aggressively push for crossovers. However, the situation would be different if it obtained 30 seats short of a two-thirds majority, Viyangoda said.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in terms of the powers vested in him by the Constitution and the Parliamentary Election Act, has summoned the new parliament on August 20.
In terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, President Rajapaksa has to restrict the number of Cabinet ministers to 30 unless a consensus could be reached with political party/parties on the formation of a National Government.
The 19th Amendment also deprives the President of an opportunity to hold any ministerial portfolio. President Rajapaksa refrained from appointing defence minister in the interim government following the last presidential poll.
Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) yesterday complained to the Election Commission (EC) regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent threat that the government would release funds only to local government bodies to be won by a clean party at the May 06 LG polls.
The EJP, led by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, complained that President Dissanayake has claimed during a public rally at Weligama that the NPP was the only clean party.
The EJP is contesting 37 LG bodies at the forthcoming election.
The new party said that the rights of the other contesting political parties and groups had been violated by the President.
The EJP asked the EC to ensure a level playing field
Having handed over their complaint, EJP spokesman Theekshana Gammanpila told the media outside the EC office that Anura Kumara Dissanayake had won last year’s presidential election and then the parliamentary election as the then government ensured a free and fair election. But now President Dissanayake was making a despicable attempt to influence the electorate in the run-up to the vital mini polls. Gammanpila alleged that the President’s intervention could have a far reaching impact on the electorate.
The EJP spokesman emphasised the responsibility on the part of the EC to intervene and take tangible measures to prevent President Dissanayake from manipulating the electorate to their advantage. (SF)
Former North Central Province Chief Minister S. M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi, who is his brother, former Minister S.M. Chandrasena’s wife, were yesterday (02) sentenced to 16 years rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of corruption charges. They were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000 each.
The judgment was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi.
They were convicted on charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
S.M. Ranjith was found guilty of enabling Shanti to secure an additional fuel allowance between Sept 2012 and Dec 2014 to the tune of Rs 2.68 mn.
The Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka hosted a concert of Japanese traditional music by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra featuring the performers of NYSC on 28th March in honour of the visit of Most. Ven. Ohtani Chohjun Nayaka Hamuduruwo, the 25th Head Priest of Higashi Hongan-ji Grand Temple.
The event featured a Japanese tea ceremony and breathtaking musical performances by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra, showcasing traditional Japanese instruments such as the Koto and Shamisen. The evening was further enriched by violin and vibrant dance performances by students from the National Youth Council (NYSC) and Lanka Nippon Biztech Institute (LNBTI).
This cultural celebration further strengthened the deep ties between Japan and Sri Lanka, offering a unique experience of Japanese tradition and heritage.
EC asked to ensure level playing field at LG polls; complaint lodged against President AKD
Former CM, and private secretary sentenced to 16 years RI for corruption
Traditional Japanese musical concert and cultural performance
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