News
20A: Govt. to implement SC recommendations besides amendments submitted by AG
By Shamindra Ferdinando
SLPP Chairman and Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (12) said that, in addition to amendments proposed to the 20th Amendment during the Supreme Court hearing of the petitions filed against the new piece of legislation, the government was ready to introduce additional amendments in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
Altogether 39 petitions were filed against the proposed Amendment submitted by Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC.
Addressing the media at the SLPP Office, Battaramulla, Prof. Peiris said that the government would comply with the SC recommendations to avoid a referendum. Asked to explain the SLPP’s stand as well as that of the government regarding electronic, print and social media reports on the SC ruling, Prof. Peiris said that he couldn’t comment as it was yet to be officially announced. The one-time External Affairs Minister emphasized that he couldn’t vouch for those reports as SC delivered copies of the ruling to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
Prof. Peiris said that once the Speaker presented the SC ruling to parliament on Oct 20, dates could be agreed on for debate and vote on the 20th Amendment.
Authoritative ministerial sources told The Island yesterday the media reports were accurate though SC ruling shouldn’t have been in public domain until official announcement was made. Sources said that in addition to the President and the Speaker the document had been received by few high officials for ‘compliance and advice’ the President.
Well informed sources told The Island that the envelope containing the SC ruling received by the Speaker last Friday (9) was yet to be opened.
The SLPP Chairman emphasised that the government would go along with the SC ruling to secure passage of the proposed Amendment with 2/3 majority. The SC in its ruling disagreed with Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC, that the 20th Amendment in its present form could be passed with a 2/3 majority. In its ruling, four of the five judge-bench of the SC declared that four clauses required approval at a referendum. The SC ruled that restoration of presidential immunity, including denying the public right to file fundamental rights cases against the President, doing away with the President’s responsibility to ensure conditions required to conduct free and fair elections as requested by the Election Commission, dissolution of parliament one year after general election and constitutional responsibility on the part of government officers to obey instructions received from the Election Commission.
Prof. Peiris, while declining to comment on media reports pertaining to SC ruling said that there was consensus as regards the SC recommendations.
When the media pointed out that National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa and Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, had expressed serious reservations as regards the 20th Amendment, Prof. Peiris said constituent parties of the SLPP led coalition as well as its members could express views though the government expected the entire group to take a common stand in parliament at the second and third reading stage.
The SLPP Chairman stressed the pivotal responsibility of all members of the government to throw their weight behind the proposed amendment.
In addition to them, SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga, too, submitted a set of constitutional proposals on behalf of civil society organization, Yuthukama.
Asked to comment on President’s Counsel Wijeyadasa Rajapakse’s warning that the proposed 20th Amendment could be used against the incumbent President at a later stage, Prof. Peiris said that it wouldn’t be fair to take a jaundiced view of all things.
Prof. Peiris expressed confidence that the process could be brought to a successful conclusion. “We are confident of a 2/3 majority,” Prof. Peiris said the SLPP received two overwhelming mandates in Nov 2019 and Aug 2020.
The Island sought views of several experts on the leaking of the SC ruling ahead of official announcement in Parliament. Sources said that in terms of Standing Order 55(2) (c) “upon receipt of the determination of the Supreme Court it shall be announced to Parliament by the Speaker and no debate shall be permitted on such announcement”.
Sources asserted that the determination of the SC should have been announced in Parliament. The rule appeared to mean that the Speaker should have announced the determination on the first available opportunity, so that the Parliament and thereby the people would have been made aware of the determination at the earliest opportunity. “The rule does not contemplate the Speaker being empowered to announce the determination at his personal convenience or on a future day, month or year,” sources said.
A top lawyer said: “The invocation by a citizen of the constitutional jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in respect of Bills placed in the Order Paper of Parliament, for instance under Articles 120 & 121 of the
The Constitution is in the exercise of the sovereignty vested in the people under Article 3 and that people or the citizen who had exercised his constitutional right should not be deprived of his right to be made aware of the determination of the Supreme Court by the Speaker not duly announcing the determination to Parliament. A delayed announcement bypassing the earliest opportunity to make the announcement can be considered as an infringement of the people’s right to know and the citizen’s right to be duly appraised of the determination. The Supreme Court has no duty under the Constitution to disclose the determination to anyone except the President and the Speaker.”
News
Govt. will respond depending on outcome of probe: Minister
Rohingya detainees: Mujibur seeks AKD’s intervention
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala yesterday (05) said that investigations were underway to ascertain whether a group of Rohingyas rescued off Mullaitivu late last month were genuine asylum seekers. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar.
Minister Wijepala said that 12 members of the crew had been remanded pending investigations while others, numbering 103, had been moved to the Mullaitivu SLAF station, which was recently declared as a detention facility.
Minister Wijepala said so when The Island sought his response to SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman seeking President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s intervention to prevent repatriation of the group to Myanmar.
In a letter dated January 04, 2025, the Colombo District MP urged the government to provide them refuge here till arrangements could be made to send them to another country willing to accept them.
Minister Wijepala said that the government would act depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.
“We are also in touch with Myanmar authorities in this regard,” Minister Wijepala said, adding that investigations conducted so far indicated that the group detained here was involved with human smugglers.
Declaring that the government wouldn’t be influenced by various interested parties seeking to take advantage of the developments, Minister Wijepala emphasized the responsibility on their part not to encourage human smuggling.
Human Rights Commissioner (HRC) Nimal G. Punchihewa told The Island that the Commission had received an assurance on 31 Dec., 2024, from representatives of the SLAF and Immigration and Emigration that a comprehensive report on the issue at hand would be handed over tomorrow (07).
Punchihewa said that an explanation was sought after the SLAF declined to allow the HRC team access to the detainees at Mullaitivu SLAF station. According to Punchihewa, once the HRC received the report, senior representatives from their northern offices could visit the detained group. The civil society activist said that the visit could be arranged this week.
During last Tuesday’s meeting, the Immigration and Emigration Department had taken the stand that the group detained here were involved with human smugglers.
Punchihewa said that according to section 11(d) of the HRCSL Act, No. 21 of 1996, the powers and functions of the Commission extend not only to Sri Lankan citizens but to “any person” detained within Sri Lanka. Therefore, the Commission has the statutory authority to access the SLAF Mullaitivu station and monitor the detention conditions of all asylum seekers, including the children.
News
Thriposha company won’t be closed – Health Minister
‘Previous govt. planned to shut it down’
Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has assured that the state-owned Thriposha Company, situated at Kandana, will be modernised. This assurance was given during Dr. Jayatissa’s visit to the facility on Saturday (04) to discuss how to improve the facility to meet the demand.
The Opposition has alleged that the NPP government issued Gazette Notification No. 2403/53, dated 27 Sept., 2024, announcing the abolition of the state-owned Sri Lanka Thriposha Company.
During discussions with the top management of the Thriposha company, Minister Jayatissa said that the people couldn’t receive maximum possible benefits for want of proper plans. He assured that the NPP government would take tangible measures to help the company meet required nutritional standards.
Dr. Jayatissa claimed that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government had planned to close it down.
News
SLN Cadet at Pakistan Navy Academy wins coveted Sword of Honour
The Pakistan Naval Academy held a commissioning parade on Saturday (4) to mark the graduation of 49 midshipmen and 29 short-service commissioning cadets, including officers from Iraq, Sri Lanka and other countries, according to a statement from the Pakistan Navy.
The text of the Arab News report datelined Karachi: “The Pakistan military regularly trains officers and cadets of allied nations, particularly from the Gulf region. The parade’s chief guest, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, was invited to the reception by Pakistan’s top naval official Admiral Naveed Ashraf before witnessing the ceremony.
He extended congratulations to the newly commissioned officers and their parents, while specifically addressing foreign cadets and officials.
“He [the air chief] commended Pakistan Naval Academy for imparting high-quality training to cadets, including those from friendly countries,” the official statement said. “He expressed the hope that these cadets from friendly nations will serve as ambassadors, strengthening bonds of friendship and mutual respect.”
The air chief emphasised the need for future leaders to stay updated with modern technologies and the evolving geo-strategic landscape.
“In today’s high-tech and information-driven era, only knowledgeable leaders can effectively address emerging challenges,” he told the commissioning term.
Awards were presented to distinction holders, highlighting the diverse achievements of the graduates.
The prestigious Sword of Honor went to Midshipman Tennakoon M.L. Vimukthi from Sri Lanka for his exceptional performance. Officer Cadet Ali Jalil Ibrahim Sharif Shuhaib Al Shabani from Iraq was awarded the Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal, while the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Medal was awarded to Lt. Muhammad Imad Ud Din for being the best all-round officer.
The Pakistan Naval Academy has long served as a hub for professional and academic training, equipping cadets with skills to meet modern maritime challenges.
Its programmes also help foster international cooperation, as displayed by the diverse nationalities of its graduates this year.”
The Pakistan Navy sponsored Sri Lankan cadet’s parents to travel to Karachi to witness this historic achievement by their beloved son.
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