News

21 A: Sri Lanka Direct submit far reaching proposals; Prevention of crossovers among issues raised

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/25

Justice Minister Dr. Rajapakse receiving proposals from Sri Lanka Direct

Civil society grouping Sri Lanka Direct has forwarded a set of proposals to Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, spearheading the efforts to promulgate the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.

Sri Lanka Direct comprising professionals in different fields has dealt with several issues, including the executive’s power to prorogue and dissolve Parliament, prevent crossovers and the appointment of Governors and heads of overseas missions.

The grouping asked the Justice Minister to share their proposals with the Cabinet of Ministers for due consideration and inclusion in the proposed amendment. A senior spokesperson for the group said that they expected the proposed amendment would be an interim arrangement before definitive changes at a future date which could require amendment necessitating a referendum.

The proposals are:

1. Article 44 of the

Constitution – Ministers and their subjects and Secretaries:-

It is our view that the President should not hold any portfolio and therefore Article

44(2) of the Constitution is best deleted / appropriately amended to reflect the same.

Articles 51 and 52 of the Constitution related to appointment of Secretaries:-

It is our submission that the appointments under Articles 51 and 52 of the Constitution, i.e. the appointment of the Secretaries to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Ministers and Ministries should be on the advice of the Prime Minister, and this is also important for purposes of practicality.

2. Article 41A – Constitutional Council:-

It was originally envisaged in the Draft Bill of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that there would be greater representation by appointees from outside Parliament.

The present draft provides for three (3) such persons in a total of ten (10).

We urge that there be an increase in the outside parliament appointees towards increased citizen participation recognizing a greater role of the sovereign people to at least reflect a balance between appointees from Parliament. This is especially in the context where the role and function of the Constitutional Council is to ascertain objectively the suitability of nominations by the Executive and a Constitutional Council in the proposed format will not fully achieve that objective.

3. Persons / Institutions coming under the purview of the Constitutional Council:-

May we suggest that the following institutions also be brought under the purview of the Constitutional Council and the Constitutional Council should approve the appointments for the members of;

a) The Right to Information Commission.

b) The Office bearers of the Port City Commission.

c) The University Grants Commission.

d) The Members of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

4. The President’s Power to Prorogue and Dissolve Parliament:-

It is also submitted that the President’s Power to prorogue and dissolve Parliament unless by effluxion of its term as provided by the Constitution should only be on the advice of the Prime Minister.

5. Appointment of Governors and Heads of Mission Abroad:-

We also submit that in appointing Governors and Head of Missions Abroad, the President should only act on the advice of the Prime Minister.

6. Prevention of Crossovers of Members of Parliament:-

We are also deeply concerned on the impact that crossovers of Members of Parliament have on the system of governance and submit that suitable provision should be included to prevent unethical crossovers by Members of Parliament which are influenced by collateral motivations and which are against the will and intent of the sovereign people. One possible way of addressing this issue could be to introduce suitable provision disqualifying such Members of Parliament from accepting appointment as a Minister in terms of Articles 43, 44, or 45 of the Constitution upon such cross over.

We are making the above submissions in the considered view that the suggested changes will not necessitate the need for a referendum.”

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 23.04.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 24.04.2026

Accordingly,

Level 1 landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Rideegama in the Kurunegala district and Kuruwita, Kalawana, Ratnapura, Nivithigala, Pelmadulla and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Ampara and Batticaloa districts

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
Issued at 12.00 noon 23 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 23 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.

News

Compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level – PM

Published

21 hours ago

2026/04/23

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized that compensation payments and reconstruction activities related to the Ditwah relief measures must be expedited with special attention at the district level. She further stated that all necessary allocations have already been made to Provincial Councils and instructed that the progress of disaster damage assessments and reconstruction efforts be closely monitored at the provincial level.

The Prime Minister made these remarks at a discussion held on Tuesday (21) at Temple Trees under her patronage, aimed at informing Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees and public representatives from disaster-affected districts, in order to accelerate the implementation of the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” programme. The discussion focused on expediting disaster relief and compensation payments, as well as the swift restoration of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Rs. 500 billion has been allocated for damages caused by the Ditwah cyclone, and that all relevant development activities must be completed before the end of 2026. The Prime Minister also instructed officials to pay special attention to resolving issues at the local level that are causing delays in compensation payments.

Senior Additional Secretary to the President, G.M.R.D. Aponsu, stated that the estimated cost for reconstruction following the Ditwah cyclone is approximately USD 3.4 billion. Accordingly, funds have been allocated for compensation across several sectors including housing and social infrastructure, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, industry and livelihoods, and irrigation. He further noted that 99% of the Rs. 25,000 allowance has already been disbursed, while 95% of the Rs. 50,000 resettlement allowance has been paid. Compensation for fully and partially damaged houses is still ongoing, and 99% of temporary relief centres have been closed.

Additionally, attention was drawn to several other measures, including providing Rs. 25,000 to affected schoolchildren, paying Rs. 1 million as compensation for each deceased individual, compensation for children who lost one or both parents, support for persons with disabilities affected by the disaster, compensation for agricultural losses, and expediting resettlement of displaced families. Measures such as allocating land for new housing construction and accelerating the issuance of reports from the National Building Research Organization were also discussed.

Focus was also placed on the reconstruction of affected schools, hospitals, and daycare centres, improving the accuracy and speed of data collection at the local level, and accelerating infrastructure development.

The event was attended by Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr. Chandana Abayarathna, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives R.M. Jayawardena, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, Members of Parliament, Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees, Chief of Staff to the President and Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Additional Secretary to the President Jayantha Bandara; and officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]