News
Several opposition parties to work together in areas where they share common ground
SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa Wednesday told a Colombo meeting attended by several opposition parties and groups sharing common ground on forthcoming legislation that the proposed Anti-Terrorist law now moved to the back burner by the government endangered Sri Lanka’s entire 22 million population of being labeled terrorists.
The meeting at the Mandarin Hotel in Colombo on World Media Day was attended, in addition to the SJB by SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem, SLPP dissidents Prof. GL Peiris, Mr. Gevindu Cumaranatunga, Ven. Athureliya Ratana, Chandima Weerakkody, SJBs Lakshman Kiriella, Ranjith Maddumabandara,Imthiyaz Bakeer Markar, Harshana Rajakaruna, Gyanatha Karunathilake and a representative of the Kandurata Janata Party’s leader C Chandrasekran.
Premadasa said that despite some differences among them, they shared a lot of common ground on many matters related to what the government was doing and they would act together to resist such developments.
“Different political parties have their own standpoints on many matters,” Premadasa said. “But today we have to come together on a number of issues that are nationally important. The Broadcasting Authority Act the government is preparing today for media control, is one example. We are all of the view that it will deal a death blow to media freedom. So also the Anti-Terrorism Act to democracy.”
SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem said that there was no need for a new anti-terror law. Emergency law provisions under the Public Security Ordinance are sufficient to counter threats of terrorism. Minority parties in the opposition have a strong position on the Anti-Terrorism Act, he said. It is their position that any act of terrorism could be controlled through laws such as the Penal Code, the Criminal Law Provisions Act and the Evidence Act.”
Prof. GL Peiris raised the X-Pess Pearl issue that had created massive environmental devastation and will come up for discussion in parliament next week. The possibility of obtaining USD 6.4 million damages (not a loan) has been endangered by what the government is doing. This was over double the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility and much worse than the Central Bank bond scam.
Many questions on this issue must be raised and presented to the people to build up massive public opinion.
SLPP dissident MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said that the attention must be paid during parliamentary discussions to the X-Press Pearl matter and the unconstitutional Central Bank Act as determined by the courts.
“Only one day has been reserved for the debate on the Central Bank Act. The court suggested alternatives to all 46 basic clauses. This could be passed subject to those alternative proposals being adopted. The Speaker announced this determination distorting its meaning. After MPs protested about this, it had to be read again,” he said.
SLPP dissident MP Aturaliye Ratana thero said that opposition parties must come together to find common answers to the country’s present problems.
“In today’s world, there is no left-right divides. At this time, there is a major issue on why the Anti-Terrorism Act is being presented when a solution should be sought for the present crisis,” he said.
Several ex-Cabinet ministers questioned; Ranil, Sajith, too likely to be summoned
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an inquiry into the shifting of the Agriculture Ministry situated at Rajamalwatte, to a building belonging to the D. P. Jayasinghe Group of Companies, at Rajagiriya, during the Yahapalana government.
The building was rented for a five-year period at a cost of over Rs 1 bn by the yahapalana government within months after the then President Maithripala Sirisena declared opened the 10-storey building complex.
The CIABOC yesterday morning recorded former yahapalana minister Gayantha Karunatilleke’s statement in connection with the investigation. Later in the day, CIABOC recorded the statement of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabanadara. Earlier CIABOC summoned former ministers Thalatha Atukorale, Wajira Abeywardena and Lakshman Kiriella. At the time of the finalisation of the deal, KIriella was in the UNP.
Sources said that former PM and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, was likely to be questioned in this regard. Responding to The Island queries, sources pointed out even SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was expected to be questioned.
The then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is on record as having said that the building was rented in keeping with a decision taken by the government and not Parliament.
The UNP-SLFP coalition shifted the Agriculture Ministry to accommodate 16 Sectoral Oversight Committees therein.
Although the government paid as much as Rs. 21.5 mn monthly rent to D.P.A. Jayasinghe Company, the Agriculture Ministry failed to move in for over a year. The then Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake sought Cabinet approval on Dec 1, 2015 to rent the building.
According to inquiries conducted earlier by the Presidential Commission appointed to probe state sector corruption, the Agriculture Ministry sought Cabinet approval for a new building after the then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe submitted a cabinet proposal on 21 September, 2015, to use the Agriculture Ministry building for Parliament’s sectoral oversight committees.
PM Wickremesinghe’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has told the Commission that public funds could have been saved if the several vacant floors of Suhurupaya belonging to the Defence Ministry had been made available to the Agriculture Ministry.
By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️
Railway sources said that the damages caused to railway tracks could be more than USD 300 mn.
According to UNDP Rapid Crisis Assessment Sri Lanka’s railroad system, over 278 km of railways were exposed to cyclone-related flooding, including 35 railroad bridges nationwide. This figure reflects flooding only, but other hazards (such as localised debris, landslides, or damage to a single bridge) can also disrupt operations, meaning that even relatively small obstructions can render long stretches of railway non-operational. Like road exposure, railway exposure limits mobility and the capacity of affected populations to access key services and infrastructure.
At the level of divisional secretariats, Colombo and Thimbirigasyaya in Colombo District, Ja Ela in Gampaha District, as well as Mannar Town and Nanaddan in Mannar District all registered over 10 km of exposed railways each.
Commissioner-General of Essential Services B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi is on record as having said that only 478 kilometers of Sri Lanka’s 1,593-km railway network were currently usable following extensive damage caused by the recent cyclone.
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker arrived in Colombo yesterday (11) to underscore US interest in defence, trade and maritime security in line with their Indo-Pacific strategy.
The US embassy here issued the following statement: “Under Secretary Hooker will meet with Sri Lankan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, focused on deepening economic and commercial ties, strengthening defence cooperation, and supporting Sri Lanka’s economic and maritime sovereignty.
The United States and Sri Lanka share a strong and enduring partnership rooted in our mutual commitment to regional security, economic growth, and prosperity for our peoples. Through close cooperation on defence, trade, and maritime security, we are working together to advance a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
As we continue to build on our strategic partnership, the United States also stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they respond to the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. We remain committed to working together to address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities for our two nations, reflecting our ongoing commitment to the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership.”
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