News
Ind. Group contesting Colombo District warns of AKD’s bid to eliminate Opposition
‘Elpitiya result proves NPP cannot take things for granted’
The Leader of Independent Group 1 contesting Colombo district, Chamara Nakalanda, yesterday (28) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s push for an overwhelming majority in Parliament at the forthcoming General Election is frightening and may pose a serious threat to representative democracy.
Civil society activist Nakalanda said that the National People’s Front (NPP) chief who is also the leader of the JVP owed an explanation why the parties he led wanted to rid Parliament of the Opposition.
Perhaps President Dissanayake desired a commanding dictatorial majority, similar to the victory secured by President J. R. Jayewardene at the 1977 parliamentary election. But the public know the dreadful consequences of that JRJ victory, Nakandala said, referring to the abusing of that mandate to pursue a destructive political agenda.
“What we need is a Parliament represented by many political parties and groups,” Nakalanda said, pointing out that on the contrary Dissanayake, as a lawmaker, had repeatedly declared in the past that a government with a 2/3 majority could be quite destructive.
Referring to President Dissanayake’s recent speeches at Katunayake, Polonnaruwa and Trinocomalee, Nakalanda said that the ruling party’s political stand baffled the country. However, the outcome of the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha was nothing but a warning to the NPP and a tremendous boost to democracy, Nakalanda said.
The Elpitiya result proved beyond doubt that no one could take things for granted. Traditionally largely socialist oriented Elpitiya electorate has declared that the people couldn’t be swayed to accept the concept of one party rule, regardless of the political-economic-social crisis caused by those who ruled the country hitherto, the political activist said.
The ground reality is that the NPP couldn’t take at least one seat more than the combined Opposition at Elpitiya and the 30-member local government body was equally divided between the NPP and the Opposition. “That sends a strong signal to the electorate.”
Nakalanda stressed that in a way the Elpitiya result reflected the presidential election outcome as the combined Opposition polled more votes than the winner. He was referring to Dissanayake’s failure to obtain 50% + 1 vote at the Presidential Election to be a clear-cut winner.
Acknowledging NPP’s victory in terms of the largest block of seats one party could secure at the parliamentary election is a foregone conclusion, Nakalanda urged the people to elect a sufficient number of Opposition MPs. “Parliament shouldn’t be devoid of an Opposition. Whatever the wrongs and shortcomings on the part of major political parties which ruled the country in the past, the Parliament shouldn’t be devoid of the Opposition,” Nakalanda said.
Nakalanda said that the culture of switching sides, following general elections, should be stopped. Nakalanda added that they were strongly opposed to lawmakers switching sides at the expense of the political party or the independent group they originally represented. The despicable practice heavily contributed to the deterioration of the parliamentary democracy over the years, he said.
Responding to another query, Nakalanda said that though they had been engaged in politics and were genuinely interested in making a difference, the Election Commission has so far deprived them recognition as a political party, hence the decision to field an independent group under the symbol of a ‘Gift box.’
“EC rejected our applications in 2020 and 2022. We believe EC’s decision is not fair,” Nakalanda said, adding that they were forced to contest selected one district due to their inability to obtain one symbol and the independent group bearing number 1 for all electoral districts. Had the EC granted us approval, we could have contested under the ticket of Parapuraka Balaya.
Nakalanda said that Parapuraka Balaya pursued what he called practical politics taking into consideration vital issues that affected the country at all levels.
According to him, their effort was to build a strong political movement against those who governed the country irresponsibly since the British granted the then Ceylon independence. In spite of receiving independence without bloodshed, we couldn’t achieve real freedom, Nakalanda said, adding that the deterioration caused by the executive, legislature and judiciary hadn’t been properly ascertained.
Nakalanda said that the electorate should take into consideration that a political party that had never been in power was about to take control of the Parliament, having secured the presidency, many political veterans giving up active politics though they may appear before the people from time to time, and the weakening of the Opposition due to the powers that be unleashing police on political opponents in the guise of anti-corruption investigations.
Nakalanda said that the country is in a crossroads and nothing could be as dangerous as creating an authoritarian administration (SF)
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has alleged that the current government is attempting to suppress freedom of expression and media freedom to lead the country towards authoritarian rule.
In a video message on Thursday (25), Premadasa said that in a democratic country, the four main pillars safeguarding democracy are the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and the independent media, but, at present, the government is using the police to violate both the democratic rights of the people and the rights of police officers themselves.
He said that the government is working to establish a police state that deprives citizens of their right to access truthful information.
“For democracy to be protected, media freedom must be safeguarded, and space must be given to independent media. Instead, the government is interfering with the independent media process, using the police to suppress and intimidate independent media,” he said.
He noted that even when independent media present their views based on reason, facts, and evidence, the government attempts to suppress them. Such actions, he said, amount to turning a democratic country into a police state. “Do not suppress the voice of the silent majority, the independent media,” he urged.
Premadasa emphasised that independent media represent the voice of the silent majority in the country and must not be suppressed.
“Media repression is a step towards authoritarian rule, and the people did not give their mandate to create an authoritarian regime or a police state. If the government attempts to abolish democratic rights, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya will stand as the opposition against it,” he said.
The Opposition Leader further alleged that the government was interfering with police independence, stating, “Political interference has undermined the independence of the police, making it impossible for them to serve impartially. Suppressing freedom of expression is an attempt to lead the country towards authoritarian rule.”
Premadasa pointed out that the media has the right to reveal the truth, and interfering with that right is a violation of the rights of 22 million citizens.
Vegetable prices at the Peliyagoda Manning Wholesale Market surged to unusually high levels yesterday (26), raising concerns among consumers as the festive season drives up demand. The situation is expected to persist over the next few days, a spokesman for the Manning Market told The Island.
He said a sharp increase in the number of buyers visiting the wholesale market, ahead of upcoming festivities, had resulted in a sudden spike in demand, prompting wholesale traders to raise prices significantly. The price hikes have affected a wide range of commonly consumed vegetables, placing additional pressure on household budgets.
According to market sources, the wholesale price of beans climbed to Rs. 1,100 per kilogram, while capsicum soared to Rs. 2,000 per kilogram. Green chillies were selling at around Rs. 1,600 per kilogram. Prices of other vegetables, including beetroot, brinjal (eggplant), tomatoes, bitter gourd, snake gourd and knolkhol, also recorded unusually high increases.
The spokesman alleged that despite the steep rise in prices, vegetable farmers have not benefited from the increases. Instead, he claimed that a group of traders, who effectively control operations at the wholesale market, are arbitrarily inflating prices to maximise profits.
He warned that if the relevant authorities fail to intervene promptly to curb these practices, vegetable prices could escalate further during the peak festive period. Such a trend, he said, would disproportionately benefit a small group of middlemen while leaving consumers to bear the brunt of higher food costs.
By Kamal Bogoda ✍️
The Hakgala National Botanical Garden, which was closed in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, has been reopened to tourists from yesterday, the Ministry of Environment indicated.
The Ministry said the reopening was carried out in accordance with recommendations and guidelines issued by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) and the DisasterManagement Centre (DMC) after safety assessments were completed.
However, due to the identification of hazardous ground conditions, several areas, within the garden, have been temporarily restricted. These include the pond area, near the main entrance, and access roads leading towards the forest park where potential risks were observed. Warning signs have been installed to prevent visitors from entering these zones.
To ensure the safety and convenience of both local and foreign visitors, the garden’s management has introduced a special assistance programme, with staff deployed to guide and support tourists.
The Hakgala Botanical Garden was closed as a precautionary measure during the disaster situation triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. The Ministry noted that the garden has now been safely reopened, within a short period, following remedial measures and inspections, allowing visitors to resume access while maintaining necessary safety precautions.
By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️
A few showers may occur in the Northern, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Polonnaruwa, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Sajith warns country is being dragged into authoritarian rule
Wholesale mafia blamed for unusually high vegetable prices
Cyclone-damaged Hakgala Botanical Garden reopened with safety measures
Holiday travellers generate record revenue for expressways
Another casualty from underworld warfare succumbs to his injuries
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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