News

NMSJ Chief urges Prez to take decisions through consensus

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/12

Former Speaker and Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Karu Jayasuriya has urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take tangible measures to bring all political parties together as the country faces the Covid-19 challenge.

The NMSJ, in a statement issued, attributed the following comments to its leader Karu Jayasuriya: “Different political ideologies or aspirations for power should not be prioritized. First and foremost, we must save the country and its people from this catastrophe before us.

The whole country must unite for that. We made an appeal towards this for the first time in Kandy recently. I called on the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras to discuss these matters. It was then that we realised that we also had the blessings of the chief prelates towards our endeavours. Accordingly, we call on the President and the people of this country to come forward. We make this appeal with the utmost sincerity. If you have love for the country, all political forces and all communities must join hands and face this challenge without delay and the President should extend an invitation to all to join hands in this regard. This is also the opinion of the majority of the people in the country. Otherwise, this country will suffer dire consequences.

In fact, this endeavour should not be limited to the efforts taken to control the Covid-19 pandemic. As a country, we have to make decisions by consensus, even on matters of national importance, such as the government’s decision to ban chemical fertilizers at once as well as the Colombo Port City Project. This is also the position of the National Movement for Social Justice.

We are conducting this press briefing today to reaffirm our position. We hope that all political leaders as well as the civil society will pay attention to this.

If we are to take such an approach, there are a number of factors to consider. The legislature has been weakened due to the transfer of power to the executive by the 20th amendment. There is no discussion in Parliament today on matters of national importance. There is no participation of the people’s representatives.

In countries like the United States, the UK, and Europe where democracy reigns, all important political decisions are made taking into account the advice and guidance of experts. There are special committees and procedures for this purpose. In Sri Lanka, such matters are taken up through sectoral oversight committees. This is a very strong democratic process that is accepted throughout the world.

Our Honorable President is an experienced person after having lived in the United States for a long time. We are of the view that we do not need to explain in detail the importance of such committees to the US Congress with regard to the crucial decisions such committees make. We believe that perhaps he has a better understanding of it than many others.

If so, we propose to activate public representation through parliamentary sectoral oversight committees. Despite not being able to achieve accepted results from all sectoral oversight committees that were initiated in 2015 mainly due to the lack of interest of committee members, we must acknowledge that the sectoral oversight committees on education, justice and national security have been very active. It was through these committees that proposals to increase the number of attorneys in the Attorney General’s Department from 118 to 218, increase the number of High Court Judges from 70 to 108 and to establish two special courts to hear cases of corruption and bribery came to fruition. In addition the wages of judges and officials of the Attorney General’s Department were significantly increased on the proposals made by those committees.

Further, the University of Batticaloa was taken over and the long standing salary anomalies were rectified while the SAITM and Kotelawala faculties of education were merged according to the recommendations made by the parliamentary sectoral committee on education. We should also understand that a great deal was done to bring about unity among the Sinhala and Muslim communities after the Easter Sunday attacks.

Therefore, a sectoral oversight committee on health can be established to find solutions to the pandemic. It would be prudent to explore the possibility of allowing foreign and local experts to submit their views in addition to Opposition members as this is a national endeavour. We see this as a very timely step and can be set up in a few weeks.

A similar approach to the Port City Project would be the most appropriate course of action for the President and the Government. A peaceful solution to the present problem is to set up an All-Party Oversight Committee and seek expert local and foreign opinions and advice in order to finalise this project. No one has objected to the creation of special trade zones. The question arises with regard to the powers that are vested in it, and whether or not the institutions that govern them are in accordance with the constitution of the country. It is important to listen to the views of eminent legal academics such as Prof. Suri Ratnapala as well as institutions such as the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

President J.R. Jayewardene launched the Public Private Partnership (PPP) concept for the first time in Asia under the Greater Colombo Economic Commission. A state-owned corporation dealing with leather products collaborated with two well-known Korean companies and established the largest export oriented footwear factory in Asia. Despite some difficulties at the inception, it later became a successful business venture.

The then Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad and his wife visited Sri Lanka to study this. Deng Xiaoping, the then leader of China sent the Mayor of Shanghai to Singapore and Sri Lanka as his special envoy. They wanted to study how we operated.

Also, former President J.R. Jayewardene gave special powers and facilities to the factories of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission. These institutions also enjoyed administrative and commercial independence. The functions of the Customs Department were also streamlined while providing special facilities for selected imports. I responsibly state these facts based on the experience gained as the chairperson of those companies and a member of the Presidential Commission on Privatization.

We opine that the decision taken by the Government to completely stop the use of chemical fertilizers should be referred to a sectoral oversight committee. Important decisions like these should be made only after having extensive discussions with all relevant stakeholders. The safety of the environment, the safety of the people, the food security of the country, and the living standards of the farmers as well as the overall consumer needs of the country should be taken into consideration.

No one has objected to the promotion of compost or organic fertilizer. At an online forum with over 1200 participants, I listened to the various observations made by them. Everyone at the forum was of the view that the proposal to stop the importation of chemical fertilizer was correct but it would be difficult to implement for at least another few years. It is clear that all stakeholders of the agriculture industry have the same views. The protests carried out by members of the farming community in many parts of the country today illustrate this reality.

As such, these issues can be resolved amicably by subjecting these proposals to a lengthy study through oversight committees over a period of several months. Instead of criticizing one another in and out of Parliament, we strongly believe that the burning issues of the country can be resolved through such a cordial approach.

We present these proposals with the noble intention of resolving the issues affecting our country. I hope that these matters will be brought to the attention of the authorities and the public.”

All News Advertisement

News

More than 1,000 dengue cases reported in a day; 28 deaths so far

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka has recorded 1,069 dengue cases, within a 24-hour period, marking the first time daily infections have exceeded 1,000, according to Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Kapila Kannangara.

The latest figures, recorded from 6 a.m. on Sunday to 6 a.m. yesterday (22), have pushed the total number of dengue cases, reported in the country this year, to 47,179, with 28 deaths.

Dr. Kannangara said that during periods when dengue was not at epidemic levels, Sri Lanka typically recorded between 150 and 200 cases a day.

However, with the country currently facing a high-risk situation, daily infections had recently increased to between 600 and 650 cases before reaching the latest record level.

Health authorities have expressed concern over the rapid rise in dengue infections and urged the public to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, particularly by eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

Health authorities have warned that if the number of dengue patients continue to increase at the current rate, hospitals will be overwhelmed.

by Chaminda Silva

News

Climate forum warns of threats to Lanka’s marine and amphibian biodiversity from El Niño, La Niña

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Co-Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Climate Forum Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and MP Prof. L.M. Abeywickrama at the meeting.

The Parliamentary Climate Forum has drawn attention to the growing challenges faced in protecting Sri Lanka’s marine biodiversity and amphibian ecosystems from the impacts of El Niño and La Niña climate phenomena.

The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the forum held at Parliament, under the chairmanship of its co-chairpersons, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and MP Prof. L.M. Abeywickrama.

Officials and experts attending the meeting highlighted the adverse effects of climate change, particularly El Niño conditions, on Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems, coastal areas, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

They pointed out that rising sea temperatures could lead to coral bleaching, changes in fish migration patterns, harmful algal blooms, the emergence of oxygen-depleted “dead zones”, and increased instability in aquatic ecosystems.

The forum was also informed of the threats posed by prolonged drought conditions, including falling river water levels and seawater intrusion into freshwater systems, which could affect drinking water supplies. The possible economic impact on the fisheries and tourism sectors due to these environmental changes was also discussed.

The meeting reviewed the role of key institutions, including the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), in safeguarding Sri Lanka’s marine resources.

The forum emphasised the need for stronger coordination among relevant agencies and called for measures to strengthen ocean monitoring systems, introduce ecosystem restoration programmes, promote science-based policy decisions, and develop an integrated national ocean management plan to address future climate challenges.

Attention was also focused on the vulnerability of amphibian species to climate change. Officials warned that changes in rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and rising temperatures could threaten the habitats, breeding cycles, and survival of amphibians, including frogs, thereby affecting the ecological balance of natural ecosystems.

The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament, officials from environmental agencies, researchers, and representatives of civil society organisations.

News

Lanka engages UAE business leaders to promote Port City as South Asian gateway

Published

2 hours ago

2026/06/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

(Constructiononline) The Embassy of Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, in collaboration with Colombo Port City Economic Commission and CHEC Port City Colombo Pvt. Ltd., hosted Globalisation and the Sri Lankan Opportunity – From Recovery to Relevance: Sri Lanka’s Moment in the Evolving Global and Regional Economy, an invitation-only diplomatic and investment engagement at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre.

The forum brought together approximately 200 senior leaders from across UAE corporates and business chambers alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior diplomatic and investment representatives – among them senior executives from Sobha Realty, Binghatti, Oracle, Emirates Airlines, First Abu Dhabi Bank, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, IFS, Danube and Samana Developers – reflecting the depth of interest from the UAE’s leading industries in Sri Lanka’s evolving economic proposition.

Opening the forum, Prof. Arusha Cooray, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates, set the tone for a morning of substantive dialogue, speaking to the depth and durability of the UAE–Sri Lanka partnership, one built on decades of trade, people, and shared economic ambition, and affirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to taking that relationship into a new chapter defined by what Sri Lanka can offer UAE businesses seeking to grow their presence across South Asia.

The keynote address was delivered by Ghanim Al Falasi, CEO of Falak Tayyeb Platinum and Senior Vice President/Director General’s Office for of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), who drew on over a decade of senior leadership experience in the UAE’s innovation and technology ecosystem to frame the question of what South Asia’s emerging platforms offer to forward-looking UAE businesses. He noted that while Dubai provides global access to capital and logistics, Colombo offers strategic access to South Asia, and that together the two cities can function as complementary platforms serving different but mutually reinforcing roles in the regional economy.

Hanif Yusoof, Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment of Sri Lanka, delivered strategic perspectives on Sri Lanka’s investment vision, underscoring the President and Government’s commitment to Port City Colombo as the flagship vehicle for the country’s long-term economic transformation. Yusoof positioned Sri Lanka firmly as a transformation story rather than a recovery story, emphasising that Sri Lanka today offers UAE businesses something rare in South Asia – a jurisdiction that combines regional proximity with genuine institutional credibility, anchored in a platform that is operational, investable, and ready. He invited UAE businesses to see Port City Colombo and Sri Lanka as a gateway to South Asia in the same way that Dubai serves as a gateway to the Middle East and North Africa, enabling businesses already established in the Gulf to expand their regional footprint without starting from scratch.

Harsha Amarasekera PC, Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, provided a detailed overview of Port City Colombo’s current commercial momentum, the strong investment interest that has crystallised in the last 12-18 months resulting in significant visible progress. The Chairman emphasised that the project is designed as a complementary, supportive, and collaborative platform – one that offers UAE companies a footprint from which to expand into South Asia, rather than a competing proposition to the Gulf’s established business ecosystem.

Revan Wickramasuriya, Director General of the Commission, elaborated on the governance architecture underpinning Port City Colombo, highlighting the investor protection mechanisms, long-term tax incentives, and rules-based regulatory environment that distinguish the SEZ, noting that the framework was designed from inception to meet the expectations of internationally mobile capital.

The centrepiece of the forum was a moderated panel discussion that drew all these threads together, exploring the global reconfiguration of business operating models, the deepening relationship between the Gulf and South Asia, and Sri Lanka’s specific role within that emerging picture. Moderated by Kris Wadia, the panel featured experts in their respective industries – Aaron Russell-Davison, Skandan ‘Ramesh’ Mahalingam, Bapsy Dastur and Thulci Aluwihare – whose combined perspectives across international capital markets, legal and governance advisory, UAE business development, and real estate produced a substantive and wide-ranging conversation that resonated strongly with the audience.

With the aim of deepening investment ties in the Gulf region, the forum also marked the ceremonial onboarding of Mujtaba Shaikhani, Founder and Principal of MH Investments and Managing Director of Gulf O Flex, as a Strategic Partner and Director for GCC and Pakistan of CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd. With operations spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka, and recognised on the HVAC Power 30 list and as CEO of the Year by CBN Middle East.

The formal programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Hon. Alexi Gunasekera, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, who spoke to the significant potential he sees in UAE–Sri Lanka trade and his efforts to broaden interest across the Middle East and UAE in what Sri Lanka has to offer. He underscored that Sri Lanka had not come to Dubai to tell a story of the past, but to extend an invitation to be part of the story being written now – one in which UAE businesses and investors have a defining role to play.

Xiong Hongfeng, Managing Director of CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, reflected on the significance of the forum for Port City Colombo’s regional outreach. “The interest we have seen at this forum from some of the UAE’s most significant businesses and investors is a reflection of what Port City Colombo represents: not just a development in Sri Lanka, but a platform for South Asia; one that offers the regulatory clarity, physical quality, and regional connectivity that globally mobile businesses and capital have been looking for.”

The forum marks a significant step in Sri Lanka’s structured engagement with the Gulf investment community, and reinforces Port City Colombo’s positioning as the institutional platform through which South Asia’s next chapter of growth becomes accessible to UAE businesses and investors. The event was the culmination of close coordination between the Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and the Northern Emirates and Port City Colombo, with the Consulate General’s office playing an instrumental role in ensuring the successful delivery of an engagement that reflected the depth and ambition of the bilateral relationship.