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Karu J urges national consensus on needed measures to address unprecedented crisis

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Conflicting views add to chaos

Immediate solutions needed for power, fuel and transport issues

Allow people to plan their lives around power cuts

Urgently alleviate woes of the people

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, in his capacity of Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), last week called on all Lankans to follow the example of Ukraine to formulate a common minimum program to respond to the country’s current unprecedented crisis.

“The fuel and electricity crises have disrupted the everyday lives of the people. The agriculture sector along with the economy has been completely destroyed. There appears to be a lack of consensus within the government on possible solutions, thereby further delaying the resolution of these many issues,” he said.

“Instead various parties to the government are presenting their own opinions on the matter adding to the existing chaos and confusion. The only obvious solution to face a catastrophe of this scale is to at least temporarily form a united national front. However, it can only be built if the government extends the hand of friendship to all other relevant parties.”

He said that NMSJ has launched a program prepared with the assistance of local and foreign academics and scholars under the leadership of renowned Sri Lankan scholar Prof. Rohan Samarajiva. A majority of the leading political leaders who participated in the discussion agreed that these proposals were suitable to be taken up for initial discussion.

“There was also a positive response from religious and civil society leaders. It is noteworthy that several members of the ruling party have also shown interest. The next few days of the week will be devoted to a public discussion entitled ‘A Minimal Common Programme to Respond to Sri Lanka’s Current Crisis’, Jayasuriya said. This will be followed by the presentation of a national resolution to the country.

Stressing that the government should take immediate action to alleviate the sufferings of the people, Jayasuriya called for immediate solutions to the issues in transportation and electricity. A former energy minister, he said the CEB can easily restore the power supply.

“If the railways and bus services collapse, the whole country will come to a stand still. It must be noted that the state apparatus is continuously failing to take decisions based on one point of view and is instead issuing statements expressing varying opinions and decisions leading to further chaos,” he said.

“For example, the President, the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board are all expressing different views on fuel supply these days.”

Jayasuriya stressed it would be a relief to the people and allow them to plan their work around the power disruptions If they can stick to a proper time table for power disruptions in a specific area instead of announcing a lengthy time period during which they may experience many power outages, it would be a relief to the people and would allow them to plan their work accordingly.

He made the further point that during this harvesting season, the suffering of the farmers due to the lack of diesel is evident through media reports. Their grievances are heartbreaking. There is also a severe shortage of medicinal drugs in the country. This is a dangerous situation. Our people are beset not only by shortages of essential items, but also by escalating prices.

“In the month of January alone, food inflation has risen by 24%. The main reason for this is the excessive printing of currency. Just days ago, an unfortunate incident was reported where a father in the Welipenna area had taken his life after being unable to secure food for his children for nearly three days and how the wife was forced to sell two chairs to feed them,” he said. “We mention this incident only because we are aware that this is a situation prevalent across the country. Malnutrition is on the rise and needs to be addressed immediately. The contribution of the low-income and middle-class families cannot be disregarded.”

Noting that the rich have been given huge tax breaks, he said the government should realize that there is a serious social injustice here. This is the opinion of the majority in this country. Therefore, even in this dire situation, the government must be flexible and take the lead in the effort to save the country with the support of all.

He expressed confidence that the leaders of the opposition will cooperate and act in a responsible manner. However their support can be obtained not by summoning political dissidents to the BMICH and by retaliating through presidential commissions, but by initiating mutual cooperation. It is the duty of the government to earn their trust.

“Engaging in political revenge but telling people that they abide by the ‘One Country, One Law’ policy only to blatantly violate it will not invoke their trust. It should be understood that the people do not approve of that process of the government. Governments that come to power with a large majority must bear in mind that they are the custodians of a country and not its owners who in reality are the people of the country.

“Therefore, one should not regard the mandate given to him by the people as an arbitrary power. It should also be noted that the people, who are the real owners of the government, will not allow such arbitrary acts.”

He noted that at the last presidential election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa received 6.9 million votes while at least 6.2 million voted against him. Therefore, the government should have realized that introducing any constitutional amendment or drafting the constitution that would suit its political agenda and not the country such as the 20th Amendment would only lead to the deterioration of itself and the country.

“We hope that the authorities will now understand the reality and act with great patriotism and love for the country,” he concluded.

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Let us all build a society valued with peace and harmony, guided by unity and solidarity beyond all differences – PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/05/28

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya issuing a message on the occasion of the Hajj festival called upon all Sri Lankans to build a society valued with peace and harmony, guided by unity and solidarity beyond all differences

The Prime Minister’s message:

“On the occasion of “Eid-ul-Adha” or the Hajji Festival, celebrated with great reverence by Muslims across the world upholding the values of selflessness, unity, and compassion, I extend my felicitations to the Muslim community in Sri Lanka and around the world.

On this special Day, the festival of Hajji commemorates the boundless devotion to God and the noble spirit of generosity demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim. This festival reflects the willingness of humanity to dedicate even its most precious possessions for the greater good of humankind and the devotion towards the God.

On this day, the most important lesson we must all understand is the value of rising above our differences and standing together in unity and solidarity. The message of Eid-ul-Adha, founded upon sharing and compassion, serves as a great example in our journey towards building a strong, peaceful, and prosperous Sri Lanka.

Therefore, setting aside narrow divisions, we must all resolve to act with respect and kindness towards one another and work together to create a society valued with peace and solidarity.

May this Hajji Festival bring happiness, peace, prosperity, and blessings to you all”.

News

Rajitha calls for combined lists, denounces those unwilling to join as traitors

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dr. Senaratne, flanked by Prof. Peiris, M. A. Sumanthiran and Wajira Abeywardena, lashes out at the JVP

Ranil-led group asks govt. to hold PC polls

Former Cabinet Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday (27) claimed that there was no consensus between the JVP and the NPP regarding the long delayed Provincial Council (PC) polls.

Dr. Senaratne said that though JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva had declared in Jaffna, over the last weekend, that it wouldn’t be possible to conduct PC polls this year, due to financial constraints and legal impediments, the position of NPP General Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe was different.

Addressing the media at Hotel Nippon, on behalf of the People’s United Opposition grouping, operating out of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office, Dr. Senaratne, who represents the UNP, claimed that the JVP/NPP was all out to postpone the long delayed PC polls. The New Democratic Front (NDF) parliamentary group, elected to the current Parliament, received the backing of Wickremesinghe.

The ex-Minister explained how the NPP, with a 159-member parliamentary group, could comfortably secure the approval of the Parliament to conduct the PC polls under Proportional Representation system.

Declaring that they would submit combined candidate lists at the PC polls, Dr. Senaratne declared that those who declined to join them would be considered traitors.

Dr. Senaratne emphasised that there was no need for alliances and their objectives could be achieved through fielding combined candidate lists.

The Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) was represented by former lawmaker and acting Secretaray General of ITAK but the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) weren’t represented.

Convenor of the People’s United Opposition Prof. G. L Peiris, at the beginning of the briefing, explained how the people were deprived of their democratic rights by the NPP, through the postponement of PC polls.

On Tuesday (26) MPs Shanakiyan Rasamanikkam, Mano Ganesan, and Nizam Kariapper attended a joint Opposition discussion with SJB and others, organised by PAFFREL. MP Rasamanikkam has criticised the delay in holding PC elections.

The Batticaloa District MP highlighted that he had already presented a private member’s bill to facilitate the conduct of elections, under the earlier system.

Rasamanikkam said:”The four Opposition members representing the Parliamentary Select Committee affirmed their stance to hold the Provincial Council elections under the preferential voting system.

“We noted, however, that the establishment of this committee appears to be a measure to further delay the process.

“Concurrently, an Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Department presented two proposals for conducting the elections.

“One of these recommendations involves introducing minor amendments concerning women and youth representation to the private member’s motion I tabled in Parliament, which seeks to hold the Provincial Council elections under the previous system.”

Meanwhile, PAFFREL said that altogether 42 political parties and civil society organisations were involved in that discussion.

PAFFREL said that of the 42 political parties and monitoring organisations that participated in the discussion, all but one political party consented to endorse the following joint statement. And it was decided to forward the joint statement to the Parliamentary Select Committee and the government.

“We, the secretaries of political parties and representatives of the other organisations, who attended the meeting organised by PAFFREL at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Training and Research Institute, on 26 May, 2026, agreed to the proposal adopted to hold the Provincial Council elections as per the electoral system prevailed prior to the enactment of Act No. 17 of 2017, pending the final outcome of the Parliamentary Select Committee. We also agreed to ensure 25% representation of women and youth on a voluntary basis.”

News

20 lawmakers, four officials visiting China

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Twenty MPs and four officials are on a visit to China. Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Deputy Minister, leads the delegation (pic courtesy Parliament)

A Parliamentary delegation, comprising 20 Members of Parliament, and four officials, of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, led by Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Deputy Minister of Mass Media, is in China to participate in a workshop for Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka being held in Beijing and Guangdong.

The programme has been organised by the International Cooperation Centre of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, from 26th May to 5th June, 2026.

The delegation arrived in Beijing, on 25 May, and commenced official engagements on 26th May, with the Opening Ceremony of the Workshop held at the Fenghui Centre in Beijing, Parliament said.