News
Justice Minister says international community making inquiries about 22A
By Saman Indrajith
Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse told Parliament on Thursday that the international community was making inquries from te Justice Ministry about the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill.
Minister Rajapakse said that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill had been drafted after consulting the leaders of 43 political parties in four rounds of talks. “When the incumbent President was the Prime Minister, leaders of 43 political parties were summoned to his office and we had four rounds of talks. There were disagreements and different points of view. For example, some parties demanded the amendments must be included to prevent the President from dissolving Parliament after the expiration of two and a half years of its term and the period must be stipulated as four years. Some other parties disagreed. We drafted the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill considering all those views,” the Minister said.
He said that the passing of the Bill could prevent some international pressure on Sri Lanka. “Today a resolution against Sri Lanka was passed in Geneva UNHRC sessions. We may suffer negative consequences of that resolution. There is a danger that we may lose the GSP plus concession as a motion to that effect has already been passed in the EU Parliament. More than 500 voted against us. If they implement it, we will lose around 600,000 jobs in the apparel sector. We seek assistance from the IMF. We also read in the media what the IMF discusses with the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry, but there is no such media coverage on what IMF discusses with the Justice Ministry. The IMF, the EU and the UN do not visit the Finance Ministry or the Central Bank so often but the Justice Ministry.
They ask when we would bring about the 22nd Amendment and what provisions it would contain to restore democracy in this country, etc. Now since there are no petrol and gas queues everybody thinks that we are back on track. It is not so. If a fuel ship gets delayed and there would be queues again for four to five days, those who are under the impression that all the troubles are over can see how the people will react. I warn that there had been a time when the MPs had to go into hiding. They could not even attend a funeral or a wedding. Therefore they have to understand that this 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was not an amendment brought for the sake of a single party, a person or for the benefit of the MPs but for the sake of this country and its people,” Minister Rajapakse said.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
Three prison guards attached to the Welikada Prison have been arrested by Borella Police following the death of an inmate on Monday (04).
‘Bar Association must reveal its stand’
Civil society group ‘Free Lawyers’ has requested Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena to probe whether political pressure was brought on a Magistrate, or a High Court Judge, in respect of an ongoing high profile case.
Speaking to The Island on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said that they felt the urgent need to seek the CJ’s intervention, following the May Day declaration by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the verdict of a case that was heard on 30 April would be given on 25 May. Tennakoon said that addressing the NPP’s main May Day rally at Maharagama, the President asked the people to be ready to celebrate that verdict. The President couldn’t have said so if he hadn’t been aware of the impending verdict, Tennakoon said, while emphasising the responsibility on the part of the Bar Association to state its position on the issue.
‘Free Lawyers’ recently captured pubic attention following its exposure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.
Responding to a query, Tennakoon said that on behalf of ‘Free Lawyers,’ Maithri Gunaratne, PC, on Monday, 4 April, wrote to both CJ Surasena and President of the Bar Association Rajeev Amarasuriya.
Alleging that President Dissanayake’s declaration caused immense harm to the independence of the judiciary and raised controversy over the judgement that would be given on 25 May, ‘Free Lawyers’ organisation also asked the CJ to inquire into whether the entire judicial process was under political pressure.
Tennakoon said that they expect the Bar Association to reveal its position on President Dissanayake’s statement. Tennakoon pointed out that during the May Day address, President Dissanayake made reference to 15 cases that were to be taken up during this month, whereas Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister, as well as Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, mentioned nearly 10 names of politicians, both sitting and former lawmakers, to be summoned beginning, May.
Tennakoon said that the NPP appeared to have used May Day to counter growing accusations over the Colombo port container controversy, coal scam, Rs 13.2 bn NDB fraud and theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury and USD 625,000 from the Sri Lanka Postal Service.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed
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