News

Constitutional Council: Still no finality

Published

2 years ago

2023/01/1

Drag on appointment of Independent Commissions

Thursday’s meeting of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to appoint three civil society members for the Constitutional Council ended in a stalemate further delaying the appointments of independent commissions, parliamentary sources said.

Speaker Abeywardena said that the meeting held at the Parliamentary complex ended without reaching any decision.He said that the Constitutional Council cannot function properly until all the members are appointed.

According to the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, the Constitutional Council comprises 10 members and its three civil society members have to be appointed in agreement between the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.Thursday meeting, earlier announced to make a final decision, however ended without any agreement reached on the names of three civil society members to the Council, parliament sources said.

They added that two months have lapsed since the passing of the 21st Amendment to the constitution; yet there was no signal with regard to the appointment of independent commissions including the elections commission. It is the prerogative of the 10-member Constitutional Council to appoint members to the independent commissions. “Now the forming of the Constitutional Council is delayed sine die, and that would further delay the appointment of independent commissions,” a senior parliamentary source said.

The 10-member Constitutional Council consists of seven lawmakers and three civil society members. The seven lawmakers are the Speaker, Prime Minister, and the Opposition Leader appointed to the council in their official capacity, an MP as the President’s representative, an MP nominated by the agreement of the majority of MPs of the government ranks, another MP nominated by the agreement of the majority of MPs of the opposition ranks, and an MP nominated by agreement of the MPs other than those representing the government and those belonging to the political party or independent group to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs to.

Already Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva was appointed to the Constitutional Council as the President’s representative, sources said, adding that there appears to be no agreement with regard to the remaining appointments.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam’s name has been proposed as the MP nominated by agreement of the majority of the MPs representing the government. His appointment has not yet been confirmed while SJB MP Kabir Hashim’s name has been proposed as the MP nominated from the political party or independent group to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs to.

Sources said that there was discord over the appointment of an MP nominated by agreement of the MPs other than those representing the government and those belonging to the political party or independent group to which the Leader of the Opposition belongs to. The TNA has proposed the name of Jaffna District MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan, the newly formed Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya demands that post should be given to MP Udaya Gammanpila.

The delay in appointing members to the Constitutional Council delays the appointment of members to independent commissions; namely Election Commission, National Police Commission, Audit Service Commission, Human Rights Commission, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Finance Commission, Delimitation Commission, National Procurement Commission, University Grants Commission and Official Languages Commission.

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

18 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

18 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

20 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.