News
Batalanda: Why only now and what about the others, asks Mujibur
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman launched a fierce critique of the political hypocrisy surrounding the Batalanda Commission report during Thursday’s (10) parliamentary session.
Rahuman pointed to the violent actions of the JVP, which had devastating effects on politicians, police officers, and civilians, as detailed in the Commission’s final report.
He said that the violence had disrupted vital services and created a state of lawlessness, severely affecting the public.
The MP accused political opponents of exploiting the Batalanda issue for electoral advantage, noting that for 36 years, no proposals were made to investigate the assassination of JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera.
He criticized the JVP for forming “probationary” governments with Chandrika Kumaratunga and backing Ranil Wickremesinghe in the yahapalana effort, yet failing to address the Batalanda issue during their tenures.
Rahuman also questioned the current attacks on Wickremesinghe, highlighting that many of his critics had previously collaborated with him. He called attention to the JVP’s statements regarding Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s alleged involvement in a Matale mass grave and the distribution of pamphlets on the subject during the 2022 Galle Face protests.
The MP called for accountability, questioning why no proposals were put forward on these issues when the current government came into power. He also criticized the NPP for its leaders, who, despite being involved in suppressions during the 80s and 90s, now sought positions within the government. Rahuman accused them of hypocrisy, warning against dragging the Batalanda issue into the ongoing election.Rahuman said that the historical wrongs committed by JVP political leaders cannot be erased, regardless of attempts to downplay them.
It has been reported that Attorney at Law Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged links with the underworld.
… alleges NPP trying to implement UPFA, UNP plan
Front-line Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday (24) alleged that the NPP government’s move to amalgamate the Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) and the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), under a unified, tripartite governance framework, would be detrimental to the private sector workers.
Addressing the media at Melder Place, Nugegoda, FSP spokesman Duminda Nagamuwa said that the Cabinet of Ministers approved this proposal on 15 June.
Nagamuwa claimed that the NPP was trying to implement what President Mahinda Rajapaksa had sought to do, in 2011, causing the police to open fire on a group of the Export Processing Zone workers, protesting against the move to create a private pension scheme. A worker, identified as Roshen Chanaka, was shot by police on May 30, 2011, and he succumbed to his injuries.
Pointing out that the EPF and the ETF had been established for the benefit of private sector workers but with different objectives, Nagamuwa warned that amalgamation of the two funds could cause unnecessary complications.
The FSP spokesman said that Ravi Karunanayake, in his capacity as the Finance Minister of the Yahapalana government, in late November 2015 had declared their intention to amalgamate the ETF with the EPF.
FSP’s Pubudu Jayagoda told The Island that they expected all political parties, other than the NPP, to disclose their stand on the vital issue. Jayagoda urged the Opposition to take a stand on the vital issue .
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Opposition yesterday argued in Parliament that the National Environment Amendment Bill was unconstitutional. The Opposition said that it violated the 13th Amendment.
SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa argued that the approval of the Provincial Councils was required for the Bill to go ahead, as it was a subject in the Concurrent List of powers as per the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The MP also said that the clause which enables the Central Government to file legal actions against Local Government bodies was unconditional as well, since local bodies are included in the Provincial Councils list.
“How can you go ahead at a time when the Provincial Councils do not function properly,” Premadasa questioned.
ITAK MP P. Sathyalingam also raised the issue, but Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, who responded, said the MPs could raise the relevant matters during the debate.
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