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CBK plan to get country on an even keel

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/15

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga made the following proposals to tackle the enormous problems no confronting the country. She has said her draft must be perfected in legal terms.

This proposal is made in the present context of the major political crisis facing the country. The Government has totally failed to deliver proper governance, resulting in the complete breakdown of the economy. The country has no Government. The vast majority of the citizens are out on the streets demanding the resignation of the President and the entire Government in a peaceful but powerful movement. Peoples’ power seems to have taken over the country.

This proposal is an attempt to find a resolution to the immediate problems arising from the situation. We have taken into serious consideration the need for a creation of a Government with the participation of Civil Society.

The present situation does not permit an election to be held immediately. It seems evident that an interim government is needed, in order to bring back political and social stability, and to resolve the most urgent economic issues.

The most feasible option is that of an interim Government that will function for a maximum period of six months, with the responsibility to restore order and stabilize the economy before calling for Parliamentary elections.

The proposal below has been worked out after dialogue with representatives of civil society, academics and the youthful protesters on the one hand, and taking into consideration the Constitutional stipulations as well as the existing Parliamentary situation, on the other.

PROPOSAL

1. An Interim Government will be formed for a maximum of six months.

2. (i) The Head of the Government shall be the Prime Minister elected from among the Members of Parliament, who enjoys the confidence of the majority of Parliament.

(ii) The Prime Minister will be the Head of Government and Head of the Cabinet.

(iii) The Cabinet of Ministers will be charged with the direction and control of the Government.

They shall be collectively responsible and answerable to Parliament.

3. The Cabinet will comprise of 12 Ministers from among the Members of the present Parliament as per Article 42 of the Constitution.

4. The Interim Government shall bring amendments to the Constitution which will :-

(a) abolish the office of the Executive President and replace it with that of a Head of State who will be the nominal President.

5. Strengthen the Constitutional Council and Independent Commissions.

The independence of all these Institutions from political influences shall be guaranteed.

Chairman of the Constitutional Council will be the Speaker of the Houses of Parliament. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will be members, together with seven others who will be distinguished citizens from the professions and academia.

The Chairman of the Council of State will be one of the seven members.

Members of Parliament, Pradeshiya Sabhas and Local Government bodies shall not be members of the Constitutional Council.

All members of the Constitutional Council shall be selected from those who have no allegations of corruption or other wrong doing.

The members of the Independent Commissions shall be appointed by the Constitutional Council, selected by consensus, from among persons who have recognized expertise in their professions with no allegations of wrong doing.

The President of the Republic and the Leader of the Opposition shall nominate one member each. One-third of the total number of members shall be below 40 years of age and one-third of the total members shall be women.

6. There will be a Council of State for National Policy (COS).

The Cabinet shall act in consultation with the Council of State on all matters relating to the drafting and implementation of Policy, Laws and Regulations.

(a) The Council of State will promote democratic governance and prevent authoritarianism through the effective participation of citizens in decision making and implementation of government policy.

(b) Provision is made for 40% of the members of the Council to comprise of youth, permitting effective youth participation in the government.

(c) The Council of State shall act in close collaboration with the Cabinet of Ministers and other relevant government institutions in the performance of its duties.

(d)The Cabinet of Ministers is deemed to consult the COS on important laws and policies, before they are presented to Parliament and/or implemented.

(e) The Council of State will review important laws and policies before they are presented to Parliament by the government. It may also propose laws to the Cabinet and Government.

The Council of State will review policies of the Government, especially regarding Constitutional Amendments; the Economy; Governance, Education and matters relating to anti-corruption and transparency in government. The Council may also present proposals to the Government on the Economy and economic development and social matters.

(f) The Council of State will promote dialogue between the Government and the various sectors of civil society- professionals, business/private sector, academics and NGOs in the process of Government policy formulation and implementation.

7. The membership of the Council of State shall comprise of representatives of all ethnic and religious communities in Sri Lanka.

The term of office of the members of the Council will be five years and shall be concurrent with the term of office of the Parliament.

Elected members of political parties, individual MPs, Provincial Councillors and members of Local Government bodies will not be eligible for membership of the Council of State.

(i) The Council of State will be comprised of 36 members of which 27 shall be nominated by Civil Society Organizations, the professions, business and private sector, academics and NGOs and nine members nominated by the PM and Leader of the Opposition.

The 27 Civil Society representatives will be nominated as follows: –

(ii) A total of 16 members will be from the professional associations in the following fields on the basis of one /two representatives from each association:

a) The Legal Profession – 02

b) The Medical Profession – 02

c) Accountants – 02

d) IT Professionals – 1/2

e) Engineers – 01

f) Surveyors &Valuers – 02

g) Teachers& Principals – 02

h) Retired Senior Public servants – 03

Other professions

(iii) Representation from the following fields will be as follows:

a) Artists – 02

b) Private sector- 05

c) Academics – 02

d) NGOs – 02

(iv)not less than 40% of the total no.of members shall be below the age of 40 years, (15)

(v) 40 % of the total shall be women as per 6 (ii)and (iii) above. (15)

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70,297 persons still in safety centers

Published

1 hour ago

2025/12/16

Priyan

The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center at 06:00AM on 16th December 2025 shows that 70,297 persons belonging to 22,338 house holds are still being housed at 731 safety centers established by the government.

The number of deaths due to the recent disastrous weather stands at 643 while 183 persons are missing.

News

MEPA to crack down on marine polluters

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

… Warns would-be polluters of criminal prosecution, hefty fines and even blacklisting

The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has warned that ship owners, operators and local entities responsible for marine pollution will face criminal prosecution, heavy financial penalties and possible blacklisting, MEPA Chairman Samantha Gunasekera said yesterday.

Gunasekera told The Island that Sri Lanka would no longer tolerate negligence and regulatory breaches that threaten the country’s marine ecosystems, coastal livelihoods and national economy.

“Any party that pollutes our seas—whether foreign vessels or local operators—should be prepared to face the full force of the law,” Gunasekera said. “There will be no room for excuses, delays or backdoor negotiations when marine pollution is involved.”

He said MEPA has intensified surveillance of major shipping routes, ports and environmentally sensitive zones amid rising maritime traffic through Sri Lankan waters, which remain among the busiest in the Indian Ocean.

by Ifham Nizam

News

SC delegation, headed by CJ Surasena, observes Indian Supreme Court in action

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

A 10-member delegation from Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena, with Indian judicial officials

A 10-member delegation from Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena, departed to New Delhi on the 11th of December, 2025, for an official visit to the Supreme Court of India as part of the ongoing official visit by the delegation to India.

The group was accorded a ceremonial welcome in the Court’s main hall, led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. CJI Kant told the assembled Judges that “the Indian judiciary was honoured to host” their Sri Lankan counterparts, expressing hope that the visit would be “meaningful and very constructive” and underscoring the “close emotional bonds” between the two countries.

The focal point of the programme was a special sitting of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Surasena joined CJI Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on the bench, presiding over the Court as a guest Justice. He was accompanied by nine other Supreme Court justices from Sri Lanka, who took seats in the well of CJI Kant’s courtroom to observe the day’s proceedings.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh formally greeted the delegation and praised Justice Surasena’s reformist efforts. Singh recalled the Sri Lankan Chief Justice’s own maxim, “If you want something you have never had, then you have got to do something you have never done”, highlighting the bold changes Surasena had introduced to modernise Sri Lanka’s Court system. Singh noted that these initiatives, particularly court digitization, were aimed at eradicating “the persisting problems of law delays” and streamlining case backlogs.

The Sri Lankan Judges spent the morning observing live Supreme Court proceedings in CJI Kant’s courtroom. This first-hand exposure to Indian court operations formed a key part of the programme’s judicial engagement. During the hour-long session, the visiting justices witnessed a range of cases on the Supreme Court’s roster, with Justice Surasena and the delegation following arguments from the front. The experience was designed to be immersive and following the hearing the Sri Lankan Judges were briefed on India’s own initiatives towards a digitalised court system, e-filing and case management systems.

The official programme then shifted to capacity-building and information exchange. In the early afternoon, Indian Supreme Court officials gave the Sri Lankan delegation detailed briefings on India’s technological initiatives. Court registrars demonstrated the e-filing system and other e-initiatives implemented by the Supreme Court of India. Additional presentations outlined the Court’s new case management systems and administrative reforms. These sessions highlighted how digital tools and better case-listing procedures have been used in India to increase efficiency. The Sri Lankan judges asked questions about India’s experience with electronic court records and the integration of technology in daily judicial work, reflecting their own interest in similar reforms back home.

The visit underscored the growing collaboration between the Indian and Sri Lankan judiciaries. Throughout the proceedings, both sides emphasised their shared legal traditions and mutual respect. As Chief Justice Surasena noted during the sitting, India is Sri Lanka’s “closest neighbour,” and historic links, even dating back to ancient epics, form the backdrop for today’s judicial dialogue. CJI Kant remarked that having the chief justices of two vibrant democracies together on the bench was a “significant moment” for the rule of law.

The Sri Lankan delegation continued its programme in Delhi on 12 December with a visit to the Delhi High Court and its International Arbitration and Mediation Centres. The exchange visit is expected to deepen judicial cooperation and provide practical insights for both courts. Officials on both sides say the engagement aimed at sharing best practices in court administration, reinforce legal ties and support ongoing reforms aimed at reducing case backlogs and delays.