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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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“We hope that first day of school becomes a cherished memory in the lives of our beloved children” – PM

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/29

Priyan

Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr Harini Amarasuriya said that she hoped that the first day of school becomes a beautiful and lasting memory in the lives of our beloved children as they take the important step from their homes and parents into the care and guidance of their teachers and wished them every sucess in the journey ahead.

The PM’s message:

“Dear children and parents,

We hope that the first day of school becomes a cherished memory in the lives of our children. With this in mind, we are making every effort to improve school environments and strengthen the teaching–learning process, so that children can experience their school years in a safe, joyful, and meaningful manner.

We are committed to reducing the burden of heavy schoolbags, while ensuring that children continue to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed for their future and for their eventual entry into the workforce.

Dear Parents, our goal is to provide every child with a rich education in a prosperous and just society. We firmly believe that a child’s educational opportunities should not be determined by the economic circumstances of their family, and that no child should be excluded from education. Accordingly, the Government has taken responsibility for putting in place the necessary measures to guarantee equal access to education for every child. We value the constructive ideas and suggestions of all stakeholders as we work towards this shared objective.

We are committed to engaging with these ideas openly and constructively, and to making the learning experiences of children who grow through play, movement, and curiosity more practical, meaningful, and engaging, while ensuring that classrooms remain spaces of happiness and encouragement.

My dear children, as you step beyond the comfort of your mother’s embrace and place your trust in your teachers and parents, I wish you success, confidence, and fulfilment in all that lies ahead.

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The National Strategic Action Plan to monitor and combat human trafficking (2026-2030) officially launched

Published

16 hours ago

2026/01/29

Priyan

The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in the official launch of the National Strategic Action Plan to monitor and combat human trafficking (2026-2030) held on 28th of January at the Cinnamon Life Hotel, Colombo. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Defence, National Anti Human Trafficking Task Force ( NAHTTF), International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This five-year Action Plan was unveiled under the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, in its capacity as Chair of the NAHTTF and with the technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The National Strategic Action Plan 2026-2030 establishes a unified national framework to prevent human trafficking, protect and assist victims, strengthen law enforcement responses, and enhance accountability.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening national efforts to prevent and address human trafficking and stated that the Action Plan must transcend its symbolic launch into concrete, coordinated, and sustained implementation.

The Prime Minister also noted that the launch of the National Strategic Action Plan is timely, as it operationalizes the four internationally recognized pillars of the anti-trafficking framework namely prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership.

The Prime Minister further stated,

“Caring for trafficking survivors in Sri Lanka requires a holistic, gender-sensitive, and survivor-centered approach that addresses both immediate protection and long-term recovery. This includes safe shelter, medical care, and trauma-informed psychological support, with particular attention to women and girls who experience more severe and gendered forms of violence, alongside legal assistance, economic empowerment, and skills development to prevent re-trafficking.

Human trafficking is a structural and social challenge that requires sustained, multi-sectoral action. Ministries and government agencies must embed anti-trafficking priorities into their core strategies and day-to-day operations, ensuring institutional integration and professional accountability”.

The event was attended by Parinda Ranasinghe Jnr, PC, Attorney General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chair of the NAHTTF, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha; and Kristin Parco, IOM Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Members of the NAHTTF representing 23 key government entities, along with representatives of the diplomatic community, United Nations entities and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

No changes to IMF agreement despite Cyclone Ditwah impact

Published

18 hours ago

2026/01/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has declared that the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) wouldn’t be amended in view of the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.

The IMF delegation, at the end of its visit to Sri Lanka, informed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of its decision during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (28). The IMF delegation included Director of the Asia and Pacific Department Krishna Srinivasan, Deputy Director for Asia and the Pacific Sanjaya Panth, Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou, and Resident Representative Martha Woldemichael.

The 48-month arrangement, approved on 20 March, 2023, during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the President, is for SDR 2.286 billion (approximately US$3 billion). In terms of the agreement, repayment of debt has to be resumed in 2028. Sri Lanka unilaterally suspended debt repayment in April 2022.

Close on the heels of Cyclone Ditwah, the main Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), repeatedly pressed the government to request the IMF to amend the agreement.

The Presidential Media Division ( PMD) quoted the IMF delegation as having said that the strong fiscal discipline maintained by the government over the past year had been a key factor in addressing the challenges caused by Cyclone Ditwah. They said that the government’s ability to present a supplementary estimate of Rs. 500 billion was made possible by a surplus in the Treasury.

The Government of Sri Lanka was represented by Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Senior Economic Adviser to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa, along with several others.