News
Dayasiri makes plea not to be shut out of Committee on Parliamentary Business
Dissident SLPP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to give them an opportunity to join the Committee on Parliamentary Business. Jayasekera said that Uttara Lanka Sabhawa, too, had been barred from those meetings.
“This is a big problem for us. We don’t know what is happening. We are not aware of the decisions made at these committees,” he said. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Business Committee had agreed to ensure the participation of all Opposition parties at its meeting
“I don’t understand why these parties are not allowed in after we agreed that they, too, should be there. We all agreed to let them in. Allow each party to send one representative. The government can increase their representation in proportion,” he said.
Meanwhile, leader of the house, Minister Susil Premajayantha, told Parliament that when a new Parliament is convened, a gazette on what parties are in Parliament, who are the MPs, etc., is published.
“As far as I know, the leaders of political parties that are in the above-mentioned gazette are recognized as party leaders. However, this has changed. There might be breakaways. When a section of government MPs sit in Opposition, they, too, want recognition as Opposition MPs. I think this is the basis of the requests by the SLFP and Uttara Lanka Sabawa. The Speaker can decide. There is no need for us to be involved,” he said.
The Speaker said that there are 33 MPs in the business committee and that there are usually only 16 MPs in this committee. However, the Opposition leader said the number of MPs is immaterial and that the Speaker must entertain the request made by MP Jayasekera.
Uttara Lanka Sabawa MP Mohamed Muzammil said that both the Leader of the House and the Opposition Leader have agreed to allow all Opposition parties to be represented in the business committee.
“The Speaker has promised twice to give a verdict on this. There are 13 MPs with us. There are five SLFP MPs. Our rights have been violated. Please make a decision today. You only have to give us two slots and two slots to the government,” he said.
Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said a party with three MPs has representation at the business committee.
“So, two parties with 18 MPs deserve representation. So the Speaker can make a decision,” he said.
The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.
The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.
The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.
[Aljazeera]
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.
Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.
Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.
Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
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