News
GL accuses govt. of encouraging chaos to prevent peaceful Presidential election next year
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government has decided to keep the post of IGP vacant at a time when gun violence is at an all-time high, MP G.L. Peiris said, addressing a press conference in Colombo.Prof. Peiris said that the government is encouraging chaos because it wants to make it difficult to have a peaceful presidential election next year.He said that in 2023, there have been 81 shooting incidents. 40 people have died from these attacks.
“This is the time when the police need strong leadership. IGP C.D Wickramaratne’s tenure ended on 26 June 2023. He has been given two extensions. The second extension ended on 09 October. There is a hierarchy in the police, and the IGP is on top. There is a delay in appointing a new one because of the internal squabbling within the government. This is endangering the people”.
Prof. Peiris said that the government has an obligation to appoint a new IGP immediately. There is anarchy in the country, and almost every day there is a shooting incident, he said.
The MP added that presidential elections need to be held before September 2024. The local council elections should have been held before 15 March 2023.
“The Supreme Court asked the government to release the funds allocated by the budget to hold local council elections. The Minister of Finance openly said he would not release the money. Is Sri Lanka a democracy now? The state of provincial councils is even worse. These elections have not been held for four and a half years. The government says the current election laws are faulty, and they will only hold elections once they have ironed out the issues. The real reason for not holding elections is that the government knows that it will lose the election. However, these stratagems will not work with the presidential elections,” he said.
Prof. Peiris mentioned that the government is now trying to create a chaotic situation that would make holding a peaceful presidential election impossible. One way of doing it is through the laws the government wants to pass in Parliament, he said, adding that the Online Safety Bill is one of these attempts.
“The government wants to appoint an all-powerful committee that would decide what is true and what is false. The President can appoint members, and he can get rid of them anytime he wants. The Constitution says the constitutional council must appoint independent commissions. However, this committee is appointed by the President. Can you trust such a committee? If these bills become law, holding a free and fair election would be impossible,” Prof. Peiris said.
The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).
The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.
The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.
The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.
President’s Media Division)
Latest News
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
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 Judge Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat this morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
Latest News
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
A discussion to review the further measures that could be taken regarding Sivarasa Anojan, a young Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (21), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion focused on the measures taken to date concerning Sivaraasa Anojan and the further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued. Attention was also given to expediting the necessary further measures that could be taken to secure his release.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to continue the necessary diplomatic engagement with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and to maintain close and continuous involvement in all further measures concerning the case.
Reaffirming the Government’s continued attention to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, the President also stressed the need for the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination and pursue all possible measures that could be taken in connection with the case.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were also present at the discussion.
(President’s Media Division)
“ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) to be opened tomorrow (22)
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
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