Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath said that Sri Lanka and India would sign three agreements on defence cooperation today (09) during the official visit of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The agreements will cover cadet training and joint programmes, cooperation between the two countries’ defence colleges and the free maintenance of 24 40 mm L70 anti-aircraft weapons supplied by India to Sri Lanka during the 2000 to 2006 period.

Remanded SLPP National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday accused the government of misleading the public with unfulfilled promises and urged it to focus on reducing the cost of living and easing the economic hardships faced by the people.

Addressing Parliament after being brought from remand custody, Rajapaksa said the government had come to power promising to address the problems of farmers and ensure a reasonable price for paddy, but had failed to deliver on those pledges.

“During this period, 400,000 metric tonnes of rice have been imported,” he said.

He also raised concerns over the impact of drought conditions, claiming that water levels in 74 major reservoirs had fallen by 34 percent of their capacity. Villagers in some areas, he said, were struggling to obtain drinking water, with some having to wait 20 to 25 days for supplies.

Rajapaksa also questioned whether the Government had fulfilled promises made to people affected by Cyclone Ditwah, including compensation for damaged roofs and other property. He called on the Government to honour its pledge to provide US$1 million in assistance to disaster-hit Nepal, warning that failing to keep commitments to the international community would damage Sri Lanka’s reputation.

He criticised proposed tougher road-use regulations, saying the Government should first consider how practical the measures would be.

Turning to education, Rajapaksa accused the Government of failing to honour its pledge to establish 50 new universities, claiming that its actions had so far been limited to laying foundation stones for two-storey school buildings.

He also criticised the Government’s handling of the health sector, saying it had promised to improve the doctor-patient ratio but had instead become embroiled in disputes with the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

“Today there are no life-saving medicines in hospitals,” he alleged, while claiming that dengue cases had reached 100,000. He also criticised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for advising people to drink coriander (koththamalli) rather than seeking hospital treatment.

“How long are you going to run this country on lies? Keep in mind that empty lies will not solve the problems of the people,” Rajapaksa said.

Rajapaksa was brought to Parliament in a prison bus at around 9.20 am, under special security arrangements, to attend the parliamentary sitting.

Prisons Commissioner and Media Spokesman Senaka Pallathenna, said Rajapaksa had been brought to Parliament at the request of the Speaker.

The Secretary General of Parliament had written to the Commissioner General of Prisons the previous day requesting arrangements for Rajapaksa to attend parliamentary proceedings.

Rajapaksa, who is in remand custody in connection with an ongoing case, declined to comment on his situation when journalists questioned him at the Parliament entrance, saying he would make his statement inside the chamber.

Notably, he made no reference to his arrest or the case during his parliamentary speech.

by Saman Indrajith

The Supreme Court has determined that three clauses of the Bill, titled the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka, are inconsistent with the Constitution, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne told Parliament yesterday (08).

The determination was made in response to a constitutional challenge under Article 121(1).

The Court held that Clause 3(1) is vague and inconsistent with Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution. It can therefore be passed only with the special majority required under Article 84(2), unless the clause is deleted.

Clause 4(o) was also found to be inconsistent with Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(g). It would require a special majority unless amended in accordance with the changes proposed by the Court.

The Court further ruled that Clause 5(4)(b) is inconsistent with Article 12(1) and may be passed only with the special majority stipulated in Article 84(2). The inconsistency would cease if the clause is amended as directed by the Court.

The remaining provisions of the Bill were found to be consistent with the Constitution.

Speaker Wickramaratne subsequently directed that the full Supreme Court determination be printed in the Official Report of Parliament.