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‘Instead, quorum should have been reduced’

Published

4 years ago

2020/11/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Increasing the number of election commissioners irrational decision – CMEV

by PRIYAN DE SILVA

The National Coordinator of the Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Manjula Gajanayake said that increasing the number of the Election Commission members from three to five was an irrational decision.

Gajanayake said that elections in the country had been managed by a single person for 60 years before the EC was appointed in 2015. “It

would have been better to reduce the required quorum of the EC to two out of the three members rather than increase the number of members” he added.

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution says: “There shall be an Election Commission consisting of five members appointed by the President subject to the provisions of Article 41A from amongst persons who have distinguished themselves in any profession or in the field of administration or education. One of the members so appointed shall be a retired officer of the Department of Elections or Election Commission, who has held office as a Deputy Commissioner of Elections or above. The President shall appoint one member as its Chairman”.

Welcoming the decision to appoint a ‘Parliamentary Council’ to replace the Constitutional Council Gajanayake said that it has not been vested with sufficient powers.

“Now at least one of the six persons (five members of the Commission and the Commissioner-General) would have past experience in conducting elections” he quipped.

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“Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival – Reflection on the Journey from Crisis to Recovery” by Mahinda Siriwardana presented to the President

Published

7 hours ago

2025/04/8

Priyan

The book “Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival – Reflection on the Journey from Crisis to Recovery” ,authored by Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mahinda Siriwardana, was officially launched this morning (08) at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, with the participation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

The first copy of the publication was formally presented to President Disanayake by Mr. Siriwardana during the event.

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Former state minister arrested by CID

Published

7 hours ago

2025/04/8

Priyan

It has been reported that former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias ‘Pilleyan’ has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

News

President meets with senior officials of SriLankan Airlines

Published

7 hours ago

2025/04/8

Priyan

A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and senior officials of SriLankan Airlines was held this afternoon (April 8) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions mainly focused on proposals to transform SriLankan Airlines into a more profitable state-owned enterprise. Special attention was also given to possible short-term and long-term solutions for the airline’s debt management.

The talks further explored new investment opportunities for the airline. The President instructed the officials to take all necessary steps to transform SriLankan Airlines into a profit-making entity.

Although the airline has recorded operational profits, due to past mismanagement and poor decision-making, it remains one of the leading loss-making state enterprises. The current government has decided to reverse the previous administration’s decision to privatize the airline. Instead, it plans to continue operating it as the national carrier while introducing a new management structure to ensure its profitability moving forward.

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, President’s Senior Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Sarath Ganegoda along with several senior officials of SriLankan Airlines, were present at the meeting.