News
JVP accuses Prez and MP Wajira of taking decisions in Cabinet’s name
By Saman Indrajith
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday that the executive decisions of the country were not taken by the Cabinet of Ministers but by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP MP Wajira Abeywardena.
“What is the use of a Cabinet if these two persons take crucial decisions and make them out to be those of the Cabinet?” Dissanayake queried.
Referring to a recent directive issued by the Cabinet Secretary W. M. D.R. Fernando to the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, asking the latter to prevent the District Secretaries from accepting deposits from candidates for the local council poll, he said that decision was made by President Wickremesinghe and MP Abeywardena and then conveyed to the Cabinet Secretary. They got the Cabinet Secretary to inform Secretary to the Public Administration that a Cabinet decision had been made to suspend accepting deposits. Thereafter, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Neil Hapuhuinne issued the directive to the Returning Officers appointed by the Elections Commission, asking them not to accept deposits. Fernando and Hapuhinne say that the suspension of accepting deposits was on the basis of a Cabinet decision. We want to know whether the Cabinet was aware of any such thing,” Dissanayake said.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Cabinet had not made any decision to influence returning officers or to suspend accepting deposits. “Hapuhinne withdrew his directive on the same day,” he said.
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the directive was against all norms and values of democratic principles. “This is an attempt to disregard people’s right to vote. I do not think this action was taken by Hapuhinne on his own. When Hapuhinne was summoned by the Elections Commission, the two persons who hold the highest posts in this country instructed him not to appear before the commission.”
Prime Minister Gunawardena said that the Opposition Leader was uttering lies. “The top most post is held by the President. I hold the next highest post. I did not issue such instructions,” Premier Gunawardena said.
JVP leader Dissanayake said that it was difficult to accept that the Cabinet of ministers comprising several president’s counsels and senior lawyers such as Ali Sabry, Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Susil Premajayanth had made such an unconstitutional decision. Now, the Prime Minister says that the Cabinet did not take such a decision. Therefore, my information that the decision in question was made by the President and MP Wajira Abeywardena is accurate. This is a serious issue. Should we hereafter take the Cabinet decisions seriously?”
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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