News
JVP questions PM’s role in bid to postpone LG polls
By Shamindra Ferdinando
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (10) said that the genuine Opposition was seriously concerned about the role played by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in the ongoing efforts to postpone the scheduled Local Government polls.
The Election Commission is duty bound to conduct the polls to ensure the re-constitution of LG bodies by March 20, 2023, MP Dissanayake said.
Lawmaker Dissanayake, who represents Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB) in P,arliament disclosed that they were aware of Premier Gunawardena twice summoning members of the Election Commission (EC) to his office before President Ranil Wickremesinghe met them at the Presidential Secretariat.
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won the lion’s share of LG bodies, at the last LG polls, held in early February, 2018.
Acknowledging that the Premier also served as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, lawmaker Dissanayake said that except for Mrs. P.S.M. Charles, other members had been present on both occasions. Legal expert Dr. Jayatissa Costa, PC, had been present, in his capacity as the Advisor to the Premier.
The EC consists of Nimal G. Punchihewa (Chairman), S.B. Divaratne, M. M. Mohammed, K.P. P. Pathirana and Mrs. P. S.M. Charles. Director General, EC, Saman Sri Ratnayake, too, has attended all meetings with the Premier and the President, held in December 2022 and January, so far, this year.
MP Dissanayake said that Premier Gunawardena owed an explanation why he summoned EC members twice, within 10 days, in December. The JVPer pointed out that the PM’s Office, as well as the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, didn’t issue statements in that regard.
The JVPer said that Premier Gunawardena had been present at both meetings summoned by President Wickremesinghe to discuss ways and means to indefinitely put off the LG polls.
Lawmaker Dissanayake found fault with the EC for delaying the announcement, on nominations, though, constitutionally, the outfit exercised the right to set dates for elections, after Sept. 20, 2020. In a way, the EC facilitated the government’s agenda by unnecessarily delaying the announcement, lawmaker Dissanayake alleged, urging the media not to be deceived by government propaganda meant to justify its disgraceful conduct.
Attorney General, Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, too, has been brought into the shameful operation, MP Dissanayake said, pointing out the government’s Chief Legal Officer was present at the Presidential Secretariat when EC members attended the controversial meetings.
Dissanayake said that the EC owed an explanation whether the President and the Prime Minister exerted pressure on them. Those engaged in election monitoring process should clearly state their position regarding the EC being summoned ahead of elections, the MP said. The JVPer said that the issue at hand should be examined against the backdrop of declarations made by the ruling SLPP that it was ready to contest the LG polls, together with the UNP.
“We cannot ignore the fact that Premier Gunawardena, and two other MEP MPs, Sisira Jayakody and Yadamini Gunawardena, were elected and appointed on the SLPP ticket and National List, respectively,” MP Dissanayake said.
The JVP leader said that both President and the Premier led political parties, represented in Parliament, and were planning to contest LG polls in case their efforts failed.
Prof. Jayasumana raises possibility of Lanka ending up with “Quad’
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has said it is the responsibility of the NPP government to submit the MoUs/agreements that were recently signed with India to the respective Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOCs).
Premadasa said so when The Island raised the issue with him. He said that during his meeting with Premier Modi his focus had been on opening the Indian market for Sri Lankan garment exports.
The seven MoUs/agreements signed on 05 April included defence cooperation, energy, Eastern Province development and digitalisation.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of Sarvajana Balaya and former lawmaker Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the government owed an explanation whether the recently signed MoU on defence cooperation directly or indirectly attached Sri Lanka to the Quad security alliance, consisting of the US, Australia, Japan and India.
The former SLPPer raised the issue at a meeting held at Boralesgamuwa on Monday (07) in support of Sarvajana Balaya candidates contesting the May 6 LG polls.
Prof. Jayasumana urged that the MoU on Defence Cooperation be placed before Parliament, and the people, without further delay. The academic who served as State Health Minister during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s foreign policy direction should be dealt with.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The government would not extend the suspension of ‘parate executions’ that was now effective, Deputy Minister of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament yesterday.
Suriyapperuma said so in response to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who asked about the government’s plans regarding a relief package to assist small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) struggling to repay loans.
Pointing out that about 263,000 SMEs had closed down, Premadasa asked what action the government would take to address the grievances of these SMEs.
He said that from 01 Jan., 2019, to 01 Dec., 31, 2023, licensed banks had collected Rs. 113.7 billion through 2,263 parate executions. As of 31 Dec., 2024, Rs. 1,380 billion had been recovered from Stage III defaulters.
The government has introduced loan schemes to assist SMEs impacted by the economic crisis. They included capital loans of up to Rs. 10 million, with a six-month grace period and a three-year repayment term at 8% interest, Suriyapperuma said. Additionally, another loan scheme under the consolidated fund aimed to help SMEs that werecurrently paying their loans. That scheme offered loans of up to Rs. 15 million, which must be repaid over ten years with a one-year grace period and a 7% interest rate. For SMEs that had defaulted on their loans, a loan of up to Rs. 5 million is available at 8% interest, with a six-month grace period and a five-year repayment term, Suriyapperuma said.
By Saman Indrajith
The Parliament yesterday approved a Resolution to appoint a Committee of Inquiry (CoI) in terms of Section 5 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, to remove Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon from office.
The parliament announced 151 votes were received in favour of the Resolution and was passed without debate. Three opposition MPs R. Ramanathan Archuna, Nizam Kariyappar, Mujibur Rahuman and Ajith P Perera voted with the government.
The Resolution moved by NPP MP Lalkmali Hemachandra aims to appoint the CoI to investigate charges of misconduct and gross abuse of power of his office.
NPP MP Gayan Janaka seconded the motion.
SLMC MP Nizam Kariyappar said that the motion carrying the resolution should better be amended citing the Standing Order 91 (F) stating that the matter of Tennakoon was sub judice.
Deputy Speaker Dr. Mohamed Rizvie Salih said that the matter does not arise as per the agreements reached by the party leaders.
Chief Government Whip Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa called for a division on the resolution.
By Saman Indrajith
Sajith asks govt. to submit its MoUs with India to Parliament
Govt. won’t extend suspension of ‘parate executions’
Resolution to remove IGP: Resolution passed, four Opp MPs vote with govt.
-
Business2 days agoColombo Coffee wins coveted management awards
-
Business4 days agoDaraz Sri Lanka ushers in the New Year with 4.4 Avurudu Wasi Pro Max – Sri Lanka’s biggest online Avurudu sale
-
Features3 days agoStarlink in the Global South
-
Business5 days agoStrengthening SDG integration into provincial planning and development process
-
Business4 days agoNew SL Sovereign Bonds win foreign investor confidence
-
Sports6 days agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
Features3 days agoModi’s Sri Lanka Sojourn
-
Sports5 days agoNew Zealand under 85kg rugby team set for historic tour of Sri Lanka