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NPP calls for new Constitution: ‘13 no solution to any problem’

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/11

By Saman Indrajith

Sri Lanka needs a new Constitution that protects the rights of all citizens, and implementing 13A or 13+ is not a solution to the problems faced by the people, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, addressing Parliament, has said. A referendum should be held, on the new Constitution to be made, so that the people would be able to decide its fate, Dissanayake said.

“We propose a new Constitution to solve people’s issues but we know the political elite won’t support such a move. You cannot tolerate unity between ethnicities. These people want racism and racist violence. Who brought in anti-Muslim hate? Racism is your only political tool. Now you are talking about equality and rights?” he said.

He also commended the Supreme Court over its decision on holding the local council elections. NPP leader Dissanayaka told Parliament that the government took various steps to prevent the local council elections from happening.

“Some of these measures were constitutional. Some were mass scale misinformation campaigns. They even sent their henchmen to Court to petition against the election. The Supreme Court that had been giving landmark verdicts to protect democracy and people’s rights recently has thwarted all these efforts,” he said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is also undermining independent commissions in a bid to postpone elections, he said. “Look at what they are trying to do to the Elections Commission”.

Dissanayaka said that some government MPs have accused the NPP of receiving money through illegitimate means and that the NPP leaders have various nefarious connections.

“Now, if I was the government, I would carry out an investigation. I will see if someone is making money through illegal means and if they are evading taxes. There is no point in making ludicrous accusations in Parliament. These people are using Parliamentary privileges,” he said.

He also said that the NPP is ready to debate about the economy with Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, who are the most recent Ministers of Finance.

“Ranil has addressed the nation six times, in the last few months. Made two policy statements in Parliament. And several times more in Parliament. The man has a mania for sitting in the Speaker’s chair and addressing Parliament. Recently, he went to Kandy and made Ambassadors and High Commissioners go there. The bill to feed the Ambassadors, at Ambepussa, was over 300,000 rupees. It was just the same with Independence Day,” he said.

Sri Lanka decided not to pay external debt in April 2022. If Sri Lanka had serviced the debt, it would have had to pay five billion U.S Dollars.

“This gave us time. We used the money, we would have used to service debt, to buy fuel, gas and some medicine and claim that the economy is back on track. We have a breathing space because we are not paying back the debt. Ranil and his gang have not done anything for the economic recovery,” he said.

The other plan is to shrink the economy, the NPP said. For this the interest rates were increased and now the purchasing power of the people have declined, Dissanayaka added.

“As a result, the industries are on the verge of collapse. Construction sector has collapsed and a large number of factories have closed down. What recovery when you are shrinking. The other plan, they have, is unfair taxation. In 2020, when the economy had some semblance of normalcy, Gotabaya Rajapaksa reduced taxes, created inflation and brought the economy down. Increasing, or reducing taxes, depends on the overall context of the economy,” he said.

Out of the Sri Lankan workforce, only 15 percent are professionals. These professionals have to be protected but by imposing unfair taxation, the government is encouraging the brain drain.

“It is natural for someone to adjust his or her life based, on the salary. Suddenly, the government decided to take a chunk off the salary. This has affected people adversely and they are leaving the country in droves. At least increase the taxable threshold to 200,000 rupees,” he said.

The government has been making contradictory statements about 13A, he said. The NPP has no problem if the northern people are given back their land, currently held by government agencies. In countries like Sri Lanka, land is not just an exchangeable commodity. It represents people’s link to the land, he said.

“Why are two different opinions being expressed? Ranil and Mahinda may have different ideas. So please talk among yourselves and give us your written proposal on implementing 13A. Give us a base document signed by the President, Prime Minister and Mahinda Rajapaksa. These three people are saying different things. In recent decades, Sri Lankan politics were driven by racism. At a time when elections are near, the establishment is using the same tactics,” he said.

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Sun directly overhead Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon today (11)

Published

20 hours ago

2026/04/11

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (11th) are Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition NCM against Energy Minister defeated

Published

23 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

A no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 104 votes.At the end of the debate, 49 members voted in favour of the motion, while 153 voted against it.

The motion, submitted to the Speaker on 19 March, was signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB MPs, and other Opposition members.

It accused Minister Jayakody of failing to ensure the procurement of adequate and quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, alleging that such negligence amounted to a breach of ministerial responsibility over a critical national energy asset.

The motion also cited ongoing legal proceedings against the Minister, noting that he has been indicted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and produced before the Colombo High Court under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, in connection with alleged acts of corruption during his tenure as Procurement Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company Limited.

The motion read: Vote of No Confidence against Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy,— Whereas the Provision in Section 6 of the Part III of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament which states that: “The Members shall on all occasions act in accordance with the public trust entrusted with them and shall always behave with probity and integrity, including the use by them of any public resources.” has been violated; And whereas the following rules of conduct set out in Section 9 of the Part V of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament have prima facie been breached, namely:- “(a) to be conscience; (c) to act so as to merit the trust and respect of the people; (e) to hold themselves accountable for the conduct and duties for which they are responsible;” And whereas it is observed that the Minister has failed, in his capacity as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, to discharge the fundamental duties incumbent upon him in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution;

And whereas it is established that the Minister of Energy has failed to discharge his primary duty of ensuring the procurement of adequate and good quality coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant;

And whereas such gross negligence in overseeing a critical national energy asset constitutes a fundamental breach of ministerial responsibility;

And whereas the Minister of Energy has failed to carry out the subjects and functions vested in him by the Notification of Gazette Extraordinary No. 2412/08 of 25th November 2024 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, including taking necessary steps to reduce the losses at the institutional management level and technical damages that occur to the electricity generation and distribution system and reduction of costs for generating electricity and removal of uncertainties during generation;

And whereas the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has filed formal indictments before the Colombo High Court against the incumbent Minister of Energy under Section 70 of the Bribery Act (Chapter 26) for the offence of “corruption” in connection with acts of corruption allegedly committed while he was serving as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertilizer Company;

And whereas, in light of the foregoing, the Minister of Energy has irretrievably forfeited the confidence of Parliament and the people of Sri Lanka by causing losses to public finances, endangering national energy security, corruptly mishandling the procurement process, being subjected to active judicial proceedings for the offence of “corruption”, and betraying the Government’s own “anti-corruption mandate”, and his continued tenure as the Minister of Energy is contrary to the public interest, the rule of law, and the principles of good governance;

That this Parliament resolves that it has no confidence in the competence of Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy to function as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers any longer.”

by Saman Indrajith

News

Chinese Ambassador assures Lanka China will not allow a fuel crisis to develop here

Published

23 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

Qi Zhenhong

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong yesterday assured that China would not allow a fuel crisis to arise in Sri Lanka, under any circumstances, reaffirming Beijing’s continued support to the country.

The Ambassador made these remarks addressing the media after attending a dry ration distribution programme for 350 low-income families at Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, at Asgiriya, in Kandy.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries, Ambassador Qi said China has consistently stood by Sri Lanka and remains ready to extend assistance whenever required.

Amid concerns over global energy disruptions, stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, he noted that several countries are already facing difficulties, but stressed that China is prepared to support Sri Lanka at any time.

He said that any potential fuel shortage in Sri Lanka could be managed with the involvement of China’s Sinopec.

Reiterating Beijing’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and development, the Envoy also expressed hope that the current ceasefire in the Middle East would hold, while assuring that China stands ready to respond to any future developments and assist Sri Lanka as needed.

By SK Samaranayake