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Opposition asks Speaker to withdraw his ruling on motions passed by Parliament

Published

2 years ago

2023/08/12

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition political parties yesterday (11) demanded that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena withdraw his ruling that courts are not empowered to issue orders or judgements of any nature related to a motion already passed by the Parliament.

On 09 August, the Speaker gave the ruling after Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando raised a privilege issue on petitions filed against the resolution on domestic debt restructuring that had been approved by the House.

Opposition MPs urged the Speaker to withdraw this ruling as it violates standing orders, creates tension between the court and Parliament and undermines the Constitution.However, the Speaker insisted that he will not withdraw his ruling.

JVP-led NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake: “According to standing orders, we can’t question the decisions of the Speaker. However, given that the Speaker’s rulings become a precedent in Parliament, we need to have serious discussions about these.

“On 09 August you told Parliament that since the Parliament has passed a motion on domestic debt restructuring, the court can’t issue orders or judgements of any nature against a resolution already passed by the Parliament.

“The Speaker said this in the morning, the court was to make a ruling on a case filed against restructuring of EPF funds a few hours later. The Speaker could have made a ruling later if there had been an issue with the court ruling. Also, your ruling is wrong.

“What are motions presented in Parliament? The Constitution has named the kind of motions we can have, one is a no-confidence motion, and the President can also have a motion to seek the opinion of the public on a matter of national importance. These are the two types of motions listed in the Constitution.

“When the government presents the Budget, we vote on the appropriation Bill. This is a law. People have the right to go before the court before it goes to Parliament. The Bill comes to Parliament through the courts. If Parliament passes a motion, and in line with tax laws and financial laws must be amended. The motions therefore fulfill a certain duty. I would like to know if the motion to subject EPF funds to domestic debt

restructuring was a law. Is it a draft law? Is it a regulation? Not at all. It was just a motion presented to Parliament. What is the standard procedure when we make laws? The court can determine if an act is consistent or inconsistent with the Constitution, but it can’t change an Act passed by Parliament.

“But here it was a resolution; it was not an Act. Tomorrow, a government MP presents a motion saying we must close all courts in the country. All government MPs will approve it. Then what? Can’t the court system examine that? Parliament can impose laws only after the court decides if they are consistent with the Constitution.

If we create a precedent where a government motion, once passed in Parliament can’t be examined by courts, that will be a terrible mistake. So, your ruling on 09 August sets a bad precedent. What will happen if the government starts passing motions that can’t be examined by courts? There is only one thing to do, you must take this directive back. Or you will create a crisis.”

SLFP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera: “Article 91 of Standing Orders state that MPs must not talk about court cases that are before courts. If an MP starts talking about such a case, the Speaker, or the presiding MP, can ask him or her to sit down. These are things that the Speaker has to do. But you, the person in charge of enforcing the above-mentioned standing order, have violated this provision. Moreover, as MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, the Speaker can give an order if he or she feels the court has made the wrong call. After you said that the court can’t make a call, the Supreme Court dismissed the cases before it. The judges, probably because they wanted to avoid conflict with the legislature, threw out the cases on EPF.”

SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella: “You (Speaker) refers to a directive given by former Speaker Anura Bandaranaike in your order. However, Bandaranaike made the order after the court had given an order.”

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa: “In recent times, the government MPs have raised privilege issues and scared members of independent commissions and the court. They ignored directives on holding elections. The President also invited judges to dinner. Under the domestic debt restructuring, the workers are suffering when multi-millionaires are untouched. This is a violation of fundamental rights. People have gone before courts and the Speaker has given an order, after an MP raised a privilege issue, undermining the courts. You are acting like an agent of the Executive. You are interfering with courts. This is a dangerous situation. The separation of powers is undermined. I urge you to take your order back.”

Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) MP, Prof. G. L. Peiris: “The Constitution is clear on this. Parliament passes a motion and that can’t be directly challenged by courts. However, the fundamental rights chapter of the Constitution says there should be equality. If the government places the entire burden of domestic debt restructuring on the economically weak and leave the rich unaffected, this becomes a problem with equal treatment. This is a violation of the Constitution. The Constitution says that the Supreme Court can hear such cases. If a directive of Parliament causes unequal treatment, the court not only has the right to hear such cases, but has the responsibility to do so. Even the Court of Appeal can look at it. When an FR case is before the Supreme Court, an MP raises a privilege issue and the Speaker gives a directive within a few hours. Parliament and courts must respect each other, this is the glue that holds the Constitution. If you destroy that using privilege issues, you are destroying the foundations of the Constitution. You must immediately withdraw your directive.”

Speaker Abeywardena refused to revoke his ruling.

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US deploys two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and personnel to assist in relief measures

Published

2 mins ago

2025/12/7

Priyan

The United States has extended humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka to support nationwide relief efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused severe damage across multiple regions of Sri Lanka.

The latest round of assistance, included the deployment of two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, equipment and US Air Force personnel. The US contingent will provide vital transportation and logistics support in areas identified by the Disaster Management Centre.

A formal handover took place this afternoon (07) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with the support officially received on behalf of the Sri Lankan government by Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku and Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekara (Rtd).

The assistance was presented by the United States through Julie Chung, Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, and Lt. Col. Van Pinxteren of the United States Air Force.

As part of the support package, the United States contingent will provide logistics capacities needed to transport humanitarian supplies to affected communities in the Northern, Eastern and Central regions.

Sri Lankan officials expressed their gratitude for the timely support, which will bolster ongoing national efforts to reach displaced families and restore essential services in cyclone-affected areas.

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Government prepares Anuradhapura farmers for Maha Season

Published

10 mins ago

2025/12/7

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to prepare the farmers in the Anuradhapura District whose paddy cultivation was destroyed due to floods to re-cultivate during the upcoming Maha season.

Highlighting the need for all relevant institutions to work in proper coordination, treating this as a national necessity, the President instructed the authorities to provide compensation to farmers without delay and to ensure temporary irrigation water supply through provisional repairs.

The President further noted that the government is providing the highest amount of compensation in the country’s history for crop damages, with the expectation that cultivation activities will be commenced again promptly.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake gave these instructions this morning (07) while attending a special coordination committee meeting at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat to review the programme being implemented to restore normalcy to the lives of people affected by the disaster situation and to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure in the district.

The President instructed officials to present, before this Friday, a report detailing the number of farmers who were completely affected, the extent of damaged farmland and the required financial allocations. He emphasised that compensation must be granted only to those who are genuinely entitled and that no one should receive it unjustly.

The President stated that the government is committed to providing compensation to the farming community and directed officials to foster confidence among farmers so that they will be encouraged to resume cultivation.

The President also inquired, separately, from the relevant institutions about the measures taken for the development of the district’s infrastructure including highways, irrigation and communication networks.

The President examined the programme for reopening obstructed roads and instructed that temporary repairs be expedited to meet the public’s transportation needs until permanent road development plans are implemented.

Officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board informed the meeting that 473 out of the 580 electricity transformers damaged due to the disaster have already been restored and that full electricity supply to the district could be achieved by tomorrow.

They further stated that 49,000 water connections had been affected, of which about 99% have now been restored, while water is being supplied by bowsers to the remaining areas. They noted that total restoration of water supply is expected within the next two days. Damaged community water projects are also being restored.

Well-cleaning activities are currently being carried out with the support of the Navy and the President instructed officials to complete these tasks swiftly through community participation coordinated by Divisional Secretariats.

Discussions were also held regarding the provision of compensation for crops such as Maize, restarting cultivation, restoring the livelihoods of those engaged in animal husbandry, normalising health services and rehabilitating religious sites including damaged temples.

The floods have caused total damage to 228 houses in the district. The President instructed officials to gather accurate information on whether affected families should be resettled on the same land or relocated elsewhere and to begin identifying suitable land for resettlement.

Officials reported that all schools in the district could reopen by 16 December. The President instructed that the Rs. 15,000 allowance promised by the Treasury for schoolchildren affected by the disaster be fully distributed before 31 December and that the list of beneficiaries be prepared without delay.

The President also expressed his gratitude to government officials, the Police and the Tri-Forces for their service in providing relief to the public and restoring infrastructure.

The meeting was attended by Co-Chair of the Anuradhapura District Development Committee, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe , Anuradhapura District MPs Susantha Kumara Navaratna and Sena Nanayakkara, North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, Chief Secretary J.M.R.P. Jayasinghe, representatives of local authorities; Secretary to the Treasury Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, Anuradhapura District Secretary K.G.R. Wimalasuriya, ministry secretaries and other government officials.

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Level III landslide warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended till 1600 hrs on Monday [08]

Published

37 mins ago

2025/12/7

Priyan

The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on Monday [8th December 2025].

Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara, Pathahewaheta, Harispattuwa, Doluwa, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udunuwara, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Minipe, Udapalatha, Hatharaliyadda, Kundasale, Panvila, Medadumbara, Ududumbara, Deltota, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara and Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya, Mawanella, Aranayaka, Galigamuwa, Warakapola, Kegalle, Yatiyanthota, and Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama, Alawwa, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Laggala Pallegama, Ambanganga Korale, Ukuwela, Matale, Naula, Pallepola and Yatawatta in the Matale district.

LEVEL II AMBER warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Ella, Welimada, Haputhale, Lunugala, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella, and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, Thalawakele, Ambagamuwa Korale, Norwood, Kothmale East, Kothmale West and Nuwara Eliya, Hanguranketha, Nildandahinna, Walapane, amd Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district and Godakawela, Kahawaththa and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district have also been extended.

LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Divulapitiya and Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Bibile and Medagama inthe Monaragala district, and Nivithigala, Kaltota, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Imbulpe, Eheliyagoda, Kiriella, Balangoda, Openayake and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district