‘Far-reaching laws are being enacted without sufficient debate, consultations’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Two dissident SLPP MPs, Prof. G. L. Peiris and Gevindu Cumaratunga at separate media briefings on Monday (03) urged the SLPP parliamentary group not to throw its weight behind President Ranil Wickremesinghe efforts to enact laws inimical to the country in the run-up to the presidential poll.

In terms of the Constitution, presidential elections should be conducted in the Sept/Oct period this year.

One time External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris focused on Wickremesinghe’s move to secure parliamentary approval for the far reaching Economic Transformation Bill (ETB) while lawmaker Cumaratunga flayed the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government over what he called its indecent hurry to enact laws. The leader of Yuthukama civil society organization concentrated on the controversial Sri Lanka Electricity Bill (SEB).

Both National List MPs of the ruling party alleged that President Wickremesinghe brazenly subverted the Parliament as he pursued dictatorial agenda at the expense of over 6.9 mn people who voted for Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential poll.

Prof. Peiris recently aligned himself with the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) while Yuthukama, constituent of the Uthara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS) joined an alliance that included Dilith Jayaweera’s Mawbima Janatha Pakshaya (MJP).

Alleging that UNP leader Wickremesinghe had no mandate at all at any level, Prof. Peiris questioned the high profile bid to bring the economy under his thumb through the enactment of ETB.

Referring to the relevant sections of the ETB, the academic explained how Wickremesinghe, who couldn’t even retain his Colombo District seat at the last parliamentary election sought to create a system that would bring the economy under him. Lawmaker Peiris discussed the danger of such a ‘super structure’ beholden to the President.

Prof. Peiris said that in terms of the ETB once enacted would pave the way for President Wickremesinghe to pack half a dozen all powerful setups with his cronies. These appointments made for a period of four years could be extended for similar time, Prof. Peiris said, drawing the attention of Parliament as well as the public to what he described as an extremely dangerous situation.

With the presidential election just months away, how President Wickremesinghe could justify enactment of such far reaching laws, Prof. Peiris asked.

The former minister alleged that the President seemed to be creating the setup described as an economic Octopus in line with his agenda and was repeatedly rejected by the electorate. Under Wickremesinghe’s leadership, the UNP suffered its worst electoral defeat at the last general election when the party was reduced to just one National List slot.

Prof. Peiris said that no previous President elected with substantial votes ever resorted to Wickremesinghe-type dictatorial tactics.

Attacking the government over outsourcing of the on-arrival visa issuance process, the ex-minister said that depending on the tourist arrivals as much as USD 46 mn could be pocketed by those involved in the racket. Questioning the possibility of these funds being used for electioneering purposes, the dissident SLPPer said that the government put in place a system that allowed every foreign passport holder being charged USD 25 whereas the previous charge was USD 1.

Recalling the circumstances, Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the yahapalana Prime Minister brought in Singaporean Arjuna Mahendran as Governor of the Central Bank in early 2015, Prof. Peiris compared the on-arrival visa scam and the Treasury bond scams perpetrated in February 2015 and March 2016.

The UNP leader owed the public an explanation as he couldn’t absolve his responsibility for both developments, namely Treasury bond scams as Mahendran was his nominee and his cabinet approved a new on-arrival visa processing system.

The issue is whether funds raised through these scams were used for political campaigns.

Prof. Peiris lamented the failure on the part of successive governments to secure Mahendran’s extradition and arrest nearly a decade after the first Treasury bond scams.

Prof. Peiris lambasted the UNP leadership for repeatedly promoting postponement of presidential and parliamentary polls by two years to enable President Wickreemsinghe to overcome economic challenges.

Dismissing UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara’s call for polls postponement as something that didn’t require response, the former law Professor emphasised that the presidential poll couldn’t be put off under any circumstances.

Asked by the media, whether in case of a terrorist/extremist attack the scheduled poll could be delayed, the former minister emphasized that was not possible.

Prof. Peiris said that the problem is Wickremesinghe and his entourage had conveniently forgotten that the UNP leader had been elected President to complete the remainder of Gotabaya Rajaaksa’s term. Therefore, floating the idea of a referendum to extend his term was nothing but a futile exercise, he said.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga said that this week’s parliamentary agenda for Tuesday-Friday period proved the government was going all-out to enact laws without sufficient deliberation.

The lawmaker said that the second reading of the Women’s Empowerment Bill (Tuesday), second reading of the Sri Lanka Electricity Bill (Thursday) and second reading of the Public Debt Management Bill (Friday) were scheduled for this week. Such crucial bills shouldn’t have been passed without proper debate, MP Cumaratunga said, pointing out that only about four hours were allocated for a day’s debate while other parliamentary business took substantial time.

The first-time entrant to the parliament explained how the government planned to turn the country’s power sector upside down with the enactment of the Sri Lanka Electricity Bill. The MP pointed out that Wickremesinghe was hell-bent on creating a power sector set up not answerable to the legislature but beholden to him as the appointing authority.

MP Cumaratunga questioned the failure on the part of Premier Dinesh Gunawardena as the leader of the government parliamentary group and the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to check what was going on.

Referring to SLPP Chairman Mahinda Rajapaksa’s May 12 declaration that restructuring and privatisation process should be put on hold pending presidential poll later this year, MP Cumaratunga asked whether Premier Gunawardena and the parliamentary group could go against their leader.

If former President Rajapaksa is genuinely opposed to Wickremesinghe’s strategy contrary to the mandate received by Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019, he should ensure the SLPP parliamentary group followed his instructions.

MP Cumaratunga said that Speaker Abeywardena should ensure sufficient time for important bills that may have far reaching implications for the country. Unfortunately, the Speaker seemed to have cooperated with Wickremesinghe’s overall strategy meant to bring the national economy and all related subjects under the President’s thumb.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga said that the SJB and JVP/JJB should take up these issues vigorously as both parties declared their intention to form the next government.

The Yuthukama leader urged the SLPP not to allow Wickremesinghe to pursue his personal agenda at the expense of the country. The electorate has time and again rejected Wickremesinghe’s plans over the past few decades and he shouldn’t be allowed to achieve them in the run-up to the presidential poll.

MP Cumaratunga said that the government was in such a hurry that bills were put on the agenda even before the Supreme Court gave its verdict. Inclusion of Sri Lanka Electricity Bill in this week’s agenda is a case in point, the MP said. According to him, the SLPP was in Wickremesinghe’s grip as he sought to extend his rule.