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Speaker accused of being notorious for suspending Standing Orders
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella last Wednesday accused Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena of being notorious for suspending Standing Orders of the House.He said so when the Opposition MPs opposed taking up the new Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill for debate in Parliament without going through the relevant consultative committee stages.
Kiriella said that the bill has to go to either the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) or an advisory committee prior to being taken up in parliament.
“This we have agreed at party leaders’ meeting that every bill before their taking up for debate should go through these consultative committees and detailed reports and their data discussed at those committee meetings should be made available to the MPs. How could the MPs debate without relevant data?” Kiriella queried from the Speaker and said that the latter was known for suspending the Standing Orders to run the House.
“You have not given the COPF chairman post due to the Opposition for two years. If we had that post we would have easily predicted and prevented the present economic crisis. Had we got the chairmanship of COPF in 2020, we could have told the country of the imminent collapse of the economy. You suspended the Standing Orders and prevented us from getting the COPF chairman post for an opposition MP,” Kiriella told the Speaker.
Speaker Abeywardena: What is the point of now talking about that? There is no use of talking of something that would have happened if something else happened early. We must move ahead without wasting the time for such talks. There has been a mistake here.
Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha: When a bill is submitted to the House anyone with any problem could go before the Supreme Court. Now the Supreme Court has given its determination. As per the normal procedure, the bill should have been gone before the COPF. But party leaders met yesterday to take this bill for debate. The COPF should have taken the bill for its scrutiny this morning. The COPF can do that now and we can take the debate after that.
Speaker Abeywardena asked COPF chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva whether he could hold a meeting yesterday itself and then the bill could be taken up for debate at 4.30 pm on the same day.
Dr. De Silva said that the time was not sufficient to do the committee’s work. “We have not discussed this bill in the committee. We need time to see the content of this Bill.”
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the COPF is not a rubber stamp of government businesses.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the Minister of Finance said that he did not send the bill to the advisory committee. “You have two choices. You can take up the bill for the debate today or on Saturday. The COPF chairman wanted to discuss it. I told my secretary to furnish the COPF with necessary information, and advised the COPF to be liable to any leaks of sensitive information,” the President, adding that the bill has to be passed by this Sunday.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi departed today (06) from Air Force Base Anuradhapura concluding his State visit to Sri Lanka. The Indian Premier embarked on a tour to Sri Lanka at the invitation from President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
This visit underscores the enduring relationship encapsulated by the theme “Friendship of Centuries, Commitment to a Prosperous Future,” further solidifying the bonds between India and Sri Lanka.
This marks Prime Minister Modi’s fourth visit to Sri Lanka, which has further enhanced the economic, cultural, and historical relations between the two nations, while also reinforcing their multifaceted partnership. This visit by the Indian Prime Minister reinforces Sri Lanka’s important role in India’s “Neighbourhood First Policy” and ‘MAHASAGAR’ vision concerning diplomatic relations.
This state visit is anticipated to yield significant results on various collaborative initiatives, fostering a path towards mutual growth and development. The citizens of Sri Lanka will soon be able to witness the fruitful outcomes of these partnerships, and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit will mark a significant milestone in the government’s pursuit of sustainable development focused on the needs of the people.
Accompanying Indian Prime Minister Modi were Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and a delegation of senior officials from the Indian government.
[PMD]
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President Dissanayake and Indian PM Modi jointly commission upgraded Maho-Omanthai railway line & Maho-Anuradhapura railway signalling system
The upgraded Maho–Omanthai railway line and the newly installed Maho–Anuradhapura railway signalling system were officially commissioned by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Disanayake today (06)
The Prime Minister of India is currently visiting Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, reinforcing the longstanding bond encapsulated in the theme “Friendship of Centuries Commitment to a Prosperous Future” between the two nations.
Highlighting one of the key aspects of this visit, the two leaders participated in these inaugural ceremonies. The President and the Prime Minister of India jointly unveiled the commemorative plaque and commissioned the railway line and signalling system.
The upgraded Maho-Omanthai Railway Line project was carried out with funding through the Indian Credit Line, totalling an investment of US$ 91.27 million. The Maho–Anuradhapura railway signalling system, established as a result of President Disanayake’s recent visit to India, was funded by the Indian Government at a cost of USD 14.89 million.
[PMD]
Latest News
Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake pay homage to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, along with President Anura Kumara Disanayake paid homage to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura this morning (06) and received blessings.
Following his visit to the sacred site, Prime Minister Modi proceeded to the Udamaluwa, where he met with the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthanadhipathi and Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwarakalaviya, Most Venerable Dr. Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, for a cordial discussion.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister shared that relics of the Buddha were discovered in excavations conducted in his home state of Gujarat during the 1960s. He further stated that he would discuss with the President of Sri Lanka the possibility of exhibiting these sacred relics in Sri Lanka.
Responding to a request made by the Atamasthanadhipathi to develop Bodh Gaya as a spiritual city, Prime Minister Modi assured that he would take the necessary steps after discussions with President Disanayake and work towards making it a reality.
The Maha Sangha, led by the Atamasthanadhipathi, chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the Indian Prime Minister.
The Indian Prime Minister also left a commemorative note in the special guest book at the site. In addition, he formally declared open the newly constructed ‘Makara Thorana’ within the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi premises.
The occasion was also attended by Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya Temple Ven. Ethalawetunawewe Gnanathilaka Thera and other Atamasthana Viharadhipathi Theras, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and others.
[PMD]
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi concludes State Visit to Sri Lanka
President Dissanayake and Indian PM Modi jointly commission upgraded Maho-Omanthai railway line & Maho-Anuradhapura railway signalling system
Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake pay homage to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
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