News

TNA calls for regional councils within a united Sri Lanka

Published

6 years ago

2021/01/7

Constitutional proposals

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has, in its constitutional proposals, submitted to the Expert Committee to Draft a New Constitution, called for the setting up of regional councils to devolve power within a united Sri Lanka.

The TNA proposals were submitted to the Secretary of the expert committee yesterday.

The TNA consists of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK,) People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO). The document has been signed by TNA leader, R Sampanthan, ITAK Leader, Mavai S. Senathirajah, TELO Leader, Selvam Adaikalanathan and PLOTE Leader, D. Sithadthan.

The TNA has also said that the new constitution must recognise Sinhala, Tamil and English as official languages throughout Sri Lanka and as languages of administration in the entire island.

It has called for the abolition of the executive presidency. It wants the new Constitution to provide for the creation of a ceremonial presidency. The President should be accountable to Parliament and act on the advice of Prime Minister, who should also be head of the Cabinet of Ministers, the TNA has said in its proposals.

There should be a bicameral legislature with a Chamber comprising members directly elected by the people and a second Chamber with representatives from the regions, the TNA has proposed.

Each region should have a Governor appointed by President on the advice of the Chief Minister. Such advice should be given only with the approval of the Regional Council. Some of the important subjects that the TNA wants devolved to Regional Councils include (but not limited to); land, law and order, education including tertiary education, health, housing and construction, agriculture and agrarian services, irrigation, fisheries, animal husbandry and livestock development, resettlement and rehabilitation, local government,regional public service, regional police service, religious and cultural affairs,all other socioeconomic and cultural matters, cooperatives and cooperative banks industries and taxation, central grants, international and domestic loans and grants, and foreign direct investment. (Please see page 5 for TNA proposals)

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News

Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.

In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.

Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure

News

Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/29

Priyan

Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.

Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief