News
TNA, SLPP rebels battle for remaining CC slot
Consensus likely to be further delayed by House being on holiday
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Political parties are yet to reach a consensus on the appointment of a Constitutional Council member who does not represent the government, or the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) led by the Opposition.
Political sources say that a meeting chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, on 08 Dec. 08, had ended inconclusively
Responding to The Island queries, sources said that the Tamil National Alliance and Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya locked horns over that CC slot. On behalf of the TNA, Jaffna District MP M.A.
Sumanthiran has proposed Vanni district lawmaker, Dharmalingam Siddarthan, as the CC nominee, whereas Wimal Weerawansa named Jayantha Samaraweera, in the absence of Udaya Gammanpila, who hadn’t been present at the commencement of the meeting. However, Gammanpila was named as their nominee, soon after he walked in. Sources said, those present couldn’t reach a unanimous agreement though the meeting lasted over an hour at the Committee Room 01.
The Speaker’s Office said that the CC member was to be appointed, in terms of Article 41A (1) (f) of the Constitution. Accordingly, the. Speaker’s Office requested MPs, who do not represent the government, and those not affiliated with the SJB, to attend. The Speaker has warned that nominations for the said appointment wouldn’t be accepted from those not present at the meeting.
The TNA has pressed for the slot on the basis of none of the six out of seven CC members, so far appointed in ex officio capacity, or nominated, included a Tamil speaking lawmaker. However, the rebel SLPP group has declared that Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya, as well as other breakaway factions, should have the right to be represented as they no longer functioned as part of the ruling party.
In addition to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and Speaker Abeywardena, who are ex-officio members, the SLPP parliamentary group, the President and the Opposition Leader named Sagara Kariyawasam, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Kabir Hashim as CC members. Only one MP remained to be chosen whereas three civil society members are also yet to be named.
Sources pointed out that the proposal to name Jayantha Samaraweera/Udaya Gammanpila as their nominee has been seconded by Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, another rebel, though not being a member of Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya.
The other SLPP rebel group Nidahas Jathika Sabhawa has refrained from backing their colleagues’ move, sources said.
Sources said that Yuthukama leader Gevindu Cumaratunga has pointed out that since Sumanthiran worked closely with President Wickremesinghe, the President’s Counsel should have been considered the President’s nominee, instead of SLFPer Nimal Siripala de Silva. Cumaratunga also questioned the appointment of SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam as the SLPP’s nominee as he didn’t vote for the 21st Amendment that paved the way for the 10-member CC.
MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle, leader of the Women Caucus in Parliament, has pointed out the failure on the part of her colleagues to at least to nominate one woman MP.
At one point MP Sumanthiran has declared that they would walk out of the meeting. SLPP rebels found fault with the Speaker for not calling for a vote to pick the CC nominee.
Sources said that SLPP rebels, prior to the meeting, sought clarification from the Secretary General of Parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake, whether they could attend the meeting.
The appointment of 11 Independent Commissions has been held up, pending the finalization of the CC. In terms of the 21st Amendment, overwhelmingly endorsed by Parliament, in October, Independent Commissions cannot be reconstituted until the appointment of the CC.
As the Parliament wouldn’t meet till January 05, next year, the whole process could be held up, sources said.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Thursday, signalled strong solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, confirming that it is actively exploring options to provide further support for recovery and resilience beyond the existing Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, opened her remarks with heartfelt condolences:
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of Sri Lanka for the effects of the devastating cyclone. Our hearts mourn the loss of life that has taken place,” she said, extending condolences to other Asian nations also grappling with severe flooding, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
On Sri Lanka, Kozack emphasised that the IMF is closely engaging with authorities, development partners, and counterparts to assess the humanitarian, social, and economic toll of the disaster.
“Large parts of Sri Lanka have been affected by floods, and we expect economic activity to be adversely impacted, in addition to the significant human toll,” she noted.
The IMF is awaiting the completion of a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, led by Sri Lankan authorities, in collaboration with international partners, to better gauge the economic impact.
“We are continuing to support Sri Lanka’s recovery, reform, and resilience under the EFF arrangement. Our staff is looking into options to further support Sri Lanka in the recovery process,” Kozack confirmed.
She reiterated that the Board meeting, scheduled for 15 December, remains on track, following the staff-level agreement on the fifth review reached in October—prior to the cyclone.
“We will provide additional details as the assessment of economic needs and damages moves forward, and as we have more information to inform our thinking around the options,” she added.
Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir was sworn in as a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List Member of Parliament before Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (05).
His appointment follows the resignation of SJB Parliamentarian Muhammathu Ismail Muththu Mohamed, who stepped down from his position on 28 November.
The SJB subsequently nominated Thahir to fill the resulting vacancy.
Accordingly, the Election Commission issued a Gazette Extraordinary declaring Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir a Member of Parliament, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, as amended by Section 6 of the Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 35 of 1988.
With the issuance of the gazette, and the subsequent swearing-in, Thahir has officially assumed duties as a National List MP, representing the SJB.
A joint programme by the Ministry of Finance and commercial banks to provide loan facilities for new entrepreneurs will be launched in January next year, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi, told Parliament’s Ministerial Consultative Committee on 25 November.
Handunneththi said Rs 80 billion allocated in Budget 2026 for entrepreneurship loans will be channelled through the new scheme to ensure funds are distributed efficiently. A separate programme is scheduled for January to brief MPs on eligible sectors and the overall loan distribution process.
The Minister also announced the launch of a National Database for Industrialists, designed to consolidate information on all industrialists, under one system. Ministry officials told the Committee that promotional campaigns would be rolled out to encourage entrepreneurs to register, enabling easier access to government services.
Committee members also discussed the possibility of extending collateral-free loans to craftsmen registered with the National Crafts Council.
Officials from the National Paper Company Limited reported significant improvements in operations, saying monthly production at the mill had increased from 150–180 metric tons to 400 metric tons after rectifying earlier deficiencies.
Handunneththi further briefed the Committee on a new National Advisory Framework for issuing excavation permits, aimed at replacing the current ad hoc system with a more structured process. The framework is also expected to come into effect in January.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MPs, and officials from the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development.
IMF pledges additional aid to Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah destruction
Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP
Govt. to roll out loan facilities for new entrepreneurs from next month
Customs working to clear four-day cargo backlog caused by Ditwah
Maldives donates 14 container loads of canned tuna
Lanka signs USD 100M loan and USD 3M grant agreements with ADB
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