News
Wimal alleges Ranil, Sajith, AKD pursuing IMF, India agendas
Sri Lanka’s fate compared with that of Sikkim
By Shamindra Ferdinando
National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and Chairman of the Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS) Wimal Weerawansa, MP, said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, and JVP/JJB leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP, were pursuing the same strategy to address the economic crisis.
Therefore, an alternative political grouping was required for those who opposed the medicine prescribed by the IMF to overcome the current crisis, the former Commerce and Industries Minister said.
Addressing a gathering at the Maharagama Youth Centre Auditorium on Saturday (23), the Colombo District lawmaker declared that the ULS represented the interests of the patriotic and progressive electorate.
Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, the main Opposition SJB and the JVP/JJB worshiped the IMF, and believed in the IMF remedies, MP Weerawansa called for public support for the only alternative for the people struggling to make ends meet.
Deputy Chairman of ULS and leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila, MP, its Secretary and General Secretary of the Communist Party Dr. G. Weerasinghe, the grouping’s main advisor Ven. Atureliye Rathana
Thero, MP, its Deputy Secretary Gevindu Cumaratunga and its Deputy General Secretary G. D. V. Thilakasiri of the Democratic Left Front (DLF) were present Rebel SLPP MPs, Dulas Alahapperuma, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Roshan Ranasinghe, too, addressed the gathering.
Alleging that at the behest of MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the JVP/JJB had meekly given in to the IMF dictates, MP Weerawansa said that the government was yet to rectify the main cause of the economic crisis. The former minister explained how enactment of Foreign Exchange Act No 12 of 2017 by the yahapalana administration allowed unscrupulous exporters to park export proceeds running into billions of USD overseas.
That law replaced the time-tested Exchange Control Act of 1953, MP Weerawansa said, pointing that those responsible continued with the yahapalana law at the expense of the national economy.
The former JVPer said that the incumbent government as well as the SJB and JVP/JJB had no alternative plans. Therefore, they entirely depend on the IMF’s bailout package and the current effort was to secure the third tranche of the USD 2.9 bn loan facility spread over a four-year period.
Sri Lanka has secured IMF assistance on 16 previous occasions.
Referring to Western sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian conflict, MP Weerawansa pointed out how that country faced the challenge and recorded the highest GDP among the European countries and was fifth in the world rankings.
MP Weerawansa said that ULS would soon reveal how the grouping intended to overcome the daunting economic challenges. Sri Lanka’s recovery plans wouldn’t depend on one individual but a leadership board that was to be entrusted with the overall strategy, the MP said.
The ex-minister said that both the SJB and JVP/JJB lacked appropriate strategy though they sought to deceive the public. MP Weerawansa said that SJB leader Sajith Premadasa didn’t realize the ongoing crisis couldn’t be addressed by distributing buses and making meaningless statements.
MP Weerawansa flayed the government over the ongoing privatization programme. Weerawansa said that privatization couldn’t be the panacea for all our ills. Commenting on the role played by former MP and President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake in the Indo-Lanka dialogue, MP Weerawansa questioned the incumbent government’s strategy.
The former minister explained how the ongoing projects could make Sri Lanka a part of India. Unless the people united against the government and the ongoing Indo-Lanka projects, the day New Delhi took full control was not far away, MP Weerawansa claimed.
The NFF leader compared the current situation here with that of Sikkim that became the 22nd State of India in May 1975. Weerawansa explained the circumstances India intervened in Sikkim leading to the 1975 take over. According to the MP, the ongoing high-profile Indian projects would ultimately cause Sri Lanka to lose her independence. The former Minister alleged that the government, the main Opposition and JVP/JJB cooperated with the Indian strategy, therefore the only alternative would be ULS.
MP Weerawansa claimed that the JVP/JJB had totally abandoned their original ideals and was working closely with capitalists and other interested parties.
News
Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56
Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.
He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.
Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.
He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.
Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.
Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.
In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during
Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.
After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that indictments had been filed in the Colombo High Court against former Minister and NDF Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake over a corruption allegation.
The Bribery Commission notified the court when the case, in this regard, was taken up yesterday before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
At the hearing, the CIABOC notified the court that indictments had been presented before the Colombo High Court against the accused.
Accordingly, concluding the proceedings before the Magistrate’s Court, the Magistrate ordered MP Dassanayake to appear before the High Court once a notice was issued.
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