News
Yusuf says his stand on 19 A never an issue for CC ire
‘All CC members enjoy equal rights’
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Constitutional Council member Javid Yusuf said yesterday that the Constitutional Council (CC) had not made an issue of his call for taking a stand on the much-debated 19th Amendment to the Constitution on a civil society platform in the run-up to the Aug.5 general election.
Attorney-at-law Yusuf said so in response to a query raised by The Island.
Outgoing Chairman of the CC and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya chaired its final meeting on August 3 – two days before the election, at the Speaker’s official residence.
Asked whether the CC had taken up for discussion his declaration against the moves to do away with the 19th Amendment at its last meeting or the outgoing Chairman raised it with him on some other occasion, Yusuf said: “The answer to both questions is in the negative.”
Addressing a civil society gathering at the New Town Hall, on July 8, Yusuf declared his strong opposition to the high-profile campaign by the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to abolish the 19th Amendment enacted at the onset of the yahapalana administration.
Yusuf was among three civil society members of the 10-member CC. Of the seven other members, the Speaker, Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader held ex-officio positions.
A member of the now defunct CC told The Island that Yusuf, in his capacity as a member of the apex body couldn’t be faulted for taking a stand on the 19th issue as Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, in spite of him being a CC member, did the same.
The former pointed out that except for the then Chairman Jayasuriya, six of his parliamentary colleagues represented in the CC either backed moves to abolish the 19th Amendment or opposed the SLPP project.
In spite of the SLPP making unprecedented electoral gains at the commencement of the releasing 2020 general election results, civil society grouping, ‘Freedom: People’s Collective’ that campaigned for the continuance of the 19th Amendment still believed the required two-thirds majority couldn’t be achieved by the ruling coalition.
Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, while acknowledging a comfortable victory for the ruling party at the 2020 General Election said that two-thirds was impossible under the Proportional Representation system. The academic who appeared on the platform of ‘Freedom: People’s Collective’ with Yusuf told The Island that a two-thirds was beyond the SLPP’s capability.
Meanwhile, UNP Colombo District candidate Oshala Herath yesterday told The Island that he was quite disappointed by the failure on the part of the CC at least to make a reference to serious allegation he made to the then Chairman himself as regards the irregularities in the registration of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB). The CC couldn’t under any circumstance absolve itself of the responsibility for the conduct of the Election Commission.
Herath pointed out that the CC and the former Speaker commended the EC without taking into consideration serious accusations directed at the latter over its conduct. Herath said that he moved the Supreme Court against the SJB registration as the EC in no uncertain terms confirmed irregularities taking place in the process. The civil society activist vowed to go ahead with his campaign regardless of the heavy defeat suffered by the UNP.
Herath lambasted the poll monitors for remaining silent on what was going on. They complained, he said about the display of propaganda and campaign advertisement on social media whereas far bigger irregularities took place at the very place responsible for managing the parliamentary election, Herath said.
The CC will meet again after the new parliament begins sittings on Aug 20.
Herath alleged that all political parties to varying degrees cooperated with the EC.
Approval has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 08.06.2026 to prepare a draft bill for restructuring Sri Lanka Cricket.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated Sri Lanka draft bill providing legal provisions for the administration of Sri
Lanka Cricket, control, regulation, promotion, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for the development and administration, through the concepts of better governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and providing equal opportunities for the betterment of the cricket sport, establishment of Sri Lanka Cricket for securing the wellbeing of all participants and securing cricket from corruption and other mal practices.
Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the said draft bill. Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been received for the resolution furnished by the Minister of
Youth Affairs and Sports to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation performs vitally important functions such as minimizing the risk of inundation in urban and lowland areas, maintaining drainage systems efficiently, carrying out urgent operations during inundation events, and maintaining canals.
The need to strengthen the capacity of the corporation’s internal
operations has been identified by the corporation to perform the aforementioned functions efficiently and expeditiously.
The corporation has planned to purchase small -scale machinery that can be used to clean small canals, which significantly contribute to urban inundation.
The General Treasury has agreed to grant 625 million rupees as an equity contribution for purchasing the relevant machinery.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to purchase the relevant machinery by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, following formal procurement procedures at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,233
million, utilizing the aforementioned amount granted by the General Treasury and the funds of the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation.
News
Cabinet approval for Project to Build Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for families resettled at the at Kalinga Mawatha, housing scheme
Implementation of Project for Building Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for the Families Resettled at the Housing Scheme at Kalinga Mawatha, Colombo 05, Constructed under the Urban Regeneration Project
The housing scheme at Kalinga Mawatha, Colombo 05 has comprised of 528 houses and 384 of which are occupied by families relocated from underprivileged urban settlements.
Although, they have obtained permanent houses, it has been observed that these residents are encountering various complex social- economic challenges due to changing their traditional life style.
Therefore, the Agromart Outreach Foundation has submitted a project proposal to implement a project under multilateral involvement for empowering the aforementioned families.
Under this project, it is planned to implement a relevant low-
income women’s empowerment project within three years, covering four primary sections : Needs Assessment, Economic Transformation, Holistic Family Support, and Sustainable
Integration .
The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs will provide the necessary policy guidance and administrative sponsorship, while the Agromart Outreach Foundation will provide technical expertise and funds for the execution of the project.
The Urban Development Authority will intervene as the facilitating partner authority.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to implement the proposed project and sign the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and the Agromart Outreach Foundation.
Sri Lanka Cricket Draft Bill to be gazetted
Cabinet approves purchase of machinery for the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation
Cabinet approval for Project to Build Secure, Skilled, and Empowered Community for families resettled at the at Kalinga Mawatha, housing scheme
Appointment of Cabinet Sub-Committee for the Organization of 79th Independence Day Commemoration
Establishment of New Management Framework for the Dr. Nevil Fernando Hospital
Will Jacks five-for seals comfortable England defence of 265
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