News
2020 General Election – SLPP confident of securing majority
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The SLPP was preparing to form the next government, party sources said, adding that a two-thirds majority was difficult to achieve. The SLPP sought a two-thirds majority to amend or do away with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in 2015.
Political parties had secured working majorities in Parliament only twice since the introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) system in 1989, sources said.
President Ranasinghe Premadasa secured a simple majority at the 1989 poll and the UPFA led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa obtained 144 seats at the 2010 general election.
SLPP strategist Basil Rajapaksa has said in a newspaper interview that if his party couldn’t obtain a two-thirds majority, talks will be held with other parties.
Countrywide counting of ballot papers is scheduled to commence at 7 am today (6).
Of the 225 parliament members, 29 are appointed through the National List.
Political sources were of the opinion that the SJB would emerge as the main Opposition at the expense of the UNP. The last parliament was represented by 106 UNP lawmakers.
Two of the SLPP constituents, the National Freedom Front (NFF) and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) in the run-up to August 5 poll declared that they wouldn’t be part of the government in case an agreement was sought with extremist elements to secure a two-thirds majority.
A civil society grouping that campaigned against the SLPP effort to do away with the 19th Amendment yesterday told The Island that the new government’s conduct would largely depend on the margin of victory at the August 5 poll. Spokesperson Gamini Viyangoda said that in case the SLPP managed to secure as many as 130 seats, it would aggressively push for crossovers. However, the situation would be different if it obtained 30 seats short of a two-thirds majority, Viyangoda said.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in terms of the powers vested in him by the Constitution and the Parliamentary Election Act, has summoned the new parliament on August 20.
In terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, President Rajapaksa has to restrict the number of Cabinet ministers to 30 unless a consensus could be reached with political party/parties on the formation of a National Government.
The 19th Amendment also deprives the President of an opportunity to hold any ministerial portfolio. President Rajapaksa refrained from appointing defence minister in the interim government following the last presidential poll.
Power sector workers shouldn’t be granted year-end bonuses
Leader of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) and former Power Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that CEB workers shouldn’t be granted year end/Christmas bonuses as they had not contributed to the much favourable current financial status of that state-owned enterprise.
Ex-parliamentarian Ranawaka said that the CEB had earned massive profits solely by implementing extremely unfair tariff structure, therefore workers shouldn’t be paid bonuses.
The former Minister was addressing the media at the EJP Colombo office. Referring to official records, the EJP leader said that the CEB had earned a profit of Rs. 6161 mn in 2023 and also saved Rs. 36 bn. So far this year (January to November), the CEB had recorded Rs. 263 bn profit but the government continued to fleece consumers.
Ranawaka also questioned the failure on the part of the government to provide electricity consumers relief as decided by the Cabinet during the previous government that there would be quarterly revision of pricing formula.
Ranawaka said that the government should explain why it couldn’t decrease fuel prices by a significant amount. The NPP administration should at least admit that it couldn’t do away with the current unbearable tax regime. The ex-parliamentarian asked the NPP to acknowledge that the government feared collapse in case of abolition of heavy taxes on fuel.
The ex-Minister challenged the NPP to prove accusations that had been directed at ministers of previous governments without propagating allegations. According to Ranawaka, both diesel and petrol prices remained high as the government levied Rs 50 and 72 on diesel and petrol, respectively, in addition to 18% VAT (Value Added Tax).
Ranawaka pointed out that in addition to Ceypetco, IOC and Sinopec had been levying taxes heavily with diesel (Rs 88-94) and petrol (Rs 110-117) imports per litre (SF)
A person who had been apprehended by protesting Development Officers during a noisy demonstration outside the Education Ministry at Isurupaya and handed over to police was subsequently identified as a member of the Military Intelligence.
Police said that those demanding they be made permanent in the teaching service alleged that the apprehended man allegedly caused injuries to policemen deployed at the scene.
A Sub-Inspector of Police (SI) and two constables were injured. (HR)
Muhammathu Saali Naleem was sworn in as a member of the Tenth Parliament yesterday before Speaker Dr. Asoka Ranwala.
Following the oath taking, Naleem signed the Members’ Roll in the presence of Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, marking his formal induction into the legislative body. Naleem was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament, representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).
The inaugural session of the Tenth Parliament took place on November 21st, 2024, with members taking their oaths the following day. On November 22nd, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification confirming Naleem’s appointment to the National List of the SLMC, paving the way for his oath-taking ceremony yesterday.
Before entering Parliament, Naleem served as the Chairman of the Eravur Urban Council, bringing valuable local governance experience to his new role as a lawmaker.
Jaker, Taijul and Rana script Bangladesh’s first win in West Indies since 2009
Afghan women ‘banned from midwife courses’ in latest blow to rights
South Korea president backs down from martial law order after MPs vote to block it
-
News6 days agoDialog Smart Home Celebrates Continued Partnership as Gold Sponsor for Kadella 2024
-
Editorial4 days agoGreed for diplomatic appointments
-
Business7 days agoCurrent deflation situation would not adversely impact economy – CBSL Governor
-
News7 days agoFirst-ever floating solar photovoltaic power plants operational
-
News3 days agoAKD gladdens Ranil’s heart
-
Business3 days agoCentral Bank aware of upside and downside risks to its inflation projections
-
News6 days agoEx-Northern Governor: Deployments prerogative of armed forces
-
Editorial7 days agoShadow education in spotlight