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20A: Govt. to implement SC recommendations besides amendments submitted by AG

Published

6 years ago

2020/10/13

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP Chairman and Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (12) said that, in addition to amendments proposed to the 20th Amendment during the Supreme Court hearing of the petitions filed against the new piece of legislation, the government was ready to introduce additional amendments in line with the Supreme Court ruling.

Altogether 39 petitions were filed against the proposed Amendment submitted by Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC.

Addressing the media at the SLPP Office, Battaramulla, Prof. Peiris said that the government would comply with the SC recommendations to avoid a referendum. Asked to explain the SLPP’s stand as well as that of the government regarding electronic, print and social media reports on the SC ruling, Prof. Peiris said that he couldn’t comment as it was yet to be officially announced. The one-time External Affairs Minister emphasized that he couldn’t vouch for those reports as SC delivered copies of the ruling to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Prof. Peiris said that once the Speaker presented the SC ruling to parliament on Oct 20, dates could be agreed on for debate and vote on the 20th Amendment.

Authoritative ministerial sources told The Island yesterday the media reports were accurate though SC ruling shouldn’t have been in public domain until official announcement was made. Sources said that in addition to the President and the Speaker the document had been received by few high officials for ‘compliance and advice’ the President.

Well informed sources told The Island that the envelope containing the SC ruling received by the Speaker last Friday (9) was yet to be opened.

The SLPP Chairman emphasised that the government would go along with the SC ruling to secure passage of the proposed Amendment with 2/3 majority. The SC in its ruling disagreed with Attorney General Dappula de Livera PC, that the 20th Amendment in its present form could be passed with a 2/3 majority. In its ruling, four of the five judge-bench of the SC declared that four clauses required approval at a referendum. The SC ruled that restoration of presidential immunity, including denying the public right to file fundamental rights cases against the President, doing away with the President’s responsibility to ensure conditions required to conduct free and fair elections as requested by the Election Commission, dissolution of parliament one year after general election and constitutional responsibility on the part of government officers to obey instructions received from the Election Commission.

Prof. Peiris, while declining to comment on media reports pertaining to SC ruling said that there was consensus as regards the SC recommendations.

When the media pointed out that National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa and Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, had expressed serious reservations as regards the 20th Amendment, Prof. Peiris said constituent parties of the SLPP led coalition as well as its members could express views though the government expected the entire group to take a common stand in parliament at the second and third reading stage.

The SLPP Chairman stressed the pivotal responsibility of all members of the government to throw their weight behind the proposed amendment.

In addition to them, SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga, too, submitted a set of constitutional proposals on behalf of civil society organization, Yuthukama.

Asked to comment on President’s Counsel Wijeyadasa Rajapakse’s warning that the proposed 20th Amendment could be used against the incumbent President at a later stage, Prof. Peiris said that it wouldn’t be fair to take a jaundiced view of all things.

Prof. Peiris expressed confidence that the process could be brought to a successful conclusion. “We are confident of a 2/3 majority,” Prof. Peiris said the SLPP received two overwhelming mandates in Nov 2019 and Aug 2020.

The Island sought views of several experts on the leaking of the SC ruling ahead of official announcement in Parliament. Sources said that in terms of Standing Order 55(2) (c) “upon receipt of the determination of the Supreme Court it shall be announced to Parliament by the Speaker and no debate shall be permitted on such announcement”.

Sources asserted that the determination of the SC should have been announced in Parliament. The rule appeared to mean that the Speaker should have announced the determination on the first available opportunity, so that the Parliament and thereby the people would have been made aware of the determination at the earliest opportunity. “The rule does not contemplate the Speaker being empowered to announce the determination at his personal convenience or on a future day, month or year,” sources said.

A top lawyer said: “The invocation by a citizen of the constitutional jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in respect of Bills placed in the Order Paper of Parliament, for instance under Articles 120 & 121 of the

The Constitution is in the exercise of the sovereignty vested in the people under Article 3 and that people or the citizen who had exercised his constitutional right should not be deprived of his right to be made aware of the determination of the Supreme Court by the Speaker not duly announcing the determination to Parliament. A delayed announcement bypassing the earliest opportunity to make the announcement can be considered as an infringement of the people’s right to know and the citizen’s right to be duly appraised of the determination. The Supreme Court has no duty under the Constitution to disclose the determination to anyone except the President and the Speaker.”

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Cabinet Subcommittee on the Development of 25 Technical and Vocational Colleges meets under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/9

Priyan

The third meeting of the Cabinet Subcommittee appointed to oversee the development of 25 Technical and Vocational Colleges under the Department of Technical Education and Training was held today (09) at the Parliament Complex under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The meeting focused on the proposed development programme for the 25 Technical and Vocational Colleges as a key step towards expanding access to vocational education, implementing plans to strengthen infrastructure, and creating new pathways for technical and vocational education in Sri Lanka. Members held detailed discussions on the measures required to advance these objectives.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy, Anura Karunathilaka,the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Planning, Dr. Anil Jayantha, the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage, as well as senior officials from the Ministries of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Representatives of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka meet the Prime Minister

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/9

Priyan

Representatives of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday (08) at the Parliament premises.

During the discussion, the OPA representatives stated that the organization intends to establish a mechanism to provide direct professional advice to members of the public facing issues across various sectors. They also noted that OPA plans to implement special programmes to offer pre-advice and guidance through its member professional associations to people encountering issues in fields such as agriculture, construction, medicine, and law.

The Prime Minister commended the contribution made by professionals towards enhancing professional standards in the country and advancing national development. The Prime Minister further stated that the Government is ready to support efforts aimed at strengthening professionalism and fostering the sense of national service in the country.

The meeting was attended by the President of OPA, Vice President, and other office bearers of the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

District Secretaries’ Conference Chaired by the President

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/9

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Government plans to allocate a separate contingency fund for every district under the forthcoming Budget, enabling District Secretaries to carry out urgent repairs to bridges, roads and public buildings identified at District Coordination Committee meetings without having to wait for approval from the Central Government.

The President also emphasised that the Government’s foremost priority is to address the basic needs of the people without delay.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks while attending the District Secretaries’ Conference held this morning (09) at the Colombo District Secretariat.

The conference was convened with the objective of strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders to ensure the more efficient and effective delivery of public services, while promoting district-level economic development by discussing local issues and identifying appropriate solutions.

The discussions also focused on reviewing the progress of district development projects, enhancing coordination between ministries and government institutions, identifying issues at the district level, proposing practical solutions, and assigning responsibilities and follow-up actions.

It was further emphasised that, in the interest of public safety, Divisional Secretaries should prevent people from resettling in areas identified as high-risk and refrain from approving basic utility services, including electricity and water, for such locations.

The President also reviewed the progress of efforts to establish a special authority with statutory powers to manage environmentally sensitive land in the Central Hills. It was noted that the relevant draft legislation has already been prepared and that the new authority is expected to commence operations next year.

The President further stressed that resolving the housing issues faced by war-displaced communities remains a Government priority, adding that plans are in place to resettle 13,000 war-displaced families during the coming year.

He also highlighted the need to systematically implement a programme to relocate people living in areas that are repeatedly affected by floods and landslides to safe and secure housing.

The President also drew attention to housing projects that had been initiated in an unplanned manner for various reasons, including political considerations, and subsequently abandoned midway. He stated that the Government intends to conduct a rapid survey to identify only those projects that are genuinely required by the public and implement a housing assistance programme to provide financial support for the completion of those houses.

The President further emphasised the importance of carrying out housing and other construction projects in accordance with a proper planning framework. He pointed out that numerous issues had arisen as a result of unplanned construction in the Southern Province and stressed that development in the Northern and Eastern Provinces should be undertaken in line with a systematic development plan.

He also noted that, while taking public needs into consideration, the Government is focusing on releasing privately owned land currently under the control of military camps. At the same time, attention is being given to making other large tracts of land available for investment. The President further stressed that, when allocating land for cultivation, measures must be taken to safeguard forest reserves and wildlife protection zones.

Reiterating the need for comprehensive public sector reforms to deliver a high-quality public service, the President stated that plans are in place to abolish non-productive institutions in order to improve the efficiency of the public service.

He further noted that steps have already been taken to fill vacancies in essential sectors, including health and education. The President also pointed out that measures are being taken to urgently fill vacancies in the Department of the Government Analyst in order to address delays in the issuance of Government Analyst reports, which have contributed to prison overcrowding.

Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Professor Chandana Abeyratne, Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of Presidential Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Aloka Bandara, Ministry Secretaries, all District Secretaries, Heads of Departments and other senior government officials were also present.

[PMD]