News
BASL reiterates call for abolition of Executive Presidency
‘Consensus between new PM and Opposition necessary’
Amidst continuing political turmoil with the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) declaring that it will not accept ministerial positions in the interim administration headed by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has asked newly-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to bring about a consensus among all the political parties represented in Parliament and endeavour to build a representative Government of National Unity to implement a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in the interests of the people.
The BASL has emphasised the need to establish a timeframe for introducing critical constitutional amendments proposed by the BASL, including the introduction of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and the abolition of the Executive Presidency.
The following is the text of the statement issued by Saliya Pieris, President BASL and Isuru Balapatabendi, Secretary, BASL: “The Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) notes that His Excellency the President has appointed Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe MP as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
The appointment of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers are important steps to restore economic and political stability in Sri Lanka. As such it is necessary that such appointments are made in a manner which will establish public confidence.
On the 23rd of April 2022, the BASL submitted its Proposals to His Excellency the President to restore political and economic stability in Sri Lanka. The Management Committee of the Bar Association met the President on his invitation on the 8th of May 2022 at the President’s House in order to discuss the said Proposals. On that day the President indicated broad agreement with the Proposals including the establishment of a Government of National Unity.
In the said Proposals the BASL Bar Association set out its proposals on establishing a Government of National Unity as follows:
“Establish an Interim Government of National Unity consisting of 15 Cabinet Ministers. The Prime Minister is to be a Member of Parliament who is able to establish a consensus among all political parties, recognized by the Speaker in Parliament, on the national economy and to enact necessary reforms.”
The essence of the proposal was that in the face of the present political and economic instability it was necessary to appoint a Prime Minister who is able to establish a consensus among all political parties, within Parliament, rather than merely relying on the existence of a parliamentary majority.
This proposal is fundamental to achieving the overall requirement of the Proposals which was to establish a ‘stable Government with the ability to carry out reforms, domestically, and the ability/credibility to negotiate with the IMF, other multilateral agencies, and friendly countries to help Sri Lanka get out of the economic crisis. The ability to carry out domestic reforms necessarily envisages a Government which can secure the confidence of the People.
The Executive Committee of the BASL is of the view that Mr. Wickremesinghe should at the earliest possible stage demonstrate his ability to establish a consensus among the political parties in Parliament and endeavor to build a representative Government of National Unity to implement a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in the interests of the people.
It is also imperative that the Government establishes a clear timeline to introduce critical constitutional amendments proposed by the BASL, including the introduction of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and the abolition of the Executive Presidency. In this period of tremendous uncertainty, disaffection and suffering it is vital that the new Government acts with transparency and purpose of vision so as to restore confidence among the citizens of this country and the various international and domestic actors whose assistance is required in this moment of crisis.”
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.
Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.
During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.
The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.
SJB Gampaha District MP Harshana Rajakaruna yesterday told Parliament that the Speaker’s Personal Secretary had written to the Secretary-General of Parliament seeking information on a complaint lodged with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) by a former Deputy Secretary of Parliament against the Speaker. Rajakaruna called for an immediate investigation into what he described as interference with an ongoing probe.
Raising the matter in the House, Rajakaruna said he had formally requested the Commission to initiate an inquiry into the conduct of the Speaker’s Personal Secretary, Chameera Gallage, questioning the authority under which such information had been sought.
Rajapakaruna tabled in Parliament a copy of the letter allegedly sent by Gallage to the Secretary-General requesting details of the bribery complaint.
Addressing the House, Rajakaruna said that the letter, sent two days earlier, had sought “full details” of the complaint against the Speaker. He maintained that seeking such information amounted to interference with an investigation and constituted a serious offence under the Bribery Act.
“The Speaker’s Secretary has no right to interfere with the work of the Bribery Commission. Under what law is he acting? What authority does he have? The Speaker, like everyone else, is subject to the law of the land,” Rajakaruna said, urging the Commission to take immediate action.
He noted that the Bribery Act treated the obstruction of investigations and the destruction of documents relating to such inquiries as serious offences punishable by law, and said he believed the Minister of Justice would concur.
The allegations sparked sharp reactions in the Chamber, as Opposition members called for accountability and due process in relation to the complaint against the Speaker.
By Saman Indrajith
The Ceylon Electricity Board has managed to reduce the average cost of electricity generation from Rs. 37 per unit to Rs. 29, marking a 22 percent reduction, Minister of Power and Energy Eng. Kumara Jayakody told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to an oral question raised by Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake, the Minister said that electricity tariffs cannot be reduced unless the cost of generation is brought down.
“You cannot reduce electricity tariffs without reducing the cost of generation. What we are currently doing is buying at a higher price and selling at a lower price. When we assumed office, the cost of purchasing and generating electricity was Rs. 37 per unit. We have now managed to bring it down to Rs. 29, a reduction of 22 percent.
Our target is to further reduce this to Rs. 25. Once that is achieved, we will reduce electricity tariffs by 30 percent within three years, as we promised,” Minister Jayakody said.
He added that the government has already formulated a long-term generation plan to further expand the country’s power generation capacity.
According to the Minister, key measures include increasing the absorption of renewable energy into the national grid, expanding the national transmission and distribution network, introducing renewable energy storage systems, and constructing thermal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants to replace aging facilities and meet future demand.
He also said that steps would be taken to enhance the capacity of existing hydropower plants as part of the broader strategy to ensure energy security and reduce long-term electricity costs.
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