News
Chief Govt. Whip: NCM gives SLPP opportunity to prove its strength
Speaker can be charged for contempt of court: Prof. Peiris
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Parliamentarian Prof. G. L. Peiris said yesterday that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena could be charged for contempt of court for disregarding Supreme Court recommendations in respect of the Online Safety Bill (OSB).
The former External Affairs Minister said the certification by the Speaker of the OSB Bill was an executive or administrative act, not a legislative act. “It couldn’t be legislative because Parliament had been prorogued at the time of certification. It is certainly a tenable position that the Speaker is guilty of contempt because he certified the enactment of provisions passed by a simple majority, in open defiance of the Supreme Court Determination that these provisions could be validly enacted only by a “special majority “, i.e. a 2/3rd majority. It is also an intentionally accepted contravention of a binding determination by the apex Court of the country.”
The dissident SLPP MP said that Opposition parties haD declared support for the SJB’s decision to move a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Speaker Abeywardena.
Former JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday pledged their support for the NCM. The Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya, comprising breakaway SLPP MPs, too, has assured its backing for the move.
Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga yesterday (27) said that the NCM would give the government an opportunity to prove that it was in control of Parliament.
Addressing the media at Kalutara after attending the District Development Council meeting, the Gampaha District SLPP heavyweight said that the government wanted an early date for debate and vote on the NCM against the Speaker.
Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.
Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.
A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.
The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.
These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.
The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.
The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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.
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