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Constitutionality of bid to remove MP monk can be challenged – EC Chairman

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By Shamindra Ferdinando

Election Commission Chief Nimal Punchihewa says that National List MP Ven. Atureliye Rathana thera can move the Supreme Court against ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ decision to remove him from Parliament.

Attorney-at-law Punchihewa said that Ven. Rathana could seek Supreme Court intervention within a month after Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake received a letter from the relevant political party informing him of their decision to remove a National List MP.

Responding to The Island queries, Punchihewa explained the Constitution barred the Secretary General from taking action for a period of one month. In case, the MP monk refrained from moving the court, the Secretary General could act according to the request made by the party, he said.

According to Punchihewa, ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ has written to the Secretary General on 16 Oct with a copy to him. He said that he received a letter dated 15 Oct from that political party informing him of the decision to remove Ven. Rathana. “That letter has been copied to the Secretary General. I immediately advised the Secretary, Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya that the letter should be addressed to the Secretary General as he/she exercised the privilege to declare a vacant seat in Parliament,” lawyer Punchihewa said. “If a vacancy is created due to the resignation or removal of an MP, the Secretary General will have to bring it to our notice.”

Punchihewa served as the Director (Legal) of the EC prior to being appointed as its Chief. Punchihewa succeeded Mahinda Deshapriya. The Elections Chief explained that in case Ven Rathana thera challenged the party in court, the action sought by them would be stayed until the judiciary decided on the matter.

The new EC named on Dec 3, 2020 comprises S.B. Divaratne, M.M. Mohamad, K.P.P. Pathirana and J. Thyagarajah. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed them for a five year term in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. However, Thyagarajah recently quit the EC to receive the appointment as Governor of the Northern Province.

Asked to explain the continuing crisis over the National List of ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya,’ lawyer Punchihewa said that soon after the last parliamentary polls the then Secretary of that party, Wedinigama Wimalatissa thera wanted himself to be appointed the solitary National List member of the party.

Punchihewa said both Ven. Wimalatissa thera and Ven. Rathana thera battled for the seat. Some wanted Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara thera appointed as the National List MP of ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya.’ However, Ven. Gnanasara couldn’t have been appointed as a person not in either a district list or a National List was automatically disqualified from receiving NL slot when original appointments were made, Punchihewa said.

Recalling Ven, Gnanasara thera had been on the rejected ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ Kurunegala District list for the August 2020 general election, Punchihewa said that the EC was not aware of whatever the internal discussions regarding the appointment of Ven. Rathana, who contested the Gampaha district on ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ ticket. The party failed to win a single seat though it repeatedly vowed to obtain over a dozen seats.

Ven. Rathana thera took oaths as an MP before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on January 05, 2021 after ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ announced his appointment on Dec 18, 2020.

The Secretary General of Parliament didn’t answer his mobile phone.

Punchihewa acknowledged that two other National List appointments had been challenged in the Supreme Court. The EC Chairman was referring to public litigation activist Nagananda Kodituwakku complaining to the Supreme Court in respect of the appointment of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Basil Rajapaksa on the respective National Lists of the UNP and the SLPP.

Of the 29 National List slots, the SLPP secured 17 seats whereas the UNP managed just one.

Ven. Rathana thera couldn’t be contacted yesterday afternoon.

Having first entered Parliament from the Kalutara district on the JHU ticket at the 2004 general election Ven. Rathana thera switched allegiance to the UPFA subsequently and entered parliament from the Gampaha district on the UPFA ticket at the 2010 general election. Ven. Thera aligned himself with the UNP ahead of the 2015 presidential election and secured a UNP National List slot at the August 2015 general election. Soon thereafter, the Ven thera switched his allegiance to the then President Maithripala Sirisena but ended up with ‘Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya’ at the August 2020 general election. That party hadn’t represented parliament, provincial councils or Local Government authorities at least on one occasion prior to 2020 general election.

Punchihewa said that he sincerely wished the New Constitution would ensure clear guidelines in respect of the appointment of National List members. There couldn’t be ambiguity in this regard, Punchihewa said, adding that the country couldn’t afford to allow controversies to undermine the public faith in the Constitution and the electoral system.



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US pledges unwavering support for Sri Lanka’s Anti-Corruption Drive

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The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Mr. Donald Lu expressed the United States government’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s on-going anti-corruption initiatives as needed during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (07).

Mr. Lu stated that the US is prepared to provide financial and technical assistance to strengthen Sri Lanka’s security and economy. He also emphasized the US government’s willingness to offer technical expertise to help recover funds that were illegally taken out of the country, as part of Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption program.

The discussion highlighted the US government’s appreciation for the new administration’s prioritization of key political, economic, and social challenges. Mr. Lu reaffirmed US support for safeguarding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at the event, highlighted that Sri Lanka’s political culture significantly influences corruption and waste. He emphasized that efforts are underway to reduce these issues by fostering a new and improved political culture.

The President also spoke about initiatives to uplift rural living standards through improvements to the rural economy and efforts to establish a modern civil service by enhancing the quality of public services.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ms. Julie Chung, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Ms. Anjali Kaur, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Pacific at the U.S. Department of Treasury Mr. Robert Kaproth, USAID Mission Director Gabriel Grau and Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs Ms. Shawn Gray, among others.

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Atkinson hat-trick, Bethell 96 highlight England’s day of dominance

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Jacob Bethell gets a pat on the back after being dismissed for 96 (Cricinfo)

England have not won a Test series in New Zealand since 2007-08 but they are surely within sight of breaking that drought after a day of utter dominance at Basin Reserve. It was littered with landmarks and milestones: Gus Atkinson’s hat-trick, Jacob Bethell’s  highest first-class score, Joe Root reaching 50 in a Test innings for the 100th time. With three days left in the game, New Zealand already face being set a record fourth-innings chase.

Having wrestled their way into the ascendency on a topsy-turvy opening day, they pinned New Zealand to the canvas from the outset. Atkinson and Brydon Carse utilised what juice remained in the pitch to blow through the last five New Zealand wickets, securing a 155-run lead on first innings. Bethell and Ben Duckett then thrashed 187 runs in partnership to put England in a seemingly impregnable position just five sessions into the Test.

Bethell’s contribution was bittersweet, as he fell four runs short of a first hundred in any format. He nevertheless confirmed the range of his talent, in his second Test and batting at No. 3 for only the fourth time. He drove the scoreboard on after Zak Crawley had fallen in the second over – dismissed by Matt Henry for the fourth innings in succession – and outscored his partner during a free-flowing stand that went at more than 5 an over.

Nathan Smith bore the brunt of their initial onslaught, Bethell twice hooking him into the crowd and also proving strong on the drive. He survived when slashing Smith between keeper and slip, with Daryl Mitchell stood wide, on the way to a 52-ball half-century, and was not afraid to chance his arm as the second-wicket pair cemented England’s position.

Only on entering the 90s for the second time in his first-class career, and having copped a blow from a Will O’Rourke short ball the over before, did Bethell betray signs of nerves. A skied pull off Tim Southee landed in no-man’s land, before he nearly chopped on next ball. Four dabbed through third took him within range of a memorable Test century only to be caught behind aiming an expansive drive.

England’s lead was already past 350 and although Duckett, who was dropped by Tom Blundell down the leg side on 22, also failed to convert after a busy innings ended with a deflection on to his stumps off Southee, there was no let up for the home side after tea as Root and Harry Brook added 95 in untroubled fashion. Brook brought up his sixth 50-plus score in seven Test innings against New Zealand, before holing out off the bowling of Glenn Phillips, while Root also bobbed along to another half-century and into ratified company.

After Ollie Pope fell cheaply, Ben Stokes strode out and threw the bat for another fifty partnership from just 39 balls, suggesting that a declaration may not be far away. While New Zealand have achieved some great escapes in recent memory, not least when the man who now coaches England, Brendon McCullum, helped them to amass 680 for 8 against India at this ground a decade ago, and their pitches have a habit of flattening out, there’s no doubt they were deep in the hole.

One measure of how the day had gone for New Zealand was that their five-man attack managed to bowl zero maidens. Another was that none of their remaining batters faced more than Phillips’ 16 balls as they were steamrollered during the morning session.

Atkinson took the plaudits, having become the first man to take a Test hat-trick at Basin Reserve. It was the latest accolade in a stunning start to the 26-year-old’s Test career, less than six months on from claiming a 12-wicket haul on debut. It made him the seventh player to record a ten-for, a hundred (achieved against Sri Lanka, in fifth appearance) and a hat-trick, and in only his 10th Test – well ahead of the next-quickest, Irfan Pathan (26 matches).

Both Atkinson and Carse claimed four-fors as New Zealand collapsed inside 45 minutes of the morning session. After Kane Williamson’s 37 on day one, no other New Zealand batter made it to 20.

Brief scores:

England 280 and 378 for 5 (Joe Root 73*, Ben Stokes 35*) lead New Zealand 125 (Gus Atkinson 4-31, Brydon Carse 4-46) by 533 runs

(Cricinfo)

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The government’s aim is to bring about a new transformation in the country, grounded in research, evidence, and data. – Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the government’s commitment to reshaping the nation’s trajectory during her address at the Digital Library Conference 2024, organized by the National Science Foundation and held on Friday [6th of December] at the Colombo Medical College.

While addressing the audience the Prime Minister stated “We believe that investment in research and development is critical for the government’s development agenda. Our aim is to redirect the country onto a new path, one based on research, evidence, and data, rather than continuing in the same direction as the past 75 years.

One of the greatest challenges we’ve faced in recent years is that, particularly at the highest levels of decision-making, choices are often not informed by science, evidence, or data. This must change. Moving forward, it is essential that decision-makers and the research community collaborate more closely to ensure informed and effective governance, prime minister further added.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the National Science Foundation, Professor Saman Seneweera, Director General Dr. Sepalika Sudasinghe, Head of the National Science Library Resource Center, Manjula Karunaratne, and a group of researchers, librarians and scholars.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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