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Controversy over PSC on electoral reforms amidst formulation of draft Constitution

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… can Parliament ensure two processes do not clash

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Controversy surrounds the recent appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to examine proposals pertaining to election laws and make appropriate amendments to the Constitution as a nine-member committee, appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, neared work on the formulation of a new draft Constitution.

Romesh de Silva, PC, heads the nine- member expert committee.

The first meeting of the PSC chaired by Foreign Minister and Leader of the House of Parliament Dinesh Gunawardena was held on May 17 in the House. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena named the 14-member PSC on May 5.

The PSC consists of Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Douglas Devananda, Wimal Weerawansa, Ali Sabry, Jeevan Thondaman, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, M.A. Sumanthiran, Madhura Withanage and Sagara Kariyawasam.

Those involved in the new Constitution-making process told The Island that the PSC on May 17 requested for public proposals in this regard before June, nearly four months after the Election Commission submitted its own recommendations to the nine-member committee.

The nine-member committee consists of Romesh de Silva, PC, Gamini Marapana P.C., Manohara de Silva P.C., Sanjeewa Jayawardena P.C, Samantha Ratwatte P.C, Prof. Naazima Kamardeen, Dr. A. Sarveswaran, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne and Prof. G.H. Peiris.

Those political parties that had been represented in the PSC as well as not included in the outfit conveniently refrained from at least raising the possibility of the parliamentary body making an unnecessary intervention, sources said. Asked for a clarification, sources pointed out that all political parties and others interested in making recommendations to the nine-member committee had time and the space to do so.

Sources said that the appointment of the PSC should be examined taking into consideration the nine-member committee in the process of formulating an alternative electoral system based on the submissions received.

Declaring the government was aware of the proposed alternative electoral system, sources said among those who made representations were several representatives of the government, including leader of the PSC on Electoral Reforms Dinesh Gunawardena and National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa.

Asked whether the ruling SLPP had submitted proposals to de Silva’s committee, sources said that submissions weren’t made orally or in writing . The committee report would be submitted to the head of the Cabinet who is the President, sources said. Sources pointed out that both the Chairman of the SLPP and its General Secretary and Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam had been accommodated in the PSC. Sources explained that the appointment of a PSC to propose amendments to electoral system was quite questionable when the government repeatedly declared both in the run-up to the 2019 presidential and 2020 parliamentary elections that it intended to enact a new Constitution after the passage of 20th Amendment.

The government secured an overwhelming two-thirds majority for the 20th Amendment in Oct last year.

Shan Wijetunga, Director – Department of Communication, Parliament, in a statement issued on May 19 stated that the Secretary to the PSC and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, on behalf of the Committee, has requested the public and any interested party to submit their proposals to the Committee in writing or by e-mail at sec.pscelectionreforms2021@parliament.lk .

Wijetunga quoted Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera as having said: ” If the PSC wished to obtain oral evidence from those who had made submissions, the relevant parties would be summoned to appear before the Committee in due course.”

A source pointed out a new process was being undertaken amidst an unprecedented crisis caused by the eruption of Covid-19 epidemic and at a time further restriction of Parliamentary proceedings and related activities. The General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and member of the PSC on electoral reforms Ranjith Madduma Bandara on Sunday (23) acknowledged him being in self-imposed quarantine after SJB leader Sajith Premadasa was tested Covid-19 positive.

The Island

 sought an explanation from Justice Minister Ali Sabry, PC, as regards the functioning of the nine-member committee appointed by him last year and whether the PSC would undermine the process, the Minister said that Romesh de Silva’s committee was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his recommendation. Minister Sabry said: “The nine-mmeber committee asked for a three-month extension in March and was given by the President.  Once the committee submitted the proposed draft, it will be discussed in Parliament so we get maximum possible consensus.”

Minister Sabry, who is a member of the PSC said that it had been appointed by the Speaker to exclusively look at the electoral reforms. “Hopefully, it will complement the final draft constitution rather than serving as an obstacle,” President’s Counsel Sabry said.

Other sources said that at the PSC’s first meeting held on May 17 some members had expressed concerns over the absence of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) in the committee. The SLMC and ACMC parliamentary groups comprised five and four members, respectively. Sources said that the Chairman of the PSC Minister Gunawardena pointed out that as the Muslim community was being represented there couldn’t be any issue. Both the SLMC and the ACMC contested the last general election on the SJB ticket.



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UN asks govt. to vacate ‘remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military’

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Volker Türk

Military-held land down to 9% in North and East

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, during discussions with the Sri Lankan government, stressed the importance of releasing the remaining lands still occupied and used economically by the military.

OHCHR has included updated information provided by the government on land releases in its reports to the Human Rights Council, the OHCHR said.

OHCHR team member Jeremy Laurence said so in response to The Island query regarding the HC’s call for release of land which both serving and retired officers considered unfair.

The Island posed the following question to the HC’s office: “At the conclusion of the UNHRC Chief’s visit to Sri Lanka recently, one of the issues he raised was the failure on the part of the armed forces to vacate public and private property held in the Northern and Eastern provinces. However, the military insists that approximately 91% of the total land held at the time of the conclusion of military operations, in May 2009, had been released. We would like to know whether the UNHRC Chief hadn’t been briefed by the government of Sri Lanka or the UN Mission in Colombo on the vacation of approximately 91% of the land held by the military in 2009.

The Island contacted OHCHR as suggested by the UN Mission in Colombo.

The military pointed out that of over 24,000 acres held in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi sectors in 2009, less than 2,500 acres remained in their hands. “We are down to the bare minimum. Further reductions will pose major challenges,” one retired officer said.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

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Need to attend to sick wild elephants promptly discussed at high-level meeting

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A high-level discussion on the urgent treatment of sick wild elephants was held on Monday (July 7) at the Ministry of Environment under the patronage of Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody.

Senior veterinary officers representing the Wildlife and Zoological Parks Veterinary Officers’ Association participated in the discussion alongside Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Rohitha Udawawala and Director of Veterinary Services of the Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tharaka Prasad.

The focus of the meeting was to streamline rapid response measures to treat elephants suffering from illnesses in the wild and to ensure timely access to life-saving antibiotics and medical resources.

Commenting on the need for swift intervention, Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi said:

“We cannot allow delays when it comes to the treatment of our wild elephants, especially those suffering from life-threatening conditions. These majestic creatures are an integral part of our natural heritage, and it is our duty to act fast. We are committed to providing our veterinary officers with the tools, resources, and policy support necessary to carry out this responsibility efficiently.”

Discussions also focused on identifying infected elephants promptly, administering treatment without delay, and addressing any shortages in medical supplies such as antibiotics. The officials explored avenues to ensure logistical and infrastructural support for veterinarians working in the field.

Significant attention was drawn to the existing cadre shortages within the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s veterinary and technical teams. Plans were discussed to address these gaps with the approval of the Department of Management Services and the Ministry of Public Administration.

Additionally, the need to provide field veterinarians with appropriate technical facilities and mobility support was emphasized as a key priority in enabling effective on-ground operations.

The meeting concluded with an understanding that urgent procedural and administrative steps would be taken to fast-track recruitment, supply of medication, and operational improvements necessary to protect the health of Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population.

By Ifham Nizam

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Navy seizes contraband pesticides and seeds in Puttalam and Kalpitiya

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The Navy detected a significant haul of smuggled pesticides and seeds during operations conducted in Puttalam and Kalpitiya from 20 to 30 June, 2025. The separate operations also resulted in two dinghies and a lorry also being taken into custody, Navy Headquarters said.

In a search operation on 20 June, the Northwestern Naval Command’s SLNS Vijaya inspected a suspicious lorry near Alankuda Beach, Puttalam, resulting in the vehicle, along with 32 sacks of pesticide materials and seeds suspected to have been smuggled into the country, being taken into custody.

On 28 June, during another search near Ippantivu Island, Kalpitiya, naval personnel spotted and took into custody two dinghies carrying 15 sacks of pesticide materials intended for smuggling.

It is suspected that the smugglers abandoned the contraband, along with the lorry and dinghies, due to heightened naval surveillance. The seized items were handed over to the Katunayake Customs Preventive Office for further investigation and legal action.

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