News

Controversy over PSC on electoral reforms amidst formulation of draft Constitution

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/26

Sahan Weerasooriya

… 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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News

Fast Attack Craft P 4447 recovered in successful salvage operation

Published

7 hours ago

2026/09/14

Priyan

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close.

The craft, which ran into distress during a routine patrol on 15th August 2026 off Angulana, was brought to the surface on 11th September, from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was
subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises.
The initial phase of the operation immediately following the incident focused on search and rescue. A joint effort involving the Navy, Air Force, Police, and local fishermen from Angulana
resulted in the rescue of 11 crew members. The search and rescue phase drew to a close with the recovery of the remains of the Second in Command of the craft, on 4th September.

Following the search and rescue phase, specialized Navy diving and salvage teams launched a dedicated recovery phase against rough sea conditions and underwater challenges, adhering to
strict safety protocols. The Navy’s marine, hull, electrical, and electronic engineering teams utilized specialized technical know-how and equipment to raise the vessel in stages.

Thus, the salvage operation marked an outstanding achievement attained through the professionalism, technical expertise of Navy divers, and coordinated contribution of all
engineering and technical branches of the Sri Lanka Navy. Technical support and specialized expertise were also extended by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard PLC.

News

CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.

Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.

The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.

Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.

Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.

Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.

The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.

Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.

The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.

The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.

SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.

Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

News

GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Dhammika

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.

GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.

Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.

(SF)