News
CPC proudly marks its centenary today
At a time when the Global South has come to realise the importance of China as a reliable partner in times of crisis, the only political party in the world that held state power continuously for 70 years and more, the Communist Party of China (CPC) marks its centenary today, President of the Sri Lanka – China Friendship Association (SLCFA), Attorney-at-law, Ananda Goonatilleke said.
“Within seven decades after the victory of the Chinese Revolution and establishing of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the CPC has eradicated extreme poverty, made China a major world power, and marked its brilliance over the Moon and the Mars beyond. China has achieved these gigantic successes only because the CPC has always followed the scientific dialectical guidance of Marxism – Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and proved to the world an alternative development model. Even in the struggle against the worse pandemic the humanity ever faced, the Covid-19, China led by the CPC, is doing everything possible to save the people of the world and the Global South,” he said.
For people who are concerned about political, diplomatic, economic, social, scientific, and technological development in the contemporary world, China led by the CPC appears invincible, Goonatilleke said adding that this is a reason for jubilation for the Global South, the oppressed people and the poor countries and also a reason to fear for imperialist and hegemonic powers. The reason why the CPC has achieved these victories is because the Communist Party of China follows an ideological path that scientifically manages contradictions internally and internationally.
“This century undoubtedly will be an era in human history where “the East Wind prevails over the West Wind.” As long as the Communist Party of China follows the path guided by Marxism – Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, it will be able to manage the contradictions of this transitional period, where the balance of power shifts from the West to the East,” Goonatilleke added.
By Priyan de Silva
The Election Commission (ECSL) has opposed a move by the government to appoint representatives of the Chairpersons of the Regional Development Committee to monitor local government institutions.
ECSL Chairman Nimal G. Punchihewa told The Island that the government had informed the ECSL of its plan to appoint representatives of the Chairpersons of the Regional Development Committee to monitor the local government bodies and the ECSL had decided to write to the Ministry of Local Government opposing the move, he said. A Chairman of a regional development committee ESD a representative of a particular political party and it would be unfair by other parties for such appointments to be made, the EC Chairman said.
Punchihewa said that the administration of local government institutions could be done through Municipal Commissioners and Divisional Secretaries.Many political parties had complained against the government move, he said.
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP would file a fresh application before the Supreme Court against the government for not holding the local council polls, JVP MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday.Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, Herath said that his party had ascertained fresh information by invoking the Right to Information Act about the funds needed for the holding of the elections and his party would file another fundamental rights case against those responsible for conducting elections.
“The LG polls were to be held on 09 March. They were postponed until 25 April, and later they were put off indefinitely. The President appoints Governors to the provinces and the local councils are under them. Now, he says no party commands the support of 50 percent of voters.
Is this reason why he is not holding elections? His claim that there are no funds for elections is not acceptable. The Election Commission (EC) has, in a letter to the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, asked for Rs 1,100 million in installments for conducting local government elections. The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, on 07 March, informed
the EC that the latter’s request had been referred to the Minister of Finance on the same day. But so far the money has not been released. As per a report released by the Treasury, the government revenue was Rs 177,900 million in January this year alone. Of that amount, Rs 156,760 was allocated to government institutions. The Treasury has Rs 21,410 million. In February, the government revenue was at Rs. 271,750 million and of that Rs. 208,620 million was spent. The balance was Rs 63,130 million. In January and February, the Treasury had Rs 84,270 million. These figures have been officially confirmed by a Deputy Treasury Secretary. The EC is seeking only Rs 2,460 million for elections. So, the claim that there is no money for elections is false as per official records. We will submit this information to the Supreme Court when we file a fresh application. We will prove that the government has lied to people,” Herath said.
SJB mayoral candidate for Colombo Municipal Council Mujibur Rahuman alleges that President Ranil Wickremeisnghe has violated election laws by appointing UNP’s mayoral candidate Rosy Senanayake as the Presidential Advisor on Local Government.
Participating in a talk show hosted by a private TV channel, Rahuman said that Senanayake was a candidate for the delayed local government polls. “She has submitted nominations for the Colombo Municipal Council from the UNP list. It is illegal to appoint a candidate to such a post pending an election. The local council polls have not yet been cancelled and cases pertaining to the holding of elections are in progress,” he said, adding that of all the posts the local government candidate had been given the post of Presidential Advisor on Local Governance.
“More than three months have lapsed since Senanayake stepped down from the Colombo Mayor post, but she is still occupying the Mayor’s Residence. The President says that he is implementing the system change demanded by people. The change he is actually doing is giving appointments to his cronies. Is it the change the people expected,” Rahuman queried.
EC opposes govt. move to appointment its henchmen to monitor local councils
JVP says govt. has enough funds for elections
Rosy’s appointment violative of election laws – Mujibur
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