News
Domestic debt restructuring and pension funds : JJB alleges Prez trying to influence judiciary
BASL urged to take a stand
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) has accused President Ranil Wickremesinghe of seeking to influence the judicial process in respect of a petition against domestic debt restructuring at the expense of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and the Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF).
Addressing the media at the JJB office in Colombo, Attorneys-at-Law Sunil Watagala, Upul Kumarapperuma and J. M. Wijebandara said President Wickremesinghe had intervened in a matter before the Supreme Court.
The JJB lawyers found fault with the President’s declaration that he wouldn’t, under any circumstances, accept advice, or directives, from anyone, other than Parliament, regarding the domestic debt-restructuring.
President Wickremesinghe said so at the 29th AGM of the Coconut Growers’ Association. Watagala described the President’s declaration as an attempt to browbeat the judiciary.
The Supreme Court on 27 July announced that the JJB petition would be considered on 27 Aug. Watagala filed the petition on behalf of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union, its President former MP Wasantha Samarasinghe, and six others.
Wickremesinghe had misinterpreted the relevant sections of the Constitution to pursue an agenda taking advantage of a particular section that dealt with how legislative power of people should be exercised through Parliament, Watagala claimed, stressing that the people’s sovereignty was exercised by the executive, legislature and judiciary.
Commenting on the domestic debt-restructuring process implemented in terms of an agreement with the IMF, Watagala alleged the whole process was contrary to parliamentary Acts pertaining to EPF and ETF as well as violation of fundamental rights, enshrined in the Constitution.
Watagala said that during the JRJ administration, ruffians pelted stones at some judges’ residences. President Mahinda Rajapaksa had caused Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake to be impeached, he said, pointing out that such acts never helped the executive to attain the desired power, the JVPer said.
NPP Parliamentarian Asoka Ranwala who was appointed the 22nd Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, on 21st November has resigned from his position today [13], in the wake of the controversy surrounding his educational qualifications.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially appointed members to the Port City Economic Commission.
Accordingly Harsha Amarasekera, President’s Counsel, has been appointed as the Chairman while Damien Amal Cabraal, Mohan Ray Abeywardena, Sanjaya Kulatunga, and Dr. Harsha Subasinghe were appointed as members of the Port City Economic Commission
The official letters of appointment were handed over to the members by the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (13).
“We will not allow the trust the people have placed in us to be undermined in any way,” stated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting with the heads of state media today (13).
He further emphasised, “Regardless of their status in government, if mistakes are made, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
The President further explained:
“For more than seven decades, the people of this nation have built and dismantled various governments. For the first time, we stand with a profound understanding of the historic mandate entrusted to us and the National People’s Power on two occasions.
The people placed their faith in the National People’s Power (NPP) government, hoping for a standardised and stable country. We will not tarnish that extraordinary trust, even by the slightest misconduct.
Simply put, our government is not here to shield anyone who errs, for any reason. Be it within the broader framework of the country or within our administration, anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will face consequences. We will not hesitate to act decisively and at the right time. In essence, our government will not shield anyone who makes a mistake, regardless of the reason. Whether the mistake occurs within the country or at any level within our government, we will not hesitate to take decisive action. Every necessary step will be taken at the appropriate time without delay.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the trust placed in them by the people, who have endured decades of deception. He pledged to work tirelessly to build a better nation.
The Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Director-General of Government Information, Harsha Bandara, and the heads of state media were present at the meeting.
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