News

EC Chief: Time not opportune for election; interim administration need of the hour

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/11

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Nimal Punchihewa says extremely violent public reaction to Monday’s mob attacks, on those who had been demanding the resignation of the government for over a month, is a grave warning to political parties, represented in Parliament.

In a brief interview with The Island, Attorney-at-Law Punchihewa emphasised the urgent need for political, electoral and constitutional reforms to address the issues at hand.

One-time member of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Punchihewa stressed Parliament had to fulfill its mandatory obligations.

“Financial discipline and enactment of laws are of pivotal importance. Such measures cannot be delayed further against the backdrop of widespread of violence against lawmakers. Parliament needs to take tangible measures to restore public confidence in democracy,” Punchihewa said.

Punchihewa insisted that violence couldn’t be condoned under any circumstances. Referring to acts of violence, including the setting fire to the Jaffna library on May 31 1981, and the July 1983 riots, Punchihewa said that political parties represented in Parliament should act decisively now, or face the consequences.

Asked to comment on organised attacks on the houses some lawmakers, representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the killing of Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale, at Nittambuwa, Punchihewa said that those who had instigated violence against the protesting public had never expected such a violent reaction.

Countrywide protests reflected the public mood, Punchihewa said. Those who wielded political power never realised the transformation of utter public despair, over the economic fallout, to anger, he added. Had they realised the real crisis, the government wouldn’t have allowed unprovoked attacks on protesting public, he said.

The EC Chairman noted that even if Temple Trees had planned Monday’s meeting, it should have been cancelled in view of the declaration of a State of Emergency. Political parties should take measures as quickly as possible to bring in the much-delayed reforms, Punchihewa said, underscoring the need for transparency in campaign financing and introduction of a recalling system as practiced in many countries.

Responding to another query, Punchihewa said that the EC strongly believed the time was not opportune for a general election, and even before Monday’s calamity a general election wouldn’t have been feasible. Therefore, there should be a consensus on an all-party interim mechanism to govern the country, and tangible measures had to be adopted to address economic woes with a recovery plan being put in place before an election could be conducted, Punchihewa said.

It was regrettable that public opinion had turned against the political party system soon after the celebration of the 90th anniversary of universal franchise, the EC Chief said, recalling how a group of youth representing the Galle Face protesters had explained to EC members their stand on the current political situation. They had spoken on behalf of the voiceless who really experienced the rapid economic decline due to a combination of reasons-ranging from poor economic management to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The EC chief said that perhaps the EC should explore ways and means of working with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to address the issues at hand. There was no point in denying the fact the political party system was in crisis.

Punchihewa pointed out that there had been several proposals from political parties as well as other groups, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) for resolving the crisis, and a consensus had to be reached on them fast. All stakeholders had to be flexible and ready to improve and modify proposals on the table as the country experienced the worst ever economic crisis that now threatened to disrupt supply chains, he added.

Punchihewa pointed out that no less a person than Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had recently warned of a possible food shortage. That statement made in his capacity as the Speaker should be examined along with Finance Minister Al Sabry, PC’s confession in Parliament soon after his return from Washington, where Sri Lanka appealed for immediate IMF intervention.

According to Punchihewa, the EC had submitted its proposals to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as Romesh de Silva, PC outfit that recently finalized the draft constitution. Punchihewa said that all those concerned should act fast. The BASL could play a significant role in the overall process to restore political stability, Punchihewa said, warning further delay in consensus among political parties both ion and outside parliament would encourage lawlessness.

EC Chairman said that club-wielding youth checking vehicles on Monday in many parts of the country underscored hitherto unknown danger.

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Sun directly overhead Beruwala, Gurulubadda, Rakwana, Godakawela, Udawalawe and Thanamalwila at about 12:13 noon today (06)

Published

17 hours ago

2026/04/6

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (06th) are Beruwala, Gurulubadda, Rakwana, Godakawela, Udawalawe and Thanamalwila at about 12:13 noon.

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district

Published

17 hours ago

2026/04/6

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 05 April 2026, valid for 06 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Monaragala district.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

West Asian conflict benefits China-managed H’tota Port

Published

18 hours ago

2026/04/6

Thilina Walpola

Extended yard facility, HIP (pic courtesy HIP)

The ongoing West Asia war, triggered by joint Israel-US attack on Iran on 28 Februar, has benefited the China-run Hambantota International Port (HIP).With Iran imposing restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz shipping, in retaliation for unprovoked attack, thereby choking vital shipping routes, particularly for crude oil and refined oil products, HIP situated, along the East-West shipping corridor, has received the anticipated attention.

Soon after the sinking of an unarmed Iranian frigate, just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, in India’s backyard, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar categorised HIP as a foreign military base, along with Diego Garcia, Bahrain and Djibouti, where both the US and China maintained major bases.

HIP, in a press release issued on Sunday (05), declared that the Port has significantly expanded its operational capacity, in response to a sharp surge in global shipping volumes, resulting from the West Asia conflict.

The company asserted that the developing situation reinforced its position as a key alternative hub along the East–West shipping corridor.

The port has doubled its Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) yard capacity and increased its container yard capacity by 30%, as shipping lines divert operations away from disrupted routes in search of stable and efficient alternatives.

HIP is situated just 10 nautical miles from the main East–West shipping route, allowing vessels to divert with minimal deviation while maintaining schedule integrity.

The Chinese government-owned China Merchant Port Holdings (CMPort) under controversial circumstances acquired controlling interests of the Hambantota port in 2017 during the Yahapalanaya administration. Although the Sri Lankan government repeatedly said that Sri Lanka was paid USD 1.12 bn according to the HIP website CMPort invested $974 mn in the HIP and held 85 percent of the shares.

The 2017 agreement granted CMPort a 99-year lease to develop, manage and operate the Port area. The Supreme Court dismissed a fundamental rights petition filed by lawmaker Vasudeva Nanayakkara pointing out that the original agreements pertaining to the Hambantota port had been signed in 2012 and 2013 during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as the president when he was a member of the Rajapaksa Cabinet.

The HIP press release quoted CEO of HIP Wilson Qu as having said: “What we are witnessing today is a structural shift in global shipping patterns. At HIP, we have focused on building the capacity and operational agility to respond to such changes. Our ability to scale quickly, combined with our location, allows us to support global shipping lines when reliability becomes critical. Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in infrastructure and capabilities to strengthen Hambantota’s role as a key logistics and transshipment hub in the region.”

The rise in both vehicle transshipment and container volumes has driven yard utilization levels to the highest in HIP’s history, highlighting the scale of ongoing supply chain disruptions and the port’s growing strategic importance in global trade.

To accommodate increased throughput, HIP has rapidly expanded yard space across both cargo segments, enabling it to handle higher volumes while maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing congestion. Expanding capacity within a short time frame in a live port environment presents considerable operational and technical challenges and requires significant investment. However, through close coordination across management, engineering and operational teams, HIP was able to deliver these enhancements in step with rising demand.

The HIP statement added: “The expansion reflects Hambantota International Port’s continued development as a resilient logistics platform in the Indian Ocean, as geopolitical developments reshape established maritime routes and increase demand for alternative hubs. As infrastructure scales in tandem with demand, HIP is increasingly positioned to capture a larger share of regional transshipment volumes while supporting the continuity of global supply chains.”

Amidst the continuing uncertainty caused by war and growing threat to international shipping the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) the owning group of HIP recently finalised an agreement to invest USD 108 mn to procure new container handling equipment- six quay cranes, 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) and 40 trailers, under the initial phase of the port’s Phase II container terminal development.

By Shamindra Ferdinando