News

Efforts underway to hold PC polls soon: Dinesh

Published

4 years ago

2021/09/26

by Saman Indrajith

Leader of the House, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena says that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms wanted to hold elections for the provincial councils expeditiously.

The PSC appointed to Identify Appropriate Reforms of the Election Laws and the Electoral System and to Recommend Necessary Amendments has already made a request to the Attorney General’s Department to obtain their recommendations on the steps to be taken to hold the election at an earliest possible date, said Gunawardena who is also the chairman of the PSC.

The minister said so at a PSC meeting held at the parliamentary complex on Wednesday (22).

MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero who testified on behalf of the ‘Our Power of People Party’ (Ape Janabala Pakshaya) said that it would be appropriate to abolish the existing preferential electoral system completely. He also pointed out the need to have a Member of Parliament responsible for each electoral division.

He urged that the representation of minority parties should be ensured and a culture of ideological politics should be created in the country. He added that criteria should be formulated regarding the control of election expenses and that democratic principles should be introduced to political parties.

Speaking at the committee on behalf of the SJB, the party’s chief executive, former minister Ajith. P. Perera, said that the 20th amendment to the constitution had given power to other parties. He also pointed out that a policy of checks and balances should be implemented between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

Perera stated that there is a code of conduct for Members of Parliament and it should be implemented in practice. He also raised the need to formulate a Code of Conduct for Members of Provincial Councils and Local Government bodies.

He also said that in all electoral reforms, the right to vote should be guaranteed as a part of the sovereignty of the people and the principles of democracy should be upheld there.

Perera further said that it was very important that all elections be held freely and fairly. He also emphasized in the Committee that Parliamentary, Provincial Council and Local Government elections should be held under the Proportional Representation System.

New laws should be enacted to regulate the financial expenditure of the election campaign and to ensure the representation of youth and women, he urged; and suggested that dual citizen should be disqualified from contest elections and that a system should be set up for the proper registration of all eligible voters.

The SJB representatives pointed out the need for equal distribution of state and private media airtime between the parties contesting the elections.

MP Kabir Hashim said that there should be an election schedule in the country to ensure the right of the people to vote.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Douglas Devananda, Wimal Weerawansa, M.U.M Ali Sabry, MPs Anura Dissanayake, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, M.A Sumanthiran, Rauf Hakeem, Mano Ganesan, Madura Vithanage and Sagara Kariyawasam were also present at the meeting.

Officials from the Delimitation Commission and the Attorney General’s Department also participated in the committee. The next meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee is scheduled to be held on Sept 29, said Secretary to the Select Committee, Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera.

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President to present the 2026 Budget tomorrow (7th November) at 1.30 p.m.

Published

11 hours ago

2025/11/6

Priyan

The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 (Budget Speech) is scheduled to be presented to Parliament tomorrow (07) at 1.30 p.m. by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance.

Subsequently, the debate on the Appropriation Bill (Budget Debate) is scheduled to be held from November 8 to December 5, 2025.

The Appropriation Bill for 2026, which was presented to Parliament for the First Reading on September 26, 2025, will have its Second Reading Debate for 6 days from November 8 to 14. Accordingly, the vote on the Second Reading will be held on November 14 at 6.00 p.m.

The Committee Stage Debate on the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 will take place for 17 days, from November 15 to December 5, including 3 Saturdays. The Third Reading Vote on the Appropriation Bill will then be held on December 5 at 6.00 p.m.

During the Budget Period the Budget Debate will be held every day, including Saturdays, except for public holidays and Sundays. Also, during the Committee Stage Debate Period, Parliament is scheduled to meet at 9.30 a.m. on Mondays and at 9.00 a.m. on all other days.

Accordingly, during this period, in addition to the business under Standing Orders 22(1) to (6), time has been allocated for 5 Questions for Oral Answers and 1 Question under Standing Orders 27(2). Also, during this period, the Budget Debate is scheduled to be held until 6.00 p.m. and on all days except voting days, from 6.00 to 6.30 p.m., time will be allotted for Motions at the Adjournment Time based on a 50:50 allocation between the Government and the Opposition.

Latest News

Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Ratnapura

Published

11 hours ago

2025/11/6

Priyan

The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Ratnapura valid from 12:30 hrs on 06.11.2025 to 12:30 hrs on 07.11.2025

Accordingly,
Level II warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Ratnapura, Elapatha and Kuruwita in the Ratnapura district.

Level I warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Division and surrounding areas of Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Warakapola and Kegalle in the Kegalle district and Kiriella, Kahawaththa, Ayagama, Kalawana, Eheliyagoda, Nivithigala and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura district.

News

SJB: Govt. receiving kickbacks from cartel of food importers

Published

21 hours ago

2025/11/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rohini

The Main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has accused the NPP government of creating a cartel of food importers at the expense of local farmers.

Alleging that the politically connected, large-scale importers had access to inside information, such as imposition of duties/levies, SJB Matale District MP Rohini Kaviratne said the government had given them free rein.

Addressing a gathering, in Matale, recently, MP Kaviratne claimed that the government had changed the import polices related to food items for the benefit of a few importers. The Opposition MP alleged that the new importers were not those who are based in Pettah, or Dambulla; they were a group of deal makers whose only intension was to make money.

The MP cited the Finance Ministry’s failure to impose a Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on imported big onions on time to the alleged unholy alliance between the government and big businesses. Lawmaker Kaviratne pointed out that during the first eight months of last year, Sri Lanka imported only 73, 332 mt of big onions whereas during the same period this year big onion imports had risen to 144,551 mt.

Referring to sugar imports, the SJBer pointed out Sri Lanka brought in 223,144 mt during first six months in 2024 while this year during the same period, sugar imports rose to 343,416 mt.

Recalling the sugar tax scam alleged to have been perpetrated by the SLPP government, MP Kaviratne said that the NPP was going ahead with sordid operations while accusing all other political parties of corruption. (SF)