News
Eran: 20A heavy blow to democracy
SJB MP Eran Wickremaratne said yesterday that the proposed 20th Amendment contained provisions which could deprive the citizens of their right to be heard in the lawmaking process.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, MP Wickremaratne said that the proposed amendment sought to reduce the period of time a bill had to be made accessible to the public by being published in the gazette, before it could be placed on the order paper of Parliament from 14 to 7 days.
“It is Parliament that makes laws for a country. In some countries such as India and the US there are two chambers. To become a law, a bill should be passed by both chambers. So, people there have ample opportunities to question any new law. They could raise their concerns at the draft stage, at parliament stage and in some countries even after the bill is passed by parliament by going before the courts. In our country when the bill is passed by Parliament it becomes law. There is only one opportunity, which is during the draft stage. The procedure here is that the government gazettes the bill and after two weeks it is presented to Parliament for the
first reading. Thereafter there are 14 days for people to go before courts to question the constitutionality of the bill. The 20th Amendment seeks to remove this opportunity too. The government is trying to reintroduce the urgent bills on the pretext of national importance. The President could ask the court to give its opinion within 24 hours. The next day it could be presented in parliament and on the same evening it could be passed.”
Wickramaratne said that the proposed amendment sought to impose limitations on overly broad committee stage amendments to draft bills. The 20th amendment would allow the President to refer to the Supreme Court directly any bill certified by the Cabinet of Ministers as ‘urgent in the national interest’. The Supreme Court is then tasked to decide on the Constitutionality of the Bill within 24 hours or 72 hours depending on the instructions of the President There is no requirement to gazette “urgent bills”. This may result in a situation where citizens might not even know the contents of such Bills before it is passed by Parliament. “Citizens have no right to be heard in such proceedings. Currently, the Supreme Court can decide whether to allow a person to be heard “as may appear to the court to be necessary. The 20th amendment would change this.”
News
Some VIP security units disbanded, special ‘motivation incentive allowance’ abolished, with some exceptions
Defence Secy. assures regular entitlements won’t be curtailed
Defence Secretary retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyakontha has assured the armed forces that contrary to claims, reports and speculation, the NPP government will not curtail various entitlements provided to them.
The declaration was made at the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Headquarters at the Defence Headquarters Complex, Pelawatte, on Monday (Oct 07).
AVM Thuyakontha, who was in the centre of controversy in the run-up to the presidential election over his support for Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s candidature and blacklisted by the SLAF, visited several divisions of Air Force HQ accompanied by the Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa and other senior officers.
Military Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Padman de Costa also joined the Defence Secretary on his visit to the Air Force HQ.
During the war, Thuyakontha served as the Commanding Officer of the famed 09 Squadron consisting of Mi-24 helicopter gunships.
AVM Thuyakontha reiterated the government’s commitment to the general welfare of the armed forces.
However, the government has declared that what is called ‘motivation incentive allowance’ paid to security forces personnel attached to security units of former VIPs was stopped from Sept. 22, the day after the presidential election.
The Defence Ministry has informed the Army, Navy and Air Force commanders that there was no requirement for ‘motivation incentive allowance’ as the provision of such security has been discontinued.
According to the Defence Ministry, only security units attached to the Chief of Defence Staff, three service commanders and former presidents would continue to receive the special allowance. (SF)
The SLAF will officially take delivery of Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, donated by the United States at the Katunayake airbase.
The US Embassy in Colombo said that funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity programme was part of a long-term collaboration with the Sri Lanka Air Force.
“This advanced aircraft is designed to enhance Sri Lanka’s capabilities in search and rescue operations, drug interdiction, and combating trafficking and smuggling. It will also significantly improve the country’s maritime surveillance operations while reinforcing U.S.-Sri Lanka defense cooperation,” the Embassy said.
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is equipped with cutting-edge technology to boost Sri Lanka’s ability to patrol its waters and address maritime threats.
The aircraft would be assigned to the Number 03 Maritime Squadron based in China Bay, Trincomalee. The squadron comprises Indian and American surveillance aircraft and would be joined before end of this year by an aircraft donated by Australia.
– South Korean envoy
South Korean Ambassador Miyon Lee has assured President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of their readiness to resume investments here.
A statement issued by ROK Embassy in Colombo quoted Ambassador Lee as having reaffirmed willingness among Korean companies to recommence investments in Sri Lanka and expressed expectations on Sri Lanka’s commitment towards maintaining transparency and streamlined policies to attract Foreign Direct Investment for the country.
Ambassador Lee discussed the issue when she paid a courtesy call on President Dissanayake yesterday (09) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the meeting, Ambassador Lee congratulated President Dissanayake on his inauguration and also conveyed best wishes from President Yoon Suk Yeol and his expectations to bolster the relationship between the two countries under the new leadership.
Ambassador Miyon Lee expressed the Korean government’s unwavering support to Sri Lanka with the continuation of people-to-people exchanges, cooperation in education, health and various other sectors. While expressing Korea’s intention to collaborate on digitalization, climatic change initiatives and in the renewable energy sector, she elaborated the role of the Korean government agencies such as KOICA, KOFIH and Saemaul Foundation working in Sri Lanka and called for Sri Lankan government’s continued support for various activities steered by these agencies in this country.
In line with the commitments set out by the International Monetary Fund, the Ambassador wished Sri Lanka for a successful Debt Restructuring Programme and emphasized the commitments by Korea Exim Bank to renew the framework agreement for loan projects to Sri Lanka.
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