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Ex-lawmaker and one-time Rajapaksa loyalist: Galle Face youth must form an anti-bankruptcy political front

Published

3 years ago

2022/04/18

Having displayed discipline, consistency and commitment, over the past nine days and nights, the historically unprecedented, surprisingly undaunted and notably non- violent ‘People’s Struggle’ at Colombo’s ‘Galle Face Green’ by the hitherto ‘unknown youths’ of bankrupt Sri Lanka, rallying in their teeming thousands has reverberated worldwide with a clear public outcry calling upon the Rajapaksa government to quit, without sitting over the destiny of 22 million Sri Lankans any longer, former UPFA MP M.M. Zuhair said in a statement issued yesterday (17). But the forsaken trustees of the country have firmly decided to stay put, ignoring the growing cry to quit the much loved island nation that they are accused of bankrupting, the ex-MP said.

The following is the text of the statement issued by Zuhair, one-time Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Tehran under Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency: “The time has come for the youths to get ready to field an anti-bankruptcy political front at the earliest forthcoming elections and in particular the next General Elections targeting 150 out of the 225 seats in Parliament, which the suffering people will not grudge, given the history of alleged corruption and mismanagement notoriously known on both sides of the parliamentary floor.

In 1954, at the age of 31, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, a third generation immigrant from China and a law graduate from Cambridge, England, formed in down town Singapore the ‘People’s Action Party’, gloriously won the next general election and in 1959 became struggling ‘self-governing’ Singapore’s Prime Minister at the age of 35! In 1959, Singapore’s per capita GDP was US $ 400 but by 1990, when Lee Kuan Yew stepped down it grew to US $ 12,200 and by 1999 it grew to US $ 22,000! The Singapore story is the leadership given by a committed Singaporean youth in transforming a land of 640 sq km with no natural resources from third world to first!

The time has come for Sri Lanka, with immense natural resources unlike Singapore, to look for its own Lee Kuan Yew primarily at Galle face Green or at any of the sites of the peoples’ struggle in the country or elsewhere.

The greatest regret for the unknown youths would soon unfold when they realize this week that the parliamentary Opposition missed the best opportunity of moving a Vote of No Confidence on the government during the parliamentary week 5th to 8th April, which followed the Mirihana mid-night demonstrations of 31st March when what appeared to be a collapsing government virtually invited the Opposition to show 113 votes on the floor and to immediately take over the government! It was then much easier for the Opposition to cobble together the 113 votes including from the 42 frightened Pohottuwa Members who moved out of the government camp possibly fearing demonstrations outside their homes!

Meanwhile the Court order barring former Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal from leaving the country alerted danger signals. Soon thereafter the Chief Government Whip announced firmly in Parliament that the President will not resign, with ‘resistance’ becoming the better option to ‘abdication’! This was followed by the Prime Minister’s Speech to the Nation that conveyed the message that the government will go on with a newly reconstituted Cabinet. Poorly organized pro-government demonstrations also followed thereafter while Shantha Bandara from the Podujana Peramuna (SLFP) from the Kurunegala district rejoined the government, dealing a blow to the slow moving Opposition.

The new Cabinet is to be sworn in shortly. This, too, would make it more difficult for the Opposition to secure this week the required 113 votes for the Vote of No-Confidence on the government with the 41 MPs feeling more secure now than they did in the aftermath of the post 31st March Mirihana situation.

In the unlikely event of the Opposition pushing through the Vote of No-Confidence in Parliament this week, which is the first constitutional step for ousting an elected government and if they do form the government under a new Prime Minister, the next challenge will be to obtain the signatures of two thirds of the whole number of Members of Parliament, namely 150 signatures to oust the President from office under Article 38(1) (e) read with 38 (2) (b) (i) of the Constitution. Unless the President resigns amidst continuing political uncertainty and his teams’ inability to find urgent solutions to the peoples’ economic woes, the President cannot be constitutionally ousted by Parliament alone but that would require in addition the Supreme Court’s inquiry and report concurring on any of the allegations of violation of Article 38(2) by the President.

The Opposition’s failure to push through the No-Confidence vote during the April 5th to 8th parliamentary sessions , when the “iron was hot” was believed to be due to the Opposition’s lack of confidence in its own ability to solve the crushing economic threats to the country. That would leave the Galle Face youths having to confront higher stress levels over a longer unsustainable period of time.

With schools and offices reopening after the Sinhala and Tamil new year and if the government does not confront the peaceful demonstrators, Galle Face demonstrations can fizzle out within a month’s time. It is in the national interest that the demonstrators do enter into a non-violent political action front and form a new platform sooner than later to sustain the good will they have earned nationally and globally reminding their followers that immediate solutions to the economic bankruptcy will not be forthcoming both from the government as well as from the Opposition.

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“The Government is committed to provide a suitable environment for all individuals to live a happy and quality life, free from discrimination” – Prime Minister

Published

5 mins ago

2024/12/28

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya affirmed the government’s commitment to creating a suitable environment for all individuals to live a happy and quality life, free from discrimination.

Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya made this statement on 27th December, during a ceremony held in the Batariwatta, Moratuwa, to inaugurate the first phase of a housing project funded by Chinese financial assistance amounting to Rs. 22 billion. This initiative aims to enhance the living standards of low-income families.

The project envisions the construction of 1,996 houses under Chinese financial assistance. The phase inaugurated in the Batariwatta area, Moratuwa, will provide 575 houses for low-income earners, while the housing project in Kottawa will include 108 houses designated for veteran artists.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister stated:
“We extend our thanks to the Chinese government for supporting this housing project in Sri Lanka. A home is not merely a shelter; it is a space essential for a good, quality life and the security every citizen deserves. Beyond housing, the government is dedicated to stimiulating strong families and communities, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of women and children by addressing their specific needs.

Low-income earners in the suburbs face challenges, often living in unsafe and insecure conditions. The government’s vision is to provide an environment where all citizens can lead happy and quality lives, without any form of discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or other factors. We appreciate the financial assistance and support extended by the Chinese government to Sri Lanka..”

The event was attended by the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, Anura Karunathilaka; Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath; Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E. Qi ZhenHong; Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, Tang Yan Di; the Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, along with other government officials and representatives of the Chinese government.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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President expresses condolences on the passing of former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh

Published

18 mins ago

2024/12/28

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake extended his heartfelt condolences on the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh through a special message on Twitter.

The message reads as follows:

“On behalf of the people of Sri Lanka and myself, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Republic of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s family, and his countless admirers worldwide. A visionary leader, Dr. Singh’s influence transcended national boundaries. As Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, his transformative policies, like the Right to Education Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, reflected his steadfast commitment to equity and inclusivity.

A tireless advocate of international collaboration, he forged lasting alliances, contributed to coalitions like BRICS, and showcased remarkable diplomacy through achievements such as the Indo-US nuclear agreement. His humility, intellect, and dedication to public service will forever inspire future generations. May his soul find peace and be united with the divine!”

News

Service chiefs won’t get extensions; scrapping of CDS Office confirmed

Published

6 hours ago

2024/12/28

Thilina Walpola

CNI among officers to retire, new Military Int’l Chief named

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The JVP-led NPP government has decided against granting service extensions to current commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as any other officer scheduled to retire on 31 Dec., 2024, according to sources.

Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera are on their second extensions, whereas Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa is on his first service extension. There have never been a previous instance of the Army, Navy and Air Force Commanders retiring simultaneously.

Among other officers expected to retire at the end of this year is Maj. Gen. Ruwan Kulatunga, Chief of National Intelligence (CNI). Kulatunga received the appointment in the second week of June, 2019, in the wake of the Easter Sunday carnage. Kulatunga succeeded retired DIG Sisira Mendis, one of those faulted by the Supreme Court for the failure to thwart the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) terror attacks.

Sources said that Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (retd.) Aruna Jayasekera (NPP National List) had explained the government’s position with regard to service extensions to relevant officers. Unlike in the previous years, the newly retired officers were unlikely to be considered for diplomatic appointments, sources said. Ex-military chiefs who had been heading our diplomatic missions at the time of the change of government were recalled. Among the recalled were three former Navy Commanders, Admirals Jayanath Colombage (Indonesia), Ravi Wijegunaratne (Pakistan) and Nilantha Ulugetenne (Cuba). The NPP government also recalled Air Chief Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana from Nepal.

Within weeks after the general election held on 21 Nov., the NPP brought the State Intelligence Service (SIS) under DIG Dhammika Priyantha. The appointment brought the SIS under the police again. Following the 2019 presidential election, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay as head of the SIS, in place of DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, also fined by the Supreme Court for failing to thwart the NTJ attacks. The government picked DIG Priyantha in spite of him not having served the intelligence services previously.

In spite of Jayawardena being accused of negligence, in early January 2023, on the recommendation of the then IGP Chandana Wickremaratne, he was promoted to the rank of Senior DIG and appointed Senior DIG Administration. However, in July, in the run up to the presidential election, the National Police Commission (NPC) sent Jayawardena on compulsory leave pending an internal disciplinary investigation into his part in the overall intelligence failure leading to the Easter Sunday attacks.

Near simultaneous attacks claimed the lives of 270 people. More than 400 others were wounded in the suicide blasts. Among the dead were approximately 40 foreigners.

In line with the NPP’s policy, the Office of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) would be scrapped and the coordinating of the armed forces brought under direct control of the Defence Ministry, sources said. Hence incumbent CDS General Shavendra Silva, the wartime GoC of the celebrated 58 Division (formerly Task Force 1) would retire on 31 Dec., 2024.

The appointment of Brig. Deeptha Ariyasena as head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) was among the key changes effected by the new government. Several senior officers of the DMI had been moved to the Regimental Centre while the government is contemplating what one source called total overhaul of the intelligence community.

Ariyasena, who had been with the mechanized infantry, served in the East as Brigadier General Staff when Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekera functioned as the Security Forces Commander, East, in the post-war period. Ariyasena hadn’t served the intelligence services before the new appointment. Jayasekera retired in Oct. 2019 after having served the Army for over 30 years.

Political and military sources said that the NPP government’s concerns over the security apparatus needed to be addressed soon. Sources pointed out that Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Tuiyakontha and Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekera played a significant role in the NPP political campaign in the run up to the presidential and parliamentary polls and were instrumental in overseeing the changes.