News
Executive presidency needed to deal with terrorism? Balderdash says Eran
SJB MP Eran Wickremaratne told parliament lon Thursday that the argument that the executive presidency was needed to face any terrorist threats was untenable.Speaking in the debate on 22nd Constitutional amendment, Wickremaratne said: “Certain people argue that terrorism cannot be combated without an executive presidency. I do not know who put forward such a weak argument for the executive presidency. During the 1971 insurgency, there was no executive president and Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike crushed it using her prime misterial powers.
“The president has the powers as determined by the judiciary. He holds the ministry of defence. But we say that we don’t want to specifically mention that the president is not precluded from assigning any subject he wishes. The 22nd amendment clarifies what the presidential powers are. The deletion of this provision in no way alters the powers of the president.”
The MP urged that this argument should be viewed in the context of law and political theory. Under the Westminster system the prime minister can hold any office but a British PM holding defence, finance or some other ministry was unheard of. The head of the cabinet of ministers is a chief executive officer who has the right to appoint ministers, to change ministers to change subjects and assign subjects. But in Sri Lanka the CEO of the cabinet is the president of the country. Therefore the president of the country doesn’t have to assign to himself any subject but should assign them to others. It is like being the monitor in the class. The monitor makes sure the responsibilities tasked to different people are carried out and evaluate their performances.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integrity to publish the Anti Corruption (Assets and Liabilities Statements) Orders 2025 prepared as per provisions of Anti Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 in the gazette notification and, forward those orders to the Parliament afterwards.
It was decided at the cabinet meeting held on 18-12-2024 to appoint an officers’ committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the Prime Minister for submission of a report after reviewing non-commercial
institutions owned by the government. The appointed committee has already reviewed 160 institutions, and it has been decided to obtain the assistance of a subcommittee comprising the members in the field for reviewing 36 higher education centers, including the universities.
The following recommendations have been submitted by classifying 124 institutions under 09 categories, except this institution.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister to implement the aforesaid recommendations.
The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 03 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted in the northern sea area off the Delft Island, Jaffna on the night of 17 Mar 25.
Taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen, the Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, trespassing into island waters.
The seized boat and the three Indian fishermen were brought to the KKS Harbour and they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings
Anti Corruption (Assets and Liabilities Statements) Orders 2025 to be Gazetted
Cabinet nod to review report on non-commercial institutions owned by the Government
Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in Northern waters
-
Foreign News3 days agoSearch continues in Dominican Republic for missing student Sudiksha Konanki
-
Features5 days agoRichard de Zoysa at 67
-
News6 days agoAlfred Duraiappa’s relative killed in Canada shooting
-
Midweek Review6 days agoRanil in Head-to-Head controversy
-
Features2 days agoThe Royal-Thomian and its Timeless Charm
-
Features5 days agoSL Navy helping save kidneys
-
News3 days agoDPMC unveils brand-new Bajaj three-wheeler
-
Features2 days ago‘Thomia’: Richard Simon’s Masterpiece