News
Ganesan sees nothing but crony capitalism in govt.
… says people voted to elect true leaders, but they got dealers
By Saman Indrajith
Tamil Progressive Alliance leader SJB Parliamentarian Mano Ganesan recently said that people who had voted for the SLPP expecting true leaders to develop the country had instead got a bunch of dealers.
Addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo, MP Ganesan said that prior to the presidential and general elections a political campaign led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa the people had been promised that the country would be run by professionals. “That was the main slogan of the Viyathmaga led by the President. Their message to people was that the country was rudderless and the public should vote for them so that the country would have true leaders. People believed in that and voted for them. Now, those who voted for the SLPP have realised that they were duped. They now know that they elected a government run by a bunch of dealers instead of leaders.
“The President goes around the country vowing tough action against corruption, fraud, exploitation of people and promising a better country. But his words are not matched with deeds. The government issues gazettes to control prices but big businesses carry on regardless. The aim of reviewing taxes should have been to increase government revenue or provide relief to people. The recent tax revisions did not help people and benefited only a bunch of businessmen dealers.”
He said that the country was now governed by the very same bunch of dealers. “It is no longer our SLFP politicians or senior parliamentarians in government who run this country now but some dealers. Many senior politicians have been sidelined. Take the issue of repatriating Sri Lankan workers. They make a tremendous contribution to the economy and help keep the economy afloat. Some of them even flew here during the election especially to vote for the SLPP. But today the government has allowed those migrant workers to be fleeced by the friends of a bunch of dealers in the government.”
“The dealers have become more powerful than political leaders. It is those dealers who had Ukrainian tourists brought here at the expense of the Sri Lankan expatriate workers.
SJB Kurunegala District MP JC Alawathuwala also addressed the press.
BBC reported that at least three people have died and one is missing after New Zealand’s largest city experienced its “wettest day on record” on Friday.
Auckland is said to have received 75% of its usual summer rainfall in just 15 hours.
A local state of emergency was declared as authorities managed evacuations and widespread flooding.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins thanked emergency services for their swift response to the disaster.The new prime minister travelled to Auckland, where he also expressed his condolences to the loved ones of those who died in the floods.
“The loss of life underscores the sheer scale of this weather event and how quickly it turned tragic”, he said in a news conference on Saturday afternoon.
The downpour flooded the airport, shifted houses and resulted in power cuts to homes for hours.
New Zealand’s defence forces were mobilised to assist with evacuations and emergency shelters were set up across the city.
President says cabinet agreeable to fully implementing 13 A until party leaders decide whether or not to abolish the Amendment
Parliament was prorogued from midnight Friday (27) by President Ranil Wickremesinghe under powers vested in him by Article 70 of the Constitution, parliamentary sources said on Friday.
The Department of Government Printing was due to issue the relevant notification on Friday night but it was not out as this edition went to print.However the President’ Media Division (PMD) confirmed the prorogation on Friday evening saying that President Wickremesinghe “is expected” to make a policy statement based on the decisions taken after the 75th Independence anniversary when parliament recommences on Feb.8.
A separate bulletin said that the president had informed the party leaders Conference on Reconciliation that the cabinet was agreeable to “fully implementing (the) 13th Amendment until party leaders decide whether or not to abolish the Amendment.”
Parliamentary sources explained that a prorogation which is a temporary recess of parliament, should not extend to a period of more than two months, However, such date for summoning parliament may be advanced by another presidential proclamation provided it is summoned for a date not less than three days from the date of such fresh proclamation.
Political observers believe that the prorogation is related to the president’s effort to secure as wide a consensus as possible on the National Question. They dismissed speculation that it is related to the scheduled local elections. This issue was clarified by the PMD bulletin.
When parliament is prorogued, the proclamation should notify the date of the commencement of the new session of parliament under Article 70 of the Constitution.During the prorogation the speaker continues to function and MPs retain their membership of the legislature even though they do not attend meetings of the House.
The effect of a prorogation is to suspend all current business before the House and all proceedings pending at the time are quashed except impeachments.A Bill, motion or question of the same substance cannot be introduced for a second time during the same session. However, it could be carried forward at a subsequent session after a prorogation.
“All matters which having been duly brought before parliament, have not been disposed of at the time of the prorogation, may be proceeded with during the next session,” states the paragraph (4) of article 70 of the constitution.
In the light of this constitutional provision, a prorogation does not result in an end to pending business. Thus, a pending matter may be proceeded with from that stage onwards after the commencement of the new session.
At the beginning of a new session all items of business which were in the order paper need to be re-listed, if it is desired to continue with them.At the end of a prorogation a new session begins and is ceremonially declared open by the president.
He is empowered under the constitution to make a statement of government policy at the commencement of each session of parliament and to preside at ceremonial sittings of parliament in terms of the provisions of paragraph (2) of article 33 of the constitution.The president is empowered to make a statement of government policy at the commencement of each new session. In the past, it was known as the Throne Speech which was delivered by the Governor-General.
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