News
GL urges AG to ensure compliance with SC recommendations before Speaker certifies Online Safety Bill
… alleges 13 mandatory recommendations discarded
by Shamindra Ferdinando
Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government hadn’t introduced the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court in respect of the Online Safety Bill, dissident SLPP National List MP Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (29) said that the certification of that Bill by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena should be subjected to sanction by Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC.
Addressing the media at his Kirula road residence, former External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris accused the government of discarding at the Committee Stage what he called 13 mandatory amendments proposed by the SC.
There hadn’t been a previous instance of a government acting in such a manner in the recent past, Prof. Peiris said, alleging that both the Constitution as well as the Standing Orders of the Parliament were brazenly violated.
Yesterday’s briefing was the first since Prof. Peiris recently switched his allegiance to the SJB.
Prof. Peiris stressed the responsibility on the part of the AG to ensure that the Bill passed by Parliament on 24 January included SC’s recommendations.
The former minister pointed out that the SC declared the Bill could be passed with a simple majority if the recommended amendments were included at the Committee Stage. While discarding the recommended amendments, the government altered the Bill further by granting authority to the executive to remove a person from the five-member Online Safety Commission, Prof. Peiris said.
Prof. Peiris added that the Opposition eagerly awaited the AG’s stand on the Online Safety Bill passed by Parliament. The Opposition lawmaker alleged that the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee hadn’t been given an opportunity to peruse the Bill before the commencement of the two-day debate (January 23 and 24). Prof. Peiris said that the Opposition expected the AG to take remedial measures against the backdrop of SC declaration that the Bill could be passed with a simple majority if clauses 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 42, 45 and 53 were amended. The SC determined that clause 56 should be passed by a special majority in Parliament.
At the end of the debate on the Second Reading of the Bill, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, MP, called for a division. Accordingly, 108 votes were cast in favour of the Bill and 62 votes were cast against it. Thus, the Second Reading of the Bill was passed by a majority of 46 votes.
Prof. Peiris said that several Opposition MPs asked for a vote on the Third Reading but Speaker Abeywardena ignored their call. The former Law Professor said that of the 57 clauses the SC found fault with over 30 therefore more than 50% of the Bill was contrary to the Constitution.
The government also thwarted another dissident SLPP member Chandima Weerakkody introducing an amendment. The Galle District MP called for a division bringing in an amendment to section 36 of the draft Bill. Accordingly, 51 votes were cast in favour of the amendment and 92 votes were cast against. Thus, the said amendment was defeated by a majority of 41 votes. The Third Reading of the Bill was then passed without a vote.
Prof. Peiris said that the threat posed by the Online Safety law should be examined taking into consideration the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill meant to suppress the Opposition. Alleging that the government was bent on crushing the Opposition in line with its overall political strategy, Prof. Peiris said that discriminatory laws were being introduced with an eye on the presidential polls expected to be held later this year.
The former Minister declared a future SJB-led government would annul the Online Safety law. Prof. Peiris said that a suitable new law would be introduced after taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders.
Prof. Peiris warned the government of dire consequences over enactment of laws against the wishes of the people as well as the international community.
Prof. Peiris pointed out that the issue at hand is Speaker Abeywardena’s continuing failure to represent the interests of the Parliament.
South Korean MPs have voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol as thousands of protesters on the streets of Seoul cheer the result
A total of 204 MPs approved the motion to impeach Yoon, who plunged the country into political turmoil with a short-lived martial law declaration last week
Yoon will be suspended while the prime minister will serve as acting president. The constitutional court now has six months to rule on the impeachment.Yoon survived an impeachment vote last weekend and has clung to power, despite mounting calls for him to step down He and and his allies are currently under investigation for insurrection charges, and a travel ban has been slapped on several of them
(BBC)
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, called on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday [13].
The meeting underscored the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between the two neighboring nations and discussions centered on the progress of numerous bilateral projects, which are currently at various stages of development.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Asoka Sapumal Ranwala resigned as Speaker of Parliament yesterday amidst a controversy over his educational qualifications. The Opposition challenged him to prove his claim that he had a doctorate.
Ranwala has said in a statement that he never misrepresented his educational qualifications but he currently lacks documentary evidence to prove his academic credentials. He insists that he was awarded a doctorate by a research institute affiliated with Waseda University in Japan and has expressed hope of presenting the degree certificate in the future.
“However, given the confusion surrounding this issue and to avoid causing embarrassment to those who trusted and voted for this government, I have decided to resign from the position of Speaker for the time being,” Ranwala has said in his statement.
His resignation followed indications that MPs from the JVP/NPP government were preparing to make a significant decision on a no-confidence motion against him, centred on the legitimacy of his academic qualifications. The motion was prompted by ongoing doubts about the authenticity of his doctoral degree, particularly in the absence of clarification.
Sources within the NPP confirmed earlier on Friday that Ranwala was expected to address the controversy with a special statement when Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday (17). However, he announced his resignation yesterday evening (13).
Kalutara District SJB MP Ajith P. Perera told the media on Thursday that either the Speaker or the JVP/NPP government must clarify the matter regarding Ranwala’s doctorate. He asserted that if the Speaker genuinely holds a valid doctorate, there would be no issue. However, the lack of response to media inquiries and the removal of degree-related information from the parliamentary website raised further concerns.
Perera added that the Speaker should provide evidence of his qualifications within two weeks, failing which the Opposition would proceed with the no-confidence motion. He also suggested that the JVP/NPP MPs would face public scrutiny in their decision to either support or oppose the motion, testing their commitment to party lines against public expectations.
The National Democratic Front (NDF), led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, proposed the establishment of a parliamentary committee to verify the academic qualifications of all MPs, including the Speaker and Cabinet Ministers. This initiative seeks to address increasing concerns about the credibility of MPs’ qualifications.
Meanwhile, the SLPP announced its intention to introduce a separate no-confidence motion against Ranwala. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, Hambantota District MP D.V. Chanaka criticised the Speaker, arguing that the issue undermines public confidence in Parliament. Chanaka further highlighted the Speaker’s responsibility as head of the Parliamentary Council and the Committee on High Offices, which oversees the verification of qualifications for key positions.
SLPP Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam also addressed the press, emphasising the importance of the Speaker’s academic qualifications in upholding the integrity of Parliament.
South Korea MPs vote to impeach president after mass protests over martial law
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