News
NPC: Proposed Constitutional Council should reflect Lanka’s plural character
The following is the text of the statement issued by NPC executive director Dr. Jehan Perera yesterday: “The restoration of the Constitutional Council has been the most positive feature of the 21st Amendment to the constitution which repealed the 20th Amendment that over-concentrated power in the executive presidency. The constitutional council is meant to be a politically bipartisan institution that has members of the government and opposition together with politically non-partisan members of civil society. The positive expectation is that the constitutional council will contribute to the strengthening of the state and its agencies to act in the best interests of the country.
However, the manner of appointment of the three members who will represent civil society is a cause for concern. The procedure that the government has advertised is to call for personal applications from those who are interested in applying to be members of the constitutional council. Persons of eminence and integrity who have distinguished themselves in public or professional life and who are not members of any political party as indicated in the guidelines for appointment may not wish to submit their applications. The National Peace Council believes that this procedure needs to be supplemented by a process of nominations. Civil society organisations should be given the opportunity to nominate their choice of members of civil society to be considered for appointment to the constitutional council.
In the context of Sri Lanka’s plural society we believe that the selection of the civil society representatives on the constitutional council should be based on the principle of inclusiveness. The decisions of state authorities need to be sensitive to the diversity and pluralism in Sri Lankan society, the focus of which is ethnicity and religion, but which also includes caste, gender, physical disability, occupation and regions among others. The most urgent need today is unity among both the political leadership and unity among the people so that the entire country can act as one force to overcome the economic and developmental crisis it is presently trapped in. We call for the constitutional council to be selected soon so that the task of state building and nation building may take place without delay.”
A group of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) members, including its Leader Mano Ganesan, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (02) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
Extensive discussions were held on the issues faced by the Malayagam communities, particularly in relation to education, housing and land, as well as on the urgent measures required to address these concerns. The President paid special attention to all these matters.
Attention was also drawn to the recruitment of qualified Tamil-medium teachers to address the teacher shortage in estate sector schools and this too was discussed at length.
Members of Parliament P. Digambaram and V. Radhakrishnan, along with several other party members, were present at the meeting.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath, held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Andrey Rudenko at the Foreign Ministry, in Colombo, on Thursday (02), with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
The Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visiting Russian Deputy Minister noted that Russia regarded Sri Lanka as a long-standing friend.
Rudenko assured that Russia stood ready to support Sri Lanka when required, including in the swift supply of Russian oil to help address the current energy challenges, encouraging Russian investors to explore new opportunities in the country and promoting increased tourist arrivals.
He also expressed Russia’s readiness to provide compensation for Sri Lankan war veterans who had lost their lives in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Minister Herath welcomed Russia’s willingness to assist, emphasising that Sri Lanka valued the support extended by its “old friend”, particularly at a time when the country was facing pressing energy needs.
He noted that the two countries shared nearly seven decades of diplomatic relations and said the present moment provided an opportunity to further strengthen ties, including through long-term trade agreements.
The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy, investment, tourism and diplomacy, with both sides reiterating their commitment to further deepen the longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and Russia.
Police yesterday arrested 157 foreign nationals in connection with an alleged organised online financial scam, conducted from a hotel in the Iranawila area in Chilaw.
The suspects were taken into custody during a raid carried out by the Police while they were staying at the hotel in Iranawila.
Police said the arrested group included 143 nationals from China, 13 from Bangladesh and one from Vietnam.
Investigators suspect the group had been involved in a coordinated online financial scam, targeting victims through digital platforms.
The suspects are being detained for further questioning while investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the operation and whether additional individuals were involved.Police said further inquiries are underway.
By Norman Palihawadane
Iran executes two convicted members of banned opposition group
Afghanistan earthquake kills eight members of same family
Breakdown of the teams and groups of the FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US after the final playoffs
365 US service members injured since start of Iran war – Pentagon
World Cup 2026: Italy’s football chief resigns after qualifying failure
Iran says it downed two US jets as search for one pilot continues
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News3 days ago2025 GCE AL: 62% qualify for Uni entrance; results of 111 suspended
-
News5 days agoTariff shock from 01 April as power costs climb across the board
-
News6 days agoInquiry into female employee’s complaint: Retired HC Judge’s recommendations ignored
-
Features7 days agoWhen seabed goes dark: The Persian Gulf, cable sabotage, and race for space-based monopoly
-
Features6 days agoNew arithmetic of conflict: How the drone revolution is inverting economics of war
-
Business4 days agoHour of reckoning comes for SL’s power sector
-
Editorial3 days agoSearch for Easter Sunday terror mastermind
-
Sports6 days agoSri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup heroes to play exhibition match in Kuala Lumpur