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Opposition, particularly minority, parties urged to support President’s initiative
NPC also urges involvement of UN, international community
Appreciating President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s speech at the UNGA, the National Peace Council (NPC) has urged the Opposition to back the President’s initiative. Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director, NPC, said:
“The President’s intention to deal with contentious issues requires the support of the parties in the Opposition, especially the minority parties which have democratic mandates with them and we call on them to accept the invitation that the President extends.”
The NPC is represented at the Sri Lanka Collective for Consensus (SLCC) engaged in a dialogue with the government.
The following is the text of Dr. Perera’s statement issued on Wednesday: “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s address to the UN General Assembly was short, simple and dignified. The President covered the main issues that confront the world with his focus on Sri Lanka. These included the Covid pandemic, economic difficulties, environmental degradation and violence that are global problems and which his government, which received two democratic mandates, has had to face.
“In his speech in New York, the President sought international assistance to overcome the setbacks in the economic situation in the country. He also pledged to address the core issues that had given rise to violence through internal mechanisms, that would address issues of accountability, restorative justice and reconciliation. The National Peace Council welcomes the President’s statement that it is his Government’s firm intention to build a prosperous, stable and secure future for all Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender. We are ready to engage with all domestic stakeholders, and to obtain the support of our international partners and the United Nations, in this process.”
He has also invited the Diaspora to a dialogue in the process.
“We urge the President to take action in society necessary for national reconciliation. There is a need to overcome the cynicism and mistrust that has grown due to the many lost opportunities and unmet promises. As immediate actions we would urge the release of long-term and short-term prisoners held without trial, under the PTA. and facilitate truth seeking and reparation in the process of addressing the issue of missing persons as well as the Easter bombing. We would also urge the government to obtain UN assistance and that of international personnel to improve the internal mechanisms already established and work together on ones to come.
The President’s intention to deal with contentious issues requires the support of the parties in the Opposition especially the minority parties which have democratic mandates with them and we call on them to accept the invitation that the President extends. As the meeting with the TNA has been on hold for long the onus is on the President to give priority to that meeting. The already established reconciliation mechanisms need to be activated and efficiently managed for trust-building of the people.
We believe it is possible to overcome the country’s challenges of peace, justice and development with the involvement of all stakeholders including the UN and international community.”
Prof. Jayasumana raises possibility of Lanka ending up with “Quad’
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has said it is the responsibility of the NPP government to submit the MoUs/agreements that were recently signed with India to the respective Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOCs).
Premadasa said so when The Island raised the issue with him. He said that during his meeting with Premier Modi his focus had been on opening the Indian market for Sri Lankan garment exports.
The seven MoUs/agreements signed on 05 April included defence cooperation, energy, Eastern Province development and digitalisation.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of Sarvajana Balaya and former lawmaker Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the government owed an explanation whether the recently signed MoU on defence cooperation directly or indirectly attached Sri Lanka to the Quad security alliance, consisting of the US, Australia, Japan and India.
The former SLPPer raised the issue at a meeting held at Boralesgamuwa on Monday (07) in support of Sarvajana Balaya candidates contesting the May 6 LG polls.
Prof. Jayasumana urged that the MoU on Defence Cooperation be placed before Parliament, and the people, without further delay. The academic who served as State Health Minister during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s foreign policy direction should be dealt with.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The government would not extend the suspension of ‘parate executions’ that was now effective, Deputy Minister of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament yesterday.
Suriyapperuma said so in response to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who asked about the government’s plans regarding a relief package to assist small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) struggling to repay loans.
Pointing out that about 263,000 SMEs had closed down, Premadasa asked what action the government would take to address the grievances of these SMEs.
He said that from 01 Jan., 2019, to 01 Dec., 31, 2023, licensed banks had collected Rs. 113.7 billion through 2,263 parate executions. As of 31 Dec., 2024, Rs. 1,380 billion had been recovered from Stage III defaulters.
The government has introduced loan schemes to assist SMEs impacted by the economic crisis. They included capital loans of up to Rs. 10 million, with a six-month grace period and a three-year repayment term at 8% interest, Suriyapperuma said. Additionally, another loan scheme under the consolidated fund aimed to help SMEs that werecurrently paying their loans. That scheme offered loans of up to Rs. 15 million, which must be repaid over ten years with a one-year grace period and a 7% interest rate. For SMEs that had defaulted on their loans, a loan of up to Rs. 5 million is available at 8% interest, with a six-month grace period and a five-year repayment term, Suriyapperuma said.
By Saman Indrajith
The Parliament yesterday approved a Resolution to appoint a Committee of Inquiry (CoI) in terms of Section 5 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, to remove Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon from office.
The parliament announced 151 votes were received in favour of the Resolution and was passed without debate. Three opposition MPs R. Ramanathan Archuna, Nizam Kariyappar, Mujibur Rahuman and Ajith P Perera voted with the government.
The Resolution moved by NPP MP Lalkmali Hemachandra aims to appoint the CoI to investigate charges of misconduct and gross abuse of power of his office.
NPP MP Gayan Janaka seconded the motion.
SLMC MP Nizam Kariyappar said that the motion carrying the resolution should better be amended citing the Standing Order 91 (F) stating that the matter of Tennakoon was sub judice.
Deputy Speaker Dr. Mohamed Rizvie Salih said that the matter does not arise as per the agreements reached by the party leaders.
Chief Government Whip Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa called for a division on the resolution.
By Saman Indrajith
Sajith asks govt. to submit its MoUs with India to Parliament
Govt. won’t extend suspension of ‘parate executions’
Resolution to remove IGP: Resolution passed, four Opp MPs vote with govt.
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