News
SJB asks whether govt. decided to do away with LG elections
Announcement by UNP of Presidential, General and PC polls:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Mujibur Rahuman yesterday (10) asked whether the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government had decided to do away with Local Government (LG) polls.
The SJB Mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council at the indefinitely postponed LG polls said that the so-called UNP Management Committee Tuesday (09) evening had declared that presidential election would be held in September this year, followed by parliamentary election and Provincial Councils in January and March, 2025, respectively.
Rahuman, who first entered Parliament in 2015, as a UNP member, contested the 2020 general election on the SJB ticket. He resigned his parliamentary seat on January 21, 2023 to join the fray as the SJB’s Mayoral candidate at the LG poll in Colombo.
The UNP Management Committee consists of Assistant Leader and ex-MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, MP Vajira Abeywardena (National List), Minister Harin Fernando (SJB), Minister Manusha Nanayakkara (SJB), ex-MP Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, ex-MP Ravi Karunanayaka, ex-MP Ruwan Wijewardene, Lasantha Gunawardena and Shamal Senarath.
Responding to The Island queries, Rahuman pointed out that having declared presidential, parliamentary and Provincial Council polls that could cost as much as Rs 30 bn, within a space of seven months, the government couldn’t claim it lacked funds to conduct the LG poll.
The ex-Colombo District MP said that the Election Commission should take up this matter with President Wickremesinghe.
President Wickremesinghe yesterday appointed Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake as the fifth member of the EC, headed by R.M.A.L. Ratnayake.
The other members are M.A.P.C. Perera, Ameer Mohammed Faiz and Anusuya Shanmuganathan. Saman Sri Ratnayake functions as the EC Director General.
SJB spokesman Rahuman said that the incumbent government deferred the LG poll, which was to be conducted before the end of March 2023, claiming it couldn’t allocate funds due to the economic crisis. In spite of that, the Supreme Court directed that the funds allocated through the budget for the conducting of election be made available, the ex-MP said, adding that he, too, subsequently moved the Supreme Court in that regard.
Alleging that the SLPP and UNP feared to face the electorate, against the backdrop of Aragalaya, hence the decision to put off LG polls, the former lawmaker said that Gotabaya Rajapakas’s government, in Dec 2021, announced its decision to put off the LG poll to March 2023, blaming it on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rahuman said that the EC should also be concerned about the inordinate delay in holding the Provincial Council polls. Political parties seemed to have quite conveniently forgotten that all nine Provincial Councils were dissolved, with effect from Oct 08, 2019. The last PC dissolved was the Uva council.
The terms of the Northern Provincial Council came to an end on Oct 25, 2018, the Central Province on Oct 8, 2018, North Western Province on Oct 10, 2018, Sabaragamuwa on Sept 26, 2018, Eastern Province on Sept 30, 2018, North Central Province on Oct 1, 2018, Southern Province on April 10, 2019 and Western Province on April 21, 2019.
Referring to President Wickremesinghe’s repeated assurances regarding devolution of powers in terms of the 13th Amendment and the declarations made in Jaffna during his recently concluded visit, the ex-parliamentarian said that the government should explain why PC polls couldn’t be held for well over four years.
The Parliament, as the supreme institution tasked with enactment of laws and ensuring financial discipline, should be held accountable, the ex-MP said, pointing out the failure on the part of political parties to vigorously pursue the issue.
Rahuman said that those among the international community concerned over the developments here couldn’t remain silent over the postponement of the PC and LG polls. The sudden announcement on presidential, general and PC polls could be in line with the UNP strategy, the former MP said.
EC Director General Saman Sri Ratnayaka said that though they initially estimated the LG poll, if conducted in March 2023, could have cost as much as Rs 10 bn, he was now confident of spending a much lower amount. “We spent about Rs 1 bn on that poll by the time the postponement was declared,” the forthright official said, adding that the EC could have managed with Rs 6 bn. However, against the backdrop of all round tax increase effected this year, expenditure was going to be high, the official said.
In late Nov 2023, State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, addressing the media at the Presidential Media Centre, declared that Rs 10 bn had been allocated through the 2024 Budget for the EC.
The Ceylon Electricity Board has appealed to all rooftop solar owners across the country to voluntarily switch off their solar systems during day time hours (until 3pm each day) from April 13th to 21st to prevent partial power outages or nationwide blackouts which may occur.
The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the people of Sri Lanka should no longer be burdened by conflict and the Government remains committed to ensuring peace and stability across the country, with the government and the public service must discharge their duties to meet the needs of the people.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings held in Velanai, Nallur, and Vadamarachchi.
The Prime Minister said that:
“There are numerous issues regarding infrastructure development in the Northern Province ranging from roads, drinking water supply, agriculture, and unemployment, to education and health sectors.
Many of these development tasks fall under the responsibility of local governments and provincial councils that represents your areas. However, these responsibilities have not been properly discharged.
While it is said that the issues raised in the North and East were caused by the war, 16 years have passed since the end of the war. What real change has taken place? Have the lives of the people in these areas has improved?
Although the central government allocates funds to provincial governing bodies, there should be a transparent mechanism in place to ensure that these funds are properly utilized for the relevant projects.
On May 6th, you will hold the decisive right to elect the local government closest to you that will work to uplift your lives and develop your communities. Elect representatives who are committed to serving the people, and free of fraud and corruption.
The government is actively participating in lifting the country from its fallen state and to overcome the current economic challenges. We accept that there is a long way to go. The prices of goods are still high but the government is currently working towards a change, and the people will receive the benefits in the near future.
Measures have been taken to increase the basic salary of public servants from this year’s Budget. The public service must commit to discharging duties with dedication. This must be not only a people’s government, but also a public service that belongs to the people.
Even after the independence, this country has seen much bloodshed and conflict. The people have suffered greatly as a result. The government is determined to ensure that such a situation never arises again. Therefore, the government is committed to fostering peace within the country.”
The event was attended by Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekar, along with several Members of Parliament and local representatives in the North.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
A meeting organized by the National Initiative for Research & Development Commercialization (NIRDC) was held on Thursday (10) at the Presidential Secretariat to streamline and commercialize research and development activities in the defence sector.
Participating institutions included the Centre for Defence Research and Development under the Ministry of Defence, the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force, the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and the Research and Development Division of the Sri Lanka Police.
The NIRDC Unit, established under the Presidential Secretariat, aims to accelerate national development by facilitating investment opportunities to commercially apply completed or nearing completion research projects from both public and private institutions.
Defence institutions play a critical role for the progress of technology and science in relation to national security and development. Acknowledging this importance, the meeting was chaired by Senior Advisor to the President on Science and Technology, Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya.
During the meeting, it was discussed in detail regarding the completed and on-going research and development projects within the defence sector, as well as those planned for the future. Special attention was given to identifying opportunities for collaboration among research and development units, enhancing innovation capabilities, and exploring ways to share resources effectively.
The discussion focused on identifying opportunities for collaboration between research and development units relevant to these sectors, enhancing innovation capabilities and exploring ways to share resources effectively. It also examined possible steps to strengthen coordination between civil and defence research institutions. The discussion concluded productively, with several innovations identified that have the potential for future commercialization.
The event was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs) . Russel Aponsu, NIRDC Director General Dr. Muditha D. Senarath Yapa, Director (Investments) . Idunil Gunathilaka along with other officials.
[PMD]
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