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Time frame for presidential poll set by law: elections chief

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Saman Sri Ratnayake

Discretion permitted for other elections

by Rathindra Kuruwita

The presidential election is the only election that the constitution has set a time frame for, Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake said last week. He said this is not the case with other elections, so the presidential election can’t be postponed.

“The Elections Commission has no direct authority over holding other elections. Consider the local authorities elections as an example. The tenure of the local councils is four years. The line minister can hold the election a year earlier, or he can extend their terms by a year.

“The tenure of a parliament is five years but the president can dissolve parliament after two and a half years of its term.. This is not the case with a presidential election,” he said.

Ratnayake said the constitution lays down a five-year term for the presidency and there are no provisions to extend it. On November 18, 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was sworn in as president. The constitution stipulates that the next presidential election should be held between September 18 and October 18.

The Commissioner General of Elections said even if the president dissolves parliament in the first week of September, his department has the capability of holding both the general and presidential election on dates close to each other.

“The constitution says that if a president dissolves parliament, he or she is bound to provide the necessary funding and other facilities for an election. This year, we asked for 20 billion rupees to hold the presidential and local or provincial council elections. We only got 10 billion but if the government decides to hold local or provincial council elections, the treasury is bound to provide us the necessary funds,” he said.

Ratnayake said the estimates for the 2024 elections were based on prices that prevailed in late 2023. He added that there are about 800,000 first time voters for the election to be held in 2024.

Commenting on campaign financing, he said that this is not a new concept for Sri Lanka. Expenditure by candidates was limited by law until 1977.

“George E. de Silva lost his seat in parliament in 1948 following an election petition filed by his opponent, T.B. Ilangaratne. He was deprived of his civic rights on being found guilty of not listing an expenditure of Rs. 40 for getting his manifesto translated in his election expenditure return,

K. M. P. Rajaratna was fined Rs. 100 in 1955 by the District Court of Badulla for not submitting his election expenses return. He also lost his seat. Elections were then worked on the first- past-the post basis,” he said.

This changed with the proportional representation system where political parties submit a list of nominations of candidates. Earlier, each candidate was responsible for handing in his or her own nomination papers, Ratnayake said.

Politicians need funds to run a campaign, he said. However, when there is no cap on expenditure, availability of money becomes the determining factor in winning elections. During the 2018 local election, a candidate spent 40 million rupees for a ward with 1,800 voters in Maduraketiya, Moneragala, Ratnayake said describing this as “ludicrous.”



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Secretary to the President meets with heads of the Health sector

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A special discussion between Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and the heads of the health sector was held on Tuesday (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the meeting, it was discussed that a committee would be formed to explore possible steps that could be taken through the President’s Fund to reduce the number of patients on long waiting lists for surgeries in government hospitals.

The committee is expected to submit a report on the matter within one month. Based on the findings, appropriate actions will be taken, as indicated by the Secretary to the President.

The discussion highlighted the significant number of patients, including those requiring cardiac, ophthalmic, and paediatric surgeries, who are currently awaiting procedures on long waiting lists at government hospitals.

Attention was also given to the potential support that could be provided by the President’s Fund and other relevant sectors to address the challenges faced by these patients.

Additionally, discussions were held regarding the possibility of conducting surgeries after regular working hours at government hospitals. The challenges faced by doctors and staff were also thoroughly discussed during the meeting.

The discussion was attended by several key officials, including Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Media Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Additional Secretary (Public Health Services) Dr. Lakshmi Somathunga, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, along with directors and specialist doctors from major hospitals across the country.

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Govt. plan to boost revenue with taxes on vehicle imports unrealistic, warns Harsha

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Dr. de Silva

By Saman Indrajith

SJB Colombo District MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that vehicle imports would be affected by unusually high prices. Commencing the Second Reading debate from the Opposition side, Dr. de Silva said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had, in his Budget speech, projected a substantial portion of tax revenue from vehicle imports. “What is the feasibility of such expectations, given the current price surge,” the MP queried.

“Who can afford to import vehicles at these rates? I do not believe there are enough affluent individuals in Sri Lanka to sustain vehicle imports at these exorbitant prices.”

Providing examples of the dramatic price increase, Dr. de Silva pointed out that a Toyota Raize now cost Rs. 12.2 mn, a Toyota Yaris Rs. 18.5 mn, and a Toyota Prius a staggering Rs. 28.9 mn.

“Someone mentioned that a Toyota Vitz could be available at Rs. 1.4 mn.”

Dr. de Silva said that the government aimed to increase tax revenue by 1.6% of GDP with a significant portion expected from vehicle imports. However, he warned that achieving that target was unrealistic under current circumstances. The government must reassess its reliance on this sector for increasing tax revenue,” he said.

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SLN receives shallow water multi-beam echo sounder from Australia

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From left : Defence Advisor to the Australian High Commission in Colombo, Colonel Amanda Johnston, Australian HC in Colombo Paul Stephens, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and Chief Hydrographer of SLNHS and Commander Southern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Kosala Warnakulasooriya

Giving a significant boost to Sri Lanka’s hydrographic capabilities, the government of Australia handed over a state-of-the-art Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo Sounder to the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) during a ceremony held at SLNS Rangalla today (18 Feb 25). The formal ceremony was held under the auspices of the High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, marking new chapter in the discipline of hydrography.

The Australian government provided the Sri Lanka Navy with this Multi Beam Echo Sounder to enhance its hydrographic capabilities. This advanced equipment will enable the Sri Lanka Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) to conduct precise hydrographic surveys, essential for creating nautical and electronic charts for international use. The device will also facilitate the production of high-precision nautical charts, ensuring safer maritime navigation.

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