Month: August 2020

There have been quite a few self-declared liberators of different ethnic and religious communities, in this country, and they have even formed political parties to champion their causes and gain political mileage. Among them are some Buddhist monks, who succeeded in securing the support of the majority community to enter Parliament, in the early-noughties; they promised to safeguard the interests… Continue reading "Power politics and fake causes"

Sri Lanka’s Shoora Council had decided to felicitate all Muslim parliamentarians who were elected at the August 5 parliamentary election. Shoora is the Arabic word for consult and its role is like a counsel. Of course, in Sri Lanka, the council’s key members also play an active role in many other Muslim bodies. At the Sri Lanka Shoora Council reception… Continue reading "Muslim MPs fight each other like the Tamil MPs"

Consultation from August to October marks first steps Motorways only, but ‘hands-off’ control Issues include insurance liability and emergency procedures We would say ‘if’ passed, but one way or another, this is going to happen. The systems are already in place in many premium cars, and the rest of Europe is pressing ahead (despite EU membership having often been held… Continue reading "Government moves towards self-driving cars in UK"

by Dinasema Ratugamage The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to appoint two people, each holding the post for two and a half years, to its National List post. A spokesman for TNA made this comment when asked about rumours that Thawarasa Kalaiarasan, who was appointed to the post will soon resign from his post. The appointment of Kalaiarasan, who… Continue reading "Thawarsa and Mawai will hold TNA NL post for two and a half years each"

The National Joint Committee (NJC) has urged the Government to scrap the provincial council system and do away with the existing proportional representation system of elections. The NJC, while expressing confidence that the Government would fulfil its pledge to remove numerous provisions introduced to the Constitution through many amendments, expressed concern about a reported statement made by Justice Minister Ali… Continue reading "Govt. to scrap provincial councils"

The Rajapaksa support base has not grown between the presidential election of 2019 and the parliamentary election of 2020. In fact it has decreased by more than 70,500 votes. Given the massive losses suffered by the opposition, this would seem insignificant, numerically and politically. But the trend does matter – Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s seven month rule has not succeeded in expanding… Continue reading "Rajapaksa support base decreased by more than 70,500 votes………."

ITAK which remained a formidable political force of the North and the East with even being the main Opposition in the Parliament has collapsed badly at the Parliamentary Election this year and the outcome of the election has clearly given the message that the present generation in the North and the East thinks differently with aligning themselves with the mainstream… Continue reading "Prof. G.L Peiris’s Request to N&E Parliamentarians!"

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella has demanded to know how come those who supported the 19th Amendment are now trying to scrap it. His reference is obviously to his political opponents in the SLPP government bent on getting rid of the 19th Amendment. The answer to his question is that they are doing so because Sri Lankan politicians act out… Continue reading "Sri Lankan politicians act out of expediency rather than principle."

36th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s first ever Test match at Lord’s – Part 3 by Rohan Wijeyaratna The story of this match will serve as a testament not only to the abilities of the 1984 Sri Lankan team, but also to the long cricketing tradition established through the commitment of many generations of past Ceylon cricketers, the country’s wonderful nurseries –… Continue reading "A champagne exit from Lord’s"

By Dinasena Ratugamage The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leadership has given two positions in the alliance to Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) stalwarts in a bid to keep the alliance intact. As a part of this strategy, TELO leader and Wanni district MP, Selvam Adaikalanathan will be appointed the TNA spokesperson. MP… Continue reading "TNA gives two key posts to TELO, PLOTE"

SJB MP alleges 126 of 434 Govt. entities under purview of Rajapaksa family Says President, three Rajapaksas in Cabinet, one State Minister among those who have control over important Govt. bodies  By Chandani Kirinde  A total of 126 departments, boards, authorities and statutory bodies or 29% of all such bodies come under the purview of the ministries headed by the… Continue reading "Opposition slams power concentration on Rajapaksas"

Former UNP Karu Jayasuriya yesterday (21) urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to do away with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution without consulting all stakeholders. Former UNP Gampaha District lawmaker, in a statement issued yesterday said that if the government abolished the 19th Amendment, and a new Constitution passed, that must be done after wide consultation with all stakeholders, including all political… Continue reading "Karu asks govt. not to scrap 19A arbitrarily"

by C.A.Chandraprema  It has now been officially announced by the government that parts of the 19th Amendment are to be repealed even before a new Constitution is introduced. Our present Constitution has been amended on 18 occasions and not on 19 occasions as the numbering system may lead us to believe. The 12th Amendment is a dud entry and there… Continue reading "19A to be laid to rest"

By Gagani Weerakoon The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Government which is as powerful as the UNP regime of 1977 should be wise not to follow the latter’s example and end up as they have in the present day with only a sole Parliamentary seat, instead learn from past mistakes to steer the country forward, Thamizh Makkal Tesiya Kootani (Tamil People’s… Continue reading "”All communities should feel equal to each other and walk with dignity and pride as children of mother Lanka” says Wignewswaran."

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The Cabinet appointments and those of the State Ministers and Secretaries, ranging in the main from the unexceptionable to the positive, nonetheless leave me analytically pessimistic about the prospects of this regime and the experiment upon which it has embarked. Despite the fact that several of the appointments are good and the rest aren’t too bad—with a… Continue reading "In today’s Sri Lanka, more political space is occupied and power wielded by a single family than in any other country on the planet, since the end of monarchic rule in history."

(Full text of the Inaugural Address of the 9th Parliament, August 20, 2020 by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) Honourable Speaker,Honourable Prime Minister,Honourable Leader of the Opposition,Honourable Ministers, State Ministers,Honourable Members of Parliament, At the outset I would like to congratulate newly appointed Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene. I also extend my congratulations to Deputy Speaker Hon. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Deputy Chairman… Continue reading "”One country, One law for all the people” – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa"

Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) Parliamentarian Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, today told Parliament that he has embraced democracy despite being a former member of the LTTE. He said that he joined the LTTE as a teen but later entered the democratic process. Speaking in Parliament today, Pillayan said that his party will support all efforts to fully implement the 13th… Continue reading "”Will support all efforts to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution” says Pillayan."

A Canadian man is facing human smuggling charges in the United States after serving a prison sentence in the Turks and Caicos Islands for what authorities there have said may be the most complex criminal case in that country’s history, CTV news reported. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) said Tuesday that Srikajamukan Chelliah, a Sri Lanka-born Canadian citizen,… Continue reading "Sri Lanka-born Canadian flown to US to face human smuggling charges"

A Parliamentarian today demanded Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to remove parts of a speech made by former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran from the hansard. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara accused Wigneswaran of expressing an opinion which could harm Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. He said that Wigneswaran took a pledge when entering Parliament to protect Sri Lanka’s sovereignty… Continue reading "MP demands Speaker to remove ”recognition of Tamil rights” parts of Wigneswaran’s speech"

By Upatissa Perera The UNP is planning to name its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as its National List Parliamentarian to the Ninth Parliament, sources from Sirikotha, revealed yesterday (20). A proposal mooted by a sizeable number of UNP Members attached to its Working Committee (WC) that Wickremesinghe should be nominated as its National List MP to the Legislature is set to… Continue reading "Ranil to enter legislature through National List"

Says massive endorsement for SLPP at General Election show people impressed with governance of last 9 months Out-of-the-box thinking to revitalise economy with more people-centric approach to development Removal of 19A to be followed with drafting of new constitution Changes to electoral system on cards while retaining salutary aspects of proportional representation Vows to enforce law against those involved in… Continue reading "President spells out Government priorities, sets sights on prosperity"

SLPP Ratnapura District MP-elect Premalal Jayasekara, who was convicted of murder last month, could not attend the inaugural session of the House yesterday. Parliament officials granted him permission to attend sittings and takes oath as a MP, after he submitted documents relating to an appeal he filed against his conviction. However, Prison officials did not bring him to Parliament. The… Continue reading "No show by murder convict MP Jayasekara, Pillaiyan takes oaths as MP"

By A. J. A. Abeynayake Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday ordered the OIC of the Children’s and Women’s Bureau of the Maradana police to detail an officer to explain to court how a female law student had been molested in an office complex of the Colombo High Court by a Buddhist monk on August 7. Counsel appearing for the… Continue reading "Case of female law student being molested in court complex office by monk suppressed?"

By Dayan Jayatilleka – Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka One good turn deserves another. Just as Mark Salter commends his book to me, I’d like to return the favor and commend one of mine that would provide a different perspective on the war and negotiations, namely ‘Long War, Cold Peace’ (Vijitha Yapa, 2014). Salter is guilty of more than one category error. One is confusing terrorism… Continue reading "Whitewashing Fascism & Appeasement -A Final Rejoinder To Mark Salter"

Interestingly, four members of the Rajapaksa family found their places in the new cabinet. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa bagged a few ministries (Finance, Urban Development and Buddhist Affairs) while the oldest of the brothers Chamal Rajapaksa was appointed as the Minister of Irrigation, and Shasheendra Rajapaksa as the state minister for agriculture. If the expertise and the knowledge is to… Continue reading "Gota, The Cabinet & The Expectations"

This ‘new dawn’ was scripted by a Sinhala-majoritarian political party, the SLPP, whose leaders, in an earlier avatar, were notorious for human rights violations during the debilitating war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that ended in 2009. The Tamils were at the receiving end of this war, caught between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army, which… Continue reading "Which way Sri Lanka?"

Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Rajapaksa family romped to victory in the August 5 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections capitalising on popular appetite for strong government, a fragmented opposition and a long-drawn campaign focused on Sinhala Buddhist nationalist ideology. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party won 146 seats just four short of the supermajority it needs to change the Constitution –… Continue reading "There is serious worry [among the Tamils in Northern and Eastern province] of what kind of constitutional reforms will be brought about."

ECONOMYNEXT – At its first Cabinet meeting the new government has approved making changes to the Constitution, the Cabinet Spokesman Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has said. He was quoted in media as saying that Cabinet gave the nod to “abolish the 19th Amendment and to draft the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.” Ministers have variously said that the amendments, which… Continue reading "Cabinet approves the decision to change the country’s constitution"

By Tisaranee Gunasekara The SLPP’s victory was a show-stopper. No denials possible, no debates necessary. Yet – and this is most remarkable take away from that victory – the SLPP had not managed to increase its electoral base between December 2019 and August 2020. Not even by a single vote.  At the presidential election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa scored 6.92 million votes.… Continue reading "SLPP victory not because it was more popular in August 2020 than it was in November 2019."

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the abolishment of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella said the Cabinet of Ministers has also granted approval to draft the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The Cabinet of Ministers headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa convened for the first time today since the appointment of a new Government.… Continue reading "Cabinet approves abolishing of 19th Amendment"

SLPP MP convicted of murder can attend sittings, pending an appeal Pillaiyan granted permission to attend inaugural sitting by Batticaloa HC They will be transported to Parliament in prison vehicle  Only 223 MPs will take oaths on Thursday as UNP, OPPP yet to finalise National List candidate First time since 1947 the UNP will not be represented in the Legislature… Continue reading "Two Murder suspects to attend Parliament on first day to support Mahinda."

At the August 5 general election, the people gave the president and his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) a landslide victory, which together with their political allies, gives the present regime a healthy 2/3rds majority.   Prior to the general election, the president and his party made changing the constitution, more particularly the 19th Amendment to the Constitution its main campaign… Continue reading "With power comes great responsibility"