The Government parliamentary group on Thursday unanimously adopted a proposal to forge ahead under the leadership of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa while providing speedy relief to the people affected by the economic crisis.
SLPP Parliamentarian Sahan Pradeep put forward the proposal at the Government Parliamentary Group Meeting at the Parliament complex on Thursday. Pradeep had suggested that the Government should face the situation head on. All group members raised their hands in unison and unanimously supported the proposal which was seconded by MP Sumith Udukumbura.
Several Ministers outlined the steps taken to provide immediate relief to the people in the coming weeks.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that steps have been taken to resolve the fuel and power cut issues within a few weeks. Education and Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said that the gas problem could be resolved shortly as well. Members also thanked the senior members of the Government for the sacrifice they made by resigning from their ministerial portfolios. The senior members said that they would provide the support to the new Ministers to move forward in a strong manner.
Call for fresh Cabinet
Ten SLPP Parliamentarians have sent a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requesting him to appoint a fresh Cabinet comprising members from all parties in Parliament with a Prime Minister from the SLPP.
These Parliamentarians have informed the President that they would work for this cause in Parliament. They have also told the President that the Government has failed to identify the reasons behind the unrest in the country.
“We have not identified the actual cause for the unrest”, the letter sent by this group of SLPP MPs stated.
SLPP Kandy District MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara said that they have informed the President through this letter on how this crisis cropped up in the country. He said that they also made proposals to be implemented soon to tackle this crisis.
The letter has been signed by SLPP Parliamentarians K.P.S. Kumarasiri, Lalith Ellawala, Sudath Manjula, Udeni Kirindigoda, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Dr. Upul Galappaththi, Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Prof. Gunapala Rathnasekera, Akila Ellawala and Udayakantha Gunathilake.
‘System change’
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the Government should have gone for a program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier. President Rajapaksa also said the decision not to provide chemical fertiliser to farmers was an error and the Government has since taken steps to revive that practice expeditiously.
The President told the newly appointed Cabinet Ministers at the President’s House, that the present crisis is a good opportunity to make the ‘System Change’ that the people are demanding. “Now we have that opportunity. At the same time, I urge the youth to help in this endeavour.
“During the past two-and-a-half-years we had to face vast challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the debt burden, and there were some mistakes on our part. They need to be rectified. We have to correct them and move forward. We need to regain the trust of the people.
“At present, many state-owned enterprises are in dire financial straits. There is a timely need to rectify those inaccuracies and bring them back to profitable status. This is one of the main tasks you have to do, ” he said.
SJB proposals
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) on Thursday put forward a set of proposals for the amendment to the Constitution including abolishing of the Executive Presidency and the repealing of the 20th Amendment.
The draft resolution was presented to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The Opposition Leader presented the Bill to SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara at the Opposition Leader’s office on Thursday morning and the Bill was subsequently handed over to the Speaker.
The other proposals include an amendment to the system of checks and balances, the repeal of the 20th Amendment, the setting up of independent commissions and a National Security Council.
Sangha edict
The Chief Prelates of the three main Buddhist Chapters in a media release on Wednesday stated they will be compelled to issue a Sangha Edict if the stakeholders did not take steps to create political stability and provide solutions to the economic crisis, while being sensitive to the problems of the people.
The statement said all Members of Parliament and the Head of State should be held accountable for the crisis that is affecting the lives of the people. The Chief Prelates also expressed regret over the disregarding of the proposals submitted to the President on April 4, seeking immediate relief for the people.
The Chief Prelates also stated they believe that the crisis cannot be resolved by appointing a new Cabinet. They also said that the authorities should pay attention to the demands of the people who are protesting peacefully and provide them with speedy solutions.
Third anniversary
Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said that the Catholic community in Sri Lanka will not be satisfied until a transparent and a just inquiry is conducted into Easter Sunday attacks to uncover the truth and to bring those responsible to justice.
The Archbishop was speaking at a service at St. Anthony’s Church Kochchikade on Thursday to mark the third anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in 2019 which killed 269 people and injured over 500.
He said, “Today we commemorate the third anniversary of the infamous Easter Sunday attacks, and standing in front of this Church, consecrated to St. Anthony, which was destroyed by those attacks and the devotees mercilessly killed or injured, we are gathered to commemorate all of them and to plead with this great saint to help us to find what we have missed all these years, the truth concerning these attacks and commensurate justice.”
The Archbishop said that former President Maithripala Sirisena left the country without appointing an Acting Defence Minister and leaving the entire situation exposed. He said that the authorities have also not been able to carry out the recommendations of the Presidential Commission Report with regard to the prosecution of some politicians and officials for criminal neglect of duty in the matter.
Tensions in Chamber
Parliamentary proceedings were adjourned for 10 minutes on Wednesday following heated arguments in the House over the Rambukkana incidents. Tensions flared in the Chamber as Opposition Parliamentarians accused the Government of ‘shooting’ peaceful protesters, leading to heated verbal exchanges between Opposition and Government lawmakers.
Rambukkana shooting
A demonstration in Rambukkana demanding that fuel be supplied at old prices escalated to clashes between protesters and the Police on Tuesday. Residents in the area blocked all entry and exit roads into Rambukkana town, and the level crossing for more than 15 hours.
This obstructed vehicular movement and train operations on the Main Line. As a tense situation ensued near the level crossing, the Police had fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. Later, as the situation escalated, the Police opened fire at them, killing one and injuring several others.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena vehemently condemned the incident that took place in Rambukkana on Tuesday. He said that during his five-year tenure as the President from 2015, he had never responded to civilians with bullets.
Sirisena said that during his tenure, the IGP was instructed not to allow the Police to take weapons during the SAITM protests.
He expressed sadness over the Rambukkana incident on behalf of the SLFP and condemned the attack on the protesters.
“I witnessed the Rambukkana shooting incident on television. I saw how the Police were shooting at people who were running away. In such a situation, firing tear gas is what is done normally. During my tenure, guns were not even fired at criminals,” Sirisena said.
Alahapperuma writes to President
Former Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma on Friday called for the resignation of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The former Media Minister in a letter to the President said that Parliament should be given an opportunity to overcome the challenges ahead of the country collectively by forming an All Party Government.
The former Minister said that the delay in taking this important decision will have a negative impact on the country’s future and its stability. He said “It is my view that the majority of Legislators don’t want to be members of a Government or an Opposition which are working irresponsibly.”
Former Minister Alahapperuma commended the President’s decision to appoint a set of Cabinet with the highest number of youth representation.
“Though this decision is commendable, it has become one of the few decisions which have not been taken at the right time,” he said.
“Hand over positions to backbenchers”
Anuradhapura District SLPP Parliamentarian Uddika Premaratne told senior Parliamentarians on Friday that if they are incapable of taking decisions, to hand over the positions to the backbenchers and they would take decisions and resolve the country’s crisis and then hand over these posts back again to the seniors.
He said that the system change should happen from Parliament as there is a clear divide in Parliament with seniors trying hard to hold on to their posts and make a name for themselves while capable educated backbenchers are idling in the House with their time and abilities being wasted without being made use of.
Premaratne said the biggest mistake of Parliament is that it does not identify the abilities of the new MPs and make use of their abilities to benefit the country. Instead, he said that all Parliamentarians are interested in building their image.
He said, “No solutions have been found for the country’s issues from within this Parliament. That is why so many issues have piled up and are now affecting this country. If we cannot find solutions from within Parliament, then where will you find solutions to resolve the country’s issues?”
He said if the seniors cannot resolve the country’s issues, they should hand over their portfolios to the juniors and they would resolve them. “We don’t want luxury houses or V8 jeeps. We don’t even require seats, we can sit on the ground, but we will find solutions.”
“Solve burning issues”
Former Minister Namal Rajapaksa requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to meet the youth protesting at the Galle Face green as a moderate person. He commended the protesters as a considerable proportion of them are genuine and they are calling for a system change. He condemned the attempts by certain political parties to make political mileage by hijacking the protest.
Rajapaksa requested the Speaker not to allow these political parties to hijak their protest. He also requested the Speaker to discuss with them on whether they need a separate political stream by assisting them to set up a new political party and make arrangements to do so.
He made these observations in response to SJB Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara who said that the Golden Horses of Namal Rajapaksa which were referred to earlier were not real. He added that it was a metaphorical expression.
Namal Rajapaksa in reply told Nanayakkara that there was no point in debating these baseless and false allegations made by the latter regarding Golden Horses, Lamborghinis, US$ 18 billion as they wouldn’t do any good in helping solve the burning issues of the people and youth.
Forty SLPP MPs sit in Opposition benches
Forty MPs from the ruling SLPP led alliance sat in the Opposition benches in Parliament on Tuesday, April 19. SLFP Leader Maithripala Sirisena told Parliament that they had decided to listen to the voice of the people and sit with the opposition.
He insisted that they are not going to be under the Opposition Leader but will remain as independent MPs. Sirisena said that the appointment of a new Cabinet will not resolve the current crisis.
Seating arrangements
A discussion was also held on Monday, April 18 between the representatives of the Independent Parliamentary Group and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena regarding the seating for the group in the Opposition. Several members of the SLFP including Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Duminda Dissanayake, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and SLPP MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Susil Premajayantha and Leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party Prof. Tissa Vitarana were also present.
SJB Parliamentarians Faizal Cassim, Ishak Rahuman and M.S. Thowfeek, who had previously extended their support to the Government, informed the Parliament on Wednesday that they will no longer support the Government.
Delivering a brief statement in Parliament, MP Faizal Cassim said that the three MPs including himself have decided to withdraw their support to the Government from Wednesday.
Ground reality
Former Prime Minister and UNP National List MP Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Friday that whichever party in Parliament gets 113 seats, the Government or the Opposition, the ground reality is that it would be impossible to solve the burning issues faced by the country today.
He said that there is no point in presenting the No Confidence Motion (NCM) at this stage due to the present situation. He said if it is presented, it should be done following the Finance Ministers’ statement in Parliament following his return from the IMF meeting and other organisations. Wickremesinghe said that he agreed with the Opposition Leader’s demand for a road map of the future administration of the Government.
With regard to the Rambukkana incident, MP Wickremesinghe said that the name of the head of the Police group at the site of the incident should be included in the B-report submitted before the Magistrate, adding that they need to know as to who gave instructions to shoot. He said that there is no fertiliser, gas and fuel in the country. We have to discuss these issues in Parliament.