Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government will not sign any agreement that is detrimental to the country, no matter how financially beneficial it may be.
The Minister said the Government’s decision not to move forward with the MCC Agreement is a clear reflection of this stance. “After a proper study of the agreement, we have made it clear that we don’t agree with the parts of the agreement that are detrimental to the country’s sovereignty,” he said.
Speaking at the opening of the Government Information Department’s Kandy office on Thursday, December 17, Minister Rambukwella said, “If our decision on the MCC is newsworthy, that should be to the USA and not to us.”
He said when the US Secretary of State visited Sri Lanka, some people alleged that the latter had come to Sri Lanka to expedite the MCC agreement. These allegations have become a joke with the Government’s decision to suspend the agreement. The Government had said from the outset that it would not agree to some of the terms contained in the agreement. Minister Rambukwella further said, “The Government will always keep the word given to the people of this country and will not sign any agreement detrimental to the country.”
Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Admiral (Rtd) Jayanath Colombage said on Thursday, December 17, the US Government has not officially informed the Government about the cancellation of the MCC grant of US$ 480 million.
He said though the Government had explained the issues related to the MCC Agreement to the US Government, the cancellation of the Agreement has not been notified to them officially.
The MCC for bipartisan support to developing countries called off its proposed grant for Sri Lanka, after Sri Lanka delayed the signing of the Compact, claiming that the Agreement had several controversial clauses that would infringe upon the sovereignty of the country.
The United States (US) Embassy in Colombo on Thursday, December 17 in a media release stated that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) had withdrawn the proposed Rs. 89 billion (USD 480 million) grant assistance to Sri Lanka.
The decision was reached during the quarterly meeting of MCC’s Board of Directors on December 15.
The Sri Lankan Government previously stressed that it would not sign the MCC pact in its current shape as it contained several problematic clauses.
The US Embassy’s media release stated, “The United States remains a friend and partner to Sri Lanka and will continue to assist Sri Lanka in responding to Covid-19 and building its economy.”
Gama Samaga Pilisandara
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday, December 18 visited the Imbulpe Rawanakanda village in Balangoda as part of his Gama Samaga Pilisandara program.
Participating in the Gama Samaga Pilisandara program at the Thorawelkanda College playground in the Ravanakanda village, President Rajapaksa listened to the grievances of the villagers and instructed officials to implement several development projects.
This is the third of the “Discussion with Villagers” program in which the President participated. The first was held in September in Haldummulla in the Badulla district and the second in October in the Wilgamuwa Divisional Secretariat in the Matale district.
It is the aim of the President to talk to people in rural areas about their long standing unresolved issues, present them to officials and provide immediate solutions.
Another objective is to meet the people living in the most difficult villages of the island and identify their problems accurately.
The people briefed the President on the issues affecting the kithul industry.
The President instructed the Police, Forest Conservation and Wildlife officials to allow the Kithul tapping to continue unhindered.
President Rajapaksa also ordered an end to the arbitrary prosecution of villagers who enter forest conservation and wildlife sanctuaries for their daily livelihoods, including kithul tapping and plucking tea leaves.
President Rajapaksa said that on several occasions it has clearly been shown that their traditional way of life does not harm the environment, asked the officials to assist in their livelihood activities.
The President also focused on the construction of a tea processing centre for the tea growers in the area. The President instructed provincial politicians to intervene to look into delays in the transportation of tea leaves.
The President instructed the relevant Ministry officials to identify the land issues faced by the people in many villages in the area for a long time and provide immediate solutions.
PM meets Bishop of Colombo
A discussion was held on Thursday, December 17 between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo at the Bishop’s Office, concerning the celebration of Christmas under proper health guidelines in the face of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The Bishop drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the celebration of Christmas while protecting Christians and all Sri Lankans during the festive season.
The discussion also focused on the commencement of schools and the formulation of the new Constitution. Premier Rajapaksa had requested the Bishop to raise public awareness on the need to celebrate Christmas by following the health guidelines given by the health authorities to minimise the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
SLFPers excluded
There is media speculation that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has expressed disappointment in the Government for disregarding its public representatives. SLFP General Secretary State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara told the media that an issue has arisen as the Government has failed to include SLFP members in its plans.
Commenting on the upcoming Provincial Council elections, Jayasekara said the President is yet to respond to requests to hold a discussion in this regard. As discussions with SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa ended without a decision, Jayasekara had hinted that this could lead to a crisis situation.
Another round of discussion was held at UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene’s Kynsey road office on Wednesday, December 16 regarding the UNP’s program next year.
The discussion chaired by Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was attended by Ruwan Wijewardene, Vajira Abeywardene, Palitha Range Bandara, Sandeep Samarasinghe, Ashu Marasinghe and Saman Ratnapriya.
The discussion continued for nearly three hours and the party members had extensively discussed the party’s program for next year and as to how they should conduct their restructuring program.
At the end of the discussion a few UNP members of the Colombo Municipal Council had met UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene. Party seniors had also met again on Thursday, December 17 and conducted several rounds of talks under the patronage of Party Leader Wickremesinghe.
To be charged with homicide
Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Rtd) Sarath Weerasekara told the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chief Prelates on Wednesday, December 16, that 33 out of 267 suspects arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks are to be charged with homicide.
He said the Attorney General had received eight police investigation files on the Easter Sunday bomb blasts.
The Minister called on Malwathu Chapter Chief Prelate Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera and Asgiriya Chapter Chief Prelate Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera after worshipping at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
Minister Weerasekara said that some suspects who are in prison in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks are being kept under detention orders while the others are in remand custody and added that the charges on the other suspects are abetting the attacks.
The Minister said the Attorney General told him that he was awaiting the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the Easter Sunday attacks to proceed on legal actions. The Minister recently met the AG to inquire whether there is a delay in initiating legal action on the Easter Sunday carnage.
Supreme Court fire
The United National Party (UNP) on Wednesday, December 16 called on the Government to conduct an immediate, transparent and independent inquiry into the fire at the Supreme Court.
The UNP in a media release stated that it was concerned by the fire that broke out at the Supreme Court complex on Tuesday and emphasised that this building is the apex of the country’s judicial system and is situated in a high security zone.
It said, “The SC complex is situated in a section of Colombo which is currently under lockdown, and court proceedings have been limited to only urgent cases with the absence of any public.
As such the Government must ascertain what led to the lapse in security which resulted in this fire.”
The statement added “Those who were responsible for the security of this complex must be held accountable.
Prior to the hand over of the Government in 2019 the UNP led Government was in the process of digitising court records. We ask the Government whether they have continued this process, and if not to provide an explanation as to why they delayed this important task.”
Wada Samaga Yali Gamata
Chief of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation, Basil Rajapaksa launched the National Program – Wada Samaga Yali Gamata National Program to redevelop the backward villages at the auditorium of the University of Ruhuna last week.
This is the second phase of the Gama Samaga Pilisadarak program launched under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and this is launched under the theme Wada Samaga Yali Gamata.
As a first step, a series of public consultations on the 2021 Budget Proposals will be launched.
Addressing the gathering, Basil Rajapaksa said, “We hope to further study and prioritise the proposals of the people submitted to the Village Committees with the participation of the people’s representatives, Government officials, and representatives of the community organisations in the village and other organisations.”
He said another Rs. 2,000 million has been allocated from this Budget for the development of rural manufacturing industries.
Through this we will create women entrepreneurs and open shops at the village level to sell their products. The aim of the Government is to go to every village, listen to the demands of the villagers and implement the Gama Samaga Pilisadarak program. “This Budget is truly based on Sri Lankan identities, culture and local production and we urge everyone to intervene at the provincial and district levels,” he said.
National List MP
Former Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera has been appointed as the National List MP to the seat won by the Ape Janabala Party at the last General Election. Ven. Rathana Thera will be sworn in as a Member of Parliament at the next parliamentary session due to be held in January.
When the newly appointed Election Commission met for the first time on Friday, December 18, it was decided to appoint Ven. Rathana Thera as the National List MP. The Chairman of the Election Commission Nimal G. Punchihewa has sent Ven. Rathana Thera’s name to the Government Printer to be gazetted.
The former Parliamentarian will take oaths again as a Member of Parliament under Article 99A of the Constitution.
The Ape Janabala Party had faced a crisis recently following a dispute within the party with regard to its National List seat in Parliament. Earlier a problematic situation had arisen with regard to the National List seat after the General Secretary of the party Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa Thera had submitted a letter to the Election Commission claiming that he has been nominated to enter parliament as the party’s National List MP.
The gazetting of the two National List slots won by the UNP and Ape Janabala Party in the General Election had to be postponed continuously as both parties failed to reach a unanimous decision due to their internal crises.