President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the public service is very large and that public officials’ involvement can be seen in every need of the people. He said that his wish was for a vibrant public service rendered by all state institutions.
The President was speaking at a meeting with Government officials at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday to brief them on the Government’s future plans.
“The majority of public officials are keen to work. What is needed is supervision, advice and encouragement so that the country can obtain their services effectively,” he said.
The President pointed out the need for the personal intervention and leadership of all senior officials including Governors, Ministries, Provincial and District Secretaries in this regard.
He said that he personally visits and inspects the functions of Government institutions and he expects Government officials, including Governors, to visit the institutions under their purview and inspect the duties and responsibilities by encouraging all employees.
He said, “We are here to keep the people alive and the background needed for this should be created.”
The President said that the duty, responsibility and humanity of the officials were also vital in this. The President further said that the institutions under the Government and the Provincial Councils should follow the same public policy when performing their duties. The President also emphasised the need to manage the local economy through a self-sufficient program.
Resigns
Former Minister and Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Jeevan Kumaratunga has resigned from all positions and responsibilities in the Party. His resignation letter was handed over to SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara on Tuesday and the letter was sent to SLFP Chairman and former President Maithripala Sirisena.
He told the media briefing following the handing over of the letter of resignation, that he will join the New Lanka Freedom Party soon to embark on a political journey with the public.
He said that sections of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Samagi Jana Balavegaya and progressive forces have already agreed to the move. Kumaratunga said that they would also receive the blessings of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for this.
The former SLFP frontliner said that he had worked with the SLFP for about 35 years and the Kumaratunga phobia of the party leaders was growing. Kumaratunga said that he had patiently endured various insults and that SLFP members were deeply disappointed with the hypocrisy of the SLFP leaders, who at times whitewashed the Government and sometimes criticised the Government for its policies.
Kumaratunga said that the New Lanka Freedom Party was currently preparing a program that would be acceptable to the youth of the country under various subjects and that he hoped to take that program across the country in the future. He also invited all progressives to join in implementing this national program. Accordingly, a broad alliance will be formed and the victory of the people will be marked in a short period of time.
Kumaratunga said the actions of former President Maithripala Sirisena and those in charge of the SLFP are questionable, adding that the aspirations of the people cannot be fulfilled with their double standards.
SLFP to form an alliance
SLFP Chairman and Former President Maithripala Sirisena said the SLFP would team up with several other political parties that could contribute to the uplift of the country and form an alliance to contest the next General Election in the hope of forming a Government.
He told the District Conference of the party at the Vavuniya Town Hall, that during his rule the people were not burdened with the high cost of living as today and steps had been taken to provide all incentives to the farmer to boost agriculture in the country.
He said people were facing hardships due to the spiraling cost of living, power cuts and shortages of fuel and fertiliser. Former President Sirisena said, “The SLFP as a major political party is determined to form a Government to resolve the issues affecting the people today.
“The party is now being strengthened to contest future elections. The SLFP would join hands with several brotherly political parties that are able to contribute to the forward march of the country,” he said.
Punish criminals
Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the main objective of the party is to properly identify and punish the criminals behind the 2019 Easter Sunday attack.
He was addressing the Puttalam district Convention of the party in Marawila.
He said that there were two main culprits in the Easter attacks, those who did not act to prevent the attack and the group that carried out the attack. Dissanayake said that although some investigations had been carried out into not preventing the Easter attacks, nothing would be done about the group that carried out the attack and therefore justice for the victims was the main objective and aspiration of the JJB.
Freedom of speech
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament that the Government should not control social media but ensure freedom of expression instead. The Opposition Leader, while raising concerns in this regard under Standing Order 27/2, said that freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.
Premadasa said, “That is why the media is considered the fourth pillar of Governance that gives correct information to the people and guides rulers properly. It is well-known that freedom of speech has been threatened under different Governments at different times in this country. However, freedom of speech in recent history and the most serious threats were levelled at journalists during the last 2005-2015 regime.”
The Opposition Leader said, “It can be seen that the Government, which has adopted its unitary policy of suppressing opposing views, came to power again in 2019 and is repressing the media and journalists and restricting freedom of expression in a more organised manner. Threats and attacks on journalists, media outlets, and social media activists by unidentified groups and extremist groups are increasing. Intimidation of journalists and social activists using legal hands such as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is one such move. Restrictions on freedom of speech through constitutional amendments are another serious concern.”
Disappointment
Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has again expressed his disappointment at the Government’s failure to ensure justice for the Easter Sunday attack victims.
At a recent book launch, the Cardinal said that it was obvious the Government was concealing the truth behind the attack, while protecting higher-ups in the Police and the Government.
He said that the Catholic community has now lost the trust placed in the Government as well. He said, “Intelligence officials and top-ranking Police officers knew that this attack would happen. We have evidence to that end, and it is there in the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI).”
The Cardinal alleged the Government and the Attorney General’s Department have hidden the evidence given before the PCoI.
He said, “We have requested those volumes in writing and we have asked them to make us aware. But this Government and the previous Government have taken steps to conceal those volumes from us, without considering our requests. We are faced with a question on revealing the truth about these people, based on the basis of the PCoI report.” He said,“We need to believe that justice will prevail under a Government that will come to power in the future when we are gone.”
Power crisis
A special meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers was convened on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing power crisis. The meeting was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. During the special meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the President has given directives to take steps for a continuous supply of fuel.
However, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana told the weekly Cabinet press briefing that a decision has not been taken to revise fuel prices. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera who spoke to the media following the special Cabinet meeting said it was decided that the Government would settle the Ceylon Electricity Board’s arrears to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
A decision was taken to provide the dollars needed to unload fuel from two fuel tankers at the Port of Colombo. Minister Amaraweera said a revision of fuel prices will not be made at present.
Heated debate
Parliamentary proceedings were suspended for 10 minutes on Thursday morning following a protest by the Opposition members.
A heated debate ensued after Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena alleged that a Parliamentarian of the Opposition had brought an unauthorised item into the Chamber.
He said that bringing in devices, which are not in the list of approved instruments into the Chamber, poses a serious threat to the entire Parliament’s security. Therefore, Minister Gunawardena requested the Speaker’s attention to this matter and urged him to take immediate action and provide an explanation in this regard to Parliament. He also said that there will never be a complete power outage inside the Chamber and that if any Parliamentarian had come in prepared for such an outage, how this MP received information to that effect must be investigated.
SJB Parliamentarian Harin Fernando then clarified that the Leader of the House was referring to him being inspected by the security officials at the parliamentary entrance and three torches being found inside his bag. He said he wanted to carry a torch with him in preparation for the power interruptions scheduled for the day.
Later, SJB Parliamentarians staged a protest carrying torches, while taking issue with the ongoing power crisis. Following day, MP Fernando told the Parliament that he was ready to face any inquiry into the torch incident. He said that he had brought his bag which contained the small torch in it and he had even passed it through the scanner as he had nothing to hide.
However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament on Friday that he would lodge a complaint with the IGP over the conduct of several SJB Parliamentarians. The Speaker said he will request an investigation regarding the incident where a group of SJB members had threatened Police officers and obstructed their duties and had taken a suspicious parcel into the Parliament premises on Thursday. He said that based on the information he will take appropriate action and would also notify the House regarding his decision.
Must unite
State Minister Nimal Lanza, who was recently in the news after he decided to withdraw his personal staff from ministry duties, said that he has written a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding the matter.
Making a statement in Parliament, the SLPP lawmaker said that in his letter he explains the reasons behind his decision to withdraw his personal staff from the ministry and the various issues that he has had to face.
Lanza said the letter he had sent to the President contained four main points. He said, “I hope the President will conduct an immediate inquiry into this matter as only the President can resolve it.”
The State Minister said, “Everyone who ruled this country must be held accountable for the situation in which this country has fallen. We must all be held accountable. Therefore, we must unite to solve the issues the country faces today. We must work together to formulate an economic policy adding that it is useless to point the finger at anyone.”
Regarding his decision to withdraw his personal staff, the State Minister said that, “The vines around the tree protect the tree, but some of the vines around the tree destroy the tree itself.” Lanza said that if he is being attacked even today over the incident at his ministry, then he too can become ‘severe’. “But I’m not going to do that. Even my constituents said that.” He said, “The counterattack can be worse than the attack.”
“TNA stirring up racial and religious agendas”
State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament that Tamil MPs in the Opposition attempt to gain the attention of the international community every year when the UNHRC sessions take place. He said that especially the TNA MPs played a major role in this regard during the previous Good Governance regime and questioned why they did not resolve the issues the Tamils were facing during their five year tenure.
Semasinghe said the TNA is carrying out the agendas of those who supported the terrorists. “They don’t care a bit about the Tamil people. They also don’t have any desire to care about the people because those who support the terrorists are taking good care of these politicians. That is why every time they speak they try to stir up racial or religious tensions. That is how they survive. They don’t even speak up for the people in their own villages. They only speak to ensure that they receive their funding,” he said.
Support of int’l community
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said on Friday that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will seek the support of the international community to get former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake released from jail.
Following his visit to the Welikada Prison to meet Ramanayake on Friday, he told the media that a group of SJB Parliamentarians led by MP Harin Fernando will intervene in obtaining the support of the international community to ensure the release of Ramanayake. He said, “We are engaged in a democratic struggle to ensure his release from the prison. Ranjan Ramanayake could have done more service to the people, if he had not been behind bars.” The Opposition Leader said that he requested the Government to release him soon. “I made a number of requests to the President to ensure his early release from jail,” he said.