Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam said that those who conspire to form other political entities while being SLPP members will become political orphans in the future.
At a recent media briefing at the SLPP headquarters, Kariyawasam said the SLPP MPs who were misled by the conspirators are now returning to the party fold again.
He said those who engaged in conspiracies from the beginning are now trying to form new alliances. “We know that such a force cannot be created because everyone came together under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The progressive people of this country who love the nation are still with us.”
Kariyawasam said the SLPP as a party discussed with the President as a party about the return of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Sri Lanka. He said, “We requested that the former President be provided with all the necessary facilities for his return as soon as possible and that the security and necessary facilities be provided similar to that given to a former President after his arrival in Sri Lanka.”
Ranjan receives pardon
Former State Minister and Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was granted a conditional presidential pardon on Friday.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, Members of Parliament Naleen Bandara and Harshana Rajakaruna were also present at the prison to welcome him.
A large number of people waited near the prison to witness the release of Ramanayake and they expressed their happiness by shouting and lighting firecrackers. However, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa taking to Twitter expressed his disappointment that Ramanayake was released under 34 (1) (d) of the constitution and not under 34 (2).
“Disappointed to learn that he was released under 34 (1) (d) of the constitution which is merely a remission of his sentence rather than a full pardon with his civic and political rights intact under 34 (2),” Premadasa tweeted. “This means he is disqualified from holding political office. Utterly disappointed,” he said.
Speaking to the media, the Opposition Leader requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant a full Presidential Pardon for Ranjan Ramanayake with Political Rights. Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on January 12, 2021 sentenced former State Minister and SJB Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake for four years rigorous imprisonment after convicting him of contempt of court.
Upon his release from prison earlier on Friday, former MP Ramanayake accepted a new position as a Goodwill Ambassador to promote the welfare of Sri Lankan migrant workers, said Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara.
“This is a voluntary position to make use of Ramanayake’s tacit knowledge in the area of foreign employment,” Minister Nanayakkara said in a tweet.
The notable feature was Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara who commenced their battle to seek a presidential pardon for former MP Ramanayake didn’t give up their attempt even after they joined hands with the Government. Finally, their attempt turned to a success and Ramanayake was given a conditional presidential pardon.
Interim Budget
President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies will present the Interim Budget or the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill to Parliament on August 30.
The Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had laid their key emphasis on formulating the Interim Budget. Internal sources of the Government confirmed that when the people have faced severe economic hardships aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has decided to focus more attention on the people.
SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam told reporters on Wednesday the Interim Budget will likely focus on economic recovery while also providing relief to the public as much as possible.
He said Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis since Independence and high inflation has hit the public hard. “This is only an Interim Budget. The budget proper for 2023 will be presented in November.”
SJB to play role in governance
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) on Monday informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the party is willing to support an All Party Government (APG) without accepting ministerial portfolios but will play a role in governance through Committees in Parliament.
This message was conveyed when Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara met President Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss the formation of the proposed APG.
SJB General Secretary Madduma Bandara told the media that the SJB informed the President that the Cabinet formed by an APG should be a small one as it should not be a burden to the public.
He said the SJB had informed the President that the party was against arresting activists under the PTA and trying to suppress those who engaged in the Aragalaya using forceful means. Madduma Bandara also said the SJB had suggested to the President that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution should be re-enacted at the earliest.
He also said that the SJB had requested for chairperson positions in key parliamentary committees such as the COPE and COPA. Madduma Bandara said the President had briefed the Opposition Leader and himself about the Government plans for the future betterment of the country.
New political alliance
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila said a new political alliance will be formed on September 4 to present solutions to the prevailing economic crisis. MP Gammanpila said the immediate reason behind the new alliance is the government’s and the opposition’s inability to provide solutions to the issues in the country.
At a press conference at the PHU Head Office, he said, “All that the Opposition is doing is repeating the issues faced by the people. We already know what the issues are, what we need are solutions. The Government cannot give any solid solutions either. People also have no idea about the crisis. The Opposition gives no solution. People are sick of listening to these explanations. What they are looking for is answers.”
“When the SLFP joined the UNP during the last regime, the SLFP supporters were abandoned. They had no leader to support. So we established Mahinda Sulanga. Now the Pohottuwa party supporters are abandoned as well. They have no leader. They have no political party.
“The 6.9 million voters who voted for this political party are deserted and have nowhere to go. They have been ridiculed. We are setting up this new alliance to gather all these people,” he said.
Gammanpila also alleged that the Government has not produced a successful plan on solving the prevailing economic crisis, while hopes on an All-Party Government are far from reality.
“Work for the youth”
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa charged that the Government has created an era where the youth are being hunted down by using the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He said that the President and the Government had taken steps to issue detention orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act against several people including IUSF convenor Wasantha Mudalige.
He said the younger generation led a huge revolution and as a result, they were able to oust the President who had plunged the country into a deep abyss. Premadasa further questioned whether it is terrorism when the youth participate in a protest, and present their political opinion, adding that the government has already brought down the younger generation to the same level as the LTTE.
The Opposition Leader said, “End this state terrorism immediately. Stop the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to hunt down the youth of the country. If not, we will have to take to the streets with the country’s youth and engage in a massive protest movement for the rights of the youths.”
Premadasa, who said that they believe the Government and the President will have some perception to release these arrested youths as soon as possible, also said that at present, the country’s mandate lies with the younger generation. “Please fulfill this duty for the country. Work for the youth. That is the hope of everyone in the country.”
‘Harmful regulations’
SLPP Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma has charged that having claimed that there is no necessity for the imposition of Emergency Regulations in the country, the Government was striving to justify its removal by making use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The MP said that there is a clear move by the present regime to thwart the peaceful conduct of public protests and demonstrations by using the controversial PTA regulations.
In a tweet, MP Alahapperuma urged all citizens in the country to mount a joint opposition to defeat efforts made by the Government to activate the ‘harmful regulations’ of the PTA.
UNP Convention
The UNP representatives had briefed the President on Monday about the 76th Convention of the party. Following day, a special discussion on the party Convention was held under the patronage of UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardena.
It was also attended by UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena, General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, National Organiser Sagala Ratnayake and party Executive Officer Shamal Senarath. Dhanushka Ramanayake and Shanuka Karunaratne had also joined the discussion on behalf of the media unit.
It was decided during the meeting to conduct the 76th Convention of the UNP at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on September 6 under the theme ‘united’. A decision was also taken to conduct religious observances at each electorate on September 4 parallel to the party convention. A UNP party convention is conducted under the leadership of a President of its own party after a lapse of 28 years.
First death anniversary
A religious ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Bolgoda residence of late Minister Mangala Samaraweera to mark his first death anniversary. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, Parliamentarians Dr.Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickremaratne, Tiran Alles, former Minister Ravi Karunanayake and a large number of friends of late Minister Samaraweera attended the religious ceremony. Even President Wickremesinghe spent a couple of hours there and had discussions with those who attended the ceremony.
President meets Japanese Ambassador
A meeting was held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Japanese Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki at the President’s Office on Wednesday. The Japanese Ambassador conveyed the greetings of Emperor Hironomiya Narahito to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and thereafter the duo engaged in a friendly conversation. The Japanese Ambassador and President Wickremesinghe also discussed the upcoming program on the 70th anniversary of former President J.R. Jayewardene’s address at the San Francisco Peace Conference, a special celebration jointly organized by the Embassy of Japan and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation on September 6.
IMF discussion
Another round of discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to find solutions to the financial crisis facing Sri Lanka, was held on Friday at the President’s Office under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
President Wickremesinghe joined the meeting via zoom technology and exchanged ideas in a positive manner. The IMF had made a request for additional information pertaining to electricity tariff revisions, the Excise Act etc and it was decided at this meeting to provide the information on Monday. Financial and legal advisors of the IMF joined the meeting and another round of discussions has been scheduled for August 31.
Opportunities for young MPs
A group of SLPP Parliamentarians had a discussion with former Youth Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa in Colombo last week. SLPP MPs Indika Anuruddha, Shehan Semasinghe and D.V. Chanaka told Namal Rajapaksa “When the new Cabinet is appointed, you also can accept a ministerial portfolio because you performed well as Youth and Sports Minister of the previous Government.
Then Namal Rajapaksa had said, “The Rajapaksas have made a lot of sacrifices on behalf of the country. This time they sacrificed even the presidency and the premiership. Therefore, we can work on behalf of the country without having any portfolios. What I need is to do something for the district leaders of Pohottuwa. Opportunities should also be given for the young SLPP Parliamentarians to come forward and render their service on behalf of the people. If I have a portfolio or not, I will fully commit to public service.”
Financial security
UNP Chairman MP Wajira Abeywardena said President Ranil Wickremesinghe has already implemented a mechanism to use the state machinery for the betterment of the nation. At a press conference on Friday Abeywardena said that the facilities available for those in the Government and private sectors should be the same and if such facilities are provided, many people will not try to enter the Government Sector in the future.
He said, “There are six to seven hundred thousand employees in the Public Sector and seventeen to eighteen hundred thousand in the private sector. Both sectors are necessary for Sri Lanka’s development. There is a need for a system in which the same rights are given to the Government sector and the private sector.”
Abeywardena said, “Most of the people join the Government Sector for two reasons. One is for financial security. The other reason is less work. The Government machinery should be utilised for the improvement of the nation. The President has a plan which is for the greater good of the nation.”
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe hopes that all the people and all political parties would stand together during this crisis period just as we did when we gained independence. Unity is what won us freedom. If we unite again, we can become an economic power in the region. Therefore, no political party can have a secret plan to build the country.
“Conspiracy to overthrow a State is illegal. It can only be done by an election. In the event of a conflict arising from moving outside the democratic structure, the Government’s Security Forces and the Police must control it. Then some people claim that the Government launched a military attack. In recent days, the protestors have destroyed 613 places. Do we call this democracy? No, it is terrorism”, he said.