Government lawmakers categorically refuted the main Opposition SJB accusations that the sudden prorogation of Parliament was meant to terminate investigations undertaken by parliamentary watchdog committees, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Public Finance (COPF).
Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said the reason behind the President’s decision to prorogue Parliament is impenetrable at this point. When questioned by journalists at the weekly media briefing at the SLPP headquarters, Prof.Peiris replied that it is the prerogative of the President and he is likely to deliver the Government’s Policy Statement at the inauguration of the new session as per the tradition.
Not unique
At the SLPP media briefing, journalists asked whether the President’s decision to prorogue Parliament had been influenced by high profile inquiries conducted particularly by COPE chaired by SLPP National List MP Prof. Charitha Herath.
Asked whether Prof. Herath would be dropped from the COPE when the new Parliament session commenced on January 18, 2022, Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP said that the composition of the outfit could be changed and Parliament would decide the Chairperson of the watchdog committee.
The Foreign Minister also said that there was no rule that these three parliamentary watchdog committees should function without any changes during the entire five-year parliamentary term. Dismissing the claim that the prorogation was a unique situation, Prof. Peiris explained all previous Presidents exercised the power bestowed on them by the Constitution to prorogue Parliament.
However, the main Opposition SJB alleged that Parliament was prorogued to get rid of Prof. Charitha Herath, Prof. Tissa Vitharana and Anura Yapa who head the important parliamentary watchdog committees.
SJB Parliamentarian S. M. Marikkar told a recent media briefing that the House was prorogued to remove MP Charitha Herath as the head of COPE, Tissa Vitharana as the head of COPA and Anura Priyadharshana Yapa as the head of COPF.
Marikkar said, “The stage has been set to remove these MPs from the posts they hold as they did an impartial job. He said Herath summoned various officers from state institutions such as BOI while Prof. Vitharana summoned the heads of the Excise Department. MP Yapa also uncovered scams at the Finance Ministry. It is a known fact that BOI officials had an issue with regard to being summoned to COPE. This is why the Government wants to get rid of present heads of parliamentary Committees.”
Marikkar who is also a COPE member said, “I bet these MPs will not be re-appointed as Committee heads again.”
The President, in an Extraordinary Gazette proclaiming the prorogation of Parliament, has set January 18, 2022 as the date of commencement of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament. After the conclusion of the Budget, Parliament had previously decided to meet again on January 11, 2022 but the President has suspended the sittings by another week. Parliament records show that Parliament had been prorogued about fifty times since 1947. The previous Parliament had been prorogued three times before its dissolution on March 2 last year, whereas the Seventh Parliament, which was summoned in 2010, had only one session till its dissolution in 2015.
Conclave
A conclave of Tamil and Muslim political party leaders at Global Towers in Colombo recently had discussed proposals for the betterment of Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka. They had decided to compile a common set of proposals and will meet again on December 21 for its finalisation.
After they place their signatures on the document, it will be released, Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader MP Mano Ganesan, one of the participants, tweeted later. Among the other party leaders who attended the discussion were R. Sambanthan, Rauf Hakeem, Selvam Adakalanathan, C.V. Wigneshwaran, Suresh Premachandran and T. Sidharthan.
Not interested
There is media speculation that the main coalition partner of the Government, the SLFP, had not expressed much interest in the request made by main Opposition SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake calling on the SLFP to discuss working according to a common political agenda after joining the Opposition.
However, the SLFP had maintained that the party was not convinced by the actions of the SJB in Opposition, and would, therefore, not respond to the SJB’s request. SLFP Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa had said that the SLFP did not have any desire of joining the SJB and working according to a common Opposition agenda.
JVP member Sunil Handunnetti said the Government is not seeking International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans not because it fears measures unpopular with the people but because it fears the IMF will propose cutting down benefits given to politicians.
He said he was personally pleased that the IMF was needed to overcome the current crisis and stressed that politicians should cut back on unlimited benefits. He said that the relief given to the people has been cut and if the Government pays an allowance of Rs. 5,000 and when a person goes to the shops to buy goods with it, they will come to know it is hardly inadequate due to rising inflation.
Handunetti said that pensions paid to MPs should be slashed and official benefits such as free accommodation, the number of vehicles, and security should be reduced.
He said this should apply to Ministers and former Presidents as well. He said “In addition to receiving an allowance from Parliament, MP’s receive a sitting allowance for each passing day. The Parliament canteen should also be closed. MP’s should be encouraged to bring food from home”. Handunetti said funds should be given for tourism development from the President’s Fund. He said if the Government is willing to reduce the benefits of politicians then the people too would be ready for any sacrifice to uplift the country from the current economic situation.
Hardship
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that trying to solve the Dollar problem without approaching the IMF will mean that the people will have to face hardships. The former Prime Minister made this comment during a discussion at his residence in Colombo, with Party officials and activists regarding the political situation on Thursday, December 16. He recalled that on the very day that Parliament will be summoned, January 18, US$ 500 million has to be paid.
The people who said that they will not pay even five cents for the fertiliser ship, are now going to pay a compensation of US$ 6.7 million to China.
UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said that when that amount is divided by the population in the country, everyone in this country will have to pay Rs. 62 each.
However, as reported by the media there are contradicting views within the Cabinet of Ministers and the Government parliamentary group to seek an IMF bailout. It is said that the Government will consider the pros and cons of both views and will implement the more favourable view. However, as of now the Government is yet to reach a final decision on the matter.
“Fall in living standards”
Eleven constituent parties of the Government have strongly criticised the attempts being made by the Government to sign an agreement with US-based New Fortress Energy Inc, for Sri Lanka’s LNG requirement.
Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara on Tuesday, December 14 said though they are in the Government, certain actions taken by the Government violate the pledges they made to the people.
He said, “On one hand, we are disgusted with the corrupt conduct of the Government, and on the other we witness the fall of living standards of the people.”
“Views disregarded”
SLPP National List MP Prof. Tissa Vitharana lamented that though they worked to bring the President and the Government to power and are on the same side, their views are being disregarded. He said “We will continue to struggle to direct the Government on to the correct path. This is not easy when they do not listen to us.”
Minister Wimal Weerawansa, one of the most vocal figures in the Government said there are some who attempt to portray the efforts of the 11 constituent parties as a political charade.
Unconstitutional
Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC on Friday, December 17 informed the Supreme Court that the affidavits filed by Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Prabath Gammanpila over the Yugadanavi power plant agreement were unconstitutional.
The Attorney General told the apex court that these three Ministers have violated the Constitutional provisions by filing affidavits against a Cabinet decision. He said that these Ministers have breached the collective responsibility of Cabinet by filing affidavits against the transfer of shares of Yugadanavi power plant to an American company. Fundamental Rights petitions filed against the Government’s decision to transfer the shares of the power plant were taken up before a five Bench Supreme Court judge panel for the second day on Friday.
Serious anomalies
Sri Lanka’s LNG deal with the US-based New Fortress Energy Inc, is reportedly falling apart after Opposition factions exposed serious anomalies in the agreement.
“We will reverse all these agreements as they harm the country”, threatened Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, speaking recently in Parliament on the ‘New Fortress Energy’ LNG deal. His remarks came after JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake made an explosive revelation noting that the agreement for the LNG Plant in Kerawalapitiya was not signed with New Fortress Energy, but with a separate company.
Tabling the agreement, Dissanayake said that the Government has in fact signed it with NFE Sri Lanka Power Holding LLC. and not with the New Fortress Energy Inc.
Former JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti alleged that when the Yugadanavi power plant agreement was signed, the same person had signed as a witness on behalf of both parties. Speaking at a recent media conference, Handunnetti said that the agreement was signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka by the Finance Ministry Secretary and signed by the Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman as a witness on behalf of the Sri Lankan side. He alleged that the latter had also signed as a witness on behalf of a company named NFE Sri Lanka Power Holding LLC.
Handunnetti said, “When the Finance Ministry Secretary signed on behalf of the Government, the Government witness signs on behalf of the American Company. Is that even possible in an agreement? This is like the one who signed as a witness for the groom, signed as the witness of the bride also.”
Trade union leaders felicitated
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said real leaders of the working class do not go after petty political gains. The Premier was speaking at the ‘Shramayata Abiman-Janatha Buhuman 2021’ ceremony organised at Temple Trees to felicitate public servants who were actively involved in trade union work for over 35 years.
Nine trade union leaders and two retired public servants, who devoted their time for the betterment of the working class, were felicitated. The Prime said, “The trade union leaders tirelessly worked for the country’s freedom and democracy, and their aim was to confront the challenges before the country one by one. The late E. A. Gunasinghe, Dr. N.M. Perera, Colvin R. de Silva, Pieter Keuneman, Dr. S. A. Wickramasinghe and Philip Gunawardena were great trade union leaders. Their trade union movements were not divided according to ethnicity, religion or caste. All worked as one group and they laid the foundation for our trade union sector, which remains strong even today,” the PM said.
Premier Rajapaksa said, “Trade Union struggles cannot be conducted in air-conditioned rooms. When you are involved in them, you can be attacked, assaulted or jailed. However, no union leader can be silenced by such means. Many of the privileges and rights of the working class were results of the struggles of trade unionists. They have not gained anything special for themselves though they tirelessly worked for others.”
Vital role
Defence Secretary General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said that Sri Lanka’s Security Forces have played a vital role in ensuring national security and nation building process over the past two years.
At a media briefing organised by the Presidential Media Centre on Wednesday, December 15 on the activities of the three forces during the past two years, Defence Secretary Gunaratne said the country’s national security has been ensured and there is no room for separatism, and also added that no Sri Lankan should have any undue fear. He also said that the state intelligence service and other intelligence services are being operated as a strong single network today.
The Defence Secretary said the freedom that war heroes brought to the country by sacrificing their lives and the national security of the country was turned upside down following the Easter Sunday attacks.
He alleged that the investigations were not carried out properly during the former Government’s tenure and said all assistance will be provided to the judiciary to bring justice to the innocent families affected by the Easter Sunday attack.
Responding to a question on whether the country was being militarised, Defence Secretary Gunaratne said a few retired Army officers holding Government posts was not a sign of militarisation and asked whether it would be wrong for a retired military officer to use his years of knowledge and experience to serve the country and the people.
Twelve SJBers vote for Budget
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said 12 members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya voted in favour of the Budget when the Opposition bragged that the Government will be overthrown. He said that the Government which had 151 Seats in Parliament has now increased it to 157 and it is clear that the Opposition is weakening day by day. Minister Aluthgamage told the media in Gannoruwa, Kandy, that the Budget debate went on for 26 days and that the statements by the Opposition that the Government would not win a single head and that the Government would be overthrown turned out to be a damp squib.