UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena said that every Sri Lankan must stand against anyone unsettling Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s nation-building endeavour at this critical juncture.
He told the media in Colombo on Thursday that this is not the time for anyone to achieve their dreams of becoming a President, Prime Minister or a Minister. He said the country is experiencing a shortage of essential drugs, paper, fuel and electricity at present, Therefore, there is no possibility of holding an election at this time.
Abeywardena said, “Through the 19th Amendment, the executive powers of the President were transferred to Parliament. Those in the Opposition today are attempting to reverse this move thereby depriving the Parliament of holding such powers. They are not taking decisions based on national needs.”
He said today the country needs a national policy framework that should continue for years without change to achieve success. Such a framework should be finalised with the support of every faction in the political arena.
He said, “There is a slogan among the public that the Rajapaksas should leave politics now. Those in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna must think of it very seriously. If someone opposes the move to prevent dual citizens entering politics that person is going against public opinion.”
“Don’t give up cultivation”
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed officials to immediately launch a comprehensive public-private partnership program for food security.
He said negotiations with several countries to meet the fertiliser needs have been successful. Therefore, the President called upon all farmers not to give up cultivation during the Yala Season due to a shortage of fertiliser or any other reason.
The President was speaking at a discussion at the President’s House, Colombo recently on cultivation activities of the Yala season and the lessening possible food shortages in the future. President Rajapaksa said that a National Fertiliser Policy should be formulated expeditiously for the import, distribution, proper management, awareness, and coordination among farmers and officials.
He said that the full support of the Ministry of Agriculture should be given to carry out cultivation activities using chemical or organic fertiliser as per the wishes of the farmers.
Media speculation
There was media speculation Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s plan to introduce the 21st Amendment to the Constitution has met with resistance within the ruling SLPP coalition.
Premier Wickremesinghe on Sunday, May 29 batted for the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, saying it will curb the President’s unlimited powers while enhancing the role of Parliament in governing the country.
As reported by the media, the proposal had met with opposition from the Rajapaksa loyalists, particularly from the supporters of SLPP National Organiser former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
The 21st Amendment proposes to bar dual citizens from holding any top public office. At the Government parliamentary group meeting held on Monday, May 30, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told ruling SLPP lawmakers that he was fully backing the 21st Amendment.
Some SLPP Parliamentarians believed to be Basil Rajapaksa’s supporters had told Wickremesinghe that granting economic relief to people in the worst-ever economic crisis was more important than constitutional reforms.
However, another group of Government MPs had felt that Constitutional reforms too were necessary for the Government’s bid to win international support to tackle the economic crisis.
The Prime Minister had told the ruling coalition Parliamentarians that they were free to talk to him on the clarification over the 21st Amendment adding that there was a need to change the structure of Parliament and create a new system.
Unconditional support
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said that everybody who loves the country must give unconditional support to pass the proposed 21st Amendment to the Constitution with constructive criticism.
At a press conference at the UNP ‘Sirikotha’ Headquarters, he alleged that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was working to an agenda of SLPP Parliamentarian and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa when he refused to give support to the 21st Amendment.
Range Bandara said, “His aim is to protect the Rajapaksas. He says one thing to the people but acts in a totally different manner by colluding with former Minister Rajapaksa. The Opposition Leader tries to scuttle the constitutional reforms process. The 21st Amendment is a step forward from the 19th Amendment to strengthen democracy and the Parliamentary system. Anybody who objects to it tries to protect the Executive powers.”
He said, “This Amendment empowers the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption and hinders the room for fraud, corruption and theft. Does the Opposition Leader say that those are not good moves?” he said.
Range Bandara said it can be observed that even though the TNA is to support the 21st Amendment, MPs M.A. Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam seem to be opposing it. “It is obvious that they are trying to strike a deal with Basil Rajapaksa.”
Bandara said that there is a doubt whether they are trying to protect the Executive Presidency.
PM briefs British counterpart
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held discussions with British Premier Boris Johnson on Monday, May 30 and briefed his British counterpart on the current situation in the country. The British Premier has assured the United Kingdom’s continuing support for the people of Sri Lanka during the current economic crisis.
The UK PM’s Office had confirmed in a press release that the British Prime Minister spoke to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday afternoon. Prime Minister Johnson congratulating Wickremesinghe on his recent appointment as Prime Minister has underlined the UK’s continuing support for the people of Sri Lanka during their current economic difficulties.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the British Premier pledged to support Sri Lanka especially in the fields of tackling climate change and assisting the country in becoming an export oriented open economy. The British Prime Minister and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also discussed the potential for further UK-Sri Lanka cooperation in several areas including clean energy.
Fracas
An altercation was reported on Thursday between a senior Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP’s son and the Police at the Bedigama Interchange on the Southern Expressway.
The incident had taken place when two Police officers had stopped the MP’s son’s cab when he had tried to enter the Expressway with a refrigerator loaded at the back of the vehicle. The person involved in the incident was identified as the son of SJB MP Dilip Wedaarachchi. Footage of the incident circulating on social media shows the Parliamentarian’s son and his wife were abusing the two Policemen on duty in obscene language after being prevented from entering the Expressway.
It was reported that the Policeman had subsequently filed a complaint with the Weeraketiya Police station regarding the incident.
However, MP Dilip Wedaarachchi’s son, Ravindu Wedaarachchi had posted a clarification on social media, claiming that the Police officer had initially attempted to assault him.
He had said that the Police officer had manhandled him and threatened him when he had then retaliated with words.
Later the vehicle driven by the son and daughter-in-law of MP Dilip Wedaarachchi was taken into custody on Friday afternoon at a hotel in the Madiha area in Matara.
“Hold General Election”
TNA Jaffna district Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran told the media that the only solution to the political crisis in the country is to hold a General Election and elect a new Government.
He said that the present Government cannot be accepted as its formation was unconstitutional. Sumanthiran said the Government should be dissolved immediately and a General Election held.
He said the Government has not been able to solve any of the people’s problems.
Sumanthiran said that the people were demanding a new Government as the prices of goods had gone up so much that people could not afford to buy groceries and services such as gas, electricity and fuel which has also gone up exponentially in addition to there being a severe shortage.
Opposition leader expresses concern
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa expressed concern over the Government’s plan of bringing a Constitutional amendment that will benefit the Rajapaksa clan to be in power and to fulfill their ultimate aspirations.
He said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) brought the 21st Amendment for the benefit of people in the country and not to fulfill the dirty obligations of anybody else in the Government.
The Opposition Leader was speaking at a media briefing at the Opposition Leader’s office, Colombo which was attended by a large number of SJB supporters from the Gampaha and Galle districts.
He said the SJB brought the 21st Amendment with the sole intention of eliminating the Presidential executive powers as these powers now benefit certain leaders to achieve their own personal goals.
Premadasa said SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara brought the 21st Amendment as a Private Member’s Motion for the sake of people and the country.
Disciplinary action
SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara has said that disciplinary action will be taken at the right time against senior SLFP Parliamentarians Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera for taking appointments as Cabinet Ministers in the current Government without informing the party.
At a media briefing at the SLFP headquarters, Jayasekara said the party cannot have two sets of laws, and if action was taken against Shantha Bandara and Suren Raghavan who took ministerial portfolios without informing the party, action should also be taken against the two senior MPs who took ministerial posts without informing the party.
He said that action will be taken against the two ministers soon. Meanwhile, the SLFP has decided to sack Mahinda Amaraweera and Nimal Siripala de Silva from their posts within the party for accepting Cabinet portfolios. According to a letter from SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena, the party only proposed to support the Government in Parliament for decisions that benefit the public.
The letter stated the SLFP Central Committee unanimously decided that if an SLFP MP accepts a position in the Government, he should be stripped of all SLFP positions. SLFP Deputy Chairman Mahinda Amaraweera and SLFP Senior Vice President Nimal Siripala de Silva accepted ministerial portfolios as Agriculture Minister and Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.
The letter stated, “The party’s Central Committee unanimously decided that any MP who goes against this decision and accepts a portfolio must be removed from all positions in the party. Thus, all SLFP MPs appointed to ministries are hereby removed from all party positions.”
Pardon
As reported by the media, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed UNP National Organiser Sagala Ratnayake and Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake to look into the possibility of getting imprisoned former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake released.
Sagala Ratnayake and the Secretary to the Prime Minister visited Ranjan Ramanayake at the Welikada Prison on Tuesday and inquired about his condition. Ramanayake has told Sagala Ratnayake and the Secretary to the Prime Minister that he is preparing for his degree examination and that the laptop given to him for that work has been taken back by the prison authorities.
Ramanayake has said that the computer was taken back saying that he was making calls from it. The Secretary to the Prime Minister has discussed the matter with the prison officials and the prison officials have informed that all facilities will be provided to Ranjan Ramanayake for his educational activities.
Foreign Minister briefs Diplomats
Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris briefed the Colombo-based Diplomatic corps on Thursday, June 2 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prof. Peiris had outlined the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka and the challenges encountered by the Government which included pressing issues such as shortage of fuel, gas, essential pharmaceutical products and power cuts.
The Foreign Minister also detailed measures taken by the Government to address the situation in this regard and called on the envoys to extend their fullest assistance at this time of need. In his address, the Minister referred to the 21st Amendment to the Constitution that is before Parliament and outlined some of the key features of this important legislation.
Foreign Minister Peiris expressed his appreciation to the Diplomatic Corps for their participation and requested the envoys to extend their support and goodwill during a particularly challenging phase in Sri Lanka’s recent history.
Sports Fund
Newly appointed Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe on Friday transferred his monthly salary to strengthen his Ministry’s Sports Fund.
Soon after assuming duties at the Ministry, he took steps to remit his pay to the Sports Fund.
Minister Ranasinghe met Ministry officials and staff to discuss issues affecting the Ministry and the obstacles the Ministry faces in addressing them.
The Ministry staff had pointed out that the Treasury had reduced funding to the Ministry due to the economic crisis.
Minister Ranasinghe said that sportsmen and sportswomen require nutritional food and proper facilities to engage in sports. He said “They should not neglect their training and they should train continuously and vigorously.”
“Dollars will flow in if. . .”
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said it will raise enough foreign revenue to overcome the economic crisis if the party is given the responsibility to form the Government.
Party General Secretary Tilvin Silva said, “If the JVP takes over the Government today, dollars will flow into Sri Lanka from tomorrow.”
He said if the JVP takes over the Government, it will be able to attract US$ 1.5 billion a month from migrant workers alone. He said that the JVP had party branches in various countries and they could be used to bring in dollars to the country.
Silva said when Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down the JVP had informed the President that the party was ready to take over the Government but the President had not agreed and had appointed UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister.
He said that if his party accepts the Government, it was suggested that the President should resign and the Speaker should be appointed as the acting President.
He said that if the JVP had taken over the Government it was planning to have a small Cabinet with three JVP Parliamentarians and 10 other MPs who do not have corruption allegations against them.