President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he embarked on this journey of overcoming the economic crisis, taking a huge risk.
He was making a statement in Parliament on Thursday regarding the current economic situation in the country. “At a time when no other political party or leader of the Opposition would accept this risk, I accepted the risk for the country and embarked on a dangerous journey. We have progressed gradually, but steadily. We know that the majority of people in our country support this journey. They want a good life, a good country and a good future.”
President Wickremesinghe said, however, there are people who hope to get political benefits by destroying the country day-by-day and putting it deeper into crisis. They see everything wrongly. Some of these groups are struggling to adapt some theories that were attempted to be implemented decades ago.
Some political groups said don’t give water to a dying man but carry the corpse after his death around the country. The President said some groups are struggling to apply this theory even today. They are waiting for the economy to take its last breath without supporting it. They think that if the economy collapses and people die, they will be able to gain power over their bodies.
He said, “I like to point out that such expectations have never been fulfilled anywhere in the world. Even if power is gained in such a way, that same would end in a more unfortunate manner. I request those with such views to ask of their own consciences. Now no one has to stay in fuel or LPG queues for days. The lights don’t go off for ten to twelve hours. Schools and universities are open and we feel that all sectors of the country are coming back to normal. The people of this country have a strong need to bring their lives back to normal. The Colombo International Book Fair, which ended very successfully, can be cited as an example of a well- reflected need, the President said.
“There are many shortcomings and flaws which should be rectified. It will be possible to make this journey stronger and faster only with the support of all of you, so again I request you to forget the old vendettas and join this journey. Criticism is easy and to see the mistakes of others. It’s easy to protest, but finding solutions is difficult. I am following the method shown by the Buddha to raise the country again from this economic crisis. Therefore, I again request all of you to join a common program to build the country through the National Assembly of Parliament - Jana Sabhava which is to be set up soon, and the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees.
Uncalled for interference
Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry, PC said that the UNHRC does not have the expert knowledge or mandate to dictate terms on economic reforms to Sri Lanka. The Minister, however, acknowledged that Sri Lanka needs economic reforms and alleged economic losses must be investigated within the country’s laws.
Joining a media conference via Zoom on Wednesday while attending the 51 st session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister Sabry said the Government is working with the IMF and other economic specialists on economic matters and the UNHRC’s involvement on that aspect was an uncalled-for interference.
The Minister, noting that Sri Lanka has expressed its strong opposition to the draft Resolution, said it would likely be adopted given the composition of the Council and heavy lobbying by powerful countries in the West. He said the number of votes against the Resolution would be significantly less than that of the previous year, as several like-minded countries such as Bangladesh, the Philippines and the Maldives have no voting powers this year.
Minister Sabry said, “By continuously keeping Sri Lanka in the UNHRC agenda, the Western countries are trying to use human rights as a tool to pressure and control our country to advance their polarised and political objectives. The diaspora groups in those countries continue to add pressure all the time.” The Minister said that Sri Lanka needs to set up a truth-seeking mechanism of its own following the footsteps of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“We have to admit that we have made little progress on that aspect. It has to be accelerated, and it is our responsibility on behalf of our own people,” he said. He emphasised the importance of a Diaspora Secretariat to connect with the diaspora community and take their contributions to develop the country.
Namesake committee
The SLFP has said that it salutes all brotherly political parties who abstained from participating in the National Council.
In a media release, the SLFP stated that the purpose of the proposal on the National Council is only to give a false impression to the international community that political stability has been established in the country by installing an All-Party Government, but justice will not be done to the people’s uprisings that took place across the country, by the so-called National Council.
It also stated that the National Council is a namesake committee that aims to indirectly obtain the approval of all the parties representing Parliament for all the decisions of the Government. Considering this situation, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party decided to refrain from joining the National Council but will work from the Opposition to support any positive policy decision taken by the Government for the good and security of the Sri Lankan state and the nation disregarding narrow political gains.
Practical solutions
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the people only want practical solutions rather than mere plans described by circulars.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the first international conference on Global Challenges of Local Governance and Leadership organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Government on Wednesday. The Premier said that people want results, not circulars. People anticipate practical solutions more than opinions given through circulars.
He said, “People want immediate rewarding results, not complicated plans. Identifying people’s problems and providing solutions to them through participatory democracy is a primary responsibility of people’s representatives at Local Government level. Information Technology knowledge at Local Government level is essential nowadays. It is the desire of the Government to take Information Technology to the village level. To win the world, it is necessary to speed up the transfer of information technology to the village.”
He said that the time has come for Local Government representatives to act swiftly and sensibly in bringing information technology to the village. “History bears witness to the existence of a rural governance structure even during the Anuradhapura period. The challenge of improving this to match today’s needs is the duty of Local Government representatives.”
The chosen one
JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament although the President attempted to push the idea that he accepted the challenge of leading the country forward through the economic crisis as there was no one else qualified to take up the challenge, the question remains whether he accepted it because he did not have a choice, or whether he was chosen to oversee the return of the Rajapaksas.
He said that the Rajapaksa camp was pushed against the wall, and they chose Wickremesinghe as the President to see them through the crisis. He said, “Therefore, he is not the one who accepted this challenge, but he is the chosen one.”
Dissanayake said that he too remains ready to accept this very same position and challenged the President to hold an election to appoint a Leader and Government. Citing the statement by the President alleging that some political parties are ready to take power over dead bodies, Dissanayake challenged the President to name such parties.
“We have to accept that a Government and an individual cannot come out of this crisis alone. Society should be united for this. Society should be built on trust. To build social trust, a Government that meets the will of the public must be set up through an election. He is not a President elected by the people. This is a President elected by 134 members of Parliament to save themselves,” he said.
Dissanayake said that this kind of crisis can only be overcome by building a Government that the people can trust.
Five MPs
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament on Friday that the Government is trying to buy five MPs of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to join the Cabinet. Premadasa said that not five MPs but at least one MP from the SJB would join the Government. Premadasa said that the SJB is ready to support the Government within a social-democratic mechanism, considering the serious situation the country is in due to the economic crisis.
The Opposition Leader also said that Sri Lanka is placed in a vulnerable situation due to the adoption of the resolution against it at the UNHRC recently. Premadasa said that it is a slap on the face for the Government which boasts about strong foreign diplomacy. The Opposition Leader said that for the first time in history, the UN resolution against Sri Lanka includes economic crimes.
The New Lanka Freedom Party (NLFP) led by SJB Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama told the media although it is ready to work with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) or its other members, it is, however, not at all ready to work with former President and current SLFP Chairman MP Maithripala Sirisena, nor to involve the latter in the NLFP by any means.
NLFP General Secretary Thilak Waragoda said that the NLFP Central Committee, at its recent meeting discussed working with other political parties and politicians, as several political parties and politicians have expressed their willingness to join, or work together with, the NLFP.
He said, “NLFP Leader Welgama informed us that the SLFP and former President Sirisena are inquiring about a possible coalition with the NLFP. At that time, the opinion of most of the Central Committee members was that it does not matter if we work with politicians representing the SLFP, but that we do not have any faith in Sirisena, and therefore, we cannot deal with him. He abandoned us when the United National Front-led Government was formed in 2015 so that we cannot place any trust in him.”
Wragoda told the media, “Many SLFP members are in discussion with us to join the NLFP. Some of them are willing to join the NLFP personally, while some are calling for the formation of an alliance with the NLFP. Our opinion is also that all Opposition parties should work together in this situation. We are ready to work with the SLFP too, but not with Sirisena.”
“Knowledgeable people axed”
SLFP General Secretary and Kurunegala district MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that knowledgeable Parliamentarians who were in the COPE and the COPA have been removed.
He said, “There is no point talking about the ones who have replaced them,” Jayasekara said, requesting the Speaker to act fairly regarding the appointments. He said, “When my name was proposed, Minister Susil Premajayantha seconded it. But now, my name has been struck off from the list. Not only me, but Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Prof. Tissa Vitharana and Prof. B.Y.G. Rathnasekara too have been removed,” Jayasekara said.
Only a draft agreement
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament on Tuesday that details regarding the IMF agreement will be submitted to the Parliamentary Committees after an agreement is finalised. The Premier said there is only a draft agreement right now.
The Prime Minister was replying to a question raised by NFF Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa as to why the staff level agreement that the Government has made with the International Monetary Fund has not been presented to the House.
Premier Gunawardena said that several questions with regard to an agreement with the IMF were raised many times in Parliament and both the Speaker and the Finance Ministry had answered them earlier. MP Weerawansa queried whether the Government had entered into a staff level agreement with the IMF. Why is that agreement not presented to the House yet? Doesn’t the country want to know?” The Prime Minister said the Government has not entered into an agreement with the IMF yet officially. There is only a draft agreement. When the agreement is finalised, we will give details about it to the Committees.
Arbitrary decisions
State Minister of Social Empowerment Anupa Pasqual told Parliament on Friday that the Chairman of the Finance Committee Dr. Harsha De Silva, takes arbitrary decisions without consulting the Finance Committee. Referring to a question of privileges, the State Minister said that as a member of the Finance Committee, his privileges have been violated.
He said that a Special Committee should be appointed and an investigation should be conducted. “We have a serious question about MP Harsha de Silva’s actions as the Chairman of the State Finance Committee. He has seriously violated our privileges. The Chairman has acted arbitrarily in examining matters that are not related to the subject matter of the Finance Committee,” he said.
The State Minister said that the Chairman called for a report of the Auditor General regarding the coal tender and further investigation as per the request of the Minister without consulting the members of the Committee. In response to this, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that MP Harsha de Silva, as the Chairman of the Finance Committee, has the right to investigate how this country became bankrupt and the corruption and irregularities in this country.
MP Chandima Weerakkody said that as members of the Finance Committee, the Chairman and members are dedicated to the efficiency of the law and transparency institutions of this country, and they are working to prevent and stop the corrupt people involved in those activities.
Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the Minister requested in writing to conduct an investigation in this regard. “Accordingly, I met the Speaker and followed his instructions. In my opinion, it was not done with power. I am ready to do research on this,” he said.