Rohan Welivita Media Secretary to The Prime Minister
The Office of the Prime Minister hereby rejects and disowns the statement issued by parliamentarian Sagala Ratnayake on the 1st November 2018. His Excellency the President has appointed the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The Secretary to the Prime Minister has also been appointed by the President.
The Office of the Prime Minister therefore stresses that the statement issued by Parliamentarian Sagala Ratnayake on a letterhead of the Prime Minister’s Office, has no validity whatsoever. We wish to inform the public that no official by the name of Sagala Ratnayake works at the Prime Minister’s Office and that it is completely illegal for him to issue statements on a letterhead of the Prime Minister’s Office claiming to be the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office.
SPUR (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc)Mulgrave, VIC 3170, Australia
Hon Scott Morrison
Prime Minister
Dear Prime Minister
SRI LANKA’S RECENT POLITICAL CHANGES.
We wish to draw your attention to the recent changes in the Government of Sri Lanka and write to indicate that the appointment of a new Prime Minister by the President of Sri Lanka is in keeping with the Constitution of Republic of Sri Lanka.
The two party National Government of Sri Lanka which came to office in 2015 lost its mandate to rule when the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) of President Maithripala Sirisena withdrew from the Coalition. The subsequent appointment of Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister has led to a stable alliance which includes several lawmakers from the former PM’s United National Party.
As per section 42 (4) the Constitution of Sri Lanka, President can appoint a person who according to his belief can win the confidence of the House of Representatives as the Prime Minister. Further, the President can change the Ministers and the subjects handled by them
It has to be mentioned that when Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe was appointed as the Prime Minister in 2015, by the present President of Sri Lanka ,he had only 42 MPs backing him whereas the sitting Prime Minister had the support of over 120 MPs. The former Prime Minister, Mr D. M.Jayaratne left the office accepting the constitutional stand of the President.
As you are aware there was a conspiracy to kill the elected President of Sri Lanka and the investigations are being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police. As alleged by the informant, in public, names of Ranil Wickramasinghe and one of his cabinet colleague were mentioned as possible links to the conspiracy. President addressing the nation, recently, said the plot to assassinate him had prompted him to appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the PM and confirmed the involvement of a Cabinet Minister too in this plot. You will no doubt agree what could have been the consequences to Sri Lanka, if the President was killed under such circumstances. To avert any such danger to the country and the people it was necessary for the President to have taken action using powers bestowed in him by the constitution.
Further, it has to be mentioned as Australia has expressed their wish for Sri Lanka to use democratic means in facing the present issue, that the base of democratic government in Sri Lanka was crushed by Ranil Wickramasinghe’s administration when they decided not have Provincial Council elections, after his party’s island wide defeat in local government elections conducted early this year. His party, UNP, received only 34% compared to the 48% of the votes received by the party led by the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa . Further, Ranil Wickramasinghe’s administration chose to undemocratically appoint the Leader of the Opposition in the country’s Parliament, a MP who had only 16 MPs, ignoring the 56 MPs of the Joint Opposition led by the former President. It is unfortunate that Australia opted to ignore so long such basic violations of democratic rights of Sri Lankans without even having a friendly discussion with the former Prime Minister.
While welcoming .Australia’s friendly relationship with Sri Lanka, we as Australians of Sri Lankan origin wish to reiterate that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country with a long history of Parliamentary democracy has the wisdom and the right to manage its domestic issues as much as Australian Coalition Government democratically has to seek the support of the cross benchers in the approval of new bills.
We trust that our clarification will assist you with regard to the your evaluation of the appointment of the new Prime Minister in Sri Lanka
First of all let me congratulate you for getting cleared the first and the most crucial hurdle of removing Ranil the traitor. I am also happy that MR is now under full control of the Three Forces and the Police Dept, the Treasury and the entire machinery of Government as the de-facto head of the new Government.
I am addressing this timely and very important note to you to request you to personally intervene immediately and get the Parliament dissolved ASAP, without desperately waiting to count numbers on the 16 as none of these rouges in Parliament, in my view are dependable and reliable as you also know it and as you are the only man who can and who will do this as well.
Me atisayinma avadanam tatvayen Rata,Jatiya ha Sasanaya bera geniimata avasya saktiya ha dairya Budusaranin ha siyaludevi pihiten oba tumata labevai mama itasitin ha desapremayen pratana karami..
I have already stressed the importance of dissolving Parliament to my good friend Rev Muruttettuwe Ananda Thero as well this morning
To Dinesh Gunawardhana 1.11 2018
Yadamini please tell Tatta to get the President and MR to immediately dissolve the Parliament ASAP without desperately waiting to count the most unpredictable and unreliable numbers on the 16th as none of these rascals in Parliament are reliable.
For instance look at Wasantha Senanayaka who openly declares that he is still a UNP man in spite of the fact he had been given a key Ministry
Me marantika satanin goda ena nivaradina ekama kramaya tama Parlimentuwa visuruwa hera chandekata yema.
Den chandayak tibboth oya tawama Agameti kiyana minihage paksayata asana 30k wath labenne ne.
Me gena mama Gotata saha Muruttettuwe hamuduruwantath adad ude kiva
I would like to be kept informed of the progress pl.
The JVP yesterday said it would remain neutral as regards the ongoing power struggle between the UPFA and the UNP. It denied rumours that it had pledged support to ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during a meeting, chaird by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, at the parliamentary complex yesterday.
JVP Kalutara District MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, contacted for comment, told The Island that he and his parliamentary colleague Vijitha Herath had attended the meeting, summoned by the Speaker.
Dr Jayatissa said MP Herath had vehemently opposed an attempt by the UNP to move a resolution to the effect that the 118 MPs, who were present at the meeting were supportive of Wickremesinghe.
The MPs met in the Committee room one to discuss the current situation and the next sitting date of Parliament.
UNP MPs proposed a two-point resolution to condemn the prorogation of Parliament and condemn the appointment of the new Prime Minister and Cabinet of ministers. However, the parties including the JVP, refused to sign the resolution stating that they had been summoned for a different purpose, which was to discuss the issue and not to signa resolution against the government.
The resolution was presented to the group of 118 MPs by UNP MP Ajith P Perera and was seconded by MP Champika Ranawaka.
Former Minister of Public Enterprise and Kandy City Development Lakshman Kiriella said, at the meeting, that the President of the country had acted against his mandate.
“First it was wrong to appoint a new MP who does not have a majority in parliament. Second, the prime minister was appointed from a party which had lost the last general election. The prorogation of parliament was against parliamentary traditions. As per the traditions of parliament, the President should have consulted the Speaker before proroguing parliament. There had been no such consultation. We follow the traditions of British parliament. Even the Queen of England does not prorogue the British Parliament without consulting the Speaker. We should stand against this. We have the majority of MPs here and we are asking the Speaker to oppose the unjust act.
JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that he and his colleague Kalutara District JVP MP Dr Nalinda Jayatissa were at the meeting to discuss the next course of action with regard to the convening of parliament and not to support either party to the dispute. We are not signing the resolution and if we are to sign any such we need to discuss it before within our party and make a decision.
JVP MP Dr Jayatissa later said that some pro-UNP websites had reported that JVP”, too, had supported the UNP resolution and that was wrong. The party issued an official statement stating that it only wanted the reconvening of Parliament and nothing else.
MPs of UNP, SLMC, TNA, JVP, ACMC, JHU, Tamil Progressive Alliance and Democratic People’s Movement attended the meeting.
The meeting lasted for nearly two hours from 10.15 am.
If UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara was offered money by the government to cross over, he should lodge a compliant to the police without delay, UPFA MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage said today.
When asked whether anyone from the government had offered a bribe to MP Range Bandara or others to join it, the MP said, I saw that MP Range Bandara has made such an allegation. All I have to say is that if he was offered money, he should go to the police and lodge a complaint in this regard,” Aluthgamage said.
MP Range Bandara yesterday revealed that he was offered USD 2.8 million and a ministerial portfolio to join the government.
The UNP today handed over a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
UNP MP Lakhsman Kiriella told Daily Mirror that he signed the motion as the Leader of the House before handing it over to the Speaker. He said the motion states that, In terms of Articles 46(1) and 48 of the Constitution, the Office of Prime Minister becomes vacant only if he dies, resigns, ceases to be a Member of Parliament (by removal or otherwise), or if the Government’s Policy statement or the Budget was defeated or if the government loses a no-confidence motion against it”.
He said as such the House had no confidence in the Prime Minister appointed recently.
The meeting with the former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe was held to discuss as to how the prevailing volatile situation could be resolved while preventing chaos from taking place, says the former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
He stated this addressing the media following an event held with the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today (02).
Meanwhile, CMC member Milinda Rajapaksha, who is the Spokesperson to Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, says that the former Defence Secretary went to Temple Trees as a nominee of the President and Prime Minister on the invitation of Mr Wickremesinghe.
He stated that no other parties were present in this closed-door discussion.
At this brief meeting, they have discussed measures to be taken to avoid any chaos and negativity perceptions from the international community that could unexpectedly erupt in the face of the prevailing volatile situation.”
Mr Rajapaksa has mentioned that The President and The Prime Minister have garnered the confidence and support of the majority in Parliament.”
Mr Wickremesinghe has, in turn, expressed that he too was confident of the support of the people to protect the democracy and supremacy of the Parliament and he is ready to prove it,” the spokesperson said.
There is no justification for the Travel Advisories issued by a few countries since there have been no incidents of violence or disruption in the country following the recent events and the tourism sector has not been subjected to any inconvenience, says the Foreign Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama.
The Minister made these observations when he met with the leading inbound tour operators, Senior Officials of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), representatives of the Sri Lankan Airlines and other leading foreign carriers to discuss the Travel Advisories issued recently.
He has said that the Government was fully committed to safeguarding and improvement of the tourism industry.
The press release issued by the Foreign Ministry stated that the industry leaders briefed the Minister, that in addition to regular flights, TUI, which is one of the world’s leading tour operators, is now scheduled to operate 03 Charter Flights to Colombo on a weekly basis while the TUI Cruise Liner is also scheduled to use Sri Lanka as a Port of Call in the high season.
The industry leaders have also informed that Aeroflot has announced nonstop direct flights from Moscow to Colombo from 28 October 2018 and that SWISS will resume its direct flights Zurich–Colombo from 04 November 2018.
Meanwhile, Lonely Planet, one of the leading international travel guide publishers, has recently named Sri Lanka as the world’s top destination.
It was noted during the meeting, that presently there are around 4000 cricket fans from the UK in Sri Lanka to follow the English cricket team’s current tour and that this is a testimony to the peaceful environment prevailing in the country and tourists are enjoying uninterrupted access to tourist sites and facilities throughout the Island.
The Minister also informed that since the assumption of his present portfolio he has instructed all Heads of Sri Lanka Missions overseas to personally make representation to the authorities concerned in their countries of accreditation to be in keeping with the ground realities in Sri Lanka in order to remove the Travel Advisories. They will also maintain regular interaction with the leading Travel Agents/ Outbound Tour Operators in their respective capitals to brief them on the peaceful situation prevailing on the island with a view to promoting arrivals.
The Minister said that he has plans to make Tourism Promotion the main aspect of the Foreign Ministry’s work programme.
Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha and Senior Officials of the Ministry were present at the meeting.
It is so confusing reading the Constitution with Articles, 42,44,46,48 with sub-articles 1,2 etc. Therefore of all the numbers let us take only the number 19 and try to understand what happened on the 26 October, 2018.
According to number 19 Sri Lanka cannot have more than 30 Ministers in a National Cabinet, unless two or more political parties agreed to unite to form one National Government.
In August,2015 in terms of number 19, the Yahapalanaya Government was set up as a National Coalition government with the UNF and UPFA signing an agreement to form a coalition. They could therefore under number 19, have a Cabinet of more than 30 Ministers, Thus they had a Yahapalanaya government with a Cabinet of 40 Ministers.
Hence the rule was the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe could function in that office as the Prime Minister of the Coalition as long as the coalition lasts.
But on the 26th October,2018 the situation changed with the UPFA the other partner to the Coalition of the Yahapalanaya Government sent a letter to the Speaker to say that they have left the Yahapalanaya Government as its Coalition Partner.
Therefore, the Coalition government was left with only one party to it, with the Cabinet of Ministers reduced by that number that left the Coalition. Hence the Yahapalanaya did not exist anymore as a coalition. In that changed situation under the now famous number 19, Ranil Wickrmasinghe lost his office as the Prime Minister and the government became” desolved.
Therefore, the President Maithripala Sirisena taking into account the changed situation vis à vis the Yahapalnaya government, finding the country without a Prime Minister and therefore a government , called upon Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse MP from Kurunagala , who in his opinion is able to have the confidence of the Members of the Parliament to form a Government under number 19, and swore him in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka replacing Ranil Wickramasinghe who was disposed of from that office under the same number 19.
Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all — the apathy of human beings.”
― Helen Keller
There is a hasty attempt by many folks based on reading half the story and jumping to conclusions to paint a picture that is inaccurate. It is time to take a deep breath and give some credit to the intellect of leaders and the legal luminaries in Sri Lanka however much we may not like them based on partisanship. Their knowledge should not be tainted by the color of their politics. The time has come to look at the bigger picture of the country we call our homeland.
These folks are not stupid. They have a battery of legal experts who understand the constitution that was written and digested in Sri Lanka by fully informed individuals. The executive presidency has unrestrained powers. The union between two parties that formed a government was dissolved when one side pulled out. That is democracy when we can remove what we deem is not doing the country right. Didn’t that happen in 2015? Didn’t the biggest Bond scam to bankrupt the Central Bank happen in February-March 2015?
Such a dissolution makes all the cabinet from the appointed PM downwards no longer valid as members of the cabinet that was no longer holding together. This is explicit in the constitution and removing the PM was not the primary action, pulling out from the joint party deal was the primary action that led to everything else becoming null and void.
It is not the Parliament or cabinet that has powers to appoint or sack a Prime Minister. We had a Prime Minister who was appointed as opposed to being elected. The appointment was made with Presidential Powers and removal is also with Presidential Powers. So if the Attorney General and the legal heavy weights have taken the stand that action was within the framework of the law, why should any one half informed and barely conversant with the constitution stir things up? Do not sling mud about the country. It was slipping down a slippery slope with the huge bond scam, biggest in our history, it was selling national assets to foreign powers outright (not aid or loans but outright ownership) and it was planning to pay reparation for LTTE terrorists and no compensation for those who were victims of suicide bombings, killings of Buddhist worshippers, killing of mosque worshippers, villagers and a whole bunch of people who were blinded and maimed. What about reparation for them? Why do people look at only one side of the equation? If the equation doesn’t balance on both sides, it has to be acted on. If people don’t like Rajapakse, it is better to have a person who made mistakes and will learn from them. It is up to all of you young people to rally round and advice the leaders of what you wish to see happen. As for Political Protocol, I don’t think it is wise to taint opinions on Social Media without knowing the facts and legal implications completely. We don’t need to wait for assasinations like what the LTTE did to a valuable person like Lakshman Kadirgamar, to act. We have to be proactive because power grabbing is a terrible thing but if people love the country then it is up to the voters to shape their actions. Put your energy to better use!!!! The international reputation of Sri Lanka is in tatters. Do something to reverse the opinion that we are like tribes killing each other on sight. Visiting Sri Lanka, the amicable cohabitation has to be seen to be believed but the stories in the international media intentionally misrepresented is doing more damage than removing an appointed Prime Minister. We the people of Sri Lanka, every one of us owes the country to serve in more productive ways.
Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the UK, US, Germany, Canada and the UN had visited the Speaker and discussed the current situation in Sri Lanka with him. They had asked him to reconvene Parliament early and had expressed their concerns the country would face in case of a change of govt. They have also had a meeting with Ranil. During the last three and a half years they backed Ranil as he worked to a foreign agenda. Basically, he was at their beck and call. Ironically, these so called ‘foreign dignataries’ have said that they are concerned about safeguarding ‘Democracy’, human rights, good governance and so on, while they do the opposite.
During the 30 year war, when there was a threat to democracy and elected governments in Sri Lanka, by the LTTE terrorists they were silent. None of them spoke about democracy then. By not selling arms and ammunition to Sri Lanka they indirectly supported the terrorists. At the time, the country which came to rescue Sri Lanka was China. In the same way, China had been the first country to congratulate the new Prime Minister.
The western countries leapt to defend Ranil because he had paved the way for them to intervene in local matters, such as constitutional making. They have urged the President to reconvene Parliament to affirm who will lead the govt. But in Jan 2015, when Ranil was appointed PM with only 42 seats, while D.M. Jayaratna of the UPFA had 144 seats these saviours of democracy were silent. Later, after the general elections, there were no protests by these Diplomats when R. Sampanthan was appointed leader of the opposition with 16 seats overlooking the UPFA which had 95 seats. Subsequently, when Ranil postponed Local Govt elections for 3 years and shelved Provincial Council elections they raised no objections. Then when, Ranil tried to cover up the biggest corruption scandal in Sri Lanka, the Bond Scam, manipulated by his friend Arjuna Mahendra, these western countries had no comments. They are now jumping up and down because the new PM is not a torch bearer to the west. So they are more worried than the UNP politicians about the appointment of the new PM. With the appointment of the new PM, the UK, US etc have been issuing travel warnings and security alerts to travellers to Sri Lanka, to show that there is violence because of the political changes. These show the double standards of the so called International community. On the pretext of safeguarding democracy, they interfere and destabilise other countries.
With all this, the people in Sri Lanka are going on with their business as usual. The latest in this episode is that according to the President, the Parliament is likely to be convened on 5th Nov. This will keep the west, Ranil and his acolytes wondering what to do next.The media as well reported that the Speaker had allocated the Prime Minister’s chair in Parliament to the new PM, Mahinda Rajapakse. So it is time Ranil packed his bags and evacuated Temple Trees.
I feel it is pertinent to start this article with a warning that had been given by Tamara Kunanayakam, an ardent patriot, the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Cuba and the career diplomat who was the only Sri Lankan in 1989 to meet, accommodate, feed and look after Prime Minister Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mr. Vasudeva Nanayakkara when they visited Geneva to present the case of JVP youths being massacred by the then UNP government killer squads led by Rajitha Senaratne, Sunanda Desapriya and some others
She states that Sri Lanka is blatant external interference in a domestic political process, an act inadmissible to any sovereign state and a climate of insecurity is being created artificially by the defeated allies of the West whose objective seems to be to provoke a violent situation that will provide justification for external intervention to restore them to power, if necessary, by force and the ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe defying a legitimate decision taken by the President. Tamara points out that the collective decision that had been taken by the Western envoys a day after a new Prime Minister was sworn in to meet formally and jointly with an ousted Prime Minister in an Office that was no longer his. Was unprecedented.
She states that the current situation in Sri Lanka is grossly distorted in the international media, through misrepresentation of outright lies. For instance, the killing of a Ceylon Petroleum Corporation employee and injuring of other trade unionists were being blamed on Mahinda Rajapaksa, and not on the security officer of the former Minister who tried to enter the premises illegally and Trade Unions and government workers supporting the President’s decisions are being referred to as ‘mobs.’
She asks why these hypocrites who brand themselves as saviours and promoters of democracy remained silent when in 2015 the majority seats held (144 seats) UPFA Prime Minister Mr. D.M. Jayaratne was ousted by replacing him with Ranil Wickremasinghe who had only 41 seats. She also questions about West’s silence on the postponement of local government
elections for over 3 years, and delays in holding Provincial Council elections, all under the Premiership of Ranil Wickremasinghe, and the reason for their remaining silent, and where their gospel of responsibility to protect” was when Germany was unable to form a government for 5 months, when Belgium had no government for almost 2 years (541 days), and Northern Ireland was without government for even longer? She also demands an explanation from the Western brigand over their silence on the Central Bank-Perpetual Treasuries bond scams, the biggest ever corruption scandal of Sri Lanka under Ranil Wickremasinghe’s Premiership and in which his close ally r Arjuna Mahendran, has been held responsible and is evading arrest?
What is the explanation for the West’s silence on the Central Bank-Perpetual Treasuries bond scams under Ranil Wickremasinghe’s Premiership when he was Minister in charge of the Central Bank and for which his close ally, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, has been held responsible and is evading arrest? Why has there been no call for credible investigations by the West on information of a plot to assassinate the President and
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a plot in which a Cabinet Minister is allegedly involved?
Tamara emphasizes that the special meeting’ between the ousted Prime Minister and the selected group of diplomats was not only a violation of the established rules for foreign envoys for communication with the host country. The meeting as well as subsequent declarations can be construed as a concerted and deliberate act against the Head of State, openly challenging the authority vested in the President by the people, interfering in internal political processes, and violating Sri Lanka’s sovereignty
The progeny of Kalu Sudha’s, Kalu Jayasuriya as per a report filed by Ada Derana said held a meeting on 31st October with UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer, Ambassador for the EU Tung-Lai Margue, British High Commissioner James Dauris, Canadian Ambassador David McKinnon and German Ambassador John Rohde and engaged in a special discussion on the current political situation in Sri Lanka and the delegates had expressed their concern over the unexpected political transformation and pointed out the adverse consequences Sri Lanka may face due to this situation and urged them to delay any action against Sri Lanka for the time being. The report also said that the speaker also met a
group of representatives from civil organizations also met with the Speaker and handed over an online petition urging to re-establish democracy by convening the parliament and requesting state officials no to follow any illegal orders.
A News in Asia report said that Jayasuriya warned that there would be a ‘huge bloodbath’ in the country d if the present political crisis is taken out to the streets. He has said that there had been two deaths, some media institutions have been illegally taken over and some people have been prevented from going to work.
Commenting about Jayasuriya’s purported attempts to summon the Parliament the former Speaker and UNP member Mr. Joseph Michael Perera said that the Speaker has no power to convene Parliament when it had been prorogued by the President. Former Law College Principal and Constitutional Lawyer President’s Counsel Dr. Jayatissa de Costa also affirmed this stand.
Following the Speaker’s meeting with Western Diplomats Joker Rajitha Senaratne the man who claimed that he saw by his own eyes Mr. Namal Rajapaksa carrying sacks stuffed with U.S. Dollars (Mangala’s imaginary 18.5 Billion U.S. Dollars) om his shoulders to a Dubai Bank has claimed that there will be sanctions against Sri Lanka from the Western nations. Many political analysts have dismissed stupide Ranjith’s statement as childish and baseless.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankans devoid of party, colour, ethnic and religious affiliations and all those who have at least an iota of patriotism should vehemently condemn the attempt made by Ranil to mislead the international community to show that there was a civil war situation Sri Lanka warranting deployment of International Peace Keeping Forces in the country. Even after he was ousted from the post of Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe has using a letterhead of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka” written a letter to the Ambassadors on 27th October, saying that President Maithripala Siris4na has unconstitutionally appointed the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka when he is in office as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
The letter says that as per the 19th amendment to the constitution the President does not have the power to dismiss a Prime Minister when he holds the majority and that it is an unconstitutional action by the President and he was requesting their cooperation on this and on the possibility of deploying International Peace Keeping Forces in the country to protect peace and civic rights The letter also requests to consider this matter at their mercy and let him know their decision. The letter has been signed by Ranil Wickremasinghe as Prime Minister and copies of the letter have been sent to Ambassador of the United States in Sri Lanka, British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and to French, German, Norwegian and Australian Ambassadors in Colombo. For this highly despicable anti national act he should be charged for high treason. His head should be half shaved and deported to a western country.
Hope fair play and sanity will prevail in the end!
I am feeling dizzy with my head caught in a whirlpool, which should I say political too. And, I am at my wit’s end now with my mental reserves running rather low.
All because of this removal of one on one hand and the resurrection of another on the other.
And having read all that is relevant that appeared on all formats of media, listened to numerous talks and finally getting lost in a jungle of arguments, fact, fiction, verbal garbage and rhetoric to downright obscenities, I decided to take the matter into my own hands to figure it out myself.
Unfortunately, it was too much for my somewhat slow-witted brain.
I am not sure, whether our constitution or if not all of it, at least some of it, is meant to be understood by any one, let alone the average public, who possess a reasonable level of intelligence and literacy.
Now look at as to how far the opinion is divided even between the intellectuals and the learned, who should be in the know. Obviously some of them driven by a cause/causes, sincerity of which is questionable and a matter for a separate debate per se, can conveniently bypass or leave the facts and the truths.
However, there have been articles and talks by people that too are vague in explanation and even diametrically opposite in content. And they are the people, who I thought would be standing on the middle path and are not afraid to call a spade a spade or give the devil his due with no apparent political allegiances, undue obeisance or veneration of some personages, as can often be seen today.
What does all this mean? One is inevitably driven to assume that some of the clauses of the constitution, at least the ones that are relevant here, are cloaked in ambiguity and open for debate supported by one’s own interpretation, imagination and speculation.
Then one would think that there shouldn’t be any patches of ‘no man’s land’ in a country’s constitution, where people driven by motives that may not be wholly sincere for the well-being of the nation, can find refuge and battle it out, until one side gets defeated due to lack of resources and stamina, if not strength of arguments. And then the winner on the other hand may not be the one country needs, anyway.
Now the reason for the proroguing the parliament for so long, on the other hand, is quite clear to anybody. It’s obviously an action to buy time to buy another commodity in turn; members from other parties, in order to beef up defenses and to be able to boast a majority, when the auctioneer’s bell swings into action. And though it is within the powers of the president to prorogue a parliamentary session, one would expect to see fair play and decency here, particularly as regards a person none other than the president himself.
Yes. The die is cast now and whether it’s a do-or-die manoeuvre by the president for his own and country’s sake too, only the future can tell. And I sincerely hope that fair play and sanity will prevail in the end.
And there are signs now that the president will convene the parliament earlier than the previously stated date of 16th of November.
And I wish those ‘dark clouds of anarchic turmoil forming on the horizon’, words of concern penned and put in by the editor in his editorial of the ‘The Island’ (30-10-18), would dissipate and disappear very soon.
Colombo, November 1 (newsin.asia): Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have decided to go for a Vote on Account and not a vote of Confidence in their government when parliament meets later this month.
If the government wins the Vote on Account it means that the Rajapaksa government has enough support in parliament and that the government can stay. It is as good as a Vote of Confidence.
But on the other hand, if it is defeated on account of the ability of the opposition United National Front (UNF) to stay together, the President can dissolve parliament and order fresh elections.
On Monday the Education and Higher Education Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who had earlier defected from the UNP, told newsmen that President Sirisena has ‘inherent powers’ to dissolve Parliament in case the Vote on Account is defeated.
The minister, said the President has such powers to dissolve Parliament without waiting for four and half years as per the constitution.
If the Vote on Account is not approved by Parliament, there will arise a situation where the government is unable to function. The President can then opt to dissolve Parliament to resuscitate the country from an anarchic situation. That is not a written law but a conventional practice,” Rajapakshe explained.
The Sirisena-Rajapaksa combine expects to win snap elections because of its populist, Sinhalese-Buddhist and Sri Lankan nationalist credentials – parameters on which the UNF led by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) is weak in comparison.
Therefore, the Sirisena-Rajapaksa group stands to gain whether the Vote on Account is passed or not.
The threat of parliament dissolution may also have been designed to make MPs vote for the Vote on Account and also to encourage other UNP MPs and others in the opposition to join the Sirisena-Rajapaksa government or extend support to it.
This is because, most MPs would like to complete their term and not go for another expensive election immediately.
This is the reason why the former UNP MP, Wijedasa Rajapakshe who is now with the government was asked to call the media hurriedly to announce the matter.
Meanwhile, the government refuted reports that Prime Minister Rajapaksa and President Sirisena had said that the prorogued parliament will be reconvened on November 5.
It is now said that no date has been fixed yet, though the expectation is that it will be date before Novermber 16.
A source in the Sirisena-Rajapaksa camp said that the government needs time to work on the Vote on Account and also announce price reductions to give an impression that it is pro-people.
Already the government has increased the tax on imported potatoes and onions at the rate of LJR 40 per kilo in order to help local farmers.
The unpopular fuel price formula is also to be revised to make it more consumer friendly.
(The featured image at the top shows Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Education and Higher Education, who had recently defected from the Wickremesinghe camp to Rajapaksa’s camp)
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Mahinda Rajapaksa has given direction to implement several initiatives to revive the economy as the consumers are saddled with high cost of living, Finance ministry said today.
It said in a statement that the President and the Prime Minister have raised concerns regarding the serious setback in the economy as reflected in the persistently low growth rates during the last 3 years along with the rising cost of living.
Prime Minister is of the view that ill-conceived economic and financial policies of the previous Government have led to this situation by marginalizing local entrepreneurs, industries and domestic production,” the statement added.
Telecommunication Levy reduced from 25% to 15%
The Finance ministry said today telecommunication Levy of 25% will be reduced to 15% from midnight today.
Prices of Dhal, Chickpeas and black gram reduced
Special Commodity Levy on a kilo of Dhal was reduced by Rs.5, Chickpeas by Rs. 5 and black gram by Rs.25 per kilo from midnight today, Finance Ministry said.
Meanwhile, Customs Duty on Wheat grain will be waived to Rs. 9 per Kg from the existing waiver of Rs.6 per Kg while taxes on sugar will also be reduced by Rs.10 per Kg.
Fuel price reduced
The price of a litre of Petrol had been reduced by Rs.10 while a liter of Auto Diesel was reduced by Rs.7 with effect from midnight today, the Ministry of Finance said.
Accordingly, a litre of petrol will be sold at Rs.145 and a litre of auto diesel will be Rs.116
Lubricants including the 2T lubricants used in three-wheelers and small agricultural engines have been reduced by Rs.10 per litre
A cost-based pricing mechanism will be implemented on fuel in place of the monthly fuel price formula.
Increased import tax on big onions, potatoes extended
The special commodity levy on imported big onions and potatoes would be extended for a period of one month with effect from today, the Finance Ministry announced.
It said the import tax on big onion was increased to Rs. 40 from Rs. 1 per kilo six months before.
Accordingly, the import tax on potatoes was increased to Rs. 40 per kilogram from Rs. 30.
The Finance Ministry says that this decision has been taken with the reduction of local big onions and potato prices.
The tax increase is expected to control imports and increase the prices of local production.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Subramanian Swamy today urged Sri Lankan Tamil Community as well as its senior respected leaders like Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan to try for a working arrangement with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse for the sake of Tamil issues.
For what it is worth, I would be happy to work for a favourable settlement if required,” Subramanian tweeted.
Subramanian Swamy
✔@Swamy39
I urge the SL Tamil Community as well as its senior respected leaders like Sampathadam to try for a working arrangement with PM Rajapakse for the sake of Tamil issues. For what it is worth I would be happy to work for a favourable settlement if required
Parliament would reconvene on November 16 as per the Gazette issued by President Maithripala Sirisena and not on Monday, November 5, UPFA MP Susil Premajayantha said today.
Earlier yesterday, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said President Sirisena would likely to reconvene Parliament on November 5 instead of November 16.
However, addressing a news briefing at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Office, MP Premajayantha said at least three working days were required to reconvene Parliament once it was prorogued.
Therefore, Parliament cannot be reconvened on the 5th. Reports to that effect are incorrect,” he said.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs today announced several important economic policy changes and initiatives to provide relief to the masses and revive the economy.
Considering the high tax imposed on the Telecommunication services, the government has decided to reduce the Telecommunication Levy from 25% to 15%.
The statement said that the Special Commodity Levy will be reduced on Dhal by Rs. 5 per Kg, Chickpeas by Rs. 5 per Kg, Black gram by Rs. 25 per Kg. Customs Duty will also be waived on Wheat grain to Rs. 9 per Kg from the existing waiver of Rs. 6 per Kg.
Sugar will be brought under the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) whereby the applicable taxes on Sugar will also be reduced by Rs.10 per Kg. Accordingly, the commodity prices will be reduced with immediate effect,” the ministry said.
Meanwhile the price of Petrol (Octane 92) will be reduced by Rs. 10 per litre, Auto Diesel by Rs.7 per litre and Lubricants including the 2T lubricants used in three-wheelers and small agricultural engines is to be reduced by Rs.10 per litre with effect from midnight today (Nov. 1).
At the same time a cost based pricing mechanism will be implemented on fuel in place of the monthly fuel price formula,” the statement said.
A guaranteed price scheme is to be introduced for Paddy, Onion and Potatoes produced locally by farmers. Accordingly, SCL will be raised during harvesting period to protect farmers through remunerative guaranteed prices. As potatoes and B-Onions are being harvested, SCL on potatoes and B-Onions will be maintained at Rs.40 per Kg.
In order to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions which resulted in farmers losing their livelihood and becoming heavily indebted, interest and the penal interest incurred by farmers and small Paddy Mill owners on loans up to a maximum of Rs.50 million, from all Commercial Banks during the past 3 years, will be written off in full and will be borne by the Government.
Meanwhile the maximum threshold on Loan advances given by Samurdhi Banks to Samurdhi beneficiaries to support their livelihood activities will be increased by Rs.10,000.
Fertilizer prices for paddy will be maintained at Rs.500/50kg bag and fertilizer prices for other crops will be reduced to Rs. 1,000/50kg bag from Rs. 1,500/50kg bag.
The ministry said that the concessionary income tax rate of 14% on agriculture is presently applied only for the companies engaged in agricultural businesses. The income of individuals from Agricultural undertakings will also be reduced from the existing maximum rate of 24% to 14% so that individual farming agriculture is also encouraged.
The concessionary Income Tax rate of 14% is presently applicable under the SME categories only for Companies. This rate will be extended to include individuals including those providing professional services. Therefore, the income tax rate for professional services will be reduced from 24 percent to 14 percent.
Withholding tax will be exempted on Interest on any savings and fixed deposits maintained in any financial institution.
To encourage local entrepreneurs, professionals and migrant workers to remit their earnings in foreign currency on services provided outside Sri Lanka, Income tax will be exempted on such remittances.
The adverse impact created by high indirect taxes will be mitigated by simplification of VAT and NBT. The VAT threshold will be increased from Rs.12 million per annum to Rs.24 million per annum.
The threshold for the VAT liability of wholesale and retail sector also will be increased from Rs.50 million to Rs.100 million per twelve months providing benefits to small traders and businesses, the statement said.
The VAT rate applicable on the import of Sawn Timber will be reduced to 5% to support the local Construction Industry.
VAT on import of fabric will be exempt providing benefits to the small and medium garment manufacturers.
Read the full statement issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs below:
Programme for Economic Revival
His Excellency the President, and the Honorable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs have raised concerns regarding the serious setback in the economy as reflected in the persistently low growth rates during the last 3 years along with the rising cost of living. The Honorable Prime Minister is of the view that ill-conceived economic and financial policies of the previous Government have led to this situation by marginalizing local entrepreneurs, industries and domestic production.
As 2018/2019 Maha cultivation season has begun with extremely favorable weather throughout the country, the economy is set to get a new revival as all hydro power reservoirs and irrigated schemes have reached full storage capacity to generate electricity, provision of drinking water and water for cultivation. The Government thinks that this is the best opportunity to prepare the country to get the maximum benefit from agricultural production. At the same time the consumers are saddled with high cost of living. In this background the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs has given direction to implement following initiatives to revive the economy.
In order to ease the pressure on high cost of living while also protecting the local farmer, Special Commodity Levy will be reduced on Dhal by Rs.5 per Kg, Chickpeas by Rs. 5 per Kg, Black gram by Rs.25 per Kg. Customs Duty will also be waived on Wheat grain to Rs. 9 per Kg from the existing waiver of Rs.6 per Kg. Sugar will be brought under the Special Commodity Levy whereby the applicable taxes on Sugar will also be reduced by Rs.10 per Kg. Accordingly, the commodity prices will be reduced with immediate effect.
Given the impact of fuel pricing on all strata of the society specially those engaged in transport, agriculture and fisheries sectors, price of Petrol (Octane 92) will be reduced by Rs. 10 per litre, Auto Diesel by Rs.7 per litre and Lubricants including the 2T lubricants used in three-wheelers and small agricultural engines by Rs.10 per litre with effect from mid night today. At the same time a cost based pricing mechanism will be implemented on fuel in place of the monthly fuel price formula.
A guaranteed price scheme will be introduced for Paddy, Onion and Potatoes produced locally by our farmers. Accordingly, SCL will be raised during harvesting period to protect farmers through remunerative guaranteed prices. As potatoes and B-Onions are being harvested, SCL on potatoes and B-Onions will be maintained at Rs.40 per Kg.
In order to mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions which resulted in farmers losing their livelihood and becoming heavily indebted, interest and the penal interest incurred by farmers and small Paddy Mill owners on loans up to a maximum of Rs.50 million, from all Commercial Banks during the past 3 years, will be written off in full and will be borne by the Government.
The maximum threshold on Loan advances given by Samurdhi Banks to Samurdhi beneficiaries to support their livelihood activities will be increased by Rs.10,000/-.
Fertilizer prices for paddy will be maintained at Rs.500/50kg bag and fertilizer prices for other crops will be reduced to Rs. 1,000/50kg bag from Rs. 1,500/50kg bag.
The concessionary income tax rate of 14% on agriculture is presently applied only for the companies engaged in agricultural businesses. The income of individuals from Agricultural undertakings will also be reduced from the existing maximum rate of 24% to 14% so that individual farming agriculture is also encouraged.
The concessionary Income Tax rate of 14% is presently applicable under the SME categories only for Companies. This rate will be extended to include individuals including those providing professional services. Therefore, the income tax rate for professional services will be reduced from 24 percent to 14 percent.
Withholding tax will be exempted on Interest on any savings and fixed deposits maintained in any financial institution.
To encourage local entrepreneurs, professionals and migrant workers to remit their earnings in foreign currencyon services provided outside Sri Lanka, Income tax will be exempted on such remittances.
The adverse impact created by high indirect taxes will be mitigated by simplification of VAT and NBT. The VAT threshold will be increased from Rs.12 million per annum to Rs.24 million per annum.
The threshold for the VAT liability of wholesale and retail sector also will be increased from Rs.50 million to Rs.100 million per twelve months providing benefits to small traders and businesses.
The VAT rate applicable on the import of Sawn Timber will be reduced to 5% to support the local Construction Industry.
VAT on import of fabric will be exempt providing benefits to the small and medium garment manufacturers.
Considering the high tax imposed on the Telecommunication services, the Telecommunication Levy of 25% will be reduced to 15%.
The thrust if these initiatives are to encourage production and simplify the tax system. It will certainly help households with additional income in their hands. The proposed changes to the tax system will also encourage inward remittances and savings.
The Government also expects to reduce its expenditure with the rationalization of Cabinet ministries as reflected in a lessor number of ministries and reexamination of capital expenditure programs. Accordingly, the government is confident that the primary surplus of 1.8 percent of GDP and the budget deficit of around 4.9 percent of GDP that have been targeted for 2018 could be achieved in support for further fiscal consolidation to provide economic stability. The measures to further consolidation of external trade and payment transactions are also being examined to provide much needed stability to the exchange rate.
His Excellency the President and Honorable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs have directed the implantation of the above policy measures. The necessary Gazettes for the aforementioned tax related proposals will be issued today and Cabinet approval is sought to amend the necessary tax laws.
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
01.11.2018
Colombo, October 31 (newsin.asia): Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, a senior officer of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, assumed duties as the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, having been appointed to the position by President Maithripala Sirisena.
The new Foreign Secretary Aryasinha was warmly received by his colleagues this morning, upon arrival at the Ministry.
Ambassador Aryasinha was previously Additional Secretary/ Economic Affairs and Trade in the Foreign Ministry since April 2018.
Ravinatha Aryasinha being congratulated by Sumith Nakandala, Additional Secretary Bilateral Affairs
Having joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1988, he was Second Secretary in New Delhi (1989-1991) and Minister and later Deputy Chief of Mission with Ambassador rank in Washington D.C. (2002-2006). He served as Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and to the European Union from April 2008-June 2012, and as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and Consul General of Sri Lanka to Switzerland (July 2012-March 2018), while being concurrently Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Holy See. Between 1995-2000 and again in 2007-2008 he headed the Public Communications Division and was the Foreign Ministry Spokesman.
On leave from the Foreign Service, in 1993-1995 he served as National Information Officer in the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. Prior to joining the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, he was a pioneer in the setting up of Rupavahini, the National Television Network of Sri Lanka, where he served as a Senior Political Correspondent/ News Editor from 1982-1988.
Foreign Secretary Aryasinha is a past student of Ananda College, Colombo. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Peradeniya and a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from the University of Colombo. He was a ‘Hurst Fellow’ in International Relations at the School of International Service (SIS), American University, Washington DC in 2001-2002.
(The featured image at the top Sri Lanka’s new Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha (on the right) being greeted by the outgoing Foreign Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam)
![සජිත් ජනපති මැදුරට රහසේ ගොස් ජනපති හමුවේ.. TNL රූපවාහිනියෙන් සජිත්ට කුණු බැණුම්.. [Video]](http://lankacnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Sajith-mithree.jpg)
