A forum titled ‘10 Years After Lasantha: Whither Investigative Journalism in Sri Lanka?’ will be held on 8 January at the Lighthouse Auditorium, No. 24, Horton Place, Colombo 7, from 4 to 6 p.m.

The speakers will comprise –

and Groundviews Editor and former The Sunday Leader journalist Raisa Wickrematunge.

A panel discussion will follow.

Slain in the line of duty, The Sunday Leader Founding Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge was one of Sri Lanka’s leading journalists and his paper led the charge in investigative journalism in the country.

Entrance is free and all are welcome

The Kerala Chief Minister’s Office on Friday claimed that a 46-year-old woman from Sri Lanka entered the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala last night to offer prayers. The woman, however, said that police had stopped her from entering the temple despite her reaching close to the 18 sacred steps that lead to the shrine.

The Chief Minister’s Office said it has released CCTV footage from the temple to confirm that the woman had entered it. According to The Times of India, CCTV visuals showed the woman, Sasikala, walking around the sannidhanam or temple complex. The footage showed the woman carrying the irumudikettu (sacred offering) and a man accompanying her leaving the sanctum sanctorum. They were seen around the sannidhanam around 10.45 pm, according to the time stamp on the footage.

Continue reading ‘46 Year Old Sri Lankan Woman Sasikala Says she was Stopped by Police From Worshipping at the Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple Shrine in India But Kerala StateChief Minister’s Office Claims She did Enter Temple Precincts.’ »

BY
Yohan Perera and Sheain Fernandopulle

Former civil servant Devanesan Nesiah officially returned the “Deshamanya” award conferred to him by President Maithripala Sirisena today.

Dr. Nesiah and his daughter handed it over to the Presidential Secretariat last evening.

Talking to journalists, Dr. Nesiah said he decided to return the award as he was disappointed with the recent actions of the President which created chaos in the country.

Continue reading ‘Civil Servant With Distinguished Service Record Dr.Devanesan Nesiah Officially Returns the “Deshamanya” Award Conferred on Him in 2017 In Protest Against President Sirisena’s Chaos Creating Recent Action.’ »

A Sri Lankan couple living in Rome had the honour of being the parents of the first baby born in the New Year.

The baby had been born ten seconds after the dawn of the New Year at St. Philip Neri’s Hospital in Rome.

Continue reading ‘First Baby Born in the Year 2019 at St.Philip Neri Hospital in Rome To Parents of Sri Lankan Origin Prasad Bandara and Madubashini Yapa Named Italo Bandara in Honour of Italy.’ »

By

Yohan Perera

Minister of National Integration, Official Languages and Social Progress Mano Ganesan requested the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka to ensure the inclusion of Tamil language in signboards erected at Chinese funded development projects.

He said the signboards had been written in Chinese, English and Sinhala only.

Continue reading ‘Signboards in Chinese Funded Development Projects Exclude Tamil Language and are Only in Chinese,English and Sinhala: Official Languages Minister Mano Ganesan Takes Up Issue With Chinese Embassy.’ »

By

Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

January 1st 2019– 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

Jan 1st marks the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution; 60 years of the revolutionary Cuba that we have known. The Cuban revolution was a pure revolution, the purest revolution we have seen. By pure I do not mean a revolution that was marked by purges and internal bloodletting in the name of a fanatical, fundamentalist revolutionary purity. By ‘pure’ I mean that the Cuban revolution was the most ethical revolution in the world.

It was a revolution that triumphed through a revolutionary guerrilla war and urban armed actions, but consciously and conspicuously avoided the targeting of civilians and even hitting targets at times and places where there would be civilian casualties.

It was a revolution that was conspicuous in its treatment of captives; of captive soldiers, who were almost always released by the Rebel Army. This went hand in hand with the execution of known torturers, murderers, and rapists. The Revolution, during its guerrilla war was both tough and scrupulous in its dispensation of justice.

It was a revolution that unlike all other revolutions “did not devour its own children” as Fidel remarked, in an allusion to the myth of Saturn which had devoured its own children. Even in its most radical phase in the 1960s, the Cuban revolution’s process of radicalization did not entail the ‘terror’ that had marked all revolutions since the French Revolution itself. The Cuban Revolution was Jacobin, even Bolshevik, without the Great Terror.

Continue reading ‘The Cuban Revolution Unlike All Other Revolutions “did not devour its own children”.’ »

By

Don Manu

If the year 2018 began with a bang for Mahinda Rajapaksa when his ghost-led Pohottuwa party swept the local polls in February, the year ended for him with a whimper stuck in the sinking sands of his fluctuating political fortunes.

Whatever his royal astrologer may have predicted of the rosy things to come for Mahinda Rajapaksa — that he will realise his dream to be once more in the saddle of power late October — he may, perhaps, have forgotten to mention, at least in passing, that the planets would not be too kind to him in November; and that December would be worse, that their benevolence would turn to wrath and they would unseat him from his high horse and ground him once more in the dust.

Also good old Sumana, the old faithful star gazer who is supposed to have advised him to go to the polls well before the shelf date in January 2015 when Saturn traversed Scorpio and Jupiter took residence in Cancer, may have been a wee bit off the mark this time as well when Saturn is in Sagittarius and Jupiter is in Scorpio today.

For consider the rise and fall of Mahinda within a matter of six weeks. On October 26, the UPFA withdraws from the coalition government and Sirisena hails it as an excuse to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe from his premiership. That same night, the nation learns that Sirisena who had on many occasions said he will never appoint Mahinda as his prime minister, has anointed Mahinda as his prime minister, even though both knew that Mahinda does not have the numbers to command the confidence of the House.

It was a daring diabolical gamble which, if it had paid off, would have spelt the end of democracy in the land and the beginning of rule by dictatorial fiat.

Continue reading ‘The Rise and Fall of Mahinda Rajapaksa Within a Period of Six Weeks’ »

By Gamini Weerakoon

It may be good times for some people and bad times for others. But, undeniably, it is interesting times for most of us watching antics of politicians though not necessarily a blessing.

Close on the heels of the rowdy Sri Lankan parliamentary ‘comedies’ that brought this island into focus in the international media, followed a news report on Boxing Day which made a Sri Lankan wag to define a Sri Lankan Ambassador as ‘one who sells off his embassy’.

This was a cynical way of looking at a deal that could have a perfectly good explanation, it was pointed out by a Pohottuwa supporter who argued that ambassadors the world over have been defined as ‘those who lie abroad for their country’ or even as ‘those who sell their country’ – for reasons such as promotion of tourism. So what’s wrong in selling the embassy… never mind the exact objective, he held.

These days our diplomats, like our politicians, seem to be breaking out into new ground such as selling off embassies or even selling armaments—gun running and buying fighter planes. This maybe in keeping with the line of thought that our diplomats should be engaged in doing business for the country and not wasting time on high faluting foreign policy matters. Others may claim that the Foreign Service is sticking to orthodox traditions of diplomacy and only political appointees are doing business quite often not for the country but for themselves.

Perhaps these are phases of evolution of Sri Lankan politics and diplomacy.

Continue reading ‘Does Mahinda Rajapaksa Have “Dual Membership” By Being Both a De-jure Member of the UPFA and a De-facto Member of the “Pohottuwa” Party?’ »

Sri Lanka’s October coup that brought former president Mahinda Rajapaksa briefly back to power may have backfired on a close relative, ex-ambassador to Washington and fugitive from justice, Jaliya Wickramasuriya.

The prospect of a Rajapaksa government in Colombo prompted justice authorities in Washington to publicly disclose money laundering and visa fraud charges against Wickramasuriya, a first cousin of the former president, and ensure he is swiftly prosecuted.

The man who served as Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Washington for six years till 2014 will now become the first Rajapaksa relative to be prosecuted abroad and face a possible lengthy jail term following five counts of charges ranging from wire fraud to immigration offences.

Official sources said the test case could leave the door open to several other very high profile prosecutions shortly. Foreign ministry sources said thatit was the first time that a Sri Lankan ambassador was being prosecuted in the country he was posted to.

US Justice department documents show the authorities were keen to ensure that the very serious nature of charges against Wickramasuriya were made public to prevent a Rajapaksa administration in Colombo restoring his diplomatic immunity to avoid prosecution.

Continue reading ‘US Authorities Disclosed Details of Legal Cases Against Ex-Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya to Prevent Purported Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Restoring Cousin’s Immunity to Avoid Prosecution.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

As a foreboding New Year by way of the Gregorian calendar dawns for Sri Lankans, the choices before us (at least, politically) are not felicitous by any stretch of the imagination.

Atavistic demons conjured up by opportunists

A cynic may question, ‘when were the choices ever felicitous during the past five decades or more?’ That query has a sting of truth to it. Even so, what faces this country in 2019 portends a special tinge of darkness, touched with fears of rampant racism.

Increasingly we hear politicians closely associated with the political camp of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa chanting ‘open sesame’ to seething primal hatreds. These are atavistic demons, never satiated but always thirsting for more blood, conjured up from time to time by opportunists when the democratic cards are stacked against them.

Some of this ugliness came out in the open following the surreal October turbulence when Sri Lanka had (initially) two contenders for the post of Prime Minister and then, for a period, no Prime Minister at all and when the Speaker was besieged in the House by parliamentary ruffians. As the challengers retreated, nursing their wounds with little good grace following reprimands by the Supreme Court for the constitutional trespass committed, they resorted to open communalistic rhetoric which bodes ill for Sri Lanka.

So while one battle may have been won, this is not the end of it. True, civic minded citizens resisted the extra-constitutional attempt to capture power as a result of profoundly unwise machinations of an abominable coterie of men surrounding President Maithripala Sirisena. We may heave a sigh of relief as the Courts (from the highest to the lowest) demonstrated their independence.

Indeed, the breathing of new life into moribund institutions, most crucially, the judiciary, may be the signal achievement of this doomed ‘yahapalanaya’ marriage of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP).

Continue reading ‘Political expediency is a peculiarly bitter sauce which, if tolerated for the gander, must equally be so for the goose.’ »

By P.K.Balachandran

Colombo, December 28: Sri Lanka saw cataclysmic political events in 2018. Democracy, which was introduced way back in 1931 and was thought to be well and truly entrenched in Sri Lanka, was put in danger in October-November when President Maithripala Sirisena dismissed Prime Minister Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and dissolved parliament in brazen violation of the country’s constitution.

Wickremesinghe was sacked on October 26, even though he was enjoying the support of the majority in parliament. And parliament was dissolved on November 9, in violation of the 19 th. Amendment of the constitution which had removed the discretionary power of the President in this matter in 2015.

However, after 50-odd days of continuous but peaceful struggle led by the media and civil society, a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court restored democracy by unanimously nullifying the sacking of the Prime Minister and the dissolution of parliament.

Continue reading ‘Well-Entrenched Democracy Restored in Sri Lanka After Violation of Constitution by President Maithripala Sirisena.’ »

BY RAJITHA JAGODA ARACHCHI & RASULA DILHARA GAMAGE

Continuous rains in the northern part of the country during the past few days inundated large areas of Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Jaffna.

Overall, 123,178 people belonging to 39,669 families were displaced by the bad weather. Meanwhile, 474 houses had been fully damaged and another 4,522 houses partially damaged due to the floods.

However, the reported number of deaths is two, one each from Jaffna and Kilinochchi.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also visited the flood-hit areas, last week. Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, Ministers Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Daya Gamage, Harsha de Silva, Rishad Bathiudeen, J.C. Alawathuwala and Wijayakala Maheshwaran, MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, Mavai Senathiraja and Selvam Adaikkalanathan, District Secretary of Kilinochchi, Suntharan Arumainayagam, District Secretary of Mullativu, Rupawathi Keshishwaran, the IGP and senior military officers also accompanied the Prime Minister.

Continue reading ‘Armed Forces Win Hearts and Minds of People in the North By Rescuing Thousands of Families Affected by Incessant rains and Resultant Floods.’ »

President Maithripala Sirsiena has allocated all state media institutions to the ministry of Finance and Media ending speculation that he may keep some of them under his direct control as the country heads for an election year.

In an Extraordinary Gazette notification dated December 24, but published Saturday, the President listed the two state television stations as well as Lake House under the ministry headed by Mangala Samaraweera.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Retaining Control of the Police By Bringing it Under Defence Ministry Likely to Cause Friction With the Commonwealth of Nations.’ »

Sharmini Serasinghe

Sri Lanka is politically bankrupt!

The two main players in Sri Lanka’s political arena – the UNP and the SLFP – have outlived their lifespan. Further, each time they form new coalitions and their identities and symbols are changed more frequently than their underwear, the average voter is left so utterly confused, they don’t know who the hell they are voting for anymore, because the UNP and the SLFP have vanished into oblivion. In fact, I had to do a Google search to locate the original SLFP symbol.

The JVP is still gasping for breath trying to recover from its notorious bloodthirsty reputation earned in the late 80s for which their egos to date, have prevented them from apologising to the Sinhalese they threatened, targeted and massacred. The TNA has no chance in hell of ever forming a government. Hence like a game of chess and it’s your turn to move, whichever way you look the alternatives are sorry losers. At every single election the voter is faced with a Hobson’s choice. The youth – the future of Sri Lanka – are so fed up they don’t bother to vote at any election anymore.

Eran Wickramaratne, Mangala Samaraweera, Harsha de Silva, and M. A. Sumanthiran, you gentlemen are our ONLY saviours. The time has come for you to break away from the politically bankrupt parties you belong to, and become NOT the 3rd force but the first and MAIN political force in Sri Lanka. If you do, you can be assured that the crème de la crème of patriotic professionals with integrity who have so far refrained from entering the currently vile political arena will not hesitate to join you. We the patriots of Sri Lanka will back you to the hilt. That, we assure you!

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Many of us fought like hell to give you the second chance you got, but you don’t seem to have learnt your lesson.’ »

By

Don Manu

Today on the presidential throne of Lanka, there sits a man who gambled with the nation’s heirloom of democracy and endangered the people’s sovereign inheritance, who gambled with the nation’s economy and imperiled it, on Manuwho gambled with the nation’s international image and sullied it, who placed his bets and waged his all on his bizarre belief that he could transgress chapter and verse of the nation’s legal bible with impudence and could escape being found guilty of sinning against it, one who gambled reckless with the people’s rights, with the people’s money, with the people’s reputation, with the nation’s stability and lost, and lost badly.

A man who became the spendthrift of a people’s mandate and squandered the trust and confidence of over six million who had voted for him four years ago in the belief he would not violate their faith. Nor dishonour his oath.

Did he think on that fateful October 26th night when he embarked on a mad excursion that took him beyond the ambit of the constitution’s parameters and, in the cover of darkness and secrecy, appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister displacing Ranil who commanded the confidence of the House; and then nonchalantly went on to dissolve Parliament itself though the supreme law forbade it unless two thirds of its members requested its dissolution before four and a half years of its five year expiry date, that he could give play to his pipedream and violate the constitution at his whim and fancy without any backlash from the legal guardian deities of Lanka’s justice?

Maithripala Sirisena has a lot to answer for taking the nation on a hell-raising roller coaster ride not in pursuance of the people’s interest but purely to advance some diabolic agenda of his own that finally hit the buffers and came a cropper.

The only question that remains to be answered is why it’s still Christmas for him? Why is the man still here, draped in purple, wearing the crown and holding scepter and orb of presidential office?

Continue reading ‘How Is Maithripala Sirisena Able To Continue as Executive President after The Supreme Court Found Him Guilty of Intentionally Violating the Constitution and Fundamental rights Sri Lanka’s Citizens?’ »

By the “Sunday Times”Political Editor

President Maithripala Sirisena has rejected a request by the United National Party (UNP) to re-activate the onetime ‘National Government’ with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and thus enlarge the Cabinet of Ministers.

It was made on Saturday night by a four-member UNP delegation led by the then Prime Minister designate Ranil Wickremesinghe. He was sworn in the next day (Sunday). They met Sirisena at his Mahagamsekera Mawatha residence. Early this week, Wickremesinghe rejected a move by his party seniors to forge a rather unusual alliance with the only Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) parliamentarian, Ali Zahir Mowlana, as exclusively revealed in these columns last week. That was also to enhance the number of ministers.

Mowlana was a close ally of the then Tiger guerrilla eastern commander Karuna alias Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharn and helped him flee to Colombo from the battlefields in the east after he broke ranks with his leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Mowlana served in the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC during the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration and had a request for asylum rejected by US authorities. This was on the grounds that he was on the diplomatic staff and was thus not qualified. He represents the SLMC from the Batticaloa District, though his party leader Rauff Hakeem and others were elected at the August 2015 parliamentary elections on the UNP ticket.

This move was strongly criticised by those within the UNP and even their passive ally the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Aandu krama viyasthaavey hil hoyanna epa or don’t look for loopholes in the Constitution, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Wickremesinghe. Some civil society groups backing the new government were also not in favour. They said it went against the spirit of the Constitution.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Nominates 36 Names Cabinet Ministers But Maithripala Reduces it to 28 Only; Six Names Dropped are UNF’s Palitha Range Bandara, Ravi Samaraweera, D.M. Swaminathan and Sarath Fonseka and SLFP’s Piyasena Gamage and A.H.M. Fowzie’ »

By a “Sunday Observer” Staff Reporter

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa found himself in another political conundrum this week when his new appointment as the Opposition Leader was challenged in Parliament and his parliamentary membership too appeared to be at risk.

While the country grappled with a prolonged political deadlock since October 26 following Rajapaksa’s appointment as the Prime Minister he eventually stepped down from the post on December 14 after a seven-week long standoff with the United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe whom he replaced.

Defeated through two no-confidence motion votes Rajapaksa next set his sights on the position of Opposition Leader as the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) became the largest group in the opposition. As a result on Tuesday, Rajapaksa was named as the Opposition Leader by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya while MP Mahinda Amaraweera of the UPFA was named the Cheif Opposition Whip.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Political Fate Regarding Parliamentary Membership and Leader of the Opposition Post Hang in the Balance as Speaker Jayasuriya Facing Conundrum Seeks More Time.’ »

By

Anurangi Singh

President Maithripala Sirisena had referred two other names to the Constitutional Council (CC) seeking approval to be appointed to the Supreme Court.

The CC has been called upon to consider the names of two Court of Appeal judges, Deepali Wijesundera and Kumudini Wickremasinghe for the vacant posts in the Supreme Court.

The CC headed by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and represented by nominees of the other political parties and civil society had already approved the names of Justices Gamini Amarasekara and S Thurairajah for the vacant posts.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Refers Appeal Court Judges Deepani Wijesundara and Kumudini Wickramasinghe to the Constitutional Council(CC) To Be Appointed as Supreme Court Judges After CC Had Already Approved Justices Gamini Amarasekara and S. Thurairajah fir the Two Vacancies in SC’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday postponed his decision on whether MP Mahinda Rajapaksa would be Opposition Leader despite the request for the appointment of a Parliament Select Committee.

Extending the period to deliver his decision, Speaker Jayasuriya informed the House he has received letters from a group of lawmakers seeking a committee to be appointed to investigate the matter.

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera earlier this week wrote to the Speaker in support of MP Rajapaksa while MP M.A. Sumanthiran and Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella raised objections to his appointment.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Seeks More Time to Decide On Who Should be Recognized as Leader of the Opposition.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appointed three non-Cabinet Ministers, 17 State Ministers, and seven Deputy Ministers at a ceremony held in the Presidential Secretariat in the evening.

United National Party Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva was appointed as the Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, while Ajith P. Perera was appointed as Minister of Digital Infrastructure and Information Technology, and Sujeewa Senasinghe was appointed Science Technology and Research Minister.

Eran Wickramaratne was assigned his former portfolio as the State Minister of Finance while Vijayakala Maheswaran took oaths as the State Minister of Education.

Ranjan Ramanayake was sworn in as the new State Minister of Highways and Road Development, while Ruwan Wijewardena was appointed as the State Minister of Defence.

Continue reading ‘Three Non – Cabinet Ministers Along With Seventeen State and Seven Deputy Ministers Sworn in Before President Maithripala Sirisena.’ »

(The Tamil National Alliance has made written submissions urging the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya not to recognize Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition. The TNA Outlining several reasons fir taking up yhis position has requested that a Parliamentary Select Committee be appointed to go into the matter and arrive at a final decision. The full text of the submidsion sent on behalf of the TNA by Jaffna district MP and party spokesperson M.A. Sumanthiran PC is reproduced here)

December 19, 2018

Hon Speaker,

Post of Leader of the Opposition

I write with reference to the above matter and thank you for affording me the opportunity to make representations in writing.

1. There is no dispute that the Leader of the political party in Opposition with the most number of seats in parliament ought to be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. However the question that now confronts us is whether the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is a party in Opposition.

2. According to established parliamentary tradition a party in Opposition, is one that does not participate in the government. The UPFA cannot be considered as a party in Opposition since the Leader of the UPFA is the Head of Government and the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers. In addition he also holds portfolios of Defence, Mahaweli Development and Environment. Presently HE Maithripala Sirisena holds the Ministries of Law and Order and Media also. In this context where the chairman of the UPFA is not only the Head of government but also a minister in the Cabinet with at least five ministries under him, the UPFA cannot be considered to be a party in the Opposition.

3. Three members of the UPFA crossed over to the government ranks yesterday. Previously another three members did the same. The Cabinet of Ministers, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers are yet to be appointed and I have information that at least two of the above six MPP have been named in the lists of Cabinet Ministers nominated by the Hon. Prime Minister. It is probable that more UPFA MPP will be accommodated as State Ministers and Deputy Ministers. There can also be more cross-overs of UPFA MP’s to the government in the coming days.

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Makes Written Submissions to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Outlining Several Reasons as to why Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa Should not be Recognized as Leader of the Opposition.’ »

Sri Lanka’s police detained two navy intelligence officers at the Fort magistrate’s court Wednesday amid fears of a threat to the life of a key detective investigating the abduction and killing of several people allegedly by navy officers.

Police spotted two navy men identified as N. M. W Janaka (38190) and A.S.N. Tony (103183) sitting among litigants and were reported to the magistrate who ordered their questioning.

The men were duly detained and their statements were recorded at the police post within the courts complex, a court official said adding that a report was expected from the police.

Continue reading ‘Two Naval Intelligence Officers Sitting Among Litigants at Fort Magistrates Courts While Being Supposedly on Duty at Welisara Base Were Arrested By Police On Suspicion of Conspiracy to Murder Chief Investigator Nishantha Silva the Key Witness in Case Against Navy Personnel on Ransom and Murder Charges.’ »

Twenty -nine ministers headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were sworn in as members of the new cabinet on Thursday December 20th .The new Ministers took their oaths before President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s office in the morning.

The list of Ministers and portfilios are :

01. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe – Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison reforms, Northern Development, Vocational Training, Skill Development and Youth Affairs.

02. John Amaratunga – Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs.

03. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera- Minister of Buddha Sasana & North Western Province Development.

04. Mangala Samaraweera – Minister of Finances and Media

05. Lakshman Kiriella- Minister of Public Enterprise Development, Upcountry Heritage and Kandy Development

06. Rauff Hakeem – Minister of Town Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education

07. Tilak Marapana – Minister of Foreign Affairs

08. Rajitha Senarathne – Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine

09. Ravi Karunanayake- Minister of Power and Energy and Business Development

10. Vajira Abeywardhane- Minister of Internal & Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government

11. Rishad Bathiudeen- Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Resettlement and Cooperative Development

12. Patali Champika Ranawaka- Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development

13. Naveen Dissanayake- Minister of Plantation Industries

14. P. Harrison- Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs and Animal Husbandry Development.

Continue reading ‘Twenty -nine Cabinet Ministers Headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Sworn in Before President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s Office on December 20th.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Following a crisis marked by two competing claims to the office of the Prime Minister, R. Sampanthan — Leader of Opposition since 2015 — on Wednesday challenged the Speaker on his naming of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the position.

Referring to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s announcement on Tuesday, following a request made by the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by President Maithripala Sirisena, Mr. Sampanthan said the decision was made without removing him from the post.

“Consequently, it would seem that there are two persons holding the position of the Leader of the Opposition in the current Parliament. The question arises as to whether you lacked the conviction to remove me from the post of the Leader of the Opposition,” the senior legislator said.

Continue reading ‘Leader of the Opposition Rajavarothayam Sampanthan Raises Issue of Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Eligibility to Remain as a Member of Parliament Due To Leaving the Party Through Which he was Elected and Joining a new Party.’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

The appointment of MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader was challenged yesterday in parliament by ITAK MP Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, who held that he is the Opposition Leader unless the Speaker decides otherwise and removes him.

According to MP Sampanthan, the Speaker will have to remove him from the post before appointing a new Opposition Leader, regardless of the UPFA membership issue hovering around MP Mahinda Rajapakse. Speaker recognised MP Sampanthan as the Opposition Leader in September 2015 and in August 2018.

MP Sampanthan held that there is no need to recognise another person as the Opposition Leader in haste in a situation where Cabinet is not yet appointed, and Government is not yet formed.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition is Challenged by Rajavarothayam Sampanthan Who Says He is the Opposition Leader Unless Speaker Decides Otherwise and Removes Him.’ »

( The following news item was published in the “Daily Financial Times” of November 12th 2018 under the heading “MR takes SLPP membership” relating to the joining of SLPP By Mahinda Rajapaksa,Namal Rajapaksa and 31 others from the SLFP-UPFA. There was also a picture of a smiling Mahinda with SLPP chairman GL Peiris and SLPP secretary Sagara Kariyawasam. This is being re-posted here in the context of the current situation where it is argued by the UNP, TNA and SLMC in Parliament that the Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa has forfeited his MP seat by joining the SLPP a month ago.)

“MR takes SLPP membership”

Namal follows father, triggers about 31 other crossovers from SLFP
Ananda Aluthgamage leaves UNP for SLPP
At least six more crossovers likely in the next few days

By Nuwan Senarathna

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday formally left the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and joined the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to contest a likely General Election, which is scheduled to be held on 5 January 2019.

Rajapaksa and as many as 30 other SLFP members joined the SLPP at the event held at Rajapaksa’s official residence at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo.

Responding to questions on the questionable constitutionality of the dissolution of Parliament and the early call for general elections, Rajapaksa insisted that it was all above board in his view.

Continue reading ‘Newspaper Report Published on Nov 12th 2018 States Mahinda Rajapaksa Formally Left the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Joined the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna to Contest Elections Scheduled for January 5th 2019:31 Other MP’s Followed Suit.’ »

By Sirimantha Ratnayake

SLFP Vice President and Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama says that President Maithripala Sirisena should resign from his post immediately.

“The Supreme Court has found that President Sirisena violated the Constitution. One who has acted in contravention of the Constitution should not hold that position. He can be impeached any moment and more than that he should be aware that continuing to hold that post by a person who violated the constitution can give rise to numerous other problems,” MP Welgama told The Island.

Continue reading ‘Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama Wants Maithripala Sirisena to Resign Immediately Because the Supreme Court has Ruled That the President has Violated the Constitution.’ »

By

Disna Mudalige, Camelia Nathaniel and Amali Mallawaarachchi

Questions were raised in Parliament yesterday over the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader.

The Speaker, listening to arguments of both sides of the House, said he will give his ruling on the Opposition Leader’s post on Friday.

At the commencement of the House, Speaker Jayasuriya announced that former President Rajapaksa will be given the Opposition Leader’s post according to Parliamentary traditions. He observed that the UPFA MPs have withdrawn from the national government and assumed their seats in the Opposition.

The Speaker also announced that UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera has been appointed as Chief Opposition Whip and UNP MPs Lakshman Kiriella and Gayantha Karunathilake have been re-appointed as Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip respectively.

TNA Leader R.Sampanthan was seen seated on the chair allocated to the Opposition Leader of Parliament since the commencement of sittings.

Former President Rajapaksa, who entered the Chamber after the sittings commenced, took the seat next to Sampanthan.

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella, taking the floor, contended that former President Rajapaksa and his fellow MPs ceased to be Members of Parliament as one month has lapsed since they vacated the SLFP and obtained membership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Continue reading ‘Have Mahinda Rajapaksa and son Namal Along with Over 40 SLFP/UPFA Parliamentarians Who Joined the SLPP a Month Ago, Forfeited Their MP Seats According to Article 99 (13) (a) of the Constitution?’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Many an eyebrow has been raised over former Economic Affairs Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s recent declaration that SLFP/UPFA lawmakers hadn’t received Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) membership.

Addressing a gathering at Maharagama over the last weekend, the chief architect of the SLPP claimed that the party was yet to take SLFP/UPFA lawmakers to its fold.

Among those present on the occasion were SLFP/UPFA lawmakers who had recently taken SLPP membership along with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

About 50 SLFP/UPFA lawmakers took SLPP membership soon after the dissolution of parliament on Nov 09.

A smiling Basil Rajapaksa said that the SLPP would be cautious in giving membership.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam declined to comment on the issue at hand.

Continue reading ‘Eyebrows Raised Over Basil Rajapaksa’s Recent Declaration that More than 50 MP’s from SLFP/UPFA Including Mahinda Rajapaksa Who Took SLPP Membership After Nov 9th Have Not Been Given Party Membership Yet.’ »

ALL’S WELL that ends well, or so Shakespeare would have it, when a seeming tragedy turns into a heart-warming story of persistence and redemption.

Such was the relief that Sri Lanka felt on December 16th, as seven weeks of political turbulence ended like a summer squall. After a period when the country had first two bickering governments and then no government at all, Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to office as prime minister just as suddenly as he had been tossed out in October.

It was reassuring to see democracy prevail. After much suspense, the legislative and judicial branches joined forces to contain a dangerous lunge by President Maithripala Sirisena to expand executive power.

It was also, for many, satisfying to watch the lushly mustachioed former strongman, Mahinda Rajapaksa, exit the stage with a scowl, having failed to usurp the premiership that Mr Sirisena had tried to seize for him.

Yet as every Sri Lankan knows, the events of the past few weeks represent only one act in a much longer play.

Continue reading ‘It Was Satisfying For Many To Watch The Lushly Mustachioed Former Strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa Exit The Stage With a Scowl Having Failed To Usurp The Premiership – The Economist’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

UPFA lawmakers Gamini Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Lakshman Senewiratne, and Indika Bandaranayake crossed over to join the Government soon after Parliament was convened yesterday for the first time after UNP MP Ranil Wickre-mesinghe was reappointed as Prime Minister.

Explaining the reasons which compelled the three of them to leave the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and join the UNP, MP Zoysa complained of step-motherly treatment under President Sirisena and said the country was heading in the wrong direction due to the unwarranted constitutional crisis.

Continue reading ‘Wijayamuni Zoysa, Lakshman Seneviratne and Indika Bandaranayake Cross Over In Parliament From SLFP -UPFA to the Govt Complaining of Step Motherly Treatment Under President Sirisena.’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya nominated MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition soon after Parliament convened yesterday, but responding to protests from Parliamentarians, said he would decide whether to appoint a Select Committee to look into the validity of the appointment.

Filling three other important positions in Parliament, Speaker appointed United National Party (UNP) MPs Lakshman Kiriella the Leader of the House and Gayantha Karunatileka Chief Government Whip. United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Mahinda Amaraweera was appointed as the Chief Opposition Whip. According to the Speaker, UPFA is no longer a part of the coalition Government, and can hold the Opposition Leader and Chief Opposition Whip positions.

When the Speaker’s decision was announced in Parliament, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran made the observation that 49 members of Parliament, including Rajapaksa himself, who had contested on the SLFP ticket, had in writing resigned their membership when switching to Rajapaksa’s camp during the Constitutional crisis.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Nominates Mahinda Rajapaksa as Leader of the Opposition But May Appoint Select Committee Following Protests to Ascertain Whether the Kurunegala District Parliamentarian is Eligible to Remain as Opposition MP’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday made an open request to United National Party Parliamentarians to voluntarily give up Ministry portfolios, in a bid to limit the Cabinet to 30 members.

Initially, only Party senior Malik Samarawickrama offered to step down, but seeing there were no volunteers, Party leaders who form the United National Front, All Ceylon Makkal Congress Party leader Rishad Bathiudeen and Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan offered to step down.

Ganesan later wrote on twitter to say: “At #UNF group meeting today; PM opined to keep number of cabinet ministers at 30 & solicited cabinet aspirants to voluntarily stay out of cabinet. Myself & #Rishad said “we will stay out w/out any cabinet portfolio, if u so wish, to keep it at 30” #lka”

However, Parliamentarians Eran Wickramaratne and Dr. Harsha De Silva, along with UNP National Organiser Navin Dissanayake, spoke against a decision to keep the two minority party leaders out of Cabinet, noting that the duo has stood by the UNP in times of trouble, sources present at the meeting told Daily FT.

Continue reading ‘Mano Ganesan, Rishad Bathiudeen and Malik Samarawickrama Accede to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Request and Volunteer Not to Become Cabinet Ministers to Help Prime Minister Limit Cabinet to 30 Ministers.’ »

By Saman Indrajith

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday informed Parliament that he recognised Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader of the Opposition. He also recognised UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera as the Chief Opposition Whip.

However, UNP and TNA opposed the recognition of Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader and called him the leader of a group of strangers in the chamber.

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella said that as per the Standing Orders, those who were not MPs or Parliament employees could not come to the chamber and such strangers should be removed forthwith. “Today, we have a group of strangers sitting in the seats of the Opposition. If any MP resigns from the party from which he entered Parliament, he or she loses the MP post. Such person cannot be considered an MP. Those who resigned from the SLFP cannot occupy the seats allocated for that party. That matter does not need to go before court. Their MP posts would come to an end at the lapse of one month after leaving the SLFP.”

The Opposition MPs shouted at the statement made by the Leader of the House.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Recognizes Mahinda as Leader of Opposition But UNP,TNA and SLMC Raise Questions About the Legality of Rajapaksa Being Opposition Leader and MP and Describe him as “Stranger in the House”.’ »

Sri Lanka’s reinstated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe marked his first day back in office Monday with a hostile president resisting his nominations to a new cabinet.

Party officials said Wickremesinghe was battling to form a government as Maithripala Sirisena insisted that he wanted to retain media and the law-and-order portfolios. Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) was against giving the key portfolios to Sirisena.

“The President wants to keep law-and-order and media portfolios, but the prime minister disagrees,” a party official said adding that the tug-of-war led to the delay in forming a cabinet.

Continue reading ‘Tussle Between President and Prime Minister Delays Cabinet Formation with Wickremesinghe Resisting Sirisena’s Demands that Media and Law and Order Ministries be Allocated to Him.’ »

Triggering a fresh controversy, President Maithripala Sirisena has demanded state media institutions, making the negotiations over the appointments of a new Cabinet even harder.

Sirisena has reportedly informed the UNP that he would place two state media institutions under his direct purview.

Continue reading ‘Formation of New Cabinet Delayed as President Sirisena Wants The Police Dept and Two State Media Institutions to be Under His Direct Purview.’ »

By Uditha Jayasinghe and Nuwan Senarathna

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday led from the front by calling on the public to give a two-thirds majority to a coalition led by the United National Party (UNP) at the next general election to abolish the Executive Presidency and outlined plans to form a new coalition titled the National Democratic Front (NDF),insisting the constitutional crisis had shown that no other major party could be depended on to implement the changes needed to protect democracy in Sri Lanka.

Fresh from a seven-week battle with the Executive and taking oaths as Prime Minister for the fifth time, Wickremesinghe addressed a packed rally organised by his party at Galle Face Green. A visibly cheerful Wickremesinghe cracked a few jokes before detailing future plans amidst firecrackers and cheering supporters. He pledged to establish a broad coalition to promote democracy and said the proposal would be presented to the UNP Executive Committee as early as this Friday.

“I have no doubt the proposal will be accepted. We will call it the National Democratic Front (DNF).

This coalition is needed to promote and protect democracy. I ask everyone here and the public at large to give us a two-thirds majority at the next general election. It is clear we cannot depend on anyone else to abolish the Executive Presidency. We need to have the capacity to do this ourselves. There are still many laws that undermine the independence of our institutions, hinder the development of human rights and prohibit the expansion of democracy in this country. We need to change this,” he said.

Wickremesinghe also insisted the UNP and its coalition parties remained committed to reconciliation and a political solution to the ethnic issue but these would be achieved within a united Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe thanked pro-democratic elements including opposition political parties, civil society and the public that supported the UNP during its tussle with the Executive and emphasised that he was grateful for their backing.

“This is the people’s power. No one can defeat this,” he said while gesturing at a packed Galle Face Green.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Addressing Mammoth UNF Rally at Galle Face Unveils Plans to Form New Alliance Named National Democratic Front To Contest Elections Seeking Two-Thirds Majority to Abolish Executive Presidency’ »

(Text of Speech Made by President Maithripala Sirisena to a Gathering of UNF representatives after swearing in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister on December 16th 2018)

The January 08, 2015 Presidential election was an extraordinary people’s victory achieved through a challenging election campaign. In that victory, the people of the country had many of their hopes and expectations. As of now, with completion of almost four years, we have had several achievements as a government that have a significant place in history. At the same time, there were many disastrous acts, corruption and disturbing incidents as well.We are pleased that we fulfill some of the aspirations of the people during this period. At the same time we could not take the country to the level the people expected us to take. Now, I do not know how far we will be able to achieve those expectations.

From the date of the victory of 2015 election, the promises of our election manifesto have floundered since the date of the swearing-in of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to our Election Manifesto, ministries had to be allocated on a scientific basis. Not only that, a team of experts had been appointed for that responsibility and necessary document was prepared. But, I do not know, if that document was even looked at.

In the past, most of us have witnessed most unfortunate situations. When it comes to progressive results, I see the establishment of democracy in the country and the freedom of the people, the 19th amendment and the establishment of independent commissions. I see only those steps as progress in the country. On the other side, today I only see a huge political crisis. It is a uncertain to me whether the appointment of independent commissions and selection of some persons to positions under the 19th Amendment to Constitution were done impartially. The Constitution Council has to appoint the Chief Justice, the Attorney General and the Inspector General Police.The main thing I noticed was when the names of senior most judges were submitted for the judiciary appointments, they were rejected.

There is an allegation among the judges in the judiciary service that I do not give appointments in accordance with seniority.I should clearly state that I have sent every single name of those who level those charges against me, but the Constitutional Council has rejected those names. In that situation, there has been injustice to those who hold seniority in the field of judiciary. Therefore, the question arises as to how impartial the Constitutional Council has been when appointing of Judges.

Continue reading ‘“If People Including NGP Persons and some MP’s want to Assassinate me I will Order the Army and STF to Go away and Open the Gates Myself For them to Come and Burn me and my House Down” – Says President Maithripala Sirisena.’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

After an uphill battle by the people,who are not necessarily the fans of the United National Party, a good deal of activism by the civil society, lawyers and online chatter; and finally an unanimous Supreme Court verdict that ruled the dissolution of Parliament as illegal and ultra-vires, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the prime- minister on Sunday.

Now the state media believes that the people of this country owe him for being the prime minister. “The people who cherish democracy owe an eternal debt to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was sworn in last morning as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, for walking the gauntlet all the way in achieving for them this victory,” a front line newspaper clamoured in a front page editorial. That is the sycophancy of the highest order. And cutouts of Mr. Wickremesinghe have been put up outside many state institutions.

There is a good deal of probability that the UNP and Ranil would squander the political capital that it accumulated over the past 50 days, say probably, within the next 50 days. The sudden change of fortune of the UNP had nothing to do with its acumen and hard work. Leading up to President Sirisena’s sacking of the government on October 26, the UNP was so unpopular- and it knew that- that it had been shying away from provincial council elections- which have been postponed, under the pretext of delay in delimitating electoral wards.

However, the President, coherence of whose policies in political judgments are receding the day by the day, decided to hit his own goal. An impatient Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is reportedly worried about the upcoming court cases against his family- many of his cases would go to trial in the first Q of 2019 – momentarily lost his political machiavellism. Premier Wickremesinghe won without doing anything. Now, the UNPers and many others would expect him not to blow away that political capital. Here are a few ways how he would probably do exactly that.

Continue reading ‘Beginning of UNP’s Undoing Could Happen Very Soon and Very Rapidly if “Tainted” Ravi Karunanayake is Appointed Finance Minister.’ »

Sri Lanka will prepare an interim budget to keep the government ticking from January 2019, after a new cabinet of ministers is appointed, United National Party legislators said.

“We expect to appoint a cabinet of ministers within 48 hours,” UNP legislator and former state minister for finance Eran Wickramaratne said.

“We will talk with party leaders and go for a debate or one or two days and seek approval.”

Harsha de Silva, a for state minister for economic affairs said to save time, standing orders in the parliament can be suspended to seek approval for the vote on account.

Continue reading ‘New Govt in Formation to Seek Parliamentary Approval for Vote on Account as Interim Measure First and Follow It Up By Presenting Full Budget in January 2019.’ »

Heavyweights Mangala Samaraweera and Ravi Karunanayake are alleged to be fighting over the key Finance Ministry portfolio whilst political analysts claim it would not be a surprise if either fails to secure it.

Karunanayake is keen to regain the once lost portfolio though he also briefly held the Foreign Minister title.

Given the speculation, sections of civil society have been strongly opposed to returning the Finance Ministry portfolio to Karunanayake.

Continue reading ‘Intense Internal Struggle Between Mangala Samaraweera and Ravi Karunanayake To Become Finance Minister May Result in Ranil Wickremesinghe Retaining Portfolio Himself Or Allocating it to Another Person.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday, told newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other UNP MPs at a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, that he was still of the view that Wickremesinghe should not have been appointed Prime Minister.

A media statement issued by the President Secretariat, yesterday quoted President Sirisena as having said: “When I said that I would not appoint Wickremesinghe PM even if all 225 MPs supported him that was my personal opinion. That hasn’t changed. But as someone who respects parliamentary traditions and democracy I have decided to appoint him Prime Minister. Neither Parliament nor courts, to my knowledge, can tell me who should be appointed PM.”

The President said that his decisions to appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa Prime Minster, prorogue Parliament and dissolve it had been taken after obtaining expert legal opinion,”I did so in good faith.”

The President said: “I took those decisions in the national interest and not with the intention of violating the Constitution. I believe that the best way to end the crisis is to go for an election. The 15.5 million Sri Lankan voters are more important than all the MPs in Parliament. Placing the matter before people is the best way to respect their sovereignty and I wanted to let the people decide.

“Establishing independent commissions was a positive of the 19th Amendment, but it also created a political deadlock.”

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Re-appoints Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister and then Tells him and UNP that in his Opinion Ranil Should Not Have Been Appointed Premier Again.’ »

(Text of special Ststement Issued by recently removed and subsequently re-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe after being worn in by President Maithripala Sirisena)

The full statement is reproduced below:

Special Statement made by the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

16th December 2018

It is a pleasure to me to address you once again as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

You all know that the basic law of our country is the Constitution. Now we have passed 87 years after we gained franchise. During this whole period the people of this country protected the Constitution. They protected fundamental rights. Whenever there was a threat to the constitution and to the fundamental rights, they came forward to protect them.

Same thing happened in the Presidential Election in 2016. You all joined hands to end an era in which the Constitution and the rights of the people were suppressed. It is with this intention that we adopted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in order to protect the rights of the people more and more. I would like to emphasize that democracy will not be strengthened by acting against the constitution.

The Prime Minister of the Country should have the maximum confidence of the Parliament. Without a majority support a Prime Minister cannot bring forward the Country. Similarly,the Prime Minister and the Ministers should vacate their posts when a no confidence motion was passed in Parliament against them.

Continue reading ‘“We will have discussions with the Tamil National Alliance and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to bring about a political solution in which all citizens can live in harmony in a unitary state” – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By

Arun Tambimuttu

Prince Gunararasa Casinader, former MP for Batticalo, passed away on December 12, 2018 at the age 92.

Prince Casinader is much more than a popular personality, as far as Batticaloa is concerned he was an institution for more than half a century. As an educationalist, civil society leader and legislator, he served Batticaloa with immense passion and distinction.

The Casinader family had its deeply embedded roots in Batticaloa. As a Tambimuttu, I can say with pride that the Tambimuttus and Casinaders had a long established kinship spanning many a generations, for instance, E.R. Tambimuttu’s daughter Laurel became Casinader by marriage. Incidentally, Laurel Casinader was the first female graduate to come out of Ceylon.

Prince Casinader was born on 21 July 1925, one of five children. Like many children at that time, Prince started his primary education at Vincent Girl’s school, and had a stint at St Cecilia’s Convent before settling in at Methodist Central College. His father Charles Brown Casinader wanted his bright son to pursue a legal career, however the fate would design much more of a nobler career path for Prince.

Continue reading ‘Batticaloa Bids Farewell To Its Beloved Prince!’ »

United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on Sunday, ending a 51-day power tussle in the island nation that had crippled the government.

Mr. Wickremesinghe, 69, was administered the oath of office by President Maithripala Sirisena, who had sacked him on October 26 in a controversial move which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

The UNP leader had refused to step down asserting that his sacking was illegal.

His re-appointment comes a day after former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was installed as Prime Minister by President Sirisena, resigned on Saturday, after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made his efforts to cling to premiership untenable.

Continue reading ‘Status Quo Restored in Sri Lanka as President Sirisena Who Removed Prime Minister Unconstitutionally on Oct 26 , Swears in Ranil Wickremesinghe as Premier on Dec 16th at Auspicious time of 11.16 am’ »

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court shooting down President Maithripala Sirisena’s premature sacking of parliament will have far reaching consequences for him as well as future leaders, according to the landmark judgment.

The cogently written judgments also demolished the state Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya and chided him for trying to confer “royal prerogative powers” on the Sri Lankan president who is not above the law.

Chief Justice Nalin Perera in an 88-page judgment took the mickey out of Attorney General Jayasuriya and his staff who unsuccessfully attempted to defend President Sirisena sacking parliament on November 9 through proclamation published in the gazette.

Continue reading ‘Unanimous Supreme Court Ruling Severely Admonishes Attorney -General Jayantha Jayasuriya For Trying to Confer “Royal Prerogative Power” on the Sri Lankan Head of State Despite the Executive President Not Being Above the Law.’ »

Sri Lanka’s crisis looked over on Saturday as strongman Mahinda Rajapakse bowed out of a power battle that had crippled the island nation for seven weeks and sent it heading for a possible debt default.

Rajapakse held a multi-religious service at his home where he signed a letter backing down from the post of prime minister controversially conferred on him on October 26.

Hours after the receiving blessings from the clergy, the 73-year-old ex-president sounded bitter and vowed to make a comeback at local council elections.

“There is no doubt at all that the people who stood by us since 2015 will continue to support us in the future as well,” he said addressing his close associates. “We will bring the forces opposed to the country down to their knees by organising the people.”

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Holds Multi – Religious Worship at His residence Before Signing a Letter Quitting Seven Week Long Controversial Prime Minister Post Conferred on Him on Oct 26’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

As former President Mahinda Rajapaksa ignominiously retreated following the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal delivering a richly deserved lesson on constitutional propriety to President Maithripala Sirisena, the nation faces sobering questions close to the dawn of a new year.

Betrayal of the electoral compact

Euphoria in preventing the President from tossing the Constitution into the waters of the Indian Ocean in front of his Secretariat on the advice of legal ‘experts’ who should be hanging their heads in shame, is understandable. But relapsing comfortably into complacency when the excitement subsides is not an option this time around. The absence of civic vigilance and a forthright critique of ‘yahapalanaya’ failures was precisely the reason why the 2015 democratic gains were frittered away by the unity coalition, long before both partners ferociously turned on each other.

Lest we forget, the attempted extra-constitutional capture of political power by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26th 2018 did not come upon us in a vacuum. Instead, it was a consequence of betrayal of the 2015 electoral contract by both the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). This must be underscored. Due responsibility must be borne by both parties.

Even so, it is particularly amusing that Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) should position itself as the constitutional victim on an entirely disingenuous argument that, by precipitating this turn of events, it was only trying to enable an election to be held so that the people could vote for the party of their choice. Just as much as patriotism is the clarion call of scoundrels, the call to the Supreme Court by the SLPP to respect ‘people’s sovereignty’ is the height of political depravity.

Continue reading ‘Attempted extra-constitutional capture of political power by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 26th 2018 did not come upon us in a vacuum’ »

All the Rajapaksas combined failed to defeat the independence and integrity of our legislature and judiciary, and he resigned from a position he has not held for the last one month. Today, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s efforts to gain power through the backdoor have failed, UNP deputy leader, Sajith Premadasa said.

“I challenge Mahinda Rajapaksa to win the confidence of the people not by manipulating the facts, but by coming before them with a plan to heal the wounds that he has inflicted on our democracy and economy”, he said in a statement yesterday.

Now is not the time to deny his wrongdoing and blame others for his woes and those of the country. If Mahinda Rajapaksa ever wishes to regain the trust of Sri Lankans and to be entrusted with safeguarding the very Constitution that he trampled over in his thirst for power, his journey must begin by confessing his sins to the country, seeking their penance and going before them in a lawful, free and fair election, Premadasa noted.

Recounting the sequence of political events, the statement said: “On 26 October 2018, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured President Maithripala Sirisena that he commanded the confidence of Parliament and assumed the post of Prime Minister. Incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made clear that he still commanded the confidence of Parliament, but Mahinda Rajapaksa refused to step down.

Continue reading ‘If Mahinda Rajapaksa Wants to Regain Power He Must Confess His Sins to the Country, Seek Penance and Go Before the People in a Lawful, Free and Fair Election says Sajith Premadasa.’ »

(Text of English translation of a speech made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his Wijerama Mawatha residence on 15 December 2018)

Most venerable members of the Maha Sangha, Clergymen of all religions, Members of Parliament, Ministers, and dear friends,

The Supreme Court has delivered a judgement against the holding of the general election that had already been declared. Since that judgement is a long and complicated document, I will study it carefully and in due course express my views on the constitutional impact it will have on the functioning of the parliamentary system of government in this country.

Today however, I wish to speak on the political implications of not being able to hold the general election that had already been declared. We are now in direct confrontation with a group of political parties that have continuously engaged in various subterfuges to avoid facing elections.

When this group of political parties tried to get the local government elections postponed indefinitely by petitioning courts over the delimitation of wards, we were able to hold the local government election only because the Chairman of the Elections Commission intervened and declared that he would hold elections at least in respect of the local government institutions that had no delimitation issues pending before courts. If not for that intervention, the people would not have got even the local government election.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Lashes Out at Tamil National Alliance In His “Farewell”Speech Saying the UNP Has Been Taken Hostage by the TNA and that the Tamil party Holds the Remote Control in Parliament.’ »

Sri Lanka’s disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has signed what was called a ‘resignation’ letter at his residence in the capital Colombo, ending an extraordinary saga in the country’s parliamentary history where he clung on to power despite suffering no-confidence motions.

Rajapaksa was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Rajapaksa Prime Minister on October 26, triggering a constitutional crisis, banking on buying over corrupt or disgruntled members to build a parliamentary majority.

However even members of his United National Party who opposed the unpopular actions of Wickremesinghe’s so-called ‘cronies’ as well as a section of the parliamentary group which was at the centre of a corruption scandal failed to cross over.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Signs a “Resignation Letter” At His Residence After Clinging On to Power For 7 Weeks As the First and Only Purported Prime Minister in Commonwealth History’ »

By the “Daily FT” Special Political Correspondent

Lord Denning M. L., the 20th Century British Judge and Jurist, in his famous book ‘The Family Story’, remarked: “Every Judge, on his appointment, discards all politics and all prejudice. You need have no fear. The Judges of England have always in the past – and will – be vigilant in guarding our freedoms. Someone must be trusted. Let it be the Judges.”

The principle duty of a Judge, especially of the apex court, is to suppress force and fraud. Force is more pernicious when it is open, and fraud, when it is closed and distinguished. Today, Judges are depositaries of laws, the living oracles who are expected, bound by an Oath to defend the Constitution, to decide according to the law.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka reinforced this principle in a historic judgement on Thursday when a seven-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Gazette dissolving Parliament, issued by President Sirisena on 9 November, was unconstitutional and illegal, and Parliament cannot be dissolved until four-and-a-half out of its five-year term is completed.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Nalin Perera and Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Sisira J. de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardana, Prasanna Jayawardena, Vijith K. Malalgoda, and Murdu Fernando, also ruled that the said Proclamation is null and void and has no force or effect in law. Thirteen Fundamental Rights Petitions were filed against the dissolution of Parliament by the President, while eight Petitions were filed to oppose.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Offers Prime Minister Position to Karu Jayasuriya, Sajith Premadasa, John Amaratunga and Daya Gamage To Deprive Ranil Wickremesinghe But UNP Stalwarts Stand Firmly Behind Party Leader Who will be Taking Oaths for the Fifth time as Premier’ »

By

Wijith de Chickera

In a palpable blow felt around the body politic, three courts have delivered a trifecta of punches to the coup’s solar plexus. It is not a full, final or binding ruling. But it is a first step towards something solid, stable, and altogether salutary – or so it seems. And there is enough to go on to give at least half the republic a new hope.

Continue reading ‘The judiciary at three levels of its being has asserted its mettle against unconstitutional political ambition and unbridled militarism.’ »

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court yesterday against the former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva over Contempt of Court.

Senior Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara, Prof. Hewa Waduge Cyril, and Senior Prof. Prashantha Gunawardena filed the petition.

Continue reading ‘Three Senior Sri Lankan Academics File Petition in Supreme Court Seeking Legal Action Against Ex- Chief Justice Sarath Silva For Allegedly Making Critical Statements About Judiciary Amounting to Contempt of Court.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake and Nuwan Senarathna

President Maithripala Sirisena-appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday decided to quit, ending seven weeks of political turmoil in the country, as ousted Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe readies to retake his oaths yet again tomorrow.

Rajapaksa, whose appointment for the post was disputed from the beginning, decided to ‘resign’ as Prime Minister yesterday after an hour-long meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena and other United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) members.

The decision comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s refusal to suspend an Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal against him and his disputed Cabinet functioning in their official capacity.

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, confirming the decision, told Daily FT that MP Rajapaksa had “decided to resign to ensure the stability of the nation”. Rajapaksa is also expected to make a public statement.

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to take oaths before President Sirisena on Sunday at 10 a.m., UNP spokesperson Harin Fernando confirmed.

Despite his earlier objections, Sirisena has backed down from the stance of refusing to appoint Wickremesinghe again even if he commanded the majority in the house. In a speech last week, President Sirisena said that even if all 225 members of the House requested to appoint Wickremesinghe, he would not do so.

According to SLFP Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara, the President has agreed to appoint Wickremesinghe as “he commanded the majority with a confidence motion being passed as well”.

According to senior party members, the UNP is set to form its own Government in the coming days. Possible crossovers also featured during party discussions held with Wickremesinghe focusing on forming the new Government. However, there was also opposition from within to the idea, sources said.

“We are ready to form our Government, and if we can’t, we will go for elections. We will not accept any group from the SLFP, although we are ready to accept any individuals who are ready to join the UNP,” a UNP senior official told Daily FT.

“We are not keen on any groups. There are undesirables in the group, and they are the ones who were always holding us back, so we are not going to accept any groups.”

The group of SLFP Parliamentarians who held posts under the disputed Sirisena-Rajapaksa Government, however, has told the President that they will remain with the President as his representatives and support any decision taken by him indicating a willingness to join a UNP-led Government again.

“If the President wants us to remain in the posts we were appointed to as his representatives, we are willing to do so. We will act upon whatever he decides,” Jayasekara told Daily FT.

However, neither the SLFP nor the UPFA will enter into a formal agreement with the UNP, Jayasekara said.

“We are looking at supporting the UNP Government to counter any influence the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) might have as they may give conditional support and that will not be good when the Government wants to pass crucial bills,” he explained.

“So, to ensure there is stability, we may look at a mechanism to support as representatives of the President.”

The SLFP and SLPP are set on forming a broader alliance going forward, Jayasekara said. However, the President is yet to take a final decision on the matter.

Courtesy:Daily FT

By S. S. Selvanayagam

Supreme Court yesterday granted special Leave to Appeal the petition filed by MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 others against the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal but declined Interim Relief.

The bench comprised Justices Eva Wanasundera, Buwaneka Aluvihara and Vijith K. Malalgoda.

Justice Vijith K. Malalgoda dissented in granting Leave to Appeal, but the Court was unanimous in its decision to decline to grant Interim Relief.

Continue reading ‘Appeal Court Ruling Restraining Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others From Functioning as Prime Minister and Ministers Upheld Unanimously by Three -Judge Bench Of Supreme Court Headed By Eva Wanasundara.’ »

UNP sources say ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be reappointed Prime Minister on Sunday.

This follows a telephone conversation between President Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe that took place a short while ago.

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena in Telephone Conversation with Ranil Wickremesinghe Agrees to Re-appoint Ousted UNP Leader as Prime Minister on Sunday December 16th.’ »

By Maria Abi-Habib and Dharisha Bastians

Sri Lanka’s political crisis appeared to edge toward a resolution Friday when one of the two men claiming to be the country’s rightful prime minister agreed to step down.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa planned to relinquish his claim to be prime minister in an address to the nation on Saturday, according to officials in his party.

The current president, Mathirpala Sirisena, appointed him as prime minister in late October, but the pair failed to clinchthe majority in Parliament needed to secure their power. Mr. Sirisena then dissolved Parliament in November.

Continue reading ‘In the Aftermath of Two Adverse Supreme Court Rulings, Mahinda Rajapaksa Likely to Relinquish His Claim of Being Prime Minister and Step Down After an Address to the Nation.’ »

NOT FOR the first time in recent weeks, Sri Lankans held a collective breath on the afternoon of December 13th, as citizens gathered outside the Supreme Court in Colombo, the capital. When seven judges eventually faced the packed crowd in Room 502, their decision was unanimous: President Maithripala Sirisena had breached the constitution last month, by decreeing parliament dissolved. Outside on the street, opponents of the president roared their approval of the ruling.

As unusual as it was, the court’s slap to the country’s head of state came as no surprise. Mr Sirisena has been testing the limits of his powers ever since October 26th.

On that day he pitched his country into uncharted constitutional waters, sacking the sitting prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, despite his command of a solid parliamentary majority, and appointing instead Mahinda Rajapaksa, a hugely controversial former president.

Continue reading ‘Despite the Supreme Court Slap to The Head of State, Sirisena’s Opponents May Not Be Able to Write The President Off So Easily -The Economist’ »

By Nuwan Senarathna

Indicating no change in his stance, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he would only make a decision after observing the proceedings of the Supreme Court on the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal today, according to the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarians.

The Appeal filed against the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal, restraining MP Mahinda Rajapaksa from holding the office of Prime Minister and his Cabinet from functioning, has been fixed for support today by the Supreme Court.

On 3 December, the Court of Appeal issued an Interim Order restraining Rajapaksa and his Cabinet from functioning until the hearing of the Writ of Quo Warranto filed against them is concluded. However, on the following day, an appeal was filed with the Supreme Court against the Interim Order. The Appeal was filed by attorneys on behalf of Rajapaksa.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa Ready to Move Back To Opposition and Let Ranil Form Govt But President Sirisena Refuses to “Take a Step Back” and Insists He “Would Not Govern Country With Ranil Wickremesinghe Under Any Circumstances”.’ »

Jubilant United National Party (UNP) members, led by MP Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday, called on President Maithripala Sirisena to respect the Supreme Court judgement and immediately establish a Government that has the support of Parliament.

UNP leader and MP Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a Twitter post minutes after the landmark judgement, said he hoped Sirisena will “promptly respect the judgement of the courts.” “The Legislature, Judiciary and the Executive are equally important pillars of a democracy and the checks and balances that they provide are crucial to ensuring sovereignty of its citizens,” Wickremesinghe tweeted.

Thanking supporters after the Supreme Court decision at the Temple Trees, Wickremesinghe pledged to continue to defend the sovereignty of the citizens of Sri Lanka. “The Constitution has proven that the sovereignty of the people is greater and what we have been telling was the truth. I thank all those who supported to defend the people’s mandate and democracy,” he added.

Continue reading ‘UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe Asks President Sirisena to Respect the Supreme Court Verdict and Immediately Establish a Govt That Has the support of Parliament.’ »

By S. S. Selvanayagam

In a landmark judgement, a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court yesterday unanimously ruled that the Gazette dissolving Parliament, issued by President Maithripala Sirisena on 9 November, was unconstitutional, and Parliament cannot be dissolved until four and a half out of its five year term is completed.

In the much-awaited judgment, running to 87 pages, the Supreme Court also quashed the Gazette notification.

Continue reading ‘Seven Judge Bench of Supreme Court Led By Chief Justice Unanimously Rules in 87 Page Judgement That Parliament Cannot be Dissolved Until Four and a Half Years of Its Five Year Term is Completed.’ »

By

S.S. Selvanayagam, Farook T. Thajudeen and Shehan Chamika Silva

A fuller Bench of seven Supreme Court (SC) Justices today unanimously ruled that President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve parliament on November 9, before the completion of four and half years, was unconstitutional and illegal.

The highly anticipated judgement, delivered before a packed court of lawyers, MPs and journalists, further upheld that the President’s action was an arbitrary Executive act which had violated the fundamental right of ‘equal protection of the law’(Article 12(1)) of the Petitioners.

Continue reading ‘Justice Sisira De Abrew Gives Different Reasons For His Ruling While Concurring With Chief Justice and Other Five Judges in Delivering a Unanimous Supreme Court Verdict That President Sirisena’s Gazette Proclamation on Nov 9th Dissolving Parliament was Unconstitutional and Illegal and Had No Force in Law.’ »

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court today ruled in a landmark judgement that President Maithripala Sirisena’s Gazetted decision to dissolve Parliament and hold snap elections was unconstitutional and unlawful.

Chief Justice Nalin Perera delivering the verdict said that if the President wants to dissolve Parliament before four and half years, as stipulated by the Constitution there should be a resolution passed by two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The verdict was announced unanimously with all seven Judges agreeing. One Judge however gave different reasons for his opinion.

The seven Judge Bench of the Supreme Court which heard the cases comprised Chief Justice Nalin Perera and Justices Prasanna Jayaweardena, Sisira de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, Murdhu Fernando, Buvaneka Aluvihare and Vijitha Malalgoda.

Sri Lanka’s highest court has by this decision overturned the dissolution of Parliament and halted a general election thereby confirming an earlier interim order and delivering a blow to President Maithripala Sirisena in the ongoing political crisis.

Continue reading ‘Seven Judge Bench of Supreme Court Headed by Chief Justice Perera Rules Unanimously in a Landmark Verdict That Dissolution of Parliament and Scheduling of Elections Gazetted By President Sirisena was UnConstitutional and Unlawful .’ »

Controversial Supreme Court judge Eva Wanasundera is set to hear an appeal by her law-college pal Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday raising concern among opposing petitioners who fear bias.

The appeal filed against a Court of Appeal interim order restraining Rajapaksa and his purported cabinet exercising the powers of their offices is to be taken up by a three-judge bench of the highest court on Friday.

The bench headed by Eva Wanasundera includes justice Buvenaka Aluvihare and Vijith Kumara Malalgoda.

Continue reading ‘Concerns Rise Over Possible “Biased” Rulings as Three -Judge Supreme Court Bench Headed by Eva Wanasundara Along With Buvaneka Aluvihare and Vijithkumara Malalgoda Is Set To Hear Appeal by Mahinda Rajapaksa Against Appeal Court Interim Order On Friday Dec 14th’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

In a crucial verdict that could possibly end Sri Lanka’s current political impasse, the Supreme Court will, at 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, rule on President Maithripala Sirisena’s November 9 move dissolving Parliament and calling for snap polls.

The judgement will be delivered by a seven-judge bench, seven weeks after Sri Lanka plunged into an unprecedented political crisis, arguably the biggest since the civil war ended a decade ago.

Continue reading ‘Seven Judge Supreme Court Bench Headed by Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice To Issue Crucial Ruling at 4 PM On Dec 13th on President Sirisena Ordering Dissolution of Parliament and Holding of Elections’ »

By

Zacki Jabbar

The UNP said yesterday that it would institute legal action against the Podujana Peramuna for circulating a false agreement that the UNP had purportedly entered into with the TNA.

UNP MPs Ashu Marasinghe and Mujibur Rahuman, addressing the media at Temple Trees, yesterday evening, challenged the authors of the false agreement to a television debate.”They can pick a television channel that is favourable to them. We hope Udaya Gamanpilla and Wimal Weerawansa would accept our invitation.”

Marasinghe said that the so-called pact written in Sinhala had been purportedly signed by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in English and TNA leader R.Sampanthan in Sinhala. “This clearly proves that this document is false. Wickremesinghe does not sign Sinhala statements in English and Sampanthan does not sign statements written in Sinhala.”

Continue reading ‘Bogus UNP -TNA Pact Written In Sinhala With Ranil’s English and Sampanthan’s Sinhala Signatures Being Circulated: UNP Threatens Legal Action Against Podujana Peramuna.’ »

By Saman Indrajith

Ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday, told Parliament that he would strive to find a political solution to the ethnic problem within an undivided country.

Addressing Parliament soon after a motion of confidence in him was passed Wickremesinghe said:

“The words of former US President Abraham Lincoln that “government of the people, by the people, for the people” come to mind. The government should be formed by the people and not by the President. There cannot be a government of the President but a government of the people.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Re-iterates in Parliament His Commitment Towards Achievement of a Political Solution Within an Undivided Country, Abolition of Executive Presidency and Strengthening of Provincial Councils.’ »

The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed Quo Warranto writ application filed by 122 MPs challenging the appointment Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Cabinet for arguments on January 16, 2019.

The Court directed all respondents to file written objections by January 4 while the petitioners were directed to file their counter objections by January 11.

Continue reading ‘Quo Warranto Writ Application Case Filed by 122 MP’s Against Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others to be Taken Up for Argument in Court of Appeal on Jan 16th 2019.’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Following the Vote of Confidence yesterday, confirming UNP MP Ranil Wickremesinghe as having the confidence of Parliament, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has informed President Maithripala Sirisena of the results officially.

In his letter to President Sirisena, the Speaker explained the background to the Motion and the channel followed in the House. “The Motion was in the order books for five days, as per Standing Order 27(3), and was taken up for debate. The vote was taken electronically, as per Standing Order 47 (2) B. MP Wickremesinghe having received majority votes, the Vote of Confidence was passed in favour of him,” Speaker Jayasuriya has held in his letter.

Continue reading ‘Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Informs President Sirisena Officially That Ranil Wickremesinghe MP Has The Confidence of the House Following a Motion of Confidence Being Passed With 117 Parliamentarians Voting in Favour..’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa yesterday appealed to President Maithripala Sirisena to end the Constitutional standoff by accepting MP Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, and allowing the country to return to normal without further delay.

Moving the Vote of Confidence yesterday in Parliament, to prove MP Wickremesinghe commands the confidence of Parliament to function as the Prime Minister, MP Premadasa said: “President, please stop wasting time. The time is right to change your decision and to put things in correct order. Look no further, wait no more, but please reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe. He commands the majority in this Parliament.”

Continue reading ‘Sajith Premadasa Moving Vote of Confidence In Parliament Tells President Sirisena to Stop wasting Time and Allow Country to Return to Normalcy Without Further Delay by Appointing Ranil Wickremesinghe Who Has the Confidence of the House as Prime Minister’ »

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Reasserting his majority in Parliament, UNP leader MP Ranil Wickremesinghe won the Vote of Confidence yesterday in Parliament, receiving 117 votes with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) declining to participate.

The motion showed MP Wickremesinghe commands the confidence of Parliament to function as the Prime Minister. UPFA lawmakers continued to boycott the Parliament, and no votes were received against the motion. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya later in the day informed the results of the vote to President Maithripala Sirisena.

MP Wickremesinghe, thanking fellow lawmakers for placing their trust upon him to be the Prime Minister, cited a famous quote from US President Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg address to honour the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of democracy, stating that the initiative taken against the constitutional crisis is for a ‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people.’

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Proves Conclusively That He Has the Confidence of Majority in Parliament By Winning Vote of Confidence with 117 To 0: UPFA Boycotts and JVP Abstains But TNA Votes Together With UNF’ »

By S.S.Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday overruled the Preliminary Objection raised by the Respondent on the non-compliance of Rule of the Court involving a technical issue.

The Court fixed the Petition for Argument on 16, 17 and 18 January 2019, and directed the Respondents to file their Objections on or before 28December, and the Petitioner to file Counter Objection of or before 4January. Counsels for the Respondents, including Mahinda Rajapaksa, raised Preliminary Objection on the purported non-compliance of Court Rule, claiming that the Petitioner has issued the Notices but without Petition, Affidavit, and documents.

They hence sought the Court to cancel the Interim Order which restrains Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 other respondents from functioning in the offices of Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, non-Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers,respectively, until the final hearing and determination.

The Bench, comprising Justices P. Pathman Surasena (President/CA) and Arjuna Obeysekara, overruled the Preliminary Objection and rejected the Respondents’ plea.

Continue reading ‘Appeal Court Overrules Preliminary Objection By Respondents And Denies Plea to Cancel Interim Order Issued in Quo Warranto Case Against Purported Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and His Cabinet.’ »

By

Kelum Bandara

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have asked for creation of public opinion on the conduct of a referendum on dissolution of Parliament, in case the Supreme Court rules out.

At the meetings of the parliamentary group of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that a referendum would be appropriate at this time to seek public opinion on the dissolution of Parliament.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Wants UPFA Parliamentarians to Create Public Opinion in Favour of Conducting a Referendum If the Supreme Court Rules Adversely on the Question of Dissolving Parliament and Holding Elections’ »

By Taylor Dibbert

Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues. The attempted coup is a huge mess. No one knows how the imbroglio will end, although the coup has been failing. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the project to illegally put Mahinda Rajapaksa in the prime minister’s post will fail. But the fact that coup has been failing is notable and, perhaps, mildly encouraging.

On Monday via Twitter, I was reminded about the role that misinformation, intimidation and dishonesty play in Sri Lanka’s ongoing political crisis. I guess I didn’t need any reminders because the signs are consistently there for everyone to see.

Continue reading ‘Coup Supporters have Relied upon Illegality and Dishonesty to try to put Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Prime Minister’s Post.Let’s Hope They Don’t Succeed.’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

In 1978, when the all-powerful executive presidency was introduced, LSSP stalwart N.M. Perera asked what would happen “if the presidency goes to a mad man”? The manifest limits of due process and absence of checks and balances against the behaviour of the incumbent has raised that pertinent question once again. Sri Lanka has never addressed this constitutional lacuna in full. Tinkering of the Constitution has not helped either.

J.R. Jayawardene, the first executive was not insane, but he was destructively opportunist. He drafted the 1978 Constitution to serve his personal and political ambitions and then tinkered it for 13 times. He was also an arrogant old man, full of ego (who was finally put in his place by young Rajiv Gandhi), a false god among a dozen other so-called national leaders.

The executive presidential system was introduced as means to address urgent and unique problems of economic development that the third world countries are faced with. However, its track record as an enabler of economic development and JR’s oversized stature ought to be gauged in comparison to the latter’s contemporaries of the same ideological vein: Lee Kuan Yee, Mahathir Mohammed, Suharto, and even Augusto Pinochet, some were bloodier than others, but they all uplifted their countries through right leaning authoritarian model. JR is a none-entity in this equation.

But he proved to be extra calamitous. His arrogant handling of State affairs created far- reaching political instability, and gave rise to two insurgencies in the North and the South. Effectively, mayhem he sowed killed more people per capita, than any of the right-wing leaders of his time. Pinochet looked like a convent nun.

JR did not clean up the mess he created, instead he handed over a burning nation to his successor, R. Premadasa. Nor did he create prosperity. Economic growth was dismal 4 per cent, despite the low GDP base of the country at the time (Whereas Mr. Premadasa, during his short tenure, defeated a moronic insurgency and doubled down on economic development).

Continue reading ‘When JR Introduced Executive Presidency in 1978 LSSP Leader Dr.N.M. Perera Raised The Prophetic Question “What Would Happen If Presidency Goes to a Madman?’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando

An ongoing high profile case before the Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake into the then Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne allegedly helping Lt. Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, a suspect in the alleged wartime abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youth, to flee the country in early last year, took a dramatic turn on Dec 05, 2018.

Hettiarachchi continues to be in the service though remanded in connection with the disappearance case.

Having repeatedly accused Admiral Wijegunaratne of secretly sending Hettiarachchi out of the country in a Fast Attack Craft (FAC), the CID on Dec 05, 2018, admitted in court that in the absence of evidence to prove Hettiarachchi left the country legally, the outfit assumed the wanted man had been moved out in a naval craft.

The CID, in June 2018, told Fort Magistrate how Wijegunaratne aided and abetted Hettiarachchi to flee the country. At the time allegations were directed at Wijegunaratne, he was the CDS.

Inspector Nishantha Silva, of the Organized Crime Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), inquiring into the case, made the shocking admission in response to a query posed by President’s Counsel Anoja Premaratne appearing for Wijegunaratne. Premaratne pointed out the police arrested Hettiarachchi in Colombo in August this year after having alleged he fled the country in a FAC.

No less a person than Director, CID, SSP Shani Abeysekera, in April 2018, alleged that Wijegunaratne had aided and abetted Hettiarachchi to flee the country. The other much-touted allegation that Hettiarachchi had received Rs. 500,000 from Wijegunaratne, too, ‘failed’ for want of evidence as an investigation of relevant accounts did not support the charge.

Continue reading ‘How Ex-Navy Chief and Chief of Defence Services Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne Became Remand Prisoner No 9550 At High Security Section in Welikade Jail.’ »

A petition was filed at the Court of Appeal yesterday seeking a writ of quo warranto to disqualify UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from being a Member of Parliament, declare that his appointment as a member of Parliament was void and state that he had no right to continue to hold office as a member of Parliament.

Sharmila Roweena Jayawardene Gonawela, Co-Chairperson of Women for Justice, filed the petition, naming Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake, Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank as respondents.

Continue reading ‘Petition Seeking Writ of quo Warranto To Disqualify Ranil Wickremesinghe as Member of Parliament Filed at Court of Appeal by Co-chair of Women for Justice Sharmila Roweena Jayawardene Gonawela.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena Monday faced a new challenge from an unexpected source questioning his mental condition to govern the country as a political crisis triggered by him dragged without any sign of resolution.

A public interest case was filed by a woman activist identified as Thakshila Jayawardena who argued that “irrational” behavior of the president was due to severe stress of adjusting to an urban life style, depression caused by the recent arrest of his chief of staff while taking a bribe and genetics.

Continue reading ‘“Public Interest” Case Filed on Behalf of Thakshila Jayawardena in Court of Appeal Wants a Panel of Doctors from Angoda Mental Hospital to Examine and Determine Whether President Maithripala Sirisena is of a Sound Mind.’ »

By Nuwan Senarathna

In a bid to end the country’s current political deadlock, President Maithripala Sirisena will today make a special request to Chief Justice Nalin de Silva through Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya for the Supreme Court’s decision on the Gazette dissolving Parliament to be issued as early as possible, MP Wimal Weerawansa revealed yesterday.

“The entire country is waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision on the Gazette dissolving Parliament issued by President Maithripala Sirisena. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s vacation starts from 14 December and ends in January next year, therefore we expect the Supreme Court to announce its decision prior to 14 December,” Weerawansa told reporters at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort (NADA).

He said that the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) expected that the Supreme Court would announce its decision at its earliest convenience to end the country’s current political turmoil.

Continue reading ‘Wimal Weerawansa MP Tells Media That President Sirisena Will Convey a “Special Request” Through Attorney -General Jayantha Jayasuriya to Chief Justice Nalin Perera That the Supreme Court Makes a Ruling as early as possible in the Parliament Dissolution Case.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

For Chandrani Mendis, the political crisis gripping Sri Lanka since October 26 has had a specific cost — her pension for November.

“After my husband died, I had been receiving 250 rupees (roughly ₹100) a month as an allowance, but they stopped it last month,” said the 60-year-old, seated in her modest home in Wellawaya, Monaragala district, located in the Uva Province.

As the country’s political unrest persists amid battles in Parliament and the courts, governance has taken a severe beating, with no legitimate administration in place for weeks. About 250 km away from Colombo, people feel the crisis intimately, in the abrupt halt to financial assistance, subsidies and children’s free school uniforms.

Continue reading ‘How the Political Crisis Caused Since Oct 26 Affects People In Rural Moneragala District – Abrupt Halt to Financial assistance, Subsidies, Pensions and Free School Uniforms.’ »

By Awahnee Mendis

In Grade 3, my Social Studies textbook described Sri Lanka as being a multicultural country, where people of all ethnicities lived together in harmony. What is ironic, and what my eight-year-old self didn’t realise, is that this was what I was being taught while the country was in an ethnic civil war.

Fast-forward seven years to Grade 10, when I was learning about the history of the country for O/Levels. In the first chapter, we learn that all the information about the country we have is from the Mahavamsa, inscriptions, tablets and ruins. All found in the different historical capitals of the country.

The Ordinary Level history syllabus taught to students in Grade 10 and 11 is mostly based on the Mahavamsa, which chronicles the history from 4 Century BC, with the information gathered by Buddhist monks. While this source provides us with a wealth of information, which must be taken in to account, relying heavily on it does not show the accurate picture of the country and its people as a whole.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan History That is Taught to Children is Extremely Sinhala-centric, with Only a Few Paragraphs Mentioning the Jaffna Kingdom and the Tamil People.’ »

The plaque which acknowledged the contribution of late Prime Minister, D.S. Senanayake, and Ex-Prime minister Dudley Senanayake and the opening of the completed Iranamadu Tank in 1954 by then Agriculture Minister Bulankulame Disawe Dud has been completely destroyed and replaced with a plaque bearing the name of President Maithripala Sirisena.

The construction of the Iranamadu tank which is regarded as the ‘Gem of Kilinochchi’, began in 1906 and was first used for irrigating fields in 1922.

The plaque bearing the name of the first Sri Lankan Prime Minister was preserved and respected even by the LTTE during the height of the war.

Continue reading ‘Historic Plaque Acknowledging Contribution of DS Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake and Bulankulame Disawe in Constructing Iranamadu Reservoir Removed and Replaced With New Plaque Bearing President Sirisena’s Name.’ »

By

Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

Quite obviously I haven’t the slightest notion of what the Supreme Court verdict will be, unlike my friend Eran Wickremaratne who announced publicly (and rather curiously) that he doesn’t have the slightest doubt about it. However I do know, as a political scientist, what the implications and consequences will be if it were to go one way or the other.

I tend to perceive and analyze things from the perspective of comparative global politics. Therefore I tend to view the whole debate about parliament and the presidency in Sri Lanka today, not from a parochial point of view but from that of what is going on in the world around me at present and what has gone before.

What do we see? In London, there are no street demonstrations but no one knows who the Prime Minister will be, which party will be in power, what the composition of the cabinet will be next week! Further down the road, we do not know how Brexit in whichever variant will affect the unity of the United Kingdom, what with Northern Ireland and Scotland indicating that there may be an exit within Brexit. This is the result of the Westminster model and the absence of an overarching Presidency.

Conversely, there is a violent rebellion in France, both in Paris and the provinces. Yet, there is no visible crisis of governance and chronic political instability unlike in Britain! This is despite the unpopularity of the sitting President. That then is testimony to the strength of the directly elected Presidency in France, unlike the volatility and fragility of the Westminster model.

The implications in and for Sri Lanka should be thought through. Insofar as the French rebellion is due to the neoliberal-globalist economic policies and remote, socially inattentive style of President Macron, we too in Sri Lanka could have such social turmoil if the economic policies of Ranil and Mangala are resumed.

Continue reading ‘If Courts Green-lights Dissolution,The Crisis Will be Resolved in a Peaceful Democratic Catharsis of a General Election. If Not, The Issue Won’t Go Away.’ »

By

Sanjana Hattotuwa

Mahinda Rajapaksa issued two press releases on December 3. One in Sinhala, the other in English. The press release was in response to the interim stay order issued by the Court of Appeal, basically putting Rajapaksa out of the job he was unconstitutionally appointed into and hasn’t to date demonstrated any capacity to retain, even illegally. The English version was, unsurprisingly, terse and succinct. However, when juxtaposed with the Sinhala version, immediately obvious, even visually, was the difference in length.

The Sinhala press release was three paragraphs longer than the English version. In a rough capture of the significant differences first posted on Twitter, I noted that the strong emphasis on duty, patriotism and nationalism present in the Sinhala, was entirely absent in the English. Further, Rajapaksa deviously conflates partisan, parochial loyalty with civic responsibility, entwining citizenship with, essentially, mindless enslavement to his politics and party. The tone and expression employed also suggested Rajapaksa expected to be supported in his endeavours, or in other words, wanted blind allegiance independent of what he did, and how – even if it meant violating the constitution.

The fact that the press release was never issued in Tamil is also its own story. To be fair by Rajapaksa, Tamil, much like the community, is an after-thought for mainstream political parties save for, ironically, the Tamil National Alliance, which regularly puts out its press releases in Sinhala. More interesting is the selective approach to Tamil translations and content. Soon after the coup, Namal Rajapaksa tweeted in Tamil noting that the issue of Tamil political prisoners would be looked into. That tweet was never translated into Sinhala and posted on his official Twitter account, despite repeated calls to do so. This was at the time both father and son was courting the TNA. Dog-whistle politics stoking up communalism is a forte of the SLPP, for whom the political binary of being with them or against them is never out of fashion.

Continue reading ‘There is One Family That Is Most Frequently and Overtly Associated With Racism – THE RAJAPAKSAS’ »

By Gamini Weerakoon

Dissolution of Parliament followed by elections is the magic potion that can cure the raging political crisis in one dose, is the belief of the Rajapaksa faithful.

If an election can be held within a short time, it may resolve the current political impasse. But to hope for an election to end the plague affecting Sri Lanka’s body politic for long years – and the main cause for the continuing instability — is to look away from Lanka’s recent political history.

Mahinda Rajapaksa last week was demanding that a general election be held to end the current crisis and bring about the much needed political stability for many reasons, including his obviously burning desire. The impressive triumph at the recent elections for Gam Sabhas and other local council bodies has given him hope for a sweeping victory at parliamentary polls. But politics is a game that does not always conform to statistical trends, particularly in Sri Lanka. He seems to be forgetting his defeat—not a very long time ago–at the presidential polls in January 2015 after sweeping all provincial council polls, except for the Northern Province poll. This was followed by his defeat at the parliamentary elections which set in motion the current political instability that has rocked the country for the past three and a half years.

Continue reading ‘How Can Fresh Elections Resolve Current Crisis and Bring Political Stability if the Same Set of MP’s who Cause Mischief are Elected or Appointed to Parliament Again?’ »

By

Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

President Maithripala Sirisena’s implied criticism of the Sri Lankan judiciary when speaking at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention this Tuesday, referencing himself as the Mahanayake (seniormost prelate) of a Nikaya (chapter) being educated by the head monk of a village temple invokes strong and unequivocal condemnation in no uncertain terms.

What is in issue here however is at its very core, the constitutional separation of powers involving checks and balances between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary and must be understood as such. Assuredly this is not a dispute between monks of whatever rank or seniority as the case may. Illustrations of this nature cannot be justified as being addressed to a political audience as the President may strive to explain.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena’s Implied Criticism of the Judiciary by Comparing Constitutonal Crisis to a Dispute Between a Senior Buddhist Prelate and Village Temple Monk Deserves Strong,Unequivocal Condemnation.’ »

By

Dr Nihal Jayawickrama

The President appears to believe that he still possesses the full executive powers he derived from the Constitution when he was elected to his office in January 2015. Three months later, he sat during a tumultuous session in Parliament and witnessed the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, introduced by the Government of which he was the Head.That Amendment removed all his executive powers except three which he still enjoys: the power to appoint ambassadors, the power to appoint ministry secretaries, and the power to appoint provincial governors. Even these cannot be exercised by him unilaterally. For example, the Foreign Minister has to seek the “agrement” of the receiving state before he could name an ambassador. Why didn’t they tell him that?

The President believes that he has the power to remove the Prime Minister. Yes, he had that power, but once upon a time. The 19th Amendment explicitly repealed that power. Why didn’t they tell him that?

The President believes that he can decline to appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament who “is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament” even after an absolute parliamentary majority has identified such a Member. Why? Because he does not like him and thinks he cannot work with him. The Constitution does not state that the President must like, love or adore such Member. The Prime Minister is not the President’s employee. Why didn’t they tell him that?

Continue reading ‘Why Did Not Anyone Tell President Sirisena That his Powers were Curtailed and he Could Not act according to His whims and fancies?’ »

Mahinda Rajapaksa failed to secure a majority in parliament because MPs demanded over 500 million rupees each to defect, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday acknowledging that his power grab had backfired.

President Sirisena in a video interview with the Daily Mirror admitted that the man he controversially installed as Prime Minister on October 26 did not have a majority in the 225-member assembly despite confident claims at the time.

Sirisena had told a public rally on November 3 near parliament that he had secured over 113 legislators to support Rajapaksa who was made prime minister after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe.

“Do not fear. We have already got more than 113,” Sirisena announced at a rally dubbed 113 Plus.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Admits Openly That Mahinda Rajapaksa was Unable to Secure a Majority in Parliament Because the “Payment” Demanded by MP’s to Support the Newly Appointed Prime Minister Could Not be Paid as they Were Very Very High’ »

By

S.S. Selvanayagam

President’s Counsel K. Kanag Iswaran yesterday countering the arguments of the respondents and the intervernient petitioners underlined the fact that the immunity conferred on the Executive President was only on his person and not on his acts or actions.

Kanag Iswaran PC appearing for TNA Leader R. Sampanthan said this before the seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court which took up for hearing the fundamental rights petitions against the dissolution of Parliament by President.

Ten fundamental rights petitions against the dissolution of Parliament came up before the Bench comprising Chief Justice Nalin Perera, Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Sisira J de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, Prasanna S. Jayawardena, Vijith K. Malalgoda and Murdu Fernando.

Kanag Iswaran PC said he did not propose to deal with the jungle of arguments of single instances put forward by the various respondents, on account of time constraints.

Continue reading ‘Immunity Conferred on the Executive President is only on his Person and not on his Acts or Actions States K.Kanag Iswaran PC Before Seven Judge Bench of the Supreme Court.’ »

By

Robert.O. Blake

(Ambassador Robert Orris Blake jnr served as the US envoy in Colombo from 2006 to 2009.)

The current political impasse in Sri Lanka marks an important opportunity for Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa to think about the consequences of their current actions for future support from the United States and others for a government a Rajapaksa could be elected to lead next year.

Despite two no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Rajapaksa’s Government and two motions to halt funding for government ministries, Mr. Rajapaksa has refused to step down.

His refusal not only calls into question his and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP’s) adherence to Sri Lanka’s Constitution, it begs the question why they are inflicting unnecessary wounds on their and the SLPP’s future.

The strong showing of Rajapaksa and the SLPP in local council elections earlier this year demonstrated the support Rajapaksa continues to enjoy in Sri Lanka. New presidential elections could be called early next year. Although Mahinda Rajapaksa is prohibited by the Constitution from running again for presidency, his brother Gotabaya could be a strong contender.

Continue reading ‘The Democratic Party Winning Control of Congress at Recent US Mid-term Elections Will Bring Added Scrutiny on Sri Lanka With More Intensive Congressional Review of Recent Actions By President Sirisena and Prime Minister Rajapaksa’ »

By Yohan Perera

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday stressed the need to establish a new Parliament to scrap the Executive Presidency through a referendum.

Wickremesinghe made these proposals at a seminar organised by the Professionals for Democracy held at the Galle Face Hotel last morning.

“The citizens of this country have spoken out against the childish behavior of MPs in the House. I propose that a new Parliament is needed. We have to listen to the voice of the people and punish the MPs who misbehaved recently. The President seems to be ignoring the legislature. If that is the case we will scrap the executive presidency through a referendum. A new Parliament could help achieve this goal,” he added.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Says the President Seems to be Ignoring the Legislature and Emphasises the Need to Establish a “New” Parliament to Scrap the Executive Presidency Through a Referendum’ »

With all political efforts to clear the month-long political and constitutional logjam having failed, Sri Lankans are waiting with bated breath to hear the Supreme Court’s rulings on the divisive issues involved.

The destiny of the 21 million citizens of Sri Lankan is now in the hands of seven judges of the apex court. Their ruling, expected any time after December 6, will determine whether Sri Lanka will have a stable government or it will slide into anarchy.

Meetings between President Maithripala Sirisena and the opposition United National Front (UNF) have consistently ended in deadlock.

Continue reading ‘Destiny of 21 Million Sri Lankans Placed in the Hands of Seven Supreme Court Judges Who Will Determine Whether Country Will Have Stable Govt or Would Slide Into Anarchy.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena pulled out of Sri Lanka Tourism Awards ceremony last night following reporters that tourism industry leaders are planning to boycott the event against the President’s participation.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said Sirisena was invited for the event on the basis that he is the head of state.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Keeps Away From Tourism Awards Event Fearing Boycott by Tourist Industry Leaders and Issues Circular Prohibiting All State Institutions From Using Private Hotels for State Functions.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena issued a statement this evening saying he would take necessary measures to “correct” questionable areas of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

The statement soon after the Supreme Court postponed the hearing of the petitions against the dissolution of Parliament until tomorrow.

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Wants To Correct Questionable Areas of the 19th Amendment which he claims Was Passed in Parliament Due to his Relentless Courage and Unwavering Commitment.’ »

By

Kelum Bandara

The United National Party (UNP) along with the like-minded parties such as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), was upbeat when the Court of Appeal issued an order restraining the Cabinet and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa from functioning. However, it flew out of the window as President Maithripala Sirisena even discarded its appeal, for the second time, to reappoint UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister.

Hot on the heels of the Appeal Court ruling, the UNP representatives hurried to the Presidential Secretariat to engage the President with much hope. They believed the President would be flexible enough to reinstall the UNP-led Government under Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister. It proved otherwise as the President, at the very onset, expressed his unwillingness to reappoint Wickremesinghe.

“Don’t you have any other nominee for premiership other than Mr. Wickremesinghe? I cannot talk about his reappointment at all,” the President said as he sat down at the negotiation table.

It was a shock for the UNP which expected the President to show some flexibility under the present compelling circumstances.

Continue reading ‘If Dissolution of Parliament is Ruled Out by Supreme Court Then Power Struggle Will Intensify With an Impeachment Motion Against President Sirisena Becoming Highly Likely.’ »

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that he would resign from Presidency after making a State of the Nation Address if he was pushed to the wall, MP Mano Ganesan said.

According to the MP, the President has said this during the meeting which was held with United National Front (UNF) party leaders Monday night.

Continue reading ‘If Pushed to the Wall, Maithripala Sirisena Says He is Ready to Resign Presidency and Return to his Polonnaruwe Farm After Making an Address to the Nation’ »

Sri Lanka’s parliament Wednesday defied a hostile president and decided not to proceed with a de facto no-trust resolution against the disputed government and instead moved closer to an impeachment.

Maithripala Sirisena had asked the largest single party, the United National Party, to bring another resolution reconfirming the previous no-trust votes against Mahinda Rajapaksa and his purported cabinet.

The parliament’s action came a day after Sirisena vowed he will never reinstate Ranil Wickremesinghe who was controversially sacked on October 26. “Even if all 225 members of parliament want it, I will not reappoint Ranil,” Sirisena announced on Tuesday.

Continue reading ‘Parliament Ignores Sirisena’s Request for Another No Confidence Vote Against Mahinda Rajapaksa and PreparesInstead to Impeach President Soon and Remove His Civic Rights.’ »

Former MP Geetha Kumarasinghe yesterday accused MP Piyasena Gamage, who has sworn in to fill the vacant position left by her in Parliament, of not allowing her to work at least a month in her constituency.

Addressing a meeting in Elpitiya today she said that she was elected to Parliament as a member after polling the highest number of votes.

Continue reading ‘“Piyasena, Machang Umbata Dan Saneepada? Piyasena Machang, Waren Chandeta”( Piyasena Machang are you feeling better now? Piyasena Machang , come and face the Vote)-Geetha Kumarasinghe Challenges Piyasena Gamage in Battle of Bentara-Elpitiya’ »

By

Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka

“…The General [de Gaulle] devised a strong executive presidency in 1958, and introduced direct elections to it four years later, precisely in order to remove power from the hands of political parties and bring stability to French institutions…the original source of French presidential legitimacy: the direct mandate of the people, introduced by de Gaulle.”
Biography of Charles de Gaulle, The Economist (2018/07/26)

What is at stake in the battles in the courts is whether or not the Constitution has been up-ended by the 19th amendment, even though a two thirds majority and a referendum were not held in order to do so. Mr. Wickremesinghe had sent an ambitious draft which was challenged in the Supreme Court, which ruled that certain provisions either had to be removed or required a two thirds majority and the referendum. The SC pointed out that these provisions as they stood, infringed upon if not devalued the people’s franchise, an entrenched clause or more simply, the very basis of the Republican Presidential Constitution. These were in fact excised.

But when the truncated 19th amendment was passed, Mr. Wickremesinghe was not a happy man. In his address to the parliament he said that the new 19th amendment was a temporary measure and that a new constitution which abolished the Presidency would be brought soon enough. Now Mr. Wickremesinghe wishes to act as if this has already been done and that we live in a new Constitutional system, in which the Presidency has not merely been reformed and partially restricted, but has actually been turned into a lame duck while the parliament has been exalted into the center of the political system, which is only nominally presidential.

All this simply because of a case of sour grapes on his part, because he ran for the president twice and failed, and knows that if there is another such election, he may have to vacate in favor of a more popular personality. Mr. Wickremesinghe’s peeve against the Presidency was manifested as far back as 2001-2003, when President Kumaratunga complained on the record to the foreign press, that he ignored and bypassed her at first and then tried to usurp her powers– and therefore she was constrained to kick him out.

Continue reading ‘Notwithstanding Modification by the 19th Amendment, The Directly Elected Presidency is the Apex of our State Form, our State System and Structure— not the Parliament.’ »

For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, the country has no Prime Minister or a Council of Ministers.

Given the deep seated conflict between President Maithripala Sirisena and ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the stalemate over who should be Prime Minister is not likely to end anytime soon.

After the Court of Appeal on Monday stayed the functioning of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister and his colleagues as ministers, Rajapaksa and his ministers had stopped attending office.

All government work is now being done by President Maithripala Sirisena with the help of the Secretaries of the various ministries.

V.Anandasangaree, a very senior Tamil politician who was MP for Kilinochchi in the 1970s and is currently leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) said: “Never has anything like this happened before.”

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Has Neither a Prime Minister Nor a Cabinet of Ministers For the First Time in Island Nation’s 70 Year Post -Independence Parliamentary History.’ »

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena launched a thinly veiled criticism of the country’s judiciary after it delivered landmark judgements frustrating his moves to sack parliament and install what the largest party in parliament calls a “rogue government.”

In his first public reference to the conduct of the courts, Sirisena told a convention of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) that many people had reservations about the recent conduct of courts.

He began saying that he would respect any decision of the courts, but later went on to say that “a section of the people” suspected that the judiciary was partisan.

“Some people think the judiciary is neutral and independent. Another section feels that they are one-sided and partisan.”

Continue reading ‘Maithripala Sirisena Launches Thinly -Veiled Attack On Judiciary Which Delivered Landmark Rulings That Stayed Moves by President to Appoint Mahinda as PM and Dissolve Parliament.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Observing that President Maithripala Sirisena must not take “subjective decisions” pertaining to the Constitution, Sri Lanka’s deposed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said: “Don’t be like Hitler and other dictators.”

“The Prime Minister is decided by parliamentary majority. The President cannot say this is what I want. All we are saying is follow the Constitution,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said, addressing media persons at Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister, which he continues to occupy since Mr. Sirisena controversially sacked him six weeks ago.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Tells Maithripala Sirisena Not to ” Act Like Hitler and Other Dictators” and Take ” Subjective Decisions”Pertaining to the Constitution.’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam

President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Iswaran yesterday contended that the Constitution was not clay in the hands of contesting parties to be moulded as they saw fit and the specific content of constitutional language sets the limit of interpretation which must aspire to give constitutional unity and harmony.

Counsel Kanag-Iswaran, appearing for R. Sampanthan, made his submission to the Supreme Court bench of seven judges on the Fundamental Rights petition filed against President Maithripala Sirisena’s dissolution of Parliament.

Ten fundamental rights petitions against the dissolution of Parliament came up before a bench comprising Chief Justice Nalin Perera, Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare, Sisira J. de Abrew, Priyantha Jayawardena, Prasanna S. Jayawardena, Vijith K. Malalgoda and Murdu Fernando.

Continue reading ‘President’s Counsel K.Kanag-Iswaran States Before Supreme Court That ” the Constitution was not Clay in the Hands of Contesting Parties to be Moulded as they saw Fit”.’ »

By Chathuri Dissanayake

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday insisted that only he commanded the majority in the House needed to form a government, reiterating the need to return to the constitutional framework before the country could opt for elections.

“Only the UNF (United National Front) and I can command that majority today,” Wickremesinghe insisted while speaking at a press conference held at Temple Trees flanked by UNF party leaders, National Union of Workers (NUW) leader Palany Thigambaram, All Ceylon Makkal Congress Leader Rishad Bathiudeen and UNP party seniors.

The ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe spoke to the media after talks with President Maithripala Sirisena held on Monday night failed to make headway in easing the deadlock, with Sirisena refusing to reappoint Wickremesinghe.

The UNP leader also emphasised the need to follow the law to ensure the constitutionality of the actions taken, noting that the President could not make decisions based on his preferences.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Emphasises That Only He Commands the Confidence of the House and Has the Majority of MP’s to Form a Legal Stable Govt as Prime Minister.’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam

Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 others yesterday filed appeals in the Supreme Court petitioning it to set aside the Interim Order issued by the Court of Appeal against them functioning in their respective offices.

The Court of Appeal on Monday (3) issued an Interim Order restraining Rajapaksa and 48 other respondents from functioning in the offices of Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister, non-Cabinet Minister and Deputy Minister until the final hearing and determination of the writ of Quo Warranto filed by 122 Parliamentarians from different parties disputing Rajapaksa and the 48 from holding office.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa and 48 Others file Appeal Before Supreme Court Seeking Stay Order by SC on Court of Appeal Interim Order’ »

Vowing that the current political crisis would be resolved in one week, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday defended his decisions since 26 October, insisting he had no alternative but to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister, charging he had caused much destruction to the country.

Speaking at a special Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention at the Sugathadasa Stadium, President Sirisena delivered a detailed speech defending himself and insisting that he was committed to safeguarding the country’s best interests.

“The current political crisis will be resolved in one week. It will be completely resolved. This is an effort I will make for the public, for you, for our motherland. I extend the hand of peace to all politicians and political parties. This political situation was created by Ranil Wickremesinghe, by his actions, and by his policies but we will work to resolve it. We will save this country,” he told a cheering audience.

“Ranil Wickremesinghe destroyed this country. Ranil Wickremesinghe also undermined the United National Party (UNP), which was earlier an establishment with renowned political leaders. He also destroyed me to some extent. The only solution was to remove him from the Prime Minister’s chair. We must go on a political journey that suits us. That is my aim.”

Continue reading ‘President Sirisena Re-iterates at SLFP Special Convention That He Wont Appoint Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister Even if all 225 MP’s in Parliament Seek Ranil’s Re-instatement.’ »