Election Commission to Review SLFP Decisions

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The National Election Commission has announced its intention to thoroughly examine the notices submitted by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Politburo regarding recent decisions.

NEC Chairman R. M. L. Ratnayake confirmed that a delegation from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party met with him on the afternoon of the 8th of April, delivering a set of crucial documents.

These documents highlight the newly appointed members within the Politburo and address related matters.

On the 18th, the Election Commission will formally receive and review all the materials, paving the way for the next steps.

During the meeting, key members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party—National Organizer Duminda Dissanayake, Treasurer Lasantha Alayagiyavanna, and Weerakumara Dissanayake—officially presented the Politburo’s decisions to the Election Commission.

On the 8th of April, Duminda Dissanayake, the National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, announced that the party’s political committee appointed Nimal Siripala de Silva as the Acting SLFP Chairman.

However, Dushmantha Mitrapala, the Acting General Secretary of the party, expressed reservations about this appointment, citing that it does not align with the party’s constitution.

The politburo of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party convened at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, after the meeting was called for by SLPF Senior Vice Chairman Nimal Siripala De Silva.

As per the official document signed during the recent Politburo meeting, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Politburo comprises 15 members.

They are:

Maithripala Sirisena
Sarathi Dushmantha Mitrapala
Hector Bethmage
Attorney-at-Law Keerthi Udawatte
Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa
Dr. Chamila Liyanage
President’s Counsel Faiszer Mustafa
KP Gunawardena
Nimal Siripala de Silva
Weerakumara Dissanayake
Sajin de Vass Gunawardena
Sarath Ekanayake
Metsiri de Silva
Indika Rajapaksa
& Lakmal Wickramarachchi

However, Duminda Dissanayake asserts that, according to documents submitted to the Election Commission, only 11 members actively participate in the party’s Politburo.

He said that during the meeting on the 8th of April, 6 of these members were in attendance.

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Agreements With IMF Should Be Legalized – President

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Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stressed on the importance of legalizing the agreement with the IMF to ensure that its benefits can be realized for the people of Sri Lanka.

Highlighting the collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a crucial step towards revitalizing Sri Lanka’s economy, President Wickremesinghe underscored the necessity of legalizing the agreements with the IMF to ensure that the benefits reach the people swiftly.

Moreover, the President expressed plans to introduce a new legal framework geared towards modernization across various sectors. He sought the support of the legal community for these initiatives, emphasizing the significance of their involvement in advancing these efforts.

Addressing a gathering, President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the critical decision facing Sri Lanka regarding its program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He highlighted the country’s history of reversing decisions after agreeing to IMF programs and stressed that this represents the nation’s final opportunity for economic recovery.

President Wickremesinghe underscored the importance of legalizing the agreement with the IMF to ensure that its benefits can be realized for the people of Sri Lanka.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed confidence in the potential for revitalizing the country’s economy, citing abundant physical and human resources available in Sri Lanka.

He highlighted the success stories of Sri Lankan businessmen operating internationally and the country’s dominance in key sectors including tea plantation and apparel industry.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of leveraging these strengths to transition towards an export-oriented economy, urging attention to be directed towards exploring new fields for further growth and expansion.

External interventions in GR’s ouster: Manohara challenges HRC’s stand

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President’s Counsel Manohara De Silva says the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has to inquire into alleged foreign interventions in Sri Lanka, as they amount to failure on the part of the government in power to safeguard the country’s national security.

Pointing out that the Speaker had disclosed not only foreign interventions but also death threats to him, de Silva said that such a failure was tantamount to the government’s ‘inaction’ to perform its constitutional obligations, and the HRC and the courts could inquire thereinto.

“Such a failure is a violation of people’s sovereignty and therefore an infringement of people’s fundamental rights,” de Silva said.

The President’s Counsel said so regarding the HRC Chairperson Justice L. T. B. Dehideniya’s recent declaration that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s claim of foreign interventions could be inquired into only if he received a complaint. Justice Dehideniya was responding to The Island queries, at its first media briefing since appointment last July.

De Silva pointed out that The Island had raised a pertinent issue as the HRC was already inquiring into SLPP goon attacks on the ‘Aragalaya’ protesters on 09 May2022 and a spate of counterattacks carried out in the immediate aftermath of the failed attempt to chase out those who had been occupying Galle Face.

Responding to another query, the President’s Counsel said that the Speaker had revealed direct foreign interventions in the overthrowing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa 20 months after the regime change. But the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government and the Opposition had remained silent though some MPs raised the issue in their individual capacity, he said.

Declaring that HRC could intervene on its own concerning issues of national importance, Justice Dehideniya asked whether the disclosure made by the Speaker could be considered as such.

Another top lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained the need to examine whether the alleged intervention made by external powers could be considered an offence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He said that in terms of the Article 14 of the HRC Act, the HRC on its own could investigate an alleged infringement or imminent infringement of FR. However, such violations must be by either administrative or executive actions, he said, pointing out that third party foreign interventions weren’t covered by that particular Act.

Dissident SLPP lawmaker Gevindu Cumaratunga told The Island yesterday having disclosed foreign hand in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster, Speaker Abeywardena had apparently cold feet.

MP Cumaratunga said that he had written to Speaker Abeywardena seeking clarifications on 02 April following the latter’s denial of foreign intervention on the previous day.

The MP acknowledged that he had made a mistake when he raised the issue at hand with Speaker Abeywardena on 01 April. MP Cumaratunga said that when he asked the Speaker Abeywardena to name foreign embassies that had been involved, the latter said there was no embassy involvement at all. Acknowledging that Speaker Abeywardena in his controversial 21 March statement to Parliament after the SLPP defeated a no-confidence motion that had been moved against him didn’t make any references to embassies, MP Cumaratunga, in his letter, has requested the Speaker to disclose what he called external powers.

The government owed a comprehensive explanation to the public regarding the status of investigations into incidents that were reported during the March 31, 2022-July 20, 2022 period, MP Cumaratunga said. Chief Government Whip and Minister Prasanna Ranatunga is on record as having said that he was not satisfied with the progress in the investigations, he added.

Vaiko wants Katchatheevu island taken back from Sri Lanka

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MDMK founder and INDIA bloc leader Vaiko has said that the party is for the retrieval of Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka.

The senior leader told reporters on Sunday at Tiruchi that he wants the island to be given back to Tamil Nadu.

He said that his party’s manifesto, ‘Sloganeering for 24 Rights’ has pitched for the retrieval of the island.

Katchatheevu issue came to the fore again after Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently accused then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of handing over the island to Sri Lanka in 1974. He slammed the DMK and the Congress over the island row, saying the ruling alliance parties of Tamil Nadu have done nothing to safeguard the state’s interests.

MDMK, an alliance partner of Congress in the INDIA bloc, has often said that Congress had time and again ‘betrayed’ Tamil Nadu.

In his manifesto released on Saturday, Vaiko said that his party was for shutting down the nuclear power plant at Koodankulam, and added that the MDMK wants the New Education Policy to be scrapped.

He said that if his alliance assumed power at the Centre, his party would push for constitutional amendments to provide more powers to the state, and also said that he was for the abrogation of Article 361 which gives more powers to Governors. The senior leader also said that he would push for the repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) if his alliance came to power at the Centre.

He also said that his party was for removing all toll plazas and wanted to introduce Thirukkural across the country. (IANS)

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High Drama at SLFP Headquarters: CBK Arrives at Political Bureau Meeting After Court Bars Sirisena

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In a stunning turn of events at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Headquarters, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga arrived amidst high drama to participate in a crucial political bureau meeting. The meeting was convened following a landmark court decision that barred former President Maithripala Sirisena from continuing as Chairman of the SLFP.

The verdict, a result of a case filed by Kumaratunga herself, has sent shockwaves through the party ranks. Amidst the turbulence, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva extended an invitation to Kumaratunga to attend the political bureau meeting, marking her pivotal involvement in navigating the party’s future.

The court’s decision to oust Sirisena from the SLFP leadership has thrown the party into uncertainty, prompting urgent discussions among its members. With Kumaratunga’s presence adding weight to the proceedings, the meeting aimed to chart a course forward for the SLFP in the wake of Sirisena’s removal.

The political bureau meeting was expected to address pressing issues, including the party’s leadership succession, strategic direction, and efforts to maintain cohesion among its members.

Presidential Debate on Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa! Will candidates accept?

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The Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa extends an invitation to the three main Presidential candidates – Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa for a LIVE presidential debate on their economic and political policies and their pledges in moving the country forward if they win the upcoming Presidential election scheduled to be held in October.

The interview will be aired LIVE on the Daily Mirror, Lankadeepa, Tamil Mirror and Sunday Times digital platforms.

A formal invitation requesting the three political leaders to join the debate will be sent out soon and readers will be kept updated once the invitations are accepted.

A date and time to host the debate will then be announced thereafter.

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Presidential elections: ITAK ready to discuss common candidate

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In the wake of reports that Tamil political parties are going to field a common presidential candidate, the main Tamil political party, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) yesterday (7) said that it is open to hold discussions with every party regarding the Presidential Election despite the political differences they have.

Speaking to the media last week, ITAK Opposition Parliamentarian (MP), M. A. Sumanthiran, said that ITAK is ready to discuss with any political party or individual regarding the Presidential Election before taking a final decision. The MP also noted that ITAK’s discussion table is open to all individuals who have already announced their candidature for the election.

Responding to a question as to whether the ITAK has decided to support the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), he stated that no such decision has been taken by the party. He elaborated that his party is ready to hold discussions not only with the NPP, but also with other parties such as the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP).

The question from the press came following MP Sumanthiran’s presence at a meeting where the NPP’s leader, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, invited all the Tamil political parties to get together to find solutions for their issues.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), a major breakaway faction of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and which is the major constituent Party of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), MP Selvarajah Kajendran said that his party is boycotting the upcoming Presidential Election demanding a solid constitutional solution to the issues facing the Tamil community in the country.

Attempts made to contact the Tamil People’s National Alliance Leader and Opposition MP, Justice C.V. Vigneswaran on the common candidate prospects, proved futile.

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Sirisena refused meeting with top Indian envoy

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A request by former president Maithripala Sirisena to meet the Indian high commissioner in Colombo has been turned down, said diplomatic sources.

It has been made after the media quoted him as having spoken about an Indian link to the Easter Sunday attacks.

‘Namal has more time to run for presidency’ – Mahinda Rajapaksa

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Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he is confident that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will resolve its internal issues soon.

In response to questions raised by journalists in Anuradhapura today (07), the former President also mentioned that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) forming an alliance together with former members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is not a challenge.

“We have no problem even if ten alliances are formed. It is good that our people [members of SLPP] are everywhere [in the alliances].”

Rajapaksa, who also commented regarding the SLPP’s presidential candidate, claimed that the party will definitely name a candidate for the Presidential Election and that a final decision regarding the candidate will be taken following discussions with the SLPP’s active members.

“Definitely, they will name a candidate. We didn’t summon them [party members] as of yet. We’ll take a decision after holding discussions with them.”

Commenting on reports of naming MP Namal Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate, the former President expressed that his son still has more time to run for the presidency.

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Sri Lanka’s debt repayments to be suspended until 2028 – Sagala Ratnayaka

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Reported by Nikkei, Sri Lanka and a group of its creditors are in final negotiations to suspend debt repayments until 2028, Nikkei has learned, as country creditors including Japan seek to prevent China’s influence from expanding in the debt-ridden island.

Sri Lanka’s national security adviser to the president, Sagala Ratnayaka, told Nikkei in a recent interview, “Negotiations with the creditor nations have concluded. We are hoping that it [a detailed announcement] will take place in the next few weeks.”

The repayment period will be 15 years, from 2028 to 2042, with the interest rate newly set at around 2%. He said that there will be no further debt reduction, despite a request by the island nation.

Sri Lanka in April 2022 announced a temporary suspension of public external debt payments, in effect putting the country into default.

A meeting of creditor nations was set up in April 2023.

Japan, which is the largest creditor country after China, is serving as the chair in the talks along with India and France.

Sri Lanka and the creditor nations have reached a basic agreement on a repayment moratorium and a reduction in interest. The provision of financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, which was conditional on debt restructuring agreements being struck with major creditor countries, has also begun.

China, the biggest creditor, has only joined the meeting as an observer. However, the restructuring of debt from China via loans of the Export-Import Bank of China would be “similar,” Ratnayaka said. “We have a saying which means ‘everyone will be treated equally’,” implying that the terms of debt repayment to China would be similar to those agreed at the creditors’ meeting.

As of the end of 2023, Sri Lanka’s outstanding debt was $37.3 billion, of which China accounted for $4.7 billion.

Sri Lanka handed over control of its southern Hambantota Port to China in 2017. This was seen as a typical example of a “debt trap,” where infrastructure rights are taken away amid delayed debt repayments. Some creditors, including Japan and India, are wary of China expanding its influence into the Indo-Pacific, with Sri Lanka as its base.

Ratnayaka explained that “this is all purely commercial. There is nothing military [about the port agreement]. Sri Lanka is open to investment and we don’t pick and choose on the basis of what country, unless it affects national security.” He added, “But in the north and areas which would affect the security of India, we are conscious.”

Source : Nikkei Asia