Author: TELO Admin

Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, Warak-agoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, has warned that any attempt to change the election dates may lead to turmoil in the country.

The Thera expressed these concerns during a conversation with Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) member and Parliamentarian Prof. G.L. Peiris, who visited the Asgiriya Vihara yesterday.

He also emphasised that there is no need to postpone the elections.

Peiris also pointed out to the Thera that according to the Constitution, the President’s term of office is unequivocally five years, a principle affirmed by the Supreme Court in two prior rulings.

He also emphasised that the Government should allow the Election Commission to fulfil its role at this time.

Speaking to those gathered, the Registrar of the Asgiriya chapter, Medagama Dhammananda Thera expressed concern that politicians frequently instigate multiple crises, causing people to endure immense pressure and live in despair.

He said politicians should prioritise actions to uplift the lives of the people, but instead, there is a prevalent focus and tendency to criticise each other while discussing retaining or gaining power.

Dhammananda Thera also underscored the importance of conducting elections as mandated by the constitution and as desired by the people.

Commenting on the upcoming elections, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that regardless of any court challenges, the presidential election will be held this year.

He also indicated that arrangements will be made to hold parliamentary and provincial council elections following the presidential election.

President Wickremesinghe made these remarks while attending Mr. R. Sampanthan’s funeral at his residence in Trincomalee this yesterday (07).

Sampanthan championed the rights of all Sri Lankans

President Ranil Wickremesinghe paid tribute to the late Mr. R. Sampanthan, acknowledging him as a leader who championed the rights not only of the Tamil people but also of all Sri Lankans.

Emphasizing that both Mr. Sampanthan and himself were committed to the cause of an undivided Sri Lanka, the President urged everyone to unite in successfully concluding the discussions initiated with Mr. Sampanthan.

The funeral ceremony, honouring the former Leader of the Opposition and former leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), as well as the late Trincomalee District Member of Parliament, was attended by numerous political leaders, both from the Government and the opposition.

Reaffirming his commitment to addressing the issues faced by the Tamil people which Mr. Sampanthan consistently advocated for, President Wickremesinghe announced that the draft of the National Land Commission Bill is ready to be submitted to Parliament.

He said this commission will have the authority to resolve issues faced by the Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities in coordination with the Department of Forest.

The President appreciated Mr. Sampanthan’s role as Leader of the Opposition, highlighting that an opposition leader is essentially an alternative prime minister. He praised Mr. Sampanthan for displaying the qualities of a true opposition leader by addressing the concerns of all Sri Lankans, not just the Tamil community.

Speaking further, President Wickremesinghe said;

“It is declared necessary to hold provincial council elections. However, we have discussed and decided to hold the presidential election first. Regardless of any legal challenges, the presidential election will be held this year. Following that, parliamentary elections will be conducted, and then provincial council elections will be held.

Due to the complexities in the new system, requests were made to hold the provincial council elections according to the old system. There was an agreement among us for that. It was decided to ensure women and youth representation and to allow parliamentarians to compete for these elections while retaining their membership.

By implementing the 13th amendment, we are negotiating with the Chief Ministers who are now represent the Parliament to transfer a number of other powers from the central government, excluding police powers. Other powers can be discussed later.

As a new proposal, the government has suggested decentralizing maximum power within the framework of the 13th amendment in the distribution of power.

Additionally, the report of the Nawaz Commission needs to be discussed. The Foreign Minister has informed me that the drafted bill of the Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is prepared to be submitted to Parliament.

Moreover, we have discussed and reached an agreement on the Jana Sabha system. We intend to take these discussions forward and bring them to a conclusion.”

Vitol Asia and Bharat Petroleum are among eight bidders for Sri Lanka’s state-run LPG company and terminal as the island nation looks to reduce losses incurred by government-owned enterprises under a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

The eight bidders can now submit proposals to the Sri Lankan government for the acquisition of shares in Litro Gas Lanka Limited and Litro Terminals (Private) Limited, a statement released by Sri Lanka’s finance ministry said.

The other shortlisted bidders are Siamgas and Petrochemicals Public Company Limited, Bgn Int Dmcc And Bayegan Dis Ticaret A.S, Confidence Petroleum India Limited, OQ Trading Limited, Tristar Transport LLC and Infinity Holdings, and Infinity Holdings Sidecar 1 and National Gas Company Saog.

Litro holds the largest market share in Sri Lanka’s duopoly LPG market that is mostly focused on domestic gas supplies.

Sri Lanka finalised an IMF program with the global lender last March, pledging to reform its economy to emerge from its worst financial crisis in decades.

Sri Lanka has decided to lift from next year a ban on the visit of foreign research ships imposed after strong security concerns raised by India and the US following frequent docking requests from hi-tech Chinese surveillance vessels, the Japanese media reported.

The change in position was conveyed by visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry to the NHK World Japan.

Sabry said his government cannot have different rules for different countries and only block China. He added that his country will not take sides in a dispute between others, the NHK World Japan said in a report on Friday.

The moratorium is till January next year. Sri Lanka will then no longer ban foreign research ships from its ports next year, Sabry said.

Two Chinese spy ships were allowed to dock in Sri Lanka ports within 14 months through November 2023, with one called for replenishment and the other for research.

Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6 arrived in Sri Lanka in October 2023 and docked at Colombo port, for what Beijing cited as “geophysical scientific research” in collaboration with the island nation’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

The US had expressed concern to Sri Lanka before the arrival of Shi Yan 6.

In August 2022, Chinese navy vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka for replenishment.

Meanwhile, Sabry also expressed gratitude for Japan’s plan to provide a ship equipped with sonar, which, he said, will give Sri Lanka “an opportunity to do its own survey and collect its own data, and commercially exploit it.”

Sabry emphasised that Sri Lanka has untapped maritime resources, and research is essential, but it has to be done in a transparent manner, the NHK report added. Located at a strategic point in the Indian Ocean, the island nation is an important stop for marine traf ..

Sabry emphasised that Sri Lanka has untapped maritime resources, and research is essential, but it has to be done in a transparent manner, the NHK report added. Located at a strategic point in the Indian Ocean, the island nation is an important stop for marine traffic between South East Asia and West Asia, which is part of the global trade route.

The fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by businessman C.D. Lenawa seeking an order preventing the calling of a Presidential Election until the Supreme Court delivers its interpretation on the date of the presidential poll, has been dismissed by a five-member Supreme Court judge bench headed by the Chief Justice.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court concluded the hearing of the FR petition and the intervening petitions while the verdict in the case was announced by the Supreme Court at 12.30 p.m. today.

The petition was filed by an entrepreneur named C.D. Lenawa last Wednesday (3).

The petition requests that an interim order be issued to prevent the holding of the presidential election within the currently scheduled period until the court delivers its interpretation on the date of the next presidential election.

A five-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Vijith Malalgoda, Murdu Fernando, Preethi Padman Surasena and S. Thurairaja was named to consider the petition today.

Another four petitions for intervention had been filed pertaining to the Fundamental Rights petition.

The petitions for intervention were filed by the National People’s Power (NPP), Wasantha Mudalige of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Wimal Weerawansa of the National Freedom Front (NFF) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).