Author: TELO Admin

More details are emerging about an incident in which an armed bodyguard of an affluent Buddhist monk has threatened Muslim and Tamil people who had been protesting against land grabbing in Pulmoddai, Trincomalee.

The Buddhist monk in question is Panamure Thilakawansa Nayaka Thera, a frontline member of the task force appointed by ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to manage archeological heritage in the eastern province.

He is also chief Sangha Nayake of north, east and Thamankaduwa and chief incumbent at Asirimale Aranya Senasana.

On April 01, people were opposing a land grab attempt by monks and archaeology officials at Ponmalaikuda, where a coastal farming land used by Tamils and Muslims was to be taken over for a Buddhist construction.

The group of nearly 30 was escorted by Army, police and civilian bodyguards, just two days after a similar attempt failed.

Community leader Mohamed Saibuddeen told a soldier who was digging the earth that the land was taken over by monks secretly on a 99-year lease, without any agreement by area residents.

He also said that as per a gazette notification issued by the commissioner general of lands, they had raised objections within six weeks.

As was caught on video, the soldier admitted he was unaware of the owners of the land, and that he had brought a team to obey an order only, without saying from whom the order had come.

Saibuddeen replied by issuing a challenge to the ‘Mahanuwara Maha Nikaya’ to visit the location and tell the media that what the monks was doing is correct, and said if that was done, they would not claim not an inch of the land.

Tamil and Muslim farmers of Thethavaditivu, Ponmalaikuda, Arisimalai and Shaba Nagar say they have been farming in the land for several years, while area fishermen too, use it to take a rest from their livelihood.

A fence surrounding a plot was damaged when Panamure Thilakawansa Nayaka Thera’s brother, identified as Sampath, drove a vehicle into the land.

When people raised objections, a PSD bodyguard of the monk threatened them at gunpoint.

He backed down when challenged to fire at them.

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2023, forecasts Sri Lanka’s economy to contract further in 2023 before it begins a gradual recovery in 2024, as the country navigates an unprecedented economic crisis.

The economy contracted by 7.8% in 2022 and is forecast to contract by 3% in 2023 as it continues to grapple with the challenge of debt restructuring and balance of payments difficulties.

Reform measures, such as the reversal of the tax cuts of 2019, and the recent approval of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility arrangement will support the country’s efforts to stabilize its economy.

Sri Lanka’s recovery from the crisis hinges on timely progress on debt relief and steadfast implementation of reforms.

Sri Lanka entered the crisis on a weak footing as pre-pandemic macroeconomic vulnerabilities, policy missteps, and shocks left the country with thin buffers on the eve of the pandemic.

In 2022, foreign currency scarcity led to shortages of essentials and triggered an acute energy crisis with prolonged power cuts and transport bottlenecks due to lack of fuel, which Sri Lanka needs to import. Inflation soared and eroded living standards, pushing many into poverty. The economic crisis has impacted the poor and vulnerable disproportionally.

“Sri Lanka has a long road to recovery, and it will be critical to ensure the poor and vulnerable are protected,” said Deputy Country Director for Sri Lanka Utsav Kumar. “It is imperative that the country address the root causes of internal and external imbalances, for which an unwavering commitment to reforms is essential.”

The needed reforms include enhancing domestic resource mobilization, improving the performance of state-owned enterprises to reduce their fiscal burden, strengthening public financial management, and encouraging private sector activities through harmonizing trade and investment policies. Improving governance and accountability mechanisms, such as strengthening anticorruption legislation, building strong institutions, and increasing transparency, will also be essential to address Sri Lanka’s economic vulnerability.

Amidst talks about a snap presidential election, former Election Commission’s Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday that, in his opinion, such an election could be conducted only during the latter part of next year.

According to the Constitution, the President can, at any time after the expiration of four years from the commencement of his first term of office, declare a presidential election to seek a fresh mandate. This has fueled speculation that a presidential election will be conducted later this year after the completion of four years of the current presidential term.

However, Mr. Deshapriya said the current president had been elected by Parliament only to serve the unexpired term of the ongoing presidential term after the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Making his remarks to Daily Mirror, Mr. Deshapriya said, “After resignation of the elected president, the succeeding president has to serve the rest of the period. He cannot go for a snap election according to my view. Still, there is another argument put forward by some legal luminaries that even the succeeding president has such authority to declare a presidential election after four years. The Supreme Court has to be moved to get the correct interpretation.” the current president had been elected by Parliament only to serve the unexpired term of the ongoing presidential term after the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

A majority of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs are of the view that Ranil Wickremesinghe should be the next president, SLPP MP and Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Speaking during a talk show, the Minister stated that the matter has been discussed among various party members.

Stating that it is unsure as to what election will be held next, Minister Wijesekera said that the SLPP will take a suitable decision at the time of an election.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Guanwardena told the media today that no proposal has been made by the SLPP so far about Ranil Wickremesinghe being nominated as the party’s next Presidential candidate.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe through his recent actions has won over the people as the most suitable person to carry out the revival of the country, he said.

He further stated that the priority of the public and the SLPP at present is to revive and develop the nation.

Minister Bandula Gunawardena added, “As we can see the country has currently moved to a stable position.”

The proposed Counter Terrorism Bill will make citizens of the country into slaves as it can be used to harass people, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith alleged today.

“This new legislation is more draconian than the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) which was enacted in 1987. A person could be held only for three months under the old legislation while a person could be held for a longer period under the new propose law,” Cardinal Ranjith told a meida briefing.

“Any MP who votes for this Bill will be branded as one who does not love his nation and her people,” he added.

“There is an internationally accepted definition on terrorism when it comes to legislations such as this. However the definition of terrorism in this particular Bill is wider and some harmless acts have been defined as acts of terror in this Bill. It provides provisions for the government to control protests through drastic measures,” he also said.

The Cabinet of Ministers has given its approval to pay the basic salaries of government employees contesting the Local Government (LG) election, for the period from 09 March to 25 April.

At least 3,000 public servants, who have handed over nominations for the election, are currently on unpaid leave, the Government Information Department revealed.

However, as the LG election was repeatedly postponed, the government employees contesting the polls are struggling financially as their unpaid leave was extended.

Hence, it was decided that these government employees be paid their basic salaries for the aforementioned period.

The proposal had been made by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in his capacity as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government.

Addressing the parliamentary session this morning, State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura said all government employees would be paid their salaries for this month before 10 April.