TELO Admin, Author at ரெலோ - தமிழ் ஈழ விடுதலை இயக்கம்

Rupee depreciates by 44.8% against the Dollar in 2022

Posted on January 4, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 1 Comment

The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated by 44.8 percent against the US Dollar in 2022.

According to the weekly economic indicators report published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the depreciation of the rupee has substantially reduced in the last quarter of 2022.

The CBSL said in addition to the depreciation of the Rupee against the US dollar, the Sri Lankan rupee has devalued by 38.6 percent against the Indian rupee.

Furthermore, the Rupee has depreciated by 41.4 percent against the Euro, 38.1 percent against the British Pound and by 36.4 percent against the Japanese Yen in the year 2022.

Govt. to seek AGs advice over LG Polls

Posted on January 4, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 2 Comments

Government has decided to seek the Attorney General’s advice with regard to holding the local government election, government sources said.

Government has decided to seek the Attorney General’s advice as there is a division among the members of the election commission. It is said that the majority of members in the election commission is against the ideology held by its Chairman Nimal Punchihewa who holds that the local government elections should be held.

The election monitors are of the opinion that there could be issues pertaining to holding the election even if nominations are called in this situation.

It has been said that holding of elections could run into trouble as the total cost of it is said to be rupees 12 billion whereas the total amount allocated for the Elections Commission from the budget is Rs 10 billion.

Some of the Election Commission members are of the opinion that announcing the date of the elections should be delayed even if nominations are called.

However sources close to the Election Commission Chairman is of the opinion that the Finance Ministry will disburse additional funds if needed.

Postal voting applications for LG poll accepted from tomorrow

Posted on January 4, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 1 Comment

The acceptance of applications for postal voting for the Local Government Election will begin tomorrow (5).

The National Election Commission said the acceptance of applications will draw to an end at midnight on the 23rd of January 2023.

Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said the deadline will not be extended under any circumstance.

The Commissioner said state workers, principals, teachers, officers of the Sri Lanka Transport Board, postal and railway workers, Police officers and other security forces personnel are eligible to apply for postal voting.

The requirements in order to complete the application can be accessed via www.elections.gov.lk or by contacting 1919.

The Election Commission said postal voting applications can also be submitted online.

Mahinda holds talks with Sampanthan

Posted on January 4, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 6 Comments

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan today and discussed his health and issues faced by the Tamil community.

Rajapaksa met Sampanthan at his residence in Colombo.

The former President said that he inquired into Sampanthan’s health.

According to reports, they also discussed the issues faced by the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, particularly in the North and East.

Japan, Switzerland Among New UN Security Council Members

Posted on January 4, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 4 Comments

cuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland got a formal welcome into the UN Security Council, taking the two-year seats they won unopposed in June, according to The Associated Press.

In a tradition that Kazakhstan started in 2018, the five countries’ ambassadors installed their national flags alongside those of other members outside the council chambers.

Mozambican Ambassador Pedro Afonso Comissário of Mozambique called it “a historic date” and Swiss Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl said she felt “a deep sense of humility and responsibility” as their countries marked their first-ever terms on UN’s most powerful body. Malta joined for a second time, Ecuador a fourth and Japan a record 12th.

China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are permanent, veto-wielding members of the group. Its 10 other members are elected by the 193-nation General Assembly for staggered, two-year terms. They’re allocated by global regions.

To many countries, winning a council seat is considered a signature diplomatic accomplishment that can raise a nation’s global profile and afford small countries a bigger voice than they might otherwise have in the major international peace and security issues of the day.

The council deploys peacekeeping missions, can approve sanctions and speaks out — sometimes — on conflicts and flashpoints, while also surveying such thematic issues as terrorism and arms control.

While many matters are perennials on the agenda, council members also can use the platform to spotlight emerging concerns or topics of particular interest to them.

Countries often campaign for the council for years. Some 60 nations have never had a seat since the group’s formation in 1946.

The five latest members are replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway.

Their terms ended Dec. 31.

The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emirates.

First Parliament sitting for 2023 tomorrow

Posted on January 4, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 4 Comments

Parliament is scheduled to convene for the first time in 2023, tomorrow.

The first sitting of Parliament for 2023 is scheduled to begin at 9.30am.

Parliament convened on the 13th of December for its final sitting in 2022.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Public Enterprises and Committee on Public Finance are also scheduled to convene tomorrow.

Dates for calling nominations for LG election announced

Posted on January 4, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 1 Comment

The National Election Commission announced that the nominations for the Local Government Election will be accepted from the 18th to the 21st of January.

Nominations for the Local Government Election will be accepted until 12 noon on the 21st of January.

Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake speaking to News 1st said that bonds can be placed until 12 noon on the 20th of January 2023.

The National Election Commission announced that the notice calling for nominations for 340 Local Government Institutions were released by the District Secretaries on Wednesday (4).

The notice will include the date of accepting nominations, location, bonds, candidates, female representation among other matters.

Members for Local Government Institutions need to be appointed by the 20th of March, and for that elections needs to take place before the 10th of March 2023.

Petition against any moves to delay LG poll

Posted on January 3, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 3 Comments

The Freedom People’s Congress political movement, led by ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) breakaways now sitting independently in the Parliamentary Opposition, has filed a case in the Supreme Court (SC) requesting the dismissal of any attempts to further postpone the Local Government (LG) election and to reassert the need to hold the said election before 30 March as per the Constitution.

Members of the Election Commission (EC) and the Prime Minister, as the Minister of Local Government, have been named as respondents in this case.

“We have filed a court case to legally reject any attempts by the Government to hold off the LG election any further. Accordingly, they will have to hold the said election by the last week of February or early March to meet the deadline set by the Constitution,” said Freedom People’s Congress Leader and SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris, while addressing the media yesterday (2).

Furthermore, he emphasised that several previous court cases have ruled against the postponement of the said election any further and that they be held before 20 March.

“It is a Constitutional and legal requirement to fulfil the vacancies of all 340 LG authorities in the country by 30 March, and for that to be met, the Supreme Court has decided that the said election has to be concluded by 20 March at the latest,” affirmed Peiris.

However, he elaborated that if all these attempts are proven futile in holding the election in due time, the Freedom People’s Congress is ready to activate a four-step mechanism against the further postponement of the poll.

“This will start within Parliament, and then move to the country as a whole. Thirdly, we would file suits in the High Court, while as our last resort, we would go international with our concerns that democracy is being undermined by the current Government. We believe that our fellow Opposition parties will aid us in this endeavour.”

Moreover, discussing the Government’s concerns over the lack of funds to hold the election, Peiris revealed that the Government will require only Rs. 10 billion out of the State expenditure for 2023, questioning as to why the Government is reluctant to spend those funds, whereas it is able to appoint many a State Minister and Cabinet Minister, incurring many unnecessary costs from the Government Budget.

Sri Lankan monks seek Dalai Lama’s visit, blessings to overcome economic crisis

Posted on January 3, 2023 | by TELO Admin | 2 Comments

A group of high-ranking Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks, who were on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya recently, is now seeking His Holiness Dalai Lama’s visit to Sri Lanka, which is reeling under a severe economic crisis.

They met the Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya on December 27 and were overwhelmed by witnessing a large gathering at the holy city.

Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero, Mahanayake Thero, Sri Sambuddha Sasanodaya Sangha Sabha told ANI in an interview, “His Holiness came to India and people should know why he came to India. Why he settled down in India? India helped His Holiness, and now because of His Holiness, we know thousands of tourists are in Bodh Gaya.”

He added, “These days, Bodh Gaya is very cold and people usually don’t come, but people are there because of His Holiness. Bodh Gaya is benefitted in many ways. Is Tibet benefitted? We should think about this part also”

The high-ranking monk wished the Dalai Lama to visit Sri Lanka and help to overcome the economic hardships his country has been facing currently.

“I believe, like His Holiness has been to Bodh Gaya. If he goes to Sri Lanka, many thousands of tourists will come to Sri Lanka which will boost the economy because we are in a crisis situation. And, if His Holiness goes to Sri Lanka, many tourists will come here similar to Bodh Gaya. We will be blessed and the economy will also be boosted”, he said.

Most Ven Makulewe Wimala Mahanayake Thero, Chief Prelate of Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya was also overwhelmed to meet the Dalai Lama.

He said, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader and we were very happy to meet him there. We have an understanding of spiritual activities. So, Mahasangha from Sri Lanka is happy to see what his Holiness is doing”.

Ven. Muruddeniya Dhammarathana, Thero of the Asgiri Chapter said, “Actually we are very happy, Bodh Gaya is like our motherland because Lord Buddha got enlightenment there and always that place too much. This is not my first-time visit; I have visited 2-3 times before. Especially yesterday and the day before yesterday there was an important event, we were lucky to meet his holiness Dalai Lama and a lot of Lamas and monks from different parts of the world”.

He added, “We saw thousands of people there, especially to listen to his holiness Dalai Lama’s speech. We were very happy seeing and listening to his teaching and again we were so lucky to come and worship the holy Bodhi tree. I think this is a very good chance we are here”.

Sri Lanka is still recovering from an unprecedented financial crisis it faced in 2022 that also sparked political turmoil in the island nation.

India extended much-needed help to a neighbor in need by providing financial assistance of nearly 4 billion USD during the year.

The high-ranking Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks on their visit to India thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the help and also sought the blessings of their spiritual leader HH Dalai Lama to overcome the challenges.

(ANI)

Only a referendum can delay polls: Prof. G.L. Peiris

Posted on January 3, 2023 | by TELO Admin | Leave a Comment

Prof. G.L. Peiris, a member of the Freedom People’s Congress said holding a referendum is a must to delay elections. Holding a press conference yesterday, Peiris said the Supreme Court in a previous judgement has held a referendum that must be held if Local Government elections are to be postponed.

“The Supreme Court has clearly set out that a referendum is mandatory to delay elections,” he said.

The MP also emphasised that the Supreme Court has delivered several landmark judgements relating to Local Government elections and that the polls therefore must be held before 20 March.

“According to the law, in order to establish the 340 local governments across the country before March 20, the election must be held at the end of February or the beginning of March,” Peiris said.

He also slammed the comments made by officials of the election commission that claimed it will have to adhere to any proposal passed in parliament to postpone the Local Government elections. He also asserted that the election cannot be postponed by a parliamentary resolution because the sovereign power of Sri Lanka is not with the Parliament but with the people.

Peiris also refused to accept the Government’s claim of not having the necessary funds to hold the elections and said if the claim is accepted it will only lead to the demise of democracy.

“If the current President who has no mandate claims there are no funds to hold elections then even he would be able to stay in power forever,” the MP noted.

“If the Government takes any step to postpone elections, we will express our concerns and raise an alarm on the harm being caused to the country’s democracy before the international community,” the MP warned.