Author: TELO Admin

The government ally, Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), has expressed concerns over the proposed draft of the Provincial Councils (PC) amendment bill, The Morning learnt.

The CWC has made this observation today (19) during the meeting of party leaders of governing party allies chaired by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

CWC Vice President, Senthil Thondaman told The Morning that he had raised issues faced especially by the plantation sector community if the amendments are implemented.

He explained that while there are currently around 25 representatives of the plantation sector community in the provincial council system, if the proposed amendments are implemented, it would reduce the number to around five members.

“I raised this issue on behalf of the plantation sector community. The Prime Minister asked us to submit our alternative proposal and to coordinate with the Minister in charge of provincial councils,” Thondaman noted.

The United States of America and India are attempting to sabotage the Colombo Port City Project, alleged Sri Lankan State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera on Monday (19), the latest Sri Lankan ruling party member to hit out at the US over the Colombo Port City project.

“Their agents are in play in Sri Lanka to sabotage this project,” said the State Minister adding the US had gone to extent of claiming that the Colombo Port City will become a hub for money laundering.

The State Minister said the Colombo Port City is essential for Sri Lanka and it will become a turning point for the country.

The United States of America is attempting to destabilize the country politically and economically to achieve its political objectives, alleged State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera on the 16th of April 2021.

He noted that ‘It was the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka who was the first to state the Colombo Port City paves the way for money laundering.

Also on the 16th of April, State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal denied claims that the Colombo Port City will not be regulated under Sri Lankan laws.

Cabraal rejected claims that money laundering can take place through Port City, citing that it is unfair to make such claims.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Alaina Teplitz in April warned Sri Lanka of unintended consequences of ‘nefarious actors’ who may try to misuse a China-backed Colombo Port City’s easy business rules as a permissive money laundering haven amid concerns of tax leaks.

A senior official of the Prime Minister’s Media Division rejected news reports which claimed that Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila had walked out of the party leaders meeting held under the patronage of Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa today (19).

Social media was abuzz as many pro-government websites as well as other news sites had reported the incident. However, the senior official reiterated that all such reports were unfounded.

He further said that several party leaders, including Minister Wimal Weerawansa, had called on the Prime Minister today morning and had cordial discussions.

Party leaders Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, Tiran Alles and Asanga Navaratne had accompanied Wimal Weerawansa for the meeting.

At the last Cabinet meeting, the President had sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to resolve differences between the SLPP and other parties of the ruling alliance, especially with regard to the provincial council elections.

As such, the President had requested the Prime Minister to hold discussions with the party leaders of the alliance first. Accordingly, the Prime Minister had met Weerawansa and the other party leaders for a discussion today (19).

Minister Weerawansa had convened a meeting at his residence last night (18) to reach consensus on what issues need to be raised at their meeting with the Prime Minister.

Accordingly, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, Tiran Alles, Asanga Navaratne and the General Secretary of the Communist Party Dr. G. Weerasinghe had participated in the discussion.

Did Basil intervene?

During the discussion, Minister Udaya Gammanpila had telephoned the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Yoshitha Rajapaksa to inquire about their meeting with the Prime Minister the next day.

It was revealed then that Basil Rajapaksa had extended an invitation to 50 parliamentarians of the ruling alliance to attend the meeting.

However, Wimal Weerawansa and the rest of the group had immediately decided not to attend today’s meeting and had requested Yoshitha Rajapaksa to inform the Prime Minister in this regard.

The Prime Minister had instructed the group through Yoshitha Rajapaksa to meet him before 9.00 am today.

Accordingly, Minister Wimal Weerawansa and the rest of the party leaders who called on the Prime Minister in the morning had requested for a special discussion with him.

The Prime Minister had stated that there was no need to attend the meeting of ruling party MPs that was scheduled to be held in the morning and had promised to give them another date.

Accordingly, after the discussion with the Prime Minister, they left without attending the meeting of ruling party MPs.

However, it was reported that the leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), former President Maithripala Sirisena had participated in the meeting held today.

Ruling party MPs to meet later today

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the ruling party’s parliamentary group will be held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees at 6.30 pm today.

According to government sources, the controversy surrounding the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill is scheduled to be discussed at the meeting.

Furthermore, it is reported that a group of ministers and parliamentarians are preparing to make a request at today’s parliamentary group meeting to take disciplinary action against those who criticize the government while in the government.

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today that international forces were behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks stating that his remarks he made on Sunday evening had been misunderstood as he was not referring to any local political group being directly involved in the Easter attacks.

“My remarks on Sunday has been misunderstood by many. I did not refer to a local political group when I said politics was behind the Easter Sunday attacks but international forces. There are some forces who develop weapons and uses religious and ethnic extrimsm such as Wahabism to create conflicts. This is done to market their weapons. I was referring to such groups,” the Cardinal told a press conference today.

“Only a small group of Muslims are involved in extremism. Therefore I would like to appeal to Muslims in Sri Lanka who have co-existed in this country with other ethnic and religious groups for more than 1000 years to maintain that co-existence and teach their children that as well,” he added.

Asked about the comment he made about former President Maithripala Sirisena , the Archbishop said the latter has told certain persons who sought his advice on arresting Zahran Hashim that one must not play with snakes. “Besides the report of the Presidential Commission has mentioned much about the former President. It has also mentioned that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had adopted a soft approach when it came to dealing with growing extrimsm in Sri Lanka,” he said.

At the same time the Cardinal said there could be a connection between the probes on Easter Sunday attacks and getting the support of Muslim MPs to get the 20th Amendment approved in Parliament.

“Leader of one Muslim political party voting against the 2Oth Amendment and other MPs from the same party voting for it and releasing of the brother of Rishad Bathiudeen are all questionable. These events could be part of a deal,” he said.

The Lawyers for Democracy Movement has expressed concerns regarding the Colombo Port City bill during a media briefing on Sunday.

Att.-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, a member of the movement, cautioned that the passage of the bill would be a threat to national security.

He pointed out that China, which is occupying lands in Sri Lanka, is facing geopolitical troubles with India and the US. “Ultimately, our country will be caught in proxy warfare between these three countries,” Nanayakkara noted.

Att-at-Law Upul Kumarapperuma, another member of the movement pointed out that laws are being enforced separately in Port City and in other parts of the country.

He also noted that attention is being paid to Port City amidst a massive backlog of cases.”If there is a massive backlog of cases, then how can attention be paid to this?” Kumarapperuma queried.

Att.-at-Law Sunil Watagala, pointed out that Port City also consists of the prerequisites required to be considered as a state.