Category: News

The private member’s Bill that has been presented by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran to amend the Provincial Council Elections Act is in a way an attempt to test President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s integrity. It would be interesting to note how the President would respond to it.
The Bill seeks to annul the highly controversial amendment that was introduced to the Provincial Councils Elections Act in 2017 in order to introduce mixed election system for the provincial councils and revert to the Proportional Representation (PR).

It is not that the TNA is against the mixed electoral system, but the 2017 amendment has become a stumbling block to provincial council elections and it has prevented the said elections for the past six years and apparently for the years to come. The significance of the Bill is that it seeks the elections for the provincial councils under a President who was instrumental to the disruption of the same elections.

In September, 2017 the United National Party (UNP)-led government was to adopt a Bill called 20th Amendment to the Constitution which provided for the elections for all nine provincial councils to be held on a same day, instead of holding them on a staggered basis. However, the Supreme Court said that the Bill would delay elections for some provincial councils which the court ruled illegal. Then the government abandoned the Bill in toto, indicating what the government really wanted was nothing but the
deferral of elections.

It is not that the TNA is against the mixed electoral system, but the 2017 amendment has become a stumbling block to provincial council elections and it has prevented the said elections for the past six years and apparently for the years to come

Then the government in the same month presented another Bill – Provincial Councils Elections Amendment Bill – in Parliament to make 30% of female representation mandatory. While the committee stage debate on the Bill was on, the government sneaked in an amendment to the Bill which provided for the mixed electoral system for the provincial councils. In a practical sense, the amendment needed postponement of provincial council elections for want of a delimitation process. Thus, the government achieved what it failed to achieve through the 20A.
A delimitation commission for provincial councils was then appointed under the chairmanship of K. Thavalingam, the former Surveyor General which handed over its report to Minister Faiszer Musthpha in August, 2018. However, since Parliament failed to ratify it with a two thirds majority vote, a review committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as per the law. But the committee never handed over its report to the President despite the law stipulating to present it in two months. Thus, the elections for the provincial councils are being dragged on. It is this amendment that Sumanthiran’s private members Bill is seeking to repeal.

No Tamil party in the north and the east, except for the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) believes that the provincial council system can solve their problems. They demand a more comprehensive power sharing mechanism. Yet, in the light of their demand not seeming to be met in the foreseeable future, they have been since lately demanding to hold the provincial council elections, as a short-term transitional solution. When President Wickremesinghe told in November last year that he would solve the ethnic problem before the 75th Independence Day which fell on February 4 this year, the Tamil parties told him to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in full including holding provincial council elections before January 31. Sumanthiran’s Bill seems to have emanated from that demand.
Two issues apparently stand in this Bill’s way. One is the lack of integrity and political will on the part of the government in respect of resolving the ethnic problem and the other being its fear of facing the people at an election.

President Wickremesinghe called on all political parties in Parliament during the budget debate in November last year to get together to resolve the ethnic problem by the 75th anniversary of the Independence of Sri Lanka. When Tamil parties demanded the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution including holding provincial council elections prior to it, he agreed to it during a discussion with them on December 13 last year. He even expressed his willingness to discuss the implementation of 13th Amendment immediately. However, while the talks with the Tamil parties on the matter were still going on, he forgot what he agreed to and told a gathering in Jaffna on the National Thai Pongal Day (January 15) that the 13A would be implemented fully within the next two years.

Ruling parties presented two Bills seeking changes in LG elections laws while the Election Commission had announced the elections for those councils. President Wickremesinghe even after his party had tendered nominations for the elections said the elections are not legally announced

Forgetting that statement as well he, during this year’s May Day rally of his party, the UNP, at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium said that an agreement would be reached on finding a lasting solution to the ethnic problem within the course of this year, while stressing the fact that resolving the matter is a prerequisite to the economic development of the country. This lack of consistency in his statements seems to have discouraged the Tamil parties.

On the other hand, the number of hurdles put up by the government against the local government elections which were to be held on March 9 indicates the ruling parties’ fear of any election. They attempted to put off LG elections in the guise of reducing the number of members of the LG bodies from 8000 to 4000. Then, in last December they wanted to appoint a Parliamentary select committee (PSC) on electoral reforms, despite a PSC on the same matter having handed over its report six months ago. A retired army official who is believed to be a supporter of one of the two ruling parties – the UNP and the Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna (SLPP) – filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking the postponement of local council elections. Ruling parties presented two Bills seeking changes in LG elections laws while the Election Commission had announced the elections for those councils. President Wickremesinghe even after his party had tendered nominations for the elections said the elections are not
legally announced.

Finally, they succeeded in postponing the elections by not providing funds for the polls using executive powers. Hence, it is clear that the two ruling parties are hell bent on preventing any election being held at this juncture where the popularity of both parties is at its lowest ebb, due to the economic crisis. For that very reason it is also clear that they would not allow the PC elections too being held, no matter they are vital in terms of power devolution or reconciliation that the UNP has been bragging to be committed to. Even the passage of MP Sumanthiran’s Bill, for these very reasons is, in the balance.

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) today (25) stated that they have no knowledge of any impending Cabinet reshuffle, despite reports that one would take place once President Ranil Wickremesinghe returns to the island tomorrow (26).

It was recently reported that the President, who was on an official visit to the United Kingdom and France, is expected to reshuffle the Cabinet of Ministers in the coming days due to disappointing reports from certain ministries, as well as the failure of some ministers to perform to the expected level. It was also reported that a few more ministerial positions were expected to be given to SLPP MPs.

When contacted by The Daily Morning on whether there will be a reshuffle, or if the party had engaged in discussions seeking one, the SLPP General Secretary, MP Sagara Kariyawasam said: “These rumours are spread by various parties. There has been no discussion between us (SLPP) and President Wickremesinghe on such a matter, and we have not been informed of any preparation either.”

Kariyawasam had earlier said that they were expecting the President to appoint a new Cabinet of Ministers with more Ministries being given to whom he called ‘real SLPPers’. “From the beginning, our request to the President was to appoint a new Cabinet with more Ministries being given to real SLPPers, but he prefers to go with the final Cabinet of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. That does not mean that our request is invalid,” Kariyawasam said on an earlier occasion.

Wickremesinghe, who entered the Parliament through National List, was initially functioning as an Opposition MP. However, in mid-2022, he was appointed as the Prime Minister in the face of massive protests against then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the SLPP-led Government. He was thereafter elected as the President with the majority support of the SLPP in a parliamentary vote held following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the presidency in July 2022. Wickremesinghe did not dissolve the Cabinet appointed by his precedent and instead, made some changes to it from time to time.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry met with Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang in Beijin today (25)

Qin Gang said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka, the two sides have always respected and supported each other, setting a good example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between large and small countries.

China is ready to consolidate and expand its strategic cooperative partnership with Sri Lanka. The two sides should implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, intensify high-level exchanges, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote the high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road” to achieve more new results.

China will continue to provide assistance within its capacity for Sri Lanka’s economic and social development and improvement of people’s livelihood, he went on to add.

Minister Sabry said that China is a great friend and important development partner, and we cherish the selfless assistance of the Chinese government and people for Sri Lanka’s national independence and economic development for a long time, and thank China for its valuable support in dealing with the debt problem and overcoming temporary difficulties.

Sri Lanka will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy, build the “Belt and Road” project, intensify multilateral coordination, push for greater development of strong Srivan-China relations and set a good example for state-to-state relations. Sri Lanka attaches great importance to China’s development opportunities and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka, he further said.

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is leading a delegation to participate at the World Economic Forum to be held in Tianjin, China from 27th to 29th June 2023.

The government has decided to commence discussions regarding the proposal to cancel the nominations submitted for the 2023 Local Government election.

State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Janaka Wakkumbura stated that he expects to take up the matter into discussion with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister within the next few weeks.

A proposal has been submitted to the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Provincial Councils and of Local Government to cancel the nominations which were submitted for the 2023 LG election.

Discussions have reportedly been scheduled with political parties and the MPs representing the Parliament regarding the relevant proposal.

Meanwhile, due to the continuous postponement of the LG election, various issues have arisen regarding the public employees who have submitted nominations, and as a result, several individuals have requested to cancel the relevant nominations.

However, State Minister Wakkumbura further mentioned that a special proposal should be passed in the Parliament for this purpose, adding that the government hopes to seek legal advice regarding the matter.

The bidding process for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment opportunities at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) concluded last week, with the participation of 19 potential investors and strategic entrepreneurs, according to Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (AASL).

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, AASL Chairman Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri revealed that significant interest had been received from interested investors and strategic entrepreneurs after Expressions of Interest (EOIs) had been called earlier this year.

Accordingly, he shared that 19 local and international investors had taken part in the bidding process that had been concluded last week.

He stated: “About 19 local and international companies took part in the bidding process on Monday (19). I think this process will be successful. We are hopeful that we will receive an attractive offer.”

He further stated that the received bids were currently being evaluated and that the final decision would be made within a month’s time.

On 8 January, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal presented by Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva calling for EOIs from investors interested in engaging in business activities using the facilities at MRIA.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business previously, Chandrasiri disclosed that proposals had been received from investors who had expressed interest in establishing an aircraft dismantling business and a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the MRIA.

The AASL’s main objective is to leverage the facilities and assets of the Mattala Airport to create PPP investment opportunities. These opportunities aim to attract investors and entrepreneurs involved in both direct and indirect aviation-related ventures, thereby facilitating aeronautical and non-aeronautical businesses at the airport.

Since its inception, the MRIA has been plagued by controversy and allegations of corruption. These controversies relating to the construction of the MRIA and its subsequent failure to generate revenue have resulted in it being labelled a white elephant which is an unnecessary burden on the State coffers. Consequently, groups within the present and the previous regime have actively pushed for the privatisation of the MRIA.