Category: News

MP Nimal Lanza has ruled out any need to dissolve parliament, claiming the government would not collapse even if the pro-Rajapaksa MPs left the government.

Lanza, presently overseas, was commenting on ‘The Leader’ article titled “President considers dissolving parliament!” that was published earlier today (14).

He recalled how Ranil Wickremesinghe responded to a question by SLPP MPs if he would dissolve parliament, when he met them for the first time as the president.

His reply was that he would not, but that parliament would be dissolved at their request as per constitutional provisions, the MP noted.

Namal Rajapaksa has the support of only around 25 MPs, and parliament needs not be dissolved over their demand for cabinet portfolios, said Lanza.

He also said that even if they left the government, the president would have the support of a higher number of Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Freedom Peoples’ Congress and Supreme Lanka Coalition MPs, adding that Basil Rajapaksa was the only barrier against their joining the government.

Disruptions cannot be approved of at a time when the president should be supported in his attempts to revive the economy, he said.

Lanza added that he would make a special statement regarding the matter soon after he returns home.

Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne has accused the government of creating racial and religious issues and bringing various anti-people laws.

At this moment, many problems have arisen in the country, in the backdrop of bringing several Bills including Broadcasting Authority Bill and the Anti-Corruption Bill by the government said the MP addressing the media at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Colombo Wednesday.

“The Broadcasting Authority Act is also problematic. The Supreme Court has determined that several clauses of the anti-corruption bill are inconsistence with the constitution. Doubts arise whether this bill was prepared by a few private lawyers to meet the expectations of the government. Generally, if a bill is drafted by the Legal Draftsmen officers, there is no possibility to include so many clauses that are inconsistence with the Constitution.”

Also, on the privatization of Sri Lanka Telecom, there is a debate within the government that there is a threat to national security, the SJB parliamentarian said. A bill to establish a budget office in parliament, is also being brought. While the government is introducing various anti- democratic anti -people bills, it is also creating problems of race and religion, he said.

“Since Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa became the President in 2019, he went on reversing the Gazette and as a result the state revenue was reduced by one third. His successor President comes and reverses other laws and Legislations.”

He said that if gazettes and laws are reversed based on necessity, there should be a dialogue in the country before that. The MP emphasized that the people are waiting for the best laws to eliminate corruption and fraud because the people are tired of corruption, theft and fraud in this country. This country went bankrupt for the first time under the leaders of the present regime. The parties responsible for it, are trying to bring these laws. People have to wonder why this group that destroyed the country is manipulating the things again.

Those who say people will forget everything in two weeks, created queues for oil, cut off electricity for 12 hours, raised inflation to sky-high say that Pohottuwa will return to power and a Rajapaksa will become President. Are they thinking that the people could be deceived again? But Mr. Wickramaratne said that the people will never forget the destruction caused by the Rajapaksa government.

After the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a loan of 2.9 billion dollars, and the government drafts anti-corruption laws only according to the IMF’s agenda regarding corruption and fraud in the country, the country does not benefit from those legislations. He said that with the IMF, there is a deal, and there are two sides to it. Accordingly, if we adopt methods that suit the country, we can convince them about our methods of adopting laws.

When going to the discussion on an amendment of the agreement with the IMF next September, the tax free limit imposed on the working people should be raised to two hundred thousand from the current one hundred thousand rupees.

Meanwhile, in the local debt restructuring, Mr. Eran Wickramaratne stressed that in the background of economic contraction, it is the responsibility of the government to be on a firm decision not to include a Hair Cut on the deposit money when domestic debt restructuring is proposed, which creates a risk of bankrupting the banking system in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has pledged its continuous support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to develop the country.

This was conveyed during a meeting between the president and the ruling party representatives on Wednesday evening (June 14) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

PM Dinesh Gunawardena, SLPP’s national organizer Basil Rajapaksa, SLPP’s secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, Minister Douglas Devananda, Minister Jeevan Thondaman, UNP MP Vajira Abeywardena and MP A.L.M. Athaullah were in attendance for this meeting.

It comes after President Wickremesinghe recently summoned ruling party MPs and district leaders for a meeting on Monday, during which they had expressed their dismay about convening a discussion without properly informing the party leadership. The Monday’s meeting had been boycotted by many SLPP MPs.

During the meeting on Wednesday, the SLPP leaders informed the president to properly inform them before convening meetings with the party members.

Accordingly, the SLPP leaders and Wickremesinghe have reached a consensus that the party’s leadership would be informed beforehand when SLPP MPs are summoned for discussions on the government’s action plan.

Further, the ruling party leaders also vowed to continuously support the government’s endeavours.

Sri Lanka has reached a deal with Russian nuclear giant Rosatom to build a nuclear power plant that may run two reactors and generate 300 megawatts of energy, the Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia said Wednesday.

“We will go for a nuclear power plant … There are options actually … two sources, 300 megawatts,” Janitha Abeywickrema Liyanage told Sputnik on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

The ambassador said that having its own power plant would allow the Indian Ocean island nation to overcome the energy crisis. The government will speed up the approval process to begin construction in the near future.

“There is a proposal and there is approval to follow the procedures from the Sri Lankan cabinet, and the International Atomic Energy Agency is also now looking at it, and they have set up certain working groups. Rosatom has set up four working groups in four different areas,” she said.

Some countries, including Australia and the US, are continuing to maintain a travel advice on Sri Lanka with visitors being told to exercise caution.

The US travel advisory issued last October maintains that visitors must exercise increased caution in Sri Lanka due to fuel and medicine shortages, civil unrest, and terrorism.

“Protests over the economic situation could erupt at any time. In some instances, police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters. Travelers should monitor local media for updates on the ongoing situation,” the US travel advisory issued last October and still being maintained, says.

The US travel advisory also states that terrorist attacks have occurred in Sri Lanka, with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, hospitals, and other public areas.

Meanwhile, the travel advisory issued by Australia last November, which remains current even today, says travelers must exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to the threat of civil unrest, shortages of fuel and other supplies and the risk of terrorism.

The last update says public demonstrations can occur throughout Sri Lanka. It says several violent incidents have taken place during large demonstrations.

“We advise you exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka,” the travel advisory issued by Australia says.

The travel advisory issued by the UK and updated last month says in recent months, tear gas and water cannons have been used to disperse protesters.

“Protests, demonstrations, roadblocks and violent unrest could occur at short notice. Curfews and emergency regulations may also be imposed. You should be vigilant, avoid large gatherings and keep up to date with developments via this travel advice and local media,” the UK travel advisory last updated in May this year, says.