Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that their party is ready to face any kind of election at any point.
Speaking to the media following a discussion at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party headquarters, the former President asserted that the SLPP is ready for even a presidential election.
Meanwhile, Rajapaksa also commented on the proposed Broadcasting Authority Bill. “We haven’t seen it yet. Now we have free media, don’t we?” he added.
Sri Lankan citizens’ freedom of expression is being restricted and threatened by administrative and criminal sanctions, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has said.The BASL has in a media statement said it believes that the right to protest, as manifested in the freedom of assembly, association, and expression, is an important feature of a democratic society.
“This right is vital for the healthy functioning of a democracy, and while it is recognised that the right to protest can be subjected to certain limitations, it is equally important to ensure that these limitations are not the results of arbitrary measures contrary to the rule of law, and the equal protection of the law as guaranteed by Article 12 of the Constitution,” it said.
Below are excerpts of the press release: “We must ensure the the police, who are bound to act according to the law to protect the fundamental rights, cannot act arbitrarily in carrying out their responsibilities.
“In the recent case of U. N. S. P. Kurukulasuriya, Convenor, Free Media Movement, and J. K. W. Jayasekara, Vs. Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation SCFR 556/2008 and 557/2008 decided on 17.02.2021, the Supreme Court quoted with approval the following passages found in several decisions of Sri Lankan courts: “The right to support or to criticise governments and political parties, policies and programmes is fundamental to the democratic way of life; …and democracy requires not merely that dissent be tolerated, but that it be encouraged. Criticism of the Government, and of political parties and policies, is per se, a permissible exercise of the freedom of speech and expression under Article14 (1) (a).”
“In the same case His Lordship Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare observed as follows: “The danger of suppressing dissent was emphasized in Gunawardena v. Pathirana, OIC, Police Station, Elpitiya (1997) 1 Sri LR 265 stating that dissent, or disagreement manifested by conduct or action, is a cornerstone of the Constitution, which should not only be tolerated but encouraged by the Executive as obligated expressly by Article 4(d), Justice Mark Fernando cited the dictum of Justice Jackson in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barbette (1943) 319 US 624, 641; “Those who begin coercive elimination of dissent soon find themselves exterminating dissenters. Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard. It seems trite but necessary to say that the First Amendment was designed to avoid these ends by avoiding these beginnings.”
Therefore, we would like to remind the government that in a country with a rich history of expression through protest, it is important that people are not silenced, and their right to peaceful protest is upheld and respected.”
The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has told President Ranil Wickremesinghe that if the current Government fails to provide a solution to the ‘ethnic question’ within a certain period, it will take steps to find a solution under the international law of self-determination.
The ITAK had said, this during the discussion with the Government held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (8).
During the discussion, the ITAK has alleged that the Government has ‘deceived’ the Tamil people again and they are not ready to be deceived anymore.
Speaking to the media after the discussion, ITAK Leader MP R. Sampanthan said, “We explained our position regarding a political solution to the President, but we do not feel that the President’s stance on this issue is correct. He only thinks about constitutional amendments. It is imperative that the ethnic question be resolved as soon as possible. We have already held many rounds of negotiations with the Government, but nothing has happened.”
Sampanthan alleged the Government is postponing the solution to the ethnic problem as well as the holding of elections. If this situation continues, it will not be possible to work together with President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The ethnic problem should be resolved within the next few months. If the Government fails to provide such a solution, steps will be taken to get a solution under the international law,” he asserted.
According to Sampanthan, the President said, the Government is working to establish interim administrative councils in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
“The Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) members questioned whether separate administrative councils would be established in the two provinces or whether one administrative council would be formed by combining them. However, the President did not give a direct answer to that question. He said, he also has such an idea and will discuss it with other political parties and take a decision,” he said.
The President said, that committees have been appointed to look into the political and land issues and that the committees will receive the reports within two months and the discussions will be held again in July, Sampanthan added.
ITAK Leader Mavai Senathirajah, MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Charles Nirmalanathan, S. Shritharan and T. Kalai Arasan participated in the discussion.
However, the PLOTE and TELO did not participate.
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has recommended not to privatise Sri Lanka Telecom as it could pose a threat to national security.
The report “The effects of the privatization of Sri Lanka Telecom on National Security” submitted to Parliament stated that SLT is already partially privatized with international companies holding 44.98% of the stake and the government holding 49.5% and hence further privatization would expose the country’s critical communication infrastructure / sensitive information to private entities whose profit-oriented interests can compromise national security.
The report also said that anyone or organization who had been blacklisted, helped terrorists, extremists in any form should not be allowed to buy any share and have any control over the country’s national assets.
The Committee proposes that the state can buy back the other large shareholder of Telecom as provided for in the agreement, divide the segments into sensitive & vulnerable, excess lands & buildings, critical infrastructure and the business.
“Whilst retaining the first segments effecting National Security, the state can divest the others holding a major share through Private Public Partnership ensuring critical infrastructure is protected and all government regulations are adhered to. This way the government can exit from doing business whilst making profit and ensuring National Security, the committee recommended.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka needs the support of China to upgrade it’s industries.
Speaking to China’s CGTN, Prim Minister Gunawardena said that despite the country’s great geographical advantages, Sri Lanka would remain confined to traditional industries such as tea, rubber and coconut without the help and support of China.
“We are the last important island south of India in the Indian Ocean. We’re on the maritime lanes between Africa, Arabia and East Asia. So many thousands of different shipping lanes, traders, business enterprises shuttle across and anchor in Sri Lanka. So Sri Lanka has been historically an important place for all these countries. We must take off to a new stage of development,” stressed the Prime Minister.
He added that Sri Lanka has had the support of China to create new areas of development. “Otherwise we are on traditional areas like Tea, Rubber and Coconut. The COVID caused a serious setback in Sri Lanka’s economy followed by the economic crisis and slowdown in the World,” said the Prime Minister.
The United Sates (US) today called on Sri Lanka to protect the right to freedom of expression.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung said that the core of every democracy is the right to freedom of expression for every citizen.
“At the core of every democracy is the right to freedom of expression for every citizen. The protection of this fundamental right must continue to be a cornerstone of SL’s efforts to re-build a stable, secure, and prosperous future for all Sri Lankans,” the Ambassador tweeted.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the eligibility of Sri Lanka to access concessional financing.
The availability of concessional assistance, offered at low interest rates, broadens Sri Lanka’s options to bridge its urgent development financing needs to restore economic stability and deliver essential services, particularly to the poor and vulnerable.
Eligibility for concessional resources among the developing member countries of ADB is based on gross national income per capita and creditworthiness.
ADB’s decision was considered based on a request from the Government of Sri Lanka in view of the severe and unprecedented economic crisis that has reversed hard-won development gains.
“ADB is committed to further enhancing its support for the people of Sri Lanka as the country responds to this deep crisis that has severely undermined their livelihoods and well-being,” said ADB Director General for South Asia Kenichi Yokoyama.
“The availability of concessional assistance will help Sri Lanka to lay the foundation for economic recovery and sustained, inclusive growth” added Kenichi Yokoyama.
Sri Lanka is now eligible for ADB support including concessional and market-based financing, technical assistance, policy advice, and knowledge solutions that together comprise a comprehensive suite of options to address the crisis. Access to concessional financing will also ease debt servicing pressures through more favorable lending terms.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members 49 from the region.
The National Peoples Power (NPP) staged a protest near the Elections Commission demanding the holding of the Local Government (LG) elections.
Several people attended the protest staged near the Elections Commission.
A number of MPs and other senior members of the NPP attended the protest.
Meanwhile, a large number of Police officers were also seen near the Elections Commission during the protest.
The Local Government elections was postponed indefinitely in April this year owing to the unavailability of sufficient funds.
The election had been postponed to 25th April this year but the Election Commission later said that it had been postponed again with no new date in mind.
The government has signed an agreement with United States based RM Parks Inc. in collaboration with Shell PLC for a long-term contract to enter the Sri Lanka petroleum business today.
The contract agreement was signed at the Presidential Secretariat for the importation, storage, distribution and sale of petroleum products in Sri Lanka.
The agreement was signed following the recommendations of the Cabinet appointed Special Committee.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said RM Parks will be the 4th supplier to enter the domestic market and they will operate under the Shell branding.
They signed a 20-year agreement to import, distribute & sell petroleum products through 150 fuel stations allocated from Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).
The Minister said approval was also granted for 50 new fuel stations to be established islandwide.
They will upgrade the fuel stations with new automated dispensers, electric charge stations, mini markets and cafes, he said.
State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has confirmed that import restrictions on 300 products will be lifted by the weekend.
Speaking in Parliament, State Minister Siyambalapitiya said accordingly the number of items subject to import restrictions will be reduced to 1,216.
The State Minister said the government was compelled to take difficult and unpopular decision due to the economic crisis.
He noted that the public is now gradually reaping the rewards of those decisions. State Minister Siyambalapitiya also acknowledged that small- and medium-scale enterprises were affected due to import restrictions.
He said now the restrictions are being eased gradually while steps have also been taken to reduce interest rates.
The State Minister noted that such measures will help economic activity.
