Category: News

An international force is behind Sri Lanka’s economy and this force is still active, Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament today.

Speaking during the second reading debate in the House, the local agents of these forces are still active.

“It was them who sponsored protests that are taking place in the nation. Their action affects the tourism sector which has begun to recover now,” the former PM said.

“Some are questioning the defence allocation. I would like to tell them that a country’s defence is more important than anything else. We will not allow the nation’s security to be at stake,” he added.

“The budget 2023 is a giant leap to stabilize the economy though it does not fulfil aspirations of some sectors. The emphasis made on the youth in the budget is welcome. Loss making state enterprises should be restructured. However we are of the view that profit making enterprises should be safeguarded. We are against selling off national assets to the foreign forces,” he also said.

“One has to remember that the Yahapalana government had gone for borrowings which the country cannot resist. We have not neglected social welfare even during difficult time. We have managed our finances and ensured social welfare in the past. We shall do the same in the future as well,” he stressed.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has rescheduled its discussion with all Tamil political parties in the North and East to Friday (25), at which they plan to decide on a suitable political agreement to the Tamil national ethnic problem based on a federal solution.

Speaking to The Morning, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Leader Mavai S. Senathirajah claimed that a solution to the Tamil national ethnic issue should be reached through a federal solution and not a unitary one, and also noted that the coalition party, the TNA, had extended an invitation to all Tamil political parties to engage in a dialogue scheduled to be held on Friday to discuss a suitable political solution to the issues of the Tamil people.

“We are of the stand that a solution cannot be reached based on a unitary basis, but that it can be achieved through a federal solution. We have already been working with four Tamil political parties. We have extended our invitation to all Tamil political parties to attend a dialogue on 25 November at the residence of TNA Leader MP R. Sampanthan in Colombo,” he added.

Senathirajah noted that his party had earlier submitted a report including recommendations on Constitutional reforms to the relevant committee appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in which the party had emphasised that a federal solution would solve the Tamil national ethnic issue.

“We expect to discuss a political solution based on a federal solution and the right to self-determination. We handed over a report to the Constitutional Reforms Committee set up by Rajapaksa, emphasising that a federal solution would solve the political issue,” he further added.

He also said that based on these recommendations, his party is willing to initiate a dialogue with President Ranil Wickremesinghe as he had already extended an invitation to all Tamil political parties for a discussion.

“We are ready to speak to the Government on the recommendations that we have submitted to the said Constitutional Reforms Committee. We would like to initiate a dialogue with President Wickremesinghe based on his invitation to Parliament to come to a suitable solution to the Tamil political issue,” he elaborated.

The TNA has extended its invitation to the Thamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani led by MP C.V. Wigneswaran, the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front led by former MP Suresh Premachandran, the Tamil National Party led by Attorney N. Srikantha, the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation led by MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan, and the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam led by MP D. Siddarthan.

“We also invite the Tamil National People’s Front led by MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam to participate in this discussion,” he added

Even though the TNA had scheduled the same meeting last week at Sampanthan’s residence, most political parties were not present, claiming that they were unable to attend on short notice.

While addressing Parliament on 10 November, President Wickremesinghe invited all Tamil MPs to a discussion scheduled this week regarding issues faced by the Tamil people and to resolve them amicably without any outside interference prior to the country’s 75th Independence celebrations.

Earlier, speaking to The Morning regarding the above discussion, TNA MP President’s Counsel (PC) M.A. Sumanthiran noted that his party would primarily discuss resolving the Tamil national ethnic problem.

“When President Wickremesinghe said the same on the day of Deepavali, I responded the very next day and said that we will fully lend our co-operation. He knows what is necessary. It must be done quickly. The resolution of the Tamil national ethnic issue will be discussed mainly at the meeting. The President knows what that issue is, and it has to be remedied by way of a new Constitution. He himself presented a draft to Parliament on 16 January 2019, and it has to be taken forward,” he added.

The second reading of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2023 was passed in the parliament today (Nov. 22), by a majority of 37 votes.

Announcing the results of the division at the end of the debate on the second reading this evening, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said 121 parliamentarians in total have voted in favour of the budget while 84 voted against it.

Meanwhile, MP C.V. Wigneswaran abstained from voting. Among those who were absent were 10 TNA MPs, Minister Bandula Gunawardene. SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne who was expected to vote in favour of the budget voted against it.

During the division, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) endorsed the Appropriation Bill. However, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), National People’s Power (NPP) and the MPs representing ‘Supreme Lanka Coalition’ said no to the latest budget proposals.

On November 14, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, presented the 2023 Budget to parliament on November 14, aimed at creating long-term stable economic growth.

Subsequently, the debate on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill commenced on the following day and continued for seven days.

According to the 2023 budget, 77th budget of the independent Sri Lanka, the total expenditure for 2023 will be Rs. 5,819 billion (19.2%) and the total revenue and grants will be Rs. 3,415 billion (11.3%).

Meanwhile, the budget deficit for the fiscal year 2023 is estimated at Rs. 2,404 billion, which is 7.9 as a percentage.

Through this budget, the government has allocated Rs. 4,609 billion for recurring expenditure such as subsidies and salary payments. For salaries and wages, Rs. 1,002 billion has been set aside, and Rs. 1,114 billion for subsidies and transfers.

The debate on the committee stage or the third reading of the Appropriation Bill will kick off tomorrow (Nov 23) and the vote is scheduled to be held on December 08.

The Tamil National Alliance has decided to abstain from voting during the 2023 Budget vote in Parliament this evening.

Parliament is scheduled to vote on the second reading of the 2023 Budget later this evening.

The second reading of the 2023 Appropriation Bill or the Budget speech was delivered in Parliament by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance on the 14th of November.

This was also the maiden annual budget speech of President Wickremesinghe.

Speaking to NewsRadio,TELO Leader and TNA Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan said the decision was taken during a meeting held at the Parliamentary complex this morning.

MP Adaikalanathan confirmed that the decision was taken as a goodwill gesture following President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s offer to sit down for talks to address the national issue.

He added therefore they will not vote against the Budget presented by the President.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party announced that they will vote against the Budget.

Members of Parliament are currently debating the second reading of the 2023 Budget.

Following today’s debate, at around 5pm a vote will be taken on the bill.

Meanwhile, according to the 2023 Budget estimates, the total revenue and grants is expected to be Rs. 3,415 billion.

The total expenditure is estimated to be Rs. 5,819 billion.

Accordingly, the government is aiming to reduce the budget deficit to 7.9 percent next year from estimated 9.8 percent this year.

Meanwhile, the committee stage Debate will be held for 13 days in Parliament from tomorrow (23).

The final vote on the 2023 Budget to be presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament is scheduled to take place at 5pm on Thursday, the 8th of December.

A UNICEF report had indicated that at least 50,000 children suffer from malnutrition in Sri Lanka, Chairman, Professional Forum of Professionals on Medical and Civil Rights, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said.

Another 2.2 million children are estimated to suffer from food insecurity related issues in the near future, he said.

“A majority of families have to allocate 75% of their income for food. Therefore their unable to meet medical, education and health expenses,” Dr. Sanjeewa said.