Month: July 2022

Opinion: Remembering the India-Sri Lanka accord and how it was derailed

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Opinion: Remembering the India-Sri Lanka accord and how it was derailed MR Narayan Swamy (News Minute) It has been thirty-five long years since an experiment failed to herald peace to Sri Lanka. One wonders what the island nation could have achieved if the key players had not scuttled the India-Sri Lanka agreement of July 29, 1987.  When the pact was signed by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Junius Jayewardene, two Indian ministers shared with Gandhi their insight of the situation. External Affairs Minister PV Narasimha Rao…

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SPORTSCommonwealth Games 2022

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Commonwealth Games 2022 Sri Lanka to commence beach volleyball campaign against tough opponents Sri Lanka is set to commence the beach volleyball campaign in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games when the men’s and women’s teams meet Canada and Australia respectively at the Smith Field on July 31. In their first encounter, Malintha Yapa and Ashen Rashmika will encounter Canada. The women’s team of Deepika Bandara and Chathurika Madhushani will meet Australia. Sri Lanka’s opponents are the silver medallists from the last edition. Of the 54 Commonwealth nations, 24 teams (12 women’s…

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Sri Lanka President prorogues Parliament

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Sri Lanka President prorogues Parliament   President Ranil Wickremesinghe has prorogued parliament with effect from midnight today (28 July), via an extraordinary gazette. Accordingly, the next session of Parliament will commence at 10.30 am on 03 August 2022 (Wednesday), according to the gazette notification.  The President has prorogued by virtue of the powers vested in him by Article 70 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. With the signing of the gazette notification, the current session of the 9th Parliament marked its closure.  Since 1947 the Parliament had been prorogued over…

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No new financing to Sri Lanka until macroeconomic policy framework is ready – WB

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No new financing to Sri Lanka until macroeconomic policy framework is ready – WB The World Bank Group says it is deeply concerned about the dire economic situation and its impact on the people of Sri Lanka. In a statement, the global financial institution said it is repurposing resources under existing loans in our portfolio to help alleviate severe shortages of essential items such as medicines, cooking gas, fertilizer, meals for school children and cash transfers for poor and vulnerable households. “To date, about US$160 million of these funds has been…

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Election only after a new Constitution – IUSF Interview with IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige

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  Election only after a new Constitution – IUSF Interview with IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige Dinuli Francisco (Daily Mirror) For the first time in the history, Inter-university Student Federation (IUSF) appears in a different light in the eyes of most of the masses. The prime reason behind this is the contribution rendered by the IUSF to make the “Aragalaya” a success.    Sri Lankans, irrespective of race, religion, or social class, collectively protested against the worst economic crisis exacerbated by the Rajapaksa regime. Citizens deprived of basic necessities – including…

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Long-term investments in Sri Lanka are India’s plan to fix economic crisis, envoy Baglay says

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Long-term investments in Sri Lanka are India’s plan to fix economic crisis, envoy Baglay says. (NAYANIMA BASU 25 July, 2022 08:19 am IST (The Print)) High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay added that New Delhi will also work with the island nation’s new govt to facilitate talks for a bailout package from the IMF. New Delhi: After helping Sri Lanka with an unprecedented assistance of around $4 billion since January as the country plunged into a deep economic crisis, India is now planning to invest heavily in newer…

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Ranil: Not the man to lead Sri Lanka out of the crisis

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Sri Lanka’s Ranil Wickremesinghe is a schemer and the West’s stooge. Not the man to lead it out of crisis Asian Angle by Kalinga Seneviratne (South China Post) Ranil Wickremesinghe, a five-time PM who has never completed a full term in office, only gained the presidency via horse-trading and with Western help He claims he can schmooze the IMF, but Sri Lanka would be better served if India and China stepped up and worked with Russia to craft a BRICS bailout Sri Lanka’s newly elected president Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses the media in…

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22-A before parliament tomorrow

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22-A before parliament tomorrow Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse yesterday announced that the 22nd constitutional Amendment Bill, which was prepared to repeal the 20th Amendment and incorporating the positive clauses of the 19th Amendment, would be submitted to Parliament tomorrow (27). As per parliamentary standing orders, the Bill can be debated one week after the first reading, if it is not challenged before the Supreme Court. The Cabinet has approved the 22nd constitutional Amendment Bill. Therefter that, the Bill was published in a gazette on…

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Political and economic stability: President defying the people’s will: M.A. Sumanthiran

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Abolish Executive Presidency and go for General Elections System change can’t be done by tinkering with current Constitution  SLPP’s false majority in Parliament is not the people’s sentiment Unwarranted use of force does not bode well for political stability  Country needs a consensus government to move forward Going by current trend of governance, difficult to think of support But will support positive measures of new Govt. to ensure stability  By Asiri Fernando Unwarranted use of force by President Ranil Wickremesinghe does not bode well for reaching the political stability needed…

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Burning Questions of the Sri Lankan People’s Movement: What is to be Done?

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(This article is based on a talk delivered at the online session organised by International Solidarity with the People’s Movement in Sri Lanka on a 23.07.2022) The people’s movement in Sri Lanka has entered into a deadlock with the ‘(s)election’ of Ranil Wickremesinghe as President. Within hours of him assuming office, a mid-night crackdown on the Galle Face protest camp was unleashed. Only cowards attack in the dead of the night as they have much to hide during the day. Despite brutal state repression, the people’s movement shows a resilient commitment to…

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