February 2023 - Page 2 of 2

‘Throne speech mania’ boycotted by Opposition, minority parties present

February 9, 2023February 9, 2023 admin

‘Throne speech mania’ boycotted by Opposition, minority parties present (The Morning 9-02-2023) Freedom People’s Alliance in walkout protest, joins SJB, NPP as those outside P’ment SJB constituents TPA, SLMC, ACMC attend along with TNA Claiming that the prorogation of Parliament on two occasions within a short timeframe reflects a serious threat from the Executive Presidency to Parliamentary Legislative democracy and that the Government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has failed to provide solutions to the people’s issues, over 30 MPs representing the Freedom People’s Alliance chanted “Rajaasana (throne) mania” and…

Chinese credit conundrum for Sri Lanka

February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 admin

Chinese credit conundrum for Sri Lanka Daily FT 8th Feb 2023 Analysts opine China’s latest debt relief offer and reiteration still falls short Biggest bilateral creditor with nearly $ 7 b exposure urged to go the full distance in support of Sri Lanka The debt relief reiterated by China to Sri Lanka last week still falls short of overall burden on the latter, according to analysts. China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s during the regular briefing on Friday reiterated the announcement by Export-Import Bank of China on 19 January. As…

ElemeIs SLPP-UNP Regime attempts to postpone the LG Electionsntor #1540

February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 admin

Is SLPP-UNP Regime attempts to postpone the LG elections Wednesday 8th February, 2023 The Island editorial The Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe regime is all out to derail the local government (LG) elections scheduled for 09 March. The Election Commission (EC) is determined to ensure that the country goes to the polls as scheduled, and the Opposition is bragging that the government’s plan to delay the mini polls has gone pear-shaped, and the SLPP-UNP combine will have to bow to the inevitable, but nothing is so certain as the unexpected in politics, which…

ssues in fully implementing the 13th Amendment – Police Powers

February 7, 2023February 7, 2023 admin

Issues in fully implementing the 13th Amendment – Police Powers By C. A. Chandraprema (The Island 6th Feb 2023) While most provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution have been implemented, sticking points have persisted with regard to two matters – the devolution of police and land powers. Appendix I of the Provincial Councils List in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the devolution of police powers. The implementation of these provisions will entail the division of the Sri Lanka Police Force into a National Police Division…

Mahanayakas oppose implementation of 13A

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 admin

Mahanayakas oppose implementation of 13A Claims implementing constitutional amendment would challenge unitary nature of SL Warns devolution of powers would pave way for separatism Says it would also lead to collapse of autonomy of central Govt. causing public displeasure The Mahanayaka Theras handing over a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday opposed the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution claiming it would challenge the unitary nature of Sri Lanka. The letter signed by the four chief prelates of the main Buddhist sects said the President’s assurance to…

Independence 75: Many unhappy returns?

February 3, 2023February 3, 2023 admin

Independence 75: Many unhappy returns? (By Tisaranee Gunasekara – Daily FT) Call it a no brainer. Whatever Queen Viharamahadevi, the legendary mother of King Dutugemunu, wore, it wouldn’t have been a Kandyan sari (osariya). So why dress up her statue in that garb, jewellery included? Not just any statue, but the one by the Ruwanweli Seya, her son’s most famous construct, and the place Gotabaya Rajapaksa chose to take his presidential oaths in 2019. When the story broke over the social media, the director general of the Archaeology Department took…

Assist SL in securing IMF bailout, push for 13A

February 2, 2023February 2, 2023 admin

Assist SL in securing IMF bailout, push for 13A (Ceylon Today 2-02-2023) Leader of Tamil Progressive Party (TPA), MP Mano Ganesan and many other Tamil speaking political party leaders such as Rauff Hakeem, M.A. Sumanthiran, D. Sithadthan, Gajan Ponnambalam and Rishad Bathiudeen, who held talks with visiting US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said they had a unanimous stand that President Ranil Wickremesinghe should demonstrate his credibility by matching his words with deeds and urged the US to assist Sri Lanka to secure the IMF bailout. MP Ganesan elaborated…

NPP for implementation of 13A, says Harini

February 2, 2023February 2, 2023 admin

NPP for implementation of 13A, says Harini By Saman Indrajith (The Island 2nd Feb 2023) The JVP-led NPP says that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution should be implemented fully as it has already been presented as a solution to the national question. NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, told The Island yesterday that however, there was a debate within her party whether the full implementation of the 13th Amendment would help solve the national problem. She said that her party had no faith in the promises, and initiatives by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as…