Politics Archives - Page 4 of 8

Local Government Elections indefinitely postponed?

February 18, 2023February 18, 2023 admin

Local Government Elections indefinitely postponed? (Ceylon Today 18th Feb 2023) The Ministry of Finance has failed to provide the National Election Commission with the funds needed for the Local Government (LG) election, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said last Sunday. He said the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to the Finance Ministry are constitutionally obligated to provide the funds and that if this does not happen, legal action will be instituted against the competent authority. Speaking to the media, Hettiarachchi said they…

Sri Lanka’s local elections are a major threat to the ruling class

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 admin

Sri Lanka’s local elections are a major threat to the ruling class (JAYADEVA UYANGODA | Feb 13, 2023) Sri Lankans entered 2023 with an unwelcome gift from the government – a new income tax policy. This was meant to bolster empty public coffers as the government tries to navigate the country’s economic crisis, but for ordinary people already facing difficulty on every front it was one more blow from the same ruling class that created the mess in the first place. Already, triggered by the new tax policy, protests against the government…

Issues in fully implementing 13A: Land powers

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 admin

Issues in fully implementing 13A: Land powers The Island 15–2-2023) By C. A. Chandraprema Many of those who call for the ‘full implementation of the 13th Amendment’ believe that all State land should be completely under the control of the provincial councils. The actual extent of the devolution of land powers would depend on the language used in the text of the 13th Amendment, and the interpretation given to that text by the Supreme Court which has exclusive jurisdiction in respect of Constitutional matters. Provisions with regard to land are to be…

Seized Indian trawlers gifted to northern fishermen

February 12, 2023February 12, 2023 admin

Seized Indian trawlers gifted to northern fishermen (Sunday Times 12-02-2023) Donation coincides with Indian fisheries minister’s visit to Jaffna High-powered Indian vessels to be used in sea patrols by fishermen By S. Rubatheesan Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda donated fishing boats seized from Tamil Nadu fishermen who were illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters to Sri Lankan fishermen moments after welcoming an Indian Union State Minister who arrived in Jaffna on Thursday for the opening of the Rs. 1.3 billion Cultural Centre, a gift by the Government of India. Five massive…

‘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…

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…