the swearing-in ceremony of President Maitripala Sirisena on 9 January 2015. One of the key concerns raised by this writer and thousands of observers in Sri Lanka and beyond is that of President Sirisena’s marge de manoeuvre as head of state, given the risk of being overshadowed by Chandrika Bandaranaike and more importantly perhaps, by Ranil Wickremesinghe.
If one goes by the symbolism of the swearing-in ceremony, an observer of Sri Lankan politics familiar with presidential systems could be left somewhat bemused.
. The Sirisena swearing in ceremony differed considerably from those of his other predecessors. When a new head of state is elected, the primary focus is on the president-elect. In the case of Mr Sirisena, however, the primary focus was very much a shared one, at least between himself and Ranil Wickremesinghe.
A number of logistical flaws in the swearing in ceremony may leave one questioning if they were caused by the constraints of hasty planning within a limited period of time, or rather deliberate steps taken to obliterate the overarching primacy of presidential authority. When the oath was read, for instance, there was no microphone facility for the new President.
Sri Lanka to investigate alleged coup attempt by former president
Maithripala Sirisena’s spokeman claims Mahinda Rajapaksa attempted to deploy army and police to stop counting of votes
Sri Lanka’s new government will investigate an alleged attempt by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to stage a coup to try to stay in power when results showed he was losing last week’s election, a spokesman for the country’s new leader said on Sunday.
A special investigation will be set up to probe the alleged coup soon after the new government is formed, said Mangala Samaraweera, the spokesman for president Maithripala Sirisena, who came to power after winning Thursday’s election.
“Some say this was a very peaceful transition. But that’s not the truth. People should know what happened behind the scenes,” Samaraweera told reporters.
Until a few weeks ago, Rajapaksa was widely expected to easily win his third term in office. But Sirisena – his former friend and health minister – defected from the ruling party in November, and gathered the support of other defecting lawmakers, opposition parties and many of Sri Lanka’s ethnic minorities, making the election a fierce political battle. Sirisena contested as the combined opposition candidate.
After conceding defeat, Rajapaksa left his office and the official presidential residence on Friday, saying he respected the people’s mandate.
Samaraweera, however, said on Sunday that Rajapaksa had made an attempt to deploy the army and police to stop the counting of votes when initial results showed he was heading for defeat.
He said Rajapaksa convened the chiefs of the police and the army, as well as the attorney general, at midnight on Thursday and asked them to come up with a plan to stop the vote-counting. Samaraweera said the three officials opposed the move.
Wijayananda Herat, Rajapaksa’s media secretary, rejected the accusation, saying Rajapaksa convened the police and army chiefs only to instruct them to enhance the country’s security.
Samaraweera said the new government’s first task would be “to probe this coup and reveal to the country what really took place.”
“People should know about the dangerous situation that existed and Rajapaksa’s coup to bury the country’s democracy,” he said.
Sirisena assumed his duties on Friday and the new government is expected to be formed on Monday, a day before Pope Francis arrives in the island nation for a much-anticipated visit.
Colombo forks voted for OUT the war heros was talking about the possibilities
1- who can command to stop another possible rise of Terrorism
2- who can command to protect the vast sea shore of the land
3- who can command intrutiosion from Tamil Nadu the good fronds of TNA.
4- will there b another accordi like that was done during Ranil and Chandrika time
5- where will such agree be published or will it be like done in the past all not for the public.
6- Is the majority accepting tail waging body concept for peace.?
sings on day two
tiger flags along trains tracks and Jaffna
Garden parks once pristine not even swept
what is better giving up land giving up privileged of the majority or giving up the loud call of few of corruption from figures take form the sky?or better to live with some corruption that is found all over with dignity of the majority and minority.
Did we call removal of Prabhakaran when is was robbing,killing,bombing,and more.Or was Prabhakaran not corrupt but a good man? that we all need.And that we must celebrate nov 265 the and not Mahinda or any.
Does the majority have any other land than this little island,Minority has plenty of little India,s all over he world !
One of the key concerns raised by this writer and thousands of observers in Sri Lanka and beyond is that of President Sirisena’s marge de manoeuvre as head of state, given the risk of being overshadowed by Chandrika Bandaranaike and more importantly perhaps, by Ranil Wickremesinghe.
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Sri Lanka's main opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena gestures as he leaves after casting his vote during the presidential elections at a polling station in Polonnaruwa, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. (Source: AP)
Written by Arun Janardhanan | Colombo | Posted: January 11, 2015 6:17 am | Updated: January 11, 2015 3:45 pm
A day after being sworn in as the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday began to negotiate and finalise his new cabinet, likely to be announced next week.
Unlike the previous government of Mahinda Rajapaksa which had a total of 67 ministers, sources close to Sirisena said he may limit his cabinet to 30 ministers.
The cabinet formation will be based on a criteria to fulfil his plans and reforms promised in the next 100 days, which includes major constitutional amendments, strong anti-corruption bills, war-foot measures in the energy sector and a number of long-pending settlements demanded by Tamil and Muslim minorities, who played a major role in his victory.
At present, a secretary to the President said, the United National Party (UNP) headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which had defected from the Rajapaksa government, are actively engaged in the negotiations.
Reliable sources confirm that the UNP is likely to get at least 15 portfolios while SLFP may garner seven or eight ministerial berths.
Sources add that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) may not be accepting a portfolio as they had earlier decided to support the government from outside while being ready to negotiate and work on issues.
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) or the National Heritage Party, the country’s main party representing Buddhist monks, may get two portfolios while two Muslim political parties — Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the largest Muslim party that switched allegiance to the opposition a few days before the election and the All Ceylon Muslim Congress — may gain one portfolio each.
Senior leaders of both Muslim political parties confirmed that they have been offered one portfolio each. “We are offered a portfolio but we are not part of the negotiations so far. We will wait for the government decision,” said a senior leader of the All Ceylon Muslim Congress.
Major negotiations will be on assigning key portfolios such as defence and finance, usually held by the President, and foreign affairs, port-shipping-aviation, highways, health and industry and commerce. The name of Mangala Munasinghe, a former foreign minister known to have close links with Chandrika Kumaratunga, is doing the rounds in the initial list of candidates for the foreign affairs ministry.
Two names being considered for the finance portfolio are that of Harsha de Silva, UNP MP and an economist who was loud in his protests against the economic policies of the Rajapaksa government; and Eran Wickramaratne MP, also a banker and an expert in corporate affairs.
Official sources denied reports of appointing Sarath Fonseka, former Lanka army chief, as defence secretary, a
post which was earlier handled by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, as he needs further clearances in terms of his civil rights. Fonseka had been imprisoned for nearly two years after he ran a campaign against President Rajapaksa in the 2010 elections. After his failed campaign, he was again sentenced to serve a three-year imprisonment for “military offences”.
Meanwhile, former captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team and an MP from Kalutara district, Arjuna Ranatunga, may be selected for the sports portfolio. Ranatunga was with Sirisena during the crucial stages of the election and he was seen standing next to the President and the Prime Minister during the swearing-in ceremony on Friday at the Independence Square in Colombo.
With the coalition partners angling for vital portfolios, a senior UNP leader said Prime Minister Wickramasinghe will be playing a major role in the selection of ministers as he will be heading the cabinet. “He will be handpicking people he wants with the consent of Sirisena,” he said.
