Now, new governor, TNA on collision course over transfer of top officials

April 5, 2015, 10:19 pm 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A section of the four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Northern Province Governor H. M. G. S. Palihakkara are on a collision course over the latter deferring a series of transfers ordered by the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).

Well informed sources told The Island that one-time Foreign Secretary Palihakkara had intervened on behalf of the arbitrarily transferred Secretaries to ministries of the TNA-run NPC.

The affected officials have also brought the situation to the notice of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Responding to a query by The Island, Jaffna based sources accused Palihakkara of unwarranted interferences in NPC affairs. Sources alleged that the new Governor was following the policies of his predecessor, Maj. Gen. (retd) G.A. Chandrasiri. A section of the TNA has expressed strong displeasure at what Jaffna based sources called interference in spite of the Maithripala Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration promising a free hand for the NPC.

President Maithripala Sirisena replaced Chandrasiri with Palihakkara within weeks after winning the Jan.8 presidential poll. The TNA publicly welcomed the appointment. However, a hardline section of the Tamil Diaspora alleged that Palihakkara could be worse than the retired army officer.

The TNA comprises the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and former militant groups, the TELO, the PLOTE and the EPRLF.

The TNA won the first NPC poll in Sept 2013.

A spokesperson for the Governor’s Secretariat told The Island that Jaffna based Uthayan had accused the Governor of interfering in NPC last week. "The Governor’s Secretariat responded to Uthayan," the official said, adding that transfer of Ministry Secretaries was deferred in accordance with powers vested in the Governor.

Authoritative sources said that Governor had asserted in no uncertain terms that transfers couldn’t be carried out without adequate consultation and consideration of relevant matters. Sources pointed out that those who had been transferred as well as Chairman of the NOC, C. V. K. Sivagnanam expressed serious concern over indiscriminate transfers. Sources said that an agreement on transfers could be reached on the basis of recommendations made by the Board of Ministers following consultations among the concerned parties.

Responding to a query, sources said that in accordance with the Constitution, the Government had the authority to make such appointments.

The simmering dispute has taken a surprising turn with NPC Chairman C.V. K. Sivagnanam taking up the issue with Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. Sivagnanam has asserted that such arbitrary transfer of officials was unfair. The former public service officer has emphasised that transfers should be based on sound criterion.

Sources said that the TNA leadership, too, had been briefed of the situation at NPC, though the issue was yet to be resolved.

Taking up amended 19A on Wednesday a gross violation of the constitution - Prof. G. L. Peiris

Taking up amended 19A on Wednesday a gross violation of the constitution

- Prof. G. L. Peiris

April 5, 2015, 10:18 pm 

Former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday warned of dire consequences if the UNP was allowed to go ahead with the project to undermine the process to amend the Constitution.

Prof. Peiris issued the following statement to The Island yesterday: "The enactment of a Constitution, the highest law of the land, is the most sacred task which the country’s legislature can undertake.

It has the most far reaching consequences in all sectors of public life for generation to come.

This is why the constitution prescribes crystal clear procedures, fully protective of the public interest, for amending the constitution or enacting a new constitution.

One of the basic requirements insisted on by our country’s paramount law in this regard, is the absolute necessity for public participation and consultation.

Article 121(1) clearly requires that a bill for amending the constitution should be on the Order Paper of Parliament for one week, to enable the public to petition the Supreme Court and to canvas issues relating to the need for a referendum. "The Bill" obviously means the up to date, current version of the legislation which parliament is asked to adopt, certainly not a historical, outdated, previous draft which has been rendered irrelevant by subsequent developments.

On Tuesday 4th March, the Prime Minister presented to Parliament the Nineteenth Amendment to the constitution,published in the gazette Part II of March 13., Supplement,

issued on 16th March. The Gazette containing the Nineteenth Amendment was placed on the tables of all Members of Parliament and published extensively in the print media in all three languages for the information of the public.

The period available for petitions addressed to the Supreme Court by the public come to an end, seven days later on Tuesday 31st March. The Supreme Court began hearing counsel supporting 16 petitions which had been filed, the very next day, Wednesday 1st April.

While the hearing by the three Judge bench was in progress, the Attorney-General made available to Counsel a 12 page document containing a series of substantive amendments which cumulatively, changed in fundamental respects the character of the proposed Nineteenth Amendment, published in the Gazette and presented in parliament during the previous week. In particular, the constitutional roles of the President and the Prime Minister were drastically altered by the amendments submitted during the court hearing.

This is a cynical violation of mandatory constitutional rights. Our requires that the current content of the Bill, Incorporating the amendments handed out in Court, should be presented a fresh in Parliament and published in a new Gazette. This is for the purpose of providing the opportunity for members of the public, who object to the new changes, to submit petitions invoking the constitutional jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, as they are legally entitled to do. This right, guaranteed to the public by the law, cannot be denied by committee stage amendments on which the pubic have no opportunity whatever to express their views.

Any attempt, therefore to take up for debate on Wednesday 8th April, any Bill other than the Bill, in the form in which it was published in the Gazette and presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister, on 24th March, is a gross violation of the constitution of Sri Lanka.

Governor regrets erroneous report

Governor regrets erroneous report

The Northern Province Governor's Secretariat has been drawn to a speculative and erroneous media report about the deferral of transfers of some senior officials in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).

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Ceylontoday, 2015-04-06 02:00:00

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Governor regrets erroneous report

The Northern Province Governor's Secretariat has been drawn to a speculative and erroneous media report about the deferral of transfers of some senior officials in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).

The statement released by the Northern Province Governor's office is as follows: "The said transfers were deferred by the Governor in order to give time for review and consultation on this matter as it was pointed out that these transfers were done without adequate consultation and consideration of all aspects.

There were concerns voiced in this regard by the concerned parties including the Chairman of the Council.
Once the review and consultation have been completed among the parties concerned and agreed recommendations are made by the Board of Ministers, the necessary transfers will be effected facilitating a harmonious working environment.
It is absolutely baseless and misleading to suggest that the Governor is illegally interfering in NPC affairs in this instance because the Governor is the legally mandated authority for making such appointments. The Governor's efforts were in fact aimed at facilitating consensual decisions on this matter within the NPC.

(PA)

If 19A fails to secure 2/3 majority UNP to push for immediate dissolution! Rasika Jayakody

If 19A fails to secure 2/3 majority

UNP to push for immediate dissolution!

Rasika Jayakody

If the 19th Amendment failed to secure a two thirds majority in Parliament, the United National Party would push for immediate dissolution of Parliament as it is the last resort, a senior Parliamentarian of the UNP told the Daily News yesterday.

The 19th Amendment will be taken for debate in Parliament on April 9 and 10 following the recommendations of the Supreme Court.

Parliament is likely to vote on the constitutional Amendment on April 10. However, the SLFP and the JHU have stated that they would present several key changes to the proposed constitutional amendment. Speaking to the Daily News, UNP General Secretary Minister Kabir Hashim said the UNP would try its best to proceed with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution as the new government had a mandate for the process.

"It is up to the SLFP and the JHU to decide whether they should respect the people's mandate or not. Our duty is to present the 19th Amendment and push for much needed constitutional changes. Those who want to stand in the way of this process should realise that they are going against the people's mandate," Minister Hashim said.

"The people wanted constitutional amendments. They voted for that. If the process does not happen, the people will give their verdict at the Parliamentary election," the minister said.

A section of the SLFP and the JHU are expecting to move amendments to the 19th Amendment, especially on its provisions with regard to presidential powers. The JHU said the constitutional amendment, which was presented to Parliament by the government, allowed the Prime Minister to 'usurp' the powers of the President.

JHU General Secretary Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who is also a stakeholder of the present government, made several public statements threatening to defeat the 19th Amendment if the UNP attempted to pass it in Parliament without amendments.

Ranawaka yesterday told the media that he had the support of the MPs of the SLFP.

Meanwhile, the SLFP is pushing for simultaneous electoral reforms along with the 19th Amendment.

The SLFP is of the view that in the absence of electoral reforms, the abolition of the Executive Presidency will lead to political instability.

"Look at all the elections that took place under the present electoral system. Over the past 30 years, the government received a clear majority only on two occasions (1989 and 2010). It was the Executive Presidency that ensured political stability when Parliament was not stable. So, if you abolish Executive Presidency, there should be strong measures to ensure political stability. That is why the SLFP is pushing for simultaneous electoral reforms," Rural Economic Affairs Minister and SLFP Vice Chairman S.B. Dissanayake told the Daily News. 

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SLFP firm on Presidential powers

By adminApril 6, 2015 16:26

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) today insisted that its stand on the Presidential powers remains the same and that it wants excessive powers in the hands of the President to be reduced.

Opposition leader and SLFP member Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the SLFP backs the reduction of a President’s term to five years and for a President to be able to contest for a maximum of two terms.

He said the SLFP also backs the proposal to limit the cabinet to not more than 30 Ministers.

“The SLFP will give its fullest support for this,” he said.

However he accused the United National Party (UNP) and bringing fresh amendments to the bill which were not part of the gazette which was tabled in Parliament.

Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the SLFP will not agree to the changes and will also look to ensure the 100 Day programme of President Maithripala Sirisena is fulfilled. (Colombo Gazette)

More elected SLFPers to defy party ban and attend rally in Ratnapura March 25, 2015, 10:27 pm

 

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More elected SLFPers to defy party ban and attend rally in Ratnapura

March 25, 2015, 10:27 pm 

By Dasun Edirisinghe

More than 20 SLFP Parliamentarians would attend the third rally demanding that former President Rajapaksa be made the UPFA prime ministerial candidate, under the theme, ‘The country is in danger and prepare to face the challenge!’ organised by UPFA allies MEP, NFF, DLF and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya at the Ratnapura Sivali grounds today, UPFA Ratnapura District MP Ranjith Zoysa said yesterday.

Zoysa flanked by Ratnapura District MP Janaka Wakkumbura, Colombo District MP Gamini Lokuge, Polonnaruwa District MP Roshan Ranasinghe and several other provincial council and local government members representing the Ratnapura District , said they would definitely bring back former President Mahinda Rajapska at the next general election as the prime ministerial candidate of the UPFA.

The main purpose of today’s rally was to demand that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa be nominated as Prime Ministerial candidate of the UPFA at the forthcoming general election.

MEP Dinesh Gunawardena MP, National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa MP, Democratic Left Front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara MP and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila will address the rally.

Organisers expect tens of thousands of people who voted for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the January 08 presidential election to attend the rally today.

The first in the series of rallies was held on Feb. 18 at Nugegoda and second was at Kandy on March 06.

The SLFP Central Committee has banned its elected members from attending rallies organised by other parties in the alliance, but Kandy District MP Dilum Amunugama, Kurunegala District MP Salinda Dissanayake, 86 UPFA Provincial Councilors and local government members attended the Kandy rally defying the ban.

It said that arrangements had been made to live stream the rally at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=61DNW8gtBuc and https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2jHaiMsE5o.

Petition to appoint Dinesh G. as Opp. Leader To be handed over to Speaker

Petition to appoint Dinesh G. as Opp. Leader To be handed over to Speaker

Former Minister of Cultural Affairs and Member of Parliament for Kurunegala District T.B. Ekanayake told that a document signed by parliamentarians is due to be handed over to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa requesting that Dinesh Gunawardena be appointed as the Opposition Leader in Parliament.

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Ceylontoday, 2015-03-26 02:01:00

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Petition to appoint Dinesh G. as Opp. Leader To be handed over to Speaker

By W.K. Prasad Manju

Former Minister of Cultural Affairs and Member of Parliament for Kurunegala District T.B. Ekanayake told that a document signed by parliamentarians is due to be handed over to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa requesting that Dinesh Gunawardena be appointed as the Opposition Leader in Parliament.

Subsequent to a group of parliamentarians of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) joining the government, he said, Nimal Siripala De Silva has no ethical right to remain further in the position of Opposition Leader in Parliament. Ekanayake also pointed out that more than 50 parliamentarians of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party have decided that Dinesh Gunawardena should be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition.

Parliamentarian Ekanayake said further that a number of members of Parliament... .have already signed the document to be submitted to the Speaker and action will be taken to hand it over to him, as soon as signing of the document is complete.
Several leaders of political parties in the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have already requested the Speaker that MP Dinesh Gunawardena be appointed as the Opposition Leader, instead of Nimal Siripala De Silva.

Even the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has requested the Speaker to appoint someone from a political party representing the Opposition to the post of Opposition Leader in place of Nimal Siripala De Silva.