Although there is talk in the political arena about the Local Government elections these days, the people do not care about it. With the announcement that the United National Party (UNP) is contesting with the Lotus Bud (Pohottuwa), many people started asking the President about this.
Then the President who gave a harsh answer said, “Don’t ask me about that. I am keeping away from the election as I have better work to do. The economy is going through a hard time. If it is not resolved, we all will sink.”
There was a discussion about the election in the Cabinet meeting held on Monday. Many of them asked about the functioning of the Election Commission. “Sir, we are not saying this because we are afraid of the election. But there are problems with the way the Election Commission works. If this goes on, hopes for the Election Commission will be dashed.” This is how Minister Prasanna presented his question.
Then Minister Manusha Nanayakkara also argued, “The Election Commission has not done any preliminary work related to the election. Although the Attorney General asked to consult about the existing issues, as far as I know, it has not been done yet.”
“No, when they met me, they said they would consult the Attorney General.” President Ranil Wickremesinghe stood by the Commission.
Minister Bandula Gunawardena said, “Sir, the people are not asking for an election. Political parties that demand for an election also genuinely do not want to conduct an election.”
One of the Government officers who was there raised a legal point and said, “Without doing pre-election work and consulting the Attorney General, accepting deposits by the Returning Officers is illegal.”
After discussing it at length, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to inform the District Returning Officers not to accept deposits until the Attorney General is consulted. That decision was referred to the District Secretaries by the Public Administration Ministry Secretary. Later, with reports that the Attorney General was consulted, the letter was recalled by the Public Administration Ministry Secretary.
False story
President Ranil Wickremesinghe asked his Secretary Saman Ekanayake about a media report that morning. Those are media reports that the forest cover in the country has decreased to 16 percent. He had immediately inquired about this from the Conservator General of Forests and he had said that it was a completely false story. The President’s Secretary had reported to the President the data that he said was 29.5 percent.
President Wickremesinghe issued a message through the embassy condemning the anti-democratic struggle in Brazil, recalling the political struggle in Sri Lanka. Apart from that, there was a special discussion about the Independence Day celebration in which a group of officials including State Minister of Defence Pramita Bandara Tennakoon, State Minister of Home Affairs Ashoka Priyantha, Director Information Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne and Director General of President’s Media Division Dhanushka Ramanayake participated.
Independence Day
Discussions were held about the Independence Day celebration and the Director, Information inquired about the cost of this. State Minister Ashoka Priyantha, who replied, said that even though there was some cost involved, this would help the tourist attraction. The President also recalled that due to the Christmas celebrations, London has nominated Sri Lanka a suitable country to visit since next month.
The President explained the Government’s new reformist program that will start in connection with the 75th Independence Day and the decision to establish a Government policy that will remain unchanged until the 100th Independence Day in 2048. In addition, the plan for the next 25 years is also to be implemented in conjunction with the National Independence Day.
Busy day
Wednesday was a very busy day for the President. In the morning he met and discussed with US National Security Council’s Senior Director for South Asia Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher. Chief of Staff of the President Sagala Ratnayake, Director of International Affairs Dinouk Colombage were also present. A business group including Japanese State Minister of the Cabinet Office Satoshi Fujimaru met the President that afternoon and discussed at length new investment opportunities between the two countries.
That evening, the President went to the Kingsbury Hotel to participate in the Women Entrepreneurs Appreciation Ceremony of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Discussions at the Finance Ministry
A group of Ministers came to the Ministry of Finance on Thursday morning to discuss the future actions of the Government and they also worked to inform the President about the work of the Election Commission. The President spent the day at the Ministry of Finance, its officials also participated in these discussions.
The Ministers also inquired from the Finance Ministry officials about meeting the Chairman of the Election Commission and the Commissioner General. Their answer was that they informed the Election Commission about the existing economic difficulties.
Problematic situation
They told the Ministers that they were informed that the payment of Samurdhi payments is in a problematic situation as well as the payment of public employee wages and again that the maintenance of 8,000 Local Government members is also a problem.
Meanwhile, an official there informed the ruling party MPs that the Inspector General of Police had also met the Chairman and Commissioner General of the Election Commission. It was revealed that the Inspector General of Police requested the Election Commission to provide the allowances for Police duties in the last General Election as they have not yet received them.
EC Chairman’s conduct under fire
Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga informed the President about a news item published in the websites. He had investigated the truth and falsity of that news.
“When the Chairman of the Election Commission was asked to meet the Attorney General and get advice, he met President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris and got advice,” Minister Prasanna said.
“I also heard about it. That is totally wrong. He can’t do that. The Chairman has told the Commission that because he said that he could not appear in the Attorney General’s court cases, that is why he is meeting Saliya Peiris. I also checked this. But the Attorney General has said that only one case can’t be done in other cases.”
MP Wajira Abeywardena said, “This is a wrong precedent. I also received many complaints about this.” Then State Minister Dilum Amunugama joined the conversation.
The President told them that he would look into this. Meanwhile, MP Milan Jayathilaka, who contacted Minister Prasanna Ranatunga’s phone, called the President and asked for an investigation into this matter.
Ten kilos of rice
The President told the Ministers that in March and April, two million low-income families will be given 10 kilos of rice per month for two months. The President also told the Ministers that he will take measures to keep the price of rice from falling below Rs. 100.
“The Government gave fertiliser. At present there are no queues. A guaranteed price was given for paddy. The people now have to vote only for the ruling party group,” When Minister Bandula Gunawardana spoke, everyone nodded and smiled.
“But sir, if we go to an election, all this will end, right? The World Bank has now said that if the economy continues to be managed in this way, next year’s economic growth will be positive. If we go to an election, all this will be disrupted,” MP Wajira Abeywardena said.
“Call the Secretary of the Election Commission, Ministry of Public Administration and ask him about the letter he sent to the election officials asking them not to accept the deposits. Can you do that?” MP Sahan Pradeep asked.
“Unless the Secretary goes voluntarily, the Election Commission has no power to call an officer and question him,” a legal officer who was there said.
President in Jaffna
President Ranil Wickremesinghe left for Jaffna yesterday to participate in the Thai Pongal festival. Two ceremonies are scheduled to be held in Jaffna today’s morning and afternoon.
LG elections
Several rounds of discussions were held between the United National Party (UNP) and other parties on whether to contest the Local Government elections alone or together with the parties.
Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardena, UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena, General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara were present. The first round of negotiations was held with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and discussions with several other parties are to be held in the future. UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijayawardena joined the Ponnambalam Ramanathan Commemoration as the Chief Guest last Monday evening following a request made by D.M. Swaminathan.
SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam said the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP) have decided to work in unison in all possible ways in the future, on behalf of the country. Speaking to the Media after placing the bonds for the 13 Local Government Bodies in the Colombo District on Monday, Kariyawasam said the UNP and the SLPP would hold several more rounds of discussions at district level before arriving at a final decision on contesting the Local Government (LG) Elections together.
He said the possibility of working together at the LG Elections was discussed at the meeting between the SLPP and the UNP last Sunday. He expressed his confidence that the SLPP would overcome all challenges and emerge victorious at the upcoming LG Elections.
Kariyawasam said, “Even though we are subjected to heavy criticism in social media, the wise people are always with us. We are very much in the hearts of the people and not in the social media.” He said that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would actively participate in the election campaign for the victory of the SLPP.
“No vision”
Anuradhapura district SJB MP Rohana Bandara said the National People’s Power (NPP) which intends to contest the upcoming election under the compass symbol does not have a new vision but was the same force which did politics from the jungles in the past.
He said that the group that has come to power against the will of the people is afraid to hold elections and added that the Election Commission should be given the freedom to conduct elections democratically.
At a recent press conference at Anuradhapura, he said that the Local Government election is the first step to create a Government that can win over the international community by expelling the anti-people leaders. He said that even though the National People’s Power is also up and running, it is not a group with a new vision, but the same people that haunted the jungles in the past. He said that people do not respect the old compass in a world guided by GPS technology.
“Confident of winning”
Former Minister and Kurunegala District SLPP Leader Johnston Fernando said that his party was confident of winning the forthcoming Local Government (LG) polls. After placing deposits for the SLPP for the Kurunegala District, MP Fernando said: “We are confident that as a party we will emerge victorious in the upcoming election. The intelligent people of this country are with us.” He said “Before placing the deposits, we participated in religious observances at the Bauddhaloka Vihara in Kurunegala and received the blessings of the Maha Sangha. We are already up ahead in this campaign.
“Some parties are not even ready with their nomination lists. They are not even ready for the elections, but demand elections. This shows their duplicity,” Fernando said.
“The media asks us whether we have problems in working with Ranil Wickremesinghe. How could that be a problem? It is we who elected him the President. He is our President, so why would it be a problem for us to work with him? Sajith Premadasa and others did not come forward when the post and responsibility were offered to them. Only Ranil Wickremesinghe accepted the challenge.”
He said, “Our Leader is former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. We have not changed that.” Asked to comment on the JVP’s growing popularity, MP Fernando said that the JVP would not be up to the task of saving this nation from the prevailing crisis.
“Will contest together”
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said the UNP and the SLPP will contest together for the upcoming Local Government Election.
Bandara said this following a discussion in Colombo last Sunday between the high level officials of the two parties. He said that the two parties will contest together for some Local Government institutions under the elephant symbol and for some institutions under the SLPP symbol and for some others under a common symbol. Range Bandara said that it will be decided in a discussion to be held regarding the LG bodies for which the two parties will contest under a common symbol and the symbol of the two parties.
On behalf of the United National Party, Ruwan Wijewardene, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Wajira Abeywardena, Sagala Ratnayake, Palitha Range Bandara and Ravi Karunanayake had joined the talks and the SLPP was represented by Basil Rajapaksa, Sagara Kariyawasam, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Johnston Fernando and Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s 104th birth anniversary
The two groups of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), representing former SLFP Chairman Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and incumbent SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena, had organised two separate events to mark the 104th birth anniversary of late Prime Minister and SLFP founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike last Sunday.
The event organised by Kumaratunga led the group seeing the participation of several notable political figures including Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris.
The event organised by the group representing former President Kumaratunga was held near the Bandaranaike Statue at the Galle Face Green, Colombo.
The event organised by the group representing former President Sirisena was held at the SLFP Headquarters, Darley road, Colombo which was attended by SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, SLFP Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa and several other SLFP seniors.
Former President Kumaratunga and Sunethra Bandaranaike, Prof.Peiris, Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera, State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Jagath Pushpakumara, Parliamentarians Kumara Welgama, Duminda Dissanayake, Chandima Weerakkody and former MPs Jeevan Kumaratunga and Pandu Bandaranaike attended the event at the Galle Face Green.
Those who attended the event including former President Kumaratunga and her sister Sunethra Bandaranaike, Premier Gunawardena, Prof. Peiris and other Ministers and parliamentarians were seen paying floral tributes to the Bandaranaike Statue, after which Premier Gunawardena was seen having a friendly conservation with former President Kumaratunga and leaving the event.