A report of the Finance Commission tabled in Parliament on Thursday revealed more than 75% of the money allocated to provincial councils was used for payment of personal emoluments such a salaries and wages, overtime and holiday payments and other allowances.

Assessment of provincial expenditure in respect of personal emoluments for 2009 represents an increase of Rs3,360 million amounting to approximately four per cent over provisions made for this purpose in 2008, the report said.  (Read More)

“The leaders of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the UNP are out of the country at present, but both will be back by Monday and will decide on a date to sign the agreement,” Attanayake said. “Although some have suggested 29 as a suitable date, the final decision on the date of signing will be made after this meeting,” he added.

Commenting on the issue of selecting a common candidate for the presidential election and the claim of Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganesan that he would not be a party to the proposed United National Alliance, if Gen. Sarath Fonseka is going to be its presidential candidate, the UNP General Secretary said the primary concern of the common front would be the Parliamentary elections early next year. (Read More)

The government said that this was an attempt to transform Sri Lanka’s successful war against LTTE terror to UPFA’s biggest liability in the eyes of voters in the run up to parliamentary polls by April next year.

But speculation is rife that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will call an early presidential election to take advantage of the destruction of the LTTE military machine. (Read More)

The UNP and its allies, including SLFP dissident Mangala Samaraweera agree with the JVP that a common front against executive presidency is possible though they may not agree on a range of other issues.

Light was shed on the opposition strategy last Thursday (October 22) when the JVP and UNP jointly offered a two-thirds majority required in Parliament to abolish the executive presidency.

Vijitha Herath, MP, and Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera urged the government to drop its plan to go for an early presidential election and introduce constitutional changes immediately to do away with the executive presidency. (Read More)

SLFP dissident Mangala Samaraweera, MP yesterday accused Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa of misleading the House while responding to a query regarding political advertisements on state-run Rupavahini and ITN raised by JVP MP Ranaweera Pathirana.

Yapa agreed that there were outstanding dues on account of campaign ads placed with state-owned television during previous elections and Samaraweera who placed those ads must pay.

The Matara District MP told The Sunday Island that as the campaign manager for the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at the last presidential election, he had to obtain the services of both television stations. He said that the UPFA should pay for advertisements now without seeking a way out of meeting its obligations. (Read More)

"There is no problem with regard to the symbol", UNA sources told the Sunday Island yesterday. "Even the Bell can be adopted if the JVP is in a position to demonstrate its ability to deliver a big block of votes."

Asked who would lead the Alliance, they said that it will be decided only after the next election is announced, be it Presidential or Parliamentary.

The UNA, which comprises of the UNP, SLMC, DPF and SLFP (M), is negotiating a broad coalition that would include the Tamil and Left parties, the sources said. (Read More)

On the other hand, some opposition parties are hell bent in finding a person who can be a common candidate of all opposition parties at the next Presidential Election. The main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP) seems not to field its own candidate. Again why? No one in the UNP would admit that his or her party is so weak or has so internal squabbles, that it cannot put forward a candidate. 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has consulted his ministers whether to hold the General Election of the Presidential Election first, according to newspaper reports.

In a talk show telecast on a private TV channel, Lanerolle had told Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Lionel Premasiri, that if the UNP fails to win the particular election in the Galle district, he would resign. Lanerolle handed over his resignation letter to Baddegama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Anura Narangoda.  (Read More)

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera, who seconded a motion by JVP MP Vijitha Herath calling for the abolition of the Executive presidency, said that executive powers were being abused.