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Sajith only for elected post |
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2010-05-05 |
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UNP MP Sajith Premadasa says that he will consider accepting any position within the UNP only if he is elected through an internal party election. Premadasa has also dismissed reports that he has been offered a deputy leader’s position by the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“I haven’t being offered the deputy leaders position of the party unlike the stories that are doing its rounds,” Premadasa said. (Read More) |
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President violates Constitution by allocating funds outside Budget, VoA - UNP |
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2010-05-05 |
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The Opposition yesterday brought to the notice of the Speaker that the President was violating the Constitution by allocating funds to ministries without presenting a Vote on Account or a Budget.Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said that he would look into the matter and inform the House, at a later date, his views on the issue. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the House could debate the fiscal responsibility of parliament on Thursday (6). Kurunegala District UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara: The supremacy of Parliament has deteriorated. The Constitution has given Parliament all powers of fiscal responsibility. According to section 150 (3) of the Constitution, the President has no power to allocate funds to ministries. (Read More) |
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MR to reprimand MP's |
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2010-05-04 |
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to reprimand all eight UPFA members elected from the Kandy District following a recommendation by the disciplinary committee appointed to look into incidents that took place during the General election.
Informed sources said that the report, which was handed over to the President by the Committee members today, will summon all the Kandy MPs who contested from the UPFA to Temple Trees.
The President made this call after studying the report which was handed over to him by the disciplinary committee.
“The disciplinary committee handed over their report to the President at Temple Trees in which the committee has suggested that all eight members elected from the Kandy District should be summoned before the President and reprimanded,” sources said. (Read More)
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UNF will push for COPE, PAC chairmanship today - John Pursue UNF' s April 21, letter to Speaker |
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2010-05-04 |
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The United National Front (UNF) is to push for the Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) today, after the scheduled appointment of the various parliamentary committees. Chief Opposition Whip John Ameratunga told The Island yesterday that the UNF will follow up on its written request, to the Speaker, of April 21, 2010, for the chairmanship of COPE and PAC and not to give such positions to any ministers, at today’s scheduled meeting to establish the House Committees. (Read More) |
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Electronic voting system to be introduced soon - Dinesh |
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2010-05-04 |
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The Government is likely to introduce the Electronic Voting System to Sri Lanka in the near future, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene disclosed in Kandy yesterday (03). The Electronic voting system is a panacea for many problems connected with elections, Gunawardene said. Electronic voting, apart from being a simple voting procedure, eradicates corruption and reduces delays in releasing results, the Minister said adding that the system was successfully implemented in countries such as India and Bangladesh. Minister Gunawardene addressing the media after calling on the Mahanayakes of Malwatte and Asgiriya said that the Parliamentary Election held recently was the most peaceful and corruption free election. It was the result of making the National Identity Card compulsory for the voter. (Read More) |
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Minority parties concerned over new rules for local poll |
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2010-05-03 |
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Minority parties have expressed concern over Government moves to conduct local government elections under the earlier ward system since they feel that their chances of representation could be minimal. According to Sri Lanka Muslim Congress sources, the reintroduction of the earlier ward system would benefit only the two major political parties. The matter will be discussed in detail by all minor political parties and the Government will be pressured to do away with the reintroduction of the ward system, sources said. The source recalled that the opposition voiced its concerns at the Tissa Vitharana committee when it suggested that the earlier ward system be reintroduced for local government elections. All representatives of minority parties in the Tissa Vitharana committee voiced their opposition and suggested that an alternative system comprising both first past the post and a proportional representative system be introduced. The SLMC source said that the SLFP General secretary and several ministers had earlier suggested doing away with the PR system in local government elections.  |
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Post Election Sri Lanka and the road ahead |
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2010-05-03 |
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However, an emergence of a new political culture in which unity and harmony instead of division and conflict are emphasized is essential for it to be successful. Time has come for Sri Lanka’s political leaders to put the country first instead of their narrow political interests. They need to abandon ethnic and political differences and work together for the well- being of the people of Sri Lanka and usher a bright future for them. In that context, it is heartening to note that President Rajapaksa has already taken the initiative by calling the people to shed their differences and rally behind him so that the new Government could take on the gigantic task of rebuilding the country devastated by three decades of war and conflict. In the same token, it is important that the Government also treat the opposition with respect and be open to their constructive criticisms. Even though the Opposition has significantly weakened after the election, the key role of the Opposition in a democracy has to be recognized. The decision of the Government to allow DNA Leader General Sarath Fonseka’s entry into the Parliament is a correct step in that direction. (Read More) |
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Sajith proposes internal election in the UNP |
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2010-04-30 |
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UNP’s Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa has proposed an internal election among all party members to elect suitable people for all senior posts in the party at national level, informed sources said yesterday. He had made this proposal when he met party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe together with Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunge and Kegalle District MP Kabir Hashim at Cambridge Terrace yesterday. They had also discussed on how to change the partry’s vision to make it appealing to the common man. Several members including Mr. Amaratunge and Mr. Hashim had been given the task of preparing a concept paper to reform the party. All the proposals that have been discussed at yesterday’s meeting are to be included in the concept paper and to be presented at the Working Committee meeting of the party which is to be held soon. (Read More) |
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MENIKE commends polls chief, police on free, fair polls |
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2010-04-30 |
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The Centre for Monitoring Free and Fair Elections and Democratic Rights said the strict enforcement of election laws, regulations and guidelines, by the Elections Commissioner and the Police, had helped make the April 8 parliamentary polls free and fair. MENIKE Chairman Chandrasiri de Silva, in his interim report on the Parliamentary General Election 2010, commended the Elections Commissioner for his decision to to annul the polling in 37 booths in the Nawalapitiya Electoral Division and the Kumburupiddy booth in the Trincomalee polling division. |
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Navalapitiya violence: Probe team questions 15 UPFA candidates |
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2010-04-30 |
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The Disciplinary Committee of the SLFP, chaired by People’s Bank Chairman W. Karunajeewa, has recorded the statements of the 15 UPFA candidates who contested from the Kandy District at the Parliamentary Elections on April 8, where the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake was forced to annul the voting at 37 booths in the Nawalapitiya Electorate due to election malpractices. The re-polls in these 37 election booths in the Nawalapitiya electorate was held on April 22 and the preferential vote count of the Kandy District was only then announced with UPFA Mahindananda Aluthgamage polling the highest number of votes. He is alleged to be the main culprit behind the annulment of the Nawalapitiya Electorate voting. (Read More)
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