An unofficial SAARC Summit was held in Colombo last week as a large number of Ministers from the South Asian region came to Sri Lanka to attend the 75th Independence Day celebrations.
State Leaders and delegates of many other countries also graced the occasion. On the invitation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Ministers and State Ministers of South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives participated in the event. Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland also arrived in Sri Lanka to participate in the Independence Day celebrations.
The President met the Ministers of the South Asian region who arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday. During the meeting, they discussed further strengthening bilateral relationships between the countries and the issues faced by the region.
President Wickremesinghe had several bilateral meetings and group meetings with the Ministers.
After the meetings, the President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka said, “Sir, somehow you had an unofficial SAARC Summit.” Then President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake said, “Yes, all Ministers and State Ministers of SAARC countries have come.”
Busy schedule
The 75th Independence Day celebrations were held at the Galle Face Green in a solemn and dignified manner. When the VIP vehicles reached the venue, all were keen on a VIP who came to the venue by an ordinary car. When the vehicle stopped in front of the VIP stage, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake got down, astonishing the guests who were there.
The first few days of the past week were very busy for the President due to Independence Day celebrations and the Throne speech. Last Sunday, the President received a bus gifted by the Indian Government. Later, the President also received the vehicles given to the Police by the Japanese Government at the Presidential Secretariat premises. In the evening, the President went to Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple to place the sacred relic casket on the Majestic Tusker. Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also been invited for the occasion and seating arrangements had been made together for both ex-President and incumbent President. That paved the way for them to talk about political matters and other issues.
Former Secretary General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Ban Ki-moon arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday. Ban Ki-moon who visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe signed several agreements related to sustainable development in Sri Lanka and climate change.
Extensive discussions were also held between two parties on a green economy. Senior Advisor to the President on climate change Ruwan Wijewardene and his staff had made a praiseworthy effort and coordinated with the GGGI to invite its Chairman to visit Sri Lanka.
Following the signing of several agreements with the Environment Ministry, Ban Ki-moon who called on President Wickremesinghe, recalled the occasions he visited Sri Lanka as the then UN Secretary General. He told the President that South Korea will help Sri Lanka to get rid of the current economic crisis. At the end of the discussion, Ban Ki-moon also gave an assurance to President Wickremesinghe by saying that he is the capable leader who can rescue the country from the current economic crisis.
President Wickremesinghe met the Ambassadors of African countries on Tuesday. The President gave them a message that all should join hands to overcome the crisis situations as the economic issues faced by many countries in the African region and Sri Lanka are similar.
The President came to Parliament on Wednesday to deliver the Throne speech at the ceremonial sitting of the fourth session of the ninth Parliament. He had to educate the people on the current economic situation of the country. The President also addressed the nation on Independence Day night.
He presented the Government’s Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the National People’s Power (NPP) boycotted the President’s Policy statement while the group of SLPP MPs who have become independent in Parliament walked out of the Chamber chanting various slogans.
After the President concluded his speech, he along with the invited guests went to the Parliament cafeteria for the tea party. Then lots of guests asked the President how he makes these kinds of unpopular decisions. Some of the Ambassadors who attended the ceremony had told the President that it is not good for the President’s future political career.
Then the President said, “I always spoke the bitter truth. I always took over the country in difficult times. I always got defeated because I spoke the truth. Now I have a two-and-a-half-year tenure to rule the country. My responsibility is to speak the truth and do the right thing on behalf of the country. Sometimes, it may become very unpleasant. In the future, all will say what I did was right.”
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the MPs who were there, “When the President comes to Parliament to deliver his Policy Statement, some Opposition MPs can’t make their presence in the House to listen to it. However, they can come to Parliament and join the debate. I am ashamed of this political culture.”
SLPP Parliamentarian Madura Vithanage said, “When the President came to Parliament to deliver the Throne speech; they hooted and disturbed it, giving a wrong message to the world of our Parliament. The Ambassadors were also at the VIP gallery at that time.”
SLPP MP Premanath C. Dolawatta said the people have lost their confidence in our parliamentary system due to these unruly acts.
MP Wajira Abeywardena said, “Those who launched ‘Viyath Maga’ and put the former President into trouble are now attempting to become good people. They should be held responsible for all the problems created in the country today.”
The President told an official that a group of bhikkhus have engaged in a demonstration at Parliament road. The Police officers who were there told President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake that those Buddhist monks wish to meet an official of the Presidential Secretariat and hand over a letter.
Then he immediately sent a Parliament officer to the place. MP Wajira Abeywardena who first saw the letter said that it was the same old letter issued by the Chief Prelates of three Chapters. The bhikkhus who were at the demonstrations had also given the same letter issued by the Chief Prelates. Minister Bandula Gunawardena said, “When the Mahanayaka Theras introduced the Buddhist Temporalities Act, these Buddhist monks who vehemently opposed it now protest against the 13th Amendment along with a letter issued by the Mahanayake Theras.”
The President in his Throne speech clearly said that he will not give Police powers. At that time MP Mano Ganesan who met President Wickremesinghe welcomed the statement the President made in Parliament. He said, “We are proud of you because whatever the challenges, you always maintain one firm policy.”
The issue of the professionals’ protest launched due to the increase of taxes also turned into a key topic. MP Milan Jayathilaka inquired about the increase of the tax burden. To which State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said, “We will make certain changes on the system of charging taxes.”
Election Commission
Prof. Ashu Marasinghe who gave a telephone call to the President on Thursday morning informed him about a letter handed over to the Speaker by a group of Government backbenchers requesting to look into the role of the Election Commission.
The President had replied, “The Speaker will give a reply to that and we can’t do anything regarding that.”
The President who met the Finance Ministry officials on Thursday gave them instructions to restrict the Government expenses as much as possible and maintain the economy. The President didn’t forget to thank the Central Bank Governor and Finance Ministry officials who had committed to increase the Dollar reserves from US$ 200 million to US$ 2 billion.
UNP headquarters ‘Sirikotha’ has turned into a busy place these days due to daily meetings regarding the upcoming Local Government elections. UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, National Organiser Sagala Ratnayaka and Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam summon their candidates and instruct them how to conduct their election campaign.
The President was deeply shocked and regretted once he came to know about the earthquake in Turkey. He immediately informed the Turkey Embassy here to inform their Government that we have the ability to send our soldiers for their rescue missions. Then the President told those who were with him that it was the Turkish Government which first helped Sri Lanka when we faced the tsunami catastrophe in 2004. They built a new village for us which was destroyed by the tsunami.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) decided to boycott the President’s Throne speech following a meeting of its parliamentary group.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said, “This is not the time to deliver Throne speeches entertaining jokes to the people. When the country is in a deep crisis, there is no use of making Throne speeches.”
The Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said, “Yes, I am of the view that we should boycott Parliament.” The views of other MPs were also obtained and they all said they should boycott the President’s Throne speech.
The Opposition Leader made use of the entirety of last week to attend public rallies. He covered all electorates in the Badulla district and continuously participated in campaign meetings. He was pleased as a large number of people had attended those meetings and it gave a new dimension to their election campaign.
Addressing the Mahiyanganaya rally, the Opposition Leader said he decided to boycott the President’s Throne speech as a protest to the continuous pressure they exerted on the people.
He said that a massive crowd will come to Colombo shortly to protest against the current administration which destroys the livelihood of the people. The Opposition Leader requested the people to join hands to oust the ‘Ali-Pohottu’ Government.
Taken ill suddenly
However, the Opposition Leader couldn’t attend the rally organised by MP Vadivel Suresh as he got ill suddenly on his way to the rally. Over 8000 people had attended Vadivel’s rally and Opposition Leader Premadasa somehow wanted to attend it.
However, the doctors had advised him to take rest at least for a couple of hours as his illness had turned to worse. Vadivel Suresh who had organised a massive rally was not aware of the Opposition Leader’s sudden illness. He was disappointed over the Opposition Leader not attending his rally. Then he told the media that he will resign. A few minutes later, he came to know about what had really happened. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and a group of party seniors spoke to Vadivel and made him understand the correct situation.
Court ruling
The SJB was anxiously waiting until the court ruling on the LG elections was given. SJB MPs and their supporters were jubilant after the court ruling on the LG elections was given. The Supreme Court granted permission to the Election Commission to conduct the LG elections as planned.Opposition Leader Premadasa said, “When certain sections deliberately attempt to postpone the election we directly appear for conducting the election.”
SJB General Secretary Madduma Banda said, “We didn’t ask for an election yesterday or today. We have been asking for an election since the day we knew the way this Government conducts itself was wrong.
MP Nalin Bandara said, “When our leader asked for an election at that time, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said his brain should be tested. Having said so, a couple of months later, Anura Kumara Dissanayake also asked for an election.” MP S.M. Marikkar said, “Some of those who engage in deals with the President are now levelling baseless allegations against us. However, we will never engage in such petty deals.”
MP Gayantha Karunatilleke said, “We have never canvassed for the victory of Rajapaksas. But a lot of those who attempt to become saints today tirelessly canvassed for the Rajapaksas those days.”
Following the Supreme Court ruling on the LG elections, the SJB decided to commence its election campaign with a new dimension.
SJB mayoral candidate Mujibur Rahman said, “Everybody would be able to see how these bogus trends created by certain sections are washed away. We will achieve a landslide victory at the upcoming polls.”
Former State Minister and head of the SJB election campaign for the LG polls, Sujeeva Senasinghe in a scathing attack against the NPP said, although the NPP leaders who shout hoarse on election platforms that they will manage the country’s economy properly if elected, their track record shows that they cannot even manage a small consumer goods outlet properly. He was speaking at a SJB political rally at Kalutara.
He said the NPP leaders are good at boasting, but they cannot match their words with deeds. He urged the people not to get misled again by NPP rhetoric. Meanwhile, SJB Leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa addressing the rally charged that the so-called revolutionists will distance Sri Lanka from the world community if it comes to power. He said the need of the hour is to talk to the international community supporting Sri Lanka to get the country out of the present crisis and added that the so-called revolutionists were incapable of such effort.
Great ideology
SLFP Chairman former President Maithripala Sirisena said the SLFP is the only party that can rebuild the country with a balanced foreign policy given the international connections he has.
He was participating in a pocket meeting for the SLFP Gampaha district candidates of the Local Government Elections at Nittambuwa recently. He said that some level unfounded criticisms against him to destroy him as well as the party’s image.
Former President Sirisena said, “We have solutions to the country’s problems. We have an experienced and capable team.”
He said that unlike the new parties, which have mushroomed lately, the SLFP is a well-established party with a great ideology.
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said that when President Ranil Wickremesinghe brings in the Act to apprehend those who stole Government property, skeletons in the cupboards of those who are yelling to catch thieves will come out and they are in fear of that.
At a media briefing at the UNP Headquarters, ‘Sirikotha’ on Thursday, he said, “When the parliamentary session commenced, those who do not consider the country but think only about gaining power boycotted it.” He said that the accusations that have been hurled at the President for days were crushed by one missile in the speech by the President.