Manindananda receives it tight from Ferdinando!
India rejects it!
Japan rejects us!
Gain from Aragalaya !
The protest began in front of the presidential office, calling for President Gotabaya Rajapakse to step down at”gota gama” drew close to 100-day mark. Mahinda Rajapakse, the prime minister who had a two-thirds majority, was forced to resign in response to this protest and return home.
A new cabinet had to be appointed. The Rajapakses were unable to participate in politics. Even leaving the dwellings was impossible for them. No one had any idea of their location for a period of days.
The President was trapped within the presidential residence, and the army barricaded all outsiders. Many people believed that the extremely somber president would step down and return home.
Ranil give his keck to protect Rajapaksas !
But everything was turned upside down when Mr. Ranil Wickramsinge suddenly appeared and accepted the premiership. By that point, talks for forming an all-party government had started, not only with the main opposition party Samagi jana bala wegaya but also with an independent MPs group from the government.
Their main demand was that the president transfer the presidency’s powers to the parliament and, as requested by the people, provide an explicit resignation date. However, with Ranil’s arrival, the country’s chance to move toward a democratic foundation completely froze. The events that followed amply prove the nation’s political atmosphere is at a crucial crossroads.
Government action that suffocated the entire county!
All progressive transformations froze once Ranil was appointed prime minister, although there were also some positive events that occurred. One is that the opposition became more powerful politically and made it possible for them to create an alliance. There were numerous rounds of negotiations, and every fraction supported the action. Despite the slow progress of the discussions, everyone is optimistic that a specific goal can be achieved..
However, last week, the gradual progress in the negotiations to create an alliance was accelerated. This was due to the unexpected move the government made to stop supplying fuel to the private sector. As a result of this decision’s detrimental effects were not only on the private sector businesses but also the public sector and school functions.
Samagi Jana Bala Wegaya, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, and the Tamil National Alliance decided to break their silence and agitate against the government nationwide .
Opposition got together. The start is made by Anura!
The beginning was offered by JVP. They organize anti-government agitation in numerous districts starting last week. Anura stated at a crucial juncture that everyone needed to put aside differences of party and color and come together to overthrow this corrupt administration. All people should join forces and take to the streets as soon as possible,
Anura emphasized. To put an end to the unrest that has developed inside the nation, an all-party government would be formed for a period of six months following which general elections would be held. Only then would this battle be over.
Sajith too respond!
Sajith called an emergency meeting with Samagi Jana Balawegaya MPs last Tuesday in response to Anura’s statement. He highlighted that the opposition should come together right away, and that meetings with all opposition parties and discussions would start within the next six days. Sajith added that a massive alliance would be formed despite the fact that these parties only have one MP or none at all.
Rajapaksa and Wickramasingha cannot! 80 others can!
another noteworthy declaration was made during this MP gathering. Under no circumstances should negotiations be held with the ruling Pohottuwa or United National parties. SJB, which is the biggest opposition party, made the decision to consult with JVP and TNA in order to forge a significant political partnership. Therefore, letters of invitation for the meeting were sent to the remaining 82 registered political parties, excluding Pohottuwa and the UNP.
22 becomes a topic to unite!
A recent episode within the government served as a special agitator for the establishment of the broad political alliance of opposition. That is the 22nd amendment that Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse has presented to the Cabinet.
Many people, including the media, referred to this as the 21st Amendment, but as we pointed out last week in this column, it is actually the 22nd Amendment. We explained that the 21st Amendment was the draft that Samagi Janabalawegaya forwarded . By doing so, Samagi Jana Balwegaya has taken action to substantially curtail presidential authority and transfer it to the parliament.
Wijedasa is turned around!!
However, the wijedasa’s 22 were nowhere near the one that the outside agitators requested; instead, it is one that extends the president’s power. Wijedasa and the crowd have further strengthened the president’s ability to dissolve the parliament whenever he wants and remove the prime minister from office whenever he chooses.
President is givern more powres!
The 22nd amendment, however, that Wijedasa had earlier offered, did not include these. It included provisions that would completely abolish the president’s powers and impose them on the parliament. But Wijedasa’s fraction fully endorsed what the Presidents’ faction offered to the cabinet. This shows that once you join the government and accept the ministries portfolios, regardless of what you say or the documents you offer, you must bow down in front of the President this is what Wijedasa’s fraction showed.
What Hareen said actually occurred?
When the cabinet meeting was finished two weeks ago, Hareen Fernando, who was in England, rather brazenly tweeted about the cabinet’s approval of the 21st amendment to the constitution. Without any hesitation, the local media reported that the cabinet had approved the 21st Amendment.
But it is now established that it is a lie. Not just Hareen, but also this nation’s media misled people because the 21st Amendment was not approved. The creation of independent commissions is the only amendment worth considering among those offered. the president said this could be passed next week and did mention he has plains to make some amendments and did not mention anything on that.
Gota wants more power! The entire cabinet is in favor!
At the cabinet meeting on Monday, the president delivered his amendments as promised. The additional powers previously granted to the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition on appointment of membrs to the council are now transferred to the President. Constitutional council formed by the 19th amendment.
This had a more democratic meaning under the 19th amendment, but under the Presidnet’s Amendment, it is entirely the president’s. While presenting this, the president noted that this provision was included in the new constitution draft which is being drafted by the president’s counsel , Rumesh de Silva. This clause, which the president has submitted, is in the 22nd Amendment that the cabinet has accepted. This is a 20th Amendment extension that increases the president’s power.
Sajith’s board of attorneys!
Samagi Jana Balawegaya, however, had obtained a copy of the 22nd amendment through a government minister at the beginning of the week. After receiving this, Sajith called a group of Samagi Jana Balawegaya attorneys and asked them to go over it clause by clause.
A team of attorneys worked on this amendment day and night and notified Sajith that it strengthened the 20th amendment rather than the 19th. SJB would have a news briefing soon and announce their formal disagreement to the 22nd Amendment.
Sumanthiran is also against!
In a statement, TNA said that the 22nd Amendment, which the cabinet had passed, would give President Gotabaya Rajapakse greater power and go beyond what the people had mandated. Therefore, the entire nation should unite to resist this amendment.
What would JVP do?
The 22nd Amendment has received the unofficial opposition of SJB and TNA. JVP, however, has not yet provided their perspective on this. JVP would undoubtedly give their perspective on this in the near future. Possibilities are ripe that SJB, JVP, and TNA would create a National Alliance in the coming days to fight against the 22nd Amendment.
Ferdinado’s revelation!
He was forced to resign after the chairman of the CEB Mr. M.M.C. Ferdinando, made a controversial statement during his testimony. State rift also developed between India and Sri Lanka due to this. Ferdinando then asked for the withdrawal of a particular element of his statement. As a result, Ferdinado was once more called to COPE.
This time, Ferdinando mentioned the names of some prominent politicians and made another contentious claim. Given the circumstances, Chairman COPE made the decision to withhold the videotape of the committee proceedings from the electronic media. As an alternative, the COPE issued a statement.
Despite this, several websites claimed that Ferdinadno mentioned Namal Rajapakse and that Namal attended the meetings where it was decided to submit the concent for consideration.Namal Rajapakse received copies of every letter related to this. Not only Namal in this connection even the President is been crtisiezed by many quarters.
However, the opposing parties all launched harsh criticism since they believed that all videos should be broadcast to the media unedited. They emphasized that the COPE Committee had no power to withhold any videos. This might point to the fraud the opposition suspected.
Viedio released! Mahindananda trys to protect the President!
Due to the serious accusations, the Chairman of the COPE Committee ultimately consented to the unedited release of the video footage. The pertinent video was disclosed to the media last Monday, and it was immediately apparent that few politicians’ names were revealed.
What made this noteworthy further were the efforts made by the former minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to clear the President of all allegations. He was spotted asking Ferdinado questions in an effort to challenge him and support the president..
Mahindananda received a sharp response from Ferdinando!
The nicest part was observed following the meeting. Ferdinando is a seasoned state official, and Mahindananda is a seasoned politician. Ferdinado stayed throughout his time working for the administration, unlike Mahindananda, who would alternate between serving in the government and the opposition.
Ferdinando is therefore familiar with the breadth and depth of the public service. It was noticed that while leaving Ferdinado had utttered something to Mahindananda , and it was observed how dramatically Mahindananda’s facial expressions changed hearing that . This may not be a wishful thought after all. ‘Don’t try to push me too hard; there are plenty more to be discovered shortly, Ferdinando has said.
whose cabinet paper leaked?
A special cabinet paper without a name or source was sent to the media a few days after Ferdinado issued this warning. This was a project involving electricity. The president also gave his signature to it. Many believe that both this and the Ferdinado’s warning may have some relevace..
India suspends aid!
India appears to have reduced its help to Sri Lanka as a result of the references to the Adani Company made before the COPE committee. Recently, high-ranking Indian officials paid the president a surprise visit so they could have a private conversation with him. The fractions of the president and prime minister noticed how well these meetings went.
However Rajya Rahas column understand during these discussions Indians have informed the government that they cannot provide aid any more. instead of aid they had sid government to provide project proposals and they consider providing finacial aid. This is the first instant India came out with such a proposal to Sri Lanka. Even india has informed that they are unable to buy oil at concession price any more from Russia.
Reason for this they have stated decision taken at the NATO last week has deciden to impose restrictions to Russia. Both Narendra Modi and Joe Biden has attended this meeting and were seen in very cordial discussions.
Basil back at work !
As we reported last week president wanted pohottuwa to get ready for local government elections and that cannot be postponed any further. With this presidents intimation pohottuwa head office at Baththaramulla got busy. Basil the brain of Pohottuwa is seen visitin the office daily basis hold meetings with relevent peole and involved in organising work.
Fisheries, teachers, lawyers associations too were summoned for meetings.this indicates basil has started reorganising the party aiming the local government elections.
In the meantime many former state ministers have met the president and informed him without any powers they are unable to visit their constituencies and to give them back state ministerial possition at his earliest . Prsident instructed his secretary Gamini Senerath and instructed to take necessary steps.
Cabinet reshuffle close by!
However we looked into the reasons behind postponing appointment of state ministers. Until the tugowar between the prime minister and the governor of the central bak is resolved these appointments would get delayed. However President decided to appoint central bank governor agaist Ranils wish and Ranis had to sign the letter and get a step back .
State Ministers swore in !
The president will name state ministers in the coming days. The president will also make a little cabinet reshuffle in addition to that. The prime minister would no longer be in charge of the finance ministry, and a new finance minister is expected to be appointed. Ali Sabry was selected by the president to be the finance minister. Already, the President has requested that the incubant Finance Minister to quit. Previously, we also reported on this. However, Ranil hasn’t reacted to this.
A new blast!
We understand that the new state minister selections and cabinet shuffle will cause a ruckus within the government. Many people’s dreams of becoming state ministers may come to an end. They would choose to quit Pohottuwa and remain independent if it were to occur. If this situation becomes so serious, a problem with the government’s majority may arise. This crowd is made up of 10–12 people.
Where is Dollars?
Soon after taking office, the incubant prime minister told the entire nation that he accepted this and had all of the world’s aid in his hand. Ranil fraction frequently said that Japan will donate $5 billion after his assumption of office.
Despite Japan’s $5 billion in aid and other offers of assistance from other nations, not a single dollar has been received as of yet 50 days after the start of Ranil’s reign. Problems have multiplied fourfold there rather than being solved.
what did Japan say?
The Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka recently paid a visit to Jaffna. He made it a point to speak with TNA members while he was there. TNA had questioned the ambassador about the $5 billion that Ranil had mentioned prior to becoming prime minister during this meeting.
Here, the Japanese ambassador for the first time discusses Japan’s aid policy on Sri Lanka. Ambassador Mukoshi Hideki assured TNA members that Japan would not aid Sri Lanka since the government did not manage the aid given in a proper manner. However this could be considered differently in a later occasion.
Kapila Punchimannage