• Jaishankar meets Govt., Sajith, TNA, and RW
• Basil warns SLFP to stay in its lane

Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (6) urged the Sri Lankan Government to satisfy the expectations of the Tamil people and fulfil the Government’s commitments on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

“It is in Sri Lanka’s own interest that the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and dignity within a united Sri Lanka are fulfilled. That applies equally to the commitments made by the Sri Lankan Government on meaningful devolution, including the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The progress and prosperity of Sri Lanka will surely be advanced as a consequence.”

Addressing a joint press briefing in Colombo with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena, he added that India is committed to ensuring the unity, stability, and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, and that India supports the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and an inclusive political outlook that encourages ethnic harmony.

He said that India and Sri Lanka are now looking at post-Covid-19 co-operation most immediately with regard to Sri Lanka’s interest in obtaining a vaccine from India.

“I think Covid-19 has given us an opportunity to collaborate even more closely. Reflecting our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, India has supported Sri Lanka’s efforts to tackle Covid-19 through timely medical assistance. I should also place on record my appreciation to the Sri Lankan Government for its assistance and facilitation in evacuation of Indian nationals who were stuck in Sri Lanka. We are now looking at post-Covid-19 co-operation and I carry back with me Sri Lanka’s interest in accessing vaccines from India.”

[caption id="attachment_112839" align="alignleft" width="300"] Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardena arrives for a press briefing in Colombo, 06 January 2021. Photo Lalith Perera[/caption]

Dr. Jaishankar further emphasised that he carries the message of an India that will always be a dependable partner and a reliable friend, open to strengthening its relationship with Sri Lanka on the basis of mutual trust, mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity.

During the press briefing, they further underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries as far as post-Covid-19 recovery is concerned. Both expressed willingness to consider taking joint efforts that will be beneficial to both countries. Speaking of the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Jaishankar observed that it is not just a public health issue, but equally an economic crisis.

He expressed confidence that India’s achievements, as far as managing the Covid-19 pandemic is concerned, will have a positive impact on Sri Lanka. He also stated that the Indian business community is strongly interested in investing in Sri Lanka and that discussions have already been held on several important opportunities, including in special zones for pharmaceutical manufacturing and also in tourism.

Speaking of the discussions held with Dr. Jaishankar, Gunawardena revealed that they focused on multiple areas of mutual co-operation in identified sectors of economics, finance, trade, commerce, defence, security, fisheries, cultural affairs, and particularly on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic as well as the post-Covid-19 era. Dr. Jaishankar expressed willingness to extend India’s assistance to enhance Sri Lanka’s capabilities to meet growing maritime and security challenges.

“We agreed to continue our current momentum of co-ordinated and close dialogue in these areas in order to curb illegal activities, and our continued co-operation in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC),” he noted.

Minister Gunawardena added that India’s offer of $ 15 million to restore Buddhist heritage, announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his virtual summit with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa last September, would be utilised through mutual consultations.

This was the first official visit of a high-level foreign dignitary in Sri Lanka in 2021 as well as the first official visit outside India in the new year for Dr. Jaishankar. He left the island on Thursday (7).

Meeting the Opposition

Indian Minister Dr. Jaishankar has discussed issues pertaining to devolution and the role of provincial councils with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) representatives.

They have also discussed issues pertaining to development, Minister Dr. Jaishankar said. The TNA delegation was led by R. Sampanthan.

Meanwhile, the Minister also met with a delegation of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by MP Mano Ganesan.

“(We) appreciate their positive sentiments about our development programmes. This will remain an important facet of India’s commitment,” Minister Dr. Jaishankar said.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Wednesday called on Dr. Jaishankar.

The discussions revolved around bilateral relations and exchanged views on the long-standing historical ties between the two countries.

On behalf of all Sri Lankans, Premadasa expressed his gratitude to the Indian Government for the support extended for initiatives such as “Suva Seriya” and building houses, where one village was named after the Indian Prime Minister – “Modi Village”.

Dr. Jaishankar extended a special invitation to Opposition Leader Premadasa to pay an official visit to India.

The meeting between the Indian External Affairs Minister, who was on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, and United National Party (UNP) Leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was special, as they were not scheduled to meet, diplomatic sources said.

The cordial and extensive discussions between former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and the Indian External Affairs Minister had focused on the challenges both countries are facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Jaishankar had told Wickremesinghe that he had already discussed the Indian-produced vaccine with the Sri Lankan Government and had pledged to prioritise Sri Lanka when the vaccine is ready for export.

Appreciating the gesture, the former Prime Minister had reiterated the need for close co-operation between India and Sri Lanka, especially during these difficult times.

PC polls

The holding of the impending provincial council (PC) elections has caused a visible split in the Government with one group pushing for the elections and the other opposing such moves.

State Minister Nimal Lanza, who is a close confidante of the governing party Founder and Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival Basil Rajapaksa, last week made comments in support of holding the delayed provincial council elections.

He had said at a public meeting in Attanagalle recently, that the provincial council system should be maintained in the country, as it could be used to assist the country’s development process as well as address the issues faced by the people.

“The provincial council elections have been delayed after trying to bring in amendments to it. We clearly say that provincial council elections should be held. It is the public representatives who represent the general public. The provincial councils cannot be governed without the public representatives. The public can explain their grievances to the public representatives. The officials alone cannot carry out the work without the public representatives. That is my personal opinion. The interaction between officials and the public is quite minimal. It is the public representatives who constantly move with the public. Therefore, the provincial council elections must be held.

“The provincial council system has been completely messed up by bringing the 50/50 system. A discussion on the electoral system, the required amendments, and the shortcomings in the existing system will be initiated in Parliament. A committee will be appointed to look into these issues and the provincial council election will be held afterwards.

“We have never been afraid of elections. And we are not a government that has avoided elections. We have held elections at the proper time. It was the Yahapalana Government that delayed elections. Therefore, the delays are their doing.

“The provincial councils carry out a large workload. As a onetime provincial minister, I built 6,000 km of rural roads in the districts. Therefore, I know the great service rendered to the public by provincial councils. It is wrong to make statements without understanding the proper functions of provincial councils. We have worked within this system and served the public. Hence, I believe that provincial councils should remain,” Lanza had said.

Meanwhile, former President Maithripala Sirisena had said that only 25% of the funds allocated to the provincial councils are spent on public welfare while the remaining 75% is spent on salaries of councillors, officials, and other maintenance work.

Nevertheless, Sirisena has told The Hindu in an interview, that trying to abolish the provincial councils would be akin to the Government playing with fire.

On the issue of provincial councils, Basil Rajapaksa recently expressed his views on the matter as well.

Speaking during a political interview on television, Basil said that he does not subscribe to delaying the holding of elections as a country that values democracy.

“Governments that have delayed elections have been defeated,” he had noted.

When asked about Basil’s stance on the holding of provincial council elections given stiff objections raised by one segment of the Government, Basil refrained from expressing his personal view on the matter.

However, he had noted that he was looking at a system based on a district council system.

TNA’s proposal

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has proposed to the committee of experts appointed to draft a new constitution that regional councils should replace the established PCs, with these regional councils including territory in the North and East predominantly occupied by Tamil-speaking people.

The TNA, which is represented in the Opposition as the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), has also proposed that the nature of the Sri Lankan State be a free, sovereign, independent, and united republic made up of the institutions of the centre and the regions, and that the Constitution provides adequate protection to regional minority communities.

Concerning power-sharing in terms of governance, the proposal states that the aforementioned regions should have a regional council each, with a governor appointed by the President upon the advice of the council’s chief minister, with the latter being subject to the approval of the council. The governor is to act on the advice of the chief minister and the council’s cabinet of ministers. These councils will have legislative power over certain subjects.

With regard to national policy, all regions must be consulted and their assent must be obtained. Then, national policy must be confined to framework legislation, within which regions can fully exercise legislative and executive power concerning the devolved subject, and which does not curtail the devolved power. The central legislature can make laws concerning devolved subjects, provided that the councils approve these bills by vote.

Furthermore, in the case of a constitutional amendment affecting devolution, it should have the approval of a representative delegation from every region, in addition to a two-thirds majority vote in both Houses.

In relation to the devolved subjects – other than national security, national defence, armed forces, foreign affairs, and national economic affairs which must necessarily be with the Central Government – the TNA has proposed a list of subjects and functions that should be devolved.

This includes, among others, land (other than state land used by the Central Government for a subject in the Central List), law and order, the regional police service (including all offences other than those dealt with by the National Police Force), education (including tertiary education), health, housing and construction, agriculture and agrarian services, irrigation, fisheries, animal husbandry and livestock development, resettlement and rehabilitation, local government, regional public service, religious and cultural affairs, all other socioeconomic and cultural matters, co-operatives and co-operative banks, industries and taxation, central grants, international and domestic loans and grants, and foreign direct investments (FDIs).

According to the TNA, there shall, in this regard, be a “Regional Public Service Commission” and a “Regional Police Commission”.

Moreover, concerning state land, its alienation should be done as per the principles laid down in the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact and the Senanayake-Chelvanayakam Pact, according to the proposal. Also, regions should have the power to acquire and requisition land.

They have further proposed that Sinhala, Tamil, and English be official languages, as well as the language of administration countrywide. Sinhala and Tamil are official languages under the existing Constitution, while English is the link language.

Regarding the Executive, the TNA has said that the presidency should have a ceremonial President that is accountable to the Parliament, and acts on the advice of the Prime Minister, who will be the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers and has the power to assign subjects and functions, and exercise such.

With regard to the legislature, Parliament should be a bicameral legislature, with a chamber composed of members directly elected by the people and a second chamber made up of representatives of the regions. In the case of amendments affecting devolution, in addition to a two-thirds majority in both chambers, it must have the assent of all regional delegations in the second chamber.

As far as the judiciary is concerned, the TNA has proposed a constitutional court to hear and determine the constitutionality of legislation made by the Parliament and regional councils, and on matters of constitutional interpretation. Furthermore, provincial high courts should be enabled to hear fundamental rights-related applications.

Fundamental rights and freedoms should reflect the entire gamut of Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations, the TNA stated.

MR’s stance

Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal (ECT) still belongs to Sri Lanka and has not been given to a foreign company, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

“Our Government has not decided to hand over to a foreign company the management or ownership, in full or in part, of the East Container Terminal,” he told Parliament on Wednesday (6).

The Prime Minister made this statement in response to a question raised by National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the Government’s stance on the ownership and management of the ECT.

“I served as the President from 2005 to 2015, and during my tenure, the Colombo South Harbour Development Project was implemented to develop three container terminals that had the capacity to handle 7.2 million containers. Under that project, it was decided to continue operations of one terminal as a public-private venture for 35 years, and this decision was taken adhering to proper procurement procedures. The Government is taking immediate steps to expedite the operations of the two remaining terminals, namely the East Container Terminal and the West Container Terminal,” the Premier added.

He also stated that the former Government had entered into agreements in 2017 and 2019 with foreign companies.

In response, Dissanayake said the former Government had entered into an agreement with the aim of forming a company jointly managed by two companies based in India and Japan and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), and that this company was to obtain a loan from Japan for a 1% interest rate to develop the ECT.

“However, that agreement seems to have changed now,” he said, charging that the current plan is to give 51% of shares to an Indian company and to keep the remaining 49% of shares under the SLPA.

Sri Lanka, Japan, and India signed an agreement in May 2019 to jointly develop the ECT. The joint initiative was estimated to cost between $ 500 million and $ 700 million. As per the agreement, the SLPA was to retain 100% ownership of the ECT, while the Terminal Operations Company (TOC), conducting its operations, was to be jointly owned, with Sri Lanka holding a 51% stake in the project and the joint venture partners retaining 49%.

SJB’s invite

Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) recently extended an invitation to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which is the key coalition party of the Government, to join forces with the party to form a political alliance.

The SJB’s invite comes at a time when several senior SLFPers have publicly stated that the party was displeased with the governing SLPP over some of its actions.

The first to raise these issues was SLFP General Secretary State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, who was followed by the SLFP Leader and the latest in the list being former General Secretary Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa.

Piyadasa last Sunday (3) had said at a media conference in Kandy that the SLFP was displeased with the failure on the part of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to honour the agreements reached prior to the presidential and general elections.

He had noted that if the governing party continued to sideline the SLFP and not get the party involved in the decision-making process, the party would be compelled to take a hard decision.

When questioned about the invitation extended recently by SJB MP Kabir Hashim for the SLFP to join an alliance with the SJB, Piyadasa had said that the SLFP was prepared to discuss future political actions with any political party.

Piyadasa further noted that the many political parties that worked to bring the Government to power were now critical of the State’s actions and its failure to address the issues faced by the public.

“If this situation continues, the SLFP will be compelled to take some action,” the senior SLFPer had said.

Basil’s swipe

SLPP Founder/National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa last week took a swipe at the SLFP and its grievances.

A question on the displeasure expressed by the governing party’s key coalition partner was posed to Basil during a political interview on electronic media last Monday (4). In response, Basil noted that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics and therefore, all parties could resolve their differences and work together.

According to Basil, although there have been some shortcomings in 2020, the best way to move forward is by working together and not abandoning the coalition.

As for the allegation levelled by the SLFP about slashing a number of its candidates from the nominations lists at the last general election, Basil observed that the SLFP cannot make statements that it won seats according to the number of nominations received.

He added that the reason the SLPP decided to form an alliance with the SLFP was to ensure that the latter would not experience a downfall. “Even I would not want to see the SLFP decimated,” Basil noted.

However, Basil also noted that he was prepared to face any scenario if the SLFP was going to take on a threatening tone.

UNP-SJB

The UNP will enter into a dialogue with the SJB during the New Year to forge an alliance to contest future elections, Deputy Leader of the party Ruwan Wijewardene said last week, speaking to journalists after participating in the re-organisation programme of the party which was conducted under the theme of “Mulawa Paradawamu – Ek Wee Negitimu (let’s defeat lies and work together) in Ratnapura.

“We will initiate a dialogue with the SJB for the sake of the country in order to see whether we can contest future elections together,” Wijewardene said, responding to a question raised by the journalists as to whether there was any move to bring back those who broke away from the UNP.

Wijewardene, who elaborated on the situation with regard to Ukrainian citizens who were brought down to promote tourism, said there was nothing wrong in promoting tourism, but the issue was that a new cluster seemed to be coming up as a few of those Ukrainian tourists had tested positive for Covid-19.

“The Government does not seem to be working according to a fixed plan and changes its ways from time to time. Such action seems to have almost created a new cluster,” he said.

“Also, the Government is gearing up to sell off the Air Force Grounds and the (Slave Island) police station to a foreign company while the stake which the Government held in the Norochcholai Power Plant is also slated to be sold to a foreign company,” he alleged.

MS’s legal troubles

Former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had raised objections to comments made by former President Maithripala Sirisena in a recent interview with an English weekly.

Wickremesinghe’s lawyers Vidanapathirana Associates have written to the English weekly newspaper on the interview titled “Sirisena speaks out”.

The interview consists of the former President’s view on various issues, including the Central Bank Bond Scam, appointment of Arjuna Mahendran as the Central Bank Governor, investigations into the Bond Scam, and the operations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in this regard.

Vidanapathirana Associates had reportedly said the comments made by the former President are “false and have been made maliciously with the object of defaming” its client in an attempt to “hold him up to ridicule and to lower his esteem in the midst of the public”.

Diana prevails

Meanwhile, the presidential pardon recently granted to Ven. Uwatenne Sumana Thera, who played an active role in the presidential election campaign of Field Marshal MP Sarath Fonseka, shocked many in the political circles.

The Thera was serving a life sentence after being convicted of illegal possession of two T-56 assault rifles and 210 rounds of live ammunition.

Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige had ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond any reasonable doubt that Ven. Sumana Thera was guilty of illegally possessing automatic weapons and ammunition.

The Police Special Task Force (STF) had raided the Thera’s temple on 2 January 2010, days before the 2010 presidential election.

However, SJB MP Diana Gamage was quoted in the media as saying that it was she who had initiated the move to secure Ven. Sumana Thera’s pardon.

Gamage had said that while the Thera was jailed over an incident in 2010, his mother was greatly distressed and had on several occasions met her as well.

According to the MP, she had handed over a letter to the Prime Minister requesting for a pardon for the monk and had also discussed the matter with the President afterwards.

Therefore, Gamage had expressed her gratitude to the President for granting the pardon and had also thanked everyone who had assisted in securing the pardon.