• RW to leave for Perth, Australia for IOC after re-opening Parliament sessions on 7 February
• Debt restructuring to be finalised by April; agreement in principle with bondholders pending
• OSB poses obstacle for Govt.’s digital economy plans; AIC locks horns with Tiran over content
• Sumanthiran goes to officials’ box, questions non-inclusion of 13 amendments proposed by SC
• Dinesh, Karu clash over ‘Jana Sabha’ programme; Govt. group opposes ‘Jana Sabha,’ cancels meet
• Shritharan becomes new ITAK Leader, pays homage at war memorial and vows rights for Tamils
• SLPP launches another programme targeting polls; Namal leads ‘Dasa Bala Sena’ at electoral level
• SLPP lose Sanath in Puttalam, likely to lose replacement NFF member in House to Opposition
• Yapa-Lanza alliance holds maiden rally in Ja-Ela; party constitution to be finalised in two weeks
• SLFP turns to PA after UPFA; Maithripala and CBK proposed as co-leaders in leadership council

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Government continue to gather flak over the hardships faced by a majority of the country while senior members of Wickremesinghe’s staff have stated that there is no way to reduce prices due to the ongoing economic crisis. The growing frustration among the people can be seen in their call for elections this year in order to clearly express their response to the ongoing hardships. 

Sri Lanka’s consumer price inflation rate has risen to 4.2% Year-on-Year in December (2023) from 2.8% in November (2023), the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) said on Monday (22). Food prices rose 1.6% in December after falling 2.2% in November of last year, the DCS said in a statement.

The President’s move to prorogue Parliament yet again on Friday (26) night until after Independence Day on 7 February is being viewed as another attempt to reiterate the country’s economic situation and the policy direction of the Government aimed at resolving the economic crisis in the run-up to the Presidential Election later this year. 

However, after reopening Parliament sessions, President Wickremesinghe will be off to Perth, Australia on a four-day official visit to attend the Seventh Indian Ocean Conference (IOC). This tour will increase the President’s overseas trips to 15. Since assuming office in July 2023, Wickremesinghe had made 14 foreign trips to 15 countries as at January 2024.

While Wickremesinghe’s foreign trips have been criticised by Opposition parliamentarians, starting from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Government has justified the trips as being essential in building relations with the international community as part of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery programme.

On the Government’s economic recovery plans, the Finance Ministry has expressed hope of finalising the country’s debt restructuring programme by the beginning of April.

However, State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe has said that Sri Lanka is uncertain whether an agreement in principle can be reached with the bondholders by the time of the second review by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March, but has expressed confidence in completing all requirements by the time of the third disbursement.

Semasinghe has said during a media interview that he cannot provide a proper time frame for the debt restructuring talks with private bondholders while expecting some result from the discussion by March. He had noted that the discussions with the bondholders were a “very complex” process and therefore it cannot be said that those discussions were delayed.

Last December, bondholders had expressed their unhappiness at what they called “slow progress in talks” and the lack of substantive negotiation.

Meanwhile, the President has extended an invitation to all political party leaders in Parliament to engage in discussions with the IMF Managing Director on the implementation of the agreement with the IMF.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry had shared his insights on Sri Lanka’s road to economic recovery while addressing the Cambridge Union in England on Tuesday (23). Sabry had said that 18 months after the current Government took power, Sri Lanka’s inflation, which was 70% in September 2022, had come down to less than 5% in August 2023.

“The rupee has stabilised and, in fact, appreciated by about 15% from its peak against the US Dollar. Remittances have seen a 60% annual growth in 2023. Tourism has in fact seen an annual growth of 106% in the year 2023; useable forex reserves, which were at $ 20 million in April 2022, have gone up to $ 4.5 billion in January 2024,” he had said. 

The Minister had further said that Sri Lanka was not out of the woods yet, but Sri Lankans had shown tremendous resilience in weathering this very challenging period.

“If we successfully resist divisive policies and embrace the unity within our diversity, if we continue these difficult yet prudent economic policy reforms, and if we maintain policy consistency across Government and political party lines, I honestly believe Sri Lanka is within touching distance of achieving its true potential,” he had added.

Opposition MPs with RW

On the matter of Wickremesinghe’s foreign trips, it is evident that these trips are also being used to get members of the Opposition to also take part in his programmes. Four Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) had accompanied President Wickremesinghe on his official visit to Uganda that concluded last week.

The MPs were Kins Nelson of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Nimal Piyatissa of the dissident Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) group – National Freedom Front (NFF), Kumarasiri Rathnayake of the SLPP, and independent member Udayakantha Gunathilaka.

OSB conundrum

Amidst growing public dissention over cost of living issues, the issue of the Government’s attempt to curtail dissent and freedom of expression was in the spotlight last week with the Government’s move to push ahead with the Online Safety Bill (OSB) prior to the proroguing of the House.

Opposition parties, civil society, and big tech companies continued to call on the Government to conduct stakeholder consultations prior to moving ahead with the legislation. Concerns were expressed over the impact such legislation could have on the country’s digital economy if the OSB were to be passed without the proposals of big tech companies.

However, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles who moved the OSB in Parliament stated that he had discussed the legislation with the big tech companies through the Singapore-based Asia Internet Coalition (AIC).

The AIC on Tuesday (23) said that the proposed OSB, in its current form, was unworkable and would undermine potential growth and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Sri Lanka’s digital economy. The leading digital industry body refuted some of the claims made by Minister Alles regarding contribution and consultations made by the AIC regarding the controversial piece of legislation. 

Issuing a statement last week, the AIC claimed that Alles’ statement in Parliament did not accurately reflect the substantial contributions that the AIC had made throughout the legislative process, which included comprehensive submissions as well as engagements such as hosting representatives from the Ministry of Public Security at the annual Online Safety Forum organised by the AIC in Singapore.

“Despite our commitment to constructive collaboration, the AIC has not been privy to proposed amendments to the bill. We unequivocally stand by our position that the OSB, in its current form, is unworkable and would undermine potential growth and FDI in Sri Lanka’s digital economy. We firmly believe that for the bill to align with global best practices, extensive revisions are imperative,” AIC Managing Director Jeff Paine stated.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS), Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), and British Computer Society (BCS Sri Lanka) jointly urged the Government’s consideration on the proposed OSB, as Sri Lanka is on the verge of embarking on a digital economy. 

It was pointed out that impractical liability for intermediaries, high compliance costs, international human rights violations, and impact on international cooperation would have an impact on the industry and subsequently the economy.

However, Alles claimed that the proposals of the AIC et al would be included in the OSB as he planned to present a paper to Cabinet for approval that would include these amendments and that, once approved, it would be gazetted and included in the OSB.

A timeline for this purpose, however, is yet unknown.

Suma takes charge

Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran on Wednesday (24) questioned the amendments proposed to the OSB.

Sumanthiran claimed that 13 amendments proposed by the Supreme Court to be included in the OSB had not been included when the bill was to be taken up at the committee stage. When looking into the amendments that were to be included in the OSB during the committee stage, Sumanthiran had noticed that 13 amendments that should have been included in the legislation were not in the document in the hands of the legislators.

Sumanthiran had then demanded as to why some of the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court had not been included in the list of amendments to be moved for the OSB during the committee stage. Parliament officials had then informed Sumanthiran that all amendments proposed by the Supreme Court had been included in the final document. The TNA Parliamentarian had then made his way into the officials’ box in the Chamber and asked to see the final document, which was not in the hands of the parliamentarians.

The officials from the Attorney General’s Department had then shown what they had said was the final document that included all the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court. Sumanthiran had then asked the officials why the final document was not shared with the parliamentarians since protocol called for the amendments to legislation to be distributed among the legislators by 12 noon on the day of the vote.

Sumanthiran had called on the Speaker of Parliament to not place his signature on the final bill without ensuring that all amendments proposed by the Supreme Court were included in it.

Passing OSB

However, the OSB was finally passed in the House with a majority of 46 votes, with a total of 108 parliamentarians voting in favour while 62 voted against the bill.

SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the OSB would be aimed at curtailing freedom of speech during oncoming elections and that, therefore, the authoritarian motives which were hidden under the guise of new legislation must be understood by those who endorse the bill. 

Highlighting the errors in the procedure of taking this bill for debate, Premadasa said that the bill should have been brought after an extensive dialogue between all the related stakeholders. He noted that similar international legislation enacted in countries like Germany and New Zealand were brought to action after wide consultation and consensus between the stakeholders.

Former President and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Leader Maithripala Sirisena said that laws must be enacted to regulate and prosecute those who misused the freedom that they were entitled to by the country’s law. He said that the shutting down of all social media platforms during the ethnic clashes that took place in Kandy during his term of office had been very helpful in controlling the situation and that, therefore, such laws must be there to regulate the misconduct taking place in the online sphere.

Meanwhile, United National Party (UNP) MP Wajira Abeywardena said that 134 countries of the entire world had enacted similar laws that regulated social media and that many Asian countries like China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar also had laws similar to this bill which was introduced in Sri Lanka.

RW’s challenge

However, with all political parties preparing for a key national election this year, President Wickremesinghe has issued a general challenge for all parties. He has pointed out that if parties were preparing for elections, they should also have a plan to salvage the country from the economic crisis.

Wickremesinghe had noted that the country’s economic crisis was mainly due to populist politics and that all parties should therefore have an idea about how they would build the national economy.

Govt. group heats up

Meanwhile, the proposed ‘Jana Sabha’ programme mooted by former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that is being supported by President Wickremesinghe has resulted in Jayasuriya and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena locking horns over jurisdiction of the programme. While Jayasuriya’s ‘Jana Sabha’ programme was being formed as a secretariat under the President’s Office, the subject directly clashed with Gunawardena’s portfolio of Local Government and Provincial Councils.

The President had held a discussion on the ‘Jana Sabha’ programme prior to his visit to Switzerland with Gunawardena, Jayasuriya, Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, State Minister Ashoka Priyantha, and several others. 

Priyantha had objected to the programme, saying it seemed to have been mooted to the agenda of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Nanayakkara had noted that the ‘Jana Sabha’ programme should have political engagement if it was to be carried out under the Government. 

Prime Minister Gunawardena had also opposed the programme since the Government MPs were unaware of it.

However, Jayasuriya had responded saying that it was not a programme mooted for his personal benefit, but in line with the thinking of the President. The Prime Minister had noted that it was not an issue with Jayasuriya, but that the Government MPs needed to be informed of the programme before moving ahead with it.

The President had then asked Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to convene a meeting between ‘Jana Sabha’ Secretariat officials and the Government MPs. Ranatunga had then made arrangements to organise the meeting on 24 February.

The ‘Jana Sabha’ programme became a talking topic at the parliamentary group of the Government that met on Tuesday (23) with Prime Minister Gunawardena at the chair. 

State Minister Priyantha had posed a question on the proposed ‘Jana Sabha’ programme. He had claimed that the programme had been launched without the knowledge of parliamentarians, even Government members. Priyantha had added that SLPP MPs had now been called for meetings and that they had no idea about the programme.

Gunawardena had agreed with Priyantha and said that there had to be some basis to call MPs for meetings. 

Minister Ranatunga had then explained that the MPs were being asked to attend a meeting to explain about the ‘Jana Sabha’ programme. The Premier had then noted that the MPs should be first made aware of the programme before explaining it to them.

State Minister Indika Anuruddha had then said that letters had been issued to divisional secretaries from former Speaker Jayasuriya’s office to set up the ‘Jana Sabha’ programme prior to 31 March this year.

The Prime Minister had maintained that he was unaware of such a move. Anuruddha had then called the divisional secretary in his constituency and had reconfirmed his previous statement to the gathering.

The Government MPs had then called on Premier Gunawardena to intervene and stop the programme since it was being carried out without his knowledge as the subject minister. The MPs had pointed out that it was not proper for an office at the President’s Office to send out such a letter without the knowledge of the subject minister – in this case, Gunawardena. 

However, Gunawardena had said that the letter had been sent out by one of the secretariats inside the President’s Office. He had said that the meeting convened for MPs should be cancelled until they (the MPs) were first briefed about the programme.

SLPP’s ‘Dasa Bala Sena’

Meanwhile, as part of its programme to prepare for elections, the ruling SLPP launched its ‘Dasa Bala Sena’ programme last week under the leadership of SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa. Under the programme, Namal and the group will meet the representatives of Grama Niladhari areas as well as Local Government representatives.

The programme will cover all Municipal and Urban Councils as well as Pradeshiya Sabhas islandwide. The first programme was held in the Moratuwa area last week.

The SLPP has also already launched another programme simultaneous to this, aimed at responding to the many allegations levelled against the SLPP and the Rajapaksa family by Opposition parties.

Another to the Opposition

However, the SLPP faced a great setback to its election campaign with the sudden demise of State Minister Sanath Nishantha due to a road accident on Thursday (25) morning. Nishantha’s loss will undoubtedly be a great loss for the SLPP and especially the Rajapaksas.

Despite criticism over Nishantha’s politics, he was a popular politician in the Puttalam District, polling the highest number of votes at the 2015 and 2020 General Elections.

Apart from Nishantha’s loss, the SLPP is likely to face yet another setback since the vacancy created by Nishantha’s demise is to be filled by an individual representing the SLPP dissidents’ group now seated in the parliamentary Opposition.

Jagath Priyankara of the NFF led by Wimal Weerawansa is poised to assume the parliamentary position left vacant by Nishantha.

Priyankara serves as the Puttalam District Leader of NFF. The NFF contested the last Parliamentary Election under the SLPP and Priyankara holds the next position in the SLPP preferential voting list for Puttalam.

Yapa-Lanza alliance rally

Meanwhile, the new political alliance by SLPP dissidents Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Nimal Lanza held its maiden public rally in Ja-Ela town yesterday (27) evening.

One of the alliance members in the Gampaha District had organised the event that was attended by Yapa, Lanza, Susil Premajayantha, and Piyankara Jayaratne.

Meanwhile, the new alliance is due to be launched shortly after the Ja-Ela rally at the BMICH.

The Yapa-Lanza alliance is expected to be finalised within the next fortnight along with its constitution and legal groundwork to allow it to ally with other parties.

‘Chair’ returns

Meanwhile, the SLFP is also in the process of forming a political alliance and the names of Party Leader, former President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) have been proposed to co-lead the leadership committee of the new alliance.

While the new alliance was to be formed under the reconstituted United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the ‘betel leaf’ symbol, the ongoing controversy over the post of general secretary of the UPFA has resulted in the SLFP now looking at reconvening the People’s Alliance (PA) and the ‘chair’ symbol for the new alliance.

It is learnt that several political parties that had earlier formed the UPFA with the SLFP have expressed interest in joining the new alliance as well.

It is also learnt that the new alliance formed by Yapa-Lanza is also expected to join the SLFP-led alliance.

The SLFP-led alliance members are to meet on Monday (29) for a meeting to discuss the next course of action.

Dayasiri’s injunction

The injunction order issued against former General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara was further extended by the Colombo District Court on Monday (22). The injunction prevents Jayasekara from hindering the affairs of SLFP’s Acting General Secretary Sarathi Dushmantha Mithrapala and submitting inaccurate recommendations to the Election Commission in relation to the matter.

The relevant order was issued when a petition filed by Mithrapala and SLFP Leader Sirisena was taken up last week. The case is due to be recalled in court on 29 January, allowing time for the respondents to file objections, if any.

The injunction order against Jayasekara was initially issued by Colombo District Judge Sandun Withana on 8 January.

New northern lead

Meanwhile, TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian Sivagnanam Shritharan was elected as the Leader of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) at the secret ballot held on Sunday (21) in Trincomalee to elect the party’s new leadership. Shritharan won the election by a majority of 47 votes by receiving 184 against 137 votes.

The election was held in a tense environment, it is learnt, due to the large crowds that had gathered outside the meeting venue. The vote was held behind closed doors and once the final results were announced, the three contenders to the top slot had jointly addressed the gathering.

The election was held following the stepping down of the party’s incumbent Leader Mavai Senathirajah who had previously served as ITAK Leader. The party is the major constituent party of the TNA.

The election was held between three members of ITAK – Jaffna District MPs Sumanthiran and Shritharan and former Batticaloa District MP S. Yogeswaran.

The three members had earlier tried to reach a consensus between them to elect the new leader without holding an election. It was finally decided to hold an election for the ITAK leadership since a consensus could not be reached.

Newly-elected Leader Shritharan contested the 2010 Parliamentary Election under the TNA in the Jaffna District and won and was re-elected in the 2015 and 2020 Parliamentary Elections.

Paying homage

After being elected as the new ITAK Leader, Shritharan had visited the Kanakapuram memorial in Kilinochchi to pay homage. After attending the ITAK meeting that was held in Trincomalee on 21 January, Shritharan had visited Kilinochchi on his return to Jaffna.

Afterwards, Shritharan had visited the Siddhi Vinayak Temple for a special pooja to receive divine blessings.

The TNA held its Executive Committee meeting yesterday (27) in Trincomalee to appoint the rest of the office bearers to the party.

Shritharan has vowed to fulfil his obligation and responsibility to win fundamental rights for the Tamil people.

He had told the media in Trincomalee last week that his role would be based on Tamil nationalism and that all like-minded individuals would be brought together for a new tradition of liberation.

Pushing 13A

Meanwhile, the TNA has reiterated its call for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment with a group of TNA MPs reportedly seeking India’s intervention to ensure the Sri Lankan Government fully implements the 13th Amendment 

The Press Trust of India (PTI) had reported that the group led by TNA MP R. Sampanthan had met India’s new High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha on Monday (22) and that the two-hour-long talks had been centred on the 13th Amendment, which created the Provincial Councils system for the nine provinces.

The Tamil parties had pointed out the need for India’s intervention in the current Sri Lankan political context for the meaningful devolution of power, the Indian media report had added.

The TNA MPs had also highlighted the issues of Tamil political prisoners and the land grabs in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

“Reiterating India’s longstanding position on reconciliation and the full implementation of the 13th Amendment, the High Commissioner reaffirmed India’s continuous commitment to work for the well-being of the people of this region,” the Indian High Commission had said in a post on X.

Anti-Govt. protest

The main Opposition SJB meanwhile is to launch a protest campaign against the Government, starting Tuesday (30).

However, UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara has claimed that the SJB is planning on spending around Rs. 20 million for the planned protest campaign in order to get down people to Colombo.

The SJB immediately announced that the party did not have any reason to resort to bribery since there was growing dissention among the general public over the continuing burdens being placed on the masses.

Working with IMF

Meanwhile, the JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) says that if it comes to power it will continue to work with the IMF and look to make changes to the current agreement with Sri Lanka.

NPP MP Vijitha Herath had stated that the main Opposition SJB was concerned over the discussion held between the NPP and the IMF delegation that was recently in Sri Lanka.

He had noted that an NPP government would continue to work with the IMF, but would look to change the existing agreement between Sri Lanka and the fund, especially related to the clauses that impose high taxes on the public and calls to privatise State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

Herath had added that the NPP would continue with the debt restructuring programme with the IMF and would invite foreign investors to invest in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has said that most countries and organisations in the world such as the IMF had begun to realise that the NPP would assume power at the next election. “We know that it is hurtful for the SJBers when the IMF representatives visit our Headquarters and hold discussions. We are not concerned about their allegations. Only the NPP has revealed its policy and stance in public. No other party has done it,” Silva has told the media.

Ravi’s challenge

However, senior UNPer and the party’s Colombo District Leader Ravi Karunanayake has called on the JVP to place its policy and programme before the people without delay.

He has told the media that it was pointless for the JVP to continue lecturing about Lenin without showing any practical success.

“It is not easy to work for the country and the people according to a policy, objective, and target,” Karunanayake had said.