- Chinese envoy meets RW after receiving letter rescinding permission
- Sabry’s meeting with Wang Yi in Cambodia unsuccessful in resolving crisis
- Permission for Chinese vessel granted by East Asia DG at Foreign Ministry
- No consultation with MoD or Sri Lanka Navy prior to granting approval
- Foreign Ministry notes permission granted to similar Chinese vessels
- $ 500 m fresh Indian fuel credit line yet to materialise, talks ongoing
- RW tells SJB can change name of all-party govt. to all-party governance
- Political reforms to start with 22A, Bill to Parliament this Wednesday
- SLPP asks RW not to engage dissidents, asks only to deal with party
- MS sends mixed signals on all-party govt.; SLFP MPs to decide this week
- Dinesh asks MS if SLFP is joining; ‘You already have five of ours,’ says MS
- JVP seeks meeting with RW, appointment given for Tuesday (9) evening
The tasks that lie ahead for the Government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe are no easy ones, with the ongoing diplomatic quagmire with India and China over a controversial Chinese vessel that was to dock in Sri Lanka this week undoubtedly making things worse for the administration.
The diplomatic fallout from the issue is likely to be felt by Sri Lanka with the Government being compelled to rescind the permission granted to the controversial Chinese vessel to dock in Sri Lanka. The official communication on the Government’s decision was sent to the Chinese on Friday (5) after the President and Foreign Minister held several discussions on the matter from Thursday (4). It is evident that the Chinese are not pleased with the Sri Lankan Government’s decision, especially since it was compelled by the strong protests lodged by neighbouring India.
On the one hand Wickremesinghe and his Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena, are working to form an all-party government with the participation of all political parties in Parliament, while on the other trying to maintain and strengthen the country’s bilateral relations with foreign countries to help Sri Lanka through one of its worst crises. As stated by President Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka is now heading for the worst six-month period, which will place unprecedented challenges on the country and its people.
Nevertheless, the latter is fast becoming the biggest challenge, even trumping the formation of the all-party government, given the significance of both India and China in Sri Lanka’s path to economic recovery.
It is in such a backdrop that the country is also witnessing an increase in its crime rate, with multiple shooting incidents and dead bodies being found floating in waterfronts in several areas. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) last week requested Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne to immediately conduct a fully-fledged investigation into the spate of shooting incidents and the dead bodies found on the Galle Face beach. The Association in a statement noted that the presence of such bodies had led to fear among sections of the public, in the absence of any explanation from the authorities. The BASL further emphasised to the IGP the necessity of urgently investigating these two matters to ensure that public confidence is maintained in respect of law enforcement and to ensure that Sri Lanka’s image is not adversely affected.
Amidst all these challenges, the Government is also working out its debt restructuring plan, which the President said would be complete within the next few weeks and submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reach an initial staff-level agreement on an assistance package for Sri Lanka.
Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena last week told the media that Sri Lanka would recruit specialist teams for identifying credit ratings on sovereign debt restructuring and international communications for its debt restructuring process, based on the request made by the Government’s financial and legal advisors. These two teams will be recruited to identify International Sovereign Bond (ISB) holders who have invested in Sri Lanka’s sovereign bonds in the past.
Key members of the international community also discussed Sri Lanka and its current crisis situation last week, giving some hope of further assistance to Sri Lanka in its hour of need.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week noted that Sri Lanka was in a moment of challenge and crisis but had an opportunity to create a more democratic and inclusive government. Blinken made these observations during a meeting with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in Cambodia on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. Sabry meanwhile expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation over the US role in securing support from the IMF.
State officials from the US and India also held discussions about Sri Lanka on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Cambodia when Blinken met Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. “I met with Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar today in Phnom Penh to discuss the implications of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and Sri Lanka’s economic and political situation,” Blinken tweeted.
Sabry also met with other key international partners, including the EU, to discuss Sri Lanka’s current situation and the way out of the crisis.
Rescinding permission
While Sri Lanka was engaged with the international community last week on how best to emerge from the ongoing crisis on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, the Government continued to engage with the Indians and Chinese to resolve the controversy caused by the impending visit of a high-tech Chinese vessel to Sri Lanka.
By mid last week, it seemed that the Government was unlikely to permit the Chinese vessel, Yuan Wang 5, with satellite and missile tracking capabilities to visit Sri Lanka due to the heightened diplomatic tensions over the visit, with India expressing strong objections and noting dire consequences if the vessel was permitted to dock in Sri Lanka.
Despite attempts by even President Wickremesinghe to ease the diplomatic row with Indian and Chinese officials, there had not been any breakthrough even towards the end of the week, with both sides unwilling to move from their stances.
The Government then decided to get Foreign Minister Ali Sabry to reason things out with the Indian and Chinese Foreign Ministers during his meetings with them on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Cambodia last week. However, it is reliably learnt that the Foreign Minister’s attempts were also not successful in amicably resolving the diplomatic crisis.
Highly-placed Government sources said that during his meeting with the Chinese delegation led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Sabry had tried his best to reason out the matter while explaining the current crisis faced by Sri Lanka and the need for the country to maintain its good relations with neighbouring India, while also appreciating the support extended by China to Sri Lanka.
During the discussion, it is learnt that Sabry had requested the Chinese Foreign Minister to consider the exceptional circumstances of the country in the current scenario and to explore the possibility of changing the route of the Chinese vessel, thereby avoiding it docking in Sri Lanka. However, Yi had not agreed with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, reiterating China’s stance that the vessel had sought and been granted approval by the Foreign Ministry and was therefore not willing to change course.
China’s loud and clear message that its vessel would arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday (11) was conveyed to President Wickremesinghe. The President and Foreign Minister had discussed the crisis situation that could arise in the event the vessel docked in Sri Lanka.
The Government was undoubtedly stuck in ‘a devil and the deep blue sea’ scenario trying to analyse the fallout the country would face under the two scenarios – first is to let the Chinese vessel dock in Sri Lanka and the next is for the Government to rescind permission granted to the vessel to dock here.
It was finally decided on Thursday (4) to rescind the permission granted to the Chinese vessel to arrive in the country and the letter was sent to the Chinese on Friday.
The controversy
Approval for the visit of the Chinese vessel, it is learnt, had been granted by Foreign Ministry Director General of the East Asia Division N. Bandara on 28 June based on a TPN from the Chinese Embassy in Colombo. Bandara was previously Consul General in Sydney in 2019 and later in Cyprus.
Prior to granting approval, the official had consulted the Ministry’s Legal Division’s Deputy Legal Advisor Tilani Silva, who had opined that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea obliged approval. Following this observation, the Director General of the East Asia Division had granted approval to the Chinese vessel to dock at the Hambantota Port. It is learnt that previous research ships had also been approved in similar fashion.
It is learnt that the Sri Lankan Government in 2021 and early 2022 had granted permission for several Chinese vessels for replenishment in Sri Lankan ports. Among them are Shi Yan 1 (15 April 2021 to Colombo), Shi Yan 3 (15 May 2021 to Colombo), Hai Ce 3301 (8 December 2021 and 5 January 2022 to Colombo) and Shi Yan 6 (20 April 2022 to Colombo). All these vessels had sought permission from the Foreign Ministry for docking and replenishments. Another vessel – Xiang Yang Hong 3 – that was due to dock in Colombo on 7 July 2022 for ‘research’ purposes was cancelled.
It is in this same manner that Yuan Wang 5 had sought permission to dock at the Hambantota Port on 11 August for replenishment. However, the issue that had further aggravated the situation was that neither the Ministry of Defence (MoD) nor the Sri Lanka Navy had been consulted on the latest request prior to granting approval.
The permission that was granted by the Foreign Ministry to Yuan Wang 5 states: “The Ministry wishes to inform that the authorities of the Government of Sri Lanka have granted the necessary clearance for the Chinese scientific research vessel Yuan Wang 5 for the port of call to Hambantota from 11-17 August 2022 with a 72-hour grace period for replenishment purpose, subject to the Government action plan for the prevention of Covid-19 and following conditions. *Keep the AIS switched on within EEZ of Sri Lanka, *Non-scientific research/survey to be conducted in Sri Lanka waters.”
“The Ministry further wishes to inform the esteemed Embassy that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has no objection for the use of frequencies and communication equipment in the said Chinese scientific research vessel to non-interference basis for the above period,” the clearance granted by the Foreign Ministry on 12 July 2022 further states.
It is in such a backdrop that the Defence Ministry last week said that the Yuan Wang 5 would be permitted to dock at Hambantota. “They had requested security clearance a while back and we did an assessment and gave them the necessary clearance. The ship will be at the port from 11 August to 15 August for replenishment,” a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry told the media last week.
The Ministry maintained that Indian, Japanese, Russian, US, and Korean ships also come here for replenishments and other purposes, adding: “We do have a question of why India has raised an issue about this particular instance.”
Meanwhile, several local political parties have also raised concerns over the Chinese vessel’s visit to Sri Lanka.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) tweeted: “We do not take sides with regard to power struggles between other countries. But we have also consistently stated that China’s military presence in the Indian Ocean would give India a legitimate defence concern and that Sri Lanka should not accentuate that by providing space for Chinese military presence in Sri Lanka.”
Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader Mano Ganesan tweeted: “Is China bringing Indo-Sino war to Sri Lankan waters and soil? When a US carrier goes closer to Taiwan seas, PR China boils and reacts strongly. Isn’t India justified in doing the same when China brings naval surveillance vessel Yuan-Wan to Hambantota?”
Titling towards India
Given the worsening crisis situation in the country and the growing tension over the Chinese vessel by the Indians, Wickremesinghe was quick to realise that neighbouring India needed to be pacified first.
After all, India’s concerns and strong protest over the Chinese vessel’s planned visit is not something the Wickremesinghe Government can turn a blind eye to, especially given the difficulty in rebuilding strained relations with India as a result of the actions of the former Mahinda Rajapaksa Government due to its pro-China policies and permission for Chinese warships and submarines to dock at the Colombo Port.
Understanding the importance of Sri Lanka’s relations with its neighbour, Wickremesinghe took steps to thank India for the assistance provided to the country in its hour of need. “I wish to specially mention the assistance provided by India, our closest neighbour, in our efforts to economic revitalisation. The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given us a breath of life. On behalf of my people and that of my own, I convey our gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, the Government, and the people of India,” the President said in his throne speech at the inauguration of the third session of the ninth Parliament on Wednesday (3).
All these were factored in when making the final decision on rescinding permission to the Yuan Wang 5.
The growing tensions between the US and China last week over Taiwan also made the Sri Lankan Government quite nervous about accommodating a Chinese vessel with satellite and missile tracking capabilities in Sri Lanka.
The Government realised that not only India, but the US would also raise concerns over Chinese ‘spy vessels’ in Sri Lanka. It was at this point that the Government decided to go through the permission that had been granted to the Chinese vessel in detail to ensure that all maritime laws had been followed in the process.
Several legal experts were also consulted to look at the UN laws that govern the seas that refer to vessels with military hardware and the requirement to declare all military hardware that is on board such vessels. However, it is learnt that the Chinese Yuan Wang 5 had only stated that it was a research vessel and that it was docking only for replenishment.
Balancing China
Soon after receiving Sri Lanka’s communication rescinding permission for the Chinese vessel to dock in Sri Lanka on Friday (5), Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong requested a meeting with the President. The Chinese Envoy was given an appointment for yesterday (6) afternoon. The Chinese Envoy had been visibly displeased and expressed China’s concerns and protest over the decision of the Sri Lankan Government.
During a meeting with Zhenhong earlier last week, President Wickremesinghe reiterated Sri Lanka’s firm commitment to the ‘one China’ policy, as well as to the UN Charter principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. Wickremesinghe’s move to make a public statement on the ‘one China’ policy was aimed at portraying Sri Lanka’s respect and amity towards China.
Noting that countries must refrain from provocations which further escalate the current global tensions, Wickremesinghe added that mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries were important foundations for peaceful cooperation and non-confrontation.
Prior to the official meeting with the Chinese Envoy, the President had also met with the Envoy for an unofficial discussion to express the difficult situation faced by Sri Lanka given the concerns expressed by India. During the unofficial conversation, it is learnt that China had noted that the vessel would be on a routine visit and had been granted permission by the Sri Lankan Government. Also, the Chinese side had pointed out that as a sovereign nation, Sri Lanka retained the right to decide on permission being granted to visitors.
It is also learnt that the Chinese had further pointed out that there was no reason for India to be concerned since the vessel was calling at a southern port in Hambantota and not in any other location in close proximity to India.
Indo-China row
The Indo-China row over the Chinese vessel could not have been resolved in an amicable manner despite the Government’s attempts and the situation would have invariably ended with either India or China being displeased with Sri Lanka.
Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a recent media briefing in response to reports about the Chinese vessel that the Indian Government “carefully monitors any development having a bearing on India’s security and economic interest and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them”. “I think that should be a clear message,” he added.
The Indian Government expressed strong objections to Sri Lanka’s decision to permit the Chinese vessel entry into Sri Lankan waters and to dock at one of the country’s ports.
China, however, plays an important role in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery as the Government seeks a financing loan from the IMF. The US-based fund said last week that Sri Lanka should kick off debt restructuring talks with its bilateral lender China. “China is a big creditor and Sri Lanka has to engage proactively with it on a debt restructuring,” IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan told Reuters in an interview last month.
Nevertheless, India also plays a key role in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery plan. Amidst the current controversy over the Chinese vessel, India has reminded the Sri Lankan Government that it has played the role of a good neighbour and a friend by coming to Sri Lanka’s side in its hour of greatest need.
The Indian Government last month held an all-party meeting in the Indian Parliament over the Sri Lankan situation and the assistance that had been provided as well as assistance that would be provided in the future. Sri Lanka is also negotiating another $ 500 million Indian credit line for fuel to tide the country through the ongoing crisis. However, it is reliably learnt that the fresh $ 500 million credit line being sought is unlikely to materialise any time soon.
22A to the fore
Amidst the many challenges, the Government is working towards moving ahead with the political reforms programme, with the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (1) approving the new draft 22nd Amendment Bill. The new 22nd Amendment Bill was gazetted last Wednesday (3) and is to be presented to Parliament by the Justice Minister this Wednesday (10).
The new Bill was presented to Cabinet after removing the special provisos that were included in the earlier draft Amendment Bill following a request by then President Rajapaksa.
Following the removal of the provisos, the draft 22nd Amendment Bill includes all the clauses of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution as previously planned. Also, several new clauses that further empower Parliament and address the issue of bribery and corruption have been included in the new draft.
The draft Bill when gazetted will be presented to Parliament seven days later for the first reading. The proposed 22nd draft Bill will be included in the Constitution as the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has already explained that the Government’s proposed draft constitutional amendment will be listed in Parliament as the 22nd Amendment since the amendment presented by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) as a private member’s motion has been listed as the 21st Amendment Bill.
However, there are several key changes introduced in the new 22nd Amendment Bill. According to Rajapakshe, while the prime minister and opposition leader were vested with the powers to appoint three MPs to the Constitutional Council, the 22nd Amendment proposes that the ruling party, opposition and minority parties are given the powers to nominate their representatives to the Council. The process is to be carried out under the supervision of the speaker without any involvement of the prime minister or opposition leader.
Another new clause added to the amendment is that the president will require the approval of the Constitutional Council when appointing a governor to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). Also, while the president could hold the portfolios of Defence, Mahaweli, and Environment in the interim, the new draft Bill has allowed the president to hold only the Defence portfolio.
The 22nd Amendment Bill has also lengthened the time allocated for people to challenge the constitutionality of proposed laws/bills from seven days to 14 days; proposed the introduction of a new bill to cover the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the laws on asset declarations by officials; stated that the secretary to a ministry must carry out the work of the respective ministry in the event the respective minister is no longer carrying out the functions and until a new secretary is appointed; and introduced certain limitations to amendments that are moved to bills in Parliament at committee stage to ensure that they are in line with the subject matter.
As for the proposals presented by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and the SJB, the Justice Minister has noted that there is no necessity to include a clause that members to the Monetary Board are appointed with the approval of the Constitutional Council. Rajapakshe has also noted that provisions relating to presidential pardons should be made through a normal regulation of a circular.
Referring to the SJB’s call for the abolition of the Executive Presidency, the Justice Minister stated that it could not be accommodated in the existing Constitution and could be introduced through a new constitution. “The Executive Presidency is the base of the Constitution at present. The Opposition’s proposed 21st Amendment had 60-odd clauses on the matter. However, the Supreme Court has determined that none of the clauses will be valid by Parliament approval alone and that they require a referendum,” Rajapakshe explained.
Meeting the parties
Prior to delivering the throne speech in Parliament, President Wickremesinghe decided to start meeting with political parties represented in Parliament to discuss the way forward with the all-party national government. A series of meetings was scheduled last week, starting from Tuesday (2).
The President met with representatives of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), and MP A.L.M. Athaullah’s party on Tuesday. Meetings with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the SJB were scheduled for Thursday (4) and Friday (5) respectively. Wickremesinghe’s plan was to include details of at least some of the discussion in his speech on Wednesday.
The meeting with the SLPP leaders on Tuesday (2) saw a group of party seniors attend the meeting. During this meeting, the SLPP had objected to separate meetings being granted to dissidents, saying they remained members of the party. Wickremesinghe had said he had sent letters to all legislators and would therefore be obliged to meet and discuss an all-party national government mechanism with anyone who came forward.
Wickremesinghe met with Alahapperuma and a group of his supporters who have declared independence on Thursday (4). Alahapperuma had said that his group had laid down several conditions for the formation of an all-party government. “We understand that the country is at a critical level in terms of economic stability. We suggested that no new positions should be created in the present Cabinet. No state or deputy ministers should be filled. We agree with the idea of an all-party government, though we, as a group, won’t take up any ministerial positions. We are willing to work in Parliament sub-committees and will fully cooperate in Parliament-related matters. Restoring education back to the pre-pandemic situation must be a top priority,” he had said.
However, Alahapperuma’s group had stated that they would support the all-party government.
SJB conundrum continues
The SJB meanwhile continues to be split over the decision of joining an all-party national government, with a group of party seniors continuing to push the party leadership towards it, while another group continues to oppose it.
As a solution to the differences of opinion in the party, it is learnt that Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has proposed that SJB members take on leadership roles in the parliamentary oversight committee on key sectors that are to be appointed in order to contribute towards the country’s economic recovery plan.
SJB’s S.M. Marikkar last week stated that the party would support the Government and that there was no problem in extending support to the Government while being in the Opposition. However, the party seniors, who believe the SJB should join the Government and be a party of the all-party mechanism, continued to push their cause with the party leadership.
Meanwhile, a group of SJB MPs started slamming the media for publicising news of a split in the SJB and that a group of SJB MPs were planning on joining the Government. MPs J.C. Alawathuwala and Kins Nelson led the attack on the media in a bid to try and turn the heat off the party.
However, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva publicly commended President Wickremesinghe’s policy statement in Parliament last Wednesday and was also seen in several photographs with the President engaged in deep discussion. De Silva has stated that the President had made some good points that would need to be implemented in order to resolve the crisis.
It is in such a backdrop that a SJB delegation led by Premadasa met with Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday.
All-party govt. to all-party administration
During the discussion with the SJB, the President had proposed that if the main Opposition was opposed to calling the proposed mechanism an all-party government, it could be identified as an all-party administration.
Wickremesinghe had explained to the SJB delegation that he had already invited all political parties in Parliament to form an all-party government and was currently engaged in discussions with the parties. He had further noted that given the dire situation in the country at present, all parties needed to join the Government and accept portfolios to share the responsibilities of getting the country out of the turmoil.
In lighter vein, Wickremesinghe had also noted that all those who had arrived as part of the SJB delegation had earlier worked with him (under the United National Party) and that there were no issues in working together once again. “In 1941, the main Opposition in the British Parliament accepted ministerial portfolios while serving as the main Opposition. The entire Parliament was converted into a government. We can also apply such a scenario. The 1977 Government with a five-sixth majority in Parliament developed the country. However, now we cannot rebuild the country with such a majority alone. We need an all-party government. The only alternative is an all-party administration,” the President had explained.
However, Premadasa had noted that the SJB was prepared to work with the Government and support it in its work to resolve the ongoing crises but would do so through parliamentary committees. He had said the SJB was agreeable to working through an empowered system of parliamentary committees. “Positive about joining forces for the sake of the country. Shall do so without ministerial positions, perks, or privileges,” Premadasa tweeted after the meeting.
The SJB had also called for the lifting of the Emergency Regulations and the release of Aragalaya protesters in custody, while also calling for a stop to intimidation and arbitrary arrests of demonstrators.
Meanwhile, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva noted that the talks between the SJB and President were positive, with everyone focusing on resolving the crisis. “90-minute discussion was positive. @sajithpremadasa said he came to the meeting with a ‘positive mindset’ and wished to see how best we could all work together through Parliament,” he tweeted after the meeting.
SLFP says yes
The SLFP meanwhile has decided to support the Government, but is yet to reach a final decision on joining the all-party mechanism.
The SLFP recently met the President prior to Sirisena’s departure on 28 July, where the party also handed a nine-point proposal to set up the all-party national government. The SLFP last week maintained that the party needed to hold a separate round of talks with the President to discuss in detail the structure and functions of the all-party national government.
SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara informed the rest of the parliamentary group that another round of discussions with Wickremesinghe should be held once Party Leader Sirisena returned to the country after the conclusion of a summit in Korea.
The SLFP parliamentary group recently decided that the party needed to play a lead role in the formation of the all-party national government since the party had been continuously pushing for such a mechanism to be put in place.
In order to further discuss the all-party national government, Wickremesinghe granted an appointment for Thursday (4) evening for the SLFP for the discussion. The meeting was scheduled after Sirisena’s return to the country.
Prior to the meeting with Wickremesinghe, the SLFP MPs met with Party Leader Sirisena. Sirisena had noted that the SLFP should reach a decision as a party on its support to the proposed all-party national government. He had also noted that a decision on ministerial portfolios should also be taken by the party. Through this move, Sirisena hoped to checkmate the SLFP MPs who were already tipped to receive ministerial portfolios.
During the meeting with the President, Sirisena had explained the areas that need to be looked at by an all-party government. Referring to the letter that had been handed over to Wickremesinghe by the SLFP at its previous meeting, the President had said that out of all the political parties, the SLFP seemed to have given a lot of thought to the structure and functions of an all-party government.
Prime Minister Gunawardena, who was also at the meeting, had asked Sirisena if the SLFP would be joining the Government. Sirisena, however, had evaded the question, saying that five party MPs were already in the Government (referring to the SLFP MPs who had earlier expressed support to the Government and joined it).
Finally, the SLFP had agreed to support the all-party government but had not gone into detail as to how it would be carried out.
Sirisena releases letter
However, soon after last Thursday’s meeting, the letter handed over by the SLFP to Wickremesinghe at the previous meeting was released to the media.
The nine key points of the letter included the holding of discussions with all political parties in Parliament on forming an all-party government; reaching agreements on forming an all-party government with political parties and not with individuals; a ‘disaster management cabinet’ with a limited number of members representing all political parties be appointed; the interim all-party government to pave the way for the holding of a General Election; note that appointments of certain cabinet ministers, ministry secretaries, and gazettes issued since Wickremesinghe was elected President by Parliament had eroded the confidence of many political parties, the public, civil societies, and professionals; take steps to implement the 19th Amendment to the Constitution; for the National Executive Council represented by all parliamentary party leaders; appoint a Civil Advisory Council for an effective engagement with civil societies and activists; and appoint a Technical Advisory Council to advise and guide the Cabinet ministries.
The letter further points out 11 items that had been discussed with the President. Among these issues are the proposed 22nd Amendment Bill, preparing a constitution to address the national question, release of political prisoners and issues related to lands in the north, all ministries, state ministries, departments and boards to be assigned set goals that are reviewed every six months, and review the work of technical evaluation committees and tender boards.
The SLFP MPs who attended the meeting had been surprised to see the letter handed by them to Wickremesinghe at the previous meeting being released to the media. Some of the MPs had started to inquire how the letter had made its way to the media and had been informed that it had been released by the party leadership.
This move raised doubts in the minds of the SLFP parliamentary group on whether Sirisena was sincere in his statement that the party would support the all-party government. However, apart from two members of the SLFP parliamentary group, the rest of the SLFP MPs were of the view that the party should join the all-party government and lead the initiative. Such a political move, they believed, would also help them get back some of their former members who had joined the SLPP and were now disgruntled with it.
A majority of the SLFP MPs believed that joining the all-party government was the best political move the party could make at the moment. Several members of the SLFP parliamentary group are to meet with Sirisena this week to discuss and reach a clear decision on how the party will join the all-party government.
TNA expresses support
The TNA on Monday (1) expressed its support for an all-party programme with the aim of creating economic and social stability in Sri Lanka.
In a letter addressed to President Wickremesinghe, TNA Leader R. Sampanthan stated that his party would extend its fullest support for the formulation and implementation of such a National All-Party Programme.
“Several issues – political, social, cultural, and economic – have faced the country since the time of independence. All national issues need to be addressed and resolved,” he added.
The TNA delegation’s meeting with Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (3) had been very cordial, with the TNA MPs requesting the President for his economic and political plan. They had also called for the re-enactment of the 19th Amendment and full implementation of the 13th Amendment. The TNA had also called for the release of Aragalaya prisoners and action on long-standing grievances, including the release of Tamil political prisoners who do not have legal action initiated against them.
JVP seeks meeting
While all key political parties including independent groups in Parliament met Wickremesinghe last week to discuss the setting up of an all-party national government, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) remained silent till Thursday (4).
The JVP on Thursday had requested the President for a time to discuss the ongoing crisis in the country and the latest developments. Upon being informed of the JVP’s request, Wickremesinghe had informed his staff to allocate 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday (9) for the meeting with the JVP.
JVP and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake last week claimed that the party would not have any part to play in the present Government and would also stay out of the proposed all-party government. Dissanayake noted that the NPP would not be a stakeholder of an all-party government that did not have a stipulated time frame, adding that the President’s policy statement in Parliament last week did not refer to the responsibilities, functions, and time frame of the proposed all-party government.
According to the JVP Leader, it was indicative of the President’s desire to stay in power for the remaining three years of the current Parliament. Therefore, Dissanayake said the NPP would not extend its support for such an all-party government.
Champika’s conditions
Meanwhile, dissident SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka on Monday (1) in a letter addressed to President Wickremesinghe laid down several conditions to commence a dialogue with the President to set up an all-party government.
Ranawaka has called on the President to abolish the Cabinet of Ministers that has already been appointed and to also abolish some of the appointments made by Wickremesinghe, which included those involved in corruption. “Reveal what you intend to follow when dealing with the IMF and what alternative steps are to be taken if Sri Lanka fails to strike a deal with the IMF. There is no point in having open dialogues if you don’t reveal your stance on the matters I have mentioned,” the MP has further noted in the letter.
“The new government which you intend forming must comprise all political parties and each party could play a role in Parliament by joining committees,” Ranawaka has observed. He has further noted that the government which the President intended to form should truly be an all-party government and a government which would carry out a programme with the consent of all political parties.
“Continuance of a dialogue on an all-party government depends on your ideology on the facts which I have come up with,” Ranawaka has added.