News
Petition before Supreme Court against presidential election
Former Galle Mayor Methsiri de Silva has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court (SC) requesting the gazette notification announcing the November 16 presidential election be suspended.
The petitioner has also requested that the Elections Commission’s decision to call for nominations on October 7 be suspended as well.
The petitioner notes that the term of office of the current President is six years and if it is limited to five years it would have an effect on the sovereignty of the people.
Chairman of the Elections Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya and members of the commission have been cited as respondents.
However, political analysts say that the petition filed before the Supreme Court could be seen as an attempt to delay the date of holding presidential elections since Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa is facing litigation over his eligibility to contest at the election due to doubts over his citizenship.
Gota to travel overseas; Maiden rally on the 9th
Rajapaksa has sought approval from the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar to travel to Singapore from October 9-12.
The Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar has imposed an overseas travel ban on Rajapaksa over an ongoing case.
Meanwhile, a writ application filed before the Court of Appeal by two civil society activists are to be taken for consideration today and tomorrow.
Rajapaksa’s maiden election rally is to be held on the 9th in Anuradhapura, which is the same day he has requested to travel overseas.
SLPP blames Army commander for Easter attacks
SLPP member, MP Susil Premajayantha charged that the National Peoples’ Movement (NPM) presidential candidate, Senanayake should be held accountable for the April Easter Sunday attacks.
He made this comment in response to a question posed on the impact Senanayake’s candidacy have on the vote base at the elections.
“Senanayake as Army Commander, cannot rid himself off the responsibility of the loss of lives that occurred due to the devastating Easter Bombings,” Premajayantha said.
Meanwhile, SLPP presidential candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s spokesman Dullas Alahapperuma explained that during the last election, 17 presidential candidates contested in addition to Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa and that the 17 candidates together were only able to secure a total 137,000 votes.
“Mushrooming candidates is a common occurrence during Presidential elections. People know who to vote for. In the coming weeks, people will know which forces control these so called presidential candidates,” he added.
Cabinet approves Vote on Account for 2020
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to submit a Vote on Account for the first four months of 2020.
The Vote on Account as opposed to a full budget will be presented as a Presidential election will take place on 16th November 2019.
The Vote on Account will cover state expenditure from 01.01.2020 to 30.04.2020 after which a full budget will be presented by the new government appointed following the presidential election.
PSC appoints acting AG; MR calls for parliamentary probe
Rajaratnam was appointed as Acting Solicitor General after Solicitor General Dilrukshi Dias Wickremasinghe was interdicted from office by the PSC.
PSC action against Wickremasinghe was initiated after a leaked telephone conversation between Wickremasinghe and Avant Garde Chairman, Nissanka Senadhipathi was released on social media.
In the conversation, Wickremasinghe while expressing deep regret over the filing of a court case against Avant Garde said that she could “make the law or break the law” while blaming disruptive politics in the country over the case.
However, Wickremasinghe later claimed that the telephone conversation leaked on social media was not the complete conversation and that it was made via a telephone belonging to a government minister.
Wickremasinghe earlier served as the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC)
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a parliamentary level committee to probe the allegations made by Solicitor General Wickremesinghe and former Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath over political influence on investigations.
Rajapaksa made this observation at the National Convention of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya which was held in Kurunegala yesterday.
He said attention had been drawn to interdict one Solicitor General and to remove the other over the allegations they had made, but no attention has been given to probe the allegations and revelations made by them.
Rajapaksa therefore called for a parliamentary level committee to probe the allegations made by the officials.
Sajith and Anura ready for public debate; Gota yet to confirm
However, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) pesidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is yet to confirm his attendance at the “Presidential Election 2019—Public Platform” scheduled on 5 October at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
The event will host the top presidential candidates on a single platform to answer five pre-selected questions on a wide range of issues, from national security to the economy and women’s rights and representation.
Gota avoiding media due to court cases: Dullas
Rajapaksa’s spokesman, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said that Rajapaksa was avoiding the media based on legal advice.
He said that several cases have been filed against Rajapaksa locally and his lawyers have advised him to stay away from the media as a result.
Alahapperuma further noted that Rajapaksa is a media friendly person but is being forced to avoid the media as a result of the court cases.
The MP made these observations during a news briefing held in Colombo yesterday.
Head of Witness Protection to resign, says Minister; Won't resign, says Gamlath
“Gamlath has informed the Presidential Secretary that he will be resigning from his post,” she said.
However, the Minister noted that if he does not resign immediately, the Presidential Secretary will take due action.
Athukorala further stated that as a public servant, it was unethical for Gamlath to give his “political views” to the media.
“I requested President Maithripala Sirisena to take action against him and the President’s office had assured me that action will be taken,” the Minister said. “We have no issues with his political ideology but he has violated procedures which a public servant should follow,” she added.
The former Solicitor General during an interview with the Aruna Newspaper had stated that Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Minister Rajitha Senaratne had pressurised him to arrest former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse over the Avant Garde case.
Meanwhile, Gamlath has told the media that he spoke the truth and said that speaking the truth had been construed as politics.
“If telling truth is construed as politics what is the use of living in this country,” Gamlath has said.
Sajith ready to sacrifice salary and perks
United National Front (UNF) presidential candidate Minister Sajith Premadasa says he is prepared to forego his salary and benefits if elected as President in order to address the increasing wealth disparity in the country.
Premadasa made this observation at a press conference held at the official residence of Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday.
“More than 45% of the population lives under a daily wage of Rs. 900. These people earn less than 30,000 a month. The Census and Statistics Department says a minimum of Rs. 55,000 is needed for food and non food expenses to run a family of four,” Premadasa observed.
He further noted that 55% of the national income was distributed among the richest 20% while only 5% of the national Income was distributed among the poorest 20%.
“I will contribute my own salary and benefits for this cause once elected as President,” Premadasa said, adding that his government would introduce target driven measures to eliminate such inequality and improve living standards of the people.
Easy win for Sajith in Sajith-Gota race: Victor Ivan
“Usually the poor and the oppressed see Sajith as the saviour. It will bring about a profound change in politics, society and in particular the voter base. That means Sajith will get an easy win in the race between "Sajith and Gota."
“When speaking about the oppressed, it does not only affect the Sinhalese. It also includes the people of the North and the Tea Estates. This is because those people are oppressed as well. For all of them, Sajith is an inspirational leader. Gota does not have this effect on them," he said.
“Gota has a different voter base. The advantage that Sajith has is his ability to attract voters from other voter bases apart from the UNP voter base," Ivan noted.
Focus first on Presidency, not on PM or Cabinet: Sajith
The UNP has said that party leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be appointed as the Prime Minister if Premadasa wins the election next month.
Political developments keep President away from UNGA
The President was represented by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Ariyasinghe at the UN meeting.
The General Debate of the 74th session of the UNGA began on 24 September and ended yesterday (Monday).
A source at the Presidential Secretariat said the President’s Office had made all preparations for President Sirisena’s, visit but was informed at the last minute that he will not be participating.
Although the reason for the withdrawal was not known, the source believed that the President’s last minute withdrawal may have been triggered by the current political situation in the country.
If the President participated in the sessions he might be in New York at a time when the country’s political situation is at a very decisive stage.
If the President participated in the UNGA, it would have been his last representation of Sri Lanka at the UNGA prior to ending his term as President.
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