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SLPP secured two overwhelming mandates for total economic overhaul – Gevindu

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By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga says the 2021 budget presented by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Finance Minister would be able to strengthen what he called village-based economy.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga says Sri Lanka needs to take tangible measures to bolster the local economy or face the consequences.

Referring to overwhelming electoral victories achieved by Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential election followed by the SLPP securing unprecedented 2/3 parliamentary majority in spite of the PR system at the general election, Yuthukama Chief asserted that the 2021 budget would pave the way for overhauling of the national economy.

MP Cumaratunga told The Island that he had an opportunity on Saturday (21) to discuss in parliament how the budget could be the basis for a new economic model to check the ruination brought on by JRJ’s ‘open economic’ policy adopted in the wake of the UNP landslide victory at the 1977 general election.

At the onset of MP Cumaratunga’s speech, the civil society activist emphasized that the country was aware of who carried out the most assassinations of Tamil politicians and the high profile civilian rescue mission conducted by the armed forces in April-May 2009 where over 100,000 men, women and children held as human shields were saved.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya National List MP Mayantha Dissanayake who had been in the Speaker’s Chair intervened several times as Cumaratunga was repeatedly interrupted. When Cumaratunga complained, Dissanayake pointed out those who caused interruptions were members of the SLPP parliamentary group.

SLFP nominee Dr. Suren Raghavan (SLPP) interrupted Cumaratunga’s speech to allege how his efforts as the former Governor of the Northern Province to bring back 83,000 Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu were thwarted by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). On behalf of the TNA, its Vanni District lawmaker Selvam Addaikalanathan (TELO) hit back at Dr. Raghavan.

MP Cumaratunga alleged that President JRJ exploited the difficulties experienced by the people during 1970-77 Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s administration to completely do away with the economic system followed not only by the SLFP led coalitions but the UNP as well. At the expense of the entire gamut of local industries, President JRJ adopted an economy primarily based on foreign loans and an import-export system. The introduction of the new system had far reaching consequences, the MP said, explaining how Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera in his ‘Abuddassa Yugayak’ discussed how the elected, foolishly responded to the then economic situation. Dr. Amarasekera highlighted the increase in the foreign debt amounting to Rs 10.5 bn in 1977 to Rs 6,402 bn by 2019.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga alleged that the treacherous Wickremesinghe-Mangala Samaraweera duo followed the JRJ strategy. Alleging they were the worst of the UNP lot, Cumaratunga said that yahapalana administration co-sponsored the Geneva Resolution against the Sri Lankan military and sought agreements with both New Delhi and Washington at the expense of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Reference was made to ACSA (Access and Cross-Servicing Agreement) and SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) though MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) was left out.

Their strategy was meant to transform the entire country to a refugee camp, MP Cumaratunga said. Massive SLPP victories at the last presidential and parliamentary polls had underscored the public determination to reverse UNP strategies. The electorate brought the UNP to its knees at the last general election, MP Cumaratunga said, while praising those who defeated the UNP machinations at introducing a new Constitution during the previous administration.

Lawmaker Cumaratunga called for a new Constitution that met the aspirations of a vast majority of people. The lawmaker emphasized along with such a Constitution, the country needed to adopt a new economic model that catered to the needs of the people.

Cumaratunga compared the crisis here and in various parts of the world and the catastrophe faced by the US. Referring to Al Qaeda attacks directed at the US, MP Cumaratunga explained that those who pushed for all out liberalization of economies were now exploring ways and means of bringing back investments home and thwarting terrorism as well as unauthorized crossings across borders.

The MP also discussed the pivotal role played by the Defence Ministry in the overall government projects with the focus on poverty alleviation. Large sums of funds allocated to the Defence Ministry should be considered vital investments for a better future.

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AG not bound by its recommendations, yet to receive report

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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.

They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.

Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.

With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.

 

Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.

Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.

The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.

Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.

Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.

The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.

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JVP picks holes in PCoI report

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By Saman Indrajith

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.

“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”

Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.

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