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Dr. Arambepola for more space for women activists, welcomes Dr. Amarasuriya’s appointment
SJB accommodates Diana Gamage on its NL
State Minister Seetha Arambepola says political parties should pave the way for women civil society activists to seek political office. Viyathmaga nominated consultant ENT surgeon Arambepola believes her unexpected entry into parliamentary politics may inspire more women activists.
Having campaigned for Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s successful presidential bid, Arambepola received appointment as State Minister for skills development, vocational education, research and innovation. She was among two SLPP National List nominees made State ministers, the other being former Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
Asked whether she desired political office at the onset of the Viyathmaga movement, State Minister Arambepola emphasized entering parliament was never her intention. She said: “I volunteered. The Viyathamaga project really appealed to me.”
Arambepola was the only woman among 11 Viyathmaga activists given SLPP nominations (9 contestants) and on the National List (2) of the party at the recently concluded 2020 general election.
Pushing for an enhanced role for women in local government, provincial councils and parliament, the new entrant pointed out that often women entered parliamentary politics in the wake of their husbands’ assassinations or their passing away, in some cases death of husband or some other family member. Then there had been actresses, Arambepola said. Emphasizing that she had no issue with that, the State Minister pushed for more space for activists.
Arambepola welcomed the JVP-led Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB) nominating prominent woman activist Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, senior lecturer, Department of Sociology, Open University of Sri Lanka.
Political parties should be encouraged to field more women at all levels of elections and also accommodate on their respective National Lists at the general election, Arambepola said.
Responding to another query, Arambepola stressed that she was a taxpayer and engaged in politics at the expense of lucrative practice. Arambepola said that she never sought office. “Of course, when I was offered the post of Governor, Western Province, there was no hesitation on my part in accepting the new assignment. Similarly, I accepted the offer to accommodate me in the SLPP National List”, she added candidly.
The SLPP thanks to its overwhelming victory at the general election won 17 out of 29 National List slots. The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) won seven and the remaining six were shared one each by other contesting political parties.
The JJB’s decision to field an activist who had been on both print and electronic media over the years was a welcome sign whatever the stand she took up on the political stage.
Amarasuriya has been a strong critic of SLPP policies.
Arambepola and academic Amarasuriya are among over a dozen women elected to the 9th parliament. They are Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Muditha Prashanthi Zoysa, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Rajika Wickramasinha, Kokila Gunawardena, Manjula Dissanayaka, Thalatha Atukorale and Rohini Kaviratne and Diana Gamage. Newcomer Diana Gamage represented Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) National List. The SJB accommodated her in terms of an agreement between them and Ape Jathika Peramuna (AJP). The Election Commission recognized Sajith Premadasa led UNP dissidents’ request to re-name AJP as the SJB. Diana Gamage had functioned as the Secretary of AJP.
Geetha Kumarasinghe, who entered parliament at the August 2015 general election from the Galle district, was deprived of her seat in terms of the 19th Amendment that prohibited dual citizens from contesting general and presidential elections.
Kumarasinghe gave up her Swiss citizenship to contest 2020 general election.
State Minister Arambepola said that Viyathmaga received tremendous backing from women voters, both at the presidential and the recently concluded general election. A survey would reveal they played a significant role in both victories, the State Minister said, urging all political parties to enhance women’s representation at parliamentary level.
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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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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.
