A special cabinet meeting has been convened today to discuss the constitutional amendments, which would most likely include the original draft of the 19th amendment that was meant to include provisions that abolished the Executive Presidency, Colombo Telegraph learns.
The original 19A draft was meant to abolish the Executive Presidency. A human rights lawyers speaking to CT said the original version underwent several changes due to pressure from the JHU, Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Nimal Siripala de Silva and a section of the SLFP as they had threatened to prevent the passage of the bill by 2/3 majority. As a result, the section that abolished the Executive Presidency had been omitted and had been replaced by provisions that only curtailed certain powers of the Executive Presidency and this was the version that had been gazetted over a week ago.
This change had been met with protests from the government and as usual, the age-old tactic has been deployed in order to simmer down the rising objections – by awarding Ministerial posts.
Accordingly a national government was established yesterday by the UNP and the SLFP with 11 more cabinet ministerial posts, five state ministerial posts and ten deputy ministerial posts granted to MPs of both parties.
This move has given the chance for the government to once again, revert to the original draft of the 19th amendment to be presented before the parliament, since its passage would now meet with the objections of a few including the likes of the JHU and Wimal Weerawansa.
The President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chandrika Kumaratunga think 19A can be passed even if the JHU vote against, a source close to Sirisena told Colombo Telegraph.
Following are the cabinet, state and deputy ministers sworn-in yesterday:
Cabinet Ministers
A.H.M.Fousie – Minister of Disaster Management
S.B.Nawinna – Minister of Labour
Piyasena Gamage – Minister of Skill Development and Vocational Training
Dr. Sarath Amunugama – Minister of Higher Education and Research
S.B.Dissanayake – Minister of Rural Economic Affairs
Janaka Bandara Thennakoon – Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Development
Felix Perera – Minister of Special Projects
Mahinda Yapa Abewardene – Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
Vijith Wijeyamuni Soysa – Minister of Irrigation
Mahinda Amaraweera – Minister of Fisheries
State Ministers
Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi – State Minister of Environment
Jeewan Kumaratunga – State Minister of Labour
Mahinda Samarasinghe – State Minister of Finance
C.B.Ratanayake – State Minister of Public Administration and Democratic Rule
Dilan Perera – State Minister of Housing and Samurdhi
Deputy Ministers
Tissa Karaliyedda – Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana and Democratic Rule
Dayashritha Tissera – Deputy Minister of Fisheries
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya – Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
Laxman Seneviratne – Deputy Minister of Disaster Management
Laxman Yapa Abewardene – Deputy Minister of Aviation Services
Lalith Dissayanake – Deputy Minister of Irrigation
Jagath Pushpakumara – Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries
Lasantha Alagiyawanna – Deputy Minister of Rural Economic Affairs
Sudarshani Fernandopulle – Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Research
Shantha Bandara – Deputy Minister of Media
EDWIN RODRIGO / March 23, 2015
This is a masterly move, hitting 2 birds with one stone. Nice strategy from leaders, MS, RW, CBK etc. These are not rubbish politicians like MR, who have plundrered the hard gotten gains of the masses. They can be trusted to do what is the best for all of us.
The 2nd bird that it is targetting is MR and the 3 stooges. This will check mate them. MR tried to be funny intead of accepting defeat and relaxing. It is a case of him doing what is so aptly described by the Sinhla aphrase “Eda Gena Nema”.
/
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / March 23, 2015
Which version or edition of the 19th amendment is to be presented to parliament? Will we know what it is before it reaches parliament? What about the system to elect and select members to parliament? When will these reforms be finalised and presented to the public?
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
/
janaka / March 23, 2015
The President said that as a new Government, many steps have already been taken to resolve problems faced by people, adding that the Government is committed to building peace and reconciliation among Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities while eradicating the mistrust, fear and suspicion among communities.
He made these observations while participating in a ceremony to distribute title deeds of lands in the former High Security Zones being returned to the original owners. As the first step 425 acres of land were handed over to the rightful owners at the function.
“The government has been given high priority to resolve land issues of the people in the North and East”, the President further said.
The President pointed out that issues on lands have caused public uprisings and revolutions as well as critical political issues in the world. Therefore, politicians should give topmost priority to solve the problems on lands among people, he said.
President Sirisena stated that today the Government is not only giving the lands back to the people in North, but also providing all facilities to create a better environment for the people and their children to live in contentment.
http://colombogazette.com/2015/03/23/president-assures-jaffna-tamils/
/
Off the Cuff / March 23, 2015
Dear Dr Rajasigham Narendran,
You can find the gazetted version here courtesy the CT
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/19th-Amendment-English-Gazetted-Bill.pdf
/
Jagath Fernando / March 23, 2015
Jayawewa
All the very best to 19 A
Happy to go along even with piece meal amendments
/
Ansar / March 23, 2015
OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLE.
As long as the old devil is not given the platform to fool the masses once again and plunder the state all’s well, that ends well, goes the saying.
Hope to see the corrupt Ministers and MARA the most corrupt taste the full venom of justice, once the 19A is passed.
/
Ruwan perera / March 23, 2015
@ANSAR..
shaaaa u went all the way to Uk to learn ‘ OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLE’ that line.
Still wonder what paracites like you are leeching in that nation
/
Uthpala de Silva / March 23, 2015
This cannot consider as a civilize act, just a selfish move to grab the power. JHU, Liberal Party and others like this amendment if it is going remove the several authoritative power from the Executive Presidency and empower the relevant authorities such as Parliament and Legal System with that power, instead giving them to the Prime Minister.
CBK’s move is to become the PM with all powers. This will not help to establish good governance.
Another important point is how SB blamed at CBK with terrible language, which was sold by My3, UNP and other supportive parties heavily through media to win votes of innocent people. Now, CBK can join with SB…LOL
/
Peace Lover / March 23, 2015
“This cannot consider as a civilize act”
Pls can you tell if the following were civillised acts according to you
i) treating war hero Gen Sarath Fonseka like a dog and putting him prison and stripping his right to pension
ii) Allowing Duminda Silva to go scot free
iii) White vanning anyone who is against the then Govt or taking rich businessmen for ransom (eg:Hameedias,Jeyachandrand textiles,NO LIMIT owners etc)
iv) Turning a blind eye to BBS terror tactics
v)Aluthgama riots and not controlling it but supporting it
vi)massive acts of corruption
Please care to enlighten us
/
srilal / March 23, 2015
Don’t be silly , this is a great move , just look at the strategy , are they going to pass an Amendment like 18 ? of course not , 19A is a long awaited Amendment and time is ripe for it , unfortunately JHU sees only the negative aspects of it ,there isn’t much MY3 can do about it now , well done MY3,CBK and Ranil , please go ahead and get it done !
As for SB ,please check this video out how SB spoke about MY3 during the presidential campaign ,
(This man is very much in the same company as wimal Booruwansa , Gembanpila ,Dinesh , Dayasori et al )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq5Vb0CaNlA
/
Supun Jayawardhane / March 24, 2015
Great my friend Srilal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!you are spot on.
how these men could face it looking back the recent past is unthikable. I think SB the like belong to permanent jail sessions. But this is srilanka – searching for good ones is akin to search for mustard from a house nobody is dead…. MR regime has made it easier to breed criminals – that was his number 1 achievement during his last term. Rohitah Abey opens his mouth even wider these days not respecting the rights given to him and even other high criminals to express their views in today#s environment. My wish is to see all these men to be separated from the society (meaning they should be kept in jails such a long time of course through proper investigations on their high crimes and abuses deliberately made during the last time of MR regime)
/
srilal / March 24, 2015
Thanks Supun , As long as CBK is around SB type 3rd grade politicians days are numbered ,mark my word she will never give nominations to any of these undesirable characters , so most probably this is SB’s last chance to hold a ministerial position.
following people would not get the nominations at the upcoming elections
SB , Mahindagamage A, Keheliya R , Thissa A , Johnston F , Duminda S , Sarana G , Rohitha A , Nishantha M , Pavithra W , Susantha P , Arundika , Mervin et al ..
i’m not sure about Nimal Siripala , Susil P , John S , TB Ekanayaka , Sarath A , Rathwatte siblings et al future going to be , definitely none of them deserve to get nominations from any party.
/
Supun Jayawardhane / March 24, 2015
Thanks Dear. I was very happy hearing the speech one of the ruling ministers yesterday, in which she said that THE DAYS of convictions of all kind of high criminals are numbered- May be our people thought rulers would leave the criminals be away – but i have no doubt with patience and proper manner the current leaders would do the the job. Nobody cant disagree with the fact that MY3 says there is almost none without being smeared by corruption and abuses in the bunch of men and women left by Jarapakshe. I wonder how would Buruwanse, Gembanpila, the like would face it soon. I ve been waiting to see all these becoming the reality in the weeks to come. JVP is right for forcing the rulers to fulfil their pledges, but they also need to see it right, whether it is as easy as the rulers promised it – when it is to do it practically. So for a period of inferior… I see nothing wrong to appoint ministers until thing could get done.
SB – one time prisoner, deserves long term jail sessions, together with Buruwanse is what I feel when listening to their talks even today. Just of their pitty gains they make everything foolin the nation. But very same nation would never allow this to happen again and again. Last election results proved that clearly. Stupid folks from the south will though take long to get it, but notherners together with 0.9 mio youth (who joined the eligible voters for last election) will learn a lession to all in this country…. JAYA NIYATHAI. we are on the correct path now.
/
srilal / March 24, 2015
Dear Supun ,
i reckon this is a very clever maneuver by the troika , their idea is to get the bills passed at the parliament and to form a coalition which will prevent MR becoming a candidate , especially CBK , she would go extra mile to hamper MR’s future ambitions , MR knows it , he would never get another chance from CBK , she gave him the chance last time , we all paid (including her ) dearly for that mistake , so no more ,whole Mafia family must spend rest of their lives behind bars .
PS : MY3 is creating the right environment before arresting the Mafia family members !
/
Samuel Jayaweera / March 24, 2015
yes you are dead right.
The day all these high criminals not forgetting SB are hung by their balls nothing will work for the betterment of th enation. I wish I could see them being hung to the very same manner MR displayed his posters towards the end of the year – while I was visiting the country. It was unbearble the way those artists did the job by diplaying his posters every inch wihtin the colombo city. All these funds coudl have better been used to uplift of the miserable lives of those who fell deep by Renal diseases in Rajarata.
Meeharaka et all abused peoples funds for their shiki miki life styles – latter shoudl be not forgotten by anyone. Billions means billions that were taken from tax payers funds.
/
Samuel Jayaweera / March 24, 2015
xxxxyes you are dead right.
The day all these high criminals not forgetting SB are hung by their balls nothing will work for the betterment of th enation. I wish I could see them being hung to the very same manner MR displayed his posters towards the end of the year – while I was visiting the country. It was unbearble the way those artists did the job by diplaying his posters every inch wihtin the colombo city. All these funds coudl have better been used to uplift of the miserable lives of those who fell deep by Renal diseases in Rajarata.
Meeharaka et all abused peoples funds for their shiki miki life styles – latter shoudl be not forgotten by anyone. Billions means billions that were taken from tax payers funds.
/
Sama / March 23, 2015
CBK has never uttered a single word about wanting to take over any position. Like CBK, MR too has to come to sense and work for the future of the nation. This folks have ended up with all divisions – so those former leaders can also work in the process of reconciliation – which is a mammoth task to the permenant peace of this multi ethinic nation. So tell us why you the ilk feel that CBK wants to become next PM ?
Had there been no CBK, even today we would have been tyranized by MR and thugs. She has chosen the most suitable person as the common candidate in that last election. It was really the genial choice. MY3 IS the most suitable person to lead this country creating reconcilation between all folks. This you see today ALL GIANT PARTIES TO COME UNDER ONE umbrella is the greatest achievement since independece
/
Sylvester / March 23, 2015
Great news!
It is equally great to hear that third grade Prof G L Peiris has been left out in selecting new ministers. Perhaps may be that still he is employed as a nanny to Medamulana clan.
/
words / March 23, 2015
This is not about choosing good ministers.. this is about who was willing to “jump” again.. This is no National Govt!! The only new minister here worthy of a portfolio is Mahinda Samarasighe, and that too.. he has the same portfolio as RK.The rest are all third-graders
/
srilal / March 23, 2015
Mahinda S is a another opportunistic politician , He was one of the few that Ranil had complete trust , yet he back stabbed him and pole vaulted to MR camp to grab a position , since then he had been lying and putting the country down , this man is similar to that baka pandit moron DJ.
/
dcn / March 23, 2015
Great. The19A amendment should be passed with or without JHU. This is a small party with few members and they cannot dictate to the majority of members.
/
Indra / March 23, 2015
I saw a Youtube video where Pavitradevi Wanniarachchi – State Minister of Environment, was fighting with another politician. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Pavitradevi+Wanniarachchi+
She looked and sounded like a slut in heat.
This is the type of person, among other dubious characters, Maithripala Sirisena has appointed to the exalted position of “STATE MINISTER”, in order to able to continue as President.
If I were MS, I would say [Edited out] all of you, I don’t want this shame, and go back to Polonnaruwa. I am not that hard up to want to remain as President.
/
Off the Cuff / March 23, 2015
Dear Indra,
You forget that Maithree is still the all powerful president. He can still dissolve parliament if he wants to and prevent ANY amendment to the constitution.
He also can sack RW’s govt instead of dissolving Parliament and appoint a govt of his choice.
Without Maithree’s consent nothing can happen.
All this is happening because Maithree has been a man of his word. Recognize the fact and give credit where credit is due.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
srilal / March 23, 2015
Indra ,
You are a very short sighted person , MY3 doesn’t need to appoint all these nincompoops as ministers to hang on to his president post , he will be the president till 2020 , he did this to curtail his own powers ,only Wimal Booruwansa type a..holes are lost and have no clues what is happening , great move MY3 ,CBK and Ranil !
/
Dom / March 23, 2015
I hope they’d revert back to the original draft of the 19th Amendment since the Executive Presidency seems not suitable for the country to maintain under one man rule and although this country is not even under Absolute Monarch rule.
JHU and the SLFP should reconsider to join the hands of the current government’s idea to abolish the executive presidency which they had promised to the people during the campaign.
/
Asitha G Punchihewa / March 23, 2015
If the present “National” government is operating against the election manifesto presented during the Maithripala Sirisena’s campaign, there will be a lot of blood shed in this country. It may also lead to turbulence aiding culprits from previous and present regimes to side step legal implications.
/
Park / March 23, 2015
JHU is a racist party. If any one saw the Rupavahini program of Champika Ranawaka it was very clear he has racist views as he opposes singing National Anthem in Tamil and also it was clear how vulnerable he is as he too has misused his powers when he was a minister in the previous government. Champika is an opportunist and I am sure that JHU will have fewer seats that JVP at the next elections. JHU does not want a solution for the problems in Sri Lanka and wants to continue with the same old ways so that they have points to talk about. This would be the demise of JHU.
/
Plato. / March 23, 2015
This is a list of the National Athletic squad.
High Jumpers,Long Jumpers,Hop step and Jump,Pole vaulters,Javelin throwers,etc etc.Perhaps,since they are an asset to the nation any charges of Bribery and corruption will lapse on the day that the vote is taken in Parliament on 19A.
Sri Lanka a Land like no other!
/
Ansar / March 23, 2015
Ruwan,
Do you really need to go to UK to learn ?
This is how you under estimate our country. There are equally learned men in Sri Lanka, just like in UK. Do not misinterpret, I am a nobody in that sense.
That shows your bogus patriotism, just like your Master MARA and family. Wrap the sataka around the neck to fool you guys and leave for Big Apple wearing pant and shirt when the going gets tough.
Hope you remember the picture of your Patriot number 3, leaving the motherland in a hurry collecting whatever he could, like leaving a war zone. That sums up the patriotism of MARA and family.
Patriot Number 1 and 2 are also of the same blood, I guess.
/
JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / March 23, 2015
A master Move.
On Chess Board, Check Mated.
Thieves, Crooks, Kudu dealers, Rapists are Dime a dozen.
And Laughing from There Arses!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Mr Sirisena Your in Deep ££££££££!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????.
/
BBS Rep / March 24, 2015
I agree. However nothing masterly about these moves. Once again the gallery is nothing but a rogues gallery. Cheap and nasty lot have pole vaulted once again. Yahapalanaya is turning into yahalu palanaya. Even the gutter mouth Pavithra has been taken in. The euphoria of the My3 win has certainly waned. The worst is yet to come.
Politics, dirty politics.
/
Peace Lover / March 23, 2015
oh even Pavithra the hottie has left MR’s side
/
srilal / March 24, 2015
you mean the toilet mouth ?
/
Samuel Jayaweera / March 24, 2015
I thoguht Pawithra the most abusive female cadidate of MR regime would leave politics since she even wanted to bet her properties in case MY3 WON the election. Why the toilet women to stay further in politics is the question that i raise today.
/
Supun Jayawardhane / March 24, 2015
Lanken structures that left by MR are intertwined as the separation can be effortless. SO there is no other way than move on with patience and highly strategic methods. I believe – current mechanisms being applied by the adminstration is wise. And MY3 can make it. I have no doubt about that.
/
Ranil Wijeyesekera / March 26, 2015
The appointment of MR and Hon Siripala to the National Executive Council is essential to solve our problems. They can answer queries regarding past.
/
xlntgson / March 26, 2015
With party politics and election craze nothing can be changed. If elections are inevitable in a democracy it shouldn’t be party based rather candidate based. Then the eletorate would be as broad as the nation not nursed racial constituencies. Ghettoes galore! Eg. Wickrabahu Karunaratne getting elected by Tamils all over the island otherwise he won’t, pro rata or first past post, real nationalist (!) than calling him a traitor.
/