The Government of Sri Lanka says that it has been made aware of the Open Judgement by the Proscribed Organizations Appeals Commission (POAC) of the United Kingdom on delisting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a proscribed terrorist organization. The government also said that it will appeal against the judgement of the independent tribunal in the UK which has reportedly ordered the British Home Office to lift the ban on the LTTE. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, issuing a statement today, said that the decision of the POAC dated…
Read MoreDay: 22 October 2020
Tribunal orders UK Govt. to lift ban on LTTE
An independent tribunal in the UK has ordered the British Home Office to lift the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The LTTE was proscribed in the UK in 2001. In 2019, the Tran-snational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) officially requested the British Home Office to lift the ban, claiming that the proscription of the LTTE was misperceived as a ban on advocacy for the establishment of a sovereign state of ‘Tamil Eelam’ and had a “chilling effect” on people’s participation in TGTE work towards that goal. The…
Read More20A: Muslim MPs vote in favour
Several members of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) voted in favour of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution while the SJB had officially decided to oppose the legislation. Among the SJB MPs who voted in favour of the 20th Amendment were MPs Diana Gamage, Ishak Rahuman, Faizal Cassim, H. M. M. Harees, M. S. Thowfeek, A. S. M. Raheem, Nazeer Ahamad and Aravindh Kumar. While several MPs from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) voted in favour of the 20th Amendment, the…
Read MoreSumanthiran urges MPs not to go in ‘reverse gear’ in direction of autocracy
When the 17th Amendment and the 19th Amendment was passed, why was it that almost the whole House approved it, he questioned. “Why did it happen? It didn’t happen for any other amendment, but those two.” Because those had the total approval of our people that this country must remain a democratic country, he said. “That messy as it is, democracy is the way that we have chosen and that’s the way, that’s the path we will tread.” “Democracy is messy. We know that. All of us know that. Discussion…
Read More20A could mean death of democracy
By Gagani Weerakoon and Methmalie Dissanayake Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Imthiaz Bakeer Markar yesterday (21) said in Parliament that he is of the opinion that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is also against the 20th Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which takes away all his powers and makes the Premier’s post a nominal one. Participating in the debate on the 20th Amendment Bill, he said: “I do not agree with the conduct of Prime Minister Rajapaksa. But his charisma helped you (the Government) to come to power. Now, you are…
Read MoreMPs will support 20A, Hakeem urges them to oppose it
ECONOMYNEXT- Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauff Hakeem is urging the members of his party not to vote in favour of the 20th amendment, especially in those who are representing the eastern province hoping that would be politically pragmatic given the development needs of the area. Speaking in the parliament earlier today, he said that SLMC has met few times to consider these amendments which have far-reaching consequences to the equilibrium of power between the executive, legislative and the judiciary.
Read MoreDual citizens who want to serve the Motherland must be given the chance – Kariyawasam
ECONOMYNEXT – Many Sri Lankans who fled violence and persecution in the country and have become citizens of other countries must be given the opportunity to return and serve their motherland, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Member of Parliament Sagala Kariyawasam said. Joining the debate on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution Kariyawasam said that many Sri Lankans fled the country either due to the 1983 anti-Tamil riots or the violence unleashed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in the late 1980s. “Many of these people are patriotic Sri Lankans who consider…
Read MoreThe forgotten 13th
Back to the 13th. The 13th Amendment is about provincial councils, at least in the operationalization of it. Provincial council elections have not been held in years. No one seems to mind, not even the die-hard devolutionists, not even the democracy-or-death types who wake up whenever their political darlings are in trouble. So, one can ask, ‘what’s the issue then; if we don’t have the PCs, then this business of weak powers or no powers for the president is a non-issue, surely?’ Well, the problem is in the fact…
Read MoreTNA will reject any constitution that doesn’t have wide national consensus: Sampanthan
ECONOMYNEXT – The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will reject any constitution that does not have wide national consensus including that of the Tamil people, TNA leader R Sambanthan said. The MP made this remark in a speech declaring the TNA’s and the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK)’s decision to vote against the 20th amendment to the constitution. In the second reading of the 20th amendment bill debate today, the senior Tamil politician told parliament that the Tamil community has consistently given their mandate for a new constitution. The democratic verdict…
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