It is reported that the signing of the no-confidence motion against the government has begun.
According to political sources, the opposition has a majority of 113 seats.
Accordingly, it is reported that the government could have lost the opportunity to leave with great honor and a powerful foreign country would be behind the defeat of the government.
Sources said that Tissa Attanayake, Rajitha Senaratne, Harsha de Silva, Mujibur Rahman, Rishad Bathiudeen, Eran Wickramaratne, Kabir Hashim and many others have already signed the no-confidence motion.
However, the special debate in Parliament is still active today (08).
The next cabinet will be limited to 15 members, according to internal government sources.
It is said that the decision to reduce the 30 member cabinet to 15 has been taken in view of the protests taking place in the country.
It was reported that the two separate Ministries of Power and Energy which were previously under the present government will be merged and handed over to Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
The cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in today, but will be sworn in on the 10th after observing the massive public protests scheduled for tomorrow (09), sources said.
However, at least by the 10th, even only the Minister of Finance will have to be sworn in, as the IMF talks are scheduled to begin on the 11th.
Samagi Jana Balawega MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that the government and the president should resign since they have no ability or interest to support people who are suffering.
He was participating in a mass protest in Kiribathgoda.
Fonseka said the government’s failure had now been realized by the people.
However, he emphasized that the people’s struggle must continue.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan could face removal from office this weekend, after the country’s top court ruled his move to block a no-confidence vote was unconstitutional.
Last Sunday, Mr Khan’s ruling party blocked a no-confidence vote which he was widely expected to lose. His government then dissolved parliament and called a snap election.
Furious opposition members launched an appeal with the Supreme Court to decide the legality of the blocked vote.
The Supreme Court said in a ruling late on Thursday that the vote should go ahead.
In response to this, Mr Khan announced that he had called a cabinet meeting and would address the nation on Friday evening.
“My message to the nation is that I have always fought for Pakistan and will continue to fight till the last ball,” he wrote in a Twitter post.
The inaugural session of the bilateral political consultations between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands at Foreign Ministry level was convened on Tuesday 05 April, 2022 on a virtual platform. The consultations coincided with a year-long programme jointly organized by the Embassies of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in Colombo and in The Hague to commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The two sides engaged in productive discussions on a multitude of areas of bilateral and multilateral interest comprising political cooperation and the exchange of high-level visits; trade, investment and tourism; air connectivity; climate change; capacity building and training of the public service; women’s empowerment; cooperation in defence, education and agriculture; as well as cultural cooperation. The two sides reiterated their mutual interest in further consolidating trade and prosperity through engagement in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka apprised the Netherlands of progress in reconciliation including the PTA reform process. The discussion identified a number of areas of follow up, with particular attention to development cooperation.
Sri Lanka appreciated the support extended in multiple spheres by the Netherlands through its development cooperation portfolio, as well as the market access provided for Sri Lanka’s exports to the Netherlands via the EU GSP plus scheme.
Recalling historical relations spanning 400 years, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands deliberated on enhancing cultural cooperation through technical assistance in the restoration of Dutch heritage sites, cooperation between museums and the national archives and discussions on ongoing on the restitution of artifacts.
Sri Lanka acknowledged the support rendered by countries in Europe through the European Union and bilaterally, in addressing the shared challenges posed by Covid-19.
The Consultations were co-chaired by the Additional Secretary/ Bilateral (West), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Manisha Gunasekera and the Director General/Asia and Oceania (DAO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Karin Mössenlechner.
The Netherlands delegation included the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka Tanja Gonggrijp, the Head of South Asia and South-East Asia/ Department for Asia and Oceania Max Valstar and senior officials from the Netherlands Foreign Ministry. The Sri Lankan delegation included the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Aruni Ranaraja, Director General Europe/ Varuni Muthukumarana and senior officials from relevant line Ministries/agencies and the Foreign Ministry.
The second session of bilateral political consultations between Sri Lanka and Netherlands will be held in the Hague, the Netherlands in 2024.
The trade unions of all state and semi-state institutions will go on a one-day island-wide strike today (08), said the Co-Convener of the Trade Union Coordinating Center Udeni Dissanayake.
“As a trade union coordination center, the state, semi-state and private sectors have been called for a general strike. It is evident that the government does not listen to these demands of the people and continues to deceive the people and greedily retain their power. Therefore, we have called on all public servants to go on a one-day strike. Then, if there is any work that needs to be done by the entire people of this country through government offices, we appeal to them to refrain from coming to government offices. Because this is not a strike that oppresses ordinary people. We are also preparing for a massive protest at Lipton Circle. All trade unions are participating in this. We invite all working people in this country to join us in ousting this corrupt government. ”
Udeni Dissanayake stated this while briefing the media on the trade union action being taken today.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Peiris briefs Colombo based Diplomatic corps on the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris briefed the Diplomatic corps on 6 April, 2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his address, Minister Prof. Peiris stated that the Government of Sri Lanka was fully aware of the severe hardships of the people and its magnitude with the most pressing issues being power cuts, shortage of gas, fuel and essential medicines. The excessive heat which has exacerbated the situation and the negative impact on various industries as a result due to the power cuts were also adding to the woes of the public. He stated that the protests and the demonstrations by the people taking place across the country was an “expression of despair” and they were crying out at a distressing situation. He also stated that 80-85% of those taking part in the protests and demonstrations were neither extremists nor politically motivated and that Article 14 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka guaranteed the right to assembly, freedom of expression. He further stated that the right of the people to protest was an indication of the vibrant democracy prevailing in Sri Lanka.
Referring to violence that has taken place outside the residence of the President and Members of Parliament during the past few days, the Minister called on the Diplomatic corps to reflect on the gravity of these incidents and what was unfolding.
Foreign Minister Peiris stated that the protesters had exhibited an overall contempt and expressed hatred for the entire parliamentary system and were asking all MPs to step down. The Minister explained that the Government continues to address the issues affecting the people with other governments and international agencies and is optimistic that the matters would eventually be resolved.
Minister Peiris stated that the demonstrations were not directly against the government, a political party or the ruling party but against the entire political establishment of the country and that the very foundation of the system was under criticism.
The Minister pointed out that some of the demands by the demonstrators were not realistic and cannot be met and that they did not seem to want a solution based on available options in keeping with the Constitution. He also stated that from focussing on the shortage of gas, fuel, essential medicines and the power cuts, the protestors were now demanding for restitution of plundered wealth and assets with some approaching the Supreme Court to prevent MPs from leaving the country until a comprehensive audit of all their private assets was done. He further stated that the call for all MPs to resign and allow academics and professionals to run the country was not feasible as there was no country in the world that was governed in such a manner.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also outlined the Constitutional provisions that were currently available which included the Prime Minister taking over for 60 days in the event an incumbent President resigns, after which the MPs would have to elect a suitable leader among them to lead the country for the remaining period until an election can be held.
He stated that while in some countries it was possible for the people to recall their elected representative, that was not so in the case of Sri Lanka. He also explained the various processes and options available under the Constitution to remove an incumbent government. The Foreign Minister pointed out that the current government still held a majority in parliament and that despite the agitation, there was no consensus on who can replace the current President, Prime Minister and the Parliament.
Foreign Minister Peiris also stressed on the importance of retaining stability in the country which was of paramount importance and added that the former Finance Minister had contacted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in order to address the situation and that the process had to move forward.
Minister Peiris expressed his appreciation to the Diplomatic corps for their participation and requested the envoys for their understanding, goodwill and empathy during a uniquely critical time in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan feminists have urged the authorities to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis caused by the economic collapse in Sri Lanka.Issuing a statement the feminists said that the country is facing the worst economic crisis in its post-independence history.
Widespread food and fuel shortages are crippling the lives of people. Such a situation that has already lasted several weeks is now resulting in widespread protests which are being repressed violently.
Women of Sri Lnka anticipate escalating violence in the context of the spread of peaceful protests by average citizens to express democratic dissent against this unjust situation.
On the whole, they noted that they are witnessing the unfolding of a humanitarian crisis.These conditions will contribute to more people falling into poverty and increasing inequalities, setting the country back by several years.
Women are at the forefront of dealing with this crisis in gas queues, queues for essential food items and in protests,” the statement said.The statement noted that there is now a monumental political crisis even as the economic crisis remains immediate and primary for ordinary people.
“The urgent need in order to perform those duties is for a civil, democratic governance system that can restore the confidence of the people.In spite of the imminent collapse of the existing Government, the state mechanisms should perform their fundamental duties of ensuring the rights and welfare of the people.
All measures demanded by them are based on the premise that the Government must prioritize the basic needs of the peoplerecognizing that people feel a deep frustration with the political class and emphasize the urgent need for the citizens of Sri Lanka to have governance systems that can restore the confidence of the people.
In this context, urgently launching a humanitarian operation, with a focus on preventing national level starvation and chaos is imperative.The government in all its negotiations within and outside the country, to emerge from this crisis, MUST address these needs by allocating and reallocating resources accordingly,” the statement said.
Former Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal says that he had no intention of leaving Sri Lanka at this moment.
A court order was issued yesterday (07) banning him from traveling abroad, he said.
“I had no intention of going abroad at this time. There was a personal trip planned a few months ago, but even that had to be postponed from time to time with work. I was planning to go on that trip for the New Year holidays but later I gave it up too. Because under the current situation, if I had left the airport, the media would have told that I had fled the country. But if I came back no one would distribute the news that I had returned. I have no reason to flee the country, and I will not. Some political figures are making up stories to get the attention of the media ” he said.
Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been barred from traveling abroad until the 18th of this month in connection with a case filed in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court by Keerthi Tennakoon and Maithri Gunaratne, who held governorships during the previous government.
