It is reported that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka is currently holding discussions with President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
It was at the President’s House in Colombo Fort.
They had presented a 13-point plan to resolve the current political and economic crisis, and they have discussed the issue with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and 11 smaller independent parties this morning.
Former President and Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Maithripala Sirisena says that the discussions held with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka regarding resolving the current political crisis were very successful.
The discussions focused on how to make the necessary amendments to the Constitution in relation to the current political situation in the country and the solutions to the economic crisis. Other institutions including the Bar Association and the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce are involved. Our discussion was very successful.
The hope is that we will continue to work together with all political parties and seek the views of organizations such as the Bar Association to resolve these issues. ”
Q. Have you talked about an all-party government now?
“Yes, we have suggested it.”
Q. What do you do when voting on a state of emergency?
“Sri Lanka Freedom Party opposes the imposition of the state of emergency. When a vote comes in Parliament, we vote completely against it. ”
Maithripala Sirisena was speaking to the media after a discussion with representatives of 11 independent parties, including the SLFP, in Parliament this morning (08) with several parties, including the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
John Lee has been named Hong Kong’s new leader, after a closed voting process in which he was the sole candidate.
His appointment is being widely seen as a move by the Chinese government to tighten its grip on the city.
Known as a staunch Beijing supporter, Mr Lee oversaw the sometimes violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protestors in 2019.
Mr Lee replaces outgoing chief executive Carrie Lam, who had served since 2017.
Hong Kong’s leaders are selected by a closed-circle committee of around 1,500 members, who are nearly all pro-Beijing loyalists – although this time there was only one contender for them to elect.
Mr Lee, who was the former Chief Secretary and the city’s second-highest ranking official, was always tipped to be the favoured replacement for Ms Lam who earlier announced that she would not seek a second term in office.
But although Mr Lee has Beijing’s backing, he is deeply unpopular for his role in overseeing the crackdown on protestors during demonstrations over a controversial extradition bill in 2019.
Mr Lee continued to back the bill despite the unrest, and came under intense criticism for sanctioning the police’s use of water cannons, rubber bullets, tear gas and occasionally live ammunition to disperse protestors.
In 2020, he also backed the imposition of a controversial national security law which criminalised most forms of political protest and dissent, and reduced the city’s autonomy.
Mr Lee maintained that the law would help restore “stability from chaos”.
He was elevated to the leadership ranks last year, in a sign, analysts said, of Beijing’s intention to focus on security in Hong Kong.
His role in the implementation of the law led to US sanctions against him and a dozen other officials, and a YouTube block on his 2022 election campaign.
The League of Social Democrats – one of the only remaining pro-democracy groups – held a three-person protest before polls opened, chanting “power to the people, universal suffrage now”.
“This is what John Lee’s new chapter looks like, a shrinking of our civil liberties,” said protester Vanessa Chan as police officers looked on.
“We know this action will have no effect, but we don’t want Hong Kong to be completely silent,” she added.
Protests are currently taking place across the country demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. A continuous protest is also being held in front of the Temple Trees where the Prime Minister resides and it has been named as Maina Go Gama.
Mahinda Rajapaksa is on a visit to Anuradhapura today amidst nationwide protests. He had come to pay homage to the Sri Maha Bodhi this morning and the people had protested against the Prime Minister who had come out of Uda Maluwa.
The protesters urged the Prime Minister to listen to the demands of the people and go home.
The Prime Minister left the venue with members of the security forces and then proceeded to pay homage to the Ruwanweli Seya and the Mirisawetiya Dagaba. It is reported that the people also opposed the Prime Minister at those venues too.
People are currently engaged in protests in many places in Colombo demanding for gas and kerosene.
Protests have been conducted in the Grandpass area in Colombo since yesterday demanding the supply of gas and currently, the protesters are protesting on the highway. The protest has also caused heavy traffic congestion in the Grandpass area yesterday.
Meanwhile, gas consumers in the Navinna area in Maharagama also started a protest this morning. They were blocking the High-Level Road and police were deployed to control the protesters.
In addition, people in many parts of the country are protesting for gas.
It is reported that there is a shortage of gas throughout the country at present and it has not been possible to supply the required gas for essential services.
It was reported yesterday that Mahinda Rajapaksa is preparing to resign from the post of Prime Minister in the next few days. The media reported that President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was pressuring his brother to step down as Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, a majority of members of the SLPP are protesting against Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation as Prime Minister and are ready to defend the position as Prime Minister under any circumstances.
A group of local government representatives representing the SLPP visited Temple Trees yesterday and asked Mahinda Rajapaksa not to resign.
If the President decides to remove the Prime Minister, the decision of the President should be rejected in the manner in which Ranil Wickremesinghe acted in 2018.
Meanwhile, members of the SLPP are preparing to arrive at Temple Trees tomorrow to protect the Prime Minister. An organized campaign has been launched on social media to invite party members to Temple Trees.
Pohottu party members are been requested to come to Temple Trees tomorrow at 9 am on behalf of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Ministry of Defense has announced that the leave of all members of the security forces has been canceled with immediate effect due to the declaration of a state of emergency.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Defense has instructed them to report to work immediately.
The relevant announcement is below.
We have seen reports that a water cannon vehicle was imported by Government of Sri Lanka under a credit line extended by Government of India. These reports are factually incorrect.
No water cannon vehicles have been supplied by India under any of the credit lines extended by India to Sri Lanka.
Credit line of USD 1 billion to Sri Lanka is intended to help the people of Sri Lanka with availability of food, medicines and other essential items required by the people of Sri Lanka in the current situation.
Such incorrect reports don’t make any constructive contribution to the cooperation and efforts undertaken to address the ongoing challenges faced by the people of Sri Lanka.
According to internal sources, a number of major parties have already agreed to appoint former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to the post of Prime Minister of the National Unity Interim Government.
The National Unity Interim Government is to be formed in accordance with the 13 proposals submitted by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to the Chief Incumbents and the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya had agreed to the resolution yesterday (07).
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had yesterday morning formally invited the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa to take over as Prime Minister. Sajith Premadasa had stated that he could not take a single decision in this regard and that the decision would be announced after discussions with his party.
Accordingly, the group including the members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya who met yesterday afternoon have discussed at length and agreed to form a national government as per the proposal of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
It is said that Sajith Premadasa has stated that he will not accept the post of Prime Minister, since it is a national government formed with the participation of all parties in Parliament, it is more important to appoint a person who is acceptable to all than a leader of a single party who becomes the Prime Minister.
Sources say that a number of key parties including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the Mahanayake Theras and the Maha Sangha have agreed that Karu Jayasuriya is the most suitable person for this.
Sri Lanka in particular is currently facing the worst economic crisis in its history. It is clear that a leader who is experienced, mature, has good relations with the international community, who has no allegations of corruption, who is out of party politics, and who is acceptable to all is essential to lead the process of overcoming it. International support is extremely crucial at this moment and the fate of 20 million people will depend on it.
Therefore, many parties have agreed that Karu Jayasuriya is currently the best option for Sri Lanka to work together and provide leadership to meet this challenge.
According to sources, Samagi Jana Balawegaya National List MP Mayantha Dissanayake has proposed to resign to get Karu Jayasuriya elected to Parliament. Sources further said that Harin Fernando has also informed that he is ready to give the parliamentary seat on behalf of Karu Jayasuriya if necessary.
The General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC SL) Maxwell de Silva became a victim of an unprovoked physical attack by two unidentified assailants at his residence in the wee hours Friday and then made their getaway by hi-jacking the house owners’ private car.
As a result, de Silva sustained four finger injuries which he sustained while trying to ward-off the attackers who were branching knives.
The two attackers had gained access to the de Silva residence when the lady of the house opened the front door of the house as a result of a rumpus made by the two dogs who had heard noises in their front yard.
The assailants then confronted the sleeping Maxwell de Silva and attacked him alleging that they had been the victims injustice.
It is believed that this is a result of the Commonwealth Games selections and a party who is affected by it. It also thought this is an extension of the rivalry between de Silva supporters and the faction that faced defeat at the last contest for the executive committee positions of the NOC SL.
