Sri Lanka ParLiament will elect a new President at time where the country is facing massive financial constraints along with political uncertaining following the youth uprising demanding system change
Party leaders have reportedly decided to convene the Parliament on July 15 (Friday), following the President’s resignation.
SJB parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that nominations for the position of President will be accepted on July 18 (Monday) and that the President will be elected on July 20.
Speaking to reporters following the party leaders’ meeting at the parliament complex this evening (11), he said that the Parliament must be summoned and informed within 3 days after a president resigns.
He said that accordingly, the party leaders decided to convene Parliament on Friday (July 15), officially inform the House of the resignation and announce the nominations for the position before holding an election.
The date was set to receive the nominations for the presidency next Monday after the incumbent President resigns on the 13th, and that voting should be held within two days after accepting the nominations, he said.
He said a decision was reached to hold the election by next Wednesday (July 20). “Accordingly, the date was set for the parliament to appoint a new president for this country on the 20th.”
Sri Lanka Treasury is just managing day today public financial affairs amidst the cash out flow has surpassed the inflow at present, finance ministry data shows.
The performance of cash flow of the treasury is currently not so satisfactory during the first four months of this year as the cash inflows by way of revenue and other receipts amounted to Rs. 598.5 billion, as against the estimation of Rs. 613.7 billion, achieving the 97.5 percent from the estimate.
The first four months of 2022 cash outflow for both recurrent and public investment amounted to Rs. 1,249.3 billion as against the estimate of Rs. 1,210.2 billion. This was a 22.2 percent increase compared to Rs. 1,022.7 billion over the same period of 2021.
Total cash deficit as at 30th April 2022 was Rs. 650.8 billion, an increase of 15.5 percent compared to Rs. 563.6 billion deficit as at end April 2021 mainly due to increase the operational expenditure and public investment by 14.8 percent and 64.5 percent, respectively.
However, the closing negative cash and bank balance as at 30th April 2022 was recorded as Rs. 230.3 billion against the Rs. 620.5 billion which was prevailed as at 30th April 2021, Finance ministry data indicated.
Management of Government Debt is being handled within the total borrowing limit approved by Parliament for the year 2022 amounted to Rs. 3,200 billion, within which the utilisation of Government borrowings for the period from 01st January to 30th April 2021 was recorded as Rs. 1,754.1 billion, ministry sources said.
The net borrowing as at the end of the period under review was Rs. 1,148.5 billion.
SL to elect new President next week amidst political financial crisis
Clash between protesters at Temple Trees. 10 hospitalised
Ten people were hospitalised as a conflict has broken out between two groups this (12) morning at Temple Trees, Colombo, which is currently occupied by the protesters.
According to Lankadeepa, the clash has broken out between a group of supporters of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and a group of protesters, and among the injured were nine men and a woman.
MIAP
AKD says their youth, student, art groups are direct representatives of Protesters (VIDEO)
Members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) including its socialist youth union, students’ union and arts collective are direct representatives of the protesters and there is no difference between them and the protesters, said Leader of the JVP and the National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking to reporters after a discussion with the 43rd Brigade (Hathalis Thuna Senankaya) movement led by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (11).
Q: Are you ready to listen to the protesters?
“Definitely… who are the protesters? Our socialist youth group, our arts collective, and we.. Are we not the protesters?”
RN
Basil Rajapaksa turns back and leaves amid growing objections at Airport!
Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa who arrived at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Aiport this (12) morning to leave for the United States had to turn back and leave amid growing objections, sources said.
The immigration and emigration officers who are assigned to the ‘Silk Road’ passenger terminal for paying dignitaries at the airport have also withdrawn from their duties.
MIAP
Nobody can kick me out. I have six years: CBSL Governor
Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), responding to a group of reporters yesterday (11) said he will not resign from his post even if the President and the Prime Minister who appointed him both decide to step down.
“Why should I leave? I was only appointed. I have six years in my tenure. The Central Bank is an independent body. I too administer this without being submissive like the RBI bank in India. Let us make a fresh start to make the economy prosperous,” he said, according to sources.
The Governor also said that the political instability in the country could adversely affect the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that he is currently negotiating with the Reserve Bank of India to obtain another US $ 1 billion foreign exchange facility.
MIAP
Party leaders decide the date of electing a new President
The party leaders have decided a date of implementing the mechanism of electing a new President via Parliament upon the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tomorrow (13).
Accordingly, Parliament will be convened on Friday (15) to inform that the President has resigned and the nominations will be called in, as it is practice to convene Parliament to inform a President’s resignation within three days.
The nominations will be accepted on July 18 and a vote will be called in on July 20 to elect a new President, the party leaders concluded at the special party leaders’ meeting in the Parliamentary premises yesterday (11).
MIAP
Beauty of Sri Lankan Batiks admired in Ankara
Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Turkey M.R. Hassen hosted an event to promote Batiks of Sri Lanka, “Discover the Beauty of Sri Lankan Batiks” on 7 July 2022 at the Ambassador’s residence. The guests were treated to a fashion show and a virtual presentation on Sri Lankan batik and fashion industry.
Turkish models did three rounds in the show dressed in Sri Lankan Batiks sarees, dresses, beach wears, wrap arounds, shawls and headscarves. The colourful evening received much praise from the invited guests which included Turkish media representatives.
This is the first time the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara organized a fashion show which provided a glimpse of Sri Lankan Batik and the strength of the batik industry to Turkish media and other invitees.
After watching the mesmerizing show, enthusiastic guests requested the Mission staff to dress them in the sarees to experience the uniqueness of Sri Lankan batik for themselves.
The event concluded with the guests served Sri Lankan delicacies and Ceylon tea.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ankara
11 July, 2022
Basil to leave for US to renounce citizenship
Founder and National organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Basil Rajapaksa is set to leave for the United States tonight (11), sources said.
Accordingly, the former minister is set to leave tonight from the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport to Dubai and from there to the US.
Rajapaksa is also set to complete the necessary activities required for the renunciation of his US citizenship on the way, sources added.
MIAP
Speaker says President is still in SL in a U turn of opinions
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in a U turn of opinions clarified that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country.
Responding to queries on the President’s current whereabouts, Abeywardena told ANI that he made a mistake in the BBC interview and that the President has not left the country.
“President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa is still in the country, I made a mistake in the BBC interview,” he said.
In a BBC interview, Abeywardena stated that the President has left for another country.
MIAP
India wants another SLPP MP to be elected as SL President?
India has told the top figures of the Sri Lankan government that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s election as the successor President upon any decision made by Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down cannot be approved of, internal sources said.
The Indian counterpart has pointed out that since the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is a political party that came to power through a democratic election and has parliamentary power, it should appoint one of their own MPs as the next President, according to sources.
They added that it is not acceptable according to democratic principles for Wickramasinghe, who has no mandate in the General Election, to become the President.