July 26, Colombo (LNW): Tensions arose in Parliament following the declaration of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena asserting the legitimacy of the appointment of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, against whom an interim injunction order by the Supreme Court is now in rule.
Despite the Supreme Court ruling, the government went on asserting that the appointment of the IGP is legitimate and therefore, valid, sparking controversy in what the Opposition described as contempt of court.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe to resign if he fails to appoint an Acting IGP as mandated by the Supreme Court.
Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa insisted that the President must honour the Court’s order and fulfil his duty to appoint an Acting IGP.
He criticised the President for attempting to evade this responsibility, asserting that the role of President entails upholding constitutional obligations regardless of candidacy status.
Premadasa argued that if the President is unable to meet this requirement, he should step down to allow the Acting President to assume lawful duties.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has urged the Government to reassess the newly introduced e-Visa system, particularly its pricing model, to better support the tourism industry’s expansion.
In their statement, the Chamber underscored the ongoing discussions about the system’s cost and procedures, emphasising that attention should shift towards marketing and improving the overall tourism experience.
Whilst recognising the need for streamlined processes, the Chamber stressed that these changes must ensure competitiveness with regional counterparts.
They called for collaboration between the Government, private sector, and relevant stakeholders to develop a pricing strategy that would enhance tourism arrivals.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): In response to the announcement of the Presidential Election on September 21, the National People’s Power (NPP) has inaugurated an Election Monitoring Centre.
An eight-member operational committee has been appointed, featuring former ministry secretaries and retired senior police officers.
The operational committee includes:
Former ministerial secretary Ashoka Peiris
Former ministerial secretary Tissa Warnasuriya
Former ministerial secretary K.G. Leelananda
Attorney-at-Law Akalanka Ukwatta
Chief of NPP Police Collective Retired SDIG Ravi Seneviratne
July 26, Colombo (LNW): In a surprising turn of events, tensions have surfaced between Pope Francis and Sri Lanka’s Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith over the issue of same-sex relationships.
This rift highlights the stark differences within the Catholic Church’s leadership on this sensitive matter.
Pope Francis has been known for his more inclusive approach towards the LGBTQIA+ community. He has consistently emphasised compassion and acceptance, famously stating, “Who am I to judge?” regarding homosexual individuals.
The Pope’s papacy has seen a shift towards understanding and integrating queer people into the Church, advocating for their rights and dignity whilst maintaining traditional Catholic doctrine on marriage.
In a recent statement, the Pope reiterated his position, calling for the Church to welcome and accompany all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He emphasised the importance of pastoral care and the need to avoid unjust discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Persons with homosexual tendencies are children of God. God loves them. Condemning a person like this is a sin. Criminalising people with homosexual tendencies is an injustice,” the Pope said, making his point that laws criminalising queer individuals would be unjust.
Contrasting sharply with the Pope’s stance, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has voiced strong criticism against legislative moves in Sri Lanka that aim to support ‘same-sex marriages’. At a media briefing, Cardinal Ranjith condemned the government’s legislative priorities, accusing them of undermining traditional family values.
“The bill presented by MP Premnath Dolawatta, as well as the government’s proposed bill on women’s rights, both uncover an effort to create a very dangerous situation in Sri Lanka,” Cardinal Ranjith asserted.
“As Catholics, we believe marriages should take place between a man and a woman. Marriage cannot take place between two men or two women.“
Cardinal Ranjith argued that the family is the foundation of society and that legalising same-sex marriage would lead to societal destruction. Whilst acknowledging the need to protect the rights of individuals born with same-sex tendencies, he firmly opposed legalising same-sex marriages, stating, “Incorporating this into law and making it a choice free for any individual to pursue is wrong as we believe.“
However, it should be explicitly mentioned that neither the former bill nor the latter proposes ‘same-sex marriage,’ as the Supreme Court made it clear that Dolawatta’s bill proposing the decriminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual relationships between adults by amending the 365/365A clauses in the Penal Code of Sri Lanka stands in compliance with the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and, therefore, can be passed into law by a simple majority in Parliament, and the clauses of the Women’s Rights bill paving the way for the so called ‘same-sex marriage’ ought to be ruled out owing to the island nation’s traditional values.
With the Pope categorically recognising laws criminalising LGBTQIA+ individuals to be ‘unjust’ and the views of the Archbishop of Colombo categorically defying the perception of legal reforms pertaining to the matter, the public’s divergence in opinions shall not be gone unnoticed.
The Archbishop’s stance contradicting Vatican’s views highlights the broader struggle within the Catholic Church to reconcile traditional doctrines with contemporary human rights issues, one activist told LNW.
The Archbishop’s comments have been perceived by some as a direct challenge to the Pope’s efforts to foster a more inclusive Church, he emphasised.
Furthermore, Cardinal Ranjith’s remarks about the international influence on Sri Lanka’s legislative efforts underscore the complex interplay between local cultural values and global human rights movements. No historical evidence either documented or available via oral passage to date suggest that ‘same-sex marriage’ is culturally ‘inappropriate’ in Sri Lanka.
In fact, same-sex unions were quite prevalent throughout certain areas of Sri Lanka, including Bilinwatta, Kotahena, Moratuwa, Murawatta, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Kandana, Kadirana, Negombo, where the indigenous ‘Nachchi’ community once lived in harmony with the heterosexual majority, whilst sharing a domestic partnership with another male partner as ‘man and woman,’ another activist stressed.
“The term ‘Nachchi’ is originated from the Nauch Girls (dancing people for pleasure) in India. They identify themselves outside the binary gender norm of man and woman, despite being assigned male at birth and not subject to castration as the ‘Hijra’ community in India. Certain groups resided in the Ceylon during the late 18th century and have been living with their partners as ‘man and woman’ ever since. Despite the lacking documentation of the existence of such unions, they lived and continue to live in the lifestyle they prefer. So this is not exactly ‘culturally inappropriate’” she pointed out.
She further emphasised that Sri Lanka has a rich diversity of culture, only to be coerced into change in the era that gave birth to post-colonial fabric in law.
“What is culture? Culture is when you see the way of life of a people, including their attitudes, values, beliefs, arts, sciences, modes of perception, and habits of thought and activity for a considerable period of time, until you find it no longer uncommon. If such unions lived in Sri Lanka for centuries, how can it be ‘culturally inappropriate’?” another activist told LNW. “We were subjected to divergence by colonial rules imposed by the British. Sri Lanka is now an independent state and is obliged to protect its citizens. That is why we have a Constitution. We bow down to the Supreme Court ruling. But the theory of cultural inappropriateness needs further review.“
The Cardinal’s comparison of the government’s priorities to Marie Antoinette’s infamous “let them eat cake” remark during the French Revolution underscores his frustration with the government’s focus amidst the country’s economic struggles.
As the Catholic Church continues to navigate these contentious issues, the divide between Pope Francis’ inclusive vision and Cardinal Ranjith’s traditionalist stance raises critical questions about the future direction of the Church.
Will the Church be able to find common ground, or will such differences lead to further divisions?
July 26, Colombo (LNW): Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has asserted to Parliament that the appointment of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was correct, lawful, constitutional, and conducted in good faith.
He further clarified that the issue concerning the IGP cannot be resolved by the President and must be addressed in court if required.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): A report from the Cabinet Sub-Committee on enhancing the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS) has been delivered to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President’s Office.
In his capacity as Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies, the President had previously issued a memorandum on acquiring maintenance services for RAMIS.
Following a Cabinet decision, a Sub-Committee was formed, chaired by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and including Ministers Tiran Alles and Nalin Fernando.
The report, which includes seven key recommendations, emphasises the need for efficient utilisation of the Income Administration Management Information System.
The primary recommendations are:
Expression of Interest (EOI): Start the EOI process to find suitable partners for managing RAMIS.
Takeover Plan: Develop and implement a comprehensive plan before the current maintenance contract with Singapore Corporation Enterprises (SCE) ends.
System Backlog: Prioritise clearing the backlog from the assessment year 2019/2020 onwards, with monthly progress reports to the Council of Ministers.
Tax Identification: Use the National Identity Card, or a future alternative, exclusively for tax collection identification.
Government Integration: Connect RAMIS with a framework linking various government institutions.
User-Friendly Portal: Simplify tax collection with an improved, user-friendly portal.
Legal Amendments: Amend laws and regulations to implement the recommended tax policy changes.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): The Chief Magistrate of Anuradhapura has directed the Assistant Director of Wildlife Conservation to capture and relocate the wild elephant known as Agbo, who has been wandering in the Thirappane area for over a year, to a forest reserve.
This decision by Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Nalaka Sanjeewa Jayasuriya followed a report by OIC Thirappane police CI Ranjith Kumarasinghe, based on instructions from DIG Priyantha Weerasuriya.
The report was presented during a hearing involving a private TV channel employee accused of using a drone to photograph the elephant.
The police informed the court that Agbo, who requires protection, faces significant risk if allowed to continue roaming through villages, potentially causing damage to crops and property.
The police requested the court to instruct the Wildlife Conservation Department to move the elephant to a forest reserve to ensure its safety and that of the local residents.
The judge also ordered the police to press charges against the individual who used a drone camera to photograph Agbo.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has stated that the President currently has no legal authority to appoint an Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Speaking in Parliament, he also clarified that the position of the IGP is not vacant.
He emphasised that the court cannot overturn the Constitutional Council’s approval of the current IGP’s appointment.
“We remind the Speaker and Parliament that the Supreme Court’s order suspending the IGP’s duties should be nullified. We urge the Speaker to intervene promptly in this matter,” he declared.
This follows the Supreme Court’s interim order on Wednesday preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from performing his duties as IGP.
The order came after nine petitions, including one from Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, challenged Tennakoon’s appointment.
The court also directed the President to appoint a suitable interim IGP during this suspension period.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has opened the window for depositing funds for the 2024 Presidential Election, starting from 8:30 am today (26) until 12 noon on 14 August, the day before nominations are called.
Candidates from recognised political parties are required to deposit Rs. 50,000, while those from other parties or nominated by electors must deposit Rs. 75,000.
The Gazette notification outlines the procedure, stating that deposits can be made at the Election Commission Office in Rajagiriya on office days from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm, and on 14 August from 8:30 am to 12 noon.
Additionally, the Election Commission has announced that the Presidential Election will be held on 21 September 2024, with nominations to be accepted on 15 August 2024.
July 26, Colombo (LNW): President’s Counsel Ronald Perera has lodged the required bonds for President Ranil Wickremesinghe to stand as an independent candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election.
The deposit was made this morning (26) at the Election Commission Office in Rajagiriya.
The Election Commission has announced that deposits for the 2024 Presidential Election can be made from 8:30 am today until 12 noon on 14 August, the day before nominations are called.
Candidates endorsed by recognised political parties must deposit Rs. 50,000, while those nominated by other parties or electors must deposit Rs. 75,000.
Additionally, the Election Commission of Sri Lanka has issued a Gazette notification setting the Presidential Election date for 21 September 2024, with nominations to be accepted on 15 August 2024.
