• Latest
  • Trending

Devious methods employed to prevent Lankan Provincial elections

August 25, 2019
Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail

Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail

August 13, 2022
Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions

Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions

August 13, 2022
India denies rumours that some Lankan leaders have fled to India

At 75, India’s democracy is under pressure like never before

August 13, 2022
Donald Trump

FBI searched Trump’s home to look for nuclear documents and other items, sources say

August 13, 2022
Walk. Image credits - Arek Adeoye @areksan / Unsplash

Why even 2 minutes of walking after a meal will improve your health

August 13, 2022
(AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Benzema, Ronaldo and Haaland nominated for Ballon d’Or, Messi misses out

August 13, 2022
Russia-Ukraine crisis: Ukraine government and human rights groups reported that Russian forces may have used thermobaric weapons. (AP)

Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

August 13, 2022
Johnson & Johnson

J&J to end global sales of talc-based baby powder

August 13, 2022
China asks India to ‘stop disturbing’ its exchange with Sri Lanka

The Yuan Wang 5 affair turns out to be a storm in a teacup

August 13, 2022
Electricity

Power cut schedule today in Sri Lanka: 13th August

August 12, 2022
Cracks can be seen on dried up bed of Tittesworth Reservoir, in Leek, Britain. (Photo: Reuters)

Drought declared in parts of England as severe heatwave grips UK

August 12, 2022
Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Gotabaya advised to remain indoors for security reasons at Bangkok hotel

August 12, 2022
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Sunday, August 14, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail

    Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail

    Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions

    Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions

    China asks India to ‘stop disturbing’ its exchange with Sri Lanka

    The Yuan Wang 5 affair turns out to be a storm in a teacup

    Electricity

    Power cut schedule today in Sri Lanka: 13th August

    Gotabaya Rajapaksa

    Gotabaya advised to remain indoors for security reasons at Bangkok hotel

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka; USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CAD

    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Foreign currency

    Indian companies swapping dollar for Asian currencies to buy Russian coal

    PNS Taimur

    Pakistani warship arrives at Colombo Port

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Donald Trump

    FBI searched Trump’s home to look for nuclear documents and other items, sources say

    Walk. Image credits - Arek Adeoye @areksan / Unsplash

    Why even 2 minutes of walking after a meal will improve your health

    (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

    Benzema, Ronaldo and Haaland nominated for Ballon d’Or, Messi misses out

    Russia-Ukraine crisis: Ukraine government and human rights groups reported that Russian forces may have used thermobaric weapons. (AP)

    Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

    Johnson & Johnson

    J&J to end global sales of talc-based baby powder

    China asks India to ‘stop disturbing’ its exchange with Sri Lanka

    The Yuan Wang 5 affair turns out to be a storm in a teacup

    Cracks can be seen on dried up bed of Tittesworth Reservoir, in Leek, Britain. (Photo: Reuters)

    Drought declared in parts of England as severe heatwave grips UK

    Foreign currency

    Indian companies swapping dollar for Asian currencies to buy Russian coal

    FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is pictured on a television in this illustration photograph taken in Encinitas, California, U.S., January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

    Disney overtakes Netflix in race for subscribers

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Marvel has unleashed the first look teaser of Black Panther 2.

    Black Panther Wakanda Forever: Marvel pays emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman

    Stranger Things

    Netflix confirms ‘Stranger Things’ spinoff and play

    Kamal Haasan's Vikram is on a rampage.

    Kamal Haasan’s Vikram is the highest-grossing film in Singapore, UK and UAE

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ celebrates 25 magical years

    Salman Khan

    Plot to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan revealed

    Shah Rukh Khan's Jawaan, to be directed by Atlee, to scheduled for June 2023 release. (Photo: Twitter)

    Shah Rukh Khan announces new film ‘Jawaan’

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Walk. Image credits - Arek Adeoye @areksan / Unsplash

    Why even 2 minutes of walking after a meal will improve your health

    Cheeseburger. Image credits - Alamy / BBC

    McDonald’s puts up price of cheeseburger for first time in 14 years

    WHO declares rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency

    WHO declares rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency

    Sushmita Sen. Image credits - Getty Images

    Sushmita Sen: Why ‘gold digger’ jibe caused outrage

    Honey. Image credits - Mariana Ibanez / Unsplash

    7 unique health benefits of honey

    alcohol

    Alcohol is never healthy for people under 40, study finds

    world’s happiest countries in 2022

    List of world’s happiest countries in 2022

    Emirates

    Emirates statement on operations at London Heathrow

    The main aim of the team is to enable them to collect microplastics in deeper water and provide information to analyse marine pollution in real time. (File Pic)

    Chinese scientists develop robot fish that gobble up microplastics

    Bicycle. Image credits - Febiyan @febiyanr / Unsplash

    10 essential biking rules every cyclist should know

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is pictured on a television in this illustration photograph taken in Encinitas, California, U.S., January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

    Disney overtakes Netflix in race for subscribers

    Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 phones on Aug 10, 2022. (Photo: Samsung)

    5 things to know about Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 foldable smartphones

    Image: WhatsApp

    WhatsApp’s new update makes it easier to avoid your friends

    Snapchat. Image credits - May Gauthier @maygauthier / Unsplash

    Snap launches tools for parents to monitor teens’ contacts

    FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed Google logo is seen in this illustration taken April 12, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

    Thousands of users around the world report Google outage

    After buying Twitter, Elon Musk has now said he will buy Coca-Cola to put the 'cocaine' back in.

    Starlink: Why is Elon Musk launching thousands of satellites?

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail

    Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail

    Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions

    Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions

    China asks India to ‘stop disturbing’ its exchange with Sri Lanka

    The Yuan Wang 5 affair turns out to be a storm in a teacup

    Electricity

    Power cut schedule today in Sri Lanka: 13th August

    Gotabaya Rajapaksa

    Gotabaya advised to remain indoors for security reasons at Bangkok hotel

    Exchange Rate

    Foreign Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka; USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CAD

    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Foreign currency

    Indian companies swapping dollar for Asian currencies to buy Russian coal

    PNS Taimur

    Pakistani warship arrives at Colombo Port

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Donald Trump

    FBI searched Trump’s home to look for nuclear documents and other items, sources say

    Walk. Image credits - Arek Adeoye @areksan / Unsplash

    Why even 2 minutes of walking after a meal will improve your health

    (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

    Benzema, Ronaldo and Haaland nominated for Ballon d’Or, Messi misses out

    Russia-Ukraine crisis: Ukraine government and human rights groups reported that Russian forces may have used thermobaric weapons. (AP)

    Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

    Johnson & Johnson

    J&J to end global sales of talc-based baby powder

    China asks India to ‘stop disturbing’ its exchange with Sri Lanka

    The Yuan Wang 5 affair turns out to be a storm in a teacup

    Cracks can be seen on dried up bed of Tittesworth Reservoir, in Leek, Britain. (Photo: Reuters)

    Drought declared in parts of England as severe heatwave grips UK

    Foreign currency

    Indian companies swapping dollar for Asian currencies to buy Russian coal

    FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is pictured on a television in this illustration photograph taken in Encinitas, California, U.S., January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

    Disney overtakes Netflix in race for subscribers

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Raksha Bandhan to Laal Singh Chaddha: ‘Struggling’ Bollywood’s online hate problem

    Marvel has unleashed the first look teaser of Black Panther 2.

    Black Panther Wakanda Forever: Marvel pays emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman

    Stranger Things

    Netflix confirms ‘Stranger Things’ spinoff and play

    Kamal Haasan's Vikram is on a rampage.

    Kamal Haasan’s Vikram is the highest-grossing film in Singapore, UK and UAE

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ celebrates 25 magical years

    Salman Khan

    Plot to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan revealed

    Shah Rukh Khan's Jawaan, to be directed by Atlee, to scheduled for June 2023 release. (Photo: Twitter)

    Shah Rukh Khan announces new film ‘Jawaan’

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Walk. Image credits - Arek Adeoye @areksan / Unsplash

    Why even 2 minutes of walking after a meal will improve your health

    Cheeseburger. Image credits - Alamy / BBC

    McDonald’s puts up price of cheeseburger for first time in 14 years

    WHO declares rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency

    WHO declares rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency

    Sushmita Sen. Image credits - Getty Images

    Sushmita Sen: Why ‘gold digger’ jibe caused outrage

    Honey. Image credits - Mariana Ibanez / Unsplash

    7 unique health benefits of honey

    alcohol

    Alcohol is never healthy for people under 40, study finds

    world’s happiest countries in 2022

    List of world’s happiest countries in 2022

    Emirates

    Emirates statement on operations at London Heathrow

    The main aim of the team is to enable them to collect microplastics in deeper water and provide information to analyse marine pollution in real time. (File Pic)

    Chinese scientists develop robot fish that gobble up microplastics

    Bicycle. Image credits - Febiyan @febiyanr / Unsplash

    10 essential biking rules every cyclist should know

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is pictured on a television in this illustration photograph taken in Encinitas, California, U.S., January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

    Disney overtakes Netflix in race for subscribers

    Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4 phones on Aug 10, 2022. (Photo: Samsung)

    5 things to know about Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 foldable smartphones

    Image: WhatsApp

    WhatsApp’s new update makes it easier to avoid your friends

    Snapchat. Image credits - May Gauthier @maygauthier / Unsplash

    Snap launches tools for parents to monitor teens’ contacts

    FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed Google logo is seen in this illustration taken April 12, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

    Thousands of users around the world report Google outage

    After buying Twitter, Elon Musk has now said he will buy Coca-Cola to put the 'cocaine' back in.

    Starlink: Why is Elon Musk launching thousands of satellites?

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home National

Devious methods employed to prevent Lankan Provincial elections

Editor by Editor
August 25, 2019
in National, Politics, Recommend, Sri Lanka
Reading Time: 5 mins read
2 0
A A
Share on WhatsApp

By Prof.Ratnajeevan H.Hoole/DailyFT

Originally the SLPP was keen to hold the Provincial Council Elections (PCE) immediately after the Local Government Election results as they felt the PCE would go in their favour. PCE were held under the Proportional Representation system. The relevant Act had been applied several times and was well-tested. Several councils had overdue elections. But the Government did not seem interested in holding PCE.

At the time, although the Government wanted to avoid elections, it was checkmated by the Election Commission (EC) which called for elections in the few Local Government bodies where the Government had not been able to sabotage elections by delaying delimitation as required under the newly-revised LG Act, and by filing cases through proxies. When it was clear there would be a referendum on the Government’s performance at least in a few councils, the cases were withdrawn and Local Government Elections (LGE) were held on 10 February 2018. The Government performed abysmally.

ADVERTISEMENT

It now seemed that the Government did not want the long-delayed PCE. As if to sabotage PCE, Parliament passed the Provincial Councils Elections Act No. 2 of 1988 as amended by Act No. 17 of 2017. The subtle trick on everyone was that no PCE could be held because that Act was sabotaged ab initio by leaving out the required schedules without which PCE cannot be held. No one noticed at the time.

The SLPP was still keen on PCE and pressed for them. As it was clear that there was a deliberate delay, Prof. G.L. Peiris argued on behalf of the SLPP that the old law was still valid under Section Six (ii) of the Interpretation Ordinance, viz. “Whenever any written law repeals in whole or part a former written law and substitutes therefor some new provision, such repeal shall not take effect until such substituted provision comes into operation.”

The SLPP demanded on this basis that we hold PCE under the old law. The delimitation report defining the electorates for the new Act was rejected unanimously by Parliament and the five-person committee to approve the report in the event of its rejection sat on it with hardly two meetings during the two months it had to approve changes and send it to the President for gazetting.

The Commission took no action in pursuit of the SLPP position because the view was expressed that in doing the delimitation report the new law had already gone into operation. I was sympathetic to the position that the Provincial Councils Act had not come into force because Parliament has been negligent in approving delimitation in time.

As time dragged, I judged that all or most parties came to not wanting PCE before PE. Explained a person who attends the Party Secretaries’ meetings at the EC that fighting for nominations prior to the PCE and for offices after that would ruin the party unity that is required for the PE.

Only the EC to its credit felt compelled to somehow hold the PCE because that is what the law required. To me personally, this was important because the Provincial Councils are a hard-won means of empowering minorities and those at the periphery. To my horror some are now speaking of scrapping Provincial Councils altogether, saying we are doing well without them.

The EC met the PM, the Speaker and the President and pleaded. There was no progress. Then Mahinda Deshapriya, the Chairman of the EC, threatened to resign his Chairmanship if by 15 August there was no progress. This threat was in public, in several newspapers, on TV, and at the Party Secretaries’ meeting.

The President, PM and most notably the Speaker, as Chairman of the Constitutional Council that would appoint his replacement in the event of his resignation, sent messages through numerous channels that the resignation would not be accepted. Deshapriya clarified that he would resign only his Chairmanship and not his membership. He told me that he could absent himself from three consecutive meetings, and the question of having his resignation accepted would not arise. But then, it would mean losing both the Chairmanship and the Membership.

Everyone (I understand with the exception of his family) advised Deshapriya against a resignation, saying with PE round the corner, such a resignation would be disruptive and anti-national. Convinced, he signalled that he would not be resigning. Yet he felt he had to try one last push for the PCE. Honour demanded it.

The Commission then met the President and asked him to use his constitutional power to seek the advice of the Supreme Court – whether the old law is valid or if he may gazette the delimitation report to allow elections under the new law. He promised to get back after consulting the AG. On 26 July whilst in London I was informed, “[T]he AG has communicated to HE the President that there’s no possibility [of] enquiring of the applicable law from the Supreme Court.” It seemed clear at the time that the next elections would be PE.

Who twisted whose arms and promised deals I do not know, suddenly the AG’s non-possibility became reality.

Early this month the President under Article 129 of the Constitution asked our apex Court through the AG for an advisory opinion on three questions:

(a) In view of the Review Committee failing to submit its report to him in accordance with sub-sections (13) and (14) of Section 3A of the new Provincial Councils Elections Act whether, he can as President by proclamation publish the report by the Delimitation Committee submitted to the Minster.

(b) On the basis of the proclamation whether, the PCE can be held under the new PCE Act.

(c) Whether in the absence of such inability to hold such PCE in terms of the present law, PCE can be held under the law that was in force prior to the enactment of the new PCE Act.

The stress was not on c) as we wanted since winning that would mean no further Parliamentary intervention.

M.A. Sumanthiran, MP, PC, in his submissions has said: “a) must necessarily be answered in the negative since the statutory provision referred to therein does not permit of any other answer. Consequently, question (b) must also be answered in the negative.” Part c) too he says must be answered in the negative since the new act does not delete and substitute in its place anything as in the Interpretation ordinance referred to above.

Courts will usually not tell Parliament what to do. To avoid contempt charges I will not say what any intelligent man would know about the judgement. I think the law is clear. The AG was clear in July but will now argue something else.

Even if the Court decides yes to a) or b), Parliamentary action is a must to revise the new law giving the missing schedules. That is going back to square one. Sumanthiran even gave a private member’s bill to reinstate the old law but it missed the order paper for this week, meaning that even if it is passed later PCE would clash with PE.

This charade is costly. If the Courts allow PCE by saying yes to c), they must be held immediately because the law requires elections to expired Provincial Councils – that is to all save one – and no Parliamentary action is needed. PE cannot be shifted. If the two elections are held together, both elections will be chaotic. Why? All minority parties will probably urge followers to vote for one major party in PE. At PCE, they may attack the same party and urge followers to vote for them.

(The featured image at the top shows Mahinda Deshapriya, Chairman of  the Lankan Elections Commission)

Related Posts

Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail
Ethnicity

Lankan President’s talks with Tamil leader Wigneswaran fail

August 13, 2022
Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions
China

Chinese ship to dock at Hambantota from Aug 16 to 22 under some conditions

August 13, 2022
China asks India to ‘stop disturbing’ its exchange with Sri Lanka
China

The Yuan Wang 5 affair turns out to be a storm in a teacup

August 13, 2022
Electricity
Around South Asia

Power cut schedule today in Sri Lanka: 13th August

August 12, 2022
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Around The World

Gotabaya advised to remain indoors for security reasons at Bangkok hotel

August 12, 2022
Exchange Rate
Around South Asia

Foreign Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka; USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CAD

August 12, 2022
  • Electricity

    Power cut schedule today in Sri Lanka: 13th August

    49101 shares
    Share 19654 Tweet 12270
  • Registration open for National Fuel Pass

    6545 shares
    Share 2655 Tweet 1621
  • Foreign Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka; USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CAD

    1372 shares
    Share 555 Tweet 340
  • WATCH : Yohani’s first live performance in India

    785 shares
    Share 327 Tweet 191
  • Power interruption schedule released: Check your area power cut time

    734 shares
    Share 312 Tweet 176
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
  • Videos

© 2022 All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

mersin eskort -

Meritroyalbet

-
Jojobet
- Süperbetin - eskisehir escort -

https://www.vudols.com/

- Sağlık Personeli - istanbul avukat