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Civil society activists and anti-corruption organizations have said that Ministers representing the government who signed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should not be able to function in those ministries.

Appears to be against PM: But actually against government

According to them though the no confidence motion is against the PM, in reality, it has been brought against the government.

 They say that there is no possibility of bringing a no-confidence motion only against the PM according to the Constitution and a no-confidence motion if brought is considered to be against the government under the 19th amendment of the constitution.

According to them, this fact is clear from the no-confidence motion documents presented to the media and therefore the Ministers who signed should not hold posts in the government.

As a result, the three Ministers who signed the no-confidence motion should resign immediately from their respective ministries and they should transfer the privileges granted through the appointment of their ministerial portfolio, including their official vehicles the activists said.

Three government Ministers had signed the no-confidence motion. They have been identified as State Minister of Land, T.B Ekanayake, Deputy Minister of Ports Nishantha Muthuhettigama, and Deputy Minister of Public Administration Susantha Punchinilame.

MR avoids signing the no-confidence motion

The no-confidence motion by the Joint Opposition was presented to the speaker today. While 55 MPs has signed it, however notably former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had failed to sign the document despite previously claiming that he would.

The signed no-confidence motion which was handed over to the Speaker

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka’s post war economic growth was dominated by a debt funded, state driven construction boom that was unsustainable. He made these remarks at a networking event organised the Board of Investment (BOI), yesterday.

Addressing an audience that comprised of key players in Sri Lanka’s economic development, the Minister said that The focus of this government since coming to power has been to improve the investment climate to encourage further expansion of the existing investments and attract new investors.

“As a part of this economic reform agenda, a number of measures are being implemented to facilitate private investment. These reforms include the elimination of para- tariffs, opening of a “Single Window” for investment approvals, promotion of identified sectors for investment, the establishment of new export-processing investment zones, and digitization of public services”, the Minister said.

Minister Samaraweera said that the government is in the process of entering into new strategic trade agreements with a significant focus on investment. Along with EU GSP + facility, Sri Lanka will have duty free market access to India, China, Pakistan, Singapore and Europe.

“As the FTAs come into effect, investors will have opportunities to link into regional and global value chains, with Sri Lanka as a fulcrum of activity”, Samaraweera said.

He also said that the government is keen to maintain investor confidence as Sri Lanka’s track record in policy stability has not been perfect and underscored the government’s resolve to consolidate a set of rules based, predictable and consistent policy framework.

"Open ended tax holidays have been replaced by targeted capital allowances which directly reward the investment in capital. There are also benefits for investment in R&D and the IT sector, and for investments in the Northern Province. Strategic sectors such as exports, tourism, and IT are taxed at a concessional corporate tax rate of 14%. These incentives are expected to be superior to previous regimes of open ended tax holidays", Samaraweera added.

President Maithripala Sirisena will leave to Pakistan tomorrow on the invitation of its President, Mamnoon Hussain.

President Sirisena will be in the country for three days, the Foreign Ministry said, to observe Pakistan’s National Day.

The Ministry said that he plans to sign four Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with President Hussain and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of Pakistan on the topics of youth development, diplomatic training, national security studies, and development and public policy.

President Sirisena will also open the refurbished International Buddhist Center in the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad, according to a release.

Source : Daily News

Joint Opposition says that the No Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be handed over to the Speaker today.

Since last week, the party has been gathering signatures for the motion claiming that it is widely supported by the SLFP and certain UNP MPs.

The JVP has said it will also support the motion if it is factual and shows good cause.

The no-confidence motion by the Joint Opposition was presented to the speaker today. 55 MP’s had signed the document. However notably former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had failed to sign the document despite previously claiming that he would.

President Maithripala Sirisena is claimed to have given the green light for SLFP members to sign the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe says ‘Lanka C News’ a website run by National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa.

According to the website President had given him permission to the SLFP group during a discussion held between him and SLFP Ministers.

The website has also claimed the discussions to gain the support of members representing minority parties who have won their seats through the UNP ticket are proving to be successful.

“No confidence motion an attempt to create discord between the PM and President and destroy the consensus government” - Minister Duminda Dissanayake

However General Secretary of the SLFP, Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake says he is vehemently against the no confidence motion the Joint Opposition is set to bring against the PM.

While stressing that this is his personal view, he said it is not the position of the SLFP. The Minister claimed the party has no made decision regarding the matter. He also claimed the group organizing the motion has not officially invited or informed the SLFP to join them. The Minister said he is against the no-confidence motion as one person cannot be faulted for the recent performance of the government at the local government polls.

Minister Rajitha Senaratne today denied allegations that a Minister from the government is behind the Mahason Balakaya which has been accused of causing the recent communal unrest in Kandy. “All these allegations are lies,” he said when questioned by a journalist at today's cabinet briefing.

Police Media Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara corroborated this statement saying that during questioning and investigations no such claims have been made by the arrested suspects. “They have not revealed any such information,” he said.

According to Senaratne, however, information regarding the connection of an MP has been revealed. “We will reveal this information soon,” he said.

Executive Director of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Center for Human Rights and Research (CHR), Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon claims that Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) was removed as a result of him asking for a report on the Teldeniya - Digana clashes from the Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara.

Cooray who was working on contract basis said he was informed today by the commission that he was removed from the post with immediate effect. He claimed he was told the decision was taken to remove him as he was overage.

However, Tennekoon now claims the removal is a sign that the commission is being prevented from conducting an impartial investigation into the recent incidents. “It is openly known the clashes escalated due to Police inaction,” Tennekoon said adding that CaFFE and CHR have requested the commission to investigate into these allegations. According to him several other members of the commission are also set to resign from their posts due to the issues being faced by them due to constant political interference.

The decision to remove Ariyadasa Cooray as the Secretary of the National Police Commission (NPC) was made by the commission itself says Minister of Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara. The Minister denied that any political reason or interference was behind the removal. “It is an independent commission and the government has nothing to do with its decisions,” he said at the cabinet press briefing today.

Certain civil society organizations have levelled allegations claiming that the removal was due to the Secretary requesting a report into the Teldeniya - Digana incident. However, the Minister vehemently denied this.

Meanwhile, sources say the new secretary to the commission will be appointed tomorrow.

Secretary to the National Police Commission (NPC) Ariyadasa Cooray has been removed from his post with immediate effect. According to him, he was notified of his removal officially today by the commission.The reason for his removal, however, remains unclear.

Several MPs' from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) have signed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

State Minister of Lands T.B Ekanayake, Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Management Susantha Punchinilame, Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping Affairs Nishantha Muthuhettigamage and Vanni district MP Kader Musthan have also signed the motion.

The no-confidence motion with the signatures of 55 MPs' was handed over by the Joint Opposition today to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

University non-academic staff trade unions say that the strike action will continue as discussions held with the Ministry of Higher Education have failed.

Chairman of the University Trade Union Joint Committee, Edward Malwattage, stated that the strike will enter day 21 today (20).

A discussion was held yesterday with the Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding their issues. However, they had failed to reach an agreement, Mr Malwattage said.

The Higher Education Ministry, issuing a statement yesterday, said that a positive solution to the demands of university non-academic staff will be given within today.

Source : Ada Derana