Parliament continued to be in session last week with the Government under scrutiny for its conduct of affairs in the legislature as well as for a variety of domestic issues. This is as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake prepares for his first official overseas visit as Head of State to neighbouring India.
There was much interest in the media as to how the Government will handle itself in Parliament. This is because, even though it has a majority of 159 parliamentarians in the House, most MPs are debutants in the legislature. Only a relatively smaller number have previous parliamentary exposure.
Some opposition parliamentarians appeared to have sensed this. At the commencement of sittings they were raising various procedural issues regarding the day’s agenda. The Government countered this, noting that the agenda had been agreed upon previously at the meeting of party leaders in Parliament.
At the end of the week the consensus was that the Government had acquitted itself well. A key factor in this was the unruffled but firm responses from Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, observers said. The general standard of debate both from the Government and the opposition was commendable.
Recurrent expenses
Following a debate, Parliament passed the Vote on Account for the first quarter of next year without a division. This is in lieu of this year’s budget. It was due in November. It was not presented as presidential and general elections were held. The budget will be presented early next year.
Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando said that the Government had allocated one trillion rupees for recurrent expenses (excluding interest payments), while allocating Rs. 425 billion as capital expenses through the Vote on Account for the first four months of 2025.
Fernando, who is also Minister of Labour said that the Government had allocated Rs. 1,175 billion for servicing debt obligations excluding the restructured foreign debt, interest payments and instalments. The highest allocation is for the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, he noted.
Also in Parliament, Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake informed the House that the Government would be following parliamentary tradition and allowing a MP from the opposition to chair the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). The opposition has not decided on a person for this post yet.
Minister Ratnayake also said the Government will ensure adequate representation in the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). The chair of COPE will be retained by the Government as it is tasked with inquiring into alleged malpractices that occurred during previous administrations, the minister said.
Meanwhile, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was busy addressing domestic concerns and meeting international envoys. Visiting Colombo last week was Donald Lu, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. He met with the President on Saturday.
Lu said that the US was able to provide financial and technical assistance to strengthen Sri Lanka’s security and economy. The US was willing to offer technical expertise to help recover funds that were illegally taken out of the country, as part of Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption programme, he said.
Political culture
At this discussion President Dissanayake highlighted corruption and waste as significant factors in Sri Lanka’s political culture in the past and outlined the Government’s efforts to minimise these. He also described initiatives to uplift rural living standards through improvements to the regional economy.
Also on Saturday, President Dissanayake engaged in efforts to resolve the issue of high rice prices in the open market. This was at a meeting with wholesale rice traders at the Presidential Secretariat. This was attended by Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry officials.
At these discussions, President Dissanayake gave a hearing to issues faced by wholesale rice traders. However, he noted that the price of rice in the open market has been steadily increasing over the past few weeks. This could not be explained by supply and demand market forces alone, he pointed out.
President Dissanayake noted that substantial Government funding is allocated to the irrigation and agriculture sectors, with significant subsidies being provided to farmers. He also observed that low interest bank loans were provided to traders by state banks for the purchase of paddy.
The President urged rice traders not to undermine the public’s right to access affordable rice. He requested them to assist the Government in resolving rice-related price issues in an amicable manner. Following discussions, a set of prices for ‘samba’, ‘keeri samba’ and ‘naadu’ rice was agreed on.
President Dissanayake also instructed officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority to closely monitor prices over the next ten days and enforce the law against rice mill owners who fail to comply with fixed prices. If prices continue to fluctuate the necessary next steps will be undertaken, he said.
Impending state visit
President Dissanayake’s attention will next be focused on his impending state visit to India. This is a visit, his first as President, which will be watched with great interest not only by both nations but also by other countries. This is in the context of the ever-changing dynamics of Indo-Sri Lanka ties.
This is because it has been common place for New Delhi to entertain Government led by the left-of-centre Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), right-of-centre United National Party (UNP) and more recently the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for decades. They were all very India friendly.
In contrast, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which is the major partner in the Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB), has historically maintained an anti-India stance. In its early days, one of the main issues raised by the JVP’s founder Rohana Wijeweera was what he called ‘Indian expansionism’.
In the months leading up to the presidential election, it had been suggested that India would prefer then incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe or Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa to emerge victorious at the poll. Their respective parties were not shy to propagate this view.
New Delhi responded to this diplomatically. Perhaps sensing the ground situation and realising that the JJB was the frontrunner at the polls, they invited party leader Dissanayake to visit India. The visit was a success and also an acknowledgment by India that it took serious note of his prospects.
Global power
For its part, the Government will be keen to foster a mutually beneficial working relationship with our giant neighbour and emerging global power. At the same time, New Delhi will want to confirm the fate of many a proposed Indian venture in Sri Lanka, some of them located in the North and East.
Indian Minister of External Affairs Subramanyam Jaishankar visited Colombo in early October, only days after President Dissanayake assumed office to lay the groundwork for the Indian state visit. President Dissanayake’s visit to India will be followed shortly afterwards with a similar visit to China.
In the opposition camp meanwhile, at the time of writing the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) is no closer to naming their nominees for the National List vacancies they are entitled to, with different parties and individuals staking their claims strongly. This has led to hectic lobbying within the SJB.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa finds himself in an unenviable situation having to select four nominees from many aspiring parliamentarians. Regardless of who his choices are, there will be more who will be disappointed. If not appointed, some will even re-consider their loyalty to the SJB.
Suicide contemplations
Among those in the running are Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Hirunika Premachandra, Mano Gansesan, Eran Wickramaratne, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Dullas Alahapperuma and G.L. Peiris. Former SJB MP Thushara Indunil has said that if he is not appointed, he may have to contemplate committing suicide.
It was thought the NDF had settled on Kanchana Wijesekera as their nominee.
However, on Tuesday it nominated Faiszer Musthapha, NDF Secretary Shyamila Perera said. The remaining NDF slot was filled when Perera nominated Ravi Karunanayake, resulting in controversy and protests.
Weeks after the first session, this uncertainty over the SJB vacancies has meant that four seats in the legislature remain vacant. That does not enhance the credibility of the opposition in the eyes of the general public, especially when they are preoccupied with criticising every move of the Government.
Thus the priorities of the Government and the opposition appear to be very different at this time. The Government is well into the task of addressing urgent issues facing the public while the opposition is still rallying its troops. The holiday season will bring both camps a much deserved respite.
