News, Views & Entertainment
Monday, September 27, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Prosecuting and persecuting the war hero – General Fonseka
By Somar Wijayadasa
I am neither a friend nor foe of President Rajapaksa or General Fonseka, and I have no axe to grind against any of them but what is done to General Fonseka is a travesty of justice.
As I am not privy to Fonseka’s court martial proceedings or judgment, I am unable to comment on its legality. But what hurts me – as an average citizen - is the unjust and odious manner in which the General was arrested, detained, and Court martialed on alleged trumped up charges and now convicted have violated all norms of justice and fair-play.
The first Court Martial was for meddling in politics while in uniform, and the second on charges of corruption in defense deals. The Govt first planned to charge General Fonseka with trying to have a military a coup to take over the government. Then, it was dropped.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
September 2 - 9
Sri Lanka's Parliament voted to eliminate term limits for the president.
The amendment also will tighten President Mahinda Rajapaksa's hold on power by giving him total control over the judiciary, police and the civil service.
The main opposition group, the United National Party, boycotted the vote and burned an effigy of Rajapaksa at a protest in the capital.
But the constitutional amendment passed easily, with 161 votes in the 225-member Parliament. That's 11 votes more than the two-thirds majority required. Seventeen MP's voted against it.
The amendment also will tighten President Mahinda Rajapaksa's hold on power by giving him total control over the judiciary, police and the civil service.
The main opposition group, the United National Party, boycotted the vote and burned an effigy of Rajapaksa at a protest in the capital.
But the constitutional amendment passed easily, with 161 votes in the 225-member Parliament. That's 11 votes more than the two-thirds majority required. Seventeen MP's voted against it.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
August 26 - September 1
Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers decided to amend the country's constitution for the 18th time. The Draft Bill of the Constitution will taken up before the five judges bench of Supreme Court in accordance with the law. Registrar of the Supreme Court said that the court would notify its determination as to whether the proposed Bill is inconsistent with the Constitution to the Speaker and the President as required by the Constitution.
The proposed amendments envisaged include, deletion of clause 2 of article 31 which relates to restricting the number of terms of holding the office of the Presidency by an individual, changes to the Constitutional Council, changes to appointment of Commissions, delegation of powers to Secretaries of Ministries to institute public service transfers, and making mandatory for the holder of the office of the President to attend Parliament every three months.
The proposed amendments envisaged include, deletion of clause 2 of article 31 which relates to restricting the number of terms of holding the office of the Presidency by an individual, changes to the Constitutional Council, changes to appointment of Commissions, delegation of powers to Secretaries of Ministries to institute public service transfers, and making mandatory for the holder of the office of the President to attend Parliament every three months.
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