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Even if its achievements are arguably a handful, the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), has set a record.
It has adopted 415 different resolutions during its five year tenure that ends in October. This works out to nearly seven resolutions a day on which sittings were held, the highest among all PCs in the country.

They are related mostly to issues that do not come within the purview of the NPC. One sought to convert Palaly airfield to an international airport, another to place issues arising from the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, and yet another was the construction of a railway station in Mannar. One that was related to the NPC was a resolution urging all institutions coming under it to display in their offices the portrait of Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.

Days earlier, NPC Chairman C.V.J. Sivagnanam over-ruled a resolution which sought to impose a ban on lighting crackers during funeral processions. The proposer said that it should be done to prevent noise pollution and to protect the environment.

These developments come as the future of PCs hinges on whether elections will be held for them. In the event of a postponement, the NPC will come under the purview of the Governor of the Northern Province. Chairman Sivagnanam said that resolutions for such measures could be enacted even by a Pradeshiya Sabha and said it was not necessarily for them to be approved by the NPC.

That NPC meeting also saw a heated exchange of words by the province’s Women’s Affairs Minister Ananthi Sashitharan and other members. It came when they accused her of acquiring a pistol after obtaining clearance from the Ministry of Defence. She, however, hotly denied the accusation and declared she was not in possession of any weapon.

Rajapaksa sons in love with Russia

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and his two brothers seem charmed by Russia.
His brother Rohitha tweeted that it was a “great experience.” He posted the above picture.

The Singapore conference and other matters
Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake’s expenses on a business class ticket and a stay at a star class hotel to attend the World Mayors Conference early this month were questioned at the Council meeting on Thursday.

JVP member Hemantha Weerakoon queried the expenses stating that the invitation letter had not been submitted to the council and usually such expenses are met by the host or the inviteeOther Opposition members joined in the protest and questioned the criteria as to how another councillor who accompanied her was also selected for the visit.According to documents submitted to the council, the invitation had been forwarded to the council by the Foreign Ministry.

Ms Senanayake’s expenses consisted of Rs 115,000 for a business class ticket to Singapore and Rs 320,000 for the stay at Marina Bay Sands hotel there. The accompanying councillor’s expenses were Rs 52,000 for an economy class ticket and Rs 320,000 for the stay at the same hotel.
The expenses had been eventually approved despite the protests from the opposition members.

Meanwhile, all hell broke loose at Thursday’s sittings when the issue of the Leader of the Opposition cropped up again. An earlier request by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna to appoint Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam was turned down by the Mayor saying there was no such post. Subsequently, the SLFP’s Azath Salley produced a list of 27 MMCs and said he qualified for the post, but the Mayor turned it down saying 10 MMCs who supported that were members of Mano Ganeshan’s party which was part of the Government.

Thereafter, another list of 27 MMCs was put forward supporting SLFPer M.H. Manzil and both, Mr. Salley and the SLPP objected. Sittings had to be suspended following the commotion over the issue.

Now, Mayor Senanayake has given the SLPP time till Tuesday, July 31st, to produce the numbers. The SLPP has decided that councillor Ajantha Liyanage will be nominated for the post the Leader of the Opposition and Dr. Kariyawasam will be the leader of the party in the council, if they can produce the numbers.

President averts chaos at A/L exams
President Maithripala Sirisena averted potential chaos during the GCE Advanced Level examinations next month by ordering a halt to 1014 promotions or appointments in the education sector.

These promotions and appointments were made by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam during a much publicised ceremony.
Nearly 13 trade unions of the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service and the Principal’s Service protested over the move. It prompted President Sirisena to summon union representatives for a discussion.

Joseph Stalin, President of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, told President Sirisena that among those in the list of 1014 were 27 candidates who had failed their maths paper in the GCE (OL) examination and 138 candidates who were facing disciplinary inquiries. He alleged that the promotions and appointments were based on political considerations.

President Sirisena, who ordered an immediate halt to promotions and appointments, declared that an official committee would examine every single case to determine whether the appointments or promotions had been given in accordance with laid down procedures.
Mr Stalin said the union maintained that even if there had been alleged victimisation, such candidates did not qualify for the appointments. At most, he said, they could be monetarily compensated.

Fish for sale: Court orders
In what seems an unusual development, Mullaitivu District Fisheries Department officials were compelled to sell fish that have been caught illegally.
It was at an auction sale after a Sri Lanka Navy patrol arrested eleven fishermen and took custody of their catch in the seas off Mullaitivu in the Eastern coast. The fishermen were from Puttalam and Trincomalee.

The fishermen were produced at the Magistrate’s Court in Trincomalee and later remanded till August 7. The officials were directed by the court to auction the fish.
So they set up a makeshift stall at the court premises and sold the fish. The sales’ proceeds were deposited with the court.

President clean bowls Ranatunga
President Maithripala Sirisena over-ruled an objection raised by Petroleum Resources Development Minister and former Sri Lanka cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga over the appointment of an Interim Committee to manage Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The objection came following a memorandum submitted by Sports Minister Faiszer Musthapa.
When it was taken up for discussion, a ministerial source said, Ranatunga objected to the move.
However, President Sirisena ruled that the Sports Minister should go ahead with his proposal, the source said.

Gamperaliya at Hilton: Five top ministers absent
United National Party (UNP) parliamentarians and ministers were invited to a discussion at the Colombo Hilton on Gamperaliya, the latest grassroots level development programme. The projects are being spearheaded by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
Conspicuous by their absence were Ministers Sajith Premadasa, Harin Fernando, Navin Dissanayake, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Champika Ranawaka.

SLFP to spearhead over 100 projects in NCP next week
More than 100 projects including housing schemes, new schools and new electricity projects in the North Central Province (NCP) are to be inaugurated next week under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena.
For this purpose, he has assigned SLFP ministers to declare open the different projects. They have been told that they should devote their time for this from August 1 to 4.