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President Maithripala Sirisena will not swear in a larger Cabinet under a so-called National Government in terms of a resolution now before Parliament, his senior advisor Shiral Lakthilake said yesterday.

“In terms of the Constitution, it is the President who has to decide on whether he is satisfied that there is a case for a National Government,” he told the Sunday Times.

Mr. Lakthilake was commenting on the resolution before Parliament seeking an increase in the number of ministers and deputy ministers. Moved by House Leader and Minister Lakshman Kiriella, the resolution says, “Whereas the United National Party which obtained the highest number of seats in Parliament has formed a National Government, Parliament determines in terms of Article 46 (4) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka that the number in the Cabinet of Ministers shall not exceed 48 and the number of Deputy Ministers shall not exceed 45.”

Mr Lakthilake said the President could not be compelled to act based on resolutions moved by Parliament. “He will exercise his powers in accordance with the Constitution,” he added.

Another Governor resigns
Central Province Govenor Maithri Gunaratne tendered his resignation to the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Mr Gunaratne told the Sunday Times he informed the reasons for his resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena, but declined to comment on the reasons for his resignation.

Mr Gunaratne was appointed as Governor in January this year by the President.
The Sunday Times, however, learns that Mr Gunaratne’s resignation was prompted by a dispute over the allocation of Government jobs for Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) supporters in the province. Sources disclosed that several prominent SLFP MPs had wanted their party supporters to be appointed to minor positions in the State Service, leading to a dispute.

Last week Uva Provice Govenor Marshal Perera also tendered his resignation.
The resignation came few days after the Govenor’s son former Minister Dilan Perera started to support the SLPP in the Badulla district, although he is still an SLFPer.

Two injured when PM’s chopper takes off
Two people were injured while bathing in the Manik Ganga, Kataragama yesterday morning when a Sri Lanka Air Force Helicopter caused a branch of a tree to fall next to them.

The incident took place while the helicopter was taking off for refuelling at the Weerawila camp after dropping Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He was to take part in an official function to declare open the Divisional Secretariat building in Kataragama
According to the District Hospital, a woman who was injured in the incident was discharged after treatment for minor injuries while the other patient has been transferred to Hambantota Hospital to obtain X-rays of his injuries.

Several independent sources identified the helicopter as Mil Mi-17 variant used by the Air Force. However Air Force Spokesman Gihan Seneviratne said the helicopter was a Bell 412. He would not comment on who the passengers were.
The Bell 412 helicopter is smaller in size than the larger Mi-17 variant. Both types of helicopters are used by the Air Force for transport and search-and-rescue duties. They are also used to fly VIPs.

According to the Air Force, the a downwash from the rotors of the helicopter had caused a rotting branch of a tree that was overhanging the river to break off. The SLAF Mi-17 helicopter, said to be on a chartered flight to Kataragama had landed at a helipad near Gangodawila, Kataragama. Kataragama Police are investigating the matter but declined comment on it.

Bicycle licence: Like the baila without Babi Achchi

Recently the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) organised a pilot project – Colombo’s first ever car-free day promoting cycling. This was in partnership with the Netherlands embassy.

But the reality is different for those who ride bicycles on a daily basis. They face so many difficulties such as no special bike lanes and potholes along the main streets. One would wonder whether CMC genuinely wants to promote eco-friendly cycling or was it a publicity stunt by the mayor.

Though people still use bicycles to navigate around the city daily, only 72 have bothered to register with the CMC and obtain a Bicycle Registration plate by paying a tax of Rs 5.
Even the CMC officials are surprised by those who call over to pay the five rupee tax. A young rider’s experience tells an interesting story.

As the officials prepared the receipt for Rs 5 as tax fees, they giggled and directed the youth to the cashier’s counter. When he returned to collect his registration plate, a tin slate consisting of the serial registration number, the officials appeared to be surprised and were staring at the youth who came to obtain the bicycle registration plate at a time when Colombo streets were filled with motorised engines.

SLPP borrows Obama’s slogan

Yes, we can, or Si se puede, was coined in 1972 by New Mexico’s two farmer union leaders — Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez.

This was the slogan when American farm workers were on a hunger strike.

Former United States President Barack Obama adopted the slogan during his presidential election campaign.

Now, it has become the slogan of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for the presidential election campaign.

Vavuniya farmers want guns to protect crops

At a packed District Coordinating Committee (DCC) meeting in Vavuniya this week, Selvam Adaikalanathan, the Deputy Chairperson of Committees in Parliament, asked that guns be issued to farmers in the area.

He said farmers had complained that the guns which were seized from them during the separatist war were not returned. He said the farmers needed the guns to protect their crops from wild animals.

DCC Co-Chair and Minister Rishad Bathiudeen inquired from officials on the procedures to be followed to secure a permit to obtain a shotgun. The officials detailed the process of securing clearances from the Defence Ministry and the local army base.

China now and then

In Parliament and outside, some MPs keep speaking about the influence of China on Sri Lanka.

Last week, both Government and Opposition MPs were seen at an event to mark the conclusion of a visit of Sri Lankan parliamentarians to China.

MPs who visited China on previous occasions, too, were present – a total of 20 to 30 members.

MP Nimal Siripala de Silva, during his speech, said his first visit to China was in 1985 when he saw most people riding bicycles. In contrast it is all luxury vehicles now.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said his first visit to China was in 1965 and at that time couples could not even be seen holding hands.

State-of-the-art hospital for Nuwara Eliya: Unhealthy concern over plaque

A cabinet minister, a state minister and four MPs representing Nuwara Eliya district are an unhappy lot on the programme for the opening ceremony of a new hospital complex built at a cost of Rs 7.6 billion in their district.

President Maithripala Sirisena opened the building, with Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne attending the event. The Netherlands government funded the project.

Some of the district’s elected representatives turned up at the event but did not find their names on the plaque unveiled to mark the opening.

State Minister V. Radhakrishnan this week raised issue at the special Coordinating Committee meeting held at the District Secretary’s office.

He said among the others whose name should have been mentioned were Cabinet Minister Palani Digambaram, and parliamentarians Arumugam Thondaman, Mutthu Sivalingam, M. Thilakarajh and K.K. Piyadasa.

“We all worked hard to get this hospital to the district, but our services have not been recognised,” lamented Mr. Radhakrishnan.

It seems they are more concerned about their names on the plaque rather than the billions given to build the state-of-the-art hospital.