“Unions affiliated with the Marxist- Nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party have warned of a strike and country-wide blackout on May 23 in protest of government moves to present electricity reforms to Parliament, which they fear would lead to privatization of the state electrical utility. However, the strike may be ineffective (i.e. unable to produce a blackout or force the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) to give in to union demands) as technical staff, including engineers, will not be joining the protest. Nonetheless, the government may delay the presentation of the reform bills in Parliament to give time for discussions which would appease technical unions, which want more time to study the bills. This is a first, albeit small, test of this Government’s willingness to stand up for needed reforms in the power and energy sector.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Sri Lankan government denied plans to roll back power sharing mechanisms with the Tamil minority on Wednesday despite ruling coalition parties' attempting to stop long overdue elections in the former war-torn north.

JHU MP and Technology and Research Minister Champika Ranawaka announced on Tuesday plans to present an act in parliament next week to abolish provincial councils and the 13th Amendment.

 Senior Vice President of the SLFP and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on Monday said that whatever the differences among members of a particular political party were, it would be a grave mistake on their part to switch sides.

Switching allegiance to another party would be beneficial to individuals, but it could cause debilitating setback to that particular political party, Minister de Silva said.

UNP Matara District MP Mangala Samaraweera told Parliament yesterday that the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) should not be held in Sri Lanka, unless the government was willing to change t its autocratic agenda.

"Despite the optimism of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamlesh Sharma about holding CHOGM in Sri Lanka, there is a discrepancy between the core values of the Commonwealth and the agenda of the incoming Chairperson," Samaraweera said while participating in an adjournment motion debate.

It was certainly a well-planned campaign. Put in a tight corner for its handling of the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue, desperate Congressmen in Tamil Nadu thought it fit to use the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to recall the party’s contributions to the cause.

On Tuesday, the city saw a deluge of posters, sponsored by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), that reminded people about the great sacrifices the party had to make for the betterment of Tamils across the Palk Strait, the ultimate of which was losing Rajiv in Sriperambudur during the 1991 campaign trail.

The background to the 13th Amendment is very important specially when everybody is talking about it now. I noticed that your newspaper also had carried out a survey. Fifty three per cent of the people have said 13th Amendment should be repealed. So they are not far wrong. Only 36 per cent say that 13th Amendment should be retained. That means a wide segment of the people are also now doubtful about the usefulness of the 13th Amendment. Now the 13th Amendment tells something like this. You get the Central Government and Local Government. That is how our structure has been there from the time of Independence.

The term rent-seeking is generally applied to politicians and government officials who seek benefits from the implementation of rules and regulations they administer. But the term is also used of those who benefit from the rent that, as it were, they pay to those in authority. Influencing government officials, and even government itself, to grant favours is an easy way of profiting in cultures where transparency is lacking and decision makers have discretion (which is generally a good thing) but without accountability (which is essential, with regard to discretionary decisions as well as finances).

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said yesterday it was considering a change in its stance on power devolution and instead opt for a new system of devolution depending on the will of the people. However, it said as of now it would stick to its policy on power devolution based on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference that his party would listen to the views expressed by the people and propose a system of devolution accordingly.

“We will leave this matter to the people,” he said.

Sri Lanka's opposition parties and trade unions accused the government on Tuesday of threatening state employees with the sack if they took part in planned street protests against a sharp rise in electricity prices.

Only a few hundred people joined the demonstrations, coordinated by the political opposition and trade unions, despite expectations of much larger crowds on the streets of Colombo.

The government rejected the accusations, saying that the planned walkout had simply failed.

Mahinda Deshapriya, Elections Commissioner said that there are not enough Tamil officers to hold Northern PC election.

Mahinda Devapriya said this in a special meeting held at the elections department.

The Election Commissioner said that necessary steps are been to hold the election by filling in the shortage of officers.