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No attack on TNA, only a clash between MSD and army |
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2011-06-28 |
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa dismissed as false the TNA’s claim that a group of its parliamentarians had come under attack in Jaffna recently. He said it had been a clash between the army and the Ministerial Security Division personnel protecting the TNA MPs. Blaming the TNA for having blown the incident out of proportion to make it a political issue, the President said an investigation was being conducted into the incident and the culprits would be punished. |
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Assure the civil and political freedom of residents of Jaffna and Kilinochchi before July 23rd election |
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2011-06-17 |
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Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) believes that civil and political rights are an integral part of a free and fair election. Therefore yesterday’s (June 16) attack on a political rally organized by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) at Allawetti shows the extent to which these rights have been restricted in Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts. TNA had organized their inaugural election rally at Allawetti on June 16 and this was greeted with great enthusiasm by the people as well as journalists of Jaffna. However during the rally a large number of individuals entered the venue and assaulted those who attended the event. CaFFE believes that it is the government’s responsibility to assure that all political parties have the right to bear an opinion, to express that opinion and to organize to propagate that opinion without violating the rights of others. (Read More) |
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Fears Over Jaffna Polls |
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2011-06-19 |
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The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has written to Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya expressing fears over the conduct of a free and fair election in Jaffna next month.
The TNA said it has raised concerns with the elections chief after the first election rally to be staged by the TNA for the upcoming local government polls came under an attack last week.
According to the TNA, a similar letter was also sent to the Parliament Speaker as five TNA MPs were among those attending the rally when the attack took place.
Elections for 64 local government bodies including in Jaffna will be held on July 23, while election monitors including PAFFREL and CAFFE have also expressed concerns over the incident. The TNA warned last week that talks with the government on issues concerning the Tamil community has been put under severe strain following the attack on the TNA meeting in Jaffna. TNA MP Suresh Premachandran said that the party was discussing the incident which took place in Jaffna last Thursday and the implications it will have on talks being held with the government.
The TNA and the government have had several rounds of talks over the past few months and the next round has been scheduled for June 23. (Read More)
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Sri Lanka Tamil party says military attacked its poll campaign |
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2011-06-16 |
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Jaffna, Sri Lanka, June 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's main ethnic minority Tamil party on Thursday said the military had attacked its campaign events in the former war zone in the north to create a climate of fear ahead of the first local government polls in 26 years. Legislators of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which backed the now defeated Tamil Tiger rebels, said supporters were chased away at a meeting in the main town of Jaffna by the military at the start of the first election campaign for 52 local bodies in northern district. Saravanabawan said the TNA had lodged a complaint with police at Thellipalai. A police officer confirmed to Reuters that there had been an incident and they had received a complaint. Two other TNA legislators and three people who were at the meeting confirmed the incident. But Military spokesman Ubhaya Madawela said he was not aware of such an incident. "There is no point in holding elections if there is not a level playing field," said Keerthi Tennakoon, spokesman for Campaign for Free and Fair Election, a non-government organist ion which monitors polls in the island nation. "This proves that there is no environment for people in the north to exercise their political rights freely. There is a semi-military administration in north. The government has a responsibility to allow to have a free and fair election with equal playing field." (Read More)
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Unsuitably clad MP asked to leave |
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2011-05-05 |
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Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Trincomalee district MP M. S. Taufeek had to leave the Parliament chamber yesterday after he came dressed in red colored short sleeved shirt which was deemed unsuitable attire for a legislator. The MP, who walked into the Chamber and occupied a back row seat, was asked to leave the Chamber shortly afterwards by Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando. Male legislators are required to wear the national suit, tunic or full suit while attending sittings. Female legislators are required to be clad in sari. |
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LC petitions: Judgment on May 12 |
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2011-05-05 |
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The Court of Appeal yesterday postponed to May 12 its judgment on the 19 writ applications filed by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) challenging the rejection of its nomination papers for the local council elections in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts. Appeal Court President Justice Sathya Hettige postponed judgment earlier fixed for May 5 as the other sitting judge Upali Abeyrathna was indisposed. The UPFA nomination papers were rejected for the reason that the Tamil translation of the party name was in variance with the one recognized by the Elections Commissioner and as registered with him. On February 24, the Court had issued an interim order restraining the Elections Commissioner and the Returning Officers from taking any further steps in terms of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance for the purpose of conducting the elections to 19 local councils in Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts. These interim orders were to be operative till the final determination of the writ applications filed by the ruling UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha. (Read More)
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Election Observation Report of Local Government Elections |
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2011-04-26 |
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The 2011 local government election is the first election under the 18th amendment to the constitution. However it was held without the establishment of the Elections Commission which was proposed by the amendment. Few weeks after the passing of the 18th amendment, the local authorities elections (amendment) act was presented to parliament and debated but was not implemented. The new amendments were made using the findings of the Dinesh Gunawardane commission on electoral reforms. (Read More) |
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CJ favours 17th Amendment |
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2011-04-26 |
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Chief Justice Asoka de Silva has said it may be better if Sri Lanka re-considers the system as it is always good to have a combined opinion especially on appointments and changes to the judiciary than one person’s discretionary power, Sandeshaya the BBC’s Sinhala service reported.
In an interview to Sandeshaya, the Chief Justice said efforts to reduce the sweeping powers of the executive president failed because of the actions of Sri Lanka’s opposition.
He said the status quo of the 1978 constitution that authorized the executive president to make all senior appointments to the judiciary was re-established by the 18th Amendment as a result. (Read More)
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LG members’ proportion under PR system inadequate: Hakeem |
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2011-04-06 |
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Minister of Justice and Leader of the SLMC told Parliament yesterday the proportion of local government members that would be elected under the PR system as stipulated in the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment Bill) was inadequate.
According to the Bill 30 percent of the members are elected under the PR system.
Speaking during the debate on the Bill in the House yesterday, Mr. Hakeem said the SLMC decided to go along with the majority view though his party wants a greater proportion of members elected under the PR system. (Read More)
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TNA oaths taking ceremony on March 31 |
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2011-03-28 |
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The heads of the twelve Local Government bodies won by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and their deputies and members elected to local councils from the party were due to take oaths on March 31 in Trincomalee, TNA sources said.
Seventy nine members elected to Local Councils from the TNA were due to take oaths at the Trincomalee Urban Council hall on this day, after which they would participate at a function to honour the founder of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (Federal Party) S.J.V. Chelvanayakam in front of the Chelvanayakam statue in the town. (Read More)
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