A public perception emerged on whether the issue involving the Central Bank bond scam which created a wedge between President Maitripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe posing a threat to the stability of the national unity government.Critical remarks against the government by a few of its own members gave credence to such belief among politically savvy people.However, it appeared to be not so as President Sirisena, in his Monday’s address to the government’s parliamentary group, spelled out clearly that he , had mutual understanding with the Prime Minister to run the government for its remaining period.
The group meeting was conducted ahead of this week’s parliamentary session in a context where the President has intervened in the appointment of Central Bank Government Govener Indrajit Kumaraswamy instead of granting a service extension to Mr. Arjuna Mahendran who held it, over his alleged involvement in the bond scan causing a financial loss of Rs.1.6 billion as pointed out by the Auditor General.
The President firmed his position that Mr. Mahendran should not be reappointed though some ministers tried to rubbish the Auditor General’s report calling it just a piece of opinion not supported by experts in the field.
Probably, the President succumbed to pressure exerted from different quarters including those from his own party who asserted repeatedly that Mr. Mahendran should not be reappointed, come what may.
The President, flanked by the Prime Minister, addressed a well-attended group meeting that included parliamentarians from both sides on Monday.
“There are elements trying to scuttle the unity between the two parties for good governance. No party has received a mandate to form its own government. The mandate is for a national unity government.We stick to it.Whatsoever, I have a great mutual understanding with the Prime Minister. We will act according to the mandate,” he told the meeting.
The Prime Minister echoed thoes sentiments. The audience responded to both the leaders with a thundering applause.
Already, differences of opinion have surfaced within the national unity government, and are visible. Let alone they fact that the two sides have to cling to each other as otherwise would spell political doom, more or less, for both.
The President has the official authority of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), yet he does not command the support of the rank and file of the party. If the UPFA is left to itself, it will lose standing without support from grassroots. Given this reality, it is highly unlikely that it will part ways with the UNP now. Again, the same goes for the UNP as well. United they stand, divided they fall. Be that as it may, the UNP, at least, stands the chance of forming a coalition with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to form a coalition, possibly for the purpose of implementing of the UNHRC resolution if the situation demands. Yet, the UPFA under the President does not enjoy even that distant possibility because a sizeable chunk of the party, currently sitting in the Opposition under the banner of the Joint Opposition, is distraught and displeased with the present leadership.
VAT Reduction now unlikely
First, traders in the southern province started their protest against the increase of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in addition to the expansion of the threshold for its payment by wholesale and retail traders.Next, it went viral covering other provinces at where traders took to the street protesting at the VAT. The President seemed to have felt the heat as he mentioned in a public address that he would take steps to cushion the burden. So, he convened a meeting with relevant stakeholders on Monday to discuss the possible revision of tax hikes. However, the meeting reportedly ended in a limbo as there was no favourable response from the Finance Ministry to revise it.
The President appointed a committee to look into it. Nonetheless, going by some government ministers, it is difficult to assume that the VAT rate will be brought down at any time.
Actually, the matter cropped up at Monday’s parliamentary group meeting as well.There, the government only observed that the protest against VAT had been fuelled by ignorance, and it could be quelled by proper awareness.
The government members were asked to explain to people how VAT were applied at difference stages. “We have exempted a number of items from VAT. People should know this. We have to explain them properly to them,” a Minister said.
The government faces yet another dilemma if it opts for reduction of VAT and other tax rates at this moment. It is in dire need to increase revenue.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also placed conditions in this respect. An IMF delegation is due here soon to meet with the officials of the Inland Revenue Department to discuss tax reforms to be enacted soon. Yet, public pressure is building up against tax hikes.It is a crisis situation, of sort, and the government has to tide over it despite a heavy political toll involved.
Hard time ahead for Govt in implementing UNHRC Resolution
The government faces a similar challenge on the international front. During the recent session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein stressed the need to expedite the process of transnational justice. Also, he called for sweeping reforms in the security sector of the country in his report.
Alongside, the Tamil Diaspora groups and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which are the main opposition also call for expediting action. They even expressed dismay over what they called ‘delay’ in the implementation of the UNHRC resolution.
Brushing aside such criticism, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera maintained that the government had made giant steps towards the implementation. He enumerated the legislations to be enacted for the facilitation of the post-war reconciliation process.
Measures proposed for implementation, particularly the one for a judicial mechanism with foreign judges, are not populist in the country. Then, the government is bound to face resistance in the process locally from the majority community. Yet, any delay will be scorned internationally.
The UNHRC has thrown full light on what is happening here as Sri Lanka also co-sponsored the resolution along with the United States. Again, the government has to weather the local situation in moving ahead with the implementation of the resolution at this juncture.
The Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly is to touch upon the subject of power sharing or devolution at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow. Ahead of the meeting, a leading NGO called ‘Centre for Policy Alternatives’ has compiled a major report comprising all the proposals for constitutional changes that had evolved since as fartack as 1926 to 2008. The copies of it have already been made available to the members of the Steering Committee for reference.
In the meantime, the sub-committees, working on different aspects of constitution making, also had been meeting regularly.The sub-committee on law and order headed by Minister Sagala Ratnayake met last Tuesday and discussed the need to devolve police power to the provincial councils.
Basil, Wimal on same stage
The Joint Opposition, as a precursor to the formation of a new political movement, held an awareness campaign in the Badulla district for the last three days covering all the electorates. Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa addressed political rallies for the first time after the defeat at last year’s presidential election. MP Wimal Weerawansa, who was opposed to Mr. Rajapaksa’s open involvement in the Joint Opposition’s politics, seemed to have patched up differences.
Two MPs were assigned for each electorate of the district. It is learnt that the inconvenience caused by the lack of fertiliser for farmers was one major concern faced at the moment in the area.People complained about it to the joint opposition members.
MR again ready for Pada Yatra
One such meeting was conducted in Ridimaliyadda of the Mahiyangane electorate under Mr. Basil Rajapaksa. After the event, the MPs proposed to have similar programmes covering other districts as well. But, Mr. Rajapaksa insists that the focus should be the protest march or Pada Yatra from Kandy to Colombo from July 28 to August 1.
History repeats itself. It looks more so now with the politics of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Pada Yatra has been an identical feature of his political activities in the opposition. He led one such march in 1993 from Colombo to Kataragama. Again, he did yet another one during the 2002/2004 period from Kandy to Colombo.
After his relegation to the opposition in 2015, he is now trying to participate in a similar event. Hence, Pada Yatra keeps revolving with his politics.
