[caption id="attachment_129617" align="alignright" width="281"]
Ashya with her husband, former Deputy Minister Tharanath Basnayake[/caption]
A beauty queen’s predicament
The hullabaloo at the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre last week and the controversy that followed took centre stage, ousting all political drama. While the spotlight was focused mainly on former Mrs. World, Caroline Jurie and Pushpika de Silva, who was crowned, de-crowned, and re-crowned as Mrs. Sri Lanka, one beauty queen was forgotten in the process – the first runner up of the pageant, who was crowned by Jurie after de-crowning de Silva.
The whole sordid drama surrounding the outcome of the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant left first runner up, Ashya Basnayake, in a rather embarrassing situation.
A little-known fact was that Ashya is the wife of former Deputy Minister Tharanath Basnayake, who represented the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) during the Yahapalana Government and later joined the governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Ashya was judged the first runner up at this year’s Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant and following Jurie’s move to de-crown de Silva, it was Ashya who was crowned as Mrs. Sri Lanka by Jurie.
However, Ashya’s crowning moment lasted only a few hours with the organisers of the pageant deciding to re-crown de Silva as Mrs. Sri Lanka, this time removing the crown from Ashya.
Beauty to politics
Re-crowned Mrs. Sri Lanka Pushpika De Silva said that there is a possibility of her entering politics in the future.
After being re-crowned following the controversy over her eligibility to hold the position, De Silva claimed that she is an iron lady who cannot be stopped by any acts of hatred.
“I forgive all those who did this to me. God has taught us not to hate anyone. That’s how my parents brought me up. I will also give voice to the need to enable even divorced ladies to participate in these events in future,” she said.
Prez cracks the whip
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who noted his plans to make changes to key positions in state institutions, seems to have commenced the restructuring programme.
It is learnt that the President has commenced the process by making changes to several key positions in state institutions headed by individuals formerly from the private sector.
One of the first changes to be carried out by the President was the switching of the two chairmen at the National Youth Services Council and the Vocational Training Authority.
Chairman and Director General of the National Youth Services Council Theshara Jayasinghe and Chairman of the Vocational Training Authority Damitha Wickramasinghe were switched as part of the restructuring programme.
The restructuring programme is to continue with several other key position holders in state institutions likely to face the axe or be transferred to other positions.
Politicians affiliated to the Government have continuously complained that most heads of state institutions, who have been previously employed in the private sector or overseas, did not have a proper understanding of the state mechanism as well as political requirements. The appointment of members of the “Viyathmaga” organisation to key posts in state institutions was attributed as one of the reasons for the inability to achieve the targets set by the Government from state institutions.
However, it is learnt that while around 160 people have been appointed as heads of state institutions and corporations, only 20 were members of “Viyathmaga”.
State Minister’s complaint The head of a state institution, who was last week switched to another state institution, it is learnt, has had many complaints against him by his former subject minister. The respective State Minister, it is learnt, had continuously complained that the head of the state institution under her purview had disregarded her directives and was carrying out work according to his own will. The State Minister had even complained to the President that the respective head of the state institution completely disregarded her when carrying out his work and that it was difficult to continue to work with him under such circumstances. The President had finally decided to transfer the relevant head to another state institution.
Another case for Maithri?
Former President, MP Maithripala Sirisena, who is facing accusations over the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, is likely to face yet another legal issue. The latest issue to haunt Sirisena is the removal of former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris in 2015.
Justice Minister Ali Sabry last week stated that Peiris’ removal from the post of Chief Justice by then President Sirisena had been carried out in violation of the Constitution as well as standing orders of Parliament.
The Justice Minister made this observation in response to a question posed by MP Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon.
The Minister noted that the removal of a Chief Justice should be carried out according to a parliamentary procedure.
According to Sabry, the matter is to be taken up with the Prime Minister in order to initiate necessary steps to correct the error.
Peiris was appointed as Chief Justice by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 15 January 2015 after the controversial removal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and his appointment was nullified by President Sirisena in 2015.
SB takes a swipe at Govt.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP S.B. Dissanayake last week became quite a topic in the local political scene following the controversial comments made by him during a discussion with the Chief Prelate of the Getambe Rajamaha Vihara in Kandy Ven. Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Thero.
The Thera was critical of the Government, saying the public was very disgruntled with the administration.
Dissanayake’s comments were critical of the incumbent Government and also its failures.
The MP noted that despite efforts by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the public officials as well as members of the Government did not support him to carry out the work.
“The President’s popularity was on par with that of the American President earlier. But it has dropped now and he asked why it has dropped so much? He asked. The secretaries were all there; then I told the President that none of the work he (the President) wanted done has been carried out. I then said the Education Secretary is there. You said you will build national schools; ask him how many have been built so far. Nothing has been done. Then, he said the list is still being prepared after one-and-a-half years. Then I pointed to lands. The President said he would issue deeds to lands. I asked how many such deeds have been issued so far. That too has not happened,” Dissanayake told the Thera.
“GL (Education Minister G.L. Pieris) doesn’t do anything in the education sector. Work has to be carried out with great speed,” he added.
The Thera then said, “I doubt anything could happen now. I feel the time for that has now passed.”
Referring to the economy, Dissanayake had said that while the country’s revenue generation has seen a decline like all other countries, China has informed Sri Lanka that it would give any amount of money to be returned at a time convenient to Sri Lanka.
Another clean up? The felling of trees and clearing lands has faced much controversy since of late with environmentalists and civil society keeping a close watch on the matter. However, it was recently revealed that the land initially allocated to set up a factory to assemble Volkswagen vehicles in Kuliyapitiya has been cleared by felling a large number of large trees including mee, kumbuk, and coconut. Minister S.M. Chandrasena had told the media that the land was allocated and cleared during the period of the previous Yahapalana Government and that no factory was set up in the land after cutting down a large number of trees. The Minister had further alleged that there had been several irregularities in the manner in which the land that was under the control of the public trustee to a private investor during the former Government.
A hasty ‘egg’sit Last week’s meeting of the Padukka Development Committee ended abruptly when Chairman of the committee, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Jagath Kumara had to walk out of the discussion amidst protests by members of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha. Members of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha had objected to the manner in which the MP was conducting affairs related to the development of the Padukka area. Unable to respond to the charges, Jagath Kumara had walked out of the auditorium of the Padukka Divisional Secretariat where the meeting was being held. The protest commenced when the parliamentarian had claimed he would conduct affairs of the committee as he wished, when objections were raised to the dictatorial nature of the work being carried out by the Chairman without getting either the public representatives or public officials involved. However, as the protest continued, Kumara had to leave the premises under police guard only to face rotten eggs that were thrown at his vehicle, as it pulled out of the Divisional Secretariat.
Diyawanna polluted
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has once again raised the issue of pollution of the waters of the Diyawanna Lake.
Premadasa last week raised the issue of the discolouration of waters in the lake in some areas in Parliament. He first raised the issue on 24 March.
The Opposition Leader noted that the water in some areas have turned yellow and called for a probe into it.
However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena last month noted that some of the ponds surrounding Parliament had been cleaned and that the lake water may have been affected as a result.
Nevertheless, Premadasa last week reiterated that the water is discoloured once again and that it required a probe.
Thinking twice Minister Chamal Rajapaksa is usually known for his mild temper and easy-going nature. However, he lost his cool in Parliament last week, leaving legislators of the Government and Opposition as well as the public quite shocked. “Come outside, let’s settle this,” Rajapaksa shouted at MP Sarath Fonseka during an argument in the House. After things cooled down, several members of the Government had approached Rajapaksa's son, State Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa and laughed about his father's hidden personality. One governing party MP had said jokingly that he had a letter to be given to Rajapaksa but was now in two minds since he could get assaulted. Laughing at the joke, Shashindra had said: “That's what I'm also wondering. I'm scared to go home now.” Everyone around had had a good laugh before making their way to Rajapaksa.
A fisticuff State Minister Nimal Lansa’s brother, Mayor of Negombo Dayan Lansa, had recently earned the wrath of a group of youth in Negombo. Mayor Lansa was reportedly assaulted when he was dragged into an argument with a group of youth who were playing on the beach adjacent to the Mayor’s vehicle that was parked. Lansa had visited the area to attend an event. During the argument, the Mayor had first assaulted one of the individuals when he had been attacked as a retaliatory gesture. However, two youth who were engaged in the brawl were taken into custody by the Police.
Ashya with her husband, former Deputy Minister Tharanath Basnayake[/caption]
A beauty queen’s predicament
The hullabaloo at the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre last week and the controversy that followed took centre stage, ousting all political drama. While the spotlight was focused mainly on former Mrs. World, Caroline Jurie and Pushpika de Silva, who was crowned, de-crowned, and re-crowned as Mrs. Sri Lanka, one beauty queen was forgotten in the process – the first runner up of the pageant, who was crowned by Jurie after de-crowning de Silva.
The whole sordid drama surrounding the outcome of the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant left first runner up, Ashya Basnayake, in a rather embarrassing situation.
A little-known fact was that Ashya is the wife of former Deputy Minister Tharanath Basnayake, who represented the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) during the Yahapalana Government and later joined the governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Ashya was judged the first runner up at this year’s Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant and following Jurie’s move to de-crown de Silva, it was Ashya who was crowned as Mrs. Sri Lanka by Jurie.
However, Ashya’s crowning moment lasted only a few hours with the organisers of the pageant deciding to re-crown de Silva as Mrs. Sri Lanka, this time removing the crown from Ashya.
Beauty to politics
Re-crowned Mrs. Sri Lanka Pushpika De Silva said that there is a possibility of her entering politics in the future.
After being re-crowned following the controversy over her eligibility to hold the position, De Silva claimed that she is an iron lady who cannot be stopped by any acts of hatred.
“I forgive all those who did this to me. God has taught us not to hate anyone. That’s how my parents brought me up. I will also give voice to the need to enable even divorced ladies to participate in these events in future,” she said.
Prez cracks the whip
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who noted his plans to make changes to key positions in state institutions, seems to have commenced the restructuring programme.
It is learnt that the President has commenced the process by making changes to several key positions in state institutions headed by individuals formerly from the private sector.
One of the first changes to be carried out by the President was the switching of the two chairmen at the National Youth Services Council and the Vocational Training Authority.
Chairman and Director General of the National Youth Services Council Theshara Jayasinghe and Chairman of the Vocational Training Authority Damitha Wickramasinghe were switched as part of the restructuring programme.
The restructuring programme is to continue with several other key position holders in state institutions likely to face the axe or be transferred to other positions.
Politicians affiliated to the Government have continuously complained that most heads of state institutions, who have been previously employed in the private sector or overseas, did not have a proper understanding of the state mechanism as well as political requirements. The appointment of members of the “Viyathmaga” organisation to key posts in state institutions was attributed as one of the reasons for the inability to achieve the targets set by the Government from state institutions.
However, it is learnt that while around 160 people have been appointed as heads of state institutions and corporations, only 20 were members of “Viyathmaga”.
State Minister’s complaint The head of a state institution, who was last week switched to another state institution, it is learnt, has had many complaints against him by his former subject minister. The respective State Minister, it is learnt, had continuously complained that the head of the state institution under her purview had disregarded her directives and was carrying out work according to his own will. The State Minister had even complained to the President that the respective head of the state institution completely disregarded her when carrying out his work and that it was difficult to continue to work with him under such circumstances. The President had finally decided to transfer the relevant head to another state institution.
Another case for Maithri?
Former President, MP Maithripala Sirisena, who is facing accusations over the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, is likely to face yet another legal issue. The latest issue to haunt Sirisena is the removal of former Chief Justice Mohan Peiris in 2015.
Justice Minister Ali Sabry last week stated that Peiris’ removal from the post of Chief Justice by then President Sirisena had been carried out in violation of the Constitution as well as standing orders of Parliament.
The Justice Minister made this observation in response to a question posed by MP Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon.
The Minister noted that the removal of a Chief Justice should be carried out according to a parliamentary procedure.
According to Sabry, the matter is to be taken up with the Prime Minister in order to initiate necessary steps to correct the error.
Peiris was appointed as Chief Justice by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 15 January 2015 after the controversial removal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and his appointment was nullified by President Sirisena in 2015.
SB takes a swipe at Govt.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP S.B. Dissanayake last week became quite a topic in the local political scene following the controversial comments made by him during a discussion with the Chief Prelate of the Getambe Rajamaha Vihara in Kandy Ven. Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Thero.
The Thera was critical of the Government, saying the public was very disgruntled with the administration.
Dissanayake’s comments were critical of the incumbent Government and also its failures.
The MP noted that despite efforts by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the public officials as well as members of the Government did not support him to carry out the work.
“The President’s popularity was on par with that of the American President earlier. But it has dropped now and he asked why it has dropped so much? He asked. The secretaries were all there; then I told the President that none of the work he (the President) wanted done has been carried out. I then said the Education Secretary is there. You said you will build national schools; ask him how many have been built so far. Nothing has been done. Then, he said the list is still being prepared after one-and-a-half years. Then I pointed to lands. The President said he would issue deeds to lands. I asked how many such deeds have been issued so far. That too has not happened,” Dissanayake told the Thera.
“GL (Education Minister G.L. Pieris) doesn’t do anything in the education sector. Work has to be carried out with great speed,” he added.
The Thera then said, “I doubt anything could happen now. I feel the time for that has now passed.”
Referring to the economy, Dissanayake had said that while the country’s revenue generation has seen a decline like all other countries, China has informed Sri Lanka that it would give any amount of money to be returned at a time convenient to Sri Lanka.
Another clean up? The felling of trees and clearing lands has faced much controversy since of late with environmentalists and civil society keeping a close watch on the matter. However, it was recently revealed that the land initially allocated to set up a factory to assemble Volkswagen vehicles in Kuliyapitiya has been cleared by felling a large number of large trees including mee, kumbuk, and coconut. Minister S.M. Chandrasena had told the media that the land was allocated and cleared during the period of the previous Yahapalana Government and that no factory was set up in the land after cutting down a large number of trees. The Minister had further alleged that there had been several irregularities in the manner in which the land that was under the control of the public trustee to a private investor during the former Government.
A hasty ‘egg’sit Last week’s meeting of the Padukka Development Committee ended abruptly when Chairman of the committee, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Jagath Kumara had to walk out of the discussion amidst protests by members of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha. Members of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha had objected to the manner in which the MP was conducting affairs related to the development of the Padukka area. Unable to respond to the charges, Jagath Kumara had walked out of the auditorium of the Padukka Divisional Secretariat where the meeting was being held. The protest commenced when the parliamentarian had claimed he would conduct affairs of the committee as he wished, when objections were raised to the dictatorial nature of the work being carried out by the Chairman without getting either the public representatives or public officials involved. However, as the protest continued, Kumara had to leave the premises under police guard only to face rotten eggs that were thrown at his vehicle, as it pulled out of the Divisional Secretariat.
Diyawanna polluted
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has once again raised the issue of pollution of the waters of the Diyawanna Lake.
Premadasa last week raised the issue of the discolouration of waters in the lake in some areas in Parliament. He first raised the issue on 24 March.
The Opposition Leader noted that the water in some areas have turned yellow and called for a probe into it.
However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena last month noted that some of the ponds surrounding Parliament had been cleaned and that the lake water may have been affected as a result.
Nevertheless, Premadasa last week reiterated that the water is discoloured once again and that it required a probe.
Thinking twice Minister Chamal Rajapaksa is usually known for his mild temper and easy-going nature. However, he lost his cool in Parliament last week, leaving legislators of the Government and Opposition as well as the public quite shocked. “Come outside, let’s settle this,” Rajapaksa shouted at MP Sarath Fonseka during an argument in the House. After things cooled down, several members of the Government had approached Rajapaksa's son, State Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa and laughed about his father's hidden personality. One governing party MP had said jokingly that he had a letter to be given to Rajapaksa but was now in two minds since he could get assaulted. Laughing at the joke, Shashindra had said: “That's what I'm also wondering. I'm scared to go home now.” Everyone around had had a good laugh before making their way to Rajapaksa.
A fisticuff State Minister Nimal Lansa’s brother, Mayor of Negombo Dayan Lansa, had recently earned the wrath of a group of youth in Negombo. Mayor Lansa was reportedly assaulted when he was dragged into an argument with a group of youth who were playing on the beach adjacent to the Mayor’s vehicle that was parked. Lansa had visited the area to attend an event. During the argument, the Mayor had first assaulted one of the individuals when he had been attacked as a retaliatory gesture. However, two youth who were engaged in the brawl were taken into custody by the Police.