Appoint Persons Of High Integrity To Company Law Reform Advisory Commission: Jayaratne

July 28, 2014

Good governance activist Chandra Jayaratne has requested the Ministry of Finance and Planning to ensure the 2015 budget is formulated in the national interest and encourages new development activities and investment promoting growth, prosperity and livelihoods.

Chandra Jayaratne

In a letter to the Ministry of Finance and Planning Secretary, Mr. Jayaratne has noted that it is important that persons of high integrity and independence, who possess the required expertise and proven track record of achievements in the relevant fields are appointed to the Company Law Reform Advisory Commission, that is due to be established with a mandate to recommend reforms required to the Companies Act and associated and ancillary legislative enactments and connected regulations.

He has written that in order to ensure effective and best practices, the Commission members should plan and complete the Commission tasks within a period of 18 months since their appointment.

“They should publish an interim white paper within 12 months so that it allows room for a further three months for public review, debate and submit the final recommendations with the publication of a report within three months thereafter,” Mr. Jayaratne has written further.

Furthermore, in his letter he has noted the importance of declaring and establishing that those appointed to the advisory Commission are ‘fit and proper persons’ with no conflicting interests in the performance of their assignment roles.Read More

Implement PSC Proposals To Reduce Cabinet Size And Alter Electoral Process: Liberals

July 28, 2014 

The Liberal Party of Sri Lanka has called upon the government to implement certain proposals made at the Parliamentary Select Committee on the National Question, including the reduction of the size of the Cabinet and changing the electoral process, without further delay.

Vasantha Senanayake MP

These sentiments were expressed by the General Secretary of the Liberal Party Kamal Nissanka in a media statement that commended the proposals made by MP Vasantha Senanayake to the PSC on the National Question.

“There is a need to develop stronger traditions of both legislative and executive responsibility and it will be served by such changes. Moreover, it will immeasurably strengthen any Executive President who desires to govern efficiently and effectively,” the Liberal Party statement reads.

While endorsing the proposals made by MP Senanayake based on his consultations with the youth and discussions with the diaspora through the Young Political Leaders Form (YPLF), Nissanka in the statement has noted that it is time to consolidate the idea to promote consensus.

They have requested all political parties to study the proposals and provide feedback on them to MP Senanayake so that they can can be fine tuned if necessary so that an agreement can be reached upon at least a on a few matters discussed pertaining to the national question.

Meanwhile, expressing disappointment over the absence of an interim report despite holding sittings for several months, they have urged the PSC on the National Question to issue an interim report inclusive of recommendations on areas that are not prone to controversy including;

• the establishment of a Second Chamber of Parliament based on provinces
• strengthening of local government institutions and consultation process