Call early parliamentary polls, Ceylon Chamber urges

Sri Lanka’s top chamber group on Thursday urged the Government to hold parliamentary polls as promised (ahead of schedule) while raising concerns over diverse positions in the coalition administration.

“… the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) urges the President and Government to call a general election at the earliest possible opportunity preferably keeping to the dates announced in the 100 day programme,” the CCC said in a statement to the media.

It said the chamber notes and appreciates the many positive steps taken by the President and Government to deal with pressing issues pertaining to constitutional reforms, law and order, independence of the judiciary and media, good gover- nance, cost of living and international relations.

“However the chamber also notes – in this instance with concern - the diverse positions taken on the forthcoming general election by parties currently forming the coalition government. In the meanwhile, pending a general election and a stable government being elected, the formulation and implementation of medium and long term economic policies have been put on hold,” the chamber noted.

As a result, a period of uncertainty prevails over the current business climate and investors both local and foreign are adopting a cautious approach towards investing in Sri Lanka.

The aim is to provide the public with a mode of transport that is safe, fair and efficient. An expert panel has been appointed to implement this task.

President of the All Ceylon Threewheeler Drivers' Union (ACTDU), Lalith Dharmasekera welcomed the move saying there is an urgent need to regularise the industry. His union had made representations to the previous government to introduce such regulations but no action has been taken. The biggest problem facing passengers are that trishaws driven at dangerously high speeds and meters are not accurate.