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Dangerous move: UNP

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Parliament on Friday passed with amendments the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bill presented by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka to legitimise the post of CDS and create an effective coordination between the CDS and the three wings of the armed forces.

Presenting the Bill, Mr. Wickramanayaka said though the post of CDS existed, it was functioning without any legal powers.

The bill envisions CDS to be responsible for coordination between the armed forces and the Defence Ministry. A committee including the heads of the three wings would be established with the CDS in the chair. The CDS would consult the commanders of the three wings under the direction and supervision of the Defence Secretary.

Opposition United National Party (UNP) MP John Amaratunga said in Parliament the government had given powers of a “deputy head of armed forces” to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the head of the armed forces.

He said the Bill envisaged more powers for the Defence Secretary and some exceeded even that of the Defence Minister. He pointed out the Defence Secretary had been given the power to control the armed forces without being answerable to Parliament.

Separately, the police have picked up for questioning an astrologer who predicted drastic political changes.

The police said the astrologer had predicted that the Prime Minister would be appointed President on September 9 and the opposition leader would be the Prime Minister. They said he was being questioned to find out the basis of the prediction.

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