纸牌屋

一 |     Colombo, Oct 10 (UNI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced a raft of amendments to the electoral system, noting that the existing political system was a major cause for the current economic crisis.

“A referendum will be called to decide on the parliamentary electoral system if the Select Committee which is proposed to be established fails to decide on the matter by July next year,” the Daily FT newspaper quoted him as telling a meeting with professionals held at the President’s Office on Sunday.

The President said plans were also underway to slash the number of local government councillors by 50 per cent before the next election.

“Before the next election, I intend to reduce the number of council members for local governing bodies such as Pradeshiya Sabhas, Municipal Councils and Urban Councils from the current 8,000 to 4,000,” he added.

Wickremesinghe also said the ‘Jana Sabha’ will be introduced to streamline the local government councils.

“The Executive powers will be shifted to a chairman-led committee instead of a single chairman being vested with all the authority. The draft laws will be prepared to incorporate these amendments before the next local government elections,” he stressed.

Noting that the main cause for political corruption is the preferential system, President Wickremesinghe said a non-preferential list system or a mixed electoral system should be immediately adopted and restrictions should be imposed by the election law on the amount of money spent on elections.

“There are two main issues before the country today. One is the economic crisis while the other is the rejection of the political system by the majority of the population. Many are of the view that the cause of the economic collapse is the existing political system.

"Different groups have been formed within the Parliament due to the party system. I work for the people irrespective of narrow party lines,” he said.

The President cited fewer youth representatives as another key factor in the political parties today, the daily reported.

“Many work with the same old people just for namesake. There are no new organisations. Therefore, a separate law should be presented regarding the constitution of political parties, their work, how to recruit members, how to select central committees, and how to select candidates."

He also said the main reason for corruption in the country's politics is the preferential system, insisting that it was imperative to prepare a new voting system.

“A decision should be taken to implement either the list method without preference or the mixed method (single and proportional method). A decision should be taken after discussions before the upcoming election and that election should be held under the new system,” the Daily FT quoted him as saying.

Wickremesinghe also pointed out the need to curtail the election expenditure through the election laws.

“When I contested in the 1977 elections, there were limitations. We had to work in keeping with these limitations. We were unable to even spend on posters. Hence, we must introduce limitations on election expenditure.

“This will enhance transparency on how to collect money, and in what cases money cannot be collected. Then anyone can challenge the misuse of financials in the courts. I intend to appoint a separate commission to present their proposals in this regard. All this needs to be done next year,” he added.

He also pledged to present to Parliament a code of conduct and values of the MPs, similar to that in the British Parliament, the report added.

The President felt that if they bring all these rules and regulations and make these amendments, Parliament can win the people's trust again.

UNI MR。    中国小康网讯 记者金朝晖     2024年4月25日下午，由中国工程院主办，北京化工大学承办的“2024中关村论坛平行论坛-工程科技创新论坛”在北京举行。中国工程院、国家卫生健康委、国务院国资委、中国科学院以及北京市科委、中关村管委会的有关领导，教育界、科技界、产业界的代表，北京化工大学、北京航空航天大学、北京农学院的师生以及来华留学生代表200多人参加了本次论坛。　　本次论坛以“工程科技与未来发展”为主题，聚焦工程前沿和高质量发展进行了深入探讨。中国工程院院长李晓红、国际能源署署长法蒂·比罗尔（Fatih     Birol）向大会致辞，中国工程院副院长王辰、中国工程院秘书长陈建峰主持论坛。

二 | 中国工程院院长李晓红致辞国际能源署署长法蒂·比罗尔（Fatih Birol）致辞　　李晓红院长在致辞中指出：科学革命催生技术革命，技术革命引发产业变革，要深刻认识、准确把握、主动适应当代科技创新大势，力争在新的科技革命中赢得主动；要凝共识谋创新、聚合力攀高峰，策源重大战略、推动重大攻关，为中国乃至全球创新发展贡献中国工程院方案和智慧。中国工程院愿与国际工程科技界一道，进一步推动国际科技合作，为经济发展开辟新空间，为人类可持续发展注入新动力。　　中国工程院外籍院士、国际能源署署长法蒂·     比罗尔在致辞中强调：各国实现全球能源和气候共同目标的核心是清洁能源技术创新进步。

三 | 目前，清洁能源技术的创新方向正确，但需加快步伐。世界各地的工程师对创新都做出了重要贡献，创新和国际合作在应对能源和气候挑战中具有重要作用，希望在解决气候变化等能源方面关键问题时，各国能够求同存异、共同努力。他还表示非常荣幸当选中国工程院外籍院士。中国工程院副院长王辰主持论坛丹尼尔·卡门(Daniel Kammen)教授主旨演讲报告：应对气候危机  亟待国际合作中国工程院院士周济主旨演讲报告：人工智能赋能新型工业化罗杰·瑞迪（Raj Reddy）教授主旨演讲报告：AI风险：切勿因噎废食中国工程院院士谭天伟主旨演讲报告：生物制造改变未来中国工程院院士樊代明主旨演讲报告：医学发展的整合与转向安东尼·比斯利（Antonius Bisseling）教授主旨演讲报告：生物固氮基因工程技术减少环境污染中国工程院秘书长陈建峰主持“高峰对话”：“前沿科技如何改变我们的未来”　　此次论坛设置了主旨报告和高峰对话环节。　　主旨报告聚焦人工智能赋能产业创新、生物技术与人类健康、以及新能源、新材料和先进制造融合发展等重大议题，邀请了美国加利福尼亚大学伯克利分校教授、2007年诺贝尔和平奖得主政府间气候变化专门委员会(IPCC)的贡献者丹尼尔·卡门（Daniel     Kammen），中国工程院外籍院士、美国卡内基梅隆大学教授、1994年图灵奖获奖者罗杰·瑞迪（Raj     Reddy），中国工程院外籍院士、荷兰瓦赫宁根大学教授安东尼·比斯利（Antonius     Bisseling），以及中国工程院院士周济、谭天伟、樊代明等联袂报告，充分发挥工程科技推动产业发展、社会进步的“引擎”作用，助力发展新产业、新模式、新动能，为实现高质量可持续发展注入生机活力。　　高峰对话环节由中国工程院秘书长陈建峰主持，5位主旨报告嘉宾围绕“前沿科技如何改变我们的未来”展开讨论，分享见解与观点，促进思想的碰撞，激发新的想法、推动相关领域的创新、融合与发展。编辑：刘彦华。