PARLIAMENT
House takes up condolence vote on Abdul Majeed
Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range
Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided yesterday when Parliament
met at 1 p.m. After presentation of papers and oral questions the House
took up the condolence motion of late Parliamentarian MA Abdul Majeed.
Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management
Nimal Siripala de Silva moved the condolence motion.
Nimal Siripala de Silva (Irrigation and Water Resources Management
Minister): Abdul Majeed was born on October 15, 1926. He was married
to Mrs. R. Kadeeja and they had five children. His parents and
grandparents lived in the same area and they were educated in the
English medium. He was lucky enough to become the first Muslim graduate
from the Eastern Province. He was elected to Parliament in 1960. Majeed
was elected for the third time in 1966.
In 1977 he was elected again to Parliament under the UNP banner and
was appointed as the Deputy Agriculture and Land Minister. He was also
appointed as the Power and Highways Deputy Minister and provided
electricity to various villages. He took measures to set up 50 schools
in Sammanthurai and built 4,000 houses. Majeed became an MP again from
the UNP list after 1989. He was appointed the Handloom Project Minister.
He died in 2011.
A.H.M. Azwer takes the Chair.
Ranil Wickremesinghe (Opposition Leader): I met Abdul Majeed
in 1955. He came to see my father. In 1965 he came to Parliament and
joined UNP. He was a keen backbencher. He was successful in winning his
seat in 1970. He attended to all the basic needs of his
electorate-agriculture, electricity.
He enriched the Sammanthurai area. He was much concerned of the
Muslims. He was much dedicated to develop the coastal area of the
Eastern Province.
P. Dayaratne (Food Security Minister): I met him in 1965 when
I went there as an Engineer to work in the Gal Oya Project. He was a
young Parliamentarian. I too was elected in 1977 along with him. We
could work together. I knew he was dedicated to serve his area.
He could win from his seat at any moment. I can say that he was the
most friendly Muslim MP from the Eastern Province.
John Amarathunga (UNP): Abdul Majeed was an asset to the UNP.
He was a Minister. He was a handsome man and no other can finger at him
as a corrupt Parliamentarian. He was referred to as “BA Majeed”, as he
was an educated person. He believed in gentleman politics.
M.L.M. Athaullah (Provincial Council and Local Government
Minister): He worked a lot to Sammanthurai and Batticaloa areas. He
was a thorough gentleman. His demise is a great loss not only to my area
but to the entire country. My first vote was cast to Abdul Majeed in
1974. He was never a racist and served to all Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala
people. He rendered a great service to develop education.
A.H.M. Fowzie - Urban Affairs Senior Minister: Late M.A.
Majeed MP had very good qualities. He rendered a unique service to the
people living in the Eastern Province. He pioneered in uplifting
livelihoods of the people of that area. He was the voice of the ordinary
people. He always gave priority for the necessities of the humanity.
Basheer Segudawood (UPFA): Late MP Majeed was a very humble
politician and interesting character. He was a teacher to us. He had
very clear ideas and concepts on ethnicity. He was a people’s man. He
was also an ardent worker who always pioneered in fulfilling needs of
the people.
H.M.M. Harees (UPFA): He was very keen in bringing harmony
among all communities. Infrastructure facilities were improved in rural
villages of the East under his leadership. He was so much concerned of
the importance of youth. A number of youth were provided with employment
opportunities during his era.
M.L.A.M. Hizbullah - Child Development and Women’s Affairs Deputy
Minister: He initiated a number of projects to provide drinking
water to the people living in the Eastern Province. He was very keen in
uplifting Muslims. He pioneered in uplifting livelihoods of the people
in his electorate. He had a clear understanding of the problems of
Muslims.
A.M.M. Azwer (UPFA): He was a son of the Sammanthurei soil. He
was a person who had a successful political life. Majeed was a generous
and humble person.
He always spoke pleasant words. He was able to understand the
problems of the Tamil speaking people together with his religion. He was
the first Muslim graduate from the Eastern Province. For the first time
in the history, a number of Muslims were gathered to Mahabodi
Headquarters in Maligakanda recently to break their fast. This was
significant, because inter-religious harmony and cooperation between the
two communities were further promoted due to this event.
Buddhika Pathirana (UNP): Copies of hanzard containing the
speeches made by the members of the both parties of the Well during the
condolence vote would be sent to the family members and relatives of the
late MP Abdul Majeed.
The house was adjourned until 1.30 p.m today.
‘Revolutionary changes in cricket soon’
Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday stated that
measures are afoot to make a revolutionary change in the Cricket Control
Board before the end of this year.
He made this observation in Parliament in response to a question
raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. Minister Aluthgamage further stated
that the Cricket board seems to have acted so far to please the clubs
that appointed them. He added that trend have to be changed as it had a
negative effect on the development of cricket in the country.
He also stated that Lanka is the only country which pays 60 percent
of cricket income to pay salaries to cricketers. He added that no
country does so.
He also stated that measures will be taken to make changes after
discussions with the cricketers.
Discussions to end university lecturers’ issue - SB
Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range
Higher Education Minister SB Dissanayake yesterday stated that
discussions will be held today to find a solution to the university
lecturers’ issue.
He stated that none of the lecturers in South-Eastern University, Uva
-Wellassa University, Buddhist and Pali University, Bhikku University
etc. have joined the strike while 50 percent to 30 percent of lecturers
in other universities too are reporting for duty.
He made this statement in response to a special statement made by
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe under the Standing Order 23(2).
The Minister stated that the allegation made by Wickremesinghe that
all the universities are inactive was baseless.
He added that the government has granted as a salary increment 39
percent to 83 percent to junior and senior lecturers which no other
public servant has been granted.
‘President Mahinda Rajapaksa also discussed and gave instructions on
this issue.
‘On my request Minister Basil Rajapaksa too joined to discuss this
matter. Some of these demands cannot be granted.
‘While some others are ridiculous and contradictory. Some are
inconsistent with the Higher Education Act.
‘Two contradictory demands are to stop giving scholarships to foreign
students and to allow them to apply for foreign scholarships. He added
that the discussions on this matter will be attended by Minister Basil
Rajapaksa and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga too.
Dissanayake further stated that the money allocated for education in
2005 was around Rs. 10,000 million but the amount was gradually
increased to Rs. 25,000 million by 2012.
The minister further stated that though Ranil Wickremesinghe requests
to increase the amount allocated for education, it was during his two
year government from 2002-2003, the allocation for education was not
increased even by a single penny.
With reference to the Z-Score issue the minister stated that
following the instructions by the President, Deans of faculties and Vice
Chancellors have agreed to admit additional member of students have who
faced an injustice.
He also stated that during the UNP regime at such occasion not a
single student were admitted additionally.
Ranil Wickremesinghe (Opposition Leader):
The issue of the university lecturers is dragging on for over a
period of a month by this stage. Also a number of agitation campaigns
were held on this issue.
Still no solution has been given.
‘The entire university system has become inactive due to this
problem.
New method for Farmers’ Pensions Scheme
International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr Sarath
Amunugama said in Parliament yesterday that a new method which would be
fair by all the contributors to the Farmers Pensions Scheme is be
presented to Parliament soon.
This government has allocated Rs 40,000 million every year to pay
fertilizer subsidies and capital expenditure allocated to the Irrigation
Department stands around Rs 30,000 million.
The Rs 200 pension payment to farmers had been increased to Rs 1,000
but their contribution to the fund remained same at Rs 50. We have paid
pensions amounting to Rs 6.4 billion.
Minister Dr. Amunugama was responding to a special statement made by
JVP Parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
He said that it’s laughable matter that the government which spends
billions of rupees for tamashas and carnivals saying that it cannot find
Rs one million to pay farmers’ pensions.
Pension scheme for CSD
Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de
Silva told Parliament yesterday that arrangements have been made to
grant a pension scheme to members of Civil Security Department (CSD) and
this proposal has already been forwarded to the Cabinet Sub Committee.
In 2006, it was recognised formally as a Department which was known as a
Civil Defence Force earlier.
The minister was responding to a special statement made by DNA MP
Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Now the CSD members could work with dignity and self esteem of their
profession. The Department has provided all the facilities including
uniforms, proper training and other facilities to fulfil their needs.
The government has given due recognition for the commitment made by
CSD members during the war.
The CSD personnel have been deployed on various development projects
targeting to increase the national income.
The government has not spent a cent on these projects. These are run
with monitory and labour contribution of the CSD members. The income
generated from these projects have been systematically deposited in bank
accounts by the Finance Director of the CSD. The balance of the account
will be transferred to the Treasury.
The minister said that an income of Rs. 135 million had been earned
through farming, brick making, diary and other projects run by the CSD
members.
Sub-Committee to look into water availability - Keheliya
The government has appointed a Sub - Committee to produce a report to
the Cabinet on the water available for drinking and generation of
electricity with the extended drought in the country, Mass Media and
Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.
Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the ministry yesterday, the
minister said Senor Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama and Ministers Dinesh
Gunawardena and Nimal Siripala de Silva were appointed to this Sub
Committee.
The minister said according to weather predictions, heavy rains are
not likely until the end of September.
He said under this backdrop, the government has to decide on the
priorities to release water.
The minister reminding the government has no control over the
weather, said it has been controlling the situation and supplying
uninterrupted power for a considerable time.
He said it would be difficult, if the severe drought extended further
more.
He said drought related matters were discussed extensively at the
Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
DM
Website registration fees slashed by 75 pc
Disna Mudalige
The government reduced the registration fee of news casting websites
to Rs 25,000, Mass Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman
Keheliya Rambukwella said.
He said Cabinet approval was granted on Wednesday to the reduction of
registration fees by 75 percent.
Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the ministry yesterday, the
minister said the annual renewal fee was also reduced to Rs 10,000.
He said the registration of news casting websites was made compulsory
from January 1.
The minister said the decision to reduce the fees was taken
considering the fact there are non - commercial websites.
Life imprisonment or capital punishment for child abuse
Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range
Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda
yesterday stated that he has sent a message to the Justice Minister to
take measures to implement laws enabling life imprisonment or death
penalty to child abuse convicts to arrest child abuse.
He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved
by UNP MP Rosy Senanayake.
The minister stated that he suggested to implement laws banning
mothers who have children below five years going abroad for employment.
He also stated that he had suggested earlier to ban mothers who have
children below 18 years going abroad for employment. However, there were
many objections against that suggestion. He further stated that the
media too should act responsibly not to reveal facts in a manner that
the children victimized could be identified. He said he has talked to
media in that regard.
Rosy Senanayake (UNP): There is a very pathetic situation as far as
women and children are concerned. The government must ensure the safety
of children. Rape cases and violence against women have also increased
in the recent past. The number of cases pertaining to child abuse
recorded 3-4 per day. I propose the death penalty should be imposed
against the culprits.
This is a very regrettable situation.
Action must be taken to strengthen laws. A separate unit should be
established to expedite legal advice and providing legal assistance to
victims.
Buddhika Pathirana (UNP): The disorganized boardings and alcohol also
have become a cause of child abuse. The police’s role against these
crimes is not commendable.
S. Sumanthiran (TNA): According to the statistics it is obvious the
child abuse rate increases day-by-day. Sternly legal action should be
taken against the culprits.
Foreign reps’ advice not relevant to us - Keheliya
Disna Mudalige
The government will not adhere to the advice of representatives from
foreign countries even though they are invited to visit Sri Lanka to
witness post - war development of the present regime, Mass Media and
Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.
Addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the ministry yesterday, the
minister said the government allows any foreign diplomat to visit the
country, adding this has been the government policy throughout.
He said even Tamil Nadu politicians like Vaiko, Jayalalitha and UNHRC
representatives including UN Human Rights Commissioner Navaneetham
Pillay are invited to the country to witness the progress of the country
by themselves.
The minister said the government is not bound to accept advice given
by them.
T20 will bring massive foreign
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday stated that 35,000
hotel rooms have already been booked by foreigners for the T-20 cricket
World Cup which will bring massive foreign currency to Sri Lanka.
He made this observation in parliament in response to an question
raised by UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake. The Sports Minister
stated that this could be achieved by the construction of Pallekelle and
Suriyawewa stadiums.
He stated that the government’s vision is to make sports popular
among rural communities. He added that stadia will be constructed in
Jaffna and Kilinochchi very soon.
The minister further stated that unlike the UNP, this government
takes steps to develop rural areas. At this stage Karunanayake stated
that not only this government but also the UNP too initiated projects
like Kotmale and Victoria in rural areas.
Minister Aluthgamage: Lucky that we did not have waterfalls and such
water resources in Colombo.
Fish shortage in Jaffna
Jaffna corr
A shortage of fish is witnessed at the Jaffna fish market. During
last four days, the prices of sea foods shot up and the fish market was
closed at 10 am. Sudden change of weather combined with intense heat has
been attributed to the shortage. A representative of the Jaffna
Fishermen’s Cooperative Society said that fishermen have stopped going
to the sea for the last four days and their families have been put to
hardships.
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