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No Confidence motion comfortably defeated : State's security not compromised - Marapana

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Defence Minister Thilak Marapana asserted that the security of the State has not been compromised despite steps to restore normality.

He said "vigilance has been preserved though not all that visible. The Forces have not lowered their guard and the Navy is on full alert to detect suspicious vessels".

The Minister was winding up the No Confidence Motion in Parliament against him moved by the PA-JVP combine. The Motion was defeated by a comfortable majority of 42 votes. 126 members of the Government, TNA, EPDP and DPLF voted to defeat the motion against 84 members of the Opposition PA -JVP.

The Minister said while the peace process is on the Armed forces are engaged in their usual training. "The Government has taken meaningful action to enhance the capability of our forces."

Minister Marapana said that it is foolish to imagine that the LTTE did not possess arms and ammunition. They (LTTE) had for the past 20 years or so been smuggling weapons and explosives. They had Police stations and Court Houses in the areas dominated by them and also levied taxes. They had Military type training camps.

"If we pretend not to have known about it we are bigger fools. These things were there from the early 90s if not before. "With the passage of time,these ad-hoc arrangements got more and more institutionalised and structured. It is because we were not prepared to tolerate this type of activity that we previously used our Armed Forces to clear these areas. When we stopped the war with the ceasefire, we embarked on an alternate course to resolve this issue that is through dialogue".

The Minister also said the MOU is an agreement not only between the Government and the LTTE but also a promise by both sides made to the international community.

He said it was partly the international support the LTTE got on alleged human rights violation by the Government that kept them going for so long. Now we have put our records straight. The focus today is on the LTTE. They are required to subject themselves to international scrutiny."That I believe is a great achievement," Minister Marapana said.

"There is no reason for anyone living either in the North or the East to feel insecure, nor has the National Security been placed at risk, the Minister said winding up the debate against him.

Moving the motion, PA MP Nimal Siripla De Silva said due to the failure of the Minister to take adequate measures to protect people during the barbaric and violent attack, 13 Muslims were killed and 40 wounded and more than 100 shops and business places were destroyed in Muttur and Valaichenai in the Eastern Province. "We have nothing against the Minister personally but as he has placed the country at risk and as such we are compelled to bring forward this motion", he added.

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse urged the Government to take adequate measures to strengthen the country's security. It is very clear that by today, the country's security is in danger and there are many problems involving the defence establishments. The Government should be very much mindful of this. It is the Defence Minister who must take adequate measures to bring this situation under control.

JVP Parliamentary Leader Wimal Weerawansa said that this motion was delayed by the Government giving various reasons. The LTTE is slowly working for a separate state.

Minister of Power and Energy Karu Jayasuriya said that Minister Marapana is maintaining a transparency in all the transactions in the Ministry specially when purchasing arms.

A National Defence Policy should be framed with the participation of all sectors in the country.

Raja Collure (PA): The Communist Party believes that a solution to the North and East problem can be reached through a negotiated settlement. We have nothing against the Minister personally but he is responsible for the affairs of the Ministry.

Dinesh Gunawardane (PA): The Defence Minister has taken the oath to protect all citizens but not to protect the LTTE. The LTTE has destroyed Buddhist places of worship. The LTTE has taxed a casket which contained sacred relics but the Government gave its duty free radio equipment.

The LTTE Peace delegation while returning from Germany had brought light aircraft but the Customs had released them without checking it on a directive.

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