Ministry Secretaries should prepare answers for Ministers - Chief Govt. Whip

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Chief Government Whip, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday it was the responsibility of Ministry Secretaries to prepare, complete and accurate reports for ministers' answers to oral questions raised by Opposition Members without defaming the Government and Ministers.

The Minister made this observation at a special meeting in Parliament for Ministry secretaries to solve issues raising when answering oral questions of Ministers present in the House.

Minister Gunawardena said Ministry secretaries have to prepare an additional description in connection with the issue apart from answers to the question raised by Members when they were directed to the Secretary as the Minister has to answer another three questions made by the members instantly.

He said the Secretaries cannot wait without answering these questions or answer partially as it is the right of the public to get these questions answered through a Member which is guaranteed by the Standing Orders and the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Although Parliament can request a further period to answer oral questions it could be perceived as the inefficiency of the Government which embarrassed the Ministers as well as the Government.

The Minister also stated that the answers could be provided to the Minister or Deputy Minister or the non-cabinet Minister if the Minister did not attend the Parliament. If any of them were not present in the House the Chief Government Whip had to answer these questions for oral answers so that those complete and accurate answers should be procured to him before 48 hours.

The Minister emphasised the necessity of preparing accurate answers in time for oral answers by the Ministry Secretaries of Ministries that come under the President since negligence would defame the President and the Government. The Prime Minister has to answer these questions in the House on behalf of the President. The Minister stated that the Government and Ministers could refrain from answering to the questions pertaining to defence.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also said that the facts and answers in the parliament circulate across the world within minutes owing to the modern technology so that the Ministry Secretaries have to maintain the dignity of the Ministries and the Government by providing answers accurately and on time.

The Minister stated that the Speaker had punished the Ministry Secretaries on three earlier occasions as they failed to perform their duty in this connection. Such an experience is embarrassing for both and he requested not to urge the Parliament for such a move.