Government, Opposition must work together for country's progress - PM

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. Following the presentation of Papers and Oral questions the House took up the Committee Stage debate of the Budget 2010.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP): Parliament has a right to appoint Supreme Court judges. Today there is no Constitutional Committee. The Prime Minister appoints the judiciary, and the President appoints the IGP. If the 17th Amendment is abolished it means that the rights of the members of this house will be deprived.

Today, there is a danger of losing not only the GSP of the EU, but also the GSP given by the US. This adversely affects our exports. This government is gradually approaching the state of great difficulty.

What happened to the Udalagama Committee? Likewise, we cannot have faith on the CRC Committee. The idea of the government about the Tri-People Committee appointed by the UN is that, they do not want their help. But contradictorily, when Minister G. L. Peiris met the UN officials he mentioned that, they will seek UN assistance if needed. This shows that, what the government mentions in Sri Lanka and abroad is contradictory.

Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne: We have 30 points to discuss about this budget today.

From the very beginning, the appointment of the Judiciary is done in the same manner.

It is the UNP regime that made these regulations and system.

Therefore, criticising the Judicial system is not fair. We need to propose a practical system to change the existing system. Both the Opposition and the Government should work together for it.

We are ready to work harmoniously with all the countries in the world. The present leadership is accepted as an excellent leadership by the whole world.

The dedicated leadership and brave youth of the country were able to end the 30 year war in the country. But when we were told that we could not reconcile, we had to reject and refuse such suggestions disregarding the country. The opposition can critics the budget. But they have no right to make international comments in a way that will affect the independence and sovereignty of the country. We are a poor country. But the international community has no right to probe into our internal matters.

We have to work together on economic and religious issues. Without being cross with each other, the Government and the Opposition should work together to take this country forward, to make it the Miracle of Asia.

'Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP): The time allocated for the Committee Stage is not enough. The 63 percent of the duties are under two people; the President and Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Therefore, these ministries should be scrutinized. That is why we requested more time.

In many countries, where tourism is the main income, it is separated as an individual Ministry. But here, it is also given to the Economic Development Ministry. All the important responsibilities and duties were taken by the Executive. The Cabinet has less power today.

I ask why these important government institutions cannot be given to the other Ministers.

There is a problem in appointing members to international parliaments such as the Commonwealth. We have to obey the Harare Declaration. In the past few years, the audit reports of Parliament have not been presented. After 2004, these were not presented. We also need a research section for the Parliament.

The Prime Minister said that, the Opposition and the Government should work together.

The Opposition is ready to give their support for a people's Constitution, and we are ready to discuss it.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne: After successfully concluding the war, and managing the local economy during the global economic recession, we have presented this budget. This budget will pave the way for an economic victory.

We were able to achieve a six percent growth rate while carrying out a war. Today, it has increased to 7.2 percent. Today, the economic growth of Japan is 0.7% percent. While Singapore, Australia and many other countries have witnessed very low economic growth.

Rajitha Senaratne (continues...): The poverty was 23 percent in 2004 but we have reduced it to 15 percent. The budget deficit was 9.9 percent in 2009 but we were able to reduce it to 8 percent this year.

The second best share market is ours. By 2011, our Government would have completed two harbours while also developing the irrigation and road network. After 2015 we plan to export electricity to India during the day time.

The UNP could not initiate the Ihala Kotmale project. They just printed the invitation for it.

Our Government today is spending more money on resettlement in North and East than the Government spent on other projects.

P. Ariyanethran (TNA): When we look at the allocations in this budget we find it that this Government has not paid attention to the needs of the people in the North and East.

Specially when we consider the allocation made for defence since 1984 it is obvious that the amount allocated for defence this year is too high.

Economic Development Deputy Minister Ranjith Siyambalabitiya: A TNA member talked of resettling Sinhala people in the East. If we consider the statistics it was 10 percent in Batticaloa but it has reduced to 1 percent today.

Certain members of the Opposition complain about the allocation for the President but this allocation also includes the expenditure of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the wives of Presidents R. Premadasa and D. B. Wijetunga. So the Opposition while talking of the Security Forces complain about the allocation made for defence.

The Opposition should know the Rs. 50,000 million is needed for the salaries of Security Forces personnel.

The first of the two challenges faced by us when we took over the country in 2004 has been completed under President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The first is the elimination of terrorism. The second, economic development is in progress.

When we consider tourist arrival numbers, the number visiting Sri Lanka in the first quarter of 2010 had increased by two fold compared to the number of the tourists arrivals in the first quarter of last year. So we have to maintain that rate and should increase it further.

When we talk of the Economic Development Ministry, Lee Quan Yew the pioneer behind Singapore's development once emphasized in one of his books that the Economic Development Ministry was a very important one.

Sarath Fonseka: Although the Government talks of an increase in per capita income to US $ 4,000.

Even if it is increased the benefits will only be enjoyed by 30 percent of the country's population. The soldiers are deprived of facilities now.

The Government has forgotten the soldiers in the aftermath of the operation.