PARLIAMENT

National Security should be prioritized - Prime Minister

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1pm yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, Parliament took up the motion to extend the state of emergency by another month moved by Prime Minister D M Jayaratne and the second reading of the Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) Bill.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne: The international community accepts the security situation in Sri Lanka in a higher standard due to sudden boost of the tourism industry.

This situation should continue for ever and we irrespective of party, racial and religious differences should take measures to achieve this end.

The Government has opened almost all roads that were closed in the Colombo city for security reasons while the closure of roads for VIPs have been limited. Meanwhile, the benefits of the improved security situation be passed to the public. Priority should be given to national security for which purpose the state of emergency should be extended.

On October 25, eight-feet-long nine Bangalore Torpidos were found with another haul of weapons at Oddusudan in Mullaitivu.

At Pallampokkanei, five 15kg pressure bombs were found hidden in a Government paddy store. There were many other weapons including explosives.

The Forces also found 247 130mm artillery bullets in a thicket in Kanagarayakulam.

There are reports that the LTTE trained Estate sector youths in Kilinochchi and were sent to the up-country. Such two youths who supported the transportation of explosives to the up-country were arrested on October 23. The information about these youths was taken from three LTTE terrorists arrested on October 19 with explosives and bombs in their possession.

Investigations are continuing to find out explosives and weapons hidden by LTTEers in North, Central Province, Colombo and suburbs.

I request Members of this House to vote in favour to extend the state of emergency by another month to continue to strengthen security and take measures to control international terrorist activities.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe: It was reported in a newspaper that a new building is to be added to the Parliament.

When a new building is to be added, it should be informed at the party leaders meetings. I request a clarification about it.

When considering the Emergency Regulations, I would like to ask how many times we have taken the Emergency Bill for debate. The picture generated about the country today is that the people can move freely and there is an influx of tourists into the country.

If the situation in the country is so positive, what is the need of Emergency Regulations. They are used for the suppression of democracy.

The Government is trying to pass six important acts hastily within three days. The time allocated for these acts is not sufficient. At least, one day is needed to discuss one Act. The time is curtailed and this is not fair. According to the newspaper notice published by the Central Bank, the Government is no more taking the responsibility of the banks under it. This is a new policy. Does the Governor try to be higher than Parliament?

Regarding the issue of Sarath Fonseka, we would like to know, from whom the Speaker got consultations to answer the point of order raised in this House. Our point is that he cannot consult the Attorney General for this matter because he is part of the executive. The Speaker should express his decision about Sarath Fonseka. Parliament has more power than Supreme Court.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa: This issue is now being taken by the Supreme Court and there is no need to discuss it here now. The Opposition Leader is not aware about the people whom I refer for consultations when necessary.

Ranil Wickremesinghe: I request the Speaker to inform this House the people whom he gets consultations.

Technology and Research Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake: A point of order. The Opposition Leader is violating the Standing Orders by talking about the issue of Sarath Fonseka, when the Emergency Regulations are being debated.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne: Since space is not sufficient in this building, a decision has been taken to construct a new building for the Parliament.

A H M Azwer (UPFA): The entire speech made by the Opposition Leader violates the Standing Orders. He refers to the Speaker throughout his speech. But according to Standing Orders, nobody can make references to the Speaker. He can take any decision singularly or collectively.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa: Today, the Opposition has no slogans and the new building is a serious matter that they have.

Jayalath Jayawardena MP, didn’t you ask Minister Basil Rajapaksa on the possibility of joining the Government? But since we refused to give a ministerial portfolio, you did not come.

What is needed for some people like him is to move the country backwards and reverse the development activity. We request him to stop misleading the international community. He was making false statements in Geneva. What he says is that there is an autocratic rule in the country, and that there is no democracy. This should not be allowed in the future. No MP should be allowed to betray the country and provide harmful incentives to the international community using Parliamentary privileges.

The Opposition Leader has got a little bit of wisdom today to go after the village community under Grama Charika without going after foreigners. Today, the country is heading towards accelerated socio-cultural and economic development and we dedicate for this process.

Deputy Speaker Priyankara Jayaratne takes the Chair.

Dayasiri Jayasekera (UNP): The Government and the country are two different things.

Today Government MPs are talking on behalf of the Government. We talk on behalf of the country. We should voice out if the democracy is deprived in the country.

Today, some shout against a wheat flour terrorism. As a result, a large number of bakeries are closed and bakery owners had to suffer.

S Sridaran: I request the Government to grant the properties of the IDPs back to them that they owned earlier. Circulars issued to the public servants in the North are issued in the Sinhala medium.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister K A D S Gunawardene: We know how the war was fought and ended terrorism by the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the three Forces, Civil Defence Force and Police. We have to thank them. Peace was achieved after much effort.

Now, there is a request by police to allow them to retire after 22 years of service. Then, around 25,000 police personnel can retire. Then 25,000 youth can get employment.

Police should be given a good salary. A shed should be constructed at the Parliament main gate for police personnel.

The UNP speaks of LTTErs. They can’t remember how Buddhist monks were murdered. They killed Tamil parents for not giving their children to the LTTE. The LTTE killed people in 69 villages completely. Still, there are a number of Sinhala people in the Jaffna station being unable to resettle in their villages.

Although UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena speaks in favour of them the Christians could not go to the Madu Church because of the LTTE.

D M Swaminathan (UNP): The Jaffna district where the majority of Tamils are living was badly affected by the war. A number of Tamils were displaced. They should be provided maximum facilities. Around 250 families temporarily stay at the Jaffna railway station should be given permanent places. There are a number of vacancies to be filled in the North. Only a few have been recruited so far. This is very injustice. The properties occupied by Security Forces should be vacated and give back to the people.

Anuruddha Roshan Ranasinghe (UPFA): Democracy was established by President Mahinda Rajapaksa by eliminating terrorism in the country. But we can not be satisfied that we are a 100 percent free nation.

There are several attempts made by nationally and internationally to raise terrorist activities again. To control this activities, it is necessary to extend Emergency Regulations. We crack down on underworld activities apart from LTTE terrorism.

Wijayadasa Rajapaksa (UNP): The people should be treated equally. The minority of the country should not feel that they are treated in different way from the majority.

Although the Government extended Emergency Regulations, unlawful activities take place every day. How police officers were assaulted, when Emergency Regulations are prevailed?

It is reported that the Government has set up a special investigation unit to examine the activities of Government Ministers and Deputy Ministers. The Government has not denied this.

Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thera (UPFA): We do not have any ethnic problem in the country. Tamils suffered a lot due to the war. If these people are deprived of lands, they should be given their original places back. It is necessary to concern the development of cultural and economic ties among all communities.

Dr Jayalath Jayawardene (UNP): We have never brought discredit to the country. It is our right to go before the Inter-Parliamentary Union, if there is any injustice. The war is over today. Not only President, but also Security Forces and their family members contributed a lot for this victory.

Sarath Weerasekera (UPFA): Even though we defeated terrorism, threats of terrorism are still remaining. We fought with a terrorist organization which was not only limited to our country, but had links with many countries in the world. Today, a transnational state of Tamil Eelam to be established in the USA. The Chief Guest of this occasion is the Attorney-General during the Regon administration.

Recently, an Editor of a Tamil newspaper has made a statement in Norway that President Rajapaksa won the war, but it is Basil Rajapaksa and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who destroy our dream of establishing a separate Eelam State.

We have got clear evidence regarding this. We should maintain emergency regulations further to hinder all efforts to strengthen terrorism within the country.

Uvais Farook (UPFA): Today, the war has come to an end and the rehabilitation process is continuing. About 80 to 90 percent of rehabilitation has been completed.

All ethnicities including Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities are allowed to go back to their lands in the North and the East.

The sea is now open for the people of all ethnicities for fishing.

The agricultural sector is also reviving in those areas. The Government is behaving strategically to avoid newer conflicts.

Ajith Kumara (DNA): We oppose the extension of emergency regulations. The country was freed by terrorism giving relief to the people living in the country.

However, people are deprived of enjoying this freedom. Those days, the Government brought out terrorism to cover up the failure of the Government.

Since terrorism is no more, newer forms of terrorism are imagined by the Government such as wheat flour terrorism, mass media terrorism, poster terrorism. Today, the Government has not been able to reduce the cost of living, to solve the problems in the education sector and health sector, to increase the salaries of the people.

Rajiva Wijesinha (UPFA): We still have the necessity to maintain emergency regulations to avoid a situation of terrorism once again.

The need to investigate on the incident took place in the Welikada Prison is felt strongly. This incident reminded me of a similar incident in 1983. No proper investigation carried out regarding it. But it should not happen in modern time.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara (UPFA): Particular Members in the Opposition take minor issues in the country to the international platform. They try to increase the seriousness of these issues before the international community. If any kind of violations of human rights and democracy happens in the country, we are against them. There are institutions from which we can seek the help regarding them. But we oppose for building up a false idea that there is a suppressions of students in the country. We see that the turmoil made by JVP and IUSF in the Universities are pronounced by JVP as anti-Governmental revolts. We oppose this activity.

Political motives should not be sought through University students.

Dinesh Gankanda (UNP): It is clear that emergency regulations are being used by the Government to suppress the individuals and groups who act against the Government.

The public is deprived of making a just demand. Today, a wheat flour terrorism has been brought forward. It is due to the fact that the Government is unable to control the wheat flour prices.

E Saravanabavan (TNA): Today, regulations are imposed to prevent democratic rights of the people. The Tamil people are subjected to difficulties by this State of Emergency Regulations.

Higher Education Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake: The Opposition claimed that the State of Emergency is exploited by the Government to suppress the Opposition’s activities. It is baseless.

We have never stopped their protests. But may be that they are hurt by certain activities of the Government. One is that the operation against drugs introduced to this country during UNP regime after 1978. The other one is the eradication of underworld gangs created during the same regime. Certain politicians are benefitted by these activities of the underworld. So when the Government acts against them, the Opposition is hurt.

Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Minister D E W Gunasekara: One criticism made by the Opposition is that Sarath Fonseka’s situation in prison. There are 27,000 inmates in the prison. About 50 percent are convicted and the rest are under remand prison.

We treat all prisoners equally. The security of the prisoners are well taken into account. We have taken special concern on the security of Sarath Fonseka. We have appointed a Superintendent for that purpose. We have provided him a bed, TV and a mosquito net on the orders of the Court. We work within law.

The Opposition Leader said even a tea is not given to him but UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said two days before that he was given a tea at the prison. We have separated Sarath Fonseka from other prisoners.

There are reports that drugs are circulated in the prison. That’s why the search was initiated in 16 prisons.

The Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa takes the Chair.

Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Minister D E W Gunasekera: This search was conducted in Welikada prison as well. I had instructed not to conduct this search only by Police as there were 400 convicts.

There were only 60 police officers. That’s why such a tragic situation was created.

Some of the Opposition claimed there was a prior plan behind this incident. I ask you not to politicize this tragic incident. We conduct detailed investigations in this regard.

The State of Emergency was passed with a majority of 114 votes. In favour, 125 members voted, while 11 voted against.

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Rs 30 m spent for Sugathadasa Stadium modernization

The Sugathadasa Stadium was modernized spending Rs 300 million by the Government for the IIFA festival, Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday.

The State Engineering Corporation did the modernization work. The work included the installing a high capacity air-conditioning system for the main pavilion, repairing the ceiling of the main pavilion, repairing the lavatory system and the change rooms belonging to the main pavilion, renovating the main Pavilion building, painting the interior and exterior of the indoor stadium and installing air-conditioners to the change rooms around the main stadium. IR, SM and DM

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Action on visa extension fraud

The Government would take action against Foreign non-Governmental organisations officials who have secured undue visa extensions for their stay in Sri Lanka, Chief Government whip Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament yesterday. He said it had been revealed that officials have not scrutinized the documents and reports on these foreigners granting visa extensions to them.

There had been malpractices and foreigners belonging to some right groups and agencies too have secured their visa extensions to stay 5-6 years continuously here and spread rumours against the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.

The Government has realized that this situation be corrected with immediate effect and action has been initiated.

The Minister made these remarks in response to a question raised by OPFA MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe. IR, SM and DM

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Rs 216 m recovered on substandard drugs

Health Deputy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told Parliament yesterday that the State Pharmaceutical Corporation has recovered Rs 216 million from the companies that imported substandard drugs for Government Hospitals during 2006 and 2010.

He made these observations in response to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The Deputy Minister said the Government suffered a total loss of Rs 238,792,226 during this period as a result of this. The Government recovered Rs 216,113,415 from those companies.

Amaraweera said the Government is taking measures to recover the rest as well.

The Deputy Minister said 19,000 metric tons of substandard drugs have been destroyed by the HOLCIM and Rs 2,230,825 has been paid for them.

Health Minister Maithreepala Sirisena stated that although drugs are imported on the approval of the tender board, certain companies produce good quality drugs before the tender board and later import substandard drugs. The Minister added that when such incidents occur the licences of those companies are cancelled. IR, SM and DM

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Gaming Bill today

Parliament will take up the Bill titled Gaming (Special provisions) Bill for debate today.

It was decided to take the Bill for debate by the party Leader who met on the Parliamentary complex last evening. The Bill caused for many controversies due to objections from social groups and political parties belonging to the Government and Opposition. IR, SM and DM

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N-E religious places registered

About 3,131 Kovils have been registered in the North and East Provinces as of today, said Chief Government whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Parliament yesterday.

He said 79 buddhist temples and 578 mosques are also registered within these two provinces. He said Christian religious places are not registered.

There are about 66 Buddhist Chief Incumbents and about 3,000 Hindu dignitaries and 524 Muslim priests in those areas. IR, SM and DM

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Supplementary estimate to get Rs 15 billion

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Finance Minister submitted a motion seeking approval of Parliament for a supplementary estimate to obtain Rs 15 billion to meet the expenses of Budgetary support services and contingent liability project of the National Budget Department.

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena moved the motion on behalf of the President. It had been observed that the Budgetary provisions approval for certain Ministries for 2010 are not being utilized as anticipated due to constraints in implementation and other practical reasons, thereby a saving would be anticipated, the motion signed by the President said.

There is a possibility of saving of provisions of Rs 15 billion including Rs one billion from recurrent expenditure and Rs 14 billion from capital expenditure without exceeding the maximum expenditure limits already approved by Parliament.

This supplementary estimate is thereby submitted to Parliament to provide such savings for the additional provisions required to expedite the major infrastructure projects such as Hambantota Port Development Project, Southern Highway Project, Northern Road Development Project, Ampara Water Supply Project, Rural Electrification Project, Colombo City Electricity Transmitting and Distribution Project, Provincial Infrastructure Development Project, Provincial Road Development, Northern Roads Connectivity Project, widening Courts activities, strengthening of public security and for settlement of the overdue payments for certain services obtained by the Government. IR, SM and DM