PARLIAMENT

Track and trail system introduced - Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga

Parliament Corrs

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 9.30am yesterday. After the presentation of Papers and oral questions the House took up Committee Stage debate of the Appropriation Bill 2011 for the second date. The House took up the financial Heads of Mass Media and Information Ministry, Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry, Posts Ministry, Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry, Public Management Reforms Ministry, Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry, National Languages and Social Integration Ministry and Public Relations and Public Affairs Ministry for debate.

Gayantha Karunatilleke (UNP): One of the most important fields for the public is media. On this important day, I am happy to start the debate on behalf of the Opposition. The media is very close to the people.

Today, the Government has started the second version of Mahinda Chintana. They have secured a two-thirds majority in Parliament. They have converted all the things to be favourable to them. But they have been unable to provide media freedom.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair

Has the government media been depoliticized? The media personnel have been deprived to report the truth. Some channels have not facilitated the right to respond to the allegations made against them.

Today, Lake House papers have become political platforms. Political revenge can be seen in this institution.

Today Mul Pituwa has become highly useful to the people and I appreciate the new change created by this program.

The profits of ITN has increased. Some channels do not allow the Opposition to respond but continously criticize the Opposition.

Rupavahini and ITN has islandwide coverage. The private media channels do not have this access to the whole country. But the credibility of the news of those channels are high. They face many challenges and difficulties in performing their task fairly. I appreciate their attempt. The lives of the media people should be upgraded. Postal services Minister

Jeevan Kumaratunga

As the Postal Services Minister it is my pleasure to join in the Committee Stage of the budget when the financial head of my Ministry has been discussed.

The main department under us is the Postal Department. Today we have 607 Head post offices and 3,410 sub post offices. The Postal Department has many achievements during past few years.

The Postal Department has also launched a website in moving with the times. This web is operated with the coordination of Moratuwa University. About Rs 300 million has been spent for this task.

We have also initiated the track and trail system for the first time in Sri Lanka. This means any person can inquire into the receipt and delivery of their parcels and other postal documents. This will minimise displacements of documents.

Tourism has been improving in the country and Sri Lanka has become a tourist hub. In this situation we must use stamps of the country to attract tourists. The first international stamp exhibition was also conducted ceremoniously in the country recently. We have also established Stamp Collectors' Societies at school level. Attention has also been paid to improve stamp related aspects under my Ministry.

P Ariyanethran (TNA):

The media is very important to a country. Before I start my speech I would like to express my sympathies on the death of MP Mashoor.

Media freedom becomes questionable when looking at past incidents of killings of Journalists. Sri Lanka is a small country, but the number of journalists killed in the country is high.

A journalist should be a fair and impartial character. More than the journalists their institutions should take this into consideration. These institutions are threatened by various actors.

It is said that relief is provided for media personnel. Even though some benefits are given to them, provincial correspondents do not get them. I request that these benefits be extended to reach provincial correspondents too.

Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya

I would like to point out some proposals related to my Ministry as expressed by the President during the budget. "Sri Lanka has achieved a high rank among those who provide IT services to external parties. This business has become the sixth largest export sector of the country.

We have started many projects to increase computer literacy upto 75 percent by 2016. A broad network has been created by connecting Vidatha centres, Nenasala centres and school computer units. Universities and vocational training institutions are strengthened to promote information and communication studies. I propose to remove VAT and national building tax from computer software. Our aim is to make this industry earn Rs 2 billion through exportation."

When the President assumed duties in 2005 the computer literacy rate in the country was four percent. We have been able to increase this to 28 percent through the e-Sri Lanka program.

Our aim now is to increase this rate up to 75 percent within next five years. We also hope to balance this rate evenly among various provinces and languages. The Government Information Centre which was established under a concept of the President has become immensely useful to the public. Over 4 million people have called 1919 up to date. Many international awards were received by it due to its efficiency. According to the International Information Technology Index, Sri Lanka was in 86th place in 2005. Now we have climbed to 72nd position and our hope is to reach 50th place by 2016.

Wijayadasa Rajapaksa (UNP): Media freedom should be ensured in a democratic country. Tho freedom of speaking and freedom of information need to be consolidated for democratic activities.

We cannot see media freedom existing in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka is 13th on the list of places unfavorable for journalists.

When the UNP Government was in power, it took measures to repeal the Defamation Act. It is the UNP regime, that gave more freedom to journalists to carry out their duties. If a person cannot talk freely. There is no democracy.

If the media given freedom of information and speech, society will be more informed.

Uditha Lokubandara takes the chair

N M M Harees (UPFA): MP Noordeen Mashoor has passed away. He was a hard worker and rendered yeoman service to the poor. He is a great politician who served the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities affected by the war.

he was eager to serve the people. That is why he joined with the government. I wish to express my condolences to his family. Media freedom in the North and East has been restored by the Government in the aftermath of the war.

Journalists are free from fear, abduction and killings.

Dayasiri Jayasekera (UNP): The freedom of thought, speech and information were promised in the Mahinda Chinthanaya. But we do not see that freedom given to journalists to work independently. The Government totally controls the State media today. The country should be rescued.

Today people cannot paste their posters and distribute handbills. The Government enforced the law against the people who pasted posters and distributed handbills.

Manusha Nanayuakkara (UNP): The Government has not obstructed the media freedom. There are many private media organizations attached to the Government at very low level. We have never taken legal action against them.

The government has not taken any measures to suppress the media.

Freedom of speech and information have been restored under the present regime.

Ajith Kumara (DNA):

Today the State has not rendered proper recognition towards journalists. They just have the social recognition. The governments in the past had also not paid proper attention to them. Journalists do not have easy access to news and information. They have to seek news by resorting to secret methods. There are no proper training programs for journalists.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the chair.

I request that relief and other benefits be provided to Journalists without categorizing them as favourable and non favourable to the government. Today government MPs do not participate in political programs on private channels. In the State media, no Opposition member is invited to express their opinions.

Allegations are made against journalists without any reason. They are threatened and at times attacked. No fair investigation is conducted regarding them.

Sanee Rohana Kodituwakku (UPFA):

This debate is conducted by the Opposition. We anticipated a meaningful involvement by the Opposition for this budget. We thought that they would point out further suggestions to strengthen the path that we take. But what we saw was just baseless criticisms directed with hatred.

In the past the State media was used without a limit for political needs. But today we have controlled this situation. Today we see an unlimited media freedom.

I think a journalist should have self-censorship. A media personnel cannot be controlled by imposing laws and regulations. They can decide on their own.

Niroshan Perera (UNP):

Telecommunication and Information Technology is rapidly developing in the country. Within the telecommunication sector there are international, local and regional operations.

Today there are three licenced fixed lines and four licenced mobile phone services.

Altogether about 73 licenced services are operating in the country in this field. There are 22 data communication services and three satelite services.

As a developing country, we can expect a speedy development in this sector at present. In Sri Lanka, we witness this situation. However, we see that this development is one-sided. It is the mobile service sector that has achieved the highest development.

Uditha Lokubandara (UPFA):

One of the main difficulties the people in the plantation regions faced was a very weak postal service. But the President recruited 373 employees and now the service has improved to a satisfactory note. They now receive their parcels and letters on time.

Today the time is not sufficient for us to bring out all the facts that we have unlike the Opposition. We have limited time.

We have not banned the displaying posters. We have not attacked anybody who pasted them either. What we say is to display posters only in places that are reserved for them.

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (UNP):

Today Government MPs talk about media discipline, but when one hears or sees some programs on State radio and TV channels he will understand reality.

There are some irregularities in tender, the calling of Tenders by the Government.We have to safeguard the respect of this House. An incident occurred in this House today which tarnishes this respect.

We also oppose if such an incident as claimed by the Government if it has actually happened. We also regret that the President was unable to deliver his speech. But according to our MP, the allegations are not true.

Prabha Ganeshan (UNP):

I express my condolences over the passing away of Nurdheen Mashoor MP.

When we take the telecommunication service it is questionable to what degree this service has improved in the plantation regions.

The benefits of this sector have not reached the plantation workers. This sector should be further developed.

Praba Ganeshan (UPFA): When President Mahinda Rajapaksa went to London some people have behaved in an unacceptable way. To these migrants I tell that our President is working very hard to provide facilities to our people in areas like Nuwara Eliya.

Malini Fonseka (UPFA): I condemn the actions of those people who put our country and our President into an inconvenient situation overseas on behalf of all artistes. Under the Mahinda Chintana the film industry and artistes feel a relief. Under this situation the year 2012 will become a golden year of arts.

The Chinese government is supporting us to establish the performing arts centre for the uplift of arts in the country. I am very happy that a cultural centre is established in Jaffna. It was one of my wishes that come true under the Mahinda Chintana. These cultural centres were established in Trincomalee and Galle as well.

Nimal Wijesinghe (UPFA): First I make this an opportunity to convey my condolence to the family members of SLMC member Noordeen Mashoor who has died suddenly today.

Most of the widows and children whose fathers sacrificed their lives in the war against LTTE live in my district - Kurunegala. Today these people live happily free of fear because of the brave measures taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

IT knowledge is made accessible to the youth by many projects initiated by Namal Rajapaksa, MP.

Earlier a telephone was limited to a particular class. But today as a result of the Government's measures, the people in far away villages like Dodangaslanda in my district have telephone facilities. Sometime back a telephone call to overseas cost around Rs 90 for a minute but today that rate has come down to a rate of around Rs 10.

Keheliya Rambukwella (Mass Media and Information Minister): Attorney Wijedasa Rajapaksa joined the debate appearing as a philosopher, a lecturer and as a historian at times. He said Winston Churchill the Prime Minister of England during the World War II explained his strategy to journalists.

During the last three decades President's at various times attempted to defeat terrorism in different ways. But what really happened was, we were defeated as Sri Lankans at those occasions.

But President Mahinda Rajapaksa initiated an operation sometime back which was a massive task. If the people who talk today, responsibly worked during those days the task would have been easily accomplished. But when a loan was applied from IMF these people protested. When the Government attempted to buy military equipment these people told we were trying to kill innocent people. Later when the operation was going forward successfully, they said although the operation wins the election could not be won. They did not work responsibly those days. All these are due to their jealousy.

Certain members who say the ITN has no advertisements again say certain programs places first which are contradictory statements. There are 62 channels. People can select any of them according to their choice. We cannot undermine the President, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa shoulder a massive area in the economic development in the country. Even the private media is unable to work without discussing those areas.

Certain members stated that the university students have no right to protest and they are taken before courts.

The innocent parents send their children to university not to make heartless learned people who would assault parents or the lecturers.

Media and Information Ministry has initiated a program to identify the needs of the media field.

The Committee Stage debate on the financial heads of Media and Information Ministry and Post and Telecommunications Ministry ended. The debate on heads of Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry, Public Management Reforms Ministry, Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry and National Languages and Social Integration Ministry commenced.

Gamini Jayawickrema Perera (UNP): Today the Public Administration Service is politicized. The Kurunegala district went underwater yesterday. The Parliament also went under water recently.

What has happened to the public administration today. Today education is deteriorated. The schools are the same.

The Government is trying to fool the people. Government is day-dreaming without fulfilling the people's hopes.

Fifty five State organizations are running at a loss. The Government should have a proper program to avoid malpractices and bribing in these institutions.

W D J Seneviratne (Pubic Administration and Home Affairs Minister): The public administration and home affairs have to be effective and productive to convert this country into the Wonder of Asia. We have been able to initiate many programs in public institutions to improve efficiency and productivity. It has aimed to introduce latest technology to the public service which will pave way to provide best and punctual service to the public. A number of measures have been taken to uplift the welfare facilities of the public sector employees and retired public sector employees.

Suresh Premachandra (TNA): The Government maintaining the jumbo Cabinet. New Ministers are added to the Cabinet day-by-day. The Government spends huge amounts of money to maintain a large Cabinet. It is a big wastage. Ultimately, innocent people of this country have to shoulder these burdens. All major and important fields including education, health, transport and agriculture have been entrusted with the President. You must decentralise the subjects to capable Ministers, powers of the Provincial Councils have been withdrawn. It is mentioned in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, that powers given to the Provincial Councils. So what is the use of maintaining Provincial Councils, if powers of these institutions were curtailed.

Navin Dissanayake (Public Management Reforms Minister): The Public Management Reforms Ministry was established with a mandate to introduce innovative administrative and management reforms when the country was poised for rapid economic and social development following a long period of internal conflict. Such reforms are imperative and necessary for an emerging country which has the potential to become another economic miracle in Asia.

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA):

It was stated that the Pensions Department was converted to a pleasant place.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair.

But the way the Government treats retired people are unpleasant. It was also stated that the soldiers' pension are increased up to 85 percent of the salary. However, this increment is not given. The problems of the retired people regarding their pension and irregularities are not solved as promised by the Government. There is no need to take a special effort to follow a National Language Policy. The Government said to appoint a special officers in every State institution in this regard. But practically this has not happened.

I would like to ask whether the Government's economic policy is liberal, open economic policy or national economic policy.

Public Co-ordination Ministry has given no institution. So what is the meaning of this Ministry?

Public Coordination and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva:

Let me work the three months and show the capacity of my Ministry. I accept that as a challenge.

Chandrakumar Murugesu (UPFA):

We can achieve considerable development through telecommunication sector. In the North, there are many vacancies for engineers, managers and drivers etc. There are about 100 Grama Niladari officers needed and there are 290 vacancies for assistant managers in the North. These positions should be filled by appointing qualified people.

There are about 1,430 families in Kilinochchi. But all of these families do not have the access to a Grama Niladhari officer. Therefore, these vacancies should be filled as soon as possible.

The Northern Provincial Council should also be paid proper attention. The political leadership in this Council should be strengthened to pursue proper development.

Public institutions in the North are seen to be crowded always. Sufficient number of officers are not employed in them. The roads are also full of dust in the region. I believe that nobody will reject the fact that the North and the East should be given more financial allocations.

Vijayakala Maheshwaran (UNP):

Last Friday a Tamil medium newspaper agency in Jaffna was attacked. This kind of incidents are often reported. Media freedom should be protected and an investigation should be carried out regarding the assault on the newspaper agency in Jaffna.

We have to initiate a loan system for journalists to buy necessary equipment. A pension scheme should be introduced for their benefit.

The resettlement process is not progressing properly in the North and East. In this process, the Government should act irrespective of the ethnic group. The Government should hold Local Government Elections all over the island including the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair.

Consumer Welfare Senior Minister S B Navinna:

Most of the time only the Sinhala language was used as the National Language. English was also used to a certain degree. But Tamil was hardly used. That is why the President has made this Ministry as a separate one to make a policy and a plan to integrate all three languages in administration work and social life.

Now we are conducting Tamil language classes for Sinhala officers and Sinhala for Tamil officers. Today since there is freedom to travel to the North from the South and vice verse. People are also keen in becoming fluent in all three languages. We conducted awareness programs all over the country during the past few years.

This Budget has clearly mentioned about the trilingual program and the targets of this program. The proposals are made that a trilingual society should be established by 2020. The Sinhala language should be further developed and new words should come to the vocabulary to denote terms and words in the rapidly developing Information Technology.

A H M Azwer (UPFA):

I am speaking with overwhelming grief over the death of Nurdeen Mashoor MP. I takes this opportunity to express my condolences. Let me first congratulate our new Minister comrade Vasudeva Nanayakkara. He is considered as a very capable person.

I request that every Ministry should at least recruit one person who can deal in the Tamil language. I think even Dilan Perera can also help him.

Many says that the Public Relations and Public Affairs Ministry has no institutions. Are they blind? The institutions are clearly mentioned. Always the Lake House is subjected to criticism.

MP Dayasiri said that the Lake House is running at a loss. But today the Lake House is obtaining a huge profit. About Rs 3 billion profit was obtained by this institutions in 2009. Both Dinamina and Daily News published supplements for the inauguration of the President's second term. I challenge anyone to bring 5 copies of these papers on that day from a newspaper outlet. These papers have a high circulation and many important and valuable content and reports are given in them.

Wasantha Aluvihare (UNP):

There is high corruption in State institutions. The administration is weak in them. Due to the lack of National Policy many institutions have become inactive. The Budget has not paid adequate attention towards Local Governments and Provincial Councils. The allocations are not sufficient for them. As a result the people will have to suffer.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

The lowest rate of salary indicated by the Government is Rs 11,730. A person who earns that amount of money is not earning the amount of the per capita income. Health and education should be carried forward under a National Policy.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara (National Languages and Social Integration Minister): This is my first speech in this House as a Deputy Minister or Minister so that I remind with gratitude the people of Eheliyagoda and Ratnapura.

The scope of the subject of social integration is not so easy and simple and it is not a task to be accomplished by a single Ministry either.

The whole machinery of administration under the Government should work torwards that end.

I think my Ministry can be in the forefront in this regard. National languages - Sinhala and Tamil would serve as a bridge to bring about national integration and I assure my Ministry's work plan for next 10 years has been geared to build that bridge solid and strong to unify Sinhala and Tamil communities.

The Public Administration Ministry has held an examination to recruit translators. But there were no enough qualified persons applied. We are working to solve this issue by reducing the standards. Suresh Premachandran MP stated that there is not a Tamil translator at Public Accounts Committee. But it is factually wrong we have one now. We have a long way to go in this bilingual policy.

Mervyn Silva (Public Coordination and Public Affairs Minister): If you have any questions first ask them.

John Amaratunga (UNP): What are the duties of your Ministry?

Mervyn Silva: If you asked the same question from Wrights, when they attempted to fly that day what is the importance of that question today.

The public relations was first concentrated by religious leaders and other great leaders in the world.

The Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, Carl Marx, Lenin, T B Jayah and many others paid their attention to public relations and public affairs.

This important Ministry is given to me by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. For example take King Akbar, he went in disguise across the country to find out the views of the public. He heard people accused him and later the King himself changed certain laws in the country based on public views.

Later the King was appreciated by the public. This is such an important Ministry and by next week I will disguise myself and will roam across the country to find out the public views.

R Yogarajan (UNP): The Public Administration Ministry should provide a better service for the people of this country. The Tamil people are deprived of a better service through this Ministry.

R. Yogarajan (UNP): The duties of the National Language and Social Integration should not be continued to teach the three languages to the public officers. The quality of the teaching programs should be enhanced. Otherwise, it is useless of teaching languages to public officers since they are not capable to deal with the public.

Indika Bandaranayake (Local Government and Provincial Council Deputy Minister): We have been able to achieve a remarkable growth in the local government sector during the last five years. Sufficient funds have been allocated to upgrade Local Government bodies by this Government.

We have aimed to give priority for the rural development. The national policy on Local Government bodies have already been formulated. This will pave way to boost the rural development and economy.

Dilan Perera (Foreign Employment Opportunities and Welfare Minister): The Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry is doing a remarkable service to society.

Irregularities in the Pension Department have already been removed targeting a best service.

The latest technology was introduced to streamline the Registrar General's Department. It has become more efficient and effective today.

A L M Athaullah (Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister): My own experience in national development and administrative efforts and the aspirations of the people has encouraged me to be involved in provincial development activities with a vision.

The aim is to provide guidance and assistance to the Provincial Councils and Local Authorities and making them active partners in the national development taking place within the policy support of the Mahinda Chinthana.

It is necessary to facilitate Local Government bodies to be more efficient and effective.That is why the Government has given priority for the Local Government bodies development agenda.

Minister Mervyn Silva to move in disguise

Public Coordination and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva stated in Parliament yesterday that he would mingle among the people in disguise to find out their problems.

Minister made this statement joining the Committee Stage debate of the Appropriation Bill 2011, Minister Mervyn Silva further stated that he will commence it by next week and visit all places for three months to prepare a report of real problems of the public. He stated that the report would be submitted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister also stated that this method has been used even by ancient kings.

He added that the President has a genuine need to solve the problems but has no room to meet them in such a manner so that President appointed Minister Mervyn Silva for this ministerial portfolio.