PARLIAMENT

Code system to identify import, export items - S B Dissanayake

Parliamentary Corrs.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1.00 pm yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the Amendment Motion for the Imports and Exports (Control) Act for debate.

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake

Amendments are sought for the Imports and Exports Act by this motion. A code system to identify import and export items will be introduced to the Customs by this amendment.

This will also remove irregularities in taxes. The import and export procedure will be simplified and strengthened.

Under this motion, the issue of a special gazette to grant tax concessions to hybrid electric vehicles as the President had proposed in 2011 Budget is also provisioned.

This amendment will simplify the work of Customs officers, importers and exporters.

The use of electric vehicles will reduce the cost of oil and minimize environmental pollution. The promotion of hybrid electric vehicles will pave the way for our people to reduce the cost of travelling.

During the year 2007-2009, we faced an oil and economic crisis. Many countries faced difficulties during this period. However, our rubber and tea production increased during this period. But the income from rubber products decreased.

We also had to face a critical war in the country during the same period. Therefore, we had to make a huge effort to maintain the value of the Sri Lankan Rupee.

The oil prices too fluctuated rapidly and the whole world was in a crisis. Poverty, malnutrition and inflation became a common problem in the world. This crisis has still not ended. Therefore as a country which depends largely on export and import economy, we must be very cautious.

The world is being ruled by intellectuals, educated and managerial level people. Therefore computer technology and advanced technology have become a must.

The world was also facing a food crisis. This was felt by the rapidly developing countries such as China and India. This has happened due to the change of food consumption patterns in those countries. The food consumption has increased in these countries.

The recent floods have resulted in a heavy loss to our paddy cultivations. It is not only our country that faced such situations due to natural disasters.

The situation was the same for many countries. However, we have the ability to face these challenges with the policies adopted by the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’. ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policies do not reflect any past ideologies. It is our own unique policy to build the country in harmony with the environment and Sri Lankan culture. This effort has shown good results. Even amidst a food and oil crisis in the world, our unemployment and poverty rates have gone down.

Therefore by simplifying the import and export coding, we too can join the raidly developing world.

The education that our children undergo is unsuitable to the requirements of the country. They have become a burden on the country and our education system should be responsible for this problem. We have to rectify the situation.

John Amaratunga (UNP)

Minister S B Dissanayake made a huge effort to convince the House that the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policy is a success. However, many problems will arise if he makes this observation to the people in his village. He has admitted that the prices of goods were increasing while the people were jobless.

Due to floods a large number of paddy fields have been inundated and a huge loss incurred.

People have no money to feed their children at least one meal per day. There is no relief for the ordinary people who are undergoing hard times.

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa (Environment and Natural Resources Minister): I paid attention to the speech of John Amarathunga. Whatever he spoke of, it seemed that he was very pleased of the disasterous situation the country was facing.

He was referring only to the situation faced by our small island. But this disasterous scenario is common to all countries throughout the world. Australia, Latin American countries, European countries, etc were facing severe natural disasters. That was the reason that most of the countries were speaking of a green economy. Now even America is shocked by these disasters.

But our Government is taking measures to develop the rural economy and in tern, develop the national economy.

It was this Government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who concentrated on developing the economy of rural areas.

Now the opposition is talking of the price of paddy. But there was a period when the farmers could not sell their crops. However, with the development of road networks in several areas, the farmers were able to get a good market for their crops.

The Opposition is talking of very simple issues of farming and such things. Our Government defeated terrorism which the opposition said was impossible. So these very simple issues too would be solved very soon, the Minister said.

We have now reduced taxes on import of hybrid vehicles as a measure to reduce environmental pollution.

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA): Minister S B Dissanayake spoke of a very prosperous country. I would like to inquire as to where that country is because such a situation is not to be seen in Sri Lanka.

Today the people do not need to talk of electronic vehicles. They are thinking of the price of rice. The price of rice would increase after May and has the Government takes steps to solve these problems.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair: Today the public do not trust politicians because none of them have even made an attempt to solve the burning issues of the public.

J R P Sooriyapperuma (UPFA): I hope Minister S B Dissanayake would change the education system towards a new path and introduce modern technology to present day students.

Now Sri Lanka is facing a serious natural disaster.

After the tsunami in 2004, Bill Clinton after his visit to Sri Lanka said that Sri Lanka would not be able to stand on its feet for another 10 years. But after Hurricane Catrina hit America, he came back to Sri Lanka in 2005.

Later on he told that Sri Lanka could uplift their economy within one year after the tsunami catastrophe and that America should learn a lesson from Sri Lanka.

I think that S B Dissanayake would look after the younger generation well.

Dr Harsha de Silva (UPFA): Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa spoke of coconuts. According to the Plant Protection Act, we are unable to import coconuts.

But 75,000 coconuts had been ordered from Kerala at a rate of Rs 26.50. But the coconuts could not be brought to the country due to the Plant Protection Act. So the coconuts had been destroyed.

Where is the prosperous country SB is talking of- Handunnetti

If we are to reach our goal to become the Miracle of Asia as the Government aims, we would have to facilitate the private sector as a whole. The Government has obtained a huge loan for the construction of the Hambantota harbour without any transparency. We have no objections for taking loans for development, but it should be done transparently by calling for tenders.

Dilum Amunugama (UPFA): Harsha de Silva MP and the Opposition were presenting false facts and documents to the House.

For the development of the country, new employment opportunities should emerge. With the construction of the Hambantota port, new power plants, airports and employment opportunities had emerged in the country.

Nobody could deny the fact that it was this Government which ushered a large scale development to the country.

Some criticize that the Deyata Kirula exhibition was being held even though the country was experiencing floods.

But they should also pay attention to the massive development activities taking place in Buttala and Moneragala due to the exhibition.

Our natural resources were exported to foreign countries during past regimes. Quartz was one such example. We must be happy that necessary regulations were now being introduced with the intervention of the Environment Ministry to put a halt to this process.

S Sri Sritharan (TNA): Delft (Nainathivu) island is a small island that belongs to Jaffna. It was opened in 1963.

At present, about 4,000 people live in this island. But due to a hidden mountain under the sea in the passage in which ships voyage to this island, many ships had been damaged.

Education in this Delft island has collapsed. The number of teachers were not sufficient, while the facilities in these schools should be upgraded.

A number of schools had been closed due to lack of human resources and facilities.

Measures should be taken by the Government to improve the education in these areas. The facilities in this island such as the supply of drinking water should also be developed.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

Thilanga Sumathipala (UPFA): This Gazette proves that the Government was taking a progressive journey towards development. Import of these vehicles were not very costly. Therefore, we have not only thought of the upper class in the country.

When we consider the environment, pollution in industrialist countries were much greater. However, we, as a small island, face adverse effects due to environmental pollution.

With this initiative, we could provide an example to the whole world to give priority to environmental friendly approaches. It would show the world that we consider a lot about the protection of the environment. Therefore it is a good sign.

A large sum of foreign exchange could have been flown to foreign countries, if the act was not presented today. This act had not been amended for a period of nearly 40 years.

Human Resources Senior Minister D E W Gunasekere: It is due to the request of the Opposition that we had agreed to take a full-day debate on this motion.

Harsha de Silva pointed out the market disadvantages of the country. I must note that this was a characteristic of a small nation such as Sri Lanka. After the arrival of the open economic system in 1977, we have always faced at least one market disadvantage.

The new currency notes which were issued was to cater to the needs of our economy. It was done after a careful study.

Scientific Affairs Senior Minister Tissa Vitarana: We know that the world was gradually moving towards an oil crisis.

The fossil deposits were gradually decreasing, while the demand for oil was going up.

Therefore the prices of oil were expected to go up further. We use about 60 percent of the oil importation for transport. That is to operate vehicles by diesel and petrol.

Under present circumstances, we should pay attention to find alternative energy sources for transport.

Therefore, the tax relief for hybrid vehicles is an important step forward.

On the other hand, this would reduce environmental pollution. Therefore, this was a good move, both on the sides of our cost of oil and environment. This was the new trend emerging in the world. I cannot understand why the Opposition opposes it.

Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena: We came forward to change the code of imports and exports, following the Budget proposals made by the President.

We should comply with the new technology in the world.

Hybrid vehicles comprise both the battery motor and oil motor. Therefore oil consumption was less in them. This also prevents air pollution. It will also be a positive fact for our health too.

Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act were passed.

Parliament adjourned until 1pm today.

Elections Bill before House

Parliamentary Corrs

The Election (Special Provision) Bill was presented before Parliament yesterday by Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva.

The Bill was presented to made provisions for a voter who is subjected to a disability to be accompanied by a person when voting at election. Under these provisions a person with a total or a partially visual impairment as a physical disability, will be able to cast his or her vote at elections.

The Bill will also amend Local Authorities Elections Ordinance, Parliamentary Elections Act, the Referendum Act, Presidential Elections Act and Provincial Councils Elections Act.