Development process:
Parliament stands as beacon
Overwhelming endorsement for Mahinda Chinthana:
Text of the speech by Secretary to the President Lalith
Weeratunga at the Third Asia Regional Conference of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association held in Colombo
Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga |
Sri Lanka is pursuing vigorously the proposals in the Mahinda
Chintana, the future vision, the election manifesto of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, which he presented to the people when he contested the
Presidential elections in 2005 and in January 2010.
Mahinda Chintana is now the policy document of the Government since
it has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the people, not only at the two
Presidential elections but also at the Parliamentary election last year.
Incidentally, the recent Parliamentary election resulted in the ruling
coalition enjoying a historic two-thirds majority in Parliament. It is
significant that after three decades of suffering, we are able to
concentrate on development of our vital infrastructure, both physical
and social, to ensure the well-being of our people. Parliament stands as
the beacon in this process articulated by the President’s Government.
It is noteworthy that the Government has been able to reduce poverty
to 7.6 percent in 2009 from a 15.2 percent in 2006. It took us 57 years,
since independence, to reach the per capita income level of US $ 1,053
but it took only five years since 2005 to increase this to over US $
2,050 doubling this significant indicator of our economy. President
Rajapaksa’s Government has set a target for us to achieve the US $ 4,000
per capita income level by 2016. These are very significant
achievements.
Literacy rate
Noteworthy
achievements |
-
Poverty reduced to 7.6
percent in 2009 from 15.2 percent in 2006
-
Significant increase in
per capita income since 2005
-
IT literacy rate
increased to 30 percent in 2010 from five percent in 2005
-
Literacy rate over 93
percent
-
Infant mortality rate 15
per 1,000 live births
|
Our literacy rate has for a long period of time been hovering around
over 93 percent and our infant mortality rate is 15 per 1,000 live
births. Almost 99 percent of our childbirths take place in a medical
institution. Primary health care at the village level is carried out
extremely satisfactorily. We are also keen to improve our IT literacy.
Under President Rajapaksa’s personal guidance and supervision, we have
increased our IT literacy from under five percent in 2005 to over 30
percent in 2010. All these have been possible because the legislature
and the executive worked in harmony to ensure the well-being of our
people.
Public officers
In pursuit of the development plans placed before the people through
the Mahinda Chintana, Sri Lanka’s Parliament plays the most vital and
crucial role despite an Executive Presidential system. This is because
public finance and the consolidated fund that provides the resources to
the development process are under the total control of Parliament. Let
me quote the relevant provision. “Article 148. Parliament shall have
full control over public finance. No tax, rate or any other levy shall
be imposed by any local authority or any other public authority, except
by or under the authority of a law passed by Parliament or of any
existing law.”
In giving effect to this provision, the Parliament of Sri Lanka among
many other measures has established two very strong bodies, the Public
Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Enterprises. As per
Parliamentary tradition, the composition of the membership of these two
committees reflects the composition in Parliament.
The Government in power has an overwhelming majority and as such
these committees are headed by very senior members of Parliament from
the Government side and they exercise the powers with much authority and
has never been reluctant in bringing to book any official irrespective
of the position he holds or power such officer wields. We as public
officers have great respect for these institutions and throughout their
tenures these committees have ensured that the public service conducts
its activities with decorum and integrity.
“Article 156(1) provides for an Ombudsman, another measure to
exercise authority of the Parliament over the public service.”
Parliament shall by law provide for the establishment of the office of
the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) charged
with the duty of investigating and reporting upon complaints or
allegations of the infringement of fundamental rights and other
injustices by public officers and officers of public corporations, local
authorities and other like institutions, in accordance with and subject
to the provisions of such law. All these entities have worked with a
high level of decorum and integrity.
Vibrant democracies
It is a matter of great pride for public officials like us to State
that our Parliament has always been a robust, lively and impactful
institution in the public life of our country. The Executive, the
Legislature and the Judiciary have always acted in a manner that has
ensured the well-being of the people of our Motherland. These three
institutions also have understood their respective roles and have
complemented each other to ensure that development of the people and
people are not jeopardized at any juncture. In defeating the most brutal
terrorist organization, this harmony was evident.
I am sure it is not out of place for me to quote from a conversation
between President Rajapaksa and the present Leader of the Opposition of
the Lok Sabha of India during President Rajapaksa’s visit to India in
June last year.
Leader of the Opposition of the Indian Lok Sabha Sushma Swara said
that it is the policy of the Opposition to work with the Government. In
all international matters and act as one, to protect the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of India, but that in local politics, the
Opposition would fight the ruling party tooth and nail wherever any
impropriety is witnessed. This is a lesson for all of us in vibrant
democracies. |