PARLIAMENT

‘Farmers have been provided with bank loans’

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1.30 p.m yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the house took up five private member motions for debate.

The first was presented by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, for the grant of agricultural loans to farmers who were self-employed in agriculture.

The second motion was presented by UPFA MP AHM Azwer, for the development of the Santhenkerny public playground in the Kalmunai Town.

The third motion was presented by DNA MP Ajith Kumara, for the appointment of a Presidential Commission combining the Judiciary, the Police and the Prisons.

UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana presented the fourth motion to provide vocational training for differently abled children with special needs. UPFA MP Ruwan Ranatunga, presented the fifth motion to increase the annual interest rate for fixed deposits for senior citizens up to 14 percent.

Ravi Karunanayaka (UNP) said the first proposal was to grant agricultural loans to farmers who were self employed in agriculture. Agriculture was one of the main occupations of our country. There were about 8.1 million people who were self employed in the country. Out of them, about 18 percent were involved in the agricultural sector.

However, the Government has not sufficiently paid attention to provide them with some relief.

The Government had to discuss these matters with banks.

The Government should advise the banks to grant loans to farmers at a reduced interest rate. Lands have to be cultivated first and foremost for the country’s drive for development.

This Government was talking much about agriculture. However it hardly takes any action for the benefit of the farmers.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said that he would like to point out that the Government had already initiated a scheme to provide loans to farmers at a reduced rate of 4 percent, with a minimum period of 10 years to repay.

Ravi Karunanayaka (UNP) said that he had suspicions over its practical approach.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera: When President Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as President, he followed a different economic policy. He was more prone to the development of the agricultural factor.

As I said before, providing facilities to the farmers was given high consideration during his regime. Loan facilities were already available in State banks. Almost all banks have now introduced loan systems with reduced interest rates of about 5 percent - 6 percent for the agricultural sector. MP Ravi Karunanayake, should have known about it.

Agricultural Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: Providing loans at reduced interest rates had already been commissioned. Not only agricultural workers, but also other self employed people could also obtain loans. We have paid much attention to this proposal in the past. Today, the Government was providing loans to the agricultural sector at a reduced interest rate in the history of Sri Lanka.

In addition, the fertilizer subsidy was also continuing to be provided at Rs 350. This was an immense help to our farmers.

We have also initiated a cold chain system to preserve the harvest without leaving room for waste. We have also provided refrigerators to many areas of the country for the protection of the excess harvest. however, we are happy that MP Ravi Karunanayaka spoke about the agricultural sector today.

Ravi Karunanayaka (UNP): I am thankful for the reply given to my proposal. However, I am in doubt of the facts presented by the Government.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: After the floods, the farming community was given more time to repay their loans.

If the Government, as MP Ravi Karunanayaka says, had not given loans what is the necessity of allowing them to postpone the repayment. The amount that was allowed to be postponed, is nearing Rs 300 million.

Ravi Karunanayaka (UNP): What the Government had to do was to write off the loans and not postpone it, if it really concerns the agricultural workers.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa: The fact that I am aware of was that the farming community always repaid the loans they had obtained.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP): I second my private member motion.

Deputy Chairman of Committees, Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the chair

A H M Azwer (UPFA) said that he moved a private member motion to develop the Santhenkerny Public playground in Kalmunai Town, which would provide advanced facilities for the youth of Digamadulla District to improve their skills an ability in various sporting activities.

Sports was a very important factor that should be given prominence.

This upgrading of facilities in this playground should be done according to international standards. Our youth would reap the benefits of this. Those who were in rural areas, would be able to improve their skills and talents in various sports.

H M M Harees (UFFA): I second the motion. Kalmunai was my home town. I am happy to express my opinion in favour of this motion.

When I was the Mayor of the Kalmunai Urban Council, I started reconstruction work on this playground which had been long abandoned.

Victor Anthony (UPFA): I am glad over the proposal and I see it as a very valuable initiative. This was a timely proposal extended for the benefit of the children of the Eastern Province. However, I regret that no TNA MP is present in the House when this proposal was being taken up.

Tharanath Basnayake (UPFA) said the development of sports was more essential in our country as well as education. We did not have the opportunity of developing the Northern and Eastern Provinces for a long time.

But since then we have been able to pay attention to the development of sports in those areas. Specially the Southernkearni ground should also be developed.

Along with cricket, other sports too should be developed.

P.H.P. Piyasena (UPFA) said that sports in Digmadulla should be developed. The play grounds were not properly developed.

The Southernkerni play ground in Ampara, was a very important venue for the youth in the area.

So the government should pay attention to this matter. Some of the opposition members did not like to see the country developed under this government. We have to get together to stand against these inimical forces.

JRP Sooriyapperuma (UPFA) said to mould the characters of our children, sports was essential. To build up unity among communities, we had do direct the youth towards sports.

According to my knowledge, cricketer Muralitharan, could do much to unite these communities rather than political parties. Sports have a very significant impact on building up a country.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA) said that if there was a particular president who was much interested in developping sports, including cricket and rugby, it was non other than President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Ajith Kumara (JVP): I am thankful for being allowed to move this private members bill suggesting the appointment of a Presidential Commission combining the judiciary, the police and prisons.

A Presidential Commission should be appointed combining the Judiciary, the police and prisons, to minimize the crime rate spreading in the country and to improve criminal laws by minimizing shortcomings, to dispose of the backlog of cases delaying justice was mostly because of the lack of knowledge, and experienced police personnel.

In certain cases, some suspects were kept in remand prisons for longer periods since they did not have money to get them bailed out.

so these prisoners face many difficulties. Hence these matters should be looked into.

Police personnel and prison officials have been laden with undue burden.

Another matter was that convicts were imprisoned for rehabilitation. But what happens was that the convicts turn into hardy criminals when they were released from prison.

Sunil Handunetti (JVP): The three sectors, Judiciary, Police and Prison, should be essentially combined.

The Police personnel on duty during parliamentary settings, face many problems which could be solved easily. Such matters as toilet facilities. Earlier they were provided with meals and a cup of tea. But now they are not given any of this.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA): Now prisons have been reformed, relocated from populated areas. The Bogambara Prison, Magazine Prison, Jaffna Prison and Batticaloa Prison were located in the hearts of those cities. But steps were being taken to relocate those prisons out of city areas.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera said that it was just four months since he assumed duties in his Ministry. He said his predecessor was Senior Minister DEW Gunasekera, the first to take over the newly formed Ministry.

Minister Gajadheera said that he along with Minister DEW Gunasekera was initiating many methodologies for the improvement at the Department of Prisons.

He said that about 444 people were under death sentence. The Minister said that measures had been taken to expedite the hearing of appeals in Courts and also steps have been taken to reduce the delay in hearing of cases.

He said that the number of district Courts and High Courts had been increased islandwide.

The Minister said that there were about 26,000 prisoners in jails, while 49.9 percent of them were in remand prison, resulting in over crowding. A community based Correction Department too had been initiated, which was a novel idea.

Nearly 18,000 prisoners were now under this department and it had been seen that only eight percent of the prisoners, who were directed to this department, were reconvicted as wrong doers. For the prisoners who had been jailed, the reconviction percentage had been over 50 percent.

Many more initiatives were being taken to solve problems regarding pregnant women and female prisoners with children. The Minister said that necessary measures were being taken gradually. Various programmes were also continuing to update the knowledge of the prisoners. Various vocational training and agricultural programmes were also continuing within prisons. He said the health condition in prisons too were good with no HIV/AIDS trend found in prisons.

Ajith Kumara (DNA) said that he was thankful to MP Sunil Handunnetti for seconding the motion and grateful to Minister Gajadheera for expressing his opinion.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

Buddhika Pathirana (UNP): By moving this motion, I propose to provide vocational training for the differently abled children and children with special needs.

Vocational training should be provided at district and provincial levels and a programme should be implemented to direct them in a proper manner for employment opportunities.

Children with special needs and differently abled children should not be limited to one social class. Every social class comprised these segments of children.

They face various difficulties in society and they should be given a helping hand to stand on their feet, the MP said.

The Government’s allocations and concern about the segments of our country were not sufficient.

R Yogarajan (UNP): I second this motion moved by MP Buddhika Pathirana. This motion concentrates on children with special needs.

We have to provide a helping hand to find them suitable employment where vocational training was needed for this task.

Dr Rohana Pushpakumara (UPFA): As a doctor, I am grateful to MP Pathirana for presenting this important motion today. The world population of disabled people were increasing. We should also concentrate on reducing the number of births with disabilities.

These births could be controlled by educating the people about the circumstances where disabled children can be born.

Sri Ranga (UPFA): When we travel in buses and trains, we see how many people suffering because of disabilities. But so far we haven’t provided adequate facilities for these disabled people.

The developed countries have provided much facilities for such people. If we were a significant country in this region, we have to think of these matters.

Social Services Deputy Minister C A Sooriyaarachchi: We are conducting many programs to uplift the standards of the disabled persons. We are conducting 5 vocational training centres run by the Social Service Ministry, while 7 are being conducted by NGOs.

We have spent about Rs 225 million for these Government projects.

In addition, Rs 11 million has been allocated for the food of those people at those centres.

Nearly 500 to 1,000 disabled persons are being trained in these vocational training centres. Very recently, a large number of disabled persons who had passed out from these vocational training centres were given equipment to commence their careers.

During the past year, the Ministry had conducted 43 mobile services for the disabled persons.

Our government has taken measures to grant Rs 3,000 as an allowance to families of 27 disabled persons.

Buddhika Pathirana (UNP): For the passing of this Bill, members of the Opposition as well as from the Government has responded positively. We have to change the attitude of the society towards the disabled people.

A H M Azwer in Chair: The next Private Members’ Bill will be moved by MP Ruwan Ranathunga.

Ruwan Ranathunga (UPFA): I suggest that the interest rate for fixed deposits of senior citizens are increased to 14 percent, as we know the ratio of senior citizens was increasing.

Most of the senior citizens who are spending the evening of their lives, after rendering a considerable service to the country, live on the interest received from their meagre earnings. So this interest rate should be increased.

The interest rate of the fixed deposits of our senior citizens must be increased from 10.5 percent to 14 percent.

This is a new era. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is taking steps to give pensions including farmers.

So the persons who rendered their services to the country and spend their lives peacefully, should be supported to get an increase to their income.

Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: We will take all possible steps to fulfill their needs.

Ruwan Ranathunga (UPFA): I thank the members who spoke in favour of this motion.

Parliament was adjourned until May 25.

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Lakvijaya coal plant to repay loan instalments

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, yesterday stated the Lanka Coal Company had agreed to repay the loan instalments to the Chinese Government by year 2015 onwards which had been obtained for the completion of the first phase of the Lakvijaya Power plant in Narochcholai.

The Minister made these observations in Parliament in response to a question raised by UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera. Minister Ranwaka also said that for the first phase of the construction of the Lakvijaya plant, the Chinese Government had granted a loan of US$ 455 million and Rs 530 million which had been invested by the Sri Lanka Government.

He also stated that Rs 11,000 million had been invested by the Sri Lankan Government for the second phase of Lakvijaya Power plant project, while US$ 891 million had been obtained as foreign funds.

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Magampura harbour construction costs US $ 360 mn

The total cost estimated for the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa International Harbour construction project had been US $ 360 million, Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, stated in Parliament yesterday. He said that US $ 54 million of the estimated cost had been acquired from local funds.

The rest of US $ 306 million had been from foreign funds. The Minister was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera.