Parliament

‘Leadership training not given by force’

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1 pm yesterday.

After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the second reading of the Control of Pesticides (Amendments) Bill.

The motion moved by Water Supply and Drainage Board Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, was passed without debate.

Parliament was adjourned until 1 pm today.

Thereafter the House took up the adjournment motion moved by JVP member Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (JVP): Sri Lanka has won on several occasions international medals. Almost all countries concentrate on sporting activities. But today, what has happened to the game of cricket that had brought fame to the country?

A sum of Rs 2,100 million had been allocated for the Sports Ministry. A sum of Rs 300 million had been spent to construct a playground in Kegalle, while Rs 30 million had been spent to construct a swimming pool in Piliyandala. The money spent on playground and swimming pool is very costly. Accordingly, an investigation should be held to ascertain whether there had been corruption.

The Sports Ministry is attempting to hold the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Sri Lanka. As many countries are making an attempt to hold the Games in their own country, we should formulate a proper plan to get it to our country and a committee has been appointed, headed by Minister Dilan Perera in that respect, which is a positive move.

A tender has been offered to some person in that respect to take steps to bring the Commonwealth Games to Sri Lanka. But the tender has been offered without the consent of the committee.

The former Sports Minister had entered into a corrupt agreement with the Indian Cricket Board of Control. This matter should be probed into.

Some of our athletes too were found guilty for the use of banned stimulants. If our athletes were to receive treatment from non-qualified doctors, what is the use of the existing medical unit in the Sports Ministry?

John Amarathunga (UNP): I second this motion which brings the corruptness of the Cricket Board of Control and other institutions involved with sports to the notice of the Assembly. We wanted to express our own views on the government’s attempt to conduct a course forcefully to university students at military camps, but were not allowed to do so.

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Prema Jayantha: MP John Amarathunga has forgotten that 40,000 youth were killed during the 88-89 uprising. Six attorneys-at-law who had appeared for them were killed.

Emergency Regulations were first moved against the youth and not against the LTTE.

Even I had appeared for those youth as an attorney during that period. Thirty two youth were buried in Sooriyakanda, which has been recorded in Courts.

University students are in need of a leadership course. I too was trained as a cadet during my schooling.

Our students should be disciplined.

John Amarathunga (UNP): Why is the course given to them by force?

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha: Never. It is not given to them by force. Students who follow various streams are trained together. Students from all communities obtain experience and knowledge in various cultures.

The Sports Minister has done a great service to cricket.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair.

Ajith Perera (UNP): There should be a mechanism to select athletes from rural areas and bring them to national and international levels.

However, the answer to these weaknesses is not just abandoning it.

Cricket has reached a good position in the country today. We were able to enter the semi finals in 2003 and the finals in 2007 and 2011 in the ICC World Cup. So how can we say that cricket has collapsed in the country? This is a false statement.

We have exceptional talented and skilled cricketers. They should not be demeaned. There could be certain weaknesses in the local cricket administration. They should be scrutinised. The country needs a new sports law that could not be suppressed by money.

Sujeewa Serasinghe (UNP): Sports in the country is full of corruption, similar to the prevailing government. The development of sports cannot be measured from the number of victories. In sports both victory and defeat should be endured in the same manner.

Even the former Sports Minister had accepted that there is corruption within the Cricket Board. Members of the sports committees should be honest. The ministers should not be changed very often. They should be given a considerable time to perform their duties in their respective portfolios.

Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayake: We were able to win several gold medals in 1974 during Asian Athletic competitions. Thereafter until 1994, the country was unable to achieve any medals.

Sri Lanka started achieving gold medals in various sports events once again during my period as Sports Minister in 1996. This was just after two years.

Many debaters spoke of leadership training that is conducted. We see that many students entering our universities are limited to books. They have no practical knowledge to face problems in life. They have no idea what is happening in the world or in the country.

They have been continuously limited to only studies to pass the competitive A-L exam to enter universities. This training has been planned to give them a proper change. The physical and mental discipline they need will be given to them under this programme. Today, after several days of the launch of the training, we receive no complaints from both students and parents. After the conclusion of this training, a 3 month special programme will be conducted in English, IT and soft skills.

Hareen Fernando (UNP): The UNP was a party that made the least interference in sports. There are so many problems attached to cricket. During the previous ICC World Cup matches, tickets valued at Rs 100 were sold at higher rates. But until now, the Minister has not called for any investigation over this matter.

We see a sharp decline in the sports sector. It is scary to see the last page of newspapers. Intake of prohibited substances by players have increased.

We know that the Sports Minister is a talented and capable person. We are only pointing out the mistakes so that he could be more efficient.

Arundika Fernando (UPFA): I regret the speeches made by the Opposition. They are full of wrath, which shows the poor condition of the present day UNPer.

Today the Sports Ministry is following the correct path. It has begun on a new journey. We think positively that we will be able to receive the opportunity to hold the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Hambantota. We appreciate the decisions taken by the Minister regarding sportsmen who had consumed prohibited substances.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair.

Arjuna Ranatunga (DNA): After 1996, cricket went into the hands of businessmen. This happened with the ICC World Cup victory in 1996. Money flowed into cricket thereafter.

These businessmen were aware how to deal with whatever government was in power.

I had to go home from my position for not consenting to frauds and corruptions. To correct this situation, suitable honest people should be appointed. Today even school level sports have collapsed. The Sports Minister should be careful in taking decisions. The expenses for the construction of cricket grounds is much too high. A proper investigation should be conducted to look into tender offerings of these constructions.

A H M Azwer (UPFA): MP Ranatunga had brought credit to the country. However he should cleanse his heart from malice and hatred. I wonder why he said that the construction of the Pallekele Cricket ground was a wastage? It is an important step towards the development of sports.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage: MP Ranatunga concluded his speech in pain. However, the reduction of his time was not a fault of the Government, but an organized conspiracy of his own party.

When I assumed duties of this Ministry, we faced both victories as well as drawbacks. Today we are targeting the 2018 Commonwealth Games and we have a proper organized programme to receive this opportunity to our country.

When I assumed duties, we had to face a huge defeat in the Asian Games and the ICC while the World Cup was nearing. Therefore the challenges we had to face were many.

We have implemented a long-term plan for the promotion of cricket and other sports.

We hope to construct national grounds in each Pradeshiya Sabha. The grounds for this purpose have been selected. We have also decided to take collective decisions when it comes to sports hereafter.

The Ministry has also planned to issue a medical certificate alone with the results of the grade five scholarship exam. In this certificate we will nominate the suitable sport event for each student.

This will be helpful to uplift the sports of the schools in the country. Please do not demean the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Some Opposition members ridiculed it by asking whether it can be held in Hambantota. It is Australia who is competing with us for the Games. Today our bid has been accepted and officials will come to Sri Lanka in the near future to proceed with it.

I say with responsibility, that our cricket is not experiencing a decline. This is a false statement.

We are ready to bring back cricket to the villages. We have talented young players in schools. They will help to create the future for our cricket.

As I believe the Summerset tournament is a good opportunity for our country. However I will look into the allegations made against this tournament.

Public Management Reforms Minister Naveen Dissanayake: This kind of training given to undergraduates does not only exist in Sri Lanka, but also in many other countries.

Singapore gives a two year training and Israel a three year military training for students after A-L exam.

However, what we provide is not a military training, but a training in leadership. This is the first batch and the weaknesses of this programme should be corrected next time.

The House adjourned until 1.00 pm today.

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Don’t breach India-SL goodwill

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, said in Parliament that External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris, had made a trip to India to express Sri Lankan Government’s views over the baseless Darusman Report against Sri Lanka.

He made this observation in response to a question raised by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday. JVP Member Dissanayake stated that the joint statement made by External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris and Indian representatives was just an “Indian package.”

Minister Gunawardena stating that the External Affairs Minister would give an answer in detail after his return, asked the Opposition not to breach the goodwill between Sri Lanka and India.

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Hashan missing in action?

‘Former Sri Lankan Test crikcet captain and Western Provincial Council UNP member, Hashan Tillekeratne, who raised allegations of match fixing is now absconding from the probes of his allegations, said Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. He was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake in Parliament yesterday.

The minister observed that he took all possible measures to obtain relevant details of the people who were involved in the match fixing allegations but the accuser was not to be found and could not be contacted.

“He was summoned officially twice, but did not appear. When he raised worries about his safety, we promised to provide the required security and the IGP too agreed. He does not answer even the phone, Even the ICC has inquired, about him. Has it seems to be missing in action” the Minister said.

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House approves grant

Parliament yesterday approved to grant a supplementary estimate submitted by the government seeking an additional sum of Rs 100 million for the Finance Ministry to pay pension premiums to farmers for the first quarter of this year.

The supplementary estimate was submitted by the Finance Ministry on behalf of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board which pays the pension to the farmers. Prime Minister D M Jayaratne presented the estimate and was approved by the House.

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UNP, TNA in standing protest

The business of Parliament was interrupted yesterday as UNP and TNA members protested within the House. These members protested by standing inside the House for about 45 minutes, alleging that university entrants were being given military training. When the orders of the day commenced at 2.20 pm yesterday, Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga stood up and said he was making a special statement under Standing Order 17.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa stated that he was unable to permit a statement to be made as permission had not been taken to do so, as noted in Standing Order 17. After the Speaker’s statement, the UNP members stood up with placards in their hands and protested.

Members Ranjan Ramanayake, Harin Fernando, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Dr Jayalath Jayawardena came into the well of the House holding placards. At this moment, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Naren Fernando and Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Kushan Jayaratne rushed towards the Maze.

At this stage, commencing the orders of the day, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena moved the Control of Pesticides (Amendment) Bill for second reading. The Bill was passed without debate.

Thereafter the Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena stated that Parliament was adjourned until 1 pm on May 26. Even while JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake moved the adjournment, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and other members remained standing.

After the motion was moved, UNP MP John Amarathunga seconded the motion and the members who were protesting resumed their seats.

While the members were standing, UPFA MP A H M Azwer raising a point of order, stated that other members should be seated when another member was addressing. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa observing that members could speak to each other or stand if they so wished, ordered A H M Azwer to take his seat.