PARLIAMENT

Refugees have returned due to peaceful situation - Prime Minister

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided yesterday when Parliament met at 1 pm. After presentation of papers and oral questions, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, moved the motion to extend the State of Emergency by another one month.

Prime Minister and Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs D M Jayaratne: A large number of Tamil speaking people who had taken refuge in foreign countries due to LTTE hostilities, have returned to Sri Lanka due to the peaceful situation prevailing in the country.

Those people had left the country as they did not approve the brutal activities of the LTTE. The Government has extended its helping hand to provide them with all facilities so that they could resume their customary lives.

The people’s representatives too have been able to meet the public now and these are the successes we have achieved as a government.

On the other hand, the allocations made earlier for the people in the North and East, by the government, were only used by the LTTE for their terrorist activities. So today, the public were enjoying the benefits of the allocations made by the government to the North and East and they also enjoy the benefits of infrastructure facilities developed by the government.

We as a government, have played our role to fulfil all needs of the people in the North and East who had been battered by the LTTE terrorism. We have identified it as the responsibility of this government, at a moment when the people themselves have refused the concept of Eelam that was promised to them by the LTTE. The people in North and East were now coordinating with the government cordially.

Today the youth in the North and South get-together at all occasions which is a positive change.

It is obvious that still there were foreign forces inimical to this country and they have made attempts to damage the trust of the international communities against us.

Another matter is that still some ex LTTE cadres are being rehabilitated. During last month, 552 such rehabilitated LTTE cadres returned to their families. The government was still unearthing hauls of weapons that had been hidden by the LTTE. There were LTTErs at large who had fled during the last stages of the humanitarian operations. The security forces were now making attempts to arrest them as well.

Under these grounds, I request the members of this assembly to vote for the extension of the State of Emergency by another month.

Tissa Attanayake (UNP): The government should do away with the Emergency Regulations since the threats of terrorism have been wiped out. We questioned the government whether it was necessary to continue with the Emergency Regulations.

The government currently makes use of the Emergency Regulations to harass and suppress the voice of the ordinary people. The newly appointed IGP Ilangakoon has also said that the relations between the police and the ordinary people were not up to the mark. It was the real situation which had always been highlighted by the Opposition. The efforts taken by the government to attack the Channel 4 video, were not sufficient. The government must prove to the world that the Channel 4 was a fake video.

Sarath Weerasekera (UPFA): We never justify terrorism. The entire population in Sri Lanka had been directly and indirectly involved in eradicating terrorism. A number of security forces personnel had been killed or injured during the war.

The people were always living in fear during those days. That was why the government had decided to eliminate terrorism. The imposition of State of Emergency was being continued, with the aim of not allowing the LTTE to raise its ugly head again. It had not been aimed at suppressing the people. We have already taken off 70 percent of the regulations of the State of Emergency. It would further be relaxed. We have received information that certain parties were still attempting to create havoc in the country by putting the government into disrepute.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

A Adiakalanathan (TNA): Now the war had come to an end and the people of this country were living in peace. So why should the government still extend the State of Emergency?

The government must restore civil administration in the resettled areas. The dry rations given to the resettled people were insufficient.

These people would be in a very pathetic plight, had not several organizations helped them. There were a number of problems pertaining to the fisheries industry in the North and East. Fishermen have to take approval from various persons before they put out to sea.

These officers were harassing the fishermen. Fishermen should be allowed to engage in their livelihood without any hassle.

Ven Ellawala Medhananda Thera (UPFA): We have been able to eliminate the 30-year-long war on terrorism in the country. People of this country, irrespective of religion, race, party and colour, reap the benefits of the eradication of terrorism.

Today people living in the North, East, West and South have joined hands and were living in peace and harmony.

A massive development drive has been undertaken by the government. The North and East which had been devastated during the war, have been economically empowered.

We Sri Lankans should get-together and come forward to develop Sri Lanka.

Ranjan Ramanayake (UNP): Rizana Nafeek from Mullaitivu had been suffering for nearly six years in a Saudi Arabian prison.

I met her parents, brothers and sisters and a school principal. She had been a very clever student and was also a prefect of the school.

Due to various hardships, she had decided to travel to Saudi Arabia to work as a housemaid. She was only 18 years old and her agent had forged a false passport. It was the mistake of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Bureau.

Now she has been sentenced to death by a High Court in Saudi Arabia. The government must take action to secure her pardon.

Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister M L A M Hisbullah: All communities were living in peace today. I visited the North very recently. I thought that these areas were controlled by the security forces. But the reality was otherwise. The people had been engaging themselves in their day to day activities. They lead their lives with great enthusiasm with the dawn of peace. I visited many places all by myself and spoke to the people to find out their views. They were living happily.

The Opposition spoke of Rizana Rafeek. The government was taking measures to send another mission to Saudi Arabia to get her freed from the death sentence. Thanks to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s measures, the death sentence on Rizana has been suspended.

R. Yogarajan (UNP): The government said that the people in the North were living happily. But the Government was able to build up 60 percent of the houses devastated by the Tsunami in 2004. So how could you say they were living happily?

Minister of Scientific Affairs Professor Tissa Vitharana: The LSSP had always been opposed to the Emergency regulations.

But a situation had been created to impose the emergency rule. The argument was that this emergency ruled had been reimposed over a longer period.

I think the APRC even now could play a pivotal role in finding a solution to the issue. I request the TNA and the UNP particularly and all other parties in Parliament to rally round the Select Committee in Parliament in finding a solution to the national issue. We could set a deadline to arrive at to a consensus. We could make proposals to amend the constitution to solve the national question effectively.

Now the situation had changed. We have a different mindset. We have to develop a Sri Lankan identity and overriding culture which would foster and protect the various cultures. So I request the UNP and TNA to forget the past and join the Parliamentary select committee so that we could be able to cease the Extension of the Emergency rule.

Ranjith de Soyza (UPFA): During to this new era, we would have to close up even small gaps that would enable terrorism to raise its head. So the Emergency Rule should be extended.

Today there was a fear psychosis in the Ratnapura area where old women had been brutally killed. Almost 7 such women had been killed and the relevant authorities should take measures to settle this situation. If this situation had been created in the North, the Opposition would have attempted to create a different story.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP): It had been reported that the hide of a leopard had been dried in a compound of a house in Colombo. There was a report that three leopard cubs had been found. Now the time had arisen to find out who had killed the leopard and take measures to protect the cubs.

Arundika Fernando (UPFA): The truth behind Channel 4 story has been revealed. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, could not state that the channel 4 chip was a concocted story. I have my doubts if they were pleased when this country was facing a chaotic situation.

Thalatha Athukorala (UNP): In the Ratnapura district, a special situation had been created that old women are being brutally killed. The culprits had not been arrested so far. The situation had commenced in Kahawatta and as the situation had not been controlled, it had spread to the entire district.

S.P. Rajadurei (UPFA): In the Ratnapura district, old women were killed. A Tamil woman had also been killed. This situation should be controlled.

Ajith Kumara (JVP): After terrorism was eliminated, the government promised to the extension of State of Emergency. But the government had not done so. We do not see a need to the extension of the emergency rule. The government do so to suppress the protests of the people.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair:

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa: The State of Emergency has been extended as it was needed. Now the State of Emergency was not the same we had imposed during operations were in progress.

We have taken away many clauses out of it. If those members think that after the elimination of terrorism there was no need for emergency rule, there was something wrong with their intelligence.

If they think those terrorists who operated for three decades would become normal after the operation was over, if was also a problem with their intelligence. If you speak to the people in North, You would be able to find out for yourself that they were happy.

Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama: The government had always given priority for local producers as well as consumers. The State of Emergency would not be made use for the harassment of the people. But it had to be continued in order to prevent the re-occurring of terrorist activities and defeat the disastrous activities by certain parties.

The House then took up several orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act and the Imports and Exports (Control) Act for debate.

Chamika Buddhadasa (UPFA): Local potato farmers have been protected with the imposition of a 30 percent tax on potato imports. We have been able to strengthen the potato harvest in the Uva-Paranagama area due to the fertilizer subsidy.

More seed farms have been set up in Welimada. Many irrigation projects too had been commenced and tanks have been renovated. Now the local farmers receive best prices for their potatoes.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP): The government said that it had spent a sum of Rs 62 billion to provide fertilizer subsidy to farmers. We would like to know, how the Government spent this huge amount of money?

Today farmers had given up their cultivation due to the many difficulties and hardships faced by them.

The government has no proper programme to empower the economy in this country. It had failed in managing the finance. The government was on the other hand imposing taxes on essential items that was being consumed by the ordinary people. The government tells the people to tighten their belts, while it spends huge amounts of money unwisely.

P Radakrishnan (UPFA): Many farmers in Nuwara Eliya were engaged in potato cultivation. They face many difficulties due to the import of potatoes. They were unable to compete with foreign potatoes. So the government’s urgent intervention to solve this problem was praiseworthy.

The tax which had been only 20 percent on potato imports, had now been increased to 30 percent. Local potato farmers have been strengthened due to this decision. Now they earn a good profit through potato sales.

Sunil Hadunnetty (DNA): The government has not given sufficient relief to the farmers. Its only intention had been to collect money through taxes. Today many farm lands had been abandoned, while farmers have given up their cultivation.

Agrarin Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena: President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as person who lives with the ordinary people, has realized the difficulties faced by the farmers.

His idea had always been to protect and strengthen the farmers. That was why the government spends nearly Rs 62 billion to provide the fertilizer subsidy to farmers. Today rice production have been increased by 107 percent. This had been a remarkable achievement. We have been coming closer to self sufficiency in rice.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair:

The House was adjourned until 1 pm today.

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State of Emergency extended

The State of Emergency was extended by another one month in Parliament yesterday with a majority of 56 votes. The motion was moved by Prime Minister and Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Minister D M Jayaratne. Ninety five members voted in favour while 39 members voted against. The UNP and TNA voted against.

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‘Govt trying to secure pardon for Rizana’

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera told Parliament yesterday, that the government was moving towards securing a full pardon for Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek, who was sentenced to death by a High Court in Saudi Arabia.

The Minister said that the death sentence was only suspended following a request by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Saudi King and would now move towards a full pardon.

”The Sri Lankan government is prepared to pay any sum of money as ‘blood money’ to the parents of the infant, which was the only way she could be pardoned, according to the ‘Shariah law’, he said.

Under the Shariah law, the government can make reconciliation efforts and could pay blood money, but the family of the victim should decide whether Nafeek should be executed or pardoned.

Rizana Nafeek was found guilty of murdering the four-month-old son of Naif Jiziyan Khalaf Al-otaibi and sentenced to death on June 16, 2007.

The Minister said so in response to a question raised by DNA MP Ajith Kumara.

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Govt takes policy decision to discourage women migrant workers

Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera told Parliament yesterday, that the government had taken a policy decision to discourage Lankan women going abroad as migrant workers.

As a measures to discourage them, the government had increased the age limit for female migrant workers from 18 years to 24 years.

This would be increased upto 30 in the next three years and the upper ceiling limit would be decreased from 51 to 41, he said.

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‘Those affected by use of low quality fuel will be compensated’

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha told Parliament yesterday that filling stations which had been damaged by pumping inferior quality petrol, would be repaired by the government free-of-charge and the government would compensate owners of whose vehicles had been affected due to use of the petrol.

The Minister said that some telephone numbers have been published through the media for those affected to contact the authorities concerned and he had instructed CPC Chairman to record the complaints and formulate a method to compensate those affected by the use of low quality fuel. The minister said so in response to a statement made by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

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‘Expat workers had cost the govt heavily’

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera yesterday stated in Parliament that a sum of Rs 198 million had been paid to the family members of those who went for foreign employment and died there within the last five years. The minister further stated that on 133 occasions in 2006, a sum of Rs 43,415,140 had been paid as compensation, adding that a sum of Rs 46,608,690 had been paid on 143 occasions in 2007, while Rs 38,503,050 had been paid in 2008 on 117 occasions. The amount paid as compensation in 2009 had been Rs 52,352,470 on 150 occasions and that amount in 2010 had been Rs 10,005,775. It had been paid on 49 occasions. He further stated that 1,488 persons had died overseas who had gone for foreign employment from 2006 to 2010. He was responding for a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.

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‘Ranil even tried to sell Sigiriya’

Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake: “We know that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision was entirely different from that of Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ranil Wickremesinghe even made an attempt to sell Sigiriya. But our President only attempts to empower the country.

Our leaders know the heart beat of the ordinary people and fulfil their needs so that the people rally round the President not around JVP nor UNP.

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‘No corruption in Sri Lanka Cricket, only a flaw in administration’

Cricket in Sri Lanka was not facing any jeopardy, but improving day by day, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Parliament yesterday.

The minister also stated that Sri Lanka was in second place in one day cricket and that our aim was to win the Cricket World Cut in 2015.

He further stated Sri Lanka was in fourth place in World Test cricket.

The Minister made this observation in response to a special statement made by Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga.

Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that there had been no massive corruption in Sri Lanka Cricket as the opposition highlighted, adding that he did admit that there was a flaw in the administration.

The Minister further stated that a cricket Interim Control Board had been appointed for a period of 6 months and a new Cricket Control Board would be selected in January 2012. Minister Aluthgamage stated that cricket had not been politicized as the Opposition had claimed.

He said that Sanath Jayasuriya had not played for the last cricket World Cup. If cricket was politicized, he would have played for the World Cup. He said it was a clear indication that cricket was not politicized.

The minister further stated that an excess of Rs 2.38 billion had to be spent for the construction of cricket stadiums, as estimates had been made in 2006.

He said that an excess amount of nuts and bolts of 52 tons were used than estimated for the construction of roofs of the stadiums, stating that the UNP had selected cricket to talk about as they had no other topics to argue.

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SLPL to go on even without Indian participation

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday stated in Parliament that the Sri Lanka Premier League twenty-twenty cricket would be played with the participation of other countries, even if the Indian team would not participate.

He further stated that the cricket teams like Australia, New Zealand, etc have expressed willingness to participate in the SLPL.

The Minister further stated that the Indian team did not participate not because, of a problem with Sri Lanka, but speculating that Lalith Moody was at the back of Sammerset Company in Singapore, which organized the tournament.

He was responding to a special statement made by Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga.