PARLIAMENT

Removal of State of Emergency:

'Doors open to large scale foreign investments'

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided when Parliament met at 1 p m yesterday.

After the presentation of papers and oral questions, House was adjourned until 1 pm today.

Later on UPFA member Shantha Bandara moved an adjournment motion thanking President Mahinda Rajapaksa for lifting the State of Emergency.

Shantha Bandara (UPFA): We have to thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa for lifting the State of Emergency and strengthening Democracy in Sri Lanka after eradicating terrorism that tormented the country for 30 long years. During this period, the State of Emergency had been imposed on 30 occasions.

When we joined the debate to extend the State of Emergency, first as new members of the seventh Parliament, we never thought that we would be able to remove the State of Emergency very soon.

The State of Emergency that was imposed on August 13, 2005, was continuously extended monthly. We have to express our satisfaction to this government for removing the State of Emergency within a short period of 2 years offer the elimination of terrorism.

Now the terrorist menace is no more, but we are confronted with the economic war.

The removal of the State of Emergency directly involves with the economic development of this country. Large-scale investors invest only in countries where the political situation and the security is stable. The removal of the State of Emergency, opened the doors for large-scale investments in our country to foreign investors.

Now democracy is not guaranteed in countries that spoke much about democracy. So tourists are looking for peaceful countries such as ours.

We had been blacklisted in 88,89 during the era where terrorists killed Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims alike. All these black marks will fade away due to removal of the State of Emergency.

Separatist terrorism has been brought to an end and the State of Emergency removed.

So we have to thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the development made by him and we have to support his attempt to make this land the Miracle of Asia and hand it over to the next generation.

A H M Azwer (UPFA): The State of Emergency has been imposed in this country from time to time, when disturbances occurred, first by the JVP and then by the LTTE.

When former Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike was assassinated, a State of Emergency had been declared. During the JVP insurrection, the State of Emergency was imposed. But the State of Emergency had to be extended continuously due to the terrorist activities of the LTTE.

Now the State of Emergency has been lifted. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is moving along a democratic path.

If there is a country where bombs are not blasting, it is our country, Sri Lanka. That environment had been created by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Now his attempt is to make this land the Miracle of Asia.

Dayasiri Jayasekara (UNP): We have to thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government for deciding not to extend the State of Emergency any more.

But this is a move taken to face the issues that would raise during the sittings of the Human Rights Council on September 12.

But the gazette notification published on September 6, has summoned the security forces to maintain law and order across the country. That is a worse move because police is the institution that should maintain law and order across the country.

There are a large number of Tamil youth under arrest and we have statistics about it. So those statistics should be revealed. The youth should be brought before court.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair

J R P Sooriyapperuma (UPFA): The United States 'Times' magazine had signalled about an impending ill omen recently. They have published an article about 'the decline and fall of the west' on the first page. Usually, the US 'Times' magazine does not publish any news against the West. This article has proved that the fall of the West is most likely to happen in the near future. This is a dangerous prophecy that we all must be aware of.

The US as usual, is also continuing its mission against Islamic countries. It had aroused turmoils in about 15 Muslim countries throughout the world. I challenge the Opposition to talk about the reality of Libya or other Muslim nations which have been victimized on the authority of the west during election campaigns in Colombo.

Suresh Premachandran (TNA): The government has organized this debate to thank the President for his proposal to lift emergency laws. However, I must note that the emergency law is being operated in the North and East still, despite its lifting.

The Government should also look into the recent problem of unidentified persons who attack women in the North and East, who have been named as 'grease monsters'. The government should bring the culprits to book to maintain law and order.

National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara: The lifting of the emergency is a blessing on the country. We have witnessed the dire results of emergency laws when those were imposed during the recent past on many occasions. When emergency laws are being operated, the normal law of the country usually gets suppressed. It was a dark cloud over the country. Therefore, we must be thankful to the President for proposing to lift it.

Until the emergency was continued, the Opposition criticized it. But when it was lifted, they question the benefits of lifting it. Let the Opposition continue its illogical criticisms and we will continue to do the right thing.

We regret over the incidents of Grease monsters, but I thoroughly reject the claim that the government intentionally aroused these incidents. I agree that we must take stern actions to prevent occurrence of these incidents.

R Yogarajan (UNP): I see that non of the Senior Ministers are here to thank the President for doing away with the emergency, because they know that it will be brought back from the back door once again.

Eventhough the government withdrew the emergency, it is bringing in a more serious piece of legislation. According to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, persons can be taken into custody for involvement in unlawful activities without giving fair reasons. The government also used its PTA to maintain high security zones. How fair is this?

Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem: I wish to join in this debate to congratulate the government for doing away with the emergency regulations. The opposition seems to be criticizing the continuation of emergency regulations through various means, even after its withdrawal. As Justice Minister, it is my bounden duty to correct these misconceptions.

The detention and proscription of the LTTE and rehabilitation of the LTTE cadres will be continued. It is seen that there is still a considerable number to be resettle comfortably. That is why we have amalgamated necessary laws which was gazetted on August 29. This was done to complete the ongoing process. There is no anomaly in this process. Therefore the claim that the government is using the Prevention of Terrorism Act to continue the emergency is not fair.

As the SLMC, we repeatedly noted that the TNA should participate in all party conferences, if it is to bear fruits.

Vijitha Herath (DNA): Eventhough the government said that it is doing away with the emergency, what it had actually done, was to maintain certain emergency regulations by amending the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Therefore the government has misled and deceive the public.

It is clear that nothing has changed despite the withdrawal of emergency. We are against this deception of the public. The government also intends to amend the Public Security Ordinance and to bring in another new legislation to continue the emergency in various means.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera: I am really happy that the State of Emergency had been lifted as a member who had been battered by the State of Emergency and as one who had witnessed how the previous governments had misused the State of Emergency.

They used the State of Emergency to suppress Trade Union actions those days. Communists always condemned the State of Emergency. But the State of Emergency had been necessary to maintain law and order when terrorism existed, to protect the innocent civilians.

But we lifted the State of Emergency when an environment was created to do so. This government created that environment by eliminating terrorism.

A large number of LTTE carders were rehabilitated and united with their families. Now those youth in Jaffna are coming to the South to build up friendship. During the 8th of this month, 600 youth from the North are travelling to Hambantota for this purpose.

They say that they had never seen the Sinhalese except for military personnel.

M A Sumanthiran (TNA): Now this motion is to thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa for lifting the State of Emergency and I too join in it.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he did not see any necessity to continue with the State of Emergency any more.

A new Commissioner General of Rehabilitation has been appointed. Still there are 5,000 persons being rehabilitated since May 9, 2009, which is illegal.

The youth are said to be given vocational training.

Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva: There were many request made to lift the State of Emergency after the elimination of terrorism.

Our government has a two third majority in the House. Although we are capable of extending the State of Emergency further, President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided humbly not to continue with the State of Emergency.

Today our government expresses the country's regret to the Indian government over the explosion which occurred in Delhi.

The State of Emergency often restricts certain rights of the people. So when the State of Emergency was lifted, the Opposition wanted us to lift the Public Security Ordinance, which is a part of the law and we are unable to do so.

The Opposition is fussing about the Prevention of Terrorism Act. But who thought that bombs will blast in Delhi? We have to take precautionary measures. It is useless to close the stable doors when the horse had bolted.

Under the Patriotic Act in America, there are more strict regulations than those in our Prevention of Terrorism Act.

If the State of Emergency was not imposed, we would not have been able to eliminate terrorism. The Opposition alleged the government misused the State of Emergency to remain in power.

But now they cannot use that slogan any more and we have proved that the government is powerful even without the State of Emergency.

But the blast in Delhi hints of terrorism still haunting the region.

Scientific Affairs Minister Professor Tissa Vitarana: I thank the President on behalf of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party for lifting the State of Emergency. During a tense conflict, we know that gun culture is adopted. But even after seizure of the conflict, the gun culture will not disappear overnight, not only in our country, but outside the country. We know the Tamil Diaspora overseas are attempting to establish Eelam. They have formed a transnational government and also elected a Prime Minister.

The government had to resort to public security regulations and PTA regulations and compile new regulations to combat the remaining terrorist forces. There are LTTE forces locally and internationally who wish to see our country divided. This is an effort to maintain peace and security in our country.

I appeal to the TNA and the Opposition to be supportive to the path that society is working to find a solution to the national problem.

Now even a Parliamentary Select Committee has been appointed to work in harmony for an acceptable solution to all segments of the country. I request them to support this effort without pointing their finger always.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena: The emergency is a law that operates above the ordinary law of the country. Therefore we all must be grateful for its withdrawal.

During the time of LTTE terrorism, the public were suppressed in all possible means and they had to pay tax even to have a bath from hot water wells. These tedious incidents could be terminated due to the initiative of the President. Now those acts are past history. People can live freely without the fear of bombs.

The emergence of the 'Grease monsters' is an effort to make this government uncomfortable. Those are mythical creatures.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair

E Saravanapavan (TNA): We are happy that the emergency was lifted. But the detainees under emergency regulations should be either released or be produced before court under the ordinary law of the country. It is by these means that we will be able to reap the benefits of the withdrawal of emergency. Just doing away the emergency is useless.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa: I must note that MP Saravanapavan is misleading the House. I stress with responsibility that no Sinhala person in the South had been resettled by the government in the North.

Chandrakumar Murugesu (UPFA): I extend my gratitude to the President and the government for deciding to do away with the emergency. It had been operating in the country for a long period suppressing the ordinary law.

Now the TNA members and other Oppositional parties cannot criticise the government using the emergency debates held monthly. It is not fair to mislead the public saying that more serious legislations will be brought into the country. Today the Tamil communities have started their lives once again and they have been able to stand on their own feet. Please do not mislead them once again for petty political gains. Certain members of Parliament had been depending upon the money of the LTTE. Those people should be ashamed of their conduct.

The Opposition members are looking forward as to how the emergency will be brought in once again. Do not be pessimistic to that extent. Let's work in harmony even to do away with the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe (UPFA): While being happy over the lift of emergency, we have to be vigilant that terrorism does not raise its ugly head once again. We need to rethink our security conditions considering the international terrorism network that is operating throughout the world. It is a timely need that we all corporate and work in harmony to combat this issue.

It was seen that during the past, a certain Tamil political party supported LTTE terrorism. We must be careful that the same error would not repeated in the future.

The House was adjourned until 1 pm today.

'Strategic environmental evaluation report out soon'

The final report of the Strategic Environment Evaluation carried out in the Northern Province will be issued shortly, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said in Parliament yesterday.

He said that the evaluation included the mapping of forest cover, water retention areas, water resoucres, archaeological sites and available and suitable land for tourism and resettlement projects.

The minister said that the aim of compiling a Strategic Environment Evaluation Report for the Northern Province was to use the collected data in an efficient manner to minimize environmental harm when implementing development projects within the Province. He said that the final evaluation report was being prepared and would be released with the recommendations of the experts in the field. The minister was responding to a question raised by UPFA MP A H M Azwer.

'Terrorism eliminated in Sri Lanka, but not in the region'

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, yesterday stated that the government expresses its regret to the Indian government in connection with the bomb blast which occurred in New Delhi yesterday.

The minister further stated that although terrorism had been eliminated from Sri Lanka, it had not been eliminated from the region. He added that now the world had reached a point to eradicate terrorism from the entire world. The minister further stated that Sri Lanka as a country that had been battered by terrorism immensely had to emphasise to the entire world, the necessity of eliminating terrorism from the entire world.

He made this observation expressing his views during the adjournment motion moved to thank the government for lifting the State of Emergency.