PARLIAMENT

Condolence Motion on late MP Dharmadasa Banda :

‘A senior politician who rendered yeoman service to his country’

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

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 the vote of condolence on Late MP R.M. Dharmadasa Banda.

John Amaratunga (UNP): Late MP Dharmadasa Banda was a senior politician who rendered a yeoman service to the country. His contribution as a politician for nearly 46 years, was immense. He was a well educated person. As our country is basically based on agriculture, when he took over the portfolio for Agriculture he took action to promote agricultural products in Sri Lanka.

His contribution for the development of the sugarcane industry and cultivation of maize was remarkable. He instrumentally contributed to commence the Palawatta and Sevenagala Sugar factories.

The Moneragala district received unprecedented development under the leadership of late MP Dharmadasa Banda. He also made arrangements to provide all facilities for devotees arriving at the Kataragama Devalaya as Basnayake Nilame of the Devalaya.

Coconut Development and Janata Estate Development Minister - Jagath Pushpakumara: The late MP Dharmadasa Banda, rendered valuable services to the Moneragala district. He was the first lawyer produced by the Moneragala district. He was also a noble politician. As the Textile Deputy Minister and the up country Rehabilitation Minister, he made great contributions to uplift the textile industry and carried out rehabilitation of up country.

Jospeh Micheal Perera (UNP): Late MP Dharmadasa Banda, launched his public career as a teacher and then became a lawyer. He rendered a yeoman service to the country in his long political career. He was a thoroughly disciplined politician and noble character.

National Languages and Social Integration Minister - Vasudewa Nanayakkara: He lived with the agricultural community. He made a great contribution to improve agriculture in Sri Lanka. As a leader of the Village Council and Member of Parliament, he was able to win inheritance of the Uva-Wellassa.

Dayasiri Jayasekera (UNP): He was a senior politician who had a wide knowledge in many fields.

Moneragala District was an area with poverty rampant. He dedicated his life to improve the facilities of the Moneragala District. He also made arrangements to uplift the living standards of the farmer community. A number of crops including palmyra, maize, cashew nuts and sugarcane were developed under his leadership. As a district leader of the Moneragala District, he took action to develop not only Moneragala, but also Buttala and Kataragama.

Labour and Labour Relations Minister – Gamini Lokuge: I had close contacts with him and we associated closely. He was a friend indeed. He was one of the leaders who had very comprehensive knowledge in certain fields. He also had very good qualities and a genuine concern for the people and the country.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): Late MP Dharmadasa Banda rendered a yeoman service to the country during the 46 years of his political career.

As a young MP in Parliament I can be proud if we consider the political life of late MP Dharmadasa Banda. He was the first lawyer and Cabinet Minister produced from the Moneragla District.

The services rendered by him were immence.

As a politician, be did a unique service to the Moneragala district.

A H M Azwer (UPFA): I met him at Zahira College. At that time he was a small boy, but he flew high, specially on the volleyball court. He played alongside giants in the Gampaha District. He brought fame to his alma mater. He respected all religions in the country. He died at the age of 72 on October 23, 2010. He was an exemplary figure.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair

Gayantha Karunatilleke (UNP): He served as an English teacher for a short period of time. He was lucky to be the first advocate from the Wellassa area. Though he was a senior politician, he never forgot to associate the junior members and advise them.

He also took many measures to develop the Uva-Wellassa area by providing infrastructure facilities.

The late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali’s Mahapola Scholarship scheme for University students was inspired by a conception of Dharmadasa Banda at the 5th Mahapola held at Bibila.

Education Deputy Minister Vijith Vijithamuni de Zoysa: With the demise of R M Gunasekera, Dharmadasa Banda joined politics. I had no close association with him those days. We were opponents in cases before courts. But he was a very friendly person to offer a lunch to the attorney, present President Mahinda Rajapaksa who appeared for me those days.

I learnt a lesson from that behaviour of Dharmadasa Banda. He served the common people and farmers in that area.

Urban Affairs Minister A H M Fowzie: He never was an enemy. He was a friend to all including the Muslims. He was a bright student of Zahira College and a gentleman in politics.

Land and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon: The late Dharmadasa Banda introduced Ranjith Madduma Bandara to politics who was his elder brother’s son. I inquired of Dharmadasa Banda as to why he did so rather than introduce his own son. He said he was introduced to politics by his brother and had a responsibility to introduce his son to politics. He had such great qualities to fulfil his responsibility to his brother.

Food Security Minister P Dayaratne: I first met the late Dharmadasa Banda in 1965. He suggested that we construct a statue of the late D S Senanayake near the Senanayake reservoir. He took measures to develop agriculture and many other industries in his area. He was appointed as Agriculture Minister in 2001. It was an opportunity where he could show his talents and render a service to the people in his area.

Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena: The late Dharmadasa Banda was an experienced politician. When he was appointed Agricultural Minister, he worked tirelessly to develop agriculture in Sri Lanka. He had a sound knowledge of the rural community.

He believed that it was the responsibility of all politicians to support the government to eradicate terrorism. That was why he joined UPFA later. He was very satisfied about his decision to join the UPFA.

Ranjith Madduma Bandara (UNP): He was an exemplary character. I thank all members, both opposition and the government for contributing a vote of condolence of the late MP Dharmadasa Banda.

A H M Azwar (UPFA): Copies of Hanzard containing the speeches made by the members of both parties of the House during the condolence vote, would be sent to the family members and relatives of the late MP Dharmadasa Banda.

The House was adjourned until 1 pm on October 6.

‘Rs 24,000m compensation paid for lands acquired’

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Rs 24,000 has been paid to people as compensation for lands acquired from them for the construction of highways during the past 20 years.

It had been noted in an answer tabled in Parliament yesterday in response to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kotelawala said that interest would be paid for the delayed payment of compensation.

According to the answer, during the last 20 years an extent of 3020 hectares had been acquired by the government from people for the purpose of constructing highways.

The answer further noted that the total amount of monies to be paid as compensation stood at Rs 34670 million. It added that out of that amount, a sum of Rs 24,000 million had already been paid.

President’s Fund grants for medical needs

A sum of Rs 2,614.9 million has been granted from the President’s Fund for medical assistance to patients. It was noted in an answer tabled in Parliament yesterday, in response to a question raised by JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti. The answers also had it that sums of Rs 855.9 million, Rs 919.5 million and Rs 839.9 million had been granted for medical assistance in years 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. The answer also stated that Rs 115.0 million had been spent on President’s scholarships while Rs 17.5 million on cultural, art, sports and social welfare during these three years.

The answers also had it that interest on fixed deposits of the Development Lotteries Board and President’s Fund and donations of several persons had been remitted to the President’s fund.

‘Teachers’ service constitution to be amended’

Education Deputy Minister Vijith Wijithamuni de Zoysa said that the Teachers’ Service Constitution will be amended very soon.

He made this observation in Parliament yesterday, in response to a question raised by UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana.

The Deputy Minister further said that the Ministry has already had discussions concerning the matter with trade unions and had considered their suggestions when the constitution was amended.

He added that all trade unions were agreeable to the amendments.

Issuance of liquor licenses:

Govt coffers up by Rs 6,586,722

The government has earned a sum of Rs 6,586,722 by issuance of liquor licenses during the years 2009-2010 according to an answer tabled in Parliament yesterday.

It has earned a sum of Rs 2,340,446 and Rs 4,246,276 for 2009 and 2010 respectively by issuance of liquor licences.

Meanwhile, 87 liquor licenses had been issued to hotels approved by the Sri Lanka Development Promotion Authority, while four liquor licences had been issued for hotels approved by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

‘Govt to provide school uniforms’

Education Deputy Minister Vijith Vijithamuni de Soyza, yesterday said that the ministry would not deal with suppliers who delay school uniform procurements. The Deputy Minister further stated that the government would in future provide school uniforms yearly without shortage. He made this observation in response to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

The Deputy Minister further stated that there was a delay to provide school uniforms for year 2011 to students in 2 districts, adding that they would be provided with the uniforms before 30th of this month. He further stated that the ministry was concerned over the quality of school uniforms and said that the suppliers were local companies.

He said that all 3,032,722 students were entitled to receive school uniforms.