PARLIAMENT

‘Plans must be formulated to conserve archaeological sites’

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided, when Parliament met at 9.30 am yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the Finance Heads of the National Heritage and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, during the committee stage debate on the Appropriation Bill 2012.

Sri Lankan culture has been bound to Buddhism

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNP): The National Heritage Ministry has been assigned with a number of tasks. It has to look into the possibilities of declaring local heritages as world heritage sites. Sri Lankan culture and heritage has been bound with Buddhism. It is Sri Lanka that sustains Buddhism after the ‘Parinirvana’ of Buddha.

The drug menace affects the national heritage of the country. Treasure hunters have been also a serious problem. Strict laws should be imposed on these culprits.

The future generation should be educated on the importance of our national heritages. The subject of ‘History’ should be given priority in the school curriculum.

Ven Ellawala Medananda Thera (UPFA): MP Jayawickrama Perera said that foreigners in the pre independence era had contributed to the protection of our national heritage by translating the ‘Maha Wamsa’. However, I would wish to mention the harm that had been done by those foreign invaders to our country, which was greater than their service. The damage done to our national heritage had been irreversible.

Langauge has played a pivotal role in adjusting our national heritage. Since ancient times, the Sinhala language had consisted of many words and phrases reserved for Buddhism. But now these words are being used negligently. I suggest that there should be a mechanism to protect the language associated with the Buddha Sasana.

I have been engaged in researching and dispersing knowledge associated with our national heritage for a long period. We have been engaged in this work considering it as our duty on behalf of this country. The expenses incurred have been endured by ourselves. I believe that national heritage sites of the country have not yet been adequately explored.

I, myself have written over 40 books after my explorations in these sites carried out with enormous dedication.

Not only Buddhist sites, but also Hindu and Muslim sites should be given equal prominence. The national heritages should not be separated according to religion.

Archaeological sites in the Eastern Province have been in an insecure state. Treasure hunters have become a menace in these sites. I could witness the plight of some of these sites myself. I request the minister to formulate a proper plan to conserve these archaeological sites, while unprotected sites should be taken over by the Ministry.

Sri Lanka’s buried history should be unearthed

Buddhika Pathirana (UNP): Our national heritages should be conserved for the future generation and it should be utilized to uplift the position of the country to the entire world.

In the ancient past, there had been 25,000 villages in Sri Lanka, where there must have been over 100,000 institutions.

So, I believe that the number of archaeological sites that still exist, had not been uncovered is greater compared to the number that we have already explored. So I believe that the National Heritage Ministry has a prominent part to play in encouraging explorations in these sites.

More attention should be paid to protect our national heritages from treasure hunters and robbers. A Special Task Force in the police have been set up to nab these culprits. Even the support of the Army could be used for this task.

Janaka Wakkumbura (UPFA): Our country consists of an ancient civilization of about 35,000 years, with a written history of about 2,500 years. Therefore, the most important sector that we should place prominence is our national heritage. We should revive the past glory of our national heritage. We should understand what these national heritage sites depict to the world.

The buried history of Sri Lanka should be uncovered and reawakened.

J.R.P. Suriyapperuma (UPFA): People were unable to visit Nagadeepa for the past 30 years due to the ethnic conflict. Now the war has ended and peace had been restored. Therefore, thousands of devotees visit Nagadeepaya regularly. We must thank President Rajapaksa for eliminating terrorism.

It had been reported that around 3 million devotees have visited Nagadeepa during the last six months. Our heritage is our future. We should create motivation among our children to preserve our national heritage. Sri Lanka possesses several world renowned heritage sites.

Shritharan (TNA): The National Heritage of the country should be preserved, which is a task for the entire nation. There should be a special programme to protect the national heritage of the Tamils. The Jaffna fortress must be maintained as an archaeological site. But today, it has become an exhibit to the people.

President deserves Nobel Peace Prize

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA):

Now, during May 2009, the world witnessed President Mahinda Rajapaksa demonstrably eradicating the menace of terrorism in all its forms. Terrorism that had plagued this resplendent isle for three decades. Bloodshed, murder and mayhem were the order of the day and people were being killed on a daily basis. Eradication of terrorism was a formidable feat no Head of State in the world had achieved, except President Mahinda Rajapaksa. All that horror has been wiped out for good, never to emerge again.

Therefore, looking at the attainment of peace in its proper perspective, the President rightfully deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

There have been various historic and archaeological sites for Muslims throughout the country. Steps must be taken to declare these historic places as sites of archaeological importance. A number of Mosques had been built in the past which have been of great archaeological importance.

President Rajapaksa should be awarded the nobel prize for his great effort in liberating Sri Lanka.

National Heritage Minister Dr. Jagath Balasuriya: A series of programmes have been formulated to be implemented in 2012, in order to establish the identity of the country in the face of the international community and to protect the heritages left behind as symbols of a proud history of more than 2500 years, so that those heritages could be made known to the international community.

In accordance to the directives of the President, restoration activities of the Mahamewunauyana to its pristine glory, with the participation of many government institutions have been nearing completion. Steps have been taken to conserve a number of unknown archaeological sites and monuments out of some 200,000 such sites and monuments which were spread out islandwide and to popularize them among local and foreign tourists. The conservation projects are being implemented in places such as Ranchamadama, Pilikuttuwa, Neelagiri Seya and Kayts Island which were a few examples in this respect.

Palitha Range Bandara (UNP): The estuary in Chilaw had been blocked with sand. So the fishermen have been unable to launch their boats out to sea, which has been a colossal task.

So there should be a mechanism to dispose of the sand on an yearly basis.

On the other hand, divers too find it difficult to engage in their tasks for the same reason.

We will produce tinned fish as well as Maldive fish

Fisheries and Aquatic Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne: During the last budget 2011, I made a statement of the plans we had those days. The malnutrition among children had been 21 percent. The WHO had promised to reduce it to 12 percent. Our objective had been to reduce it further.

We are able to increase the fisheries development rate which is 21 percent. The income during this year has been Rs 83,928 million, which had been a historic income. The harvest had been 357,030 metric tons. We were able to increase the consumption of fish per head per day from 30g to 35g from 2009 to 2011. We could increase the fresh water fish harvest by 16 percent compared to last year. By August this year, 498 cases have been filed against fishermen who were using illegal fishing methods. Nearly Rs 37,200 have been collected as fines from some fishermen and a consignment of illegal fishing nets valued at Rs 4,085,000 have been destroyed during this year.

The contribution of the North during the national fishing harvest before the conflict had been 43 percent. But that rate had been 7 percent when the conflict ended and by now it had been increased to 14 percent. We have spent a sum of Rs 1,409 million for the salt water fishing industry in the North, while it had been Rs 445 million for the fresh water industry in the North.

The President has allocated an additional sum of Rs 200 million through this budget. There are plans to provide a large number of boats to fishermen in the North this year.

We have plans to open up a tinned fish factory in Galle in January, with a capacity to produce 10,000 tins. The Trophics Institute will also open a factory in February, which will produce 20,000 tins a day. NHF will open a factory to produce 12,000 tins a day. But we need 150,000 tins to be produced a day.

We also import a massive amount of Maldive fish. We will take measures to produce tinned fish and Maldive fish. When we consider the fisheries harbours, our cost had been Rs 14 million, but by now, we have a profit of Rs 97.5 million.

The fishermen in Battalangunduwa lacked schools, toilets and electricity. We have provided them with a school, toilets and a generator valued at Rs 6 million.

A group of experts who arrived from New Zealand said that the cleanest fish market in Asia was Peliyagoda fish market. It is also the most disciplined fish market. We also have taken action against those who behave in an indisciplined manner. The government had invested a sum of Rs 1,700 million.

A pension scheme had also been introduced to the fishermen.

We have provided special relief to fishermen in the North and East.

We are conducting a research to find out the effects on fish in Mannar basin of the oil exploration works.

Social Services Senior Minister Milroy Fernando: We have to preserve our fish resources for the future generation. Therefore, bold steps should be taken to prevent illegal fishing. Prawn cultivation could be carried out in many areas, including Valachchenai.

In order to earn profits through prawn cultivation, a proper methodology should be adopted. The fisheries sector have been given due place in this budget and sufficient allocations been made for this vital sector of the economy.

Marketing facilities not supplied to fishermen

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA): The government had not provided sufficient marketing facilities to farmers to dispose their agricultural products. Therefore, they have become helpless today. Their fruits and vegetables have been left to decay on the roadside. There are certain officials in the Fisheries Ministry who had been engaged in corruptions for a long period.

If the government needs to protect state institutions from corruption and mismanagement, it should heed and consider the opposition’s criticism.

Estate Resources and Enterprises Development Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne: We are very closely connected with the fishing industry. Therefore, we understand the problems prevailing in the industry. Our major objective should be to provide fresh fish to the people. Fishermen should be provided with all possible facilities, including storage and marketing.

Loan facilities should be provided to encourage them. Poaching by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters should be addressed.

Pon Selvarasa (TNA): The government has a responsibility to provide facilities to uplift the livelihood of fishermen, especially in the North and East, who have suffered immensely due to the 30-year long war.

Fishermen should be allowed to fish freely. The government should intervene to provide loans through banks to fishermen. Then only can fishermen purchase deep sea boats.

Social Services Minister Felix Perera: We have been able to develop both inland water fishing and sea water resources.

Most of the fishing harbours which had been devastated during the tsunami, have already been constructed. Steps should be specially taken to protect and increase the fish population by the Ministry.

Vijayakala Maheshwaran (UNP): People in the North and East have suffered a lot due to the war. Now as the war had been over, the government must take steps to provide facilities to fishermen to engage in fishing.

Large shipping boats should be provided to fishermen to engage themselves in deep sea fishing in the North. The present amount of loans provided to fishermen should be increased for their benefit.

V.K. Indika (UPFA): This budget has given priority to promote the local economy and to enhance local production. President Rajapaksa has facilitated numerous benefits to the fisheries sector. We must be grateful to him.

The use of banned fishing equipment have been a serious problem in the fishing industry.

Within a short period, we have been able to bestow a large number of facilities to the fishing community in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair.

S. Vino (TNA): Northern and Eastern Provinces consist of a wide stretch of coastal area. Therefore, many people have selected fishing as their livelihood. However, these people have been undergoing many hardships and difficulties.

The minister should discuss with the Defence Ministry and other relevant authorities to cancel the issuing of passes for fishermen. They should be provided with freedom to engage in their livelihood without facing obstacles.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne: I have made a written request to the Defence and Urban Development Secretary to terminate this pass system. We understand the difficulties this system create on fishermen. So, I also share your view with regard to this issue.

Chandrakumar Murugesu (UPFA): After the war, there has been rapid development in the fisheries sector in the North and East.

A large sum of money is being allocated to further improve this sector in these areas which is a commendable fact.

The lives of people have brightened after the war and they go about fishing very freely now. However, I would like to note that time restrictions have been imposed on them due to the pass system. The minister should intervene to solve this problem.

In several areas in Vadamarachchi East region, permission had not been granted to engage in fishing. I request the Minister to look into this issue too.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): Both the Minister and the Deputy Minister are highly talented individuals who once represented the UNP. Sri Lanka has a large sea area around the island which is a special advantage to the fisheries sector.

This asset should be utilized properly. Allocations for the defence sector should be curtailed and this money should be utilized for the development of the fisheries industry.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera: The government has been implementing a national policy to fulfill the needs of the fishermen’s issues. I see that a massive programme is being implemented with the participation of 13 ministries to develop the fisheries village named ‘Pallikuda’ in Jaffna.

Funds of the Fisheries Ministry has been mostly utilized to provide electricity to some of the fishing villages. We recently faced an unexpected catastrophy in Galle, in the guise of a hurricane. According to my knowledge, 13 people havebeen killed, while 11 people have gone missing with 28 houses and 36 boats being destroyed.

They were not using life saving jackets and they also had no a knowledge to use modern technology. So we have to introduce a mechanism to educate them with required knowledge.

Child and Women’s Affairs Deputy Minister A H M Hisbullah: The fisherfolk in the North and East have been engaging in their industry peacefully. The ice factory in Batticaloa has been functioning now. I suggest there should be a fish market in that area.

In the Eastern Province, a large number of vacancies have been created by the project implemented by the Fisheries Ministry.

J Sri Ranga (UPFA): The prices of fish is very high. The problems of fishermen should be solved. The problems of most of the people in the North and East could be solved by developing the fishing industry. Indian fishermen trespass our territorial waters, which is a problem to our fishermen.

Victor Anthony (UPFA): Oysters have not been popular in Sri Lanka, but cuttlefish, prawns and crabs have been very popular. The oysters are very popular in countries such as Japan and India. Oysters are plentiful in Sri Lanka. They lay millions of eggs at a time. So we could export them. We can export loads and loads of oysters without any problem.

We can also promote the ornamental fish industry. We can earn foreign exchange by exporting them to other countries.

Special allocations for Northern fisheries development

Mohan P de Silva (UPFA): Opposition MPs claim that this government had meted out step-motherly treatment to the fisheries sector. But on the contrary, it was during this regime that the ‘Diyawara’ loan scheme and ‘Diyavara’ fishing villages had been established for the development of this sector.

This government has given special allocations for the development of the fisheries industry in the Northern Province.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena (UNP): The Negombo Electoral seat, which I represent, has been directly connected with the fisheries sector, since it is a coastal area. The government should extend more facilities for mobile fishermen.

Today, the Fisheries Corporation has been improving gradually under the present chairmanship. We applaud this factor. It had been incurring heavy loses during the past.

Fisheries sector has an important role to play in country’s economy

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame: The President had assigned us to carry out this task with a lot of faith. This sector has a huge role to play in the country’s economy. The Fisheries Corporation has been operating under loans amounting to about Rs 41 million for the last 8 years before we assumed duties of this ministry. Now these loans have been settled, while sales are improving rapidly.

The Opposition MPs have criticized the government without a fair reason. Some of these MPs have never attended consultative committee meetings of our ministry. They just bring out false criticism during the debate at the committee stage of the Budget proceedings.

I must request those MPs to participate in these meetings and point out existing loopholes in the fisheries industry, so that we can take necessary measures to rectify them.

We hope to promote and uplift the aquatic fish industry within the next year. This sector will earn more money for the country during the next few years. We must be thankful to NARA for their continuous support extended to us.

We will look into the persisting problems of the past system of the fishermen in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The Finance Heads were passed without amendments.

At adjournment

New pipeline from Colombo Port to Kolonnawa refinery

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha, yesterday stated in Parliament that measures will be taken to lay a new pipeline during the first quarter of next year from the Colombo Port to the Kolonnawa refinery for the pumping of crude oil.

He also said that 3,600 pipes have already been imported.

He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Gayantha Karunathilake.

Minister Susil Premajayantha also said that the UNP had attempted to sell two thirds of the CPC to a company in 2002. But we bought it back under the Mahinda Chinthanaya in 2009 and by now the government owns two thirds of the CPC.

Out of the 5 pipes, 3 pipes have been more than 70 years old and in these areas people have constructed unauthorized constructions. He said that during the next year, steps will be taken to provide alternate plots of land to these people in unauthorized constructions.

Gayantha Karunathilake (UNP): The oil refinery system in our country is in a dilapidated state. The pipe borne system from Colombo harbour to Kolonnawa, should be renovated. Oil leaks are frequently experienced from these pipe lines.

DNA MP Ajith Kumara seconded the motion.

The House was adjourned until 9.30 am today.