PARLIAMENT

Marine Pollution Prevention Act:

‘Regulations to prevent marine pollution in country’

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided, when Parliament met at 1 pm yesterday. After presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up several regulations under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act for debate.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa: These regulations under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act were introduced with a view to preventing marine pollution in Sri Lanka. We have already set up the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) for this purpose.

We will be able to minimise marine pollution due to excavation for oil explorations.

The MEPA has been vested with powers to prevent such types of pollution and also dealing with marine environment protection activities. If any marine pollution occurs due to oil exploration, we would be able to incur compensation from employers under the provisions of the new regulations which are being debated in Parliament today. This is an era where the entire world was focused on natural resources. Natural resources have turned out to be one of the best income earning sources as well.

Therefore, it was our responsibility to take measures to conserve them, while they were being utilised. We have to depend on natural resources for development activities, as there was no other alternative. But at the same time, it was necessary to manage and conserve them properly.

Fishing industry experiencing downward trend

Joseph Micheal Perera (UNP): The fisheries industry has experienced a downward trend today. Fishermen face severe difficulties due to the increase of fuel prices. Providing fuel subsidies was no answer to this problem. We need to get together in finding solutions to the problems faced by the fishermen.

A large number of people have been engaged in transporting clay and sand. These people today face greater difficulties due to several rules and regulations being imposed on the transport of clay and sand.

If the government was able to relax the regulations to a certain extent, these people transporting sand and clay, would be relieved to a certain extent.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa: A circulation with regard to this matter has already been formulated. We will be able to issue it shortly.

Joseph Micheal Perera (UNP): It has been reported that certain parties were engaged in sand mining illegally, near the Kokilai lagoon. These parties had asked the fishermen living by the side of the Kokilai lagoon to evacuate the area at their earliest. So, the Environment Minister should look into this matter.

Haren Fernando (UNP): Today fishermen face a number of problems. Their families have been made destitute. The government should take measures to protect them by solving their problems without oppressing them. The government has already shown its inability and incompetence.

Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera (UPFA): Natural resources of the country should be preserved. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, full of natural resources. Even during the past, our ancient rulers had made great efforts to protect the natural beauty and resources of the country, not only marine environment protection, but also the environment within the country, should be preserved.

If we cut a single tree, a new tree should be planted. We need to protect the natural resources for the development of Sri Lanka, as well as for the benefit of the future generation.

Victor Anthony (UPFA): I am happy to speak on the regulations under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act. We are today short of only fuel. Our government has been attempting to find fuel. When we achieve that goal, we would have to implement it without polluting the sea, which would directly affect marine life. The government is taking measures to do so by means of approving these regulations. We have to prevent marine pollution as well as preserving the coast.

Vijitha Herath (DNA): Today, we have to prevent the pollution of marine life and also need a mechanism to prevent corruption within the country.

So far we have not been able to obtain a legal background to obtain the benefits from the sea around the country, which is around 23 times larger than the country, as the government did not take proper measures at the correct time.

Sarath Weerasekera (UPFA): Lord Buddha compared the sea as a leader who had good qualities.

Those days the sea was not polluted. But today, the sea is polluted with oil released from ships.

R Yogarajan takes the Chair

We have a seven fold area compared with the size of the country as an exclusive economic zone.

As a large number of ships pass the seas off Sri Lanka, we have to minimize oil from ships polluting the sea, but we are unable to prevent it. We have to impose laws in connection with off shore drilling as well as constructions.

A Adaikkalanathan (TNA): The people of the Vanni are facing a flood a catastrophe from time to time due to sand mining. We have to take measures to prevent illegal mining and formalize sand mining.

Regulations presented today are timely

A H M Azwer (UPFA): The regulations presented today have been timely and very important where our small country was concerned.

If we pollute the environment, the environment itself would punish us. I attended a conference in Nagoya, once, where at the end, they passed a resolution that parliaments should take policy measures to prevent marine pollution.

The Opposition always try to point out the negative side of the development programmes initiated by the government. When there are challenges and pressure against Sri Lanka from the international community, we receive the blessings of God. We found precious gems due to the blessings of God.

We have never neglected development even when the war was going on.

It is a significant factor. The entire world should understand this. Today the government has embarked on a massive development drive in the post-war era.

Dilip Wedarachchi (UNP): Fishermen have been adversely affected by the increase of the fuel prices. The government should take measures to provide relief to them. Action should be taken to stop sea erosion. People living close to the sea have been badly affected by the sea erosion.

Ranga Bandara (UNP): The protection of the islandwide coastal belt is the responsibility of the government. The coastal belt of Puttalam district had been destroyed. The government has been unable to protect the wild elephants. Over 100 wild elephants have been killed during the past three-four months.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame: These Ordinances would regulate the excavation of the oil exploration for the purpose of preventing any harm to the marine environment. These legislations are timely and important.

In the new future, the Fisheries Ministry, Coastal Conservation Department and the Environment Ministry would get-together and coordinate and implement activities related to the marine environment.

At adjournment

Free passes for Buddhist monks to travel by SLTB buses and trains

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the Buddhasasana Ministry would be directed to formalize a mechanism to provide free passes to Buddhist monks to travel in SLTB buses and trains.

He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP): I suggest that free passes should be provided to Buddhist priests to travel in SLTB buses and in trains.

This should be done to mark the 2600th Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi. The constitution has it that the government should take measures to preserve and uplift the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka. I wish to query as to whether the government was taking measures to preserve the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka?

P. Harison (UNP): There are nearly 40,000 Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka. There are around 700 Buddhist temples only in the Anuradhapura district. But most of the temples in rural areas, do not receive funds apart from the contributions made by the poor villagers.

John Amarathunga (UNP): If this facility is given to Buddhist priests, the same should be done to Catholic and Muslim priests and other religious priests.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva: This motion was moved to pressure the government rather than trying to provide facilities to Buddhist priests.

The UNP was in power, but they never dared to provide such a facility. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa has allocated large sums of money for the Buddha Sasana. In addition, money had been allocated to Kovils and Churches to preserve them.

Even this morning, a large amount of money was handed over to the Buddhist, Islam, Hindu and Christian religious places at the Ramakrishnan Hall by the Prime Minister.

The UNP has suddenly thought of the Buddhist priests at the last moment of the 2600th Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi.

However, this would be forwarded to the Buddhasasana Ministry to formalize a mechanism to provide free passes to Buddhist priests to travel in SLTB buses and trains.

Uvais Farook (UPFA): I wish to make a request. The LTTE had destroyed many mosques in the North. So I request to launch a project to rebuild those mosques.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama: I am a devout Buddhist. I travel throughout the country. So far, no Buddhist priest or any other religious leader had requested for a free pass to travel in SLTB bus or train.

I as Transport Minister, they should have made this request to me. The UNP forgot this matter when they were in power. But we have granted them a 20 percent discount though SLTB faced many difficulties.

If we consider the salaries of the SLTB staff, their salaries are very low. If your request is fair, you could make the same request from private bus owners too.

There was only 5,000 buses belonging to the SLTB. But there were 20,000 buses in the private sector. Their income is also high.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP): No, no we only spoke about the SLTB buses and trains.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama: That’s right you want to put the government into difficulty.

But you can’t do it. You can’t come to power by moving cheap motions. The Buddhist priests, Christian priests and Maulavis love the President very much. The Buddhist priests had never made such requests.

But I would suggest that you first unite the UNP and the Opposition.

The House adjourned until 1 pm on March 8.