Parliament

Motor Traffic Act:

'Drivers' points system and specifications for vehicles'

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided, when Parliament met at 1 p.m yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the Regulations under the Motor Traffic Act.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama: Today proposals were being presented under Regulations of the Motor Traffic Act.

They are to introduce a driver's improvement point system, to initiate a Reward Incentive Fund, to amend the width and length of motor coaches and to amend the width and length of prime movers. When we received our driving licences sometime back, we were provided with a document to fill up with points when we did not adhere to traffic rules. But it did not continue.

We are going to introduce the very same Driver' Improvement Point system. Points would be given when one breaks traffic rules. When the driver's points reach 24 by the end of 2 years, his licence would be suspended for one year. The other to be introduced is the Reward Incentive Fund which would be headed by the RMV's Commissioner General, where one percent of it would be given to the staff as incentives. Another move was to amend the width and length of a motor coach.

These orders would also introduce the width and length for prime movers. We also hope to implement an online system throughout the island. Until this online systems was introduced, measures were to be taken to issue forms to the police and to all courts, situated in the country, which intern should be sent to the RMV every two months.

Those forms would include the points received by drivers who do not adhere to traffic laws.

Then their points would be updated online by the RMV network. With reference to MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake's statement, I wish to state that we have been able to persuade private bus owners to agree not to launch strikes for atleast another one year. They too have agreed not to increase bus fares until next July.

John Amarathunga (UNP): What I have to say is that with the increase of private bus fares, relief had been given only to private bus owners and not to the poor commuters.

When we consider the increase of the length and width of prime movers, it would be appreciable when the country develops. A H M Azwer takes the Chair. But even today, long vehicles create many problems on the road.

They should be allowed to run at night. The increase of the width and length of prime movers should be done when all expressways have been constructed.

Food Security Minister P Dayaratne: These regulations should have been presented in Parliament many years ago. Around 525,000 new vehicles have been added on to roads last year.

Around 2,600 people have been killed due to accidents last year. So I think these regulations would be of great benefit to secure the lives of drivers, commuters as well as the pedestrians.

Gayantha Karunathilake (UNP): A large number of traffic accidents take place daily. These accidents take place, due to the negligence of drivers. So regulations introduced to penalize drivers is admirable.

Social Services Minister Felix Perera: These measures were really admirable. The people rendered disabled due to traffic accidents, it would be a great problem as another person would have to attend to the disabled person to fulfill their daily needs.

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA): These regulations would be admirable if everybody was equal before law. With these regulations, the police, if needed, could provide 24 points within seven days.

Thilanga Sumathipala (UPFA): When such a regulation has been brought to increase the width and length of prime movers and other vehicles, the drivers were given an opportunity to travel on any road within the country.

This would create difficulties on rural roads. So I request that the above be considered when these appreciable regulations were being presented.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna: Many had said that road accidents in the country have rapidly increased. However, we must note that during the year 1980, the population of the country had been 14 million.

The number of vehicles had amounted to 650,000. But today, the population in the country was about 2 million and the number of vehicles had rapidly increased.

Therefore, these facts should be taken into consideration when speaking about road accidents.

The government is of the view that strict laws and punishments should be imposed to control road accidents. Under the new method of issuing driving licenses, a holder of the licence for a light vehicle should renew it within 8 years.

A holder of a licence for a heavy vehicle should renew it within seven years. The renewal would be done only after a medical test. Moreover, it is clear that the transport sector in the country was heading towards rapid development. The present loopholes in this sector would be rectified gradually.

R Yogarajan (UNP): The government has decided to introduce super luxury buses to Colombo and the suburban cities. However, Sri Lanka was the only country which did not have a rapid transport system in the capital city. According to a recent survey, 55 percent of the country's population considers that expressway was not necessary for the country at this time. However, I commend the regulations made to the Motor Traffic Act today.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake: The production cost of a kilogramme of paddy was Rs 25, so paddy should be bought at a price of Rs 40. Today the price of a kilo of rice is Rs 72. How could it be so when paddy was sold by the cultivators at Rs 28?

Sriyani Wijewickrama (UPFA): We have to find low cost production methods for paddy. Then only could we find solutions for these problems. The government has taken measures to grant a fair price for paddy. Not only that, a fertilizer subsidy had been given to paddy cultivators so that their production cost could be very low.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena: The Opposition speaks of the price of paddy. But they have forgotten how the paddy harvest was dramatically increased. There were many governments since 1945, but we were able to be self sustained only in 2005 or 2006. It was because of the subsidies granted by the government. Now we have a surplus of paddy. Before 2004, paddy prices were around Rs 14.50. Somehow we increased the prices to Rs 18 to Rs 20 in 2008 gradually.

Today we called on the exporters at Mahaweli Centre and discussed the export of paddy. We have established several paddy storage units in Anuradhapura at the Deyata Kirula project. We will open it very soon at an auspicious time. The capacity of those stores were around 60,000 metric tons. Could you remember how many paddy stores we lost those days?

Sarath Weerasekara (UPFA): I think the Opposition urges the government to increase paddy prices to reduce the government's popularity because when it is done, the price of rice in the market would increase.

A H M Azwer (UPFA): Now the country is on track of developing. It's becoming prosperous. The paddy cultivators in the East can do their cultivation peacefully, while reaping their harvest.

The JVP only speaks of increased prices. They never speak of the abundance of vegetables.

Lands and Land Development Deputy Minister Siripala Gamlath: It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who empowered the farmers and paddy cultivators.

The Paddy Marketing Board has stores that could store more than 200,000 metric tons. The government allocates a massive amount of money for fertilizer subsidy, constructing paddy stores, renovating tanks, etc. All measures have been taken to empower the farmers. Now the farmers do not commit suicide as in the past. We are able to purchase all stocks of paddy brought by farmers.

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando: President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his election manifesto had promised to establish Paddy Marketing Boards and buy paddy at Rs 16.50. He has fulfilled his promise. But now it has increased to Rs 28.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake MP wants the paddy price increased to Rs 40. When the price of rice was increased, he asks the government to reduce the price of rice. They have double standards. Sajith Premadasa MP has no moral right to speak of paddy cultivators, as his father, when he was in power handed over the lands and buildings of paddy stores owned by the Paddy Marketing Board free of charge to his friends.

Today the Opposition can speak of the paddy cultivators as the government had given fertilizer subsidy and the Paddy Marketing Board had been established.

Ranil said that fertilizer subsidy cannot be given. But when the world economy faced a crisis, while there was a war in the country, this government gave subsidies to paddy cultivators. Now the Opposition who did nothing for the farmers, demand that the government buy paddy at Rs 40.

The Paddy Marketing Board had purchased a massive amount of 111,756 metric tons of paddy in 2010. The Paddy Marketing Board is there to maintain a stable paddy price in the market.

We have never returned a single paddy cultivator who had brought paddy to the Paddy Marketing Board. Enough money has been allocated to purchase paddy. If they were in the proper standard, all the paddy brought would be bought by the Paddy Marketing Board.

Sajith would never be a ruler in this country. How proud could we be that our government had granted paddy to Somalia. Could we do so under a UNP government?

At adjournment

PMB will purchase all the paddy cultivated by farmers

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando stated in Parliament that the Paddy Marketing Board was ready to purchase all the paddy brought by paddy cultivators without disappointing them.

He also said that due to all measures taken by the government, the country had been self-sustained in paddy.

He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP P. Harison.

Govt has no proper plan to purchase paddy from farmers

P Harrison (UNP): The government has no proper plans to purchase paddy harvests from farmers. The minister said that 181 storage facilities of the Paddy Marketing Board has been made ready to store paddy. However, the farmers had not been given certified prices for their paddy. I request the government to stop deceiving the farmers in this manner.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP): Seconded the motion. The ruling party has deceived the farmers, even though they came to power from their votes.

The government should be responsible for the pathetic conditions the paddy farmers in the country have faced today. The government should purchase their paddy at Rs 40 per kilo.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena: This government has never been hesitant in providing the necessary facilities to the farmers.

The government is providing the maximum possible relief to the farmers, including the fertilizer subsidy.

The President had directed to utilize all possible funds to purchase paddy these days. When purchasing paddy, the government should ensure that the paddy seeds were dried to the required level to be stored.

The Paddy Marketing Board intervenes to buy paddy to make sure that paddy was being purchased at a standard price.

We have to think about weather patterns too. Up to now, we are aware that the rainy season was approaching. If the rain does not come at the right time, the Yala season might be affected. We must be cautious of this fact too.

Now the country is self-sufficient in rice. I now speak with responsibility when I say that there was enough rice in the country cultivated locally, for the consumption of the next 12 months.

In the past cultivating to fulfill the local requirement had been a challenge. Today we have successfully achieved this goal.

The President had provided another goal to produce 200,000 metric tons of paddy for exportation by 2015. The country needs 3 million metric tons of paddy for local consumption.

Lakshman Wasantha Perera (UPFA): Due to irrigational renovation projects from 2005-2010, 26,033 hectare of new paddy lands have been cultivated. The government has spent about Rs 13,672 million for these renovation projects. About 3,056 families have newly joined in paddy cultivation.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA): In the past, the Paddy Marketing Board was actively engaged in purchasing paddy and it had a large number of paddy storage complexes. However, it was during the UNP regime in 2003, that these storage complexes and the Board were destroyed. These lands had been sold and utilized for other purposes.

The government should actively engage in creating competition for paddy purchasing and thereby ascertain high prices for paddy for the farmers. The government should start State owned rice mills too.

The House was adjourned until 1.30 pm today.

'Private bus owners have pledged not to increase bus fares this year'

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, yesterday stated in Parliament that private bus owners had pledged that they would not increase bus fares, which was due in July this year, as private bus fares had been increased by 20 percent recently. Minister Welgama further said that private bus owners made this pledge as a condition during discussions to increase private bus fares as a result of the increase of fuel prices.

The minister made this observation in response to a special statement made by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, under Standing Order 23/2, during the presentation of the minister's speech during the Regulations under the Motor Traffic Act.

Minister Welgama stated that if bus fares were increased only to adjust the fuel price increase, again the private bus fares would have to be increased in July this year, in accordance with the private bus fare policy.

Private Transport Services Minister C B Ratnayake in response to MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, pledged they would not stage a strike at least for a period of one year demanding the increase of bus fares.

The minister also added that he would take measures to increase the fleet of buses in operating condition to 7,000 from the present fleet of 5,000.

Dissanayake's special statement said that the commuters faced difficulties because of the strikes staged by private bus owners due to the increase of the fuel price in line with the fuel price hike in the world market, so that the private bus fare too was increased to provide a solution or the commuters' problems.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake making his special statement questioned as to why private bus fares were increased by 20 percent due to the increase of fuel prices, as it was only scheduled to be increased by 15.8 percent by next July.

'CEB did not purchase electricity from outside entity'

The Ceylon Electricity Board did not purchase electricity from any outside entity to meet the shortage when the generation of electricity in the Kerawalapitiya power plant was stopped on 3 occasions in 2011, but it used its existing hydro power and thermal power to fill the gap, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said in Parliament yesterday.

He said that due to non receipt of fuel, the generation of electricity in the Kerawalapitiya power plant had been stopped for a total of 232 hours on 3 occasions in 2011. The minister said that electricity was purchased form 13 CEB owned power houses and nine independent power purchases owned institutes on a low coast basis. He also noted that occurrence of technical errors was natural in newly constructed power plants. He said that a technical evaluation was being carried out in the Norochcholai power plant, to ascertain the cause for technical errors. HE said that these errors would be rectified shortly and the power sector would be developed steadily.

The minister was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.

'Money printed to replace notes out of circulation and meet requirements'

The printing of money had been done considering the shortage of notes and other requirements of the country after a thorough and careful analysis, International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said in Parliament yesterday.

He observed that the Central Bank follows the accepted procedure in deciding the number of notes and the value of money to be printed each year.

He said that the government was highly satisfied with the economic management of the Central Bank.

He stated that 297.5 million currency notes with a value of Rs 117,150 million had been printed in 2011.

The number of currency notes printed in 2010, had amounted to 117.5 million and their value had been Rs 104,650 million.

The government has spent Rs 1,421 million further to print money in 2011 and Rs 668 million printing of money in 2010.

The Senior Minister was responding to a question raised by DNA MP Anura Dissanayake.

He said that money was printed to replace the notes which had gone out of circulation and also to fulfil the requirements of the country.

Do not use oral question time for other purposes - Speaker

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, yesterday in Parliament, requested Parliamentarians to avoid the use of oral question sessions to provide comments on behalf of various institutions.

He also requested Parliamentarians to raise supplement questions according to Standing Orders protecting the tradition of Parliament.

The Speaker said that Parliamentarians should use the time allocated for oral questions efficiently, without wasting time for lengthy non-relevant comments.

He observed that if this situation was to continue, he would have to decide on taking steps to limit the time.

The Speaker made these comments when several MPs including UNP MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Premadasa, attempted to make lengthy speeches using the opportunity to raise supplementary questions.

The Speaker further stated that the responses given on behalf of the relevant Ministries should also be acceptable to the people in the country.

'Full inquiry into infant's death to be held'

A group of consultant physicians had been despatched to inquire into the death of an infant at the Mahamodara hospital, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said in Parliament yesterday.

The minister said that these physicians were to submit a report on the incident, to him on Monday.

He said that an open press conference would be held after the report had been submitted.He said that a full inquiry had been conducted in this regard. He was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Sajith Premadasa.

'Principals' Service to be strengthened'

Steps would be taken to absorb acting principals in government schools to the Principals' Service soon after Cabinet approval was had been granted, Education Deputy Minister Gamini Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa, said in Parliament yesterday.

He said that the number of vacancies in the Principals' Service presently was 8,787. He observed that the data collected from Provincial Councils would be analysed and a Cabinet paper would be presented to absorb acting Principals to the Principals' Service shortly. The Deputy Minister was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana.

'PPC chairman to be appointed soon'

The Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, would be appointed within this week, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva said in Parliament yesterday.

He made this comment responding to an inquiry by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, raising a point of order stating that the Public Petitions Committee had not been functioning properly since the post of chairman had not been appointed.