Parliament

'Govt not opposed to UNHRC but only to foreign intervention'

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1.00 p.m yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House was adjourned until 1.00 p.m on May 8. The House took up the adjournment debate on the resolution on Sir Lanka at the UNHRC, for the second day.

Rights in focus

Mangala Samaraweera (UNP): The US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka had been a defeat to Sri Lanka. Despite party politics, we must appear on behalf of the human rights of the country. Human rights violations are taking place in the country now more than in the past. Soon after the conclusion of the war in 2009, the government pledged that it would continue its commitment to safeguard human rights.

The LLRC report was tabled in Parliament in December last year. The international community had also accepted the recommendations of the LLRC. There had been presidential commissions in Sri Lanka throughout history, but the recommendations contained had not been executed. We should make sure that all recommendations contained in the LLRC must be implemented without delay. Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha: Mangala Samaraweera MP pointed out the passing of the US sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka had been a massive defeat to the country. As a Sri Lankan I do not condone his statement.

The LLRC was appointed by the President. The ceasefire agreement which was signed in 2002, appointed 4 countries as monitoring countries. The Opposition claims that the government had internationalized local issues. But the internationalization of our problem had been reported in 1983 during the regime of former President J.R. Jayewardene with the intervention of India.

It was President Rajapaksa who cancelled the ceasefire agreement and it was he who sent away the monitoring members.

Now elections have been held in the North and the East and members have been elected democratically. People in the country are not ready to deprive the freedom they enjoy after 30 years. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, recently went to the North and stated that no progressive work had been done. It was due to the President's commitment that the Opposition Leader could even approach this region. Now the UNP is about to hold the May Day rally in Jaffna. Again it was due to the President that they would be able to do so.

Contained in the resolutions were three main proposals. It was not the bringing up of the LLRC report that the government opposed at the UNHRC, but to foreign interventions directed towards the country under the cover of the LLRC. We have not betrayed the country at anytime.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandakumar Murugesu takes the Chair:

R. Sampathan (TNA): The minorities in the country are not minorities at least in some parts of the island. However, they were given step motherly treatment and as estimated, about 1 million Tamils have left the country over the past years as they had been subjected to violence and not treated with justice and equality. The issue of the Tamils have lingered in the country since independence.

The Sri Lankan government has irrationally decided that the national issues of the country, had seen a natural demise with the conclusion of the armed conflict. This is a mistake and the struggle goes on in a peaceful and democratic manner, to attain a sustainable solution to the questions of the Tamils.

I have gained more votes than other Tamil members

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda: Our objective has been to make sure that the people in this country enjoy rights equally. I also participated at the Geneva discussions on behalf of the government. We have never acted against the wishes of the public. I have obtained a larger number of votes than other Tamil members have.

The TNA expresses one idea to the government, but something totally different to the Tamil people. They maintain double standards. When the LLRC report was forwarded, the TNA said that they have rejected it. But now they urge us to implement it, which is really ridiculous. MP Sampanthan told the media that the EPDP had been identified as an illegal organization by the LLRC, which was untrue. He said that he would go before court of law against this baseless allegation.

Most of the TNA members have used weapons earlier. Mavei Senadhiraja was also one who attempted to form an illegal organization. There was a hidden agenda behind the resolution against Sri Lanka. We have to understand the reality of it.

They always attempted to intervene into the internal matters of another country in this manner.

If you have any feelings for the innocent Tamil people, you should spend the money you have accumulated from overseas for the welfare of the innocent people in the North, but you do not do so. The people are living in peace. The schools in the North have been given to the people by the forces.

Today, you can see what the government had done for the people in the North.

The A-9 road has been opened and developed. The roads that had been destroyed by the LTTE, have been restored. The Sangupiddi bridge has been constructed. The LTTE ex-combatants has been rehabilitated. All these have been done by this government without any recommendations of any commission.

So this commission has also been established by the government. I thoroughly believe that this government would solve all problems of the innocent Tamils in the North.

But you all shed tears before Western communities. But, if you had paid a thought about those innocent people, you would have cried when the LTTE held a large number of Tamils as a human shield.

The LTTE had acted on the instructions of the TNA. The TNA members except one did not agree to liberate the innocent Tamils from the grip of the LTTE.

The TNA attempts to drive the innocent Tamil people into the labrinth of difficulties. You have to change the name of your party at the next election. The innocent Tamil people will not vote for the TNA who work only to win elections, but not to provide relief to the Tamils.

Harin Fernando (UNP): Nobody made a clear statement in respect of the LLRC report and recommendations. We were defeated from the US sponsored resolution. We have to accept it. We have a great flaw in our country's foreign policy. The government does not express its proper stance.

This type of resolution can polarize our country rather than help reconciliation

Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem: My portfolio as Justice Minister, has a special role to play by delivering the recommendations mentioned in the LLRC. The attempt for reconciliation had faced with certain difficulties, but this type of resolution can further polarize our communities rather than helping towards reconciliation. It is an untimely and unwanted resolution.

Our resolve to charter a Human Rights action plan had been already made even before we went to the Geneva Summit.

We have to take the contribution of all stakeholders in carrying forward the reconciliation process in the country, by taking a sober introspection of the past. The movers of the resolution were far away from reality of the ground situation of our country. Certain sections of the diaspora community, is blocking all channels for reconciliation in the country. I must say that UN interventions are not ideal at this time.

We must educate our people of the reality. We must not live in dream worlds.

Sri Lanka has no option, but to go against the resolution

International Monetary Corporation Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama: The UNHRC engages in a universal review annually. But the resolution which came up at the March session, had not been result of this universal review. It was taken up separately targeting Sri Lanka.

When there are so many countries, why have they selected Sri Lanka to present a specific resolution? The Russian Ambassador in New Delhi, had responded to this matter.

He had stated that the real intention behind this resolution was not human rights, but a politically motivated resolution. So as a government with a dignity, we have to decide as to how we should respond to this politically motivated resolution.

Sri Lanka had no option but to go against the resolution. Sri Lanka has shown many positive developments since the end of war. Even many countries have accepted this fact and nobody could charge that the situation in the country had deteriorated.

The UNHRC should not bring resolutions to hinder the forward march of our country. They should have brought a resolution to encourage the Sri Lankan government to carry forward its programmes.

Dayasiri Jayasekara (UNP): The government's reaction to the resolution was not diplomatic. The government should have gone well prepared to face this challenge. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, should have informed the impending move against Sri Lanka to the government.

If they haven't informed the government, I believe they have not performed their duties properly.

The reply speech should have been done to this adjournment motion by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and not by Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. It was Minister Samarasinghe who dealt with the Geneva Summit and the resolution.

We are ready to discuss with the government the manner to implement the recommendations of the LLRC.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka: There are long-term and short-term challenges that we have to face due to this resolution. In short-terms, the intention of the US sponsored resolution had been to hinder the reconciliation process of the country by erupting turmoils in the country. The resolution also had an intention to bring the leadership of the country before an International Tribunal on war crimes.

Sri Lanka has subjected to US interest because of the geographically strategical location of the country.

It is a question to grab the power of the Indian Ocean. We have to take up this challenge while preserving our dignity. We have to safeguard the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

There are about 285 recommendations in the LLRC. Among them, there are political recommendations too. Our stand, as the JHU was making those recommendations was a surpass of the power vested up on the LLRC Committee.

According to the census we had carried out in the North and the East, only about 6,600 people had died during the last period of the war.

We had been able to rescue about 300,000 people. The development in the North and the East had been expedited after the war. The LTTE international supporters are trying to spread terrorism in Sri Lanka once again. Therefore, the security in the North and the East should not be reduced. We should not withdraw soldiers and Army camps from the North to ensure peace and security.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP): The misguided handling of the foreign policy of Sri Lanka is seen today.

Where is the head of the diplomatic team that spoke in Geneva on behalf of our President?

Sri Lanka is a multicultural, multinational and multireligious country. Therefore, extremism does not help to find a solution to this problem.

The way of handling of our foreign policy had been very unprofessional. The Foreign Minister has a responsibility to clarify as to why India voted at the resolution against Sri Lanka.

Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera: Sri Lanka went against the resolution being a member of the UNO with the view to preventing a repeat of similar act aiming other states in the future.

MP Mangala Samaraweera stated that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the first to go before the Human Rights Council. Yes, still he trusts that the Human Rights Council would treat each country equally. UN attempts to corner one country and serve differently, we stand against it.

Because they will treat the other country in the same manner.

This commission was established by the President. It was not established by Yogarajan, Sampanthan, Ranil or by Obama. We are going to implement it. Nobody needs to urge us to do it.

External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris: Certain facts have been distorted by several members. Anura Dissanayake inquired asto why the embassies in Europe are being closed down. The government never said that we would close the embassies in Europe as a result of the recent situation.

But the government sometimes have to open and close embassies due to the need of the hour, as we have a limited amount of money for these purposes. One example is that we had one in Turkey, but we had decided to close it as we need to open an embassy in Arichora city.

We have decided to appoint the wife of late member Mano Wijeyaratne as the Ambassador. We sometimes established embassies to promote tea. But when the the objective was over we close those embassies.

Ravi Karunanayake asked as to whether India had become an enemy of Sri Lanka. No, countries do not become enemies. We know how that situation was created. Karunanidi attempted to initiate a fast at a decisive moment. For the Indian government's survival, they took a decision which brought a negative effect on Sri Lanka.

But India is not our enemy, our relationship with India is very important in many ways like politics, trade, etc. Our relationship has faced many challenges during history as well, but we are not enemies.

However, India's decision was wrong. Hilary Clinton wrote in a friendly letter that they had their decision and asked to come to Washinton just to discuss about the future. But it could have caused damages to Sri Lanka severely. So, I didn't go, not because that she sent a serious letter as Dayasiri Jayasekera said.

Sampanthan said that the government had to take the full responsibility over the present situation.

Suamanthiran told a newspaper that Sampanthan had been invited to USA to pressurize Sri Lanka. But USA in a statement said that they did not have any discussions with the TNA.

If the TNA says that they made USA a tool or instrument to intervene in internal matters of Sri Lanka, it is not true. The law has it that foreseeable consequences are intended consequences. Now the TNA proclaims to the world, that they prompted and instigated the US to move this resolution. But now they say, the government is responsible for the present situation.

We need to solve this problem. We need the support of the UNP and others as well. The most needed institution to solve this issue is to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee.

One member said they want external mediation. We never rely on such external mediation. We reject it. Kiriella stated that there would be trade sanctions. But such sanctions are bilateral.

We should not forget the support extended by the outside world.

The Arab region supported us:

One member asked what recommendations would be implemented and what not. A commission is not mandated by the people. It is doing a commendable job, but it is established to make recommendations to the government. Nowhere in the world had all recommendations of a commission been implemented. We accept the LLRC report and recommendations as a whole.

But it does not say all these recommendations would be implemented at once. They should be implemented step by step. On the other hand no government has proclaimed that the number of recommendations out of the total would be implemented.

I have to say that no country can intervene to the sovereignty of a country according to international law, except on very few special occasions.

The other matter they raised was our team had no unity. We deny that allegation and clearly say we worked unitedly.

A H M Azwer in Chair - I wish a happy Sinhala and Hindu New Year to the members, staff and all others on behalf of the Speaker.

The House adjourned until 1 pm of May 8.

'CPC yet to recover payments from state institutions'

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha, said in Parliament that a sum of Rs 45 billion had to be recovered by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation from state and private sector institutions.

The minister further stated that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had decided to charge an interest on those amounts they have taken as loans though so far such a measure had not been functioning.

The minister further stated that the CEB had to pay a sum of Rs 7.73 billion, while the Railways Department had to pay a sum of Rs 3.47 billion to the CPC. He also stated that the West Coast Power (Pvt) Ltd, had to pay a sum of Rs 693 million to the CPC.

Minister Premajayantha further stated that SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka have to pay Rs 12.35 billion and Rs 1.21 billion respectively.

He also stated that a sum of Rs 115.03 billion had to be recovered by last February and the CPC had managed to recover a sum of Rs 80.13 billion. He made these observations in response to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

SriLankan Airlines' earnings zoom

SriLankan Airlines has earned a net income of Rs 216,138 million during the last three years, an answer tabled in Parliament by Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne stated.

It stated that the income earned by SriLankan Airlines in the financial year 2010/11 had been Rs 78,515 million and in the financial year 2009/10, the income had been Rs 63,358 million.

It has earned Rs 74,264 million in the financial year 2008/09.

The answer also stated that SriLankan Airlines had 21 aircraft and Mihin Lanka Airlines had 2 aircraft obtained on lease.

It also stated that the SriLankan Airlines is to receive a capital investment of USD 500 million and Mihin Lanka is to receive a capital investment of USD 20 million from the Treasury for the next 5 years and the next two years respectively, in terms of a Cabinet decision. The answer stated that the SriLankan Air would invest this money to expand the Airbus fleet and to modernize the Airlines, while Mihin Lanka would invest this money to recover lease of aircraft and aircraft related payments and setting up of costs for new destinations.

The answer was tabled in response to a question raised by UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.

'Rakna Lanka' provides security to 42 state institutions'

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stated in Parliament yesterday, that 2,541 security officers have been deployed in 42 state institutions by the 'Rakna Lanka' security service operating under the Defence and Urban Development Ministry.

He also stated that 'Rakna Lanka' security service earns Rs 940 million annually by providing security services to 42 state institutions.

Accordingly, the minister stated that 'Rakna Lanka' security service had deployed 29 security officers to the Finance and Planning Ministry, to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, 537 to the Sri Lanka Telecom, 616 to four state universities and four security officers to Lotus Pond Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre.

He also stated that a security officer in 'Rakna Lanka' who is working on a 12-hour roster is paid a salary of Rs 21,500. The minister was responding to a question raised by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake.