Parliament

Sri Lanka needs eco-friendly transport systems - Transport Deputy Minister

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1 pm yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act and the Appropriation Act for debate.

Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake: All these amendments brought before Parliament are based on proposals presented in Budget 2012. Vehicles imported to the country have increased after tax concessions granted on vehicle imports. It is reported 4.4 million new vehicles had been imported in 2011.

We expect around 5 million new vehicles to be imported this year. These vehicles are added to existing vehicles plying the roads. It has created a huge traffic congestion causing inconvenience to the public.

Therefore, we decided to impose restrictions on vehicle imports. Regulations were imposed only on the import of luxury vehicles and it will not affect lorries, tippers, tractors and backhoes used in development activities. We need to formulate an eco-friendly transport system in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Harsha de Silva (UNP): Taxes imposed on consumer items have been increased. The rupee has depreciated. It has resulted in placing an unnecessary burden on the masses. The stock market was strong during the UNP regime. Today it has collapsed due to the financial mismanagement of the government.

Both ETF and EPF funds are the last hope of the workers. Now these funds are at risk as the government has laid its hands on them.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene: These amendments are a long felt need of the country. Vehicle imports were increased after tax concessions were granted resulting in importing a number of new vehicles. Today we see great traffic congestion. That is why we imposed restrictions on vehicle imports. It is necessary to control the number of new vehicles entering the roads to create an eco-friendly transport system. Today, the country is self-sufficient in agriculture products due to the government's priority to improving local production.

Sunil Handunnethi (DNA): The government has raised custom duty on vehicle imports by 300 percent. But middle class people, especially public servants and the self-employed are helpless as they are unable to afford the high price. Some have already deposited their down payments for purchasing new vehicles. They are frustrated as they cannot afford the new price. The large-scale businessmen engaged in importing vehicles are not affected by the tax increase. The ordinary people who wish to buy a vehicle once in their lifetime are frustrated.

Minor Export Crops Promotion Minister Reginald Cooray: You all know there is an excessive number of vehicles on the roads today. You know that only one person travels in expensive sophisticated vehicles. These vehicles do not develop the nation or the individual. They are a luxury. Hence the move to enhance tax on vehicle import.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP): Today the government is developing roads without increasing salaries. It is not taking essential measures. The economy is broken down. The government is increasing the prices of oil when the world market price drops.

Social Services Minister Feliex Perera: Ours is a small country, it has roads extending to 120,019 kilometres. We have imported a large number of vehicles so that there are 130 vehicles for 1,000 men. This is a large proportionate.

On the other hand the difference between export and import is high, we have to reduce the imports.

Today we are exporting rice as we have an excess. When the roads are developed the fuel wastage will be low.

When we import vehicles from Japan they last long. But if we import them from neighbouring countries they will last only a year.

E. Adeikalanathan (TNA): The government can develop exports by giving a solution to the ethnic issue in the country. It can save money by removing the camps and the forces in North. The government tends to import rather than develop exports.

R. Yogarajan takes the Chair.

Shantha Bandara (UPFA): Ravi Karunanayake made his usual allegations. He said the economy is failed, construction of road is useless. But it is historical that we could maintain economic growth above 8 percent for two consecutive years and reduce the inflation rate to a single digit.

Adeikalanathan talked of ethnic issue which really is not present in the country. We have no more ethnic issues in the country.

There are 4.5 million families in the country but more than 4.7 million vehicles.

Dayasiri Jayasekara (UNP): The government is unable to provide a glass of milk for the students. So how could they give eggs spending Rs 320 million a month?

Sri Lanka exported coir fibre, etc.,but everything failed. Now the import of gold is increased as the rich, the politicians and illegal traders collect gold.

In there any policy to export the excess rice production?

Neranjan Wickramasinghe (UPFA): Plans are afoot to develop SLTB bus service and railway service as an alternative measure for traffic congestion. New buses and trains have been imported for public use. Not only main highways but roads in rural areas have also been constructed.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UPFA): We are happy that Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was released. We should be thankful to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for giving a pardon to General Fonseka. This arbitrary tax increase on vehicle imports have affected the ordinary people. Most have paid their down payments. With the sudden tax increase, they face severe hardships and tare unable to afford the new prices. Some people had to pawn their jewellery while others sold their properties.

Health Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake: Today Sri Lanka is developing rapidly. Now harbours, airports, roads, schools, hospitals, highways are being constructed. Vehicle registrations have been increased. It is reported 130 persons out of 1,000 have a vehicle. We have to manage the trade balance properly. That is why we have decided to increase taxes on vehicle imports.

Eran Wickramaratne (UNP): Trade deficit has increased due to increasing of imports. If this situation is continued a massive trade gap can be expected in the coming months. This will affect the entire economy.

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Jayarathna Herath: The government has been able to manage the economy in a prudent manner despite negative impacts of the global economic crisis. We faced two major disasters of tsunami and terrorism. But we have been able to overcome these situations successfully.

Coconut Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara: The coconut production has increased as a result of the government's move to boost the agriculture sector.

Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Geethanjana Gunawardene: We have been able to maintain a high economic growth rate of 8 percent. It is a big victory achieved by the government. We were battered by a 30-year brutal war.

But following the accurate war strategies and economic policies under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa we have been able to win the war and register a high economic growth rate. The Finance Ministry has received 200 appeals from people who applied for a single vehicle. We hope to consider their appeals and grant some reliefs in the future.

At Adjournment

Public Administration and Internal Affairs Minister W D J Seneviratne said in Parliament the government expects to increase the strength of the public service and provide them with needy training enabling them to provide their service to the country in a more effective manner.

He made this observation in response to an Adjournment Motion moved by UPFA MP Shantha Bandara, requesting that there should be a mechanism to train the public servants to enable development benefits reach grass route level.

Minister Seneviratne said the development is so massive today that its rate is 8.2 percent. All these are implemented by public servants. Their contribution to development is remarkable. He said the government is taking measures to train new recruits at district level to perform their services properly. He added the government expects to provide a friendly service to the public in an effective manner.

He said this is the only government that increased the salaries of the public servants removing salary anomalies.

Minister Seneviratne said all public servants are recruited on the results of examinations. Our objective is to employ all the graduates in public service without holding examinations. He added the graduates in the North who applied for public service will absorbed very soon.

However development projects are implemented by the Divisional Secretariat and their staff, they should be given a training.

Minister Seneviratne said 25 Divisional Secretaries from 25 districts will be selected and sent to Monash University in Australia for a training course.

There is also another programme to train public servants at SLIDA. With all these courses the government expects to change the attitude of public servants, to provide a proper service to the public and the country

UPFA MP Neranjan Wickramasinghe seconded the motion.

UNP MPs Ajith P Perera and Sri Ranga also joined the adjournment motion.

The House adjourned until 1 pm tomorrow

Equal education for rural students - Minister Gunawardena

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday said the government would never hinder the opportunity of students in rural areas to enter National Schools in the cities for A-L studies but guarantee it as there are programmes afoot to create an environment for them to study in standard schools on par with those in cities.

He made this observation in Parliament in response to a statement by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting the government to cancel the circular that prevents students' admission from one national school to another in the same city with equal facilities. At present this circular is held back only for this year.

Minister Gunawardena said this circular was to be implemented as the 38, 29 and 16 students with best results in Thurstan, Mahanama and Isipatana Colleges in Colombo respectively applied to enter another leading school in Colombo.

He said such a move will prevent students from rural areas with good results, the chance of being admitted to a popular school in the city with hostel facilities. He inquired whether the Opposition Leader wants the government to practise the slogan 'Colombata Kiri Gamata Kekiri'.

Minister Gunawardena said the government is taking measures to provide equal education to children in rural areas. He said the development of 41 schools has already commenced in the programme to develop one thousand secondary schools in the country to provide a better education for students.

The minister said the government has initiated a programme to train students below 13 years to encourage them to participate in the 'Olympiad' and that students from rural areas were able to win 11 medals including gold, silver and bronze medals last year. It was a gradual development from three bronze medals in 2008. He questioned if the Opposition condemns these achievements.

Our universities need to reach international standards - minister

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday that enrolling foreign students in local universities would help Sri Lankan universities to reach international standards.

He said the need of the hour is to upgrade the facilities in our universities to reach international standards.

Several countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal with lower per capital income offer scholarships to Sri Lankan students. Therefore, we have to consider enrolling foreign students in our universities.

During last year, 250 university lecturers were sent abroad to complete their PhD degrees.

This year too, a similar number will be sent.

We have initiated a programme to bring back the academics who left the country to counter the effects of brain drain.

We have been able to bring back 11 such professors to the country through this programme, he said.