Parliament

Combined Z-score should cause no injustice to students - deputy minister

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1 pm yesterday.

After presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up condolence votes on the late MP A M D Rajan.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva: Late MP Rajan was a great politician and a humble person elected to Parliament representing the working class. He was born on June 6, 1937. He joined active politics at a young age and was appointed the Ceylon Workers' Congress' Chairman for the Ratnapura district in 1958.

He worked tirelessly for the progress of the party and for the benefit of estate workers. He was elected to the Ratnapura District Development Committee in 1981, and to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council in 1988, due to his dedication and services to the people in the Ratnapura district. As a Provincial Councillor, he initiated a number of projects to upgrade road network and transport facilities, health and education sectors. He entered Parliament from the UNP National List in 1994, and was popular among MPs. He was concerned about the well-being of estate workers. As a trade union leader, he fought to protect the rights of estate workers and rendered a yeoman service to the plantation community. He passed away in 2001.

John Amaratunga (UNP): The late MP A M D Rajan was entrusted with the task of handling trade unions. He worked hard for the well-being of the estate workers, and carried out a number of projects to uplift the livelihoods of the plantation community.

Murugesu Chandrakumar (UPFA): He worked for the freedom of the plantation community. His conduct was admirable. He rendered a yeoman service to fulfil the needs of the people in the Ratnapura district.

Perumal Rajadorai (UPFA): As a trade union leader, the late MP A M D Rajan rendered great service to protect the rights of the plantation workers. His demise is an irreparable loss to the plantation community. As a Provincial Councillor in the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, his service was great.

National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara: He was a friendly person with many friends among the Sinhala and Tamil communities. He pioneered in providing plots of land for the landless in the Ratnapura district. He was a well known politician who worked for the welfare of the people.

A H M Azwer (UPFA): He was a humble person and a great politician. The late MP A M D Rajan was concerned about the needs of Tamils in the Ratnapura district. He was also interested in upgrading sports in schools in Ratnapura. He was a well-known sportsman and encouraged schoolchildren to engage in sports. He was a distinguished Member of Parliament. The upcountry Plantation community benefited most through his work.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa: Copies of the Hansard containing speeches made by members of both parties of the Well during the condolence vote would be sent the family members and relatives of the late MP A M D Rajan.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair.

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA): The Opposition, the trade unions nor the students who sat the examination are responsible for this issue.

It could have been solved between the Education and the Higher Education Ministry. Students decide whether they continue studies or find employment after they get to know whether they are selected to university.

Education cannot be continued throughout one's life.

Make this debate the last we do on the z score issue.

Mohan Lal Grero (UPFA): The syllabi should be changed with the passage of time. None involved in the change has any personal grudge against students.

Around 22,500 are selected to the university. So it is a national issue today.

The theories of statistics are accepted by a particular group while the others are not ready to accept them. However those who decided the formula to calculate z-score did so faithfully. The educated who were against it also did it faithfully. The dispute could be continued. But court has issued an order in this regard.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a committee to finalize a theory to recalculate the z-scores.

Now the issue is why 125,000 students have no room in universities. The President has suggested that there should be vocational training at school level for those who cannot enter tertiary education. It is a move to create a group who could cater to the needs of the country.

D M Swaminathan (UNP): So far a solution has not been reached on the question at hand. We thank the Supreme Court for delivering a just decision. The minister said a three member committee has been appointed by the President to assist the UGC to formulate a system to recalculate z-scores. But when would the committee find the solution?

Arundika Fernando (UPFA): In the history of this country various governments have taken decisions to change the syllabi. But the objective of the changes are not to put the children in trouble, though always changes have created problems.

Harin Fernando (UNP): Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake is in the House listening to the debate the whole day. He needs to find a proper solution to the issue. Students and parents have had to find solace from the Supreme Court . This is not an issue that should drag for 6-7 months.

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake: The revealing of the marks of the examination results does not come under my ministry. In some universities the answer sheet is given back to the students. That's good.

The Examinations Department and UGC are not like the other government institutions. They are independent. The same scenario was created in 2000 also. There were several debates in Parliament on the examination results. Students went before the Supreme Court.

I asked the UGC what to do when the issue arose. They appointed a committee with senior professors, but Professor Thatil was not included. I asked why he was not included, and they gave several reasons. But now he is in the committee. The committee said they had to stay until the results to formulate a system to calculate the z-score. I accept the Supreme Court order. But the committee stands firm still, that their system is correct.

The Court order does not say the results are wrong. The Supreme Court observed that S B Dissanayake is not responsible for the issue. The z scores were calculated separately and joined together later. The President appointed a committee to instruct the UGC.

So far the cut-off marks have not been declared and no student has been selected to universities. The z-scores could be changed slightly. The number of students admitted to universities have been increased from 9,000 to 22,000. The money allocated for university education have been increased in 2000, 2005, 2010 from Rs 5,000 million, Rs 10,500 million and Rs 19,500 million. Today it has been increased to Rs 25,000 million. The universities nor education has ccollapsed. I don't find any offence in giving back the answer paper to the students.

The salaries of the senior professors were increased by 73 percent while the salary of junior lectures was increased by 34 percent.

At adjournment

Ajith P Perera (UNP): The Z-score problem has badly affected the mentality of schoolchildren who sat the A/L examination. The government is responsible for the situation. Now the Supreme Court has given a clear verdict on this. It is the duty of Higher Education and Education Ministers to prepare two separate Z-score formulas for the old and new syllabuses. It is necessary to provide a solution to this problem. The government should also instruct students about the remedies fto be taken in the future.

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (UNP): President has appointed a special committee headed by Professor Thatil to look into the matter. But Prof Thatil says he is not aware of the committee. According to the combined Z-score results, innocent schoolchildren had to face many problems.

Most of them are under depression. Around 150,000 children have applied for the re correction.

But the Higher Education Minister said only 57,724 students applied. Please do not play with the lives of innocent children. We expect an urgent solution to this problem.

Nandamithra Ekanayake (Higher Education Deputy Minister): This problem arose due to the combined Z-score. Now the Supreme Court has given a clear ruling.

Therefore, our major objective is to ensure no student will face an injustice due to the combined Z-score.

Some elements are trying to gain political advantages by highlighting this problem with any eye on the upcoming elections. We need to look into the social aspects as well as the mathematical aspects when calculating the separate Z-score.

Parliament adjourned until 1 pm on July 17.

Media should act overtly, not covertly - Minister de Silva

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acted within the limits of the law in executing the raid at No 71, Thotupola Road, Ethulkotte on June 29.

He said the CID raided the location on a warrant issued by the Colombo Magistrate to arrest the suspects and seize productions based on information received from the Director of the Police Special Division.

The minister requested the Opposition Leader not to interpret the execution of law as 'club-law of the government'. Minister de Silva made these observations in response to a special statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe under Standing Order 23(2).

The minister said: "The raid was conducted under sections 120 and 115 of the Penal Code , and it was conducted under a law not in force, as told by the Opposition Leader.

"Eight persons, including a woman were arrested, while nine parts in nine computers were seized in the raid on evidence that one or few offences under Sections 120 and 115 of the Penal Code had been committed.

"The woman was released by Police the same day after recording her statement. The rest were released on police bail, and court orders that they be produced before the Colombo magistrate's court', the minister said.

Minister de Silva, noting that since Sections 115, 118 and 120 of the Penal Code are related to offences against the state, requested the Opposition Leader to consider not only Section 118 but Sections 115 and 120 as well.

Minister said the mass media should not destroy the culture of the country exploiting media freedom.

He said: "the mass media should not insult persons using modern technology without abiding by the code of ethics.

"Media should operate overtly and not covertly, as secret operations of the media could affect the freedom of others and become a threat to State defence," the minister said.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe moving his special statement said the Police told court the suspects were arrested under Section 118 of the Penal Code.

He added that since Section 118 was repeated under Act No 12 of 2002, the magistrate ordered to release them all on police bail.

Prisoners held guards hostage - Minister Gajadheera

Prisons Reforms and Rehabilitation Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera yesterday said the relatives of the deceased inmate of Vavuniya prison did not arrive to accept his body and therefore allegations made by TNA that the government purposely kept the mortal remains were not true.

Responding to a special statement made by TNA Leader R Sampanthan who alleged that the government had not handed over the body of the deceased nor released the post mortem report, the minister said the prisoners had held prison guards hostage to win their unfair demands.

The Minister said: "What can a government do when prisoners hold prison guards hostage to win their unfair demands?

"I emphasise not a bullet was fired when an operation was launched by the STF. "Prisoners had in their possession iron clubs, chains and other weapons and assaulted the STF men engaged in the rescue operation. They had mobile phones with IDD facilities. Prison guards were rescued using minimum force by STF commandos" the minister said.

TNA Leader R Sampanthan said: "Despite government's assurance made in Parliament in May to expedite judicial process with regard to the detainees, prosecutions have not commenced so far.

"If the legal proceedings could not be initiated against those who are kept in detention, why not release them under an amnesty? Tamil political detainees are being tortured and this raises serious human rights concerns. Recently a group of prisoners transferred from the Vavuniya Prison to the Mahara Prison had been assaulted. Several prisoners were severely injured, one is in a coma, and another succumbed to his injuries," MP Sampanthan said. Sampanthan also charged that despite torturing, prison authorities have gone to the extent of not releasing the post mortem report or remains of the deceased inmate to the relatives.

"The post mortem has already been carried out but authorities are refusing to issue it or even hand over the body to the next of kin of the victim. This is a serious situation as he had been deprived of his rights to have a decent burial," MP Sampanthan said.

Palmyra trees at Rs 70 m - Speaker directs probe

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday directed the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils to investigate an allegation by the Opposition that Palmyra trees have come up on a carpeted road in the Puttalam district spending more than Rs 70 million.

He said this when UNP Kurunegala district parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara asked Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake whether action will be taken against the contractor who used low quality materials to reconstruct the road.

"The road from Palakuda Junction to St. Annes Church at Thalawila, about 3.5 km long was repaired spending an enormous amount according to your answer.

'We have never heard of any plant coming up on a carpeted road" the minister said.

"The contractor has not performed his duties properly. Will you take action against the person who undertook the repairs?" Jayasekara asked posing a supplementary question.

Bandaranayake in response said: "There are roads around the world including highways where grass and other plants have popped up. This is nothing new."

At this moment Jayasekara sought the Speaker's opinion on the matter and Rajapaksa responded; "This is a matter that cannot be ignored.

'At this rate Palmyra trees could come up even here (referring to the chamber).

It would be better if the Ministry probes this matter immediately."