Parliament

Govt committed to prevent environment, marine pollution - Environment Minister

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 the regulations under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act for debate.

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa (Environment Minister): These regulations before the House today aimed at streamlining bunker activities preventing marine pollution. As Sri Lanka is located on international shipping routes, it is necessary to streamline the bunker services, so that foreign exchange could be increased.

Around 300 ships daily sail on shipping routes close to Sri Lanka, and around 5000 ships arrive at the Colombo Harbour monthly to obtain bunker services. Today not only the Petroleum Corporation, but ten other private institutions are engaged in providing bunker services.

Supplying oil to ships is a major source of income to the country. Today Sri Lanka is in a very favourable situation in relation to international shipping activities. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a proper programme for bunker service.

The regulations state it is mandatory for those who provide bunker facilities to ships to maintain international standards. Bunker process should adhere to international rules and regulations. We have moved these regulations to prevent marine pollution and oil spill. We need the support of other key sectors to implement these regulations. As a responsible government we are committed to prevent any kind of pollution affecting the environment and marine life.

John Amaratunga (UNP): Today government ministers interfere unnecessarily in the functions of the Judiciary. A government minister threatened a judge during an incident in Mannar yesterday. This is very unfortunate. No one can interfere with the performances of the courts.

This is totally in violation of law and order in the country. We should not allow a repetition of such acts. So, the Bar Association has decided to launch a protest today against political interference.

Victor Anthoney. (UPFA): This is a timely regulation. Marine pollution is harmful for creatures living in marine environment. As a result of increased marine pollution, some areas have been identified as dead sea zones across the world. Marine pollution also causes severe damage to fish breeding.

Therefore, it is necessary to plan a special programme to prevent marine pollution. Sea erosion has also increased due to marine pollution, The whole world should pay attention to the marine pollution.

Anurakumara Dissanayake (DNA): The aim of this regulation is to prevent pollution taking place in the marine environment. Therefore, it is necessary to implement these regulations properly. Today one of the private companies is engaged in banana cultivation in the Lunugamvehera area where that elephants move freely. This situation has not been taken into consideration by the company. Wildlife should come under the Environment Ministry. But it is under the Agrarian Services Ministry. This company has dug the soil in the whole area, so that when rainy season commences, the soil is washed away and deposited in the Lanugamvehera reservoir. This has caused environment imbalance. According to the rules and regulations, no cultivation or development activity can be taken place within 1km from the National Park. But this company is today engaged in banana cultivation without even obtained environmental feasibility report.

Mahinda Amaraweera (Disaster Management Minister): Now we have to take care of the seas around us. The so called developed countries never care for the environment, as the seas. The developed countries at least do not attend the conferences on environment. But Sri Lanka actively participate in the conservation of the environment, the forest and the seas. Millions of trees were planted on Environment Day.

The Panama area is very important.The security forces are protecting it. One member spoke of a canal constructed in a forest area.But it is a support to protect the environment.

Around 200 ships pass the seas off Dondra. If we could provide bunker service we can earn a massive income. These ships are only 19 miles away from Hambantota. Those who criticised earlier have nothing to say now.

The expressway will be extended to Hambantota. The railway track will be extended to Beliatta. The new facilities overseas are booming in Sri Lanka. Now there are new theatres like the Nelum Pokuna, expressways and harbours in the country.

The Lotus Tower will be constructed. People who voted for President Mahinda Rajapaksa can be happy today.

Jayalath Jayawardena (UNP): The UNP introduced the open economy to Sri Lanka. UNP expedited development. The Coastal Conservation department comes under the Defence Ministry. But it was under the Fisheries Ministry on earlier occasions. The change has created many issues.

Today new building are constructed near the beaches in the Negombo area. Most of them are illegal. So what can we say of marine pollution?

Chandrasiri Gajadeera Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Minister: The trend of some members' speech are not acceptable. The opposition members do not talk to the point but talk to the media.

Now the country in being developed to be a naval hub. At this moment service providers are competitive and could neglect the environment.

So this move is commendable. Some countries have had to spend more money to prevent environment pollution than the income earned from development projects that caused the pollution. So we have to take precautionary measures.

It is the UNP that created a money oriented society.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP): Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandra Kumar Murugesu takes he Chair.

We are speaking of prevention of marine pollution. But how many members of the government and opposition take part in the debate? Minister Dinesh Gunawardena misinterpreted the statement I made yesterday.

Dinesh Gunawardena (Water Supply and Drainage Minister: Some media had highlighted your statements. It is provocative. The statement is a provocation to commit unacceptable deeds just because of the absence of members in the House. It is a serious statement.

J.C. Ranga (UNP): There is a conflict among Tamils and Muslims in Mannar. We predicted it would happen. The Muslims and Tamils lived peacefully in the North and East. Though the government says it solves the conflicts among the communities, it in not true.

A.R.M. Abdul Carder (Environment Deputy Minister: We can yield enormous amounts of resources from the sea around our island.

We can harvest the fish crop in the seas, and provide bunker services to ships at the ports. But we have to protect the seas by preventing environmental pollution. When fuel is supplied to a ship the petroleum could leak into the seas from the pumps, polluting the seas.

If it happened the damage caused could be higher than the income earned. So we have to introduce international standards. The order was passed.

Parliament adjourned until 1 p.m on August 7.

'Members of House should act with responsibility'

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody yesterday said in Parliament that members should act or make statements with a sense of responsibility without degrading the dignity and decorum of the House.

He said it was not suitable for members to ring the quorum bell for the fun of it while they knew that members of both, the government and Opposition remained in the Parliamentary complex attending various parliamentary committees.

He made this observation when Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena brought to the notice of the Chair that it was not fair for Opposition members to ring the quorum bell thrice for fun while knowing members were in Parliament, and make provocative speeches.

Dinesh Gunawardene (Water Supply and Drainage Minister): On Wednesday members of the government side and opposition were taking part in committees such as COPE and Public Protection Committee where public servants had been summoned. Although aware of this on these occasions the quorum bell was rung by opposition members.

When the bell was rang at 3.40 pm on Wednesday, there were 54 government side members and 24 opposition members participating in the committees. When it was rung for the second time at 4.31 pm there were 46 and 13 government and opposition members respectively, taking part in the committees. Once again the quorum bell was rung at 5.32 pm by an opposition member. This is not fair as they knew there was a quorum in Parliament. We maintain a quorum in Parliament whether the opposition attends or not. We have been democratically elected to serve the public. So members should act responsibly.

The opposition leader should be ashamed that a member behind him speaks to set parliament on fire while he speaks of the dignity and decorum of Parliament.

John Amarathunga (Chief Opposition Whip): When the quorum bells were rung there were only 2 ministers in the House.

Dinesh Gunawardena (Water Supply and Drainage Minister): Don't you need to hold the COPE and PSC committees? You are responsible for the July arousing. Again you are talking to set fire.

Chandima Weerakkody (Deputy Speaker) in Chair: Members of both parties should act responsibly. The people of the country are watching you. It is not acceptable to ring the quorum bell for the fun of it while being aware that members of both, the government and the opposition were in Parliament attending the committees.

Ranil Wickremesinghe (Opposition Leader): We don't need to set fire on this beautiful building. No one should say that. This building was constructed by as.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA): Action should be taken against the member who made that statement.

Chandima Weerakkody (Deputy Speaker): The members of Parliament of both sides should act with a mutual understanding. Act comprehending your responsibility or the public will humiliate you.

Drought-affected farmers will be compensated

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told parliament yesterday: "Rs 3665 million had been allocated to provide relief for farmers who lost their crops due to the drought. The President had instructed to defer the recovery of agricultural loans given to farmers.

"Rs 6000 will be provided to each family and funds provided to excavate agrarian wells at Rs 1000 per well.

"Among other relief measures proposed was to supply seed paddy free of charge to the affected farmers to cultivate their lands at the next season", he said.

Minister Abeywardena responding to a statement made by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the figures highlighted by the JVP MP were erroneous. These matters are raised with the intention of scoring cheap political points. The MP exaggerated the real situation.

DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said: "Crops of thousands of farmers in the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kurunegala districts were affected by the lack of water.

"Around 31,500 hectares paddy cultivated under the Kalawewa project in Anuradhapura, 2500 hectares paddy and 500 hectares of other crops cultivated under the Giritale project in Polonnaruwa and 16,000 hectares cultivated under the Hakwatuna and Bathalagoda projects in Kurunegala were destroyed.

"Around 50,000 rupees was spent by a farmer family to cultivate an acre of paddy. When their crops were destroyed by the drought, each farmer had spent 40,000 rupees for every acre of land they cultivate. The cost was covered by loans and mortgages. If the government does not come to their assistance at this hour of need, their predicament would would be bleak.

Apart from this loss in the ongoing Yala season, they are faced with the question of how to finance the cultivation of the next Maha. We propose that the government should pay a compensation of Rs 75,000 to farmers for each cultivated acre destroyed' the MP said.