Parliament

House condoles on death of late Minister Mahinda Ratnatilake:

'Late MP Rathnatilaka joined President to defeat terrorism'

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 condolence motion on late Minister and Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Mahinda Ratnatilake.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resource Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva - Mahinda Ratnatilake was born on March 22, 1948 at Dodampe in the Ratnapura district. He had five siblings and he initiated his education from Dodampe Thunandahena Vidyalaya. Later he was admitted to Kiriella Central College. He engaged himself in the gem business after his studies.

He married L V Madurawathie in 1968 and were parents of four children. The children were Kithsiri, Mohan, Manjula and Viraj.

In the 1970s, he was one of the staunch members of the SLFP and as a result of his friendship with Nanda Ellawala, he was elected to the Ratnapura Municipal Council in 1981 and was appointed the chief SLFP Organizer in 1983. When he was the Mayor of Ratnapura in 1991 and 1992, the Ratnapura Municipal Council was awarded as the best Municipal Council.

He joined the UNP in 1994 and was elected to Parliament in 2000. He was repeatedly elected at the elections held in 2001 and 2004. Later on, to assist President Mahinda Rajapaksa's attempt to defeat terrorism he joined the government. In 2007 when a group of MPs attempted to topple the government, Mahinda Ratnathilake during the budget, voted with the government and the government was able to win it with a single vote. In 2007, he was appointed as the Powerloom Development Minister.

This great politician died on June 18, 2012 at the age of 64 years.

He was very much involved in restructuring the party

Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP): Late MP Mahinda Rathnatilake joined the UNP in 1994. When we were engaged in restructuring the party, he was very much involved in it. As the Chief UNP organizer from the Eheliyagoda area, he rendered yeomen service. He represented the people of Eheliyagoda and was able to fulfill their needs. He was a very humble and humane person and a very popular character among the ordinary people.

He revived the gem and mining industry

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister John Seneviratna: He contested the Municipal Council Election in 1990 and became the Mayor of the Ratnapura Municipal Council. As Mayor, he made unique social services for the betterment of the people.

He was very close to the ordinary people. He had a good knowledge of the gem and mining industry. He rendered a great service to develop the gem and mining industry in the Ratnapura district.

John Amaratunga (UNP): He won the hearts of the Ratnapura people

Late MP Ratnatilaka, was a dedicated person. He worked hard to provide relief to the Ratnapura people and was able to win their hearts and minds. He was very generous and always ready to serve the Ratnapura people.

Thalatha Atukorala (UNP)

He always respected his party leadership

I had a very cordial friendship with him. As a mayor in the Ratnapura Municipal Council, he did a great service to the people. A very good organizer, he always respected leadership, no matter what political party he represented. He was a people friendly leader.

Dayasiri Jayasekera (UNP):

He helped improve Education and Health Facilities

He rendered yemon service to the people and party. He worked tirelessly for the well-being of the people and took measures to improve education and health facilities in the area.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA):

He represented the Ratnapura people

He represented the people of Ratnapura and worked hard towards their needs. He had humane qualities. He was a very good friend of the Muslim community in Ratnapura.

He had a close rapport with the Tamil community as well. He always took measures to promote inter religious and inter communal relations between the people.

Janaka Wakkumbura (UPFA)

Late MP Mahinda Ratnathilaka was able to fulfill the needs of the people as an MP of the Ratnapura District. He was appointed the Minister of the Textile Industry. As the Textile Industry Minister, he rendered yeomn service to develop the traditional textile industry. He took measures to revive the industry and provide facilities to the people engaged in the Industry.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Murugesu Chandra Kumara: Copies of the Hanzard containing the speeches made by members of both sides of the Well during the condolence vote would be sent to the family members and relatives of the members of late MP Mahinda Rathnatilaka.

At adjournment

Attack on Lankan pilgrims act of LTTE funded extremists

External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera, stated that the assault on Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu, was an act of an extremist group funded by the LTTE diaspora and both the Governments India and Sri Lnaka were well aware of it. He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Dayasiri Jayasekara (UNP): The Tamil extremists in Tamil Nadu harass Sri Lankan pilgrims who visit Tamil Nadu. We have strong longstanding bonds between these two countries. However, I thank External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera for taking immediate measures to bring back the pilgrims who were harassed in Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Central Government supported us during operations against terrorism. Vaiko and some others had been directing the Tamil people on line with their agenda. As we have not done what we had to do for the Tamils, facilities have been carried out by outsiders. I don't agree that those outsiders attempted to direct the Tamil people to achieve their targets as well.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP): The government could defeat terrorism even with the support of the Indian government. The government promised India to grant a political solution to the Tamil people after the defeat of terrorism. We have to build up strong bonds with South India. We do not oppose the government coming to a settlement with the TNA.

M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena: The Opposition is hypocritically pleased that some Indians protest the moment when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visits that country.

The Sanchi Vidyalaya is the only Buddhist University in the world and we have to be happy for their invitation to our leader to lay the foundation stone for that university.

Whatever the Opposition says, the Indians have not forgotten that their Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi was assassinated by the LTTE.

Selvan Adeikalanathan (TNA): The people of Tamil Nadu maintains that the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka would be solved. To reach a solution, the government should have discussions with the TNA. Then not only Tamil Nadu, but all others would support this government. The security forces have been settled in our areas.

We say that it is wrong that the people in Tamil Nadu haress Sri Lankan pilgrims.

External Affairs Deputy Minister Neomal Perera: The assault on Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu is seen by Sri Lanka and India as a move by extremists.

Around 200,000 Sri Lankan tourists visit India and around 175,000 Indians visit Sri Lanka annually.

The LTTE never needed a political solution. They killed leaders of both countries. Now the eradication of terrorism has become a solace to the entire region. The LTTE flag is waving not only in Tamil Nadu, Canada and some other European countries. But what I feel today is that the UNP is supporting those extremists to restrengthen terrorism.

The freedom has been guaranteed in Sri Lanka. But these attacks on Sri Lankans had been attacks on peace and peace loving people. There were many such incidents such as attacks on pilgrims and school soccer players.

Around 184 Sri Lankan pilgrims have become refugees in a church. However, the Indian Central government had supported the Sri Lanka government to provide security to them.

Sri Lanka has strong bonds with the Indian government and all leaders of political parties in India. Even Srimathi Sushma Suwaraj appreciated the government's development drive and suggested the TNA to joint with the government to earn the maximum benefits from the opportunity given to them.

We don't need to consider these moves by extremist groups. The Indian government is fully aware of who is behind these moves. The Indian government and Sri Lankan government are fully aware that these acts of assault on Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu is done by a group of extremists who are funded by the LTTE diaspora.

Parliament adjourned until 1 p.m on October 09.