Parliament

Regulations to minimise motor traffic accidents

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided, when Parliament met at 1 p.m. yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the regulations under the Motor Traffic Act for debate.

Kumara Welgama (Transport Minister)
The objective of the regulations being debated under the Motor Traffic Act is to minimise motor traffic accidents. Stringent new laws will be introduced to crackdown on irresponsible road users. The laws will cover, among other things, speeding, reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and using mobile phones while driving.

An alarming proportion of the number of road traffic accidents resulting in fatalities, grievous injury and permanent disability, is at high level over the past few years, with a rising increase in the frequency of accidents observed in the past few years.

We are also taking steps to improve road conditions. The state of road is crucial in preventing motor traffic accidents.

The implementation of the speed limit regulations for motor vehicles will help reduce the number of road accidents. We have already published the Gazette notification defining speed limits on all roads. The Road Development Authority is ready with the signboards of speed limits.

The speed limits are given for different roads in different parts of the city. According to the Gazette notification, speed limits which are dictated by the RDA are classified as A, B, C, D and E. Under A and B, the speed limit for light vehicles, including cars and motorcycles is 50 kmph in built up areas and 70 kmph on roads outside built up areas. The term built up refers to towns surrounded by buildings. The speed limit for heavy vehicles is 50 kmph and 40 kmph for land vehicles including tractors.

P. Dayaratne (Food and Nutrition Senior Minister)

Road accidents have become a major social problem as the number of lives lost in accidents is on the rise. Road accidents continue to occur and road casuality numbers continue to rise. More than 50 percent of recorded deaths at the hospitals were caused by motor accidents. This has been the case for several years. We expect the rising numbers of the road accidents would be decreased with the implementation of the speed limit regulation for motor vehicles in the future.

P. Harrison (UNP): Emission tests are conducted by two private companies which earn millions of rupees. But these companies remit only 10 percent of their revenue to the government.
There is a large-scale fraud with regard to this although 4.7 million vehicles have been registered in Sri Lanka, emission tests are conducted only on 2.2 million vehicles. Public and military vehicles are totally exempted from emission tests.
Lasantha Alagiyawanna (Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Deputy Minister): The implementation of the speed limit regulations for motor vehicles which were held back following a Supreme Court rulling more than four years ago are to be implemented from this year.

The required gazette notification defining sped limits on all roads in Sri Lanka is now ready while the Road Development Authority is ready with the signboards indicating speed limits. The new gazette would specify the areas where the speed limits would be in operation. Therefore, we can expect a decline of the rising road accidents in coming years with the implementation of new regulations.

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA): The number of road accidents occurring in Sri Lanka have increased for the past few years. These figurers are devastating and should be taken for seriously.

It was found factors such as drivers, roads and vehicles are directly connected for the road accidents. The growth in road accidents caused due to the increase in motor vehicles should be counterbalanced with the effective implementation of road safety programmes. But we have not yet been able to do this.

Sarana Gunawardene Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister: Road accidents in Sri Lanka cause economic losses amounting to over Rs. 9.34 billion every year. Improved road safety standards will reduce road accidents. The government has taken steps to improve road conditions as well as implementing new regulations to arrest the rising road accidents.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP): We do not oppose the implementation of the speed limit regulations for motor vehicles. Even if our road network is expanding fast, the number of cases of deaths and grievous injuries caused by road accidents are on the rise.

It is necessary for Police to implement these regulations properly to reduce the number of road accidents. It is also necessary to prevent police officers taking bribes when the implementation of these regualtions.

Rohana Kumara Dissanayake (Transport Deputy Minister)
One death occurs every four hour in Sri Lanka due to motor accidents and 100-110 roads accidents occur each day in Sri Lanka.

There are over 4.5 million registered vehicles in the country and half of them are motorcycles of which the majority contribute to road accidents.

The number of deaths reported due to accidents is higher than the deaths caused by dengue. We have taken all possible measures to prevent motor traffic accidents.
That is why we decided to implement speed limit regulations. The signboards required for the country are ready now.
The speed limit boards will specify the location where a particular speed limit are in operation.

These new regulations would help effectively curb the number of traffic accidents, traffic related offences, while the road authorities are expecting for a greater awareness of traffic laws among motorists. The House was adjourned until 1 p.m. on February 6.

Rizana Nafeek execution

‘Opposition attempting to take political mileage from a tragic incident’

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera stated that all attempts taken by the government to get clemency for Rizana Nafeek proved futile and the Opposition is attempting to get a sinister advantage over the whole episode.

He added that the age limit for employment in Saudi Arabia was increased to 25 years and made compulsory to get certificate of NVQ-3 exam as well at a Cabinet decision yesterday.
He made this observation in response to the adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake in Parliament stating that the government could not protect Rizana Nafeek who was executed in Saudi Arabia.

Ranjan Ramanayake (UNP): Rizana Nafeek was a schoolgirl. She was sent to Saudi Arabia in 2005 fraudulently. She was born in 1988, but this has been altered to indicate that she was born in 1982. If these documents were sent to Saudi Arabia, Rizana would not have been executed.
But those persons who went to Saudi Arabia did not speak about this matter with the King.
The mother of the child Rizana was baby sitting had left the child in the care of Rizana. According to Sharia Law a child has to be breastfed for two years. But mother of the child has not heeded the Sharia Law. Saudi Arabia has not considered that fact. So it is wrong. The Sharia Law has killed this underaged girl. But not a single Islam leader in Sri Lanka spoke about it.

Jayalath Jayawardena (UNP): This government could not prevent Rizana being executed. So how could this government protect our employees abroad. About Rs. six billion is remitted to Sri Lanka by migrant workers. But 60 to 70 percent of these employees are subjected to harassments. Our country has not entered into the International Labour Convention.

Rauf Hakeem (Justice Minister): The day Rizana was executed was the darkest day for the migrant workers. But the Opposition is attempting to take political mileage from this tragic incident. I wrote a letter to the parents of the deceased child’s requiring for the clemency.

The King of Saudi Arabia also requested from the parents to grant clemency to Rizana on the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa but the parents remained unchanged.
I directed the CID to take action against the job agents are involved in this racket. They were indicted before High Court.

Despite all the efforts we made, the girl was executed. But we cannot criticize the laws of a friendly country. Jayalath Jayawardena spoke of labour conventions. But not only the labour supplying countries but also the labour receiving countries have to be signatories of such conventions.
But these labour receiving countries are resisting to be signatories of such conventions.
Our government took maximum efforts to get clemency for this girl.

Sunil Handunetti (DNA):

Thalatha Athukorala takes the Chair.
The question arise as to why the Rizanas have to go abroad for employment? It is because of the poverty. But we have not been able to mete out justice Rizana.
Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on children’s Rights which prevent execution of persons for crimes committed below 18 years.
Neomal Perera (External Affairs Deputy Minister): There are several Sri Lankans in the Middle Eastern Countries on death row. They also need the blood money for clemency. Opposition members said that no women have gone to make the request for clemency.

The Foreign Employment Bureau Human Rights Commission and Asian Human Rights Commission have made requests.
The mother of the child had gone on six hour without breast feeding the six weeks infant keeping the infant in the care of Rizana though Sharia Law says the infant should be breast fed for two years.

When the child died the infants mother had repeatedly beaten Rizana forcing her to accept that she killed the infant. Then only she complained it to the Police.
Even psychologists and scholars were sent to meet the parents of the infant to convince them to give clemency on humanitarian grounds.
No government has taken such efforts earlier as this government to get clemency for a convict.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP): The government has only attempted to get the clemency for Rizana Nafeek.
But she has not committed any crime. The only mistake done by her is that she fed the infant.
But there is no evidence to say that she committed a murder. The government could have appealed for a re-trial. The only language known by Rizana is Tamil.
The government has to take a policy decision as to we should send our youth to these countries for employment.

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera (JHU): The number of Sri Lankan women going abroad to work as domestic helpers have increased. We know that they receive very low salaries, between Rs. 30,000 – Rs. 40,000. They have to work sometimes more than eight hours. This is very pathetic situation.

We must take action to stop sending Sri Lankan women abroad as domestic workers. We get our name tarnished if we continue to send our women abroad for domestic purposes.

Chandrani Bandara (UNP): Rizana had great hopes of returning to Sri Lanka. But ultimately she was executed brutally. Therefore, the government at least now should take measures to stop sending Sri Lankan women as domestic helpers especially to the Middle Eastern countries. UNP MP Ajith P. Perera takes the Chair.

Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle (UPFA): It is prohibited sending children below 18 years abroad for domestic purposes according to the Child Rights Convention. Children under 18 years are not mentally and physically fit enough to hold responsibilities.

Dayasiri Jayasekera (UNP): There should be a proper programme to look after the Sri Lankan female workers in the Middle East countries. The government should implement proper mechanism to protect dignity of Sri Lankan women working abroad.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA): Some extremist elements are trying to created differences between Sinhalese and Muslims. We must try to defeat these extremists. All the Muslim MPs met President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently. He assured that he will not allow any extremist elements to rise here.
Sharia Law is a divine law and no one can call it as a brutal law.

Thalatha Athukorala (UNP): The government must take action to stop sending Sri Lankan women abroad as domestic workers. Many Sri Lankan migrant workers are suffering a lot in prisons in Middle East countries. Officials in Sri Lankan Embassies in those countries have not even listened to their grievances.

Kabir Hashim (UNP): We have a question whether government has fulfilled its responsibility properly in the Rizana’s case. The government has failed in its responsibilities. Why the Ministerial officials did not prove Rizana’s innocence.

Upeaksha Swarnamalee (UPFA): The government officials under the instructions of President Rajapaksa, took maximum efforts to get pardon for Rizana.
The government is working to give due recognition and dignity to migrant workers under the “Rata Viruwo” programme.

Ajith Kumara (Independent member): ‘Death of Rizana is a result of a social and economic crisis in the country. Today a large number of Sri Lankan male and female workers going abroad. This is very high when compaired to goods and items exporting to other countries. This is a very pathetic situation.

Dilan Perera (Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister): Rizana Nafeek went abroad using a forged passport. The fault falls on us. For this parents, Grama Seva Niladhari, AGA, GA, Passport office, Agency, Ganga organization which provides medicals are all responsible to for this tragic incident.

I will take action against this Ganga institution as there are many misconducts taking place. We appealed in that case. As Kabir Hashim said the Sharia Law did not properly applied there.

There is no murder committed in this incident that is why I took over this matter. If it was a murder case incident should be dealt by the External Affairs Minister.

According to Sharia Law we did not have any other alternative other than pleading for clemency. Even the king cannot pardon only the parents of the infant could do so. The king Saudi Arabia too attempted to get pardon twice. We went to Saudi Arabia to get the pardon. Members Azwer, and Thaufik, Rizana’s mother, father, Maulavi of the mosque in Rizana’s village went to Saudi Arabia.

But they refused to meet us. Then we went to see the infant’s grandfather and explained the situation. The king of Saudi Arabia dared to pay 3 million Riyals. We too said we will pay any amount of blood money. But it failed.

The opposition members have a wretched satisfaction over the execution of Rizana Nafeek.
Today a Cabinet decision was reached on my request, the minimum age to go to Saudi Arabia for employment was increased to 25 years from 21 years. It was increased to 23 from 21 regarding other countries.

The Parliament was adjourned for February 6.