Parliament

Condolence vote on P. C. Imbulana presented in House

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

The Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1.30 pm yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions the House took up the condolence motion of the late Parliamentarian and Minister P. C. Imbulana. Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva moved the condolence motion.

Nimal Siripala de Silva (Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister: I move the condolence motion of the late Parliamentarian P. C. Imbulana who was the MP for the Ruwanwella electorate, Labour Minister and Governor for Uva and Central Provinces. He was born in Dedigama, had his education at Ruwanwella Vidyalaya and continued his studies at Trinity College, Kandy.

He commenced his career as a Police Inspector. He was elected to Parliament in 1960 for the first time. He was again elected to Parliament in 1965 and was appointed Food and Agriculture Deputy Minister. He was re-elected in 1977 and in 1985. He was appointed as the Labour Minister. He was a humble politician who supported the poor, the rich and also his political opponents alike.

He was also appointed as Housing and Construction Deputy Minister and Local Government Deputy Minister under former President J. R. Jayawardene and as Labour Minister under former President R. Premadasa. He also became the first Governor of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council when PCs were first set up in 1988.

Later, he also served as Governor of the Central Province until his retirement from politics in 1994. He launched a number of programmes for the benefit of Sri Lankans during his tenure as Food and Agriculture Deputy Minister, Local Government Deputy Minister, and Housing and Construction Deputy Minister. The late Imbulana was a politician who rendered yeoman service to his electorate in Ruwanwella.

He took leadership to upgrade facilities in the Ruwanwella area. He was an honest politician who was always respected by the people of Ruwanwella. He proved himself as a people's leader. He was an exemplary politician. He was also able to win the love and affection of the common man as well as members of the UNP.

Ranil Wickremesinghe (Opposition Leader): The late P.C. Imbulana was one of most senior members of the UNP. He did yeoman service to take the UNP forward.

He rendered very significant service to the country as a Minister and Deputy Minister. His motto was serving the people. He never earned money through politics. He always honoured and respected parliamentary traditions.

The people of Ruwanwella will never forget him and his service.

Y.G. Padmasiri (UPFA): The late MP P.C. Imbulana began his political career as Village Committee Chairman of Ruwanwella for a long period. He was an honest politician who always spoke the truth. His service was not only limited to politics. He was a social worker and donated his wealth to uplift the livelihoods of the poor people.

John Amaratunga (UNP): The late P.C. Imbulana was one of the great politicians in Sri Lanka. He was a good scholar and a skillful rugger player. He rendered a yeoman service to the nation as a Deputy Minister and Minister. Actually, he was a distinguished politician with great humane qualities.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP): The late MP P.C. Imbulana loved the people and worked to solve the common man's grievances. He rendered yeoman service to the country as Housing and Construction Deputy Minister.

He was a strength to the late President Premadasa to implement large scale housing construction projects for the benefit of homeless people. He was a simple man and was loved by all. He was a great man who gave a new lease of life to the poor people of the country.

Nandimithra Ekanayake (Higher Education Deputy Minister): The late Imbulana rendered much service for the development of the housing sector in Sri Lanka. He was an active participant of all the development activities in the housing field during the UNP regime. He was an exemplary character. He never harassed his political opponents.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP): The late P.C. Imbulana was one of the founder members of the UNP. He was a genuine politician who was committed to the service of the people. He was loved by all. He always thought about the poor people when he took decisions.

Thalatha Athukorala (UNP): The late Imbulana was a humble and honest leader in the UNP. He rendered unique service to the public. He had a very close relationship with the people. That was why he was elected to parliament with a majority of votes. He was a real gentlemen.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA): He was a gentleman of qualities. He was recognized by the people as one of the genuine and humble politicians of Sri Lanka. He was a down to earth politician in the country. He contributed to the agricultural revival in the country during his tenure as Food and Agriculture Deputy Minister.

Gayantha Karunathilake (UNP): Copies of the Hansard containing the speeches made by the members of both parties of the House during the condolence vote, will be sent to the family of the late MP P.C. Imbulana.

The House was adjourned until 1 pm on March 5.

Minister advises Ranil not to be misled

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday advised the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe not to be mislead by incorrect information given to him by his informants, as it was not good for his future career.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva gave this advice to Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament yesterday when the Opposition Leader made a statement under Standing Order 23(2) in connection with a consignment of Kenyan ivory which was taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Customs last May, on information received from the Kenyan authorities.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that the Opposition Leader has been misled by his informants this time as well, as he was misled on many previous occasions. The minister said that the consignment of ivory has not been taken out of the Customs as stated by the Opposition leader but is still kept sealed in the Customs premises. He added that no decision has been reached in connection with the consignment of the tusks. Steps will be taken according to regulations.

The Opposition Leader making his statement said that he learnt that a decision had been reached to present those ivory tusks to temples. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that he was pleased that the Opposition leader is concerned with elephants in forests although the tusks of young elephants Dayasiri and Buddhika have been removed.

'Colombo lands will not be acquired arbitrarily'- minister

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Chief government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday stated that lands in Colombo city will not be acquired arbitrarily for the Colombo City Development Project.

He said in Parliament that there is a plan designed for development purposes as everybody knows and lands which come under this project only, will be acquired.

He stated that these development projects are conducted under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Secretary to the Defence and Urban Development Ministry Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in a far better manner than that the UNP did.

The minister was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Rosy Senanayake. The minister said that if the MP enquires from the Mayor, she can have a better look at the Colombo City Development Plan and its map.

Vehicle fraud referred to CID for investgations

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama yesterday stated that the government is aware of a fraud committed to the tune of Rs. 6,400 million by replacing old vehicles with assembled vehicles and using old number plates. He added that the matter had been handed over to the CID and that investigations are in progress. He added that after the Tsunami catastrophe, the government permitted the import of 2,000 vehicle bodies and that later they were registered. However there are around 19,000 such assembled vehicles.

He made these observations in response to a question raised by UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana.