Parliament

Private members motions moved in House

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

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 private members motions for debate.

Buddhika Pathirana (UNP):

I present my private member motion proposing to utilize paddy lands that cannot be cultivated with paddy, for productive purposes. A programme should be formulated in this regard, in a manner that the law on paddy lands reclamation is not violated so that these lands could be utilized for productive agricultural crop cultivation only, without having any constructions put up in them.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the chair.

In the Matara District, there are many abandoned paddy lands which cannot be used for paddy cultivation. There are various reasons for this, including the acidity of the soil. Such lands in which paddy cultivation cannot be done, should be identified after a proper study. These lands should be used for alternate-crop cultivation. This private member motion was there in the Order Paper for about two years. I urge the minister to look into this matter without further delay and take appropriate action.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP):

I second the motion. I appreciate that the relevant minister is present in the House to listen and take part in this debate. However, only very few members from both sides are present in the House now. The ministers were not present to respond to the questions raised at the beginning. There was a delay in distributing today's Order Paper as well.

There should be an efficient management plan with regard to the cultivation lands in the country.

J. R. P. Sooriyapperuma (UPFA):

There are only 16 million acres land in Sri Lanka but there is a population of 20.5 million in the country. Accordingly, there is only 0.75 acre of land for each person when there should be at least 2 1/2 acres for each. During the period of the Kotte kingdom, the Dutch constructed the Hamilton Canal which made saline water flow into the Muthurajawela paddy fields. They devastated agriculture but now vegetable and other cultivation have increased five-fold. We export greens like Gotukola and are self-sufficient in maize. Also manioc is popular among people. Now there is a tendency to expand manioc cultivation and we certainly have to develop it.

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene (Agriculture Minister):

There are around 35,000 acres of paddy fields that were not cultivated. The government is taking measures to re-cultivate 5,000 acres of paddy fields. The government has invested initial capital to prepare these paddy fields, which were abandoned for around 30 years, under the Nilwala project for cultivation. The Act has provisions to cultivate other crops in abandoned fields. We are nearing self sufficiently in soya beans. I invite the opposition members to join with us to re-cultivate abandoned paddy fields.

Buddika Pathirana (UNP):

Though there are 5,000 abandoned acres of land under the Nilwala project, only 250 acres have been re-cultivated.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA):

I move that the development and promotion of the coconut industry and coconut resources be regularized. Since coconut occupies an important place among commercial products this Parliament resolves that meaningful steps be taken to regularize development and promote the coconut industry and coconut resources, which would be a significant contributor to the Gross Domestic Product of the country, while sustaining the resources and the environment.

R. Yogarajan taken the chair

J.R.P. Sooriyapperuma (UPFA):

We have a good coconut cultivation in the country. The Philippines and several other countries have levelled a challenge at us. That is why the President initiated a project two years ago to develop coconut cultivation. Coconut cultivation was earlier around 3,000 million nuts a year but it has dropped now.

At Adjournment

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP):

I suggest that liquor shops in the vicinity of the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy be removed though they function legally. I move this motion as the liquor shops near the Temple of the Tooth Relic is a disgrace to it and also to Buddhism.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP): I second the motion. The policy followed by this government is the Mathata Thitha. If this is implemented effectively, the consumption of liquor and cigarettes should decline. However, consumption has been rising gradually despite Mathata Thitha. The government should provide an example in this regard. Liquor shops adjacent to the Dalada Maligawa should be closed.

A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA):

This is a good proposal. It is mentioned in the constitution that the government ensures protection to Buddhism. According to the law of the country, liquor cannot be sold within a 500 meter radius of a religious place. This law should be adhered to.

Sunil Handuneeti (DNA):

What this motion requests is to put into action the policy of the government which is referred as Mathata Thitha. If the government is unable to practically implement this policy, it is the weakness of the government. We have reports that even formalin and urea have been mixed to liquor and sold at cheap prices in the local market.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP):

I request the government to pay attention to introduce new varieties of coconut plans that are suitable to urban and sub-urban regions. Moreover, coconut cultivation should be promoted as an industry. I also want to draw the attention of the House to the law entrance examination issue. I thank the authorities for allowing the students to sit for this year's examination based on the old syllabus.

Coconut Development and Janata Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara:

I appreciate this private member motion. I assumed duties as the Coconut Development Minister, when coconut prices in the local market was rising. I remember how an Opposition Party members brought half of a coconut to the Chamber saying that the price of half of a coconut was Rs. 35. We implemented short and long term strategies to bring down the price of coconuts. We have succeeded in our task. We have implemented a special programme to plant 52 million coconut saplings by 2016. The President has a keen interest in this industry. We have now started using modern technology for coconut cultivation with the aim of obtaining a bigger harvest. We have launched a website as well. We use skype technology to hold progress review meetings. We also promote various products from different parts of the coconut tree.

We hope to set up 7,100 Kapruka Purawara societies in the country by 2016. The coconut cultivation in the North and the East has been promoted. We have taken successful steps to control the spread of leaf wilt disease of coconut trees.

A. H. M. Azwer (UPFA):

I appreciate the endeavors of the coconut development minister. I thank the members who expressed their opinions to this motion.

Sunil Handunnetti (DNA):

I rise to a point of order. We still have not got the copies of the Bills included in the Order Paper today. According to the Standing Orders these bills should be tabled. Only 7 days are given to file cases in the Supreme Court if there is any deficiency in these bills and if we do not receive the bills today, we are deprived of this opportunity as today is a Friday and the House does not sit next week.

Leader of the House and Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva:

We distributed the Bills to every participant at the Party leaders meeting and we also scheduled dates for the debate of these bills.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP):

The bills should be presented to Parliament. There are many members who could not participate at the Party leaders meeting.

R. Yogarajan (in Chair):

The speaker promised that he would make sure the bills would be tabled before the conclusion of today's sittings.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva:

The Secretary General said the bills have already been received. We will take measures to place them on the tables of the members before the conclusion of today's sittings.

K. D. S. Gunawardene (Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister):

I am very happy that Lakshman Kiriella moved this adjournment motion. We are of the view that not only in Kandy but in all other religious cities liquor shops have to be removed. My personal view is that it is better if we could close all liquor shops.

If the people observe their religions properly the government will not need to impose these laws.

Raids and arrests of illicit liquor sellers and drugs dealers have been accelerated. We will take measures to remove those liquor shops with the support of other relevant institutions.

Parliament was adjourned until 9.30 am on March 19.

Only 15 Bills tabled in Parliament

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

The Presiding member in Parliament yesterday stated that Parliament accepted that only 15 Bills were tabled yesterday.

The Presiding member R. Yogarajan made this observation in response to a point of order raised by Opposition members.

Opposition members Ajith P. Perera, Sunil Handunnetti, Lakshman Kiriella argued that only 15 Bills were tabled in all three languages.

DNA MP Sunil Handunnetti stated that all 21 bill were tabled only in the English language.

UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer said that the Bills in all languages could be sent by post.

At this stage R. Yogarahan stated that Parliament accepts that only 15 Bills have been tabled. The Bills should be tabled in all three languages.

The Opposition members raised the point of order after the reply speech by Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Acting Minister M K A D S Gunawardena.

Condolence messages on Venezuelan President

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday in Parliament, approved a special statement expressing condolence on the passing away of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, at the commencement of sittings expressed the condolence of the government and tabled the condolence message of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Joining the sentiments Chief Opposition Whip and UNP MP John Amaratunga also expressed the condolence of the Opposition on behalf of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. DNA MP Anura Dissanayake on behalf of his Party stated that they salute Venezuelan President Chavez for resisting pressures of the imperial powers. The Speaker joining with the sentiments expressed by both sides, approved the condolence statements.

Duminda Silva granted leave

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

Parliament yesterday approved three months leave for UPFA Colombo District MP R. Duminda Silva.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva submitted the proposal to grant leave.

Accordingly MP Duminda Silva was granted permission to be absent from Parliament sittings from March 22, to June 22, 2013.