PARLIAMENT

‘Govt made every effort to rescue Rizana’

Sandasena Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met yesterday at 1 pm. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up Vote of No Confidence on Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera moved by UNP MP Ajith P. Perera.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP):

We all know that an underaged Sri Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek was executed in Saudi Arabia following a summary proceeding for a crime for which she was not responsible in any manner. The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau which comes under the purview of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera totally failed to extend meaningful support to Rizana Nafeek and as a result she had to die an untimely and tragic death. The minister while totally mismanaging these issues is engaged in a futile attempt to shift the blame squarely on the government of Saudi Arabia. He should be shouldering the responsibility for this incident. Therefore, Parliament resolves that it no longer has faith in the ability of Dilan Perera to serve as the Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister. The government could not prevent Rizana being executed. She has not committed any crime. The only mistake done by her was that she fed that infant. But there is no evidence to say that she committed a murder. The government could have appealed for a retrial. The government has failed to fulfill it responsibilities of saving Rizana’s life.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris:

The President, officials of the External Affairs Ministry together with Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry and the Diplomatic Corps took measures to release her.

We sent many delegations to Saudi Arabia to discus the matter with the officials in Saudi Arabia. They pleaded for a pardon to her. We made our maximum effort to rescue her. It is wrong to point finger to Minister Dilan Perera that he has failed in saving her life. Several other countries too pleaded for the life of this girl.

But according to the laws of Saudi Arabia, she could only be pardoned with the approval of her family. Even earlier in the day, before her execution, the Sri Lankan government had made another appeal on behalf of Rizana and there was a positive response. But later, in the evening, the Saudi Authorities had carried out their law though the Sri Lankan government expected her to be set free. 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’ decision remained unchanged. Despite all the efforts we made, the girl was executed. But we can not criticize the laws of a friendly country.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva:

TNA MP Sumanthiran stated that he is opposed the no confidence motion. So when several MPs in the Opposition had opposed the no-confidence motion, why the UNP wants to take it up.

The Opposition failed in proving Minister Dilan Perera’s inabilities and inefficiency. Has he made any false statements?

Has he neglected his duties in this regard? The minister made his maximum efforts to rescue Rizana’s life Therefore, it is useless to bring a no confidence motion against him. The Opposition is trying to gain a political mileage through this incident. Even psychologists and scholars were sent to meet the parents of the infant to convince them to give clemency to her on humanitarian grounds.

No government has taken such efforts earlier as this government to get clemency for an incident of this nature.

M.A. Sumanthiran (TNA):

I do not agree to the pertaining matters of the no-confidence motion on Minister Dilan Perera. Therefore, I oppose the motion. The government should put an end to sending Sri Lankan women to Middle East as house maid as it is nothing less than a slave trade. Foreign employment agencies that send underage individuals for foreign employment should be closed down and their owners punished. This is an unfortunate incident. The most important point in Rizana’s case was the fact that she was underage, which was never clearly pointed out by the local authorities to the Saudi authorities.

Sunil Handunetti (DNA):

The question arises as to why ‘Rizanas’ have to go abroad for employment. It is because of poverty. But we have not been able to mete out justice to Rizana. Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on children’s Rights which prevents the execution of persons for crimes committed below 18 years. There should be a proper programme to ensure security of Sri Lankan migrant workers. Most workers are suffering.

Officials in Sri Lankan Embassies in those countries have not even listened to their grievances.

Ranjan Ramanayake (UNP):

Rizana was sent to Saudi Arabia on forged documents by a job agent. She was underage and unfit to be employed as a nanny to look after a four-month-old baby.

The job agent and the officers who issued a passport to Rizana on forged documents should be held responsible for the crime. The government could not prevent Rizana being executed. So how could this government protect our employees abroad? About Rs. 6 billion is remitted to Sri Lanka by migrant workers. But 90 percent of these employees are subjected to harassment.

Ports and Highway Project Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardene:

All Sri Lankans were shocked on hearing the execution of Rizana Nafeek. UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake spoke in a malicious manner.

He made personnel allegations against the minister. That is wrong.

MP Ranjan Ramanayake has breached the faith of one woman by giving false promises.

This is not a film. You know recently one who travelled in the business class in a plane was sent to economy class as his behaviour was nil.

However, the President and Minister Dilan Perera and others attempted to get pardon for Rizana. But everything was decided according to Sharia Law. Don’t try to get political mileage selling the death of Rizana. I have to say Dilan Perera has rendered a greater service in this ministry than I did as the former Minister.

Joseph Michael Perera (UNP):

Rizana was sent abroad using a forged passport. According to Sharia Law in Saudi Arabia, the pardon cannot be obtained to Rizana who was convicted. But why was a letter sent to king of Saudi Arabia to release her?

Rizana was an underage girl. The government could have convicted those who made forged documents and informed it to the government of Saudi Arabia. But it was not done. It was not done by the External Affairs Ministry.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa:

I studied no confidence motions moved since 1948. Most of them were against the government while the rest were against the behaviour of certain members, including speakers and deputy speakers. They were regarding personal behaviour or misusing the office of a minister or a member. But here in this no confidence motion against Dilan Perera, the concern is on a long process. So I request when such no confidence motions were moved against a member, it should be against his personal behaviour.

You know Rizana went abroad on May 4, 2005. The alleged murder was committed on May 22, 2005. The case was field on June 24, 2006. The appeal was filed the same year. Then Foreign Minister was Mangala Samaraweera.

Dilan Perera took his ministry as the Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister on December 11, 2010. So, the no confidence motion should be moved not against Dilan Perera.

He completed 25 years in his political career. I declare that he has rendered a great service without earning a penny.

So, we have only to move a confidence motion to appreciate Minister Dilan Perera. There is a dramatic change in the field of sending youths to Foreign employment. He initiated to send trained employees for foreign employment. He has taken measures to provide scholarships for the children of ‘Rata Viruwo’ (those who go for foreign employment). He also initiated a mechanism to enable these ‘Rata Viruwos’ to construct houses while they work overseas.

Jayalath Jayawardena (UNP):

In 2011, only 697 below 17 years and 690 below 19 years have left for foreign employment. The Foreign Employment Bureau has received 5,260 complaints from Saudi Arabia in 2011. More than half of the women go abroad for employment are housemaids.

Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem:

It is obvious that the UNP has moved this motion to get political benefits. But the UNP is like a broken bus and it cannot be given a life through this no confidence motion. When this incident occurred, I was in Opposition. As an Opposition Islam member, I sent a letter to the parents of the child. However, the legal processes in these two countries are different.

In another incident in Saudi Arabia, two British nurses were convicted for murder of an Australian citizen. However, these two nurses were pardoned only when a brother of the Australian National pardoned the two nurses. Their law was applicable to outsiders in Saudi Arabia.

The Opposition should not do unnecessary political dramas.

There were two editorials in two newspapers that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is to quit the government. But it is not correct and we have no such an idea.

Human Resources Minister DEW Gunasekara:

If the Opposition wanted to move a no-confidence motion, it should have been against the government not against Minister Dilan Perera.

We know that Dilan Perera took a great effort to get pardon to Rizana. Our President and their king attempted to get pardon for Rizana.

Now in this new globalization concept, the labour too has been globalized. So various new laws have to be introduced.

P Ariyanathiran (TNA):

Though four years are to be lapsed after the elimination of terrorism, around 260 former LTTE carders are detained. Why are not they released?

Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma:

I realize this situation as a conflict between International Law and Sharia Law.

The Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Council and other institutions attempted to get pardon for Rizana. No body here made any complaint against those institutions.

If the Opposition genuinely needed to discuss this matter of Rizana, it could have discussed sending only trained employees for foreign employment and such topics. But without discussing them, the Opposition attempted only to get a political mileage. At the silver Jubilee of Dilan Perera in his political career which fell yesterday I think this motions is a gift to him as it appreciates him.

Namal Rajapaksa (UPFA):

The leader of this country as well as the King of Saudi Arabia attempted to prove the innocence of Rizana. But we know that no body can interfere to change the law or the legal process in another country. Though it is so, the President, Minister Dilan Perera and others attempted to get pardon for Rizana.

The service rendered by Minister Dilan Perera in the field of foreign employment is so vast. He initiated to send trained employees to foreign employment. We wish Minister Dilan Perera a good future at this occasion when he completes 25 years in politics.

Minister Perera is rendering a unique service to improve the livelihoods of migrant workers. The government is working for welfare and well-being of the migrant workers. Training courses have been introduced to improve their skills.

Uditha Lokubandara (UPFA):

Our government has done everything to uplift the livelihoods of migrant workers. The service rendered by Minister Perera in this regard should be appreciated.

Malani Fonseka (UPFA):

Minister Dilan Perera is rendering a yeomen service for the well-being of migrant workers.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair.

The Opposition has brought this no confidence motion with the aim of gaining a political mileage.

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen:

Whoever going to Saudi Arabia should abide by the ‘Sharia’ law. The government and Minister Dilan Perera made maximum efforts to rescue her.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage:

MP Ranjan Ramanayake misled Parliament. You must have collected true information before moving this motion. You were engaged in slinging mud to Minister Perera during the debate.

Coconut Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara:

Minister Dilan Perera has been engaged in politics for 25 years. He is an honest politician. He is one of greatest politicians hailed from Uva.

J C Ranga (Independent):

The government should provide all facilities to improve the livelihoods of the people in the North and East.

Construction, Engineering and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa:

MP Ranjan Ramanayake has shown his film ‘Parliament Jokes’ by moving this non-confidence motion today. This is actually a joke. There is no useful and correct information in this motion. It was based on false information.

R Yogarajan (UNP):

All the MPs in the government are only engaged in slinging mud to the Opposition. They did not say anything useful. The government has failed in fighting on behalf of Rizana in the courts of Saudi Arabia.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera:

I have been engaged in politics for the past 25 years without using public money. Is it wrong to do politics honestly in this country? You may can move some more no-confidence motions, but you cannot stop my political career. I have given assurances to Rizana’s parents. All these assurances and hopes will be made reality in future. I will continue my political career and no one can interrupt my political career.

The House was adjourned until 1 pm today.