Parliament

Parliament moves votes of condolence on late ex-MPs

Sandasena Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided when Parliament met at 1.30 pm yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the Votes of Condolence on the late ex-MP Susil Moonesinghe and late ex-MP P. R. Ratnayake.

Nimal Siripala de Silva (Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister):

I present the condolence motion of ex-MP Susil Moonesinghe. Born on February 11, 1930 he rendered yeoman service as a Colombo District MP and Chief Minister of the Western Province Council. He was the son of Piyadasa Munasinghe and Seetha Munasinghe.

He was educated at Royal College and displayed his talents in both the education and sports fields. He entered the Law faculty of the Colombo University where he obtained his law degree. In 1970 he joined the SLFP and was appointed a Southern Province chief SLFP organiser.

He was then appointed as Director General, SLBC and later became the Chairman of the SLBC. In 1978 he joined the UNP. He contested the first Provincial Council elections in 1978 and was elected as the first Western Province Chief Minister. As the Chief Minister he rendered much service to the nation.

He entered Parliament following the 1994 general elections representing the Colombo District. He was appointed as Ambassador to Iran in 2000 and was instrumental in developing relations between Iran and Sri Lanka during his tenure.

He won the love and affection from the common man as well as members of his party. He has served the nation irrespective of party, religion or race. He was recognised by the people as one of the genuine and humble politicians of Sri Lanka.

Ranil Wickremesinghe (Opposition Leader):

Susil Moonesinghe was a well-known person who earned the love of the people. I first met the late MP Susil Moonesinghe when he was Chairman of SLBC. I was able to work with him closely after he became the Western Province Chief Minister. He had a very good vision. As a Western Province Chief Minister, he rendered a unique service to the society. He was a very active member in Parliament as well.

Dinesh Gunawardene (Water Supply and Drainage Minister):

Susil Moonesinghe was a close relative of the late Anagarika Dharmapala. That is why, he had a good understanding about customs, Buddhist practices and traditions of Sri Lanka. He tried to make the people aware of local customs, Buddhist practices and traditions.

He did not consider party politics and worked hard to serve the country. We should recognise him as a great person who always worked to protect the identity of Sri Lanka.

John Amaratunga (UNP):

Susil Moonesinghe was a well educated politician. He worked tirelessly for the victory of the party and rendered a yeomen service to develop the Western Province as it's Chief Minister. He did not misuse his powers at all.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the chair

Sarath Amunugama (Finance and planing Deputy Minister):

Susil Moonesinghe was an exemplary politician. He maintained cordial relations with all other political parties. He modernised the SLBC as its Chairman. There were large scale development activities taking place in the SLBC during his tenure. He entered Parliament in 1994. He had a very cordial relationship with both government and Opposition MPs. He was a very pleasant character.

R. Yogarajan (UNP):

Susil Moonesinghe was a very simple person and a good leader. He gave good advice and led upcoming politicians. He was an honest politician who always spoke the truth within and outside the party. He was a gentlemen politician. He will always be in our hearts.

Susil Premajayantha (Petroleum Industries Minister):

Susil Moonesinghe rendered a yeoman service to the Western Province as the Chief Minister. He served the country with maximum effort representing two main political streams, the UNP and SLFP.

Karu Jayasuriya (UNP):

He had a good religious background and always tried to protect the country's national heritage. He was also a well-known businessman in the private sector. He became the first Chief Minister in the first Provincial Council set up in the Western Province.

A. H. M. Azwer (UPFA):

Susil Moonasinghe hailed from a very distinguished Buddhist family. He acquired a large knowledge and experience. He was elected to the Avissawella electorate. He had two brothers Anil and Mangala Moonasinghe.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu in Chair:

I order that the copies of the condolence motion be sent to the relatives of the late Susil Moonasinghe.

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

I move the condolence motion of the late Parliamentarian from Mawanella, P. R. Ratnayake. He was a founder member of the UPFA. He was born in Kumbalgama on November 20, 1926 and was educated at Sri Indrajothi Vidyalaya in Paranagama and in two schools in Kotte and improved his English knowledge at the Mahabodhi school in Maradana. He was elected a member of the Kumbalgama Village Council. Later he was elected to Parliament, representing the Mawanella Electorate and took measures to improve the Health sector in his area. He was also a clever businessman. The people provided him with a car to engage in politics. He was appointed Transport Deputy Minister.

The CTB was able to earn profits by implementing the recommendations of the Transport Reform Committee under the Chairmanship of P. R. Ratnayake. Later he was appointed as the Deputy Minister for Local and External Trade.

Ratnayake rendered much service to Buddhism and took measures to recommence the Hendala Purana Viharaya perahera. Later he acted as the Basnayake Nilame of the procession for several years. He died at the age of 87 on January 05, 2013.

Ranil Wickremasinghe (Opposition Leader):

I first met P. R. Ratnayake in 1970. I associated him closely when he expressed his support to the UNP. Though he initiated his political career from Mawanella he lived in Hendala during the last two decades of his life. What I appreciate in him are his humanistic qualities.

Today such politicians are very rare.

Dr. Jagath Balasuriya (National Heritage Minister):

I have associated P. R. Ratnayake closely for nearly two and a half decades. P. R. Ratnayake, was a gentleman politician. He did not engage in politics to earn or amass money but to serve the people.

He studied at Ananda Sasthralaya when E. W. Adikaram was the Principal. His uncle was Anagarika Devapiya Walisinghe. He rendered a great service to the people in his electorate.

Janaka Bandara takes the Chair

Lalith Dissanayake (Health Deputy Minister):

P. R. Ratnayake initiated his career from Kumbalgama. As an MP he developed many roads in his electorate and built three bridges which are of great benefit to the people.

John Amaratunga (UNP):

I associated P. R. Ratnayake when he came to the Hendala area. He was a man of great humanistic and humble qualities. Not only the people of Mawanella, but the people in Hendala and Wattala too, loved him. He rendered a great service to Buddhism as well. He joined the Mahabodi Sangamaya in India to study. Then he came back in the late 1940 and joined politics.

M.K.A.D.S. Guanwardena (Buddhism and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister):

P.R. Ratnayake was appreciated by all Sinhala and Muslims in Mawanella. He was committed to serve Buddhism more than an ordinary Buddhist. In July 1960 he was elected to Parliament from the Mawanella electorate. He was a founding member of the SLFP and was the Kegalle District Leader of the SLFP during Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranayake's regime. He rendered a great service as the Deputy Transport Minister.

Karu Jayasuriya (UNP):

P.R. Ratnayake rendered a great service to the country. I met him when I was the Major of Colombo. He expressed his support to the UNP.

He was a Deputy Minister and rendered a great service to Buddhism and to the Aluth Nuwara Devalaya. His children are presently rendering a great service to the society.

Kamala Ranatunga (UPFA):

He was a close associate of the Bandaranaike family. He was the Commence Deputy Minister and Transport Deputy Minister. He was a clever organiser and an eloquent orator. He could talk for hours without any difficulty He and his wife was a strength to the SLFP.

At Adjournment

Illegal migrant workers in Saudi Arabia will be brought down soon

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera told Parliament yesterday that the government is conducting talks with the Saudi government to obtain an extension to the amnesty granted to the 15,000 Sri Lankan workers remaining illegally in that country and to get them down as soon aspossible. The Minister was responding to the adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake.

Ranjan Ramanayake (UNP):

Most of the Sri Lankan migrant workers are in Saudi Arabia. They have been suffering there for a long time. There is no legislation to protect either them or their rights. Most of the migrant workers are stranded in Saudi Arabia for quite some time. Immediate measures should be taken to bring them back to Sri Lanka.

Ajith P. Perera (UNP):

We have a question as to whether Minister Dilan Perera has been able to fulfill his duties properly, during his tenure. As the Foreign Employment Promotion Minister he has failed in fulfilling his responsibilities. There are nearly 6,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers employed in Saudi Arabia. Most of them are suffering and several of them have been stranded. The minister should take measures to bring them back to the country.

Neomal Perera (External Affairs Deputy Minister):

This is quite a baseless allegation. The Saudi government has taken a decision to remove all illegal migrant workers in that country. As they do not have visas, they had to be issued with temporary passes. If they wish to stay further in Saudi Arabia, they have to renew their visas. Around 9,000 temporary passes have already been issued to these illegal migrants.

Sri Ranga (UNP):

Franchies should be given to Sri Lanka migrant workers.

Dilan Perera (Foreign Employment Promotion Minister):

This problem has affected Sri Lankan illegal migrant workers. There are nearly 15,000 Sri Lankan illegal migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Sri Lankan migrant workers cannot come at their will because there is a possibility that they could be fined and jailed at the exit point at the airport. That is why we have made special arrangement with the Saudi government to get them back to Sri Lanka. We have already issued emergency passports and necessary documents for over 15,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers.

Ekneligoda was met but left without talking - Arundika Fernando

A Sri Lankan national living in France pointed out Prageeth Ekneligoda who is said to have disappeared, to him in France, but Ekneligoda left without talking to him, said UPFA Parliamentarian Arundika Fernando raising a privilege issue in Parliament yesterday.

He also said according to his knowledge security and government intelligence units are taking measures within the existing frame of law to bring back Ekneligoda and other such persons to Sri Lanka, provided that they are being detained forcefully by any organization or by individuals.

MP Arundika Fernando said that he was not trying to cause any mental affects on Prageeth's children and that although some people are aware of his whereabouts they do not reveal it. Arundika Fernando stated in Parliament that one of his school friends and a media person living in France, showed him a short-stature person with a bald-head, and said that he was Prageeth Ekneligoda.

He added that Ekneligoda at once left the place without talking to him. MP Fernando further added that a large number of persons living in France know that Ekneligoda is living in France.

MP Arundika Fernando also stated that among a group which attempted to disturb a protest campaign organised to be held before the UN office in Geneva, people identified Sunanda Deshapriya who was wearing a turban. He added that people identified the short person with a bald head who was with Sunanda Deshapriya, as Prageeth Ekneligoda who is alleged to be missing.

He stated that he is of the view that if people who defray the country and nation live freely in other countries it would be their responsibility to return in the same manner that they left.

MP Fernando further stated that he said in Parliament on June 5, 2013 that he met a person in France, stated to be Prageeth Ekneligoda who had allegedly disappeared.

He added that certain sections of the media maliciously criticized his statement. MP Fernando also stated that Prageeth's wife Sandya Ekneligoda has stated at a media conference, that the government is responsible for her husband's disappearance and that the government should bring him back.

He said that if Sandya is a typical Asian wife, she should have inquired for her husband's whereabouts from him. He said that without doing so, she had held a media briefing, and acted as a cat's paw of certain people, which is unacceptable.

He added that by her behaviour it is obvious that she is well aware of her husband's whereabouts but acts in a treacherous manner.

He explained that for example, at one time she told BBC that as her husband wrote to various foreign diplomats in Sri Lanka that the government was attempting to destroy the people in the North by using chemical weapons, the government took measures to kidnap Ekneligoda. On another occasion, she wrote to foreign correspondents not to attend the International Conference of Writers which was scheduled to be held in Galle as there was a large number of murders and abductions taking place in Sri Lanka. He said he has great suspicions of the woman who has acted in such treacherous manner against the country.

Today technology is so developed that one can communicate using Chat, Skype, and Facebook and they cannot be monitored. One can create various accounts using fake names. MP Fernando said that though Ekneligoda's wife says that Ekneligoda did not have a passport, anyone in the country knows that there are a large number of people who went abroad through illegal means.

MP Fernando requested the Speaker to consider his privilege issue as various media violates his privileges.

Rail gates at level crossings

Transport Deputy Minister Rohan Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that 125 railway gates will be fixed at level crossings by June 31 this year. He stated that these gates will be fixed at a cost of Rs. 140 million. He made these observations in response to a question raised by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.