Parliament

Unproductive Parliamentary Scholarship Board Bill repealed

Sandasen 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 gave the approval to pass the Registration of Electors (Special Provisions) Bill. The House took up Parliamentary Scholarship Board (Repeal) Bill for debate.

Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva:

This motion aims to repeal the Parliamentary Scholarship Board Bill. This board was set up to grant scholarships for post graduate studies. So far, only three scholarships have been given. The board would not achieve its objectives. Therefore, the President has given instructions to abolish the board.

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (UNP):

The UNP expresses its opposition over the repeal of this Act. The Act was introduced by the UNP regime with the aim of providing financial assistance for Sri Lankan students following post graduate studies. This is an attempt to curtail free education. Though the government has pledged to create Sri Lanka as a hub of knowledge in Asia, it is engaged in curtailing facilities and funds to education.

It is necessary to improve skills and knowledge of students by granting them scholarships in foreign countries. But with the repeal of this Act, students will lose the opportunity to obtain foreign scholarships.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake:

The Parliamentary Scholarship Board was not successful. Over 200 children annually go abroad for education. In addition, post graduate institutes functioning under the Higher Education Ministry provide educational opportunities. Those who wants these facilities will be provided by the Presidential Secretariat. We have received 494 scholarships for Lankan students to go abroad.

Sunil Hadunnetti (DNA):

Minister S.B. Dissanayake said no students have been granted scholarships since the establishment of the Parliamentary Scholarship Board. This is a false statement. The board has given three scholarships to students. The government should take measures to restructure this institution for the benefit of children without abolishing it. The government's economic policy has resulted in closing down of many institutions which provide facilities for the poor people.

Environment Minister Susil Premajayantha:

Deputy Chairman of Committees Murugesu Chandrakumar takes the Chair.

The Presidential Secretariat is engaged in granting scholarships to students engaged in research in various fields. The National Centre for scholarship is granting scholarships to students engaged in higher education. But the Parliamentary Scholarship Board has granted only three scholarships.

The Board has failed to fulfil its duties. That is why we want to abolish this institution.

P. Harison (UNP):

The government has failed to provide facilities for school and university students, teachers and university lecturers. There are over 1,600 university lecturers out of the permanent cadre. The government has failed to fulfil the promises given through Mahinda Chinthana for the betterment of education. The programme of providing a glass of milk for schoolchildren commenced during the late President R. Premadasa regime has been halted. Why is the government unable to continue this programme?

Shantha Bandara (UPFA):

We have taken a decision to abolish this board since it has failed to provide any service for the country. It is our responsibility to take action against any institution which does not serve the people.

It is useless to allocate state funds to institutions if they don't deliver the expected results. We want to invest this money in efficient and fruitful manner to assist students.

Gayantha Karunathileke (UNP):

This Act was adopted with the aim of granting scholarships to students who are following post graduate courses in foreign universities. This has become a big relief for the people who are unable to bear up expenses in foreign universities. The board rendered a yeoman service to the people. But with the repeal of the board, students would lose the opportunity to enter into foreign universities for post graduate studies.

A H M Azwer (UPFA):

Shriyani Wijewickrama takes the Chair.

I said this Act should be abolished if it is not serving the country in 2011. It is the President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government which has provided extensive service for the people for the past few years. A massive development drive is taking place in the North and East where the war prevailed for 30 years.

New highways, airports, fisheries harbours, housing schemes and schools have been constructed.

Ajith P Perera (UNP):

This institution was neglected by the government. The government should take the responsibility of this failure. The government let this institution go defunct without appointing officials to the board and providing facilities for it.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP):

Though the government promised to provide mid-day meals for all schoolchildren, only 27 percent of the students receive their mid-day meals. The government has neglected the balance 73 percent.

J R P Suriyapperuma (UPFA):

It is reported that only three students have been granted scholarships under this scheme. Therefore, it is useless to allocate money to run this institution. That is why we took measures to repeal this Act. The government has provided facilities to strengthen the education of 4.5 million schoolchildren in Sri Lanka.

Ajith Mannapperuma (UNP):

We debate on the Parliamentary Scholarship Board (Repeal) Bill. This is not a positive move. The government is weakening free education. It came to power showing scholarships. Students should be given technological knowledge. But it is being prevented by such moves. Mahinda Chintana has it that scholarships would be given to educated youths from rural areas. But his move contradicts the vision.

Anoma Gamage (UNP):

This act was introduced to provide scholarships for the youths to follow post graduate degrees overseas. I don't know as to why this programme is to be cancelled. Provincial councillors are punishing teachers. But everybody is silent.

Health Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake:

The newly elected member tried to say that scholarships are to be cancelled. It is not true. This was introduced in 2002. It has wasted a lot of money. We have also developed facilities at the Hardy College in Ampara as a result of Deyata Kirula. Anoma Gamage has not seen them.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair.

Development is flowing to rural areas. Deyata Kirula was initiated as a challenge amid terrorist threats. We wanted to show the people the development measures taken by the government during that period.

Whatever the UNP says, the people are with us as the government serves the people. During the Premadasa Regime, teaching appointments were given to teachers who failed maths at O/L.

The IT literacy rate in 2005, When Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the government, was eight percent. But it has increased to 35 percent by 2012 and measures are in progress to increase it further.

Only 35 percent of the applicants were qualified to do A/L in 2005 but it increased to 65 percent. The unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in 2005 but it has lowered to four percent. This is development.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa ended terrorism as promised.

At adjournment

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed to develop the road network in the world heritage Kandy city without causing any harm to the features of the city, the sacred Dalada Maligawa and Maha Viharaya, said Port and Highways Project Minister Nirmala Kotalawala. He made this observation in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella.

Port and Highways Project Minister Nirmala Kotalawala:

There are 130,000 people in the Kandy city. Around 360,000 people come to Kandy daily. There are around 25,000 vehicles owners in the city. We have started to develop roads in Kandy.

We have completed the first phase of the four track road from Gatambe to Katugastota. Construction of two overhead bridges has been completed. One of three tunnels is being constructed. A tunnel is proposed to be constructed from Peradeniya to Tennekumbura. We are taking measures to develop the road network in Kandy while protecting the Temple of Tooth Relic and Maha Viharaya. The city will be developed aiming 1,000 years future. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed to do so in line with the request made by Chief Buddhist prelates.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella moved the adjournment motion stating that an alternative road should be set up in Kandy to reduce the traffic congestion.

UNP MP Anoma Gamage seconded the motion. UNP MP Ajith Perera and UPFA MP A H M Azwer also spoke.

The Parliamentary Scholarship Board (8 Repeal) Bill was passed.

The House was adjourned until 1 pm today.

Registration of Electors Bill passed

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

The Registration of Electors (Special Provisions) Bill was passed with amendments yesterday.

The Bill was presented as an urgent bill to Parliament earlier this month.

The Bill was passed after the Government and Opposition agreed to approve it after it was discussed at a consultative committee.

The Bill presented by Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem will enable IDPs displaced from the North between May 1, 1983 and May 18, 2009 to register to vote if they have not been registered as voters in any other electoral district.

'Institutions worked together to save fishermen'

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

Twenty one fishermen and others who were admitted to hospitals could be saved due to the operations by all institutions as there was a commendable coordination among institutions despite the adverse weather situation on June 8, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday. He made this observation in Parliament in response to a special statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe under standing order 23 (2).

Minister Senaratne said 21 fishermen who were admitted to hospitals could be saved. The Air Force saved six fishermen under severe weather conditions.

The Fisheries Ministry, Department, Air Force, Navy, Army, Police and other authorities worked together to save lives. He said the Navy deployed three ships: Suranimala, Sayura, Jayasagara, 10 dhoras and many other vessels while the Air Force deployed two helicopters and a beach craft though the Opposition Leader said that the Air Force had deployed only one helicopter. He said the Navy had enough experience to handle such a situation though the Opposition Leader complained of not taking assistance from India.

The Minister questioned as to how long it will take for the Indian Navy to reach fishermen. Minister Senaratne said Rs 73.2 million is needed to provide reliefs for the affected fishermen and their families.

The minister said even developed countries like USA have not been able to face national disasters despite their modern technologies.

"However, our operations saved many vessels that were caught in the storm", he said.

The minister said 51 died, eight were missing while 84 small vessels were completely destroyed and 76 were partially damaged under the severe weather condition.

He said the government took measures to provide financial assistance for the families of 51 fishermen died, to conduct their funerals. He said measures have been taken to provide dry rations for all the families of the deceased and these who went missing. The minister said the families of deceased fishermen will get at least a Rs 100,000 allowance and other benefits under the insurance scheme introduced to fisherfalk two years ago. Vessels and other equipment will be provided for those whose vessels were completely destroyed. Minister Senaratne said though the Opposition Leader said the use of life jackets by fishermen has not been made compulsory by law, it was made compulsory in 2008 and more than 5,000 life jackets have been given to them. But monitoring them is not practical as there are 946 fisheries harbours. Fishermen also use their own places on the beach to sail.

The minister said a policy has been formulated to ensure the protection of fishermen.

He said a pension scheme has been introduced to fishermen, but their interest in the scheme is poor.

"I took measures to provide reliefs for all affected fishermen even in 2011 though there were no provisions, I took measures to provide a Rs 100,000 allowance for the families of deceased fishermen", he said.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe moving the motion said there was no proper coordination among the institutions. The government has no money to provide reliefs for fishermen and organizational powers to rescue the lives of fishermen in such a disaster. The putting on life saving jackets has not been made compulsory, the Opposition Leader said.

No intention to increase water bills

Sandasen Marasinghe and Irangika Range

The government has not increased water bills nor has it any intention to do so, contrary to a rumour being spread by an opposition MP , Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. He made this observation in Parliament yesterday raising a privilege issue.