Reaffirming the Government’s utmost commitment to introduce a new constitution to suit the aspirations of all communities, President Maithripala Sirisena called upon the Joint Opposition (JO) not to propagate misinformation about the new constitution, to instigate the people and grab power, as such petty attempts would have an adverse impact on the future generation.
The President gave a firm assurance to the House that no finality has yet been reached on any issue of the constitution making process and all recommendations are discussed at length and are subject to amendments. The President also told the House, the Government has entered into such a broad consensus on the constitution making process for the future well being of the nation.
Participating in the Committee Stage debate on the Ministry of Defence, the President drew the attention of the House as to how some parties are campaigning against the new constitution to gain narrow political mileage, and their propaganda is aimed at painting a grim picture of the proposed constitution.
Misinformation
President Sirisena pointed out that a similar misinformation campaign has been launched against the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India and said, the new constitution, new legislation and trade agreements would be introduced only after they are thoroughly studied. The Government would not hesitate to take every possible step to safeguard the country’s national interest.
Expressing his view about a series of demonstrations conducted by JO members at the Parliament roundabout, deliberately obstructing MPs attending and leaving Parliament, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told the JO members, the general public and MPs had the right to stage demonstrations, but they would not be permitted to surround Parliament.
Referring to the December 3 Police attack on JO MPs who were with a group of demonstrators at the Parliament roundabout, MP Gunawardena told the House that they raised a privilege issue on the same day (December 3) as regards the rights of MPs to come and go from Parliament.
He said, some MPs were not permitted to leave Parliament and described it as a serious matter and drew the attention of the Speaker. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe airing his view said, the MPs should be permitted to meet their supporters, but the Police blocked the road.
The Premier who also joined the Committee Stage debate of the Ministry of Prisons, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, made an apology for the destruction of the Jaffna library during the UNP regime in 1981. However, JO MPs interrupted the Premier’s speech by shouting. Responding to hecklers, the Prime Minister said, they are giving jobs to the people and opening industries.
He assured that when President Maithripala Sirisena celebrates his second anniversary in office, the Government will have completed a massive amount of development work in the North.
The Premier who told the vociferous JO members that the UNP in fact apologized for burning the Jaffna library, questioned whether they would likewise apologize for the many wrongs they committed?
Mafia
UNP Colombo District MP Hirunika Premachandra, who was most critical of the prison administration, alleged that a mafia was in operation in the prisons to provide the influential and rich inmates with all the facilities they wanted.
Participating in the third reading stage of the budget debate of the Ministry of Prison Reforms, the MP drew the attention of the House, and asked how a former UPFA Colombo District MP has been given all facilities based on a false medical report.
She said, the former MP’s medical report has mentioned that he suffers from a chronic headache, loss of consciousness, loss of memory and dizziness, but all his relatives visited him at the prison hospital on his birthday, December 3, and threw a party.
She alleged, around ten prison doctors are involved in granting false medical certificates for influential prisoners. UNP Kandy District MP Ananda Aluthgamage enacting a ‘drama’ in Parliament tabled a twig of a Burutha (satinwood) tree in response to a statement made by his relative UPFA Kandy District MP Mahindananda Aluthagamage over an issue of cutting down those trees in Nawalapitiya.
It is considered the first ever occasion in the history of Parliament, of an MP tabling a small offshoot of a tree.
Allegation
Though items like, coffins , hay, wreaths and so on had been brought to the Chamber on previous occasions, it was the first time that a satinwood offshoot was brought to Parliament. MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage charged that ten burutha trees at Nawalapitiya had been felled, and queried what was the Police doing? Isn’t there a Police station at Nawalapitiya? he asked. However, MP Ananda Aluthgamage countering the allegation charged that Mahindananda Aluthgamage fells kumbuk and ebony trees, but makes false allegations, in Parliament.
Many Tamil politicians taking part in the Committee Stage debate expressed their sympathy over the demise of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa Jayaram.
TNA Parliamentarian, Charles Nirmalanathan joining the Committee Stage debate conveyed his condolences as well as his party’s, to the grieving family members of the late Chief Minister and the Tamil Nadu people, on behalf of the Sri Lankan Tamils. EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda, described the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister as a “courageous woman” who had provided leadership not only to the people of Tamil Nadu, but to the Tamil people throughout the world. State Minister of Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran, expressing her condolences said, Jayalalithaa had been very much concerned with the problems faced by Sri Lankan Tamils during and after the war.
The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) resolution banning the construction of Buddhist temples in the North turned into a hot topic in the House due to a query raised by the UPFA Kandy District MP Keheliya Rambukwella, on the question whether there is an effort to empower Chief Ministers of Provincial Councils to appoint Governors.
Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe categorically denying the claim said, the NPC resolution banning the construction of Buddhist temples in the North had no legal standing. Minister Rajapakshe who participated in the Committee Stage debate on his Ministry said, the NPC resolution had no legal basis as there were no constitutional provision under which the NPC could legally enforce such a resolution.
Resolution
The Minister said, the Government would not welcome such a resolution and told the House that many people are making numerous claims, but the final decision regarding the new Constitution will be taken by Parliament itself.
He said, both, the Buddhist Temporalities Act and the Bhikkhu Kathikawath Bill would be amended and presented to Parliament in the near future with the concurrence of all stakeholders.
Joining the Committee stage debate, State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation A. H. M. Fowzie vehemently criticized the conduct of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and added that outfits such as the BBS has posed a serious threat to both, the Government and the nation. Minister Fowzie pointed out, these extremist organizations have created many problems in the country.
He said, such organizations claim that the minorities don’t belong to Sri Lanka.
The Minister asked, where are they to go, then? The Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers and Malays are a part of Sri Lanka and its history.
He stressed the need to stop the harm being caused to religions by various extremist groups. Serious problems will arise in the country due to the conduct of these extremist groups, so that steps should be taken to stop communal disharmony among the people.