Minister of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development, Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare, Chamal Rajapaksa, said the Opposition’s call to reconvene Parliament is a sinister motive to embarrass the Government and create a crisis in the country. The Minister, in an interview with the Sunday Observer, said the Opposition under the pretext of reconvening the Parliament attempts to mislead the public. However, the majority of the people are well aware of the ground reality and they cannot be misled through such politically motivated campaigns of the Opposition. This is not the time to reconvene Parliament and have unnecessary debates paving the way for a crisis. The need of the hour is that all parties, irrespective of political differences, should make collaborative efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
Q: Do you think the Opposition’s call to reconvene the old Parliament is an attempt to create a constitutional crisis in the country?
A: In a situation where Parliament has been dissolved and a date fixed for the election, even the legal experts have explained that the President is the sole authority who can reconvene Parliament if he desires to do so. However, the President has no intention whatsoever to reconvene the old Parliament at this juncture. If Parliament is reconvened, it would once again lead to a confrontation similar to that which we witnessed in the recent past. It would definitely pave the way for unnecessary, heated arguments which would eventually create pandemonium in the House. We have many past precedents of such incidents. At this juncture, everybody should join hands with their respective political leaders and point out to the President, Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers if there are any shortcomings in the ongoing mechanism to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Opposition can discuss with the President or the Prime Minister the progress of the program and strategies adopted to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic at least once a week. At present, the irresponsible conduct of the people has also led to the spread of the disease. Coronavirus has been contracted by some Navy officers as well. Some of the Navy officers who were on leave had even visited various places and associated with their friends after they returned home on leave.
As a result, some of them have become Covid-19 positive. Therefore, this is not a time to have unnecessary debates in Parliament and create a crisis. We have to act according to the Constitution. Everybody, irrespective of their political differences should extend their support to the Government’s efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Q: As some Government lawmakers say, it was the old Parliament which could not even guarantee the security of the people that led to the Easter Sunday attacks which took place on April 21 last year. What is the purpose of reconvening the old Parliament at this juncture?
A: The real motive behind the call to reconvene Parliament is to embarrass the Government and create an unnecessary crisis in the country. As I said earlier, there is no necessity to reconvene Parliament at this juncture. We can see some of the statements made by some Opposition politicians once they were granted bail, abusing parliamentary privileges.
If allegations were levelled against various outsiders, they would not have any opportunity to respond to them. If Parliament is reconvened, what is the mechanism to be followed on the seating arrangements of 225 Parliamentarians and also ensure the health of the parliamentary staff and the parliamentarians. The Opposition, under the pretext of reconvening Parliament attempts to mislead the public. However, the majority of the people are well aware of the ground reality and they cannot be misled through such politically motivated campaigns of the Opposition. The need of the hour is that all parties should make collaborative efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. At present, people have faced hardships such as getting food and other necessary requirements due to the current situation. The Government with the intervention of District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, GramaNiladaries, Samurdhi Development Officers and other relevant Government officers has done its best to provide solutions to these affected people.
Q: Former TNA Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has argued that the new election date of June 20, being three months after Parliament was dissolved on March 2, 2020 renders the presidential proclamation dissolving Parliament invalid. He has explained that the President could dissolve Parliament by proclamation but the same constitutional provision that gives him the power to do so, compels him to fix a date for the new Parliament to meet no later than three months after dissolution. What are your comments?
A: Sumanthiran can put forward this argument but there is no such provision in the Constitution. Actually, we should act according to the Constitution. At present, there is no emergency situation in the country but there is a Covid-19 pandemic Therefore, reconvening Parliament would not provide any solution to this crisis. What is needed is that all should work democratically and responsibly to face the situation. There is no point in creating divergent views in society and dividing the people based on various political lines at this critical juncture. Then, some people may even be compelled to say that there is no point of sending people to quarantine centres.
Q: Former Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council Karu Jayasuriya, had told the recent CC meeting that he has no intention whatsoever to reconvene Parliament at this juncture and create a crisis. However, he has said that he would abide by the ruling given by the Supreme Court. How do you view this scenario?
A: Reconvening Parliament is the President’s prerogative. The President can seek an interpretation from the Supreme Court in this regard if he so desires. There is no precedent that the President should seek the opinion of the Supreme Court in a situation like this. The Acts and other regulations pertaining to the health sector have clearly mentioned as to how we should act during a pandemic of this nature. Therefore, there is no necessity to reconvene Parliament at this juncture.
Q: The Maha Sangha during a recent meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, unanimously endorsed the decision not to reconvene the dissolved legislature and said that the country should not be put in jeopardy by reconvening the old Parliament. Your comments on this?
A: This is the same request made by the people as well. Constitutionally also, there is no possibility to reconvene the old Parliament. Though Parliament has been dissolved, the Government, tri-forces and health authorities have taken all necessary measures to address the situation.
At present, all unnecessary Government expenditure has been curtailed while a decision has been taken to cultivate all crop varieties which can be grown locally. The import of unnecessary goods has also been stopped. The people should adapt to the new situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic. The people have shown a great interest in commencing cultivation activities and they are now asking for seeds and fertiliser. Therefore, the Government will provide all required facilities to them to encourage cultivation activities.
Q: The GMOA has requested the Government not to lift the restrictions imposed to control Covid-19 and they have also requested the Army Commander, who is the Head of the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of Covid-19 to review the current situation. Has the Government laid emphasis in this regard?
A: Until the prevailing situation is under control, I also think it is not appropriate to lift the curfew. Sometimes, people walk to and fro without seriously considering the guidelines issued by the health authorities. It seems that some of the security forces personnel who associated with those who had contracted the virus had irresponsibly conducted themselves when they returned to their homes on leave.
Q: The Opposition also requests to extend the curfew for another few weeks, pointing out that if the curfew is lifted at this juncture the number of coronavirus affected cases would rapidly increase. How do you respond to this claim?
A: If there is a tendency of the virus spreading, the curfew would have to be extended. Therefore, the lifting or extending the curfew would depend on the prevailing situation in the country.
Q: What are the steps taken by the Government to repatriate Sri Lankan workers and students in foreign countries who have faced hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic?
A: The Government has already implemented a program to bring the students and workers in foreign countries to Sri Lanka. It has already taken a decision to bring back such students in India, Pakistan, Nepal and some other SAARC countries. Steps will also be taken to systematically bring Sri Lankans in other countries who have faced hardships due to the prevailing situation.
Q: The media reported that Covid-19 has been contracted to nearly 199 Navy officers in the Welisara camp and that the Defence Ministry has indefinitely cancelled the leave granted to all tri-forces. Under this situation, the health authorities have warned that there is a risk of the disease being contracted by people in low risk districts as well. Would you like to elaborate on this?
A: The doctors, health authorities, officers attached to MOH offices, Police and the Army have visited the houses of those security forces personnel and obtained all the details of the places they visited and the people they met. At present, the self-quarantine process of their family members and all other people they met has been started.
Q: Do you think it would be possible to conduct elections on June 20 as scheduled due to the prevailing situation in the country?
A: It is entirely up to the Election Commission to fix the date for the election. If the situation can be fully controlled within the month of May, there would be a possibility of conducting the election on June 20. In order to conduct the election, first we have to totally control the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. However, it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to fix or change the date of an election.
Q: At present, vegetable farmers and those engaged in horticulture face severe hardships in selling their products due to the prevailing situation in the country. Has the Government introduced any mechanism to purchase their products?
A: Horticulture comes under the purview of the Plantation Industries Ministry and not the Agriculture Ministry. However, the Government has laid emphasis on each crop sector and on how to assist the people who have cultivated those crop varieties.
Q: How do you look at the task fulfilled by the Special Presidential Task Force on Essential Services?
A: I think the Presidential Task Force has shown rapid progress in providing essential food and commodities and looking into other necessary requirements of the people. The Task Force has given all necessary instructions to the relevant Government officials to address the issues faced by the people. We have also introduced a new mechanism and some people have come forward to deliver fruits and vegetables to the people’s doorstep. We intend to further expand this mechanism. In addition, the CWE also delivers essential food commodities to the people.
The private sector has also got involved directly in purchasing vegetables from farmers and distributing them countrywide. At present, there is no issue in distributing essential food and commodities among the people as highlighted by the Opposition. The food and commodities are sent to each and every area of the country. If this situation continues, the Government intends to provide relief measures to the people next month as well. Now, there is a possibility of conducting economic activities in certain districts. However, the most essential fact is that the people should refrain from travelling from district to district.
Q: Don’t you think in a crucial situation like this, the Opposition irrespective of political differences should extend their support to the Government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic?
A: Actually, that is the sole responsibility of those who love the country and its people. It seems the Opposition attempts to take undue political advantage from this crisis as well. However, the people gave them a very good reply at the last November 16 Presidential Election. The people gave a resounding mandate to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the last Presidential Election.