Week in Parliament

Election resonates in House

Friday's Emergency debate in Parliament was entirely focused on the outcome of the Presidential Election result. Opposition MPs during their speeches said they cannot accept this election result. The Government ranks who categorically denied the allegations levelled by the Opposition said the Opposition makes such baseless allegations to cover up their humiliating defeat and underestimate the resounding victory achieved by the President.

Leader of the House and Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said even Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has accepted this election result. "The Opposition Leader is our key witness. The international community has also accepted this as a free and fair election. At present the Opposition is engaged in a third class attempt to underestimate the unprecedented mandate given by the people to President Mahinda Rajapaksa."

Minister de Silva also noted if the Opposition cannot accept this election result, they can submit an election petition to Court. But they should have clear evidence to prove it. It is very clear no election malpractice has occurred as the Opposition complains. The people have given a good slap to the Opposition Alliance. "If Sarath Fonseka came to power, they had planned to assassinate the President and his entire family. Sometimes he would have done the same to the Opposition Leader as well. Therefore the Opposition Leader may have acted to defeat Fonseka."JVP MP Vijitha Herath stressed the importance of eliminating the politics of hatred. According to him the Opposition Presidential Candidate stayed in a hotel due to the threats faced by him. Power Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said if those who were killed during the 1988-1989 terror period listened to Vijitha Herath's speech, what would they say ?

"Today may be the last four hours of the JVP in this Parliament. Again they won't be able to come to this Parliament. We regret that. The JVP has turned into a useless political party. The JVP has no right to talk about democracy. Even after the election, the President took measures to safeguard the democracy. But the Opposition had prepared lists of the political opponents to be assaulted and killed if they came to power."

The Minister said: "We wish a brighter future to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. I think Wickremesinghe also voted for the President. Therefore we thank him. The President has obtained over 1.8 million majority votes, but the Opposition says this is a corrupt election. But the representatives of all the Opposition political parties were at the counting centres."

Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera who took part the debate said the Opposition attempts to build up these baseless arguments to turn the minorities in another direction. When attempts are being made by the Government to create national integration among the communities, the Opposition attempts to arouse nationalism.

The Minister said as long as the present Constitution exists various crises will occur. Therefore the new Parliament should focus its attention on formulating a new Constitution to replace the 1978 Constitution. "We still believe the ethnic problem has not yet been resolved."

UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said post-election violence has been taken place throughout the country. We have received information on poll rigging in Ratnapura district. Some bogus ballot papers have been found from Ratnapura district. I request the Elections Commissioner to conduct an immediate inquiry in this regard.Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne who interrupted the MP's speech said if such an incident has occurred, the CID should be informed to conduct an investigation. Until then, the MP cannot make such baseless allegations.

SLMC MP Rauff Hakeem said this election was corrupt. Therefore the Opposition has planned to submit an election petition. "But I would like to appreciate the statement made by the President. He had said that he is the President of those who voted him and those who did not. The majority of the Sinhalese have voted for the President."Agriculture Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara said: "We are speaking in Parliament after a free and fair election.

International observers and the Opposition Leader confirmed this. But we regret the jokes made by the Opposition Candidate Sarath Fonseka. I will not contest the forthcoming General Election due to medical grounds. I was in Parliament from 1989. I commenced my politics from the SLFP. I was also in the UNP."

UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne said there is no terrorism in this country. In such an environment, what is the need to extend the emergency? There have been more incidents of post election violence than pre-election violence and the UNP activists have become victims of such attacks. JHU Parliamentarian Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera responding to the MP asked: "who are the political opponents who have been suppressed as claimed by Lakshman Seneviratne ?"

Nation Building Minister Jagath Pushpakumara said the President should appoint a commission to review all the judgements given by former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva.

"I would personally make this request from the President shortly. A seven member bench of the Supreme Court or even a full bench of the court should review all his judgements. Even an innocent man like me was accused of a fraud by the former Chief Justice."

The motion moved by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka to extend the state of emergency by another one month was passed in Parliament with a majority of 87 votes. All the constituent parties of the Government including the JHU, NFF and the CWC voted in favour. The TNA and the UNP voted against. The JVP was absent.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said many friendly countries have congratulated on President on his resounding victory. This is a clear indication of the solidarity extended towards the Sri Lanka by the international community. The election observers have further endorsed the integrity of our election process. "I can reassure this august House that with the end of the dark era of terrorism, Sri Lanka stands poised for ever greater and productive engagement with the international community."

Responding to an oral question raised by the JVP MP Premasiri Manage, Chief Government Whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said the Government would take steps to further increase the salaries and allowances of the Security Forces personnel. The Government will never underestimate the great sacrifice made by the Armed Forces to eradicate the terrorism.

Sandanam Arulsamy took oaths as a Member of Parliament for the vacancy created after the sudden demise of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication Minister P. Chandrasekeran.