[Week in PARLIAMENT]

Govt in for a cakewalk

The Government's objective of obtaining a two third majority in Parliament reached much closer when another two UNP MPs made a symbolic walk from the Opposition to the ruling party benches on Thursday bringing the total number of Government members to 145.

UNP MPs Prabha Ganeshan and P. Digambaram crossed over to the Government further minimising its required number of members to 5 to gain a two third majority in the 225 members legislature. The two MPs made their symbolic walk across the Well of the House amidst howls of protest from UNP MPs and applause from government members.

Among the first to welcome the UNP MPs were Deputy Ministers Mervyn Silva and Jagath Pushpakumara who shook hands with two members. MP Digambaram who spoke briefly before his crossover expressed his desire to work with the Government to uplift the living condition of his people.

Further depicting the Government's majority in Parliament, the extension of Emergency was passed by a majority of 82 votes. The motion moved by the Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne received 120 votes in favour and 37 votes against. As at previous occasions, UNP Kandy district MP Abdul Cader also voted with the Government. Eventhough MP Cader has not crossedover to the Government, the Government has been able to obtain the support of 146 Members in Parliament as Cader also votes in favour of the Government.

The Premier speaking on the attempts made by certain elements to give life to the LTTE informed the House that last month alone 723 LTTE cadres were arrested from the welfare camps. Altogether 765 persons had been arrested under the Emergency regulations last month and 74 others were arrested under the PTA.

Another fruitless attempt by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake to amend the constitution through a Private Member Motion was voted out in Parliament on Thursday by a majority of 53 votes. The Government ranks opposed granting permission to move the motion. The Leader of the House Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva pointed out such a motion could only be presented with the consensus of the House. The Speaker had to call for a vote owing to wrangling between the Government and the Opposition members.

The issue of Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP was raised in Parliament when the Government refused to reply several questions raised by the DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding KP on the grounds that revealing such information would put national security in jeopardy.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris warned the House on Wednesday that attacks on the judiciary by certain elements may pave the way for those who attempt to cause serious harm to this country at this juncture. The criticism made on our judiciary in an unnecessary manner has significant repercussions and strengthened the hands of those who wish to do harm to our country.

Deputy Youth Affairs Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who responded to the speech made by the UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera at the debate on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill said the UNP has hatched an international conspiracy to portray to the world that our judiciary was corrupt. MP Jayasekera who interrupted the Deputy Minister told him in a sarcastic manner that when a Government Minister called off their fast unto death after drinking water, some of their party supporters were ready even to commit suicide on behalf of the party.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka participating the Emergency debate stressed the importance of formulating an effective network to safeguard the country from those who try to give assistance

to the pro-LTTE elements. Minister Ranawaka stressed the importance of achieving our political victories in the international arena as well. The Minister also highly commended the great discipline of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and said they have shown an example to the entire world as no incident has been reported after the nation achieved the historic victory against terrorism on May 19 last year.

Stressing the importance of safeguarding the supremacy of the country's law, the UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa in his speech maintained that no room should be provided for the practice in law of jungle in this country. He stressed the point that only one law should prevail in all corners of this nation, from North to South and the East to West. They must be the laws passed by this august assembly. The MP emphasised that time has come to include law as a subject in school curriculum and the people must be armed with an awareness of their rights and the laws of the nation.

Galle District UPFA MP Sajin de Vas Gunawardene making a hard hitting speech accused DNA MP Sarath Fonseka. The MP told the House that Fonseka who speaks of the supremacy of the law without producing his son-in-law in the courts. The MP also warned of developing a new trend within the country called "commercial terrorism" and said a few UNP MPs in Parliament are engaging in the process of promoting this concept.

The episode of tying a Samurdhi Development Officer to a tree turned into a big drama in Parliament where Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and several other Opposition members highly criticised the move and demanded the Government to make a statement on this incident. The Opposition Leader said nowhere in our procedures mentioned that a Minister can punish an official by tying him to a tree. However, Government members in back benches such as UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer and Deputy Minister Laith Dissanayake interrupted the Opposition Leader's speech. Azwer drew the attention of the House that when talking about torture, the Opposition Leader may be able to talk about the Batalanda torture chamber as well.

Amidst protests by the Opposition, Deputy Highways Minister Mervyn Silva responded to their claims. He informed the House that he has a letter in his possession by a Samurdhi Development Officer saying that there was no act of punishment, but he had volunteered to be tied to a tree. The Deputy Minister queries "If the snake and the person bitten by the snake don't complain of the venom, what problems do others have? Deputy Minister turning very emotional said he loved children. If the people desist from their duty of fighting against dengue that was a crime.

The attack on the Siyatha media institution also turned into a key topic in the House. UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera requested the Media Minister to conduct a formal investigation. The MP complained that setting media institutions on fire and kidnapping journalists had turned into a normal practice. However, UPFA MP Sajin de Vas Gunawardene stressed the point that it is not fair to point fingers at the Government when an incident takes place.

The MP said Siyatha had not paid salaries to it's employees for several months. Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella responding to Opposition claims said a full scale investigation is under way on this incident and its results would be publicised.