Week in PARLIAMENT

Deluge hits House

The overflow of Diyawanna Oya after Wednesday night's deluge confined Thursday's Parliamentary sittings to a symbolic affair which lasted less than ten minutes as the ground floor of Parliament complex and the road leading to Parliament was inundated.

This would also enter Parliament history where the Speaker arrived at the Parliament complex in a Navy boat. This was the first time Parliamentarians had to obtain the services of the Navy and Unicorn trucks of the Army to reach Parliament without their luxury vehicles. Parliament staff were also taken to Parliament by Unicorn trucks and boats.

Parliamentary correspondents also gained a different experience as they also had to reach Parliament with the help of Unicorn trucks. The entire Parliamentary complex was engulfed in darkness due to power cuts. Amidst darkness, Parliamentary correspondents entered the complex and found their way to the press gallery with the help of torches of Police and mobile phone torches.

Following a decision reached at the urgent Party Leaders meeting summoned by the Speaker at 12 noon on Thursday, Parliament sittings which convened symbolically around 1.00 p.m. was restricted only to a few minutes. After eight minutes, Parliament sittings were adjourned until November 17.

Parliament staff led by Sergeant-at-Arms Anil Samarasekera were seen making a praiseworthy attempt to make the atmosphere perfect for conducting the proceedings. Parliament sittings commenced with the help of a few emergency lights.

Nearly 30 members including Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva were seen in the Chamber. However, DNA or TNA members were not seen in the House.

Even though the proceedings were restricted to a couple of minutes, six motions and orders were passed without a debate depicting the unity between the Government and the Opposition members on matters of national importance.

Tuesday's debate on the extension of the emergency turned into a heated argument owing to a speech made by Housing and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa and UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera who responded to the Minister's speech.

Minister Weerawansa told the House in a lighter vein that Dayasiri Jayasekera who wanted to be the Mega Star became "beri star". Finally stars with water bottles were thrown on to the stage. Today Dayasiri is singing while the Opposition Leader is making speeches due to lack of a proper political mechanism within the UNP.

UNP MPs like Dr.Jayalath Jayawardene goes to South India to instigate LTTE sympathizers like Vaiko as he is unable to give up his old habits. He should be ashamed to go to foreign countries tarnishing the image of the country. This Government cannot be toppled through false propaganda campaigns. The Minister requested Dr. Jayawardene not to be misled by the instructions given by Ravi Karunanayake.

Minister Weerawansa said that certain restrictions should be imposed on Parliamentarians not to make adverse comments against their country when they go abroad. Whatever different views are maintained within the country, Parliamentarians should maintain one particular view when they go abroad.

Weerawansa said the Opposition Leader goes on "Grama charika" while Sajith has commenced "Sasunata Aruna". But Grama Charika has become a "vinoda charika" and "Sasunata aruna" has turned into "putuwata aruna".

MP Dayasiri Jayasekera charged that according to Wimal Weerawansa, the Opposition cannot go and speak about the country's issues internationally. Minister Weerawansa should know that even the killing of JVP youth during the terror were stopped due to the voice raised by the MPs like Vasudeva Nanayakkara at the Human Rights Committee in Geneva. MP Jayasekera commenting on "Mega Star" told the House that Minister Weerawansa recently sang a song of late popular artiste Gunadasa Kapuge with the "Sun Flowers" band at Parliament Grounds. MP Jayasekera said Minister Weerawansa is singing songs to get back the UDA.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during his speech attempted to speak about Sarath Fonseka. UPFA MP A.H.M.Azwer who interrupted him said the Opposition Leader should speak about the subject matter. Wickremesinghe who continued his speech stressed the point that the Speaker should consult the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on the court ruling on Fonseka. Petroleum Resources Minister Susil Premajayantha raising a point of order told the House this is the contradictory position of the UNP today. The Opposition Leader says one thing while Sajith says another.

Again Wickremesinghe asked who is going to advise the Speaker on this matter. This led the Government members to interrupt his speech. Deputy Public Administration Minister Dilan Perera said

"Mr.Bean has come to Parliament and described the Opposition Leader as Mega Star Joker."

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne who joined the Emergency debate stressed that the significant progress achieved by the tourism industry has shown that the international community has fully endorsed the prevailing security situation in Sri Lanka. It is the responsibility of all to formulate a program to prevent the reoccurrence of terrorism.

The Opposition Leader also complained that the Government has undermined Parliament by curtailing the time allocated for the Budget debate. Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene who categorically denied the Opposition Leader's statement informed the House that a consensus was reached at the Party Leader's meeting on the number of days. However, one additional day was also given following a request made by the Opposition Leader. If we consider the number of hours allocated, more time has been given compared with previous budget. The controversial Gaming (Special Provisions) Bill, with an amended title as the Casino Business Regulations Bill was passed in Parliament on Wednesday. Even though the Opposition called for a division by name, they could muster only 33 votes against the bill which received 114 votes in favour.

The JHU and NFF also supported the Bill as Minister Champika Ranawaka of the JHU and Achala Jagoda of the NFF also voted for the Bill. Deputy Finance Minister Dr.Sarath Amunugama presenting the amended bill informed the House, it would allow the setting up of casino businesses in designated areas. Dr.Amunugama said the casinos are primarily meant for foreign tourists and would help to attract more foreigners to the country.

Opposition members during their speeches criticised the Bill and said the Government was trying to legalise an illegal activity. UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera queried whether the Government was going to legalise prostitution here as it is legal in some countries.

DNA MP Sunil Handunnethi said instead of "Mahinda Chinthana", the Government is adopting "Las Vegas Chinthanaya". Can we move towards "Dharmarajya" by doing this kind of thing ?

UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said in future, the Government will have to legalise the gambling secretly conducted at some funerals as well. Deputy Economic Development Minister who responded to the Opposition claims said this is not a new Bill formulated by the Government. This had been introduced in 1988. If the UNP had a honest intention, they would have banned it then. The Opposition attempts to give a wrong impression that the Government is going to depend on the casino industry. In future these casinos can be operated only in some designated areas.