[ Week in PARLIAMENT]

Bouquets for Parliament staff

Party Leaders who met at the Parliamentary complex on Tuesday reached a unanimous decision to appoint a committee to look into the deluge which flooded the ground floor of the Parliamentary complex on November 11 and make recommendations to take precautionary measures to prevent such a situation in future.

Following a request made by Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, party leaders showing their keen interest on this incident decided to request the Speaker to appoint a special committee.

The Committee would also examine a set of recommendations in a report by a similar committee on the same issue in the aftermath of the flooding of Parliament on June 05, 1992. The committee will also obtain the views of experts in this regard.

Before the commencement of the proceedings, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa extended his gratitude to Parliament staff who acted with dedication to resume Parliament sittings.

Speaker also thanked the Government and the Opposition MPs who participated in the proceedings amidst the hardships. He thanked Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Armed Forces Chiefs who provided Unicorn vehicles and boats to MPs and Parliament staff to come to Parliament.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe also extended his thanks to everybody who extended their fullest cooperation to conduct the sittings.

MP A.H.M. Azwer told the House that the President who showed this flood threat requested the then Government in Parliament on December 18, 1989 to immediately stop the reclamation of lands in Colombo and suburbs. Today Colombo city has faced this flood threat due to the policy followed by then UNP Government to get money by selling lands. The MP told in lighter vein that the Opposition Leader wants a harbour for Polonnaruwa.

MP Azwer said the Opposition Leader's post is a very reputed position in other countries. The Opposition Leader has been given equal facilities which are given to a Cabinet Minister. It is the responsibility of the person who holds that position to act in a responsible manner.

The House on Tuesday debated the order made by the Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen relating to Cess under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act.

The Minister informed the House that industrialists are very confident and the Government is on the correct track to improve their facilities. Hambantota Port, Mattala airport and Colombo South harbour will soon change the economic landscape. The Minister informed the House under the President's leadership, the Government has created a conducive environment to expand the local manufacturing sector and also to ensure their competitiveness.

Minister Bathiudeen is his speech also noted the Government's commitment to encourage the Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) sector and accelerate the economic growth of Sri Lanka. The Minister also told the House the National Enterprise Development Authority has decided to establish a SME university with the support of Japanese International Cooperation Agency for the skill development of entrepreneurs.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in his speech during the debate attempted to speak about the issue of Sarath Fonseka and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Wickremesinghe pointed out Sri Lanka is a member of the Commonwealth which is a voluntary association and committed to upholding the values of democracy, good governance, human rights and the sovereignty of Parliament. He maintained the view that the House is dealing with the rights and privileges of an individual member but also the rights and privileges of the whole House and the fundamental values and principals of the Commonwealth.

The Government members who interrupted the Opposition Leader's speech said his speech is totally irrelevant to the subject matter. UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer raising a point of order said the Opposition Leader is flouting the standing orders.

The Speaker also pointed out the Opposition Leader has raised this same issue in the House several times. The Speaker informed that the Opposition Leader should speak about the relevant subject. Wickremesinghe continuing his speech said that he speaks about the Commonwealth and asked the Government why they are scared when he speaks about the Commonwealth.

Housing and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa asked the Opposition Leader as to what will happen to his party leadership at the UNP's party convention scheduled to be held on December 12. The Opposition Leader who replied to the Minister also invited him to participate in the convention and see what will happen.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said before commencing new industries, the Government should take steps to safeguard the existing Ministries. The apparel industry will face to a big crisis due to the loss of the GSP Plus facility.

Kiriella in his speech while presenting some figures said Sri Lanka has exported apparels worth Rs. 1,297 million in 2004, but this had decreased to Rs.945 million today.

Minister Bathiudeen who interrupted the MP said Sri Lanka deprived was the GSP Plus due to various false propaganda campaigns launched by the Opposition Leader. Wickremesinghe responding to the Minister said that he knows only about refugees as he comes from the Vanni.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Geethanjana Gunawardene making a hard hitting reply said Wickremesinghe insulted the great people of Vanni. The Deputy Minister asked Wickremesinghe whether only the people of Cinnamon Gardens are human beings.

UPFA MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara who pointed out the mistakes of Kiriella's speech said the MPs attempted to mislead the House by presenting inaccurate figures. Nanayakkara informed the House both 2008 and 2009 were difficult years where a global economic crisis prevailed. Even the export growth in China also declined during this period.

However a 5.6 percent decline experienced during 2008 and 2009 has come down to 2.5 percent within the first nine months of 2010 due to sound economic policies of the Government. The MP stressed the point the country's exports will not be seriously affected if the GSP Plus facility is not extended.Even though tax concessions are removed, we can compete with any product in the international market if the quality of our goods is good.

Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama described MP Kiriella's arguments a myth. The MP's statistics were related to 2008 and 2009. During that period not only Sri Lanka economy but also global economy faced turmoil due to global economic recession. The Opposition Leader wishes the Sri Lankan economy go bankrupt. None of the Opposition Leader's predictions can come true.