[Week in PARLIAMENT]

Opposition mission fails

Another futile attempt by the UNP to bring an adjournment motion challenging the appointment of Senior Ministers was thwarted in Parliament on Friday as the Opposition failed to make any constructive dialogue on the motion and all queries levelled by the Opposition were successfully countered by several Senior Ministers at the debate.

The Chief Opposition Whip, John Amaratunga moving the adjournment motion challenged and queried the functions entrusted to Senior Ministers. However, an uproar was caused as the Government objected to the motion and Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody suspended the sittings around 3.35 p.m.

The situation was aggravated owing to certain remarks made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Government MPs continuously interrupted the Opposition Leader's comments and maintained the view that the constitutional right of the President to appoint Ministers cannot be questioned in Parliament.

As both sides exchanged heated arguments, the Deputy Speaker had to suspend the sittings to take a decision on the contents of the motion. After the House resumed nearly one hour later, the Deputy Speaker informed the Opposition that they can continue the debate and express their views without referring to the conduct of the President.

Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe who started the debate stressed that Senior Ministers have not been assigned any functions to fulfil and the Government should rectify this error by giving them due recognition.

Wickremesinghe in his speech introduced Senior Ministers Secretariat as 'vishramapaya.' Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne who responded to the Opposition Leader's comments said the motion was another futile attempt by the UNP to mislead the public.

Minister Seneviratne told the UNP they should not shed crocodile tears for Senior Ministers. He queried the absence of the UNP MP Sajith Premadasa at the debate, though he was seen in the Chamber during the oral questions session. He asked whether the remaining UNP MPs belong to Ranil or Mangala faction.

The Minister in a hard hitting speech categorically denied the claims made by the Opposition that some Senior Ministers were ready to join the UNP. He informed the Opposition that the President has given Ministerial portfolios even to some politicians who worked against him.

DNA MP Vijitha Herath joining the debate said the 10 Senior Ministers have also become a miracle. He accused the Government of undermining the dignity of senior Parliamentarians by appointing them as Senior Ministers. MP Herath alleged these Senior Ministers do not have powers given even to Samurdhi Development Officers. They have not been allocated even front raw seats, he added.

Senior Minister Piyasena Gamage made the point that the Opposition attempts to use this issue as a political trap during the upcoming Local Government Election.

This Senior Minister portfolio is a new concept to our country. During the UNP regime, they even appointed Ministers without portfolios. UNP MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa stressed that an accepted methodology was followed in the past to appoint Ministers and it has been undermined today due to the greediness of politicians for ministerial posts.

The MP who made an important legal point said that the Constitution has not clearly defined these ministerial posts and stressed the importance of bringing an amendment to the Constitution to properly define the number of Ministers which can be appointed according to the Constitution.

The MP was of the view that Parliament should find new methodologies without stagnating in the same position. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who responded to the MP informed him that the appointment of Senior Ministers is a new concept to Sri Lanka. The Government members were seen endorsing most of the comments made by MP Rajapaksa in his speech.

Foreign Employment Promotion Minister Dilan Perera said UNP MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa in his speech rejected the arguments put forward by the Opposition Leader.

Minister Perera said MP Rajapaksa was a legal expert who always explains the accurate position of any legal point to the House. The Minister in his speech highlighted that even those who brought this motion accept that the appointment of these Senior Ministers is legal.

The Minister said the intention of the UNP is to undermine these new Senior Ministerial posts and take political advantage from it. The Opposition Leader attempts to safeguard his Opposition Leader's post by dragging the issue of Senior Ministers. The Minister elaborating on the crisis in the UNP pointed out the absence of some UNP frontliners like Sajith Premadasa, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Ranjith Maddumabandara and Thalatha Athukorala during the debate.

Senior Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana said though the UNP raised the issue of these Senior Ministers, they had left the chamber before the Government responded to the issues raised by them.

Winding up the debate, Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the House the UNP moving this adjournment motion thought the Government would collapse and Senior Ministers will be disappointed. This is a dream of the Opposition Leader which will never come true. The Opposition attempt to survive by spreading this kind of rumours. The Government is moving forward successfully under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Minister said the Opposition Leader is engaging in an effort to safeguard the remaining MPs in the UNP. Therefore he spreads rumours that the Government would collapse. Minister told Wickremesinghe would be able to clearly see who will collapse at the upcoming Local Government polls.

The UNP won't be able to affect the mentality of the Ministers or weaken the Government through such false propaganda campaigns.Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr.Sarath Amunugama speaking at the debate on the Regulation of Insurance Industry (Amendment) Bill told the Opposition that the Opposition must have its say and the Government must have its way. That is democracy.

Dr. Amunugama told the House the Government was able to reach its all targets during 2010 by achieving an eight percent economic growth rate. Sri Lanka is anticipating a nine percent economic growth rate by 2012.

The UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake who responded to Dr.Amunugama's comment said the Government should stop its arrogance and should do what they are saying.

Local Government and Provincial Council Minister A. L. M. Athaullah informed Parliament that the Government had decided to postpone the passing of Local Authorities (Special provisions) Bill and the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill even though they had been taken up for debate in the House.