WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Focus on Opposition antics

The remarks made by the Government ranks during Wednesday's emergency debate were mainly centred on the leadership crisis created within the UNP and various futile attempts made by the Opposition to deliberately create incidents to get public attention and tarnish the image of the Government.

These remarks were highlighted when Construction and Engineering Services Minister Wimal Weerawansa who joined the emergency debate commented on the alleged shooting of TNA MP S. Sritharan's vehicle at Nochchiyagama last week.

The Minister described this incident as an attempt to tarnish the image of the Government and give a wrong impression to the international community. He said he would like to know the friendly gunman who shot only at the tyres of the MP's vehicle.Minister Weerawansa referred to another incident - the damage caused to the vehicle of UNP MP Sajith Premadasa at Walasmulla. He pointed out that this is another attempt made to put the blame the Government. The Minister raised the point as to why only the shutters of the vehicle were damaged. Was it done to check the quality of the shutters? He accused the UNP of being engaged in childish acts to draw the attention of the public.

The Minister stressed that the UNP is well aware that President Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot be defeated by a public mandate. Therefore they attempt to create various incidents with the intention of making the President a victim of their international conspiracies. That is why the Opposition MPs shoot the tyres of their own vehicles and caused damage to their vehicles. Commenting on the UNP's leadership crisis, Minister Weerawansa informed the House that UNP MP Sajith Premadasa has said he is going to become the UNP Leader on April 12. The Minister told the House in lighter vein that MP Premadasa is going to commence work at an inauspicious time.

However, Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene who responded to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake on the security provided to MPs, stressed the importance of protecting Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Minister informed the MP that the Government would provide maximum possible security to Opposition Leader.

Minister Gunawardene said even if certain UNP MPs attempt to dismiss the Opposition Leader from his post, it is the responsibility of the Government to protect him.

Though terrorism has been eliminated from the country Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne who moved the motion on the extension of the Emergency Regulations drew the attention of the House on the LTTE elements' attempts to revive.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of making joint efforts by the entire nation to prevent the re-occurrence of terrorist activities in Sri Lanka.

He also stressed the Government's commitment to introduce a lasting political solution to the problems faced by the Tamil community. He said the Government has already held several rounds of talks with the TNA leaders in this regard.

The Opposition Leader in his speech asked whether the Government is ready to hand over KP to India. He extended the UNP's support to the Government to extradict KP to India to face charges in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

However, these remarks led to a heated exchange with Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha.

The Minister who described the issue as a hypothetical question told the House if an extradition was to take place it should be done in keeping with proper legal procedures. Minister Premajayantha queried when the Indian Government had issued an open warrant to arrest Prabhakaran, why Wickremesinghe signed a MoU with the LTTE?

UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer who interrupted the Opposition Leader's speech alleged that he betrayed the country by reaching an agreement with the LTTE. Wickremesinghe who responded told the House that MP Azwer was also in the UNP when he signed that agreement with the LTTE. However, MP Azwer raising a point of order categorically denied the statement. Wickremesinghe who responded to MP Azwer again said Azwer went to the Government side as he did not give him a slot from the UNP National List.

Minister Premajayantha who responded to the Opposition Leader's speech described it as a speech without any references. Minister Premajayantha said the Opposition Leader's speech is very similar to the speech he makes in the Local Government election campaign these days.

The Minister said pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora in various countries attempt to destabilise the peaceful atmosphere in Sri Lanka. The Minister however noted that the Government has already repealed a large number of emergency regulations.Colombo district DNA MP Jayantha Ketagoda took oaths before the Speaker on Tuesday in place of DNA MP Sarath Fonseka.

The newly elected MP in his maiden speech informed the House that he is ready to sacrifice his seat at any time if Sarath Fonseka can come back to Parliament. The MP noted that the person who made an immense sacrifice to defeat terrorism has been imprisoned while those who engaged in brutal terrorist activities have been given portfolios.Minister Wimal Weerawansa in his speech made the point as to why the DNA appointed a member to fill that vacant seat of Fonseka. He said when Sarath Fonseka's seat was vacated, the DNA said they will not fill that vacancy as the decision taken against Fonseka was illegal. That is why Lakshman Nipunaarachchi did not accept the post of MP.

Now that Jayantha Ketagoda has taken oaths, the Minister queried whether the DNA accepts the decision taken against Fonseka as being legal. According to him Fonseka did not agree to appoint a JVP member to fill that vacancy. That is why he appointed Ketagoda to that post. The JVP has become helpless and politically bankrupt today.

The Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga who responded to Minister Weerawansa's remarks on the JVP asked him why he attempts to kick the ladder which enabled him to climb up. Amaratunga told Minister Weerawansa that he came to that position with the help of the JVP and questioned why he is condemning the party who brought him up to that level.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who joined the emergency debate informed the House with details of how the Hilton Hotel, Colombo had been given to the owner by then UNP Government without even charging the monthly lease from him. He said the owners of Hilton had paid only two months of lease fee to the Government since its inception.

He told the House the Government acquired the Hilton Colombo last week.

The minister in his speech said at present investors are coming to Sri Lanka due to the initiatives taken by the President to establish political stability within the country.