Week in PARLIAMENT

Focus on leadership training

Another attempt made by the UNP to stage a protest in Parliament against the leadership training given to university students turned into a damp squib and Government ranks queried what moral right the UNP had to conduct such a protest having ended the lives of over 40,000 youth during the 1989-1990 terror period.

After the oral question session on Tuesday, the Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga sought the Speaker’s permission to make a statement on the leadership training program as a matter of national importance under the Standing Orders. However, the Speaker did not permit the MP to raise the issue. Subsequently, the UNP MPs led by Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe who rose to their feet with various placards in their hands attempted to make a big fuss in the House.

When the UNP MPs engaged in their protest, UPFA National List MP A. H. M. Azwer raising a point of order informed the Speaker that the move followed by the Opposition MPs was against Standing Orders. However, the Speaker who responded to the MP informed MPs have a right to rise on their feet as a form of exercise.

Although the UNP MPs stood up for nearly 45 minutes with placards, their attempt was in vain as the Government ranks continued the proceedings of the House ignoring their move. Amidst the protest made by the UNP, the Government also passed the Control of Pesticides (Amendment) Bill without a debate.

Later the Adjournment motion moved by DNA MP, Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the field of sports was taken up for debate. The MP moving the motion said the sports sector had deteriorated and was full of corruption. He requested to immediately look into this situation and take necessary steps.

Amidst the protest conducted by the UNP, Chief Opposition Whip, John Amaratunga who first commenced the debate on behalf of the Opposition spoke about the leadership training program given to university students.He alleged the Higher Education Ministry through the conduct of this leadership training had violated the regulations of the University Act and requested to suspend the training program given to the university students, immediately.

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha in his speech countered all the remarks made by MP Amaratunga on leadership training program and the protest made by the UNP against it. However, the Minister in lighter vein thanked the Opposition Leader for exhorting his MPs to stand to attention! He made the point that even Sajith Premadasa and John Amaratunga had also agreed to this move make by the Opposition Leader.

Minister Premajayantha who was very critical of the protest made by the UNP, told the House it was the UNP that killed nearly 40,000 youths and burnt them on tyre pyres during the 1988 and 1989 terror period. The Minister also explained how 32 youth were killed and buried at Suriyakanda during the UNP regime.

These remarks made by Minister Premajayantha was a very positive response given to the UNP. The Minister who pointed out that the real motive of the UNP to introduce the PTA claimed that the PTA was moved to suppress the youth uprising and not the LTTE. However, he said the UNP has completely forgotten what they did to youths under the PTA.

As an attorney-at-law who appeared for these victims, the Minister explained in detail the severe difficulties encountered in appearing in courts to give even bail to youths during that terror period. Even to submit a bail application would not be submitted without the approval of the then Defence Secretary. He questioned where the UNP was at that time?

The Minister stressed the importance of giving this leadership training to university students. He queried from the UNP what is wrong with giving a training to youth on first aid or conflict resolution?

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake urged the Opposition not to focus on the leadership training program in an extremist manner. He described how the leadership training would benefit university students to maintain their mental balance. He accused the JVP of attempting to disrupt the education of university students by dragging them onto streets. The Minister explained to the House, how the Inter University Students Federation backed by the JVP attempted to distort the mindset of university students and cause various inhuman harassments to them.

Referring to the claims made by the Opposition, the Minister queried excepting for military camps, was there any other place to train 10,000 youth. Even the SLAS officers and post graduate doctors are trained in these camps.

He described this training as a move taken to motivate youth who were going to be the future leaders of this country. This is not a training in weapons or bombs that is being given to university students. He pointed out how mental and physical exercises are conducted in the modern world for the benefit of university students. The Minister regretted that the UNP was involved in such a protest.

At the adjournment motion on sports, most Government and Opposition members expressed their views on Sri Lankan cricket. Public Management Reforms Minister Navin Dissanayake who joined the debate described sports as being common to everybody irrespective of politics or colour. The Minister told the House how sports can contribute to unite the nation. He categorically denied certain claims made that Sri Lankan cricket has deteriorated. Sri Lanka has been able to maintain in high standards in the field of cricket and produce talented players.

Minister Dissanayake who also commented on the statement made by cricketer turned politician Hashan Thilakaratne on match fixing said though the Government has agreed to provide even police security, Thilakaratne has not yet revealed the persons involved in the match fixing. If there was anybody who has betrayed the country for money, we would like to know who they are.

The controversial match fixing allegation turned into a key topic even during the oral question session following an answer given by Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to an oral question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake. The Minister informed the House, Thilakaratne who made the match fixing allegation is evading the ICC and the Police without revealing any further information. Therefore he sought the UNP’s assistance to find him. The Opposition Leader who responded to the Minister told him there is pirith chanting at Thilakaratne’s residence on May 29 and asked the Minister to participate.

DNA MP Arjuna Ranatunga who joined the debate made the point that after 1996, cricket has been commercialised. He criticised the attempts made by certain businessmen to build up a name with the help of cricket. That is why a Cricket Interim Body was set up to prevent these rackets.

The cricketer turned politician stressed the importance of appointing honest people to the cricket interim body. He said otherwise certain “Mudalalis” will become rich rather than developing Sri Lankan cricket. MP Azwer who spoke at the debate requested Arjuna Ranatunga to safeguard his honour and fame he brought to the country. Ranatunga who interrupted the MP requested him to contest and come to Parliament without coming from the National List everyday.

MP Ranatunga in his speech also complained that he has not been given enough time to speak on the motion. However, Deputy Chairman of Committees informed the MP that he has taken the entire time allocated to him.

Winding up the debate, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said some DNA members had deliberately reduced the time allocated to Ranatunga. According to the Minister, after DNA Leader Sarath Fonseka was imprisoned, some DNA MPs fear that Arjuna Ranatunga will become DNA Leader. The Minister in lighter vein told Ranatunga to come to the Government side as that is his ideal place. Making an important point, the Minister said let’s divide and shout during the elections campaigns but let’s join in the field of sports.