Week in Parliament

Govt upholds its decision to scrap emergency

The Government ranks which hailed the decision taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to lift the emergency regulations and restore the normal law stressed that the Government has given a clear answer to the arguments by the Opposition that it rules the country under the pretext of the emergency without resorting to the normal law.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who responded to various remarks by the Opposition on the lifting of the emergency regulations said that the Government has proved its ability to govern the country under the normal law. However, the Minister pointed out that the Government is not ready to dance according to the whims and fancies of the Opposition and put the country into disarray. He cited the recent bomb explosion in New Delhi to prove that terrorism is still active in the region. He told the Parliament that the aim of the Government is not to leave room for terrorism to raise its ugly head again.

The issue of lifting the emergency took centre stage in the House due to the adjournment motion moved by the UPFA MP Shantha Bandara to thank the President for his decision to lift the emergency. MP Bandara moving his motion said everybody should be happy about the lifting of the emergency within a short span of two years after eradicating the terrorism. However, the Opposition members who joined the debate argued that despite the emergency being lifted, the Government has introduced strict rules and regulations under the Public Security Ordinance. UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said dispite the withdrawal of the emergency, regulations the Government has called the Army to maintain public security. Jayasekera said in a lighter vein that when posters such as "Boru Hinakarayinta Rewatenna Epa", are pasted, people are arrested.

DNA MP Vijitha Herath who joined the debate said the lifting of the emergency has not made any difference as it has been re-imposed under the PTA. MP Herath described this as an attempt to mislead the people without telling them the truth. He was of the view there is no meaning in lifting the emergency as the Government continues it in a different form.

Responding to these queries by the Opposition ranks, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the Government could have continued with the emergency, if it was necessary. Even though the Government has the two thirds majority in Parliament, it took a humble decision to withdraw the emergency regulations. Referring to the Opposition demand to do away with the Public Security Ordinance, the Minister told the House that it has been been in the statute book for a along time and as such it was not possible. The Minister made the point that it is only those who want to deestabilise the country and promote terrorism are clamouring to repeal the PTA. The Minister said the Patriotic Act in America is more powerful than the PTA. Most of the countries invoke acts similar to PTA to prevent terrorist activities. The Minister explained how the implementation of this kind of laws has become a normal phenomenon in many countries.

The Minister told the House that the UNP had created the necessary environment conducive to warrant emergency for many years. The UNP government even signed a Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE terrorists by causing a severe threat to the country's unitary character. However, the emergency could be lifted due to the defeat of terrorism under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

TNA MP M.A.Sumanthiran who joined the debate said that the Government benches remain empty when an important debates are in progress. He said it is a clear reflection of the thinking of those in the Government benches. National Languages and social Integration Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara told the House that the Opposition had queried as to why the emergency was lifted. Why did the Opposition pressurise the Government to withdraw the emergency, he asked. The Opposition has no right to interpret Emergency laws as those against Tamils.

The UPFA MP J.R.P.Sooriyapperuma challenged the UNP to talk about Libya during their election campaign in Colombo. The UNP has advised its members not to utter a word against America or the destruction caused by it in 15 Islamic countries. The MP described how Sri Lanka has been made one of the most peaceful and friendly countrries in the Asian region. He said it was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who erased the word "war" and wrote the words 'peace' and 'development' on the blackboard. Today the country is moving towards the way the expectations of the people are fulfilled. Therefore, the Opposition has a responsibility to extend its cooperation to complete this task.

Certain remarks made by the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on incidents relating mythical "Grease Devil" and the prevailing security situation in Jaffna paved the way to Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to give him a detailed reply. The Minister told the House that the "Grease Yakas" is a mythical creation of those who want to throw this country back into turmoil and instability. The Police and the Armed Forces have worked together to allay fears among the public in bringing to book any mischievous elements that have masqueraded as "Grease Yakas". The Minister told the House that for the Opposition Leader to say that the Government has not taken any steps to arrest the situation is not only unfair but also an attempt to score brownie points as a cheap political intervention to consolidate his position as the Leader of his party. Minister Silva said he is not surprised that the Opposition Leader makes such remarks because even in the past he has vilified the Security Forces and the Government, not only in Sri Lanka but also abroad.

The Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill moved by Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem was deferred on Thursday as the UNP challenged its legality. When the Bill was taken up for debate, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe argued the validity of the Bill UNP MPs Wijedasa Rajapaksa, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga also endorsed their leaders view. This led to a series of arguments between the Government and the Opposition members on the legality of the Bill. Finally Minister Hakeem and the Opposition were of the view that it was up to Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody who was at the Chair at that time to give a ruling on the issue.

The Deputy Speaker maintained that the legality of a Bill could not be raised on a point of order. Wickremesinghe countered the point made by the Deputy Speaker which led to an uproar resulting in the adjournment of the House for half and hour. After it resumed the proceeding, the House agreed to defer the Bill and sittings came to an end around 4.00pm.