[Week in Parliament]

'Don't take advantage of isolated incident'

The Government ranks which responded to the adjournment motion by the UNP on the country's law and order situation on Wednesday categorically rejected their claims and described it as an attempt to take undue political advantage by highlighting one isolated incident took place at Mulleriyawa.

The Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga who moved the adjournment motion on behalf of the UNP said that the country's law and order situation has deteriorated and queried on the steps to be taken by the Government to remedy this situation.

The Opposition MP attempted to show how some politicians maintain close links with the under world and drug dealers. Amaratunga was critical that though the UNP had pointed out these things earlier, the Government did not take precautionary measures to prevent such activities. It is evident that some political elements and under world characters are also behind the recent unfortunate incident at Mulleriyawa.

Amaratunga made the point that this violent culture developed due to the arbitrary decision taken by the Government to remove the 17th Amendment. The MP stressed that the Government should overcome this situation through a systematic approach or re-introducing the 17th amendment.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who seconded the motion pointed out that the attempts made by certain elements to take law into their hand have posed a serious threat to the democracy.

He cited the recent incidents at Katunayake, Dompe and Moratuwa as to how the people attempted to take law into their hand due to the failure of the law to meet out justice for them.

Responding to the remarks made by John Amaratunga and Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne told them that he did not agree with the fact that the country's law and order situation has deteriorated due to a few isolated incidents.

The Premier said only a very small percentage of the people has resorted to this kind of wrongdoings. He however, said it is not just to point the finger only to the Government and stressed the importance of making joint efforts to bring the culprits before the law.

He said that instead of seeking the people's votes, politicians bear the responsibility to enlighten and guide the people. The Premier also explained the ground realities which led the Government to introduce the 18th Amendment.

Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake said it was the biggest joke that the UNP talks about law and order when the people are too aware of how the law and order was maintained during their regime.

The Deputy Minister reminded how UNP politicians such as Karu Jayasuriya violated party discipline and joined the Government and later went back to the UNP. However, disciplinary inquiries are conducted only against small people such as Buddhika Pathirana.

He pointed out that when President J.R.Jayewardene came to power in 1977 he gave one week 'vacation' to the Police to harass their political opponents. He accused the UNP of attempting to provoke the people against the Police in the hope of creating terror. When an isolated incident happened, the country will not end up in turmoil as the Opposition claims.

UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera in a hard-hitting speech told the House that no room should be left for a repetition of unfortunate incidents such as Mulleriyawa. If the Government and the Opposition clash with each other, the country's problems cannot be sort out.

He said that there is no use of talking about the past mistakes or wrongdoings by the political parties. MP Jayasekera told the House that he did not approve such wrongdoings committed even by his own party. He told the House that he expressed his political ideology not due to any personnel grudge with anybody.

The MP who focused the attention of both Government and Opposition members told them whatever comments and arguments are made inside the chamber, everybody should go out of the chamber as brothers and sisters.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the UNP which cannot tolerate their humiliating defeat attempts to cover up their defeat from the unfortunate death of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

Today a lot of sympathy has been created among the UNP on the killing of Bharatha. The Minister queried if the UNP has a sympathy, how did they suspend the party membership of Buddhika Pathirana and bring Mangala Samaraweera to the scene? At present so sympathy has been created among Ranil Wickremesinghe on our people like Bharatha.

The Government will do the maximum possible justice for Bharatha. Minister Aluthgamage who explained the difference between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe said President is a leader who loves his party and its people, but If any UNPer faced to any unfortunate incident, its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe goes to Bangkok to ignore it.

UNP MP Harin Fernando said he is regret to note the number of Government members in the chamber when an important issue is being debated in the House.

The MP asked Minister Aluthgamage who can identify the sorrow of the daughter of slain ex- MP Bharatha Laklshman Premachandra? Ports and Road Development Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardene made the point both UNP MPs who moved and seconded the motion are not in the chamber.

He queried what is the disciplinary action taken by the UNP by on the brutal assault on UNP MP Ranga Bandara by a UNP Provincial Councilor? Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne presented the appropriation bill for budget 2012 in Parliament on Tuesday.

The highest allocation made in appropriation bill has been to Defence and Urban Development Ministry which stood at Rs.229,943 million.

The adjournment motion moved by the TNA parliamentarian R.Sampanthan requesting to ensure the peace and harmony in the country was taken up for debate on Friday.

Responding to the motion Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W.D.J.Seneviratne said we should not never forget the sufferings caused, lives lost and damage to the properties during the three decades of war.

However during the past three years, a huge relief assistance has been provided to the people in those areas. Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralithran made the point the land issue is not particular only for Tamils and its a common issue to everybody in the country. However he said this issue can be solved through discussions.