Obey or Get Out instead of Learn or Depart!:

Ranil changes Royal’s motto to suit UNP

It seems that the Leader of the United National Party (UNP), Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, is complying fully with the motto of his alma mater - Royal College.

Royal’s Latin motto of Disce Aut Discede, which means ‘Learn or Depart’ has been applied to UNP members in a different way - Obey or Depart!

Wickremesinghe has taken a tough stance against UNP parliamentarians and other party members who criticise the party and violate its constitution and has declared they must either obey and respect the party leadership or depart from the main Opposition party.

Armed with the clear mandate he got a month ago at the UNP Convention to remain as the party leader for the next six years, Wickremesinghe seems to have embarked on a determined mission against the so-called Reformists in the party. He has said that there would be zero tolerance for any party member who lets down the party by criticising in public the decisions taken by the party leadership.

The UNP leader last week severely reprimanded five parliamentarians who were reported to have acted in a manner that violates the decisions of the party.

Wickremesinghe last week summoned five UNP parliamentarians - Deputy Chief Opposition Whip Ajith C. Perera, National Youth Front, Chairman Ruwan Wijewardene, Puttalam District MP Nirodhi Perera and UNP national list MPs Dr. Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickremeratne.

They were severely reprimanded by Wickremesinghe, who asked them to resign from their seats if they can’t follow the instructions and orders given by the party leadership.

The UNP leader warned them for being present at the Court of Appeal hearing in the case filed by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, disobeying the decision taken by the party. It was reported that the five MPs had apologised to the UNP leader.

Earlier last week, Wickremesinghe had a private audience with the Pope at the Vatican City. Despite being a customary holiday in the world’s smallest state, the Opposition leader had the rare honour of becoming one of the first visitor on New Year’s day.

He also telephoned UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and instructed him to organise a campaign to protest against the unfortunate rape incident in India, after the victim’s death. Accordingly, the UNP women’s wing - Lak Wanitha, chairperson Shanthini Kongahage organised the protest under the patronage of several UNP seniors.

New life for anit-SL  elements after controversial ruling

It seems that anti-Government elements and the international elements who day-dream of a regime change in Sri Lanka have got a new lease of life after the controversial ruling of the Court of Appeal last week.

However, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that no legislator will comment on Thursday’s Appeal Court’s verdict on the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), whereas Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa will announce Parliament’s stand on the matter on Tuesday (8) when the House resumes for the New Year.

“The Speaker himself is a judge in Parliament and he is the only individual who is empowered and capable of commenting on the legality of this verdict. We still stand by the Speaker’s recent announcement which challenged the Supreme Court’s order, stating that Parliament was bestowed supremacy over the judiciary.

“There were occasions where Parliament did not accept the verdicts of the Courts as outlined in former Speaker Anura Bandaranaike’s ruling as much as Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s recent ruling”, he said.

Both Speakers set aside some Court orders which challenged the supremacy of parliament, he said.

“We should take into consideration that the Speaker himself has enormous powers as per the Constitution over internal matters and all proceedings of Parliament.

“As the impeachment is being probed and the motion is still in Parliament, the final decision will be given by the Speaker on that day (January 8). Nobody would like to comment on this verdict without studying it.

"We should study the verdict first before commenting on this. We received the verdict today and we should have time to study this before commenting," he said.

He said that nobody can engage in active politics while holding judicial office. “But we believe that every citizen in the country has the right to engage in politics but not when they wear cloaks of unbiased innocence."

Asked about the support received by Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake the Minister said it was a handful of ill-informed people in and around Colombo who extended their support to the Chief Justice. The majority don’t have much interest in this matter and they have only a vague idea on what is happening over this impeachment motion.

“Only a handful of people in Colombo have rallied round her”, he said. When a question was raised about the ethical matter of the process, the Minister said around 9,000 Golden Key depositors have come forward without any provocation seeking justice, pointing a finger at the culprits in the judiciary. “That explains the ethical side of this case”, he said.

Rajitha says legislature is above judiciary

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne queried as to who has the right to take decisions against the wrongdoings of the senior most in the judiciary if a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed by the Speaker does not have a right to arrive at findings on the allegations of misbehaviour or incapacity charges levelled against a Chief Justice.

The Court of Appeal delivered a ruling that the Parliamentary Select Committee has no legal authority to probe the allegations levelled against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake.

The Court of Appeal said that the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed under Standing Order 78 A derived its power solely from that Standing Order, which is not law.

It said that the Select Committee appointed under and in terms of Standing Order 78 A has no legal power or authority to make a finding adversely affecting the legal rights of a judge against whom the allegations made in the resolution moved under Proviso to Article 107 (2) is the subject matter of its investigation.

The Court of Appeal last month issued notices to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and Parliament Select Committee members who probed impeachment charges levelled against Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, asking them to appear before Courts on January 3.

This was to hear a writ application filed by Chief Justice Dr Bandaranayake challenging the Parliamentary Select Committee findings in respect of the impeachment motion against her. The respondents did not appear before Courts.

Dr. Senaratne said, it is clearly stated in the Constitution that only Parliament can investigate alleged misbehaviour and incapacity charges of Chief Justices and Judges.

According to provisions in the Constitution under 107 (3), Parliament shall by law or by Standing Orders provide for all matters relating to the presentation of such an address, including the procedure for the passing of such resolution, the investigation and proof of the alleged misbehaviour or incapacity and the right of such Judge to appear and to be heard in person or by representative.

Dr. Senaratna said, Courts had no authority to issue notices on the Speaker or the PSC members. The legislature will abide by the historic precedent set by former Speaker Anura Bandaranaike when a similar situation arose that the judiciary has no authority to influence affairs of Parliament. This was accepted by former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva, he said.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa gave a similar ruling with regard to the notices issued by the Supreme Court, he said. The judiciary should not interfere in Parliamentary matters, he stressed.

President tours landslide-hit Matale

President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised alternate land for those who lost their homes due to landslides in the Matale district.

During a visit to flood and landslide affected areas in the Matale district last weekend, the President told residents, that the government will provide suitable alternate lands in safe locations for those whose property has been totally destroyed, a press release from the President’s media unit stated.

President Rajapaksa instructed the Matale District Secretary to take immediate steps to construct houses in suitable and safe areas for those whose homes had been completely damaged due to earth slips, it stated.

In the Matale district alone, 172 houses have been totally destroyed due to landslides. In Kandy, another 68 houses have been totally damaged, according to the Disaster Management Centre. The latest spate of floods and landslides affected nearly 400,000 people in 18 districts and caused extensive damage to both man and property.

President Rajapaksa visited several areas in the Matale district to inspect the damage caused by floods and landslides and to inquire into the well-being of the affected families who have been sheltered in welfare camps. He also handed over financial assistance to the affected and distributed dry rations among them at the Rattota Pradeshiya Sabha.

The President said that his government was always committed to restore and compensate damaged property, both public and private, during natural calamities.

He said if the people too acted according to expert advise, it will help reduce risk and damage during natural disasters. President Rajapaksa said everybody had a role to play in disaster mitigation and added that protecting and properly managing nature will go a long way in minimising the effects of natural calamities.

The President also inspected the progress of the repair work on the Rathgammana Bridge across the Amban river connecting the Matale and Laggala electorates. The heavy rains had washed away the banks of the bridge, the media release stated.

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Deputy Ministers Nandimithra Ekanayake and Rohana Dissanayake, MPs Lakshman Wasantha Perera and Lohan Ratwatte, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and Ports and Highways Ministry Secretary R W R Pemasiri accompanied the President.

Unexpected visitor at Katuwana

President Rajapaksa made a sudden inspection tour to the Katuwana Pradeshiya Sabha last Monday. The President said that officials of the Pradeshiya Sabhas should render an efficient service to the public without inconveniencing them.

He said that the members of the public submit their problems to the Pradeshiya Sabhas with the hope that they would be solved by them. He was of the view that the new Katuwana Pradeshiya Sabha building should be planned in a manner that would provide more facilities to the public.

The President had a cordial discussion with the staff and inspected the Pradeshiya Sabha premises too. President Rajapaksa expressed the view that government institutions should utilise modern technology to provide an efficient service to the public after inspecting the electronic library of the Pradeshiya Sabha. Southern Provincial Council Chairman Somawansa Kodagoda and Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Ariyadasa Weerasinghe were present.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, speaking to the staff at the Presidential Secretariat before commencing work for the New Year, said that all government employees should act with dedication in performing their duties on behalf of the public. All employees took an oath to serve the public efficiently, productively and with commitment, honesty, dedication and loyalty.

Weeratunga urged public servants to provide the service pledged in the Mahinda Chinthana policy framework, to their optimum, urging them to utilise information technology to facilitate their duties.

He said that the Head of State, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had rejuvenated government service through his exceptional guidelines. The Secretary to the President said that the public greatly relied on the over 1.3 million public servants placing their utmost confidence in them that they would help them to get their matters solved in an efficient and productive manner.

He was optimistic that the unstinted support of the public sector employees would be received in carrying out the policy decisions of the Mahinda Chinthana in the development process. Functions of the Presidential Secretariat resumed following the invoking of blessings by clergy of all religions.

Five-year health policy launched

The five-year (2013-2017) National Health Plan prepared by the Health Ministry was launched last week under the patronage of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. He said that the Five-Year National Health Plan was formulated by the Ministry’s Planning Department. The plan covers 24 sectors. It was formulated with inputs from scholars and experts in the health sector. It also includes the suggestions and ideas of professionals in other sectors and provincial health authorities.

The Minister said achieving set targets during each year, means of securing funds and other important strategies are set out in the National Health Policy. During the previous years, every National Health Plan was confined to only one year.

This five-year national plan aims to reach many targets, he said. Sri Lanka has shown an upward trend in non-communicable diseases compared to other Asian countries.

Around 650 individuals die daily due to heart attacks, diabetes, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure and respiratory diseases, the Minister said. The Health Ministry decided to proclaim 2013 as the Prevention Year for Non-Communicable Diseases under the five-year health national program.

Basil warns of conspiracies

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said last week that certain organisations which depend on funds from international bodies conspiring against Sri Lanka, are active trying to destroy the government’s pro-people development programs. The time has come to make the people aware about the activities of these organisations,

He said organisations acting against the public are traitors. The public will rise against these organisations in the near future, he said at the the inauguration of the sanitation, sewerage and waste water system in Ekala, Ja-Ela.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board constructed the system spending Rs 5,385 million. The inaugural ceremony of this project was held under the patronage of Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena and Basil Rajapaksa.

The Minister said, these same conspirators engineered the demonstrations against a pension scheme for the private sector similar to the public sector pension scheme that resulted in the death of a demonstrator.

In the same way they are trying to prevent the passage of the Divineguma Bill which if approved would provide employment to 20,000 persons. This could significantly contribute to improve the living standards of the people who are living below the poverty line, he said.

Ekala is the first fully developed industrial zone in the country but this has resulted in pollution due to discharge of industrial waste. Many environmental problems had cropped up in the area.

The new sewerage system has been built as an answer to the many environmental problems in the area. This is a victory for all environment-friendly organisations and the public, the Minister said.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the new system will help in the purification of waste water and releasing it as clean water to the environment.

This project will be a catalyst for several other water purification projects in the country. Hitherto all sewerage disposal projects were designed to release sewerage into the ocean.

This project is completely different from the above system, he said.

The new system will eliminate all environmental problems arising out of sewage disposal in the area, he said. Social Services Minister Felix Perera, Parliamentarian Sudharshani Frenandopulle, Ja-Ela Pradesiya Sabha Chairman Lalitha Nishantha Abeywickrama, Ministry Secretary A. Abegunasekera were present.

Namal on one Sri Lankan nation

Hambantota district parliamentarian and Tharunyata Hetak Organisation Chairman Namal Rajapaksa last week said that youth should not feel constrained to forge links with their counterparts in other communities.

“Whether it is access to education, livelihood or any other matter, involving day-to-day life no youth should feel that they are being discriminated,” he said.

MP Namal Rajapaksa was speaking at the national conference on the role of youth in reconciliation, organised by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies.

He said that youth are being empowered to ensure that upheavals such as ones that destroyed the nation will never happen in the future. He stressed that youth are the lifeblood of a country and the perceptions they carry into their adulthood will determine whether a nation will prosper or not. Rajapaksa said that the President has allocated Rs. one billion for the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations for 2013. He expressed optimism that bulk of the activities recommended by the LLRC will be implemented by 2013.

The Parliamentarian said that Sri Lanka has laid much focus on understanding the concept of reconciliation applicable to its situation. He said that all Sri Lankans irrespective of their racial and other petty differences desired a united Sri Lanka.

“One Sri Lankan nation is our ultimate goal. Every one of us wants to achieve this goal in the years to come,” he said. Parliamentarian Rajapaksa said that the government wants every Sri Lankan citizen to be treated equally without no discrimination.

“There will not be discrimination against anyone just because he does not belong to the majority community,” he said.

Rajapaksa added that the vicious elements that are in the process of discrediting Sri Lanka have used this in a vicious manner.

He noted that women, children and the youth have to bear the brunt of the ill-effects of the conflict and they will have to play a key role when it comes to reconciliation.

“Society should understand that youth who fall victim to ideological campaigns masterminded by adults are finally labelled as militants,” he said.

He said that these youths find it very difficult to become the agents of peace and reconcile quickly. “When they are asked to be agents of peace it becomes extremely difficult for them to switch to new paradigms quickly," he said.

The Parliamentarian said that post-conflict reconciliation takes a long time and youth need to be patient as key actors of this national effort.

He said that youth do not have preconceived notions about ethnicity or any other divisive parameter. Parliamentarian Rajapaksa noted that the sports arena is dominated by youth and there is no discrimination whatsoever on the lines of ethnicity.

“What mattered in sports was whether one was an accomplished player and nothing else,” he said. He said that sports can be used as a vehicle to inculcate the spirit of reconciliation in the minds of youth.