In UPFA and UNP:

Two types of ‘democracy’ at work

Most politicians do not practice what they preach. Most politicians in the Opposition make a big hue and cry about democracy, but there is no internal democracy even in the party the Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe heads. Ranil projects himself as a champion of democracy, but he has silenced his opponents in the party and allowed only a hand-picked few confidantes to open their mouths.

While the Reformist parliamentarians have been totally banned from casting remarks on the party or making media statements, a few Ranil loyalists have been permitted to speak to the media.

The Reformist Group members have been compelled to remain tightlipped even during the UNP parliamentary group members meetings while the Working Committee majority are Ranil’s loyalists. Hence, the few anti-Ranil figures in the UNP Working C0mmittee have been forced to refrain from opening their mouths.

In contrast, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given ample opportunities for the constituent parties of the ruing UPFA to express their views freely, not only at the Government Parliamentry Group meetings, but also at Cabinet meetings. This was really evident at last week’s Cabinet Meeting at which the Ministers had lengthy discussions on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and the proposals which the Government intend to introduce.

The venue for this week’s Cabinet Meeting was shifted from the Temple Trees to the Presidential Secretariat, the old Parliament building at Galle Face. It was presided over by President Rajapaksa and he gave a careful hearing on various views and proposals made by his Ministers.

There were heated arguments at certain stages, but later it cooled down as the Cabinet took a firm decision. Accordingly, the government last week decided to present an amendment to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to Parliament on Tuesday as an urgent Bill, to repeal all Constitutional provisions to merge two or more Provinces.

The Cabinet extensively discussed the matters pertaining to the 13th Amendment yesterday and favourable, neutral and opposing views on it were expressed during the meeting.

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella addressing the Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry auditorium said that the President’s right to proclaim the merger of Provincial Councils under the 13th Amendment will be repealed making it impossible to merge the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The decision was taken with the consensus of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet also decided to appoint a fresh Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to extensively discuss the other revisions pertaining to the 13th Amendment such as the Constitutional clause that requires the consent of all Provincial Councils to pass nationally important Bills, police and land powers, etc.

Name of the members to be included in the PSC and its schedule of session schedules will be decided at the Party Leaders’ Meeting with Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa on Tuesday. The PSC will commence sittings from Wednesday.

The newly constituted PSC would be a valuable opportunity for all parties to come to a settlement on the national issues of the country. There are dissenting views among the public at large on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution since it was not asked for by a majority of people.

Minister Rambukwella said there had also been a court order against the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, and former President J. R Jayewardene himself was not ready to proceed on some of these proposals. The Minister said with over 25 years having elapsed since the introduction of the 13th Amendment, public opinion has emerged that some of these clauses are not valid and suitable for the country in the present era. He said the wrongs of the past should be rectified.

Responding to a question by a journalist, the minister said the government is confident of securing the two thirds majority for the urgent Bill. He said the government, while respecting all views held by foreign countries, gives priority to public opinion within the country as Sri Lanka is a sovereign nation.

He said even though the terrorism was defeated in military terms it still looms in the psychological sphere.

He said development and economy related issues have contributed more to the national crisis rather than ethnic issues, adding that Sri Lanka does not have particular ethnic issues. The minister stated that the government is firm in its decision to hold the Northern election in September.

New Iranamadu Airport

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the new Iranamadu Airport, newly constructed runway and renovated A9 road yesterday. LTTE cadres had constructed a 600m long runway at the same site and destroyed it using bulldozers, prior to the Army retaking Iranamadu.

The reconstructed runway extends up to 1500m. The reconstruction work was carried by the Sri Lanka Air Force. The main A9 highway from Kandy to Jaffna was also opened by the President yesterday.

The A9 is another landmark and peace building operation brought up in the LLRC. The development undertaken at an expenditure of Rs.700 million is jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Sri Lankan Government. The Army provided all assistance in completing the project.

The A9 highway encompasses four lanes in town areas together with two bicycle lanes and additional space for parking area.

The President also opened the newly constructed three-storied People’s Bank building where distribution of milk for for school children took place.

The opening of the reconstructed Iranamadu runaway and A9 highway will make history and will give fresh impetus to Sri Lanka’s quest to become the wonder of Asia.

Govt to import 500 luxury buses

The 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka will also be a boon to the country’s transport sector as the Government has decided to import 500 air-conditioned luxury buses from China to transport the visiting delegations attending the CHOGM.

A Transport Ministry spokesman said the Cabinet has already granted approval to import the 500 air conditioned luxury buses from China. He said that these luxury buses will be added to the fleet of city service after the CHOGM scheduled for November.

They will be deployed on the Moratuwa-Pettah, Kesbewa-Pettah,. Negombo-Pettah, Gampaha-Pettah, Kaduwela-Fort (via Malabe) and Homagama-Pettah routes. He said that there is a big demand for luxury bus services from commuters.” That is why we have decided to import 500 luxury buses,” he added.

Weather forcasts

The Disaster Management Ministry on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched a special inquiry into the alleged failure by the Meteorology Department to issue a timely warning about Friday night’s cyclonic weather conditions that caused the loss of several lives and damage to property.

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Ministry Secretary to submit a report on the lapse on the part of the Met Department, within two days. He said they received information from many quarters on the lapses of the department with regard to this incident.

The Minister said the information will be studied closely and action taken against the officials if proven guilty.

Amaraweera was of the view that the information disseminated by the Met Department had been insufficient on many occasions in recent times including on this occasion.

Commenting on the serious concerns raised on the credibility of the Department forecasts, the minister in agreement said the confidence of the public in the Met Department forecasts should not be allowed to be breached since it would lead to further risks and problems.

Asked about complaints of the lack of modern facilities to the Department to provide accurate forecasts, Amaraweera said a proposal submitted by him to upgrade the existing system in the Department had been approved by the Cabinet, but it has been delayed as the Ministry has not yet received funds.

He said the Disaster Management Ministry in coordination with the regional units of the Disaster Management Centre and other stakeholders are working to provide relief measures to the people affected by the inclement weather.

The minister said funds for the relief measures have been disbursed to the District Secretariats.

Met chief admits shortcomings

Over 50 fishermen were killed due to bad weather and rough seas over the weekend. That both the Government and Opposition politicians who made every effort to look into the needs of the those who were affected.

While the Government did everything possible to help families of those who had become unfortunate victims, Opposition leader Rani Wickremasinghe had to face an unexpected mob that attacked his vehicle when he visited affected families.

Meteorology Department Director General S H Kariyawasam admitting the shortcoming on the part of the Department to issue a severe weather warning in advance to prevent fishermen going out to sea on Friday (8) night, said the stormy conditions became worse than they expected. He said sudden changes and spot changes in weather are frequent in the region where Sri Lanka is, making it harder to predict weather conditions accurately beforehand.

Kariyawasam said the department plans to install an advance radar system this year to overcome these practical problems. He said taking into account the experiences during the recent inclement weather, the Department will take measures to strengthen its early warning systems and to build an effective and close communication with the fishermen.

President orders relief

President Rajapaksa ordered immediate relief to the fishermen affected by the adverse weather. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne participated in inspection tours in Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Negombo and Beruwela on the direction of President Rajapaksa and he submitted a report on the fishermen badly affected by the bad weather conditions.

Deputy Minister Gunaratne said a large number of fishermen have been affected by the adverse weather conditions since they had not been issued prior warnings

“If the fishermen received an early warning from the authorities about the bad weather conditions, the damage could not have been this severe. They have not received any warning from the authorities. They have been too late as in previous times,” the deputy minister said.

Monsoonal rains accompanied by cyclonic winds have affected over 1,400 persons belonging to nearly 600 families. Nearly 2,300 houses were damaged with 101 houses being completely destroyed. Four temporary shelters were setup housing 24 families. Kalutara, Colombo, Gampaha, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Kegalle, Ratnapura and Puttalam districts were affected by the bad weather.

GL on official visits to Slovenia, Austria and Germany

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and his Slovenian counterpart Karl Erjavec during the conclusion of the former’s two day official visit to Slovenia on Monday resolved to conclude agreements relating to investment promotion, avoidance of double taxation and air services, which would all serve to further strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.

Minister Peiris also invited business leaders from Slovenia to attend the Commonwealth Business Forum, on the fringes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will be hosted in Sri Lanka in November. The minister underlined trade and economic opportunities this would afford to non Commonwealth member states attending this Forum. Slovenia expressed its intention of sending a high level business delegation to this Forum.

The minister met with several Slovenian dignitaries, including his counterpart Karl Erjavec. During the discussions, the two ministers acknowledged the cordial political relations existing between the two countries and agreed to further realize the potential for economic and trade relations between Sri Lanka and Slovenia. Minister Peiris emphasized that the ongoing visit by a delegation of prominent business leaders from Sri Lanka to Slovenia would serve to match complementary and mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities for both countries.

The ministers also discussed further means to enhance bilateral cooperation, including in the sphere of education. During a visit to the International Centre for the Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE), an intergovernmental organization based in Ljubljana, Sri Lankan officials and students were offered opportunities for postgraduate studies in public administration and related fields.

The External Affairs Minister also met with Jenko Veber, the President of the National Assembly of Slovenia. They discussed means to further enhance bilateral co-operation between the two Parliaments and agreed to establish friendship groups in both Parliaments to deepen relations between the two countries at the Parliamentary level.

Veber stated that his country was pleased with the progress relating to the school project in Sri Lanka initiated by Slovenia in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami.

During the visit, Minister Peiris also met with the President of the Constitutional Court of Slovenia, Dr. Ernest Petric. During the discussions, Petric expressed interest in developments within Sri Lanka and stated that he would be visiting the country later this year to discuss cooperation in the legal and constitutional fields.

Minister Peiris made the inaugural address at the Sri Lanka-Slovenia Business Conference and also addressed the Slovenian Association for International Relations on the topic “Evolving Political and Economic Landscape in Sri Lanka.” During the visit, the minister met with the Mayor of Bled proposed a twinning agreement between the cities of Bled and Kandy.

‘Heritage belongs to all’

The Government’s programme to promote a closer amity between communities will not be reversed under any circumstances, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said at a ceremony held to open a new Dharma Shalawa at Napawala Sri Sumangalarama Viharaya in Getaheththa.

“Various forces are operating locally and internationally to destroy the peace and amity between the communities and people should be vigilant of these vicious maneuvers,” the President said. He added that the steps taken by the Government to promote reconciliation and closer amity between communities and march towards development together will not be reversed under any circumstances.

The President said that all should strive to build a better country for the younger generation. President Rajapaksa insisted that the infrastructure development will be of no use if the country’s children lack moral values. “The Mahasangha has a pivotal role in moulding a disciplined and moral society,” he said.

“Jathika Hela Urumaya Leader Ven. Ellawala Medhanana Thera was committed to protecting the country’s heritage during the height of terrorism.

He conducted an in depth study on archaeological sites in the Northern and Eastern Provinces after those provinces were freed from the clutches of terrorism,” the President said.

The President said the country’s heritage does not belong to a community nor a province. He said national heritage belongs to all communities. He stressed the importance of protecting the national heritage irrespective of the province or place they are located in the country. “Ven Ellawala Medhananda Thera has travelled the length and breadth of the country, including the dense forests in the North and the East in search of our national heritage,” he said.