Relatives in politics, no issue at all -Environment Minister

Government legislators responded to the UNP's adjournment motion on the Rathupaswala incident reiterating the Government's commitment to resolve the drinking water problem in the area within the next few weeks. They also told the House of the Government's decision to punish those responsible for this incident on the outcome of the investigations. The Government members who joined the debate were critical of the deliberate attempts by the main Opposition UNP to exploit this unfortunate incident to gain political mileage.

Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga who moved the motion on behalf of the UNP demanded that steps should be taken to prevent the repetition of such incidents in the future and grant compensation to the affected parties. He said even though the Government had appointed Commissions to probe similar incidents in the past its reports have not seen the light of day. UNP MP Ajith Manapperuma who joined the debate produced a bullet or an empty shell of a bullet which he claimed was used by the Army at the Rathupaswala shooting incident. Soon after the MP showed the bullet, it had gone missing. The MP while speaking on the adjournment debate on the Rathupaswala water issue held a plastic water bottle in one hand and a bullet in the other hand to illustrate the point that the people who asked for water were fired bullets instead. He said the bullet had been embedded on a wall after the shooting. Soon after the MP showed the bullet, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera drew the attention of the Chair to hold an inquiry as the bullets cannot be brought into the Chamber. As a result of this incident, the House turned into chaos.

Several other Government MPs too protested and soon afterwards UPFA MP Sriyani Wijewickrama who was presiding left the Chair. Deputy Speaker Weerakkody who took the chair directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to inquire if it was a bullet or a shell of a spent bullet. Deputy Housing Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanne also said that an investigation should be conducted on bringing a bullet to the House. The Deputy Speaker said that MP Mannapperuma had shown only a clip of a gold- coloured pen and not a bullet.

DNA parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said that if the Government had alleged the Opposition of taking political mileage from this incident, the government should not have left avenues open for the Opposition to do so. MP Herath charged that the Opposition has resorted to such action due to shortcomings on the part of the Government. This kind of incidents would be an ideal opportunity for some international forces to make allegations against Sri Lanka, he said.

Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena who was critical of certain remarks made by the Opposition members said the Rathupaswala incident was totally uncalled for. There was a deliberate attempt to take the debate into a wrong direction and the Opposition wanted to portray a distorted picture that those who asked for water were fired on bullets. Refuting the allegations levelled against the Government, the Minister said if the Opposition attempts to point an accusing finger at the Government on this incident, he would like to know as to why Premakeerthi de Alwis and Vijaya Kumaratunga were killed? Those were well-planned politically motivated murders. However, there was no deliberate attempt behind the Rathupaswala incident to kill or assault the people. We are also of the view that this unfortunate incident should not have taken place, he said. Minister Yapa told the House that a well-disciplined Army which rescued the people from the clutches of terrorism would not deliberately attempt to create such a situation. The Minister urged the Opposition not to attempt to take petty political mileage from this incident.

UNP parliamentarian Harin Fernando told the House that the Government has failed to disclose those who were behind the Rathupaswala incident. After an offence is committed this Government is very smart to cover it up and seek pardon from the people. The Government attempts to justify the loss of lives at Rathupaswala by slinging mud at the Opposition, he said.

Ports and Highways Projects Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that the people were watching the Opposition's behaviour on this incident. Before the Rathupaswala incident, various incidents had occurred. If there are mistakes in an examination paper, even then the Opposition attempts to gain political mileage from it. The agony and pain of the UNP members are expressed in this manner today. They know if they do so at Sirikotha, they would be subjected to disciplinary actions.

Confusion reigned in Parliament on Thursday as Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga declined to raise a question listed under the name of UNP MP Rosy Senanayake during question time without following the normal protocol of the Whip raising questions on behalf of absent MPs. MP Senanayake's question had been referred to Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera. When the Chair asked whether the question would be raised as the Minister was ready to answer, it was skipped in the first round. However, when the Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody at the second round announced the question number and asked whether anyone would raise it, the Chief Opposition Whip said no.

At this point, UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer volunteered to raise the question. However, Perera said that the crisis within the Opposition had worsened to such a deplorable level that its MPs did not want to ask questions on behalf of their colegue.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that according to Standing Orders, an MP could raise a question and three supplementary questions. Even though an MP could do that on behalf of his or her colleague MP, it has not provided for raising the supplementary question. This has to be discussed at the Party leaders' meeting.

Minister Dilan Perera responding to Wickremesinghe said there was a tradition that an MP could raise the questions of absent MPs during the second round.

Today there is no MP to raise the question on behalf of absent MP Senanayake. The Chief Opposition Whip's refusal to raise the question indicates the level of crisis in the Opposition.

The topic of the election-related violence came to light due to a special statement by Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga.

MP Amaratunga in his statement referred to election violence taking place during the ongoing Provincial Council election campaign and expressed fear that the elections would not be free and fair as most of the candidates were relatives of powerful Ministers.

Environment Minister Susil Premajayantha told Parliament of the steps taken by the Government to conduct a free and fair Provincial Council election. Minister Premjayantha told the House that relatives in politics are not a new issue. Even Dudley Senanayake, the son of first Prime Minister of this country D.S. Senanayake succeeded his father. After the demise of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, his wife Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister. Their son Anura Bandaranaike entered politics while their daughter Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga became the President. There are many examples in international politics as well, he said.