JVP unleashed a killing spree

Government legislators responding to the adjournment motion moved by DNA parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the prevailing law and order situation in the country told the House how law and order has been restored in the country since President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office in 2005. They were very critical of MP Dissanayake's motion and alleged that it was moved with an ulterior motive by ignoring the situation atmosphere in the country during the UNP regime.

Government MPs said that the JVP and the UNP had no moral right to move such a motion as they were responsible for destabilising the law and order situation having unleashed terror going on and a killing spree in the country.

The very motion moved by the Opposition boomeranged on them. The Opposition members who joined in the debate focussed their speeches on the recent incidents at Aluthgama and Beruwala and tried to portray the inaction on the part of the police. They were also critical of not taking action against errant police officers who failed to fulfil their duty to ensure law and order.

Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake told the House how law and order had been blatantly violated and "jungle law" prevailed during the UNP regime. He also reminded the House of the statement by the late President J.R. Jayewardene that he would grant leave to the police. The Deputy Minister pointed an accusing finger at the JVP for creating terror in the country by committing many atrocities during 1988-1989 terror. He asked as to why this gloomy past was forgotten when the adjournment motion was moved by the JVP MP.

He said when President Rajapaksa took office in 2005, there was no law and order in the North and the East. The UPFA Government eradicated the three decade-old LTTE terrorism and ensured law and order in these two provinces. Refuting the allegations levelled against the police, he said it was the Security Forces and the Police which put an end to the "jungle law" which prevailed in the North. Whenever an incident occurs, it has now become a fashion to put the entire blame on the police. The Government lifted the emergency after a lapse of many years. The Deputy Minister said if ever a motion is moved it is better to think of the past history.

Moving the adjournment motion, DNA MP Anura Dissanayake made the point that the lives of the people and their properties have become insecure due to the collapse of the police service and the judicial system. He said that the prevailing situation in the country should be studied fully and discussed in Parliament. Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne responding to MP Dissanayake told the House that the Government alone cannot ensure law and order in the country. Politicians and all others have a bounden duty to safeguard law and order in the country. If there is any breach of law and order, whoever is responsible should be dealt with. The Premier said only four Opposition members were present in the Chamber. This is a clear reflection that the Opposition does not endorse in toto the fact that the law and order situation has collapsed.

Highways, Ports and Shipping Projects Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said the intention of moving the motion was to provide information to the UNHRC. None of the Opposition members know what really happened at Aluthgama or Beruwala. They uttered something in Parliament based on what they were told by a third party. The sole purpose of this motion is to sling mud at the Government and discredit the police. UNP parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya said that they had no intention whatsoever to embarass the police. 'There are honest and competent police officers who fulfil their responsibilities. If law and order had been maintained properly, the Beruwala incident would perhaps not have occurred. This incident has brought disrepute to the policemen who discharge their duties honestly, he said.

Responding to a number of questions raised by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Deputy External Affairs Minister Neomal Perera told Parliament on Thursday that South African Deputy President Cyril Ramphosa had visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Government. He said the Government had no intention to engage the South African Deputy President or the South African Government as an international mediator to solve the national problem of Sri Lanka. The Deputy Minister said this visit was made in the capacity of mutually sharing views on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to explore the possibility of adopting a similar mechanism taking into account the social and cultural differences of the country. MP Dissanayake said that the people would entertain doubts as to how and why the Government invited an international mediator soon after it had adopted a resolution with a two-thirds majority in Parliament against international interferences in domestic affairs.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in a special statement on the recent incidents at Aluthgama and Beruwala, said that the 'Black June' set off deliberately by certain groups was not only against the Muslims but also against the Sinhala Buddhists. This situation cannot be remedied by pointing an accusing finger at each other and finding fault with other communities. Wickremesinghe told the House that there should be some arrangement to placate those on this clash in our attempt to settle the situation. The Premier said that compensation for the damaged properties would be paid without delay while construction work on damaged buildings would be expedited. He told the House that Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the reconstruction work being carried out by the Security Forces.

President Rajapaksa arrived in Parliament on Tuesday and took his seat to listen to the debate on the Regulations under the Motor Traffic Act (No 1). He arrived in the Chamber around 2.20 pm when Transport Minister Kumara Welgama was moving the motion for the debate. UNP National List MP Eran Wickremeratne highlighted the shortcomings of the transport sector and inconveniences caused to the passengers. Minister Kumara Welgama asked whether MP Wickremeratne had ever travelled in a public bus. MP Wickremeratne responding to the Minister said that he had travelled in public busses many times and asked Minister Welgama as to when he last travelled in a public bus.

President Rajapaksa told the UNP MP in lighter vein, "You are asking this question from a bus owner." MP Wickremeratne said that he does not know of whom the President is talking about. But a Cabinet Minister is a public representative. If a public representative himself is a bus owner then we need to consider that situation twice.

Thereupon President Rajapaksa said they had been bus owners for generations. MP Wickremeratne said if they are businessmen for generations, that is better because the contribution of businessmen is needed to develop the country. However, the MP drawing the President's attention on another matter said there are some Ministry Secretaries who serve as directors in private companies. It is better to stop that practice for the sake of public interest, Wickremeratne said. The President asked the MP to provide him with a detailed report on it immediately.