'Ocean University, a reality today'
The
Government in fulfilling yet another pledge in the Mahinda Chinthana to
set-up an Ocean University in Sri Lanka passed the Ocean University Bill
in Parliament on Wednesday which aims to improve the country's fisheries
sector, naval education and engineering training.
The University would provide skills and expertise on the fisheries
industry through five diplomas and its course content will be on
fisheries and marine technology.
The Ocean University Bill of Sri Lanka was passed in Parliament with
a majority of 23 votes. The Bill received 24 votes in favour while only
Independent MP Ajith Kumara voted against after asking for a division.
The UNP members also voted in favour of the Bill while the DNA and TNA
members were not present at the time of voting.
Presenting the Bill in Parliament, Youth Affairs and Skills
Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said his Ministry has found 45
acres of land to set up the Ocean University near Magampura Mahinda
Rajapaksa Port. The Minister told the House today is an important day in
Sri Lanka's vocational training and development. He said when President
Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Minister of Fisheries in 1997, he facilitated
the ocean economy in Sri Lanka by proposing the National Institute of
Fisheries and Naval Engineering (NIFNE).
The Minister stressed the need for focusing on ocean and naval
education. The course content of the Ocean University would cover all
aspects of the ocean, including fisheries and marine technology.
Minister Alahapperuma told the House that almost all Governments in
post-independent Sri Lanka neglected the subject of vocational training
which was one of the biggest mistakes made in the country's history. He
briefed the House on a number of new initiatives taken by the Government
to develop vocational training and the tremendous progress achieved in
the sector.
UPFA parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa who joined in the debate said
that President Rajapaksa who was the then Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources Minister introduced the concept of Ocean University and his
intention was to improve the quality of education in this field. This
university was a great asset to the children of fishing communities to
develop their careers so that they could receive a quality education
with social recognition. The Government hopes to make Sri Lanka a naval
hub in the region. We hope the children of fishing communities would
play a pivotal role to make our endeavour a success. We hope the Ocean
University would also strive to find solutions to bridge the existing
gaps and fill loopholes in this field, he said.
DNA parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said that Sri Lanka is surrounded
by the ocean and endowed with many inland water resources enhancing the
importance of an Ocean University. Degree awarding universities are
necessary for research and post-graduate studies.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha
Senaratne said that President Rajapaksa's vision is to grant two degrees
in this field in 2015. This would pave the way for Sri Lanka to join the
International industry as 80 percent of the international trade deals
with Fisheries and Aquatic crops. The Minister said Sri Lanka has been
selected to implement the first pilot project to create a global blue
economy because Sri Lanka is very important in this field. Today Sri
Lanka is so important that the world is unable to speak of the fisheries
industry leaving out Sri Lanka. Therefore, this university would be a
great turning point in the fisheries industry in Sri Lanka.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on Tuesday
demanded to know from the Government what are the complex issues that
had arisen with regard to the proceedings of the Presidential Commission
of Inquiry into Disappearances and Missing Persons, which necessitated
to obtain the services of a Panel of Experts.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the Chairman of
the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances and Missing
Persons had informed the President that in view of the large numbers of
representations made to the Commission and the complex legal issues that
had arisen as a result, it was necessary to seek legal advice from
experts in this field. Wickremesinghe queried from the Government as a
what are these complex legal issues that had arisen and will those who
had made representations to the Commission be informed of the complex
legal issues and be given an opportunity to make representations
regarding such issues.
Will the Attorney-General as the principal Legal Officer of the
Government also be informed of these complex legal issues and be given
an opportunity to express his views regarding the issues that have
allegedly arisen, he asked.
Responding to the Opposition Leader, External Affairs Minister Prof
G.L. Peiris said that the Government could not cross-question the
Presidential Commission except providing for what they asked for. The
Minister said that the Government can only facilitate the process of the
Commission but cannot question them why they would ask for additional
resources. The Minister said that the Commission had informed the
President in writing that they are investigating the complaints
pertaining to the cases of missing persons and the number of cases
reported to the Commission was very much higher than expected so that it
is better if the Government can provide them the services of experts on
international laws and policies with regard to the cases of missing
persons.
The Minister categorically said this is an indigenous mechanism and
it should be strengthened. It is our duty to help and facilitate the
process of the Commission. We have no right to cross examine them.
Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh
Gunawardena gave a comprehensive answer to a question by DNA MP Anura
Kumara Dissanayake on the appointment of Presidential Commissions and
presenting their reports to Parliament. MP Dissanayake asked whether the
reports of these Commissions would be presented to Parliament. Minister
Gunawardena said that these Commissions have been appointed under the
powers vested with the President by the Presidential Commission Act
which has not made it compulsory that these reports be published. The
Minister told the House there are many other documents that could not be
published but it would be better if the Government and Opposition make a
common approach to amend the existing laws so that everybody could have
access to those documents.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said there is no legal binding that these
Commission reports be presented in Parliament but stressed the need to
bring laws to enable them to have legal binding. Minister Gunawardena
said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed 17 Presidential
Commissions between 2005 and 2013. Of the 17 Commissions, 16 have
presented their reports to the President except for the Presidential
Commission of Inquiry into the procurement of High-Value Weapons, other
Military Equipment and Services to the Navy during 2001-2005.
Commenting on the UNP's latest inspection tours to Government
institutions, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said that the UNP MPs
make inspection tours to massage parlours in the country to get a
first-hand understanding of what went on there. The Deputy Speaker said
so when UNP parliamentarian Nalin Bandara Jayamaha asked Indigenous
Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake what action had been taken to
prevent nefarious activities alleged to be taking place in the so-called
Ayurvedic massage parlours countrywide. The Minister told the MP that
his Ministry has issued 148 permits to massage centres and the highest
number of 58 are in the Colombo District.
MP Jayamaha said that the Ministry officials have powers to inspect
those places and check the quality of services provided there. The
Minister told the MP that the Ayurveda Department officials had no
powers to raid massage parlours that have been registered as business
places under Divisional Secretaries. The Minister said the police have
the power to raid such places if there were any nefarious activities as
alleged by the MP. |