Joint efforts to restore good governance vital

Despite attempts by the main Opposition UPFA to move an adjournment motion on post-election violence and exert pressure on the Government, legislators countering the allegations by the Opposition members said that the number of post-election incidents of violence has dropped drastically compared to all previous elections. Government members stressed the need to work in unison with the

Opposition without harping on the past as a new political culture has emerged to take the country forward.

Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva who moved the adjournment motion on behalf of the Opposition cited a number of post-election related incidents of harassment and damage to the property of Opposition supporters and the attack on the campaign offices of some UPFA parliamentarians by political rivals.

He said that some UPFA supporters in state institutions and corporations have been transferred out on political grounds while attempts had been made to prevent others from reporting to work. De Silva alleged that the police had failed to take adequate measures to prevent such violent acts against the political opponents.

The Opposition Leader called upon the Government to take action against those who were involved in post-election violence regardless of their political affiliations.

The Opposition Leader thanked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for creating a mechanism to address these issues to some extent. He however, said that this has not been conveyed to Government supporters at village level who resort to violence against their political opponents. He portrayed this as an attempt to silence the UPFA supporters at the next general election. At the commencement of the debate, the Opposition Leader told the House that 31 Opposition MPs are listed to participate in the debate on post-election violence. But the lackadaisical behaviour on the part of the Opposition was witnessed during the debate as the nine UPFA MPs

listed to speak were not present in the House during the debate while the three Government members listed to speak were also absent. This led to end Parliament sittings one hour before the scheduled time. When the Presiding Member R. Yogarajan read out the names of nine Opposition MPs and three Government MPs, none of them was present in the Chamber and as such the Presiding Member called upon Public Order, Disaster Management and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga to deliver his reply.

Certain Opposition members in an aggressive tone told the House about various harassments and damage caused to them and their supporters by their political rivals. The Government legislators said that the main opposition UPFA which ran the previous regime has forgotten the violence, intimidation and terror unleashed against its political opponents in the run-up to the polls.

The UPFA members are today talking about post-election violence having forgotten what they did before the elections, some Ministers said. In an emotional speech on the floor of the House, UPFA Parliamentarian C.B. Ratnayake questioned as to why the political opponents are harassed and intimidated without any valid reason. If a politician has committed any wrong, it is entirely up to the Government to take legal action against him, he said. He expressed his displeasure over the violence unleashed against the UPFA supporters merely because they believe in a different political ideology.

Power and Energy State Minister Palitha Range Bandara said that the adjournment motion was an attempt to prevent the SLFP from withering away. He regretted that he had to waste his time for a baseless debate. So far, no trace of missing journalist Pradeep Ekneligoda could be found. Those who were involved in the killings of Lasantha Wickramatunga, parliamentarians Ravi Raj and Maheswaran are today talking about violence he said. The Minister said that it is absurd that those who didn't permit even professionals or a businessmen to engage in their work unharmed, are making a big hue and cry on post-election violence.

Samurdhi and Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa in a hard-hitting speech accused those who set fire to the political stage of President Maithripala Sirisena at Wanduramba and those who pelted stones at his political rally at Pelmadulla, have now moved a motion to debate post-election violence. Before issuing guidelines to others, such people should conduct themselves in an exemplary manner.

The Minister said this motion was nothing but a joke. In his speech, the conduct of the Nil Balakaya (Blue Brigade) was subjected to severe criticism when he described it as a "Balukaya" which is held responsible for unleashing violence throughout the country. He said the Balakaya created violence at the Common Opposition's political rallies at Hambantota. Minister Premadasa divulged information on two unofficial armouries operating at Beliatta and Weeraketiya and called upon the Defence Minister to investigate them. He alleged that two armouries operated under the command of the Blue Brigade.

UPFA Hambantota District parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was critical of the insulting remarks by Minister Premadasa on the Blue Brigade. The Blue Brigade was set up as a youth organisation of the SLFP. Rajapaksa told the House that they had never resorted to thuggery in politics in the past and have no intention, whatsoever, of doing so in future as well. The MP called upon the Minister not to use the names of animals on such an organisation which is entirely represented by the village youth. The people are well aware as to who created the underworld in Hambantota and it was former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who put an end to it, Rajapaksa said. Minister John Amaratunga appreciated the balanced approach by Ministers Sajith Premadasa, State Minister Range Bandara, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake and parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa, Dinesh Gunawardena, Susil Premajayantha, Vijitha Herath and Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera in their speeches.

The Minister said that the statement by President Maithripala Sirisena was evidence of what would happen to him and his family if he lost the election. Everybody knew what the then UPFA Government did to Common Opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka soon after the 2010 Presidential election. Minister Amaratunga also rejected the Opposition claim on his involvement in the recent incident at Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha.

He also stressed the importance of making joint efforts to restore good governance in the country. Fulfilling yet another pledge by the new Government, Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne presented a Bill in Parliament seeking to increase the size of pictorial warnings on cigarette packets from 60 percent to 80 percent.The Bill titled 'National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol' (Amendment) had been approved by the Cabinet as an urgent Bill in the national interest. At the commencement of business in Parliament, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody told the House that Supreme Court had informed that the contents of the Bill were consistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) MP Dr. Sarath Amunugama presented the second report of the COPA to Parliament. Dr. Amunugama presenting the report said that the auditing of Government institutions had lost its purpose owing to delays. He said that the present public sector auditing system is similar to holding a postmortem examination after the patient died. He told the House about the delay on the part of the Auditor General in sending his recommendations to the COPA. He hailed the decision by the Government to bring in Amendments to the Auditing and Accounting Standards Act because such new laws would expedite the public auditing system.

Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva who made a special statement in Parliament called upon the Government to clarify its position on the Colombo Port City Development Project. He told the House that the Government has made various contradictory statements about the project as such it should tell the House about its exact position. Leader of the House and Plantation Industries Minister Lakshman Kiriella told the House that the Government would make a special statement on the Project when the House meets again on February 18.