[Week in parliament]

Emergency gets final nod

Another attempt made by the UNP to pose a challenge to the Government in Parliament on Tuesday April 6 became futile as the Speaker turned down a request from the UNP to allow two of its members to take oaths as new MPs.

This turned into a controversial issue before the commencement of the Emergency debate in Parliament. The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in his definition tried to point out to Parliament that the two MPs could take their oaths in keeping with Parliamentary traditions. However, this led to various arguments and legal definitions between the Government and the Opposition members.

Leader of the House Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who came up with the advice given by the Attorney General said the only business of the House that could be conducted on Tuesday was the specific one for which the House was re-convened after dissolution - to extend the state of emergency. He also noted that there is no provision in the constitution for other business. The Opposition may interpret it as a constitutional lapse but cannot be changed now.

The SLMC Leader Rauff Hakim described that by not allowing MPs to take oaths as a serious travesty of justice. Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris who also endorsed the point raised by the Leader of the House said Parliament was summoned for the specific purpose of extending the emergency and no other business could take place on such a day.

Finally, Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara who also maintained the same stance point raised by the Government ranks said Parliament had been summoned only to extend the emergency and no other business could be permitted. The Speaker said the President has re-convened the dissolved Parliament in terms of the powers vested in him by the constitution. We have sought the legal advice of the Attorney General as well. According to the Attorney General only the members of the dissolved Parliament can attend these sessions with the only purpose to debate the extension of the emergency and there is no provision for new members to take oaths.

Later Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake moved the motion to extend the state of emergency. This is the last time which the sixth Parliament met to pass the emergency. The emergency was passed with a majority of 53 votes. Only three JVP MPs and two TNA MPs voted against the emergency. The UNP were absent at the time of voting.

As a distinguished feature, President Mahinda Rajapaksa made a surprise visit to the Parliament complex when the motion to extend the state of emergency was being debated in the House. The President had a cordial chat with Parliamentarians and had a lunch with them at the MPs cafeteria.

The Premier in his speech emphasised that it is the wish of everybody to see today as the final occasion where the Government seeks the assistance of the House to extend the state of emergency. We had this wish for a long time. However, the Government had to extend the emergency due to various situations that took place in the country. On each occasion where the Government sought the support to extend the emergency, it was passed with a majority of votes in Parliament. As a result of this legal provision gained, the Government could bring a series of victories to the country. As certain elements claimed the Government has not taken any undue advantage by using the state of emergency.

UNP MP John Amaratunga in his speech accused the Government of violating the basic features of democracy under the pretext of emergency. He said the UNP is completely opposed to the motion moved to extend the state of emergency.

Chief Government Whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said today the Opposition is dreaming. Whatever conspiracies are hatched by the Opposition at local and international level, the country's destiny is entirely decided upon by its people. All those who love their motherland cast their votes in favour of the Government. The Opposition does not utter even a single word on the great victories achieved by this Government on behalf of the country over the past few years due to their hypocrisy. At present the UNP has turned into a bankrupt political party which doesn't have any political ideology. "After the General Election, Ranil Wickremesinghe would go into history as the Opposition Leader who was in the Opposition for 18 years. Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma is on the table of Ranil Wickremesinghe as well. He reads it everyday."

MP Rauff Hakeem noted that debating the emergency is futile today. We ask the Government to do away with an emergency as terrorism has been eradicated from the country. If we assume power, we would bring legislation that no Government can extend the emergency more than six months. Plantation Minister D.M.Jayaratne said during the election time, posters of each political party had been pasted. How the Opposition complains only to the Government in this regard? This electoral system was created by late President J.R.Jayewardene. As a result of this electoral system, various clashes have been created among the candidates of the same political party to get preferential votes.

JHU Parliamentarian Ven.Ellawala Medhananda thera charged a group of 12 members of the Tamil diaspora led by a person called Rudrakumaran have rallied round demanding to set up a self-rule which the TNA has pledged in its election manifesto. This 12 member Tamil group is currently residing in several countries including UK, USA and Malaysia.

UNP MP Dr.Jayalath Jayawardene alleged that the Government was attempting to silence the Opposition. Whatever law introduced should safeguard the country's democracy. The people should take a decision on April 08 to safeguard democracy. Labour Minister Dr.Mervyn Silva who interrupted the MP's speech said the President could obtain six million votes at the last Presidential Election due to the firm decision taken by the intelligent people in this country. The JVP MP Vijitha Herath accused the Government of using the emergency to suppress the Opposition.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the Opposition is entirely responsible for their imminent defeat. It was the Opposition which destroyed their political stability. The people completely rejected the Opposition at the last Presidential Election.

The people are well aware who introduced violence to country's political culture. After the General Election, it is unavoidable to prevent the creation of a very weak Opposition. If the Opposition Leader does not have any regret, we as the Government regret on this pathetic situation faced by the Opposition.

TNA MP T.Kanagasabai outlined that the TNA would win at the General Election and they hope to meet the President after the election to discuss their problems.