[Week in PARLIAMENT]

A landmark achievement

Marking another significant juncture in the country's political history, the Government on Wednesday passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution with an overwhelming two-third majority in Parliament obtaining 161 votes, securing the highest ever majority obtained by a Government to pass an amendment in Parliament.

A group of seven UNP MPs broke ranks with their party to vote with the Government in favour of the bill. Six UNP MPs and a TNA MP crossed over to the Government before they voted in favour of the constitutional amendment bill. UNP MP Sri Ranga too voted in favour of the bill without crossing over to the Government.Rauff Hakeem and seven other SLMC members elected on the UNP ticket too voted with the Government. This brought the total number of MPs supporting the Government to 161 which was much more than the number required (150) to secure a two third majority. The Government Members warmly welcome the UNP MPs who crossed over. After the speech by the UNP Kandy district MP Abdul Cader, the six UNP Members and the TNA MP made their symbolic crossover to the Government. MP Cader told the House that he took this decision for the country. The MP endorsed the program initiated by the Government to develop the country. The UNP won't be able to deceive the people every day, he added.

This would also go into the history as a debate which was boycotted by the main Opposition UNP without making any worthy contribution. When the Bill was presented to the House by Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told the House the UNP would boycott the debate as a mark of protest. Most UNP Members were seen in the House on Tuesday wearing black suits except for a few like Sajith Premadasa, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Lakshman Seneviratne and Manusha Nanayakkara.

When Deputy Education Minister T. B. Ekanayake commenced his speech, UNP MPs who continuously interrupted the proceedings marched towards the middle of the Chamber shouting slogans against the 18th Amendment. DNA and TNA MPs did not join them.This uproar led the Speaker to adjourn the House for 10 minutes. But the UNP MPs continued their slogans. Later the Government members also came to the middle of the Chamber and joined the Opposition members saying various slogans to counter the UNP MPs' slogans.After the speech by the Opposition Leader, the UNP Members walked out of the chamber and staged a sathyagraha in Parliament premises to protest the proposed 18th Amendment.

When the UNP members were engaging in their sathyagraha, the Prime Minister made a surprise visit to the venue of Sathyagraha and had a cordial chat with the Opposition Leader and UNP MPs. The Premier was warmly welcomed by the Opposition Leader. The surprise visit by the Prime Minister to the venue showed the Government's willingness and goodwill to closely work with the Opposition on matters of national importance.When the Prime Minister moved the Bill on the 18th Amendment to the constitution in Parliament on Tuesday, the Opposition Members created various disturbances and opposed the Bill raising various points of Order. Opposition Leader and TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran raising Points of Order attempted to highlight that the Bill has to be presented to Provincial Councils before being brought to Parliament.

The Opposition Leader was of the view the House must pass a resolution before moving an urgent bill but there was no such resolution passed in House. Therefore this would not become the law even if its passed in Parliament, he argued.UPFA MP A. H. M. Azwer who interrupted the Opposition Leader's speech raising a point of order said the Opposition Leader is making the speech that he should make in the House at the next day's debate on the Constitutional Amendment Bill. "He should speak on the subject matter. But the horse has come before the cart."

Azwer who also interrupted TNA MP Sumanthiran's speech requested the MP to learn about the standing orders of the House. The Prime Minister responding to the Opposition Leader pointed out the Bill need not be referred to the Provincial Councils. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa too maintained a similar stance and told the House that the Supreme Court determination has not mentioned any need for the Bill to be referred to the Provincial Councils. The Speaker also announced that the Supreme Court had determined the 18th Amendment Bill was consistent with the constitution and does not need a referendum to become law.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva responding to the Opposition Leader's Point of Order told him that a copy of this draft bill was given to everyone who participated at the Party Leaders meeting. When this matter was taken up, the UNP did not go to the Supreme Court. Those are the legal matters that the UNP would have submitted to the Supreme Court. He said the UNP was presenting various false facts to mislead the House.Amidst applause by Government members, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa announced that the Constitutional Amendment Bill has been passed in Parliament with a two third majority.

Government members made very important remarks on the significant features of the 18th Amendment. The Prime Minister in his speech told the house in lighter vein that the Opposition Leader has worn a white shirt. "The Opposition Leader is half white and half black. Therefore he has partially supported this amendment as well. As the Opposition Leader represent the UNP he has worn a black coat. But his shirt is white."UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne who crossed over to the Government told the House the Opposition Leader always signal to left and turns to right. By boycotting the debate, he has indirectly supported this Amendment. The MP queried as to what was wrong with their supporting this amendment directly.

Seneviratne also focused on how all former Presidents attempted to amend the Constitution. "If Ranil Wickremesinghe had two thirds when he was in power, wouldn't he have changed this constitution ? Did Wickremesinghe discuss with anybody before he signed the CFA with the LTTE. Even then Leader of the House W. J. M. Lokubandara was not aware about it."

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa making a full analysis on the contents of the Amendment informed the house that if there are any barriers to implement the people's sovereignty, this amendment intends to remove them. At the last Presidential Election Sarath Fonseka was completely rejected by the people who defeated him by a majority of over 1.8 million votes.Commenting on cross overs, the Minister said it is a right of a MP. That is how Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and my father D.A.Rajapaksa left the UNP and formed the SLFP as a strong political party.Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena highlighted the fact there are no Opposition MPs to represent Polonnaruwa, Digamadulla or Nuwara Eliya districts. All the Opposition MPs representing those districts have joined the Government. This kind of record has never been heard of before.The Government members who interrupted the speech by DNA MP Sarath Fonseka requested him to learn how to speak in Parliament. This followed after Fonseka called some MPs lunatics. Amidst continuous disturbances, the Government MPs also shouted slogans about Fonseka's son-in-law.

Winding up the debate, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva described the UNP constitution as the most dictatorial constitution. "The Opposition Leader who amends it according to his personnel gains says the country's constitution leads to dictatorship," he said.