Week in PARLIAMENT

'Opposition should uphold dignity of House'

Though the UNP attempted to make a big fuss in the House through their attempt to move a bill to provide for freedom of access to official information, it was defeated in Parliament as the Government once again showed its overwhelming majority at the voting of the proposed bill moved by the UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya.

If the UNP led Opposition wanted to pose a challenge and exert pressure on the Government, the proposed bill was defeated by the Government ranks by a majority of 63 votes. At the commencement of the public business, Karu Jayasuriya sought the permission of the House to present his bill. The Chief Government Whip Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene who raised a point of order expressed the Government's disagreement to the bill and said MP Jayasuriya's move is not fair when the Government has pledged the House to move a motion on this same matter. Minister Gunawardene pointed out how all the parties agreed at the Party Leader's meeting to move such a bill together. The Minister was of the view there was no point to move many motions on the same matter.

Due to continuous opposition made by the Government benches to the bill, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa made the point a vote can be taken to see whether the House agreed to permit the introduction of the bill or not. Finally MP Jayasuriya moved the motion which was seconded by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Opposition was of the view if the House moved for a division then the vote should be taken by name. Though it took a long time to take the vote by name, the UNP could receive only 34 votes in favour of the motion including the votes from the DNA and TNA. Ninety seven members of the Government who voted against the motion led to defeating it by a majority of 63 votes.

Later Jayasuriya told the House he submitted the bill with all good faith, not with the intention of bringing embarrassment to the Government or to get personal credit. He informed the Government this is a bill of national importance whether it is submitted by the Government or the Opposition. The MP drew the attention of the House when the bill was first submitted in November, it was withdrawn on the assurance given by the Government that it would submit a similar bill expeditiously. However, the MP pointed out nine months have elapsed from that day and he decided to re-introduce the bill as a civic right. He urged the Government to compare the proposed bill with the bill the Government intends to submit and allow the public to enjoy this right without any further delay.

Certain remarks made by the UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer due to a slip of his tongue once again led to create a tense situation in the House leading the Opposition members to make various remarks on the MP's statement. MP Azwer who participated the debate on orders made by the Finance and Planning Minister under the section 8 of the Appropriation Act No: 07 of 2010 attempted to make a comparison between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and US President Barack Obama. The MP maintained the view President and his Government were more humane than US President and his Government. In order to endorse his comment,if MP Azwer wanted to say late Thamil Chelvam's wife and children were looked after, the MP who said LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran too was killed but his wife had been looked after and the children are being educated by the Government.

However, MP Azwer raising a privilege matter at the next day alleged certain section of the media have misquoted the speech made him in Parliament. The MP told the House what he intended to say was that late Thamil Chelvam's wife and children were looked after well after his death. MP Azwer admitted that he made a mistake and mentioned the name of Prabhakaran instead of Thamil Chelvam. The MP apologised to the House for the mix-up of characters.

The Opposition members were seen to continuously interrupt to MP Azwer's statement. UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera raising a point of order told the House that he has the CD to further confirm the statement made by MP Azwer in the House the day. The Opposition maintained the view that the MP can't raise a privilege matter and he should apologise to the House. MP Azwer who also interrupted the Opposition members called them 'friends of Prabhakaran'. MP Azwer said MP Jayasekera can't make remarks on his privilege matter and told him if he wants to do so he should move a substantial motion regarding it. The Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody who was at the chair informed the House this matter will be forwarded to the Privileges Committee.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who joined the debate on the regulations made by the Transport Minister commented on the internal crisis within the UNP. The Minister who described Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as a dictatorial ruler said even if the entire UNP would go out on the street and protest he would not quit from the leadership.

The Minister who looked at the Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga told the House in lighter vein, if Amaratunga was offered the ministerial portfolio of ports, he would have also joined the Government.

He invited Amaratunga to join hands with the Government at this last stage of his political career. The Minister told the House in lighter vein that Ravi Karunanayake is afraid of his party colleague Ranjith Maddumabandara. The Minister told the House he likes if Karunanayake becomes the UNP Leader as he is one of his school mates.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama responded to certain remarks made by UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera that the Government Ministers have no power to perform their duties.

The Minister informed the MP that he has all the powers to perform his work. Minister Welgama told Jayasekera it was during Ranil Wickremesinghe's regime that all the ministries were controlled by a 'white man'' at Temple Trees.

The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who held an adhoc press conference at Parliament corridor on Thursday alleged the Opposition had not been given opportunity in Parliamentary affairs by the Government. Leader of the House Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who raised a privilege matter in Parliament on Friday said Wickremesinghe has disgraced the Parliament as well as the post of the Opposition Leader by holding a press conference in the Parliament corridor. The Minister requested the Opposition Leader to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House as well as his post.