WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Enfranchising the North

The Government which showed its utmost commitment in parliament to bring about a political solution to the national question commended the stance taken by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to extend his party's support to the ongoing talks between the UPFA and the TNA with the intention of working out a political solution to the national question.

Leader of the House Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who responded to a statement made by the Opposition Leader on the Local Government Elections held in the North hailed the decision taken by him to support the ongoing talks. The Minister in his speech thanked Wickremesinghe for his optimistic stance taken regarding the government's candid efforts to resolve the longstanding crisis.

The Minister stressed the importance of both the Government and the Opposition's genuine commitment to resolve this problem. He said the Government has realised the importance of talks which have already commenced to lay a solid foundation to provide a lasting solution to the national question.

Minister de Silva in his speech described the decision taken by the Government to conduct Local Government polls in the North as a significant victory achieved by the people in the North as their right to exercise their franchise had been deprived by the LTTE over the past so many years. The Minister explained how the Government has ensured the right of the people in the North to cast their vote by creating the necessary environment conducive for them to elect their own members at grass roots level. The outcome of the Local Government election would clearly demonstrate to the entire world the Government's genuineness and sincerity to the entire world.

Referring to the claims made by the Opposition Leader on various election related incidents that took place during the election campaign in the North, the Minister said various incidents may happen during an election campaign and sometimes similar incidents happen even among the candidates of the same political party. Minister de Silva explained how UNP MP Sajith Premadasa was attacked by a group of people of his own party during an election campaign.

The Minister said however the Government does not agree with the allegation levelled by the Opposition that this Local Government election was not free and fair due to some minor incidents occurred during the election campaign. The Minister in his speech also commented on the rousing reception made by the people in Jaffna to President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he visited Jaffna last week. He told the House the Government's mega development drive launched in the North has made a great impact among the people in those areas. He said the Government decided to conduct elections in the North not with the sole purpose of winning the election.

The sole intention of the Government was to conduct a free and fair election in the North by allowing the people there to elect their own representatives.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in his special statement informed the House that the success or failure of the ongoing political process depends to a large extent on the manner in which the election is conducted in the North. Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of conducting a free and fair election in the North as it is an election which will have an impact on the whole country. He said the UNP will support the outcome of the talks between the UPFA and the TNA.

The Opposition Leader also commented on the discussions conducted by the Government with the TNA to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee. However, the future of this will depend to a large extent on what happens at the Local Government Elections in the North. Therefore it is not merely an election restricted to elect members to the Local Authorities.

The hedging issue once again came into the spotlight in Parliament due to a statement made by the DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake. When the MP attempted to make his statement in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who raised a point of order informed the House according to Standing Orders the MP cannot be allowed to make the statement as three cases are pending in overseas courts on this hedging deal. These remarks made by the Minister led to develop some arguments between the Government and the Opposition members based on the legal aspects of the statement. MP Dissanayake was of the view that he should be allowed to make his statement as no case has been filed in any Sri Lankan court regarding this hedging deal.

The Opposition Leader made the point that this hedging issue has been discussed in Parliament at several times. He said sub judice law only applies to a criminal case and it does not apply for civil cases. However, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was of the view sub judice law applies for both criminal and civil cases.

After listening to the remarks made by the Government and the Opposition members, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa informed the House that he would give a ruling regarding this the next day.

At the following day the Speaker announced to the House that he will allow MP Dissanayake to make his statement with the amendment of certain words in his statement.

However MP Dissanayake thanked the Speaker for giving him the Opportunity to make his statement. The MP said the hedging deal is the biggest financial scam that took place in the recent times. Dissanayake stressed that facts should be presented to the House since the inception of this hedging deal. The country's people are not responsible on this deal as it is a collective decision taken by the Cabinet and some Government officials.

The MP was of the view that Government officials who are responsible for this should be fined this deal. Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha who responded to the MP said the Government would not have to make any payments to the bank concerned as the court's ruling on the appeal is pending. The Minister said the Government had not spent any amount as legal charges for the case as it had not been informed of how much it had to pay.

The subject of fisheries also turned into a key topic in the House during the debate on the new regulations to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act introduced by Fisheries Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

The Minister said the intention of the Ministry is to double the existing fish production by year 2013. UPFA MP Arundhika Fernando who joined the debate said there is no Government in the recent times which has rendered an immense service for the welfare of the fishermen like present Government. We can't find any past era where a Fisheries Ministry has fulfilled its task in this manner.

UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena stressed the importance of focusing attention of fishermen irrespective of politics. The MP also pointed out to take measures to sort out the disputes between Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen.