Opposition’s role underlined

Though the budget 2012 was passed with an overwhelming majority of 98 votes in Parliament, President Mahinda Rajapaksa who wound up the third reading of the budget debate drew the attention of the House how the budget debate portrayed the lack of a strong opposition in Parliament and wished Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe would be able to form a vibrant Opposition by uniting his party.

The President in his speech pointed out how the entire nation witnessed the nature of the failed opposition in Parliament due to lack of participation of the Opposition parliamentarians during the budget debate. The President noticed the fact that sometimes the Parliamentary sittings were abruptly suspended due to the absence of the Opposition MPs.

The President was of the view the UNP MPs were seen engaged in an internal power struggle to remove its party leader without making any constructive criticism on the budget. The President noted, instead of rallying round their Leader to present an alternative program against the budget 2012 by depicting their strength to face future elections, the division made within the UNP Parliamentarians to build up their personal images were always highlighted during the entire budget debate.

The President was of the view if “Mahinda Chinthana” has failed to achieve its objectives as claimed by the Opposition, the Opposition during the budget debate would have introduced their own program to be implemented if they wish to come to power. This is what the country’s people expect from a responsible Opposition rather than just criticizing the budget, because the people are keen to know about the future program to be implemented by the Opposition if they come to power.

President Rajapaksa said the main Opposition UNP should seriously consider whether they accept their leadership or make their effective contribution towards the democratic process. He stated that the need of the hour is for the Opposition to solicit their contribution towards the initiatives taken by the Government to develop the economy without catering to the interests of the international community.

President Rajapaksa who responded to the queries levelled by the Opposition members during the third reading of the budget informed the House the response made by the people and the researches conducted by various institutions have fully endorsed the proposals of budget 2012 are development oriented. Citing an example the President pointed out how 64 percent of the country’s people have described the budget 2012 as a people’s friendly budget following a research conducted by the Financial Times magazine. The President mentioned, this seems to be the first time in the history that an internationally reputed magazine has commended on the budget outside the Parliament.

The clash occurred at the Sirikotha headquarters when the election of UNP Leader and other key positions were highlighted in the House on Tuesday during the speeches made by both Government and the Opposition members. After the oral questions session on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe drew the attention of the House about an earlier query raised from him by the Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who asked whether there would be a change in the position of the Opposition Leader at the UNP working committee meeting. Wickremesinghe in a jubilant mood reminded the House as he informed Minister Gunawardena on that particular day, the post of the Opposition Leader remained unchanged. However, he informed the House in lighter vein though the post of the Opposition Leader remains unchanged, the official vehicle given to him has been changed.

The Opposition Leader in his remarks appealed from the country’s people and his partymen on that untoward incident took place at UNP party headquarters. He directly accused a private media institution of sending people to create this chaos outside Sirikotha. He requested the Government to conduct an impartial inquiry on this unruly incident. He maintained the position it is not a duty of the media to change the leadership of a political party and it is entirely up to that political party to appoint or change its party leadership. UNP MP Harin Fernando who joined the budget debate told the House they would settle their internal problem and renovate their damaged party headquarters by themselves.

The MP made the point that UNP leaders are in one opinion and there is a democracy within the party. However, MP Fernando who spoke at the final day of the budget debate requested the Government not to split like them and go on a journey with unity. The MP told the Government members not to be worried about their problems. He said most of the Government members spoke about the UNP and not the problems faced by the country’s people.

Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera who responded to the MP told him he spoke about Ranil Wickremesinghe and not about the Government. Minister said it was Harin Fernando who speaks about the indiscipline of the House that led to create that unruly behaviour in Parliament when the budget was presented by the President. Minister Amaraweera pointed out if some crisis situations also occurred during the history of the SLFP, none of its party supporters did not hurled stones at SLFP headquarters or even did not write something on its wall.

The Minister emphasized how some UNP supporters behaved and hurl stones even at the Buddha statue at UNP headquarters during the election of their leader. The Minister also reminded the request made by the President to the Opposition in his budget speech to unite and form a strong Opposition. Sometimes the President will have to do this as well. He told the UNP members, if a request is made, the Government will extend its support for it.

A tense situation was created during the committee stage debate on the Defence and Urban Development Ministry due to certain remarks made by the TNA Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran on the Government’s reconciliation process. Certain remarks made by the MP in his speech led the Government members to continuously interrupt his speech. Deputy Finance Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena who interrupted his speech informed the House the MP is misleading the House saying that there is no civilian rule in the North.

When MP Sumanthiran attempted to refer on alleged militarisation of the country, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella informed the chair the MP is taking to the pro-LTTE diaspora and requested to expunge some of those references made by him on Sri Lankan military. Despite the interruptions made, the MP who continued his speech maintained the view if the Government is sincere about its reconciliation, it must listen to the voices of the victims who suffered due to conflict. He said if the Government is serious, it should also listen to what the TNA has to say on behalf of its people.