'Ocean University, a reality today'

The Government in fulfilling yet another pledge in the Mahinda Chinthana to set-up an Ocean University in Sri Lanka passed the Ocean University Bill in Parliament on Wednesday which aims to improve the country's fisheries sector, naval education and engineering training.

The University would provide skills and expertise on the fisheries industry through five diplomas and its course content will be on fisheries and marine technology.

The Ocean University Bill of Sri Lanka was passed in Parliament with a majority of 23 votes. The Bill received 24 votes in favour while only Independent MP Ajith Kumara voted against after asking for a division. The UNP members also voted in favour of the Bill while the DNA and TNA members were not present at the time of voting.

Presenting the Bill in Parliament, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said his Ministry has found 45 acres of land to set up the Ocean University near Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port. The Minister told the House today is an important day in Sri Lanka's vocational training and development. He said when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Minister of Fisheries in 1997, he facilitated the ocean economy in Sri Lanka by proposing the National Institute of Fisheries and Naval Engineering (NIFNE).

The Minister stressed the need for focusing on ocean and naval education. The course content of the Ocean University would cover all aspects of the ocean, including fisheries and marine technology. Minister Alahapperuma told the House that almost all Governments in post-independent Sri Lanka neglected the subject of vocational training which was one of the biggest mistakes made in the country's history. He briefed the House on a number of new initiatives taken by the Government to develop vocational training and the tremendous progress achieved in the sector.

UPFA parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa who joined in the debate said that President Rajapaksa who was the then Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister introduced the concept of Ocean University and his intention was to improve the quality of education in this field. This university was a great asset to the children of fishing communities to develop their careers so that they could receive a quality education with social recognition. The Government hopes to make Sri Lanka a naval hub in the region. We hope the children of fishing communities would play a pivotal role to make our endeavour a success. We hope the Ocean University would also strive to find solutions to bridge the existing gaps and fill loopholes in this field, he said.

DNA parliamentarian Vijitha Herath said that Sri Lanka is surrounded by the ocean and endowed with many inland water resources enhancing the importance of an Ocean University. Degree awarding universities are necessary for research and post-graduate studies.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that President Rajapaksa's vision is to grant two degrees in this field in 2015. This would pave the way for Sri Lanka to join the International industry as 80 percent of the international trade deals with Fisheries and Aquatic crops. The Minister said Sri Lanka has been selected to implement the first pilot project to create a global blue economy because Sri Lanka is very important in this field. Today Sri Lanka is so important that the world is unable to speak of the fisheries industry leaving out Sri Lanka. Therefore, this university would be a great turning point in the fisheries industry in Sri Lanka.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on Tuesday demanded to know from the Government what are the complex issues that had arisen with regard to the proceedings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances and Missing Persons, which necessitated to obtain the services of a Panel of Experts.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances and Missing Persons had informed the President that in view of the large numbers of representations made to the Commission and the complex legal issues that had arisen as a result, it was necessary to seek legal advice from experts in this field. Wickremesinghe queried from the Government as a what are these complex legal issues that had arisen and will those who had made representations to the Commission be informed of the complex legal issues and be given an opportunity to make representations regarding such issues.

Will the Attorney-General as the principal Legal Officer of the Government also be informed of these complex legal issues and be given an opportunity to express his views regarding the issues that have allegedly arisen, he asked.

Responding to the Opposition Leader, External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris said that the Government could not cross-question the Presidential Commission except providing for what they asked for. The Minister said that the Government can only facilitate the process of the Commission but cannot question them why they would ask for additional resources. The Minister said that the Commission had informed the President in writing that they are investigating the complaints pertaining to the cases of missing persons and the number of cases reported to the Commission was very much higher than expected so that it is better if the Government can provide them the services of experts on international laws and policies with regard to the cases of missing persons.

The Minister categorically said this is an indigenous mechanism and it should be strengthened. It is our duty to help and facilitate the process of the Commission. We have no right to cross examine them.

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena gave a comprehensive answer to a question by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the appointment of Presidential Commissions and presenting their reports to Parliament. MP Dissanayake asked whether the reports of these Commissions would be presented to Parliament. Minister Gunawardena said that these Commissions have been appointed under the powers vested with the President by the Presidential Commission Act which has not made it compulsory that these reports be published. The Minister told the House there are many other documents that could not be published but it would be better if the Government and Opposition make a common approach to amend the existing laws so that everybody could have access to those documents.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said there is no legal binding that these Commission reports be presented in Parliament but stressed the need to bring laws to enable them to have legal binding. Minister Gunawardena said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed 17 Presidential Commissions between 2005 and 2013. Of the 17 Commissions, 16 have presented their reports to the President except for the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the procurement of High-Value Weapons, other Military Equipment and Services to the Navy during 2001-2005.

Commenting on the UNP's latest inspection tours to Government institutions, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said that the UNP MPs make inspection tours to massage parlours in the country to get a first-hand understanding of what went on there. The Deputy Speaker said so when UNP parliamentarian Nalin Bandara Jayamaha asked Indigenous Medicine Minister Salinda Dissanayake what action had been taken to prevent nefarious activities alleged to be taking place in the so-called Ayurvedic massage parlours countrywide. The Minister told the MP that his Ministry has issued 148 permits to massage centres and the highest number of 58 are in the Colombo District.

MP Jayamaha said that the Ministry officials have powers to inspect those places and check the quality of services provided there. The Minister told the MP that the Ayurveda Department officials had no powers to raid massage parlours that have been registered as business places under Divisional Secretaries. The Minister said the police have the power to raid such places if there were any nefarious activities as alleged by the MP.