Rahuman flays govt. for ban on wheelchair imports

By Saman Indrajith

Samagi Jana Balavegaya Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman yesterday demanded to know why a wheelchair exports had been banned.

Pointing out that the regulations listed in the Parliament Order Paper under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act referred to wheelchairs as banned items, MP Rahuman asked whether the government was expecting the disabled persons, and patients, to crawl on their bellies.

“There are many people abroad sending wheelchairs as donations to poor people who cannot afford them. The government has banned the import of wheelchairs.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena asked MP Rahuman to present the latter’s case briefly.

MP Rahuman: The Chair should not tell MPs to be brief and present the problems in a few words.

This is a serious question. We are here to present people’s problems. We have been sent by people here to raise their problems. When we do so, don’t order us to be brief. These regulations have been brought by the government in the order paper. Let us speak about it.

“The government is going to pass this in the House. Let us point out this unjust act so that they could rectify the error.

Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the regulations had been listed in the Order Paper after they were approved by the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva: Do not try to place the blame on me. The government sends us reports without analysis. They just send these regulations only with a description. There are 26 committee members who are supposed to approve them. Ask the government to send us the regulations with an analysis.

The Leader of the House: The regulations on import and export are prepared by the Finance Ministry. We will ask them to send to the committee an analytical report on regulations hereafter.