‘Forty MPs skipping DDO vote inexcusable’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Director, Administration of Parliament Lacille de Silva said that both Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) should reveal whether they were satisfied with the progress in the ongoing project funded by the latter to improve the parliamentary system.

De Silva said that parliamentary standards had deteriorated to such an extent over the years that he was amazed by the recent reportage of  the UNDP funding a House project to improve the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) system.

Responding to The Island queries, de Silva said that actually members of Parliament, regardless of the party they represented, should have raised the issue. The civil society activist said that he was particularly worried about the failure on the part of the Opposition to seek a clarification from Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Lacille de Silva served as Director, Administration of Parliament, from 2003 to 2013, during his 37-year career. Having retired in

2013, de Silva, in 2015, received appointment as Secretary to the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power. The then President Maithripala Sirisena however sacked him in early March 2016.

Referring to the UNDP arranging former Canadian MP Kevin Deveaux described as an international expert on parliamentary development to meet Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on June 14 at the Parliament premises, de Silva declared that there was no harm working with international partners to improve systems in place. UNDP Resident Representative in Colombo Azusa Kubota accompanied Devaaux. That was followed by Kubota meeting President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat where an assurance was given on the UNDP’s continued assistance, particularly to further improve SOC system. USAID, too, supports some projects implemented by parliament.

A senior House official said that Speaker Abeywardena presides over an advisory board meant to handle all activities assisted by development partners. The former Canadian lawmaker has been here on the invitation of the UNDP to do what the official called the needs assessment in consultation with relevant parties to prepare the parliamentary development action plan in collaboration with all partners. The official added that the current action plan was prepared in consultation with the former Canadian MP during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure as the president. Declaring that the Speaker is the final authority, the official emphasized that Parliament didn’t follow anyone’s agenda.

Lacille de Silva asked whether political parties represented in parliament needed any external advice to take remedial measures to overcome shortcomings and negligence. Statements issued by parliament on regular proceedings at watchdog committees exposed the pathetic failure on the part of parliament to address issues at hand. The recent revelation at COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) that the total arrears of taxes, penalties and interest due to the Inland Revenue Department by Dec 31, 2022 is Rs. 904 bn underscored the responsibility on the part of Parliament, de Silva said.

“Public finance is the responsibility of Parliament. Therefore, the House cannot absolve itself of the responsibility for allowing accumulation of total arrears to over 904 bn,” de Silva said. “What really worries me is that even after the national economy suffered in early 2020 due to a toxic combination of reasons, those in authority haven’t made a genuine effort to improve revenue collection.”

The debate and vote on the high profile resolution pertaining to the Domestic Debt Optimization (DDO) on July 01 highlighted the crisis in parliament. Referring to accusations directed at Speaker Abeywardena that he arbitrarily conducted the vote at 7.30 pm on Saturday though the original plan was to conduct a two-day debate before the vote, de Silva said that only 184 voted that day.

“Therefore, 41 didn’t vote. If we leave out the Speaker, 40 MPs skipped the vote. This shows, some political parties are in disarray. How come 40 MPs refrained from taking a stand on such a crucial issue,” de Silva said, adding that the bone of contention is whether political parties have no control of its members.

Current Parliament is represented by 15 political parties. Parliament consists of SLPP 145, SJB 54, ITAK 10, JJB 03, EPDP 2, AITC 02 and an MP each represents nine political parties.