News
Opposition planning to boycott budget debate over ‘assault’
Crucial party leaders’ meeting today
By Saman Indrajith
The Opposition is expected to decide whether to boycott the ongoing debate on Budget 2022, after today’s party leaders’ meeting on a complaint that Galle District SJB MP, Manusha Nanyakkara, was roughed up in Parliament by government MPs, last Friday.
Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshmkan Kiriella told The Island yesterday that the Opposition sought justice. “We see no point in attending Parliament if the Speaker continues to be partial and fails to act against those who violate Standing Orders and parliamentary traditions. Everybody knows what happened on Friday and the way our MP was treated. We fear for our safety in Parliament. We would not attend parliament unless our security is assured. Today, there is no freedom of speech in Parliament. We are planning to attend party leaders’ meeting at 8.30 Monday morning. If the government is not willing to change its ways and ensure our security, we will be left with no alternative but to boycott the budget debate.
SJB General Secretary and senior MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando had usurped the powers of the Speaker. “We cannot tolerate this any longer. We cannot attend parliament if we are assaulted by government members who once carried out chilli-powder attacks and hurled chairs in the House. We will report this issue to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. I personally believe that we should boycott parliament until justice is done.”
TNA Jaffna District MP MA Sumanthiran said that he had been there in the Chamber when the incidents of alleged pushing of MP Nanayakkara took place. “Parliament session was to end at 5 pm but a time extension was granted. The presiding member gave 10 minutes to MP Nanayakkara to speak after 5 pm. The government side opposed it saying that the session should come to an end at
5 pm. The Speaker took the chair and ruled in accordance with the government wish and ordered that the sessions should stop. MP Nanayakkara proceeded to the Chair complaining of injustice meted out to him. At that time government members led by Chief Government Whip crossed the floor behind the Speaker’s Chair and some of them pushed MP Nanayakkara down. There was commotion and leveling of allegations and counter allegations. The government members say that MP Nanayakkara tried to attack the Speaker. I do not believe so. What I saw was that the violence was started by the government members.”
MP Sumanthiran said that the present situation in parliament with MPs resorting to violence had its origin in fracas inside the chamber during the time of 52-day government. “In the fracas during the 52-day saga there were incidents of hurling chairs, assaulting MPs and police officers and damaging the Speaker’s Chair. The MPs have the privilege of freedom of speech in the House. There is no privilege for assaulting other MPs. The whole country witnessed violent incidents by MPs in the House in 2018. Those incidents of violence should have been investigated and those responsible should have been dealt with as per the country’s laws. Such a thing did not happen as per understanding between two main parties. The UNP then is the SJB today. They too are responsible for the present situation because they did not push for action against those who broke the law in 2018. As per the present situation we will make our decision after Monday’s special party leaders’ meeting. There will be a TNA parliamentary group meeting after the party leaders’ meeting and we’ll make our decision,” MP Sumanthiran said.
JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that they did not approve violence in the House. “We will decide whether we support the SJB’s call after Monday’s meeting of the party leaders.
Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara had run to the Chair threatening the Speaker on Friday evening after he imposed a time limit for the debate in the House.
Speaking in Parliament on Saturday, Minister Fernando said: “The CCTV video footage of the incident would provide evidence and prove the aggressive behaviour of MP Nanayakkara and how he turned violent after the Speaker ruled against additional time. MP Nanayakkara ran to the Chair menacingly and it is our duty to protect the Speaker. I went there to defend the Speaker. An MP has no right to threaten the Speaker or a presiding member. Some of those in the opposition seem to think that they are the governing party in this House when they issue threats and demands to the Speaker.”
The Ceylon Electricity Board has appealed to all rooftop solar owners across the country to voluntarily switch off their solar systems during day time hours (until 3pm each day) from April 13th to 21st to prevent partial power outages or nationwide blackouts which may occur.
The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the people of Sri Lanka should no longer be burdened by conflict and the Government remains committed to ensuring peace and stability across the country, with the government and the public service must discharge their duties to meet the needs of the people.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing public gatherings held in Velanai, Nallur, and Vadamarachchi.
The Prime Minister said that:
“There are numerous issues regarding infrastructure development in the Northern Province ranging from roads, drinking water supply, agriculture, and unemployment, to education and health sectors.
Many of these development tasks fall under the responsibility of local governments and provincial councils that represents your areas. However, these responsibilities have not been properly discharged.
While it is said that the issues raised in the North and East were caused by the war, 16 years have passed since the end of the war. What real change has taken place? Have the lives of the people in these areas has improved?
Although the central government allocates funds to provincial governing bodies, there should be a transparent mechanism in place to ensure that these funds are properly utilized for the relevant projects.
On May 6th, you will hold the decisive right to elect the local government closest to you that will work to uplift your lives and develop your communities. Elect representatives who are committed to serving the people, and free of fraud and corruption.
The government is actively participating in lifting the country from its fallen state and to overcome the current economic challenges. We accept that there is a long way to go. The prices of goods are still high but the government is currently working towards a change, and the people will receive the benefits in the near future.
Measures have been taken to increase the basic salary of public servants from this year’s Budget. The public service must commit to discharging duties with dedication. This must be not only a people’s government, but also a public service that belongs to the people.
Even after the independence, this country has seen much bloodshed and conflict. The people have suffered greatly as a result. The government is determined to ensure that such a situation never arises again. Therefore, the government is committed to fostering peace within the country.”
The event was attended by Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekar, along with several Members of Parliament and local representatives in the North.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
A meeting organized by the National Initiative for Research & Development Commercialization (NIRDC) was held on Thursday (10) at the Presidential Secretariat to streamline and commercialize research and development activities in the defence sector.
Participating institutions included the Centre for Defence Research and Development under the Ministry of Defence, the Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force, the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and the Research and Development Division of the Sri Lanka Police.
The NIRDC Unit, established under the Presidential Secretariat, aims to accelerate national development by facilitating investment opportunities to commercially apply completed or nearing completion research projects from both public and private institutions.
Defence institutions play a critical role for the progress of technology and science in relation to national security and development. Acknowledging this importance, the meeting was chaired by Senior Advisor to the President on Science and Technology, Professor Gomika Udugamasuriya.
During the meeting, it was discussed in detail regarding the completed and on-going research and development projects within the defence sector, as well as those planned for the future. Special attention was given to identifying opportunities for collaboration among research and development units, enhancing innovation capabilities, and exploring ways to share resources effectively.
The discussion focused on identifying opportunities for collaboration between research and development units relevant to these sectors, enhancing innovation capabilities and exploring ways to share resources effectively. It also examined possible steps to strengthen coordination between civil and defence research institutions. The discussion concluded productively, with several innovations identified that have the potential for future commercialization.
The event was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs) . Russel Aponsu, NIRDC Director General Dr. Muditha D. Senarath Yapa, Director (Investments) . Idunil Gunathilaka along with other officials.
[PMD]
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