PARLIAMENT

Attention has been given to extend Colombo-Beliatta Railway Line to Kataragama – Transport Minister

Transport Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament on Saturday (4) that attention has been given to extending the Colombo-Beliatta Railway Line to Kataragama.

“We are debating the Expenditure Heads of the Transport Ministry at a time when the Transport Sector is badly affected due to the COVID pandemic and long lockdowns. Due to the travel restrictions and the lockdowns, the private bus operators, their drivers and conductors and school transport operators faced a serious financial crisis,” she added. The Minister also said that over the past 70 years, the Transport Sector had very little progress.

She was speaking during the Budget Committee Stage Debate on the Expenditure Heads of several Ministries, including the Transport Ministry.

The Minister also said that a Cabinet paper has been submitted to buy 600 buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and that steps are being taken to further develop the Sisu Sariya and Gemi Sariya bus services.Minister Wanniarachchi, however, said that due to inconsistent granting of permits and preferential treatment towards certain private bus operators, the country’s private bus service is in a total mess. She said that as a result, passengers suffer as these busses are only interested in profits. “The bus drivers are overtaking each other putting passengers in danger,” the Minister said.

Minister Wanniarachchi said that she will transform the Transport Sector to a better service in keeping with the modern trends for the benefit of the country’s future generation.

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Opposition should not level allegations against Govt.’s MPs hiding behind Parliament Privileges – Minister Johnston

The Opposition should not level allegations against the Government or sling mud at Government MPs hiding behind Parliament Privileges, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said in Parliament yesterday (5).

Minister Fernando was referring to the incident that took place in Parliament between State Minister Kanchana Wijesekara and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Manusha Nanayakkara.

“The Opposition should know better, if they are coming to attack the Speaker, we cannot allow that. If MP Manusha Nanayakkara had a problem regarding his time allocation, he could have stayed in his seat and raised a Point of Order. He did not speak like that. He rose from his seat and went to the Speaker. If he carried a sign saying that I am going to sort things out with the Speaker nicely, we would have understood that. Without that, how can we know? He went there directly to attack Speaker. So this creates problems. We need to protect the Speaker, and we need to protect the Government. Otherwise, we do not want to attack MPs. We have enough power in the House. Majority of the people are standing with us. So we do not need to create unnecessary pressure on any MP. However, if someone is making references to a father, it is not correct. Former Minister Mahinda Wijesekara, who is unwell for a long term due to a terrorist attack, if someone is talking ill of him, it is improper. The Opposition at least should know to respect parents. The Opposition MPs should know better than hiding behind Parliament Privileges. We do not call it practising democracy. This is not the way of Parliament,” the Minister said.

“There should be a limit to slinging mud. Now they are making implications on a bed-ridden father. We cannot allow that in this House. MP Manusha Nanayakkara came to hit the Speaker. Now these Opposition MPs are fleeing the scene because they cannot face this debate. They have no logic or information. They are only trying to show the international community that there is no democracy practised in the House. They are slinging mud against Government MPs nonstop for the same cause. The Opposition slings mud at the President, who governs this country democratically. The Opposition is only spreading rumours because it is politically bankrupt,” the Minister said.

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Roads will be developed sans any political agenda – Minister Johnston

Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that the Government’s programme to develop roads in the country will be carried out sans any political agenda and added that developing roads is a significant for rapid economic progress.

Minister Fernando was delivering the reply speech at the Debate on the Expenditure Head of the Highways Ministry on Saturday (4).

“The project to develop 100,000 km of roads envisioned by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be completed within five years,” Minister Fernando said. The Minister said that his Ministry will facilitate the farmers to reach the cities easily to transport their goods, let the children reach the schools without any transportation difficulties and the public servants reach their offices with no delays and foreigners to visit the country with all necessary transportation facilities.

Minister Fernando said that although the previous Yahapalana Government did not have challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, the war or economic crisis, its poor management skills destroyed the economy and the hopes of the youth. “The Opposition is now spreading rumours and trying to destabilise the Government,” the Minister added.

The Minister also said that the Opposition MPs had fled the House without facing the debates or come up with logical arguments or proper solutions.

Minister Fernando also said that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s name will always be remembered as a leader who contributed immensely for the road development of the country. Had the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government been in power in 2015, the construction of the Kandy and Dambulla Expressways would have been completed by now, the Minister said.

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Fair criticism will be accepted but not false ones – State Minister Lanza

Rural Roads and other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza said in Parliament on Saturday (4) that he accepts fair criticism but will not back down for fear of false criticism from the Opposition.

“During the past two years, there was a problem that even the most powerful and wealthy countries could not face. That was the COVID pandemic. We thought the COVID crisis would be solved, but a new variant has emerged. Therefore, the whole world is in a crisis again. The relationship between us and the rest of the world has come to a standstill. Countries have to close. Travel restrictions have to be imposed. Due to this, the development of our country as well as the world has come to a standstill. The economy is in recession. It is at such a difficult time that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has presented this Budget,” the State Minister said.

State Minister Lanza said that even under such trying times, the President had commenced the development of 100,000 km of rural roads to enable the rural folk to transport their produce and animal products to the market, uplifting their financial status.

The State Minister said that no injustice was allowed to the North and East road development either.

The State Minister said was participating in the Debate on the Expenditure Head of the Highways Ministry on Saturday. “Fulfilling the promise made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the country, the project to develop 100,000 km of roads under the Vistas of Prosperity Vision will be completed by five years,” the State Minister said.

The State Minister also recalled the construction of the Kokilai Bridge. He said that although the Good Governance Government that had been in power for five years had laid the foundation stone for the bridge, it had not been built. The State Minister said that some disparities in development could be seen in the North and East due to the stagnation of development during the last 30 years of war. The State Minister added that 300 km of road development had been initiated in the Jaffna District alone and several other development projects had also been initiated.

“In particular, under the 100,000 km Road Development Project, we hope to develop rural roads to facilitate the transport of rural, agricultural and animal products and other rural products to the city in time,” the State Minister said.

State Minister Lanza said that the former Highways Minister in the Good Governance Government asks how much it will cost to build a kilometer. “You can't tell the exact number without looking at the width of the road and the location of that road. Prices vary depending on the length, width and nature of the terrain. Asking questions about something like this is stupid. That is why the Good Governance Government did not build a single road,” he added.

The State Minister said that taking into account the road development, there is no era to match the era of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “When we went abroad and saw those roads, we did not in our wildest dreams imagine that such roads could be built here. During the COVID pandemic, developing roads continued despite worldwide work stoppages. Road Development Officers continued working. This is why even the World Bank today praises it. Today we have been granted loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank,” the State Minister said.

The Minister said that the Opposition had levelled various allegations during the construction of the Lankagama-Meemure Road. He said that however, the roads here attract tourists today.

The Minister said that constructive criticisms by the Opposition were acceptable. He said that as a result of such constructive criticism, the flooding of the Central Expressway in the Gampaha District had been rectified.

The State Minister also said that over 68,000 roads have been identified. “More than 30,000 tenders have been issued. Therefore, we will complete 40,000 km by 2022. We will also implement the 5,000 Bridges Project and construction of 800 bridges has been commenced. All planned roads have been completed. We will extend the Expressway Network to the North and East up to Ampara. When all these Expressway Networks are integrated, the people will save a lot of time and money. Those who talked about the environment did not plant a single tree during their time. Our Ministry has planted 100,000 saplings. One million saplings will be planted next year,” State Minister Lanza said.

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Inquiry requested into MP Manusha’s attempt to threaten Speaker

The Ruling Party Parliamentarians on Saturday requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to inquire into MP Manusha Nanayakkara’s attempt to threaten the Speaker in Parliament on Friday evening.

They also requested the Speaker to initiate an investigation into the allegation by an Opposition member G. Ponnambalam made on Friday that the Chief Opposition Whip did not convey his concerns to the Speaker, which was his responsibility.

These requests were made following Chief Opposition Whip MP Lakshaman Kiriella demanding an inquiry into an incident that took place on Friday when MP Manusha Nanayakkara demanded for five more minutes after 5 pm, the time that was decided to adjourn the House for the day. MP Kiriella said that the Government side MPs attempted to assault them.

Leader of the House and Minister Gunawardena said that the Chief Opposition Whip could recall that an Opposition member was the first to rush towards the Speaker and therefore, as it was the responsibility of all to enable to continue with the Parliamentary proceeding , the other members went there. He said that the first MP to rush there was an Opposition MP.

He also said that Opposition MP G. Ponnambalam on Friday alleged that the Chief Opposition Whip had not handed over his letter to the Speaker, which was Minister Johnston responsibility. An investigation should be initiated on it, too.

Chief Government Whip and Minister Johnston Fernando said that as Manusha Nanayakkara rushed towards the Speaker and he too went there to protect the Speaker to allow him to continue the Parliamentary proceedings. He requested the Speaker to inquire into MP Manusha Nanayakkara's attempt to threaten him. He added that when the Opposition members were in the former Good Governance Government, they at least did not grant a point of order to the Opposition (the present government).

Many other members joined the debate.

However, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs walked out of Parliament later without taking part in the Debate.

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Duties of Engineers, other Senior Officials being interrupted – SJB MP Hashim

Duties of the Engineers and the Senior Officials are being interrupted and these interruptions should be brought to an end enabling them to work for the country, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Kabir Hashim said in Parliament on Saturday.

The MP said that he has been informed with anonymous letters that the duties of engineers in the Highways Ministry and other senior officials are hindered. The MP added that those engineers are assets to the Ministry as they work for the Government without joining the Private Sector. He, therefore, requested the Ministry to take actions in this regard. The MP was participating in the Committee Stage Debate on the Budget Proposals 2022 under several Financial Heads including the Highways Ministry, Transport Ministry and the Labour Ministry.

MP Hashim appreciated State Minister Nimal Lanza for cooperating with the officials in the Ministry and for his commitment.

MP Kabir Hashim said that during the Good Governance Government, they did not reduce the 6-track ExpressWay from Kadawatha to Meerigama to 4-tracks. The MP added that it was planned to construct the basement for six-tracks and construct only four tracks. The other two will be constructed after 15 years. MP Kabir added, however, they designed and initiated the construction of a sophisticated interchange at the Kadawatha Expressway. He added that they extended the length of those expressways by 350m to 500m and added that the Meerigama to Kurunegala Expressway and the new Kelaniya Bridge were constructed during their government.

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Answers to five major questions will reveal persons behind Easter Attacks – NPP leader Anura Kumara

The Government should provide clear answers to five major questions revolving around the Easter Attacks if they truly want to reveal the culprits behind them, National People’s Power (NPP) leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament on Saturday.

NPP leader Dissanayake said that the first question is on the deaths of two Police Officers in Vavunathive. “When the two Police Officers were killed, ex-LTTE cardres were recognised as the ones behind the deaths. However, later it was revealed that these deaths were caused by the supporters of Zaharan. Why was the deaths covered up like that? Who directed the blame at ex-LTTE cardres? If the real culprits were recognised at that time, the Easter Attacks would not have taken place,” the NPP leader said.

“The next question is on those terrorists led by Zaharan being in the payroll of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Who gave authority to pay these salaries? Who recommended such an act? To whom such salaries were paid?” he asked.

“Third question is on the attacker who came to commit suicide at the Taj Samudra Hotel. He went to a church in Dehiwala as he failed to launch the attack at the Taj Samudra. Later he went to a rest house and committed suicide. In this duration, this suspect travelled from the Taj Samudra to the Rest House and meanwhile, the CID searched the suspect’s house. At that time, no revelations were made on the attackers. So how did the CID end up at the suspect’s house, the House would like to know,” NPP leader Dissanayake asked.

“The next question we need answers is on the person who operated the laptop that the terrorists used to plan these attacks and do other cyber transactions. The name of that person should be revealed to the House. Final question is one person called, ‘Podi Saharan’ who allegedly called the ISIS, requesting them to take the responsibility of the attacks. Was there a CID or Police Officer who contacted this very person requesting it to be done? These are the five questions we need answers to. Some of the details are included in the Commission report on the Easter Attacks,” NPP leader Dissanayake said.