Speaker chides errant ministers
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday commented that some government ministers were disrespecting the House by not appearing in the Chamber to answer the questions listed in the Order Papers.
He made this observation in reply to concerns raised by Opposition MPs alleging that some ministers come to Parliament and consume lunch in the restaurant but do not turn up in the Chamber to respond to the questions of Opposition.
Only two ministers, Sagala Ratnayake and Eran Wickremaratne were present in the Chamber to respond to the Opposition during Question Time yesterday. There were 15 questions listed in the Order Paper by the MPs seeking responses from the ministers.
Chief Government Whip Minister Gayantha Karunathilake read the answers to the questions instead of respective minister but the Opposition expressed its displeasure. He requested additional time to respond for six out of 15 questions.
He responded to queries on behalf of Health Nutrition and Indigenous Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Primary Industries and Social Empowerment Minister Daya Gamage, Agriculture Minister P.Harrison and tabled a response on behalf of Education Minister Akila Wiraj Kariyawasam. When responses are read out, the MPs who have submitted the questions do not get a chance to receive comprehensive answers for the supplementary questions they are raising, since the Subject Minister is absent.
Only Ministers Sagala Ratnayaka and Eran Wickremaratne were present yesterday in the Chamber to respond to questions directed to their ministries.
MP Ananda Aluthgamage initiating the concerns said, “We saw the Ministers partaking lunch in the canteen. They do not come to the Chamber. They are loitering in the lobby. Are they afraid of facing our questions? They are asking for three month time to respond to some questions. Their government would not last that long.”
On the same matter, MP Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapakshe pointed out that, “There are only two ministers to respond to questions. There are 15 questions listed. The responses for the listed questions could be given to the Chief Government Whip and he could read them out to the House, but he cannot respond to the supplementary questions. We raise these questions on behalf of people. Colossal amount of public funds are wasted if the Ministers do not turn up to respond to the people’s questions.”
In reply to the concerns raised by MP Aluthgamage and Dr.Rajapakshe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that he too has pointed out to the Ministers of the importance of their presence in the Chamber in the oral question round.
“I have informed them several times. I have pointed out that need to the ministers. I have also informed them in writing. If the Ministers do not come to the Chamber that is a disgrace they do to this august assembly. It is wrong. I will inform them again.” Jayasuriya added.
Meanwhile, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake pointed out that he submitted his query on the garbage containers last Friday and the government had ample time to ready with a response but there was no minister to respond to the questions.
NFF leader MP Wimal Weerawansa on the same subject said, “Asking questions is a right of MPs. It is the duty of the Ministers to respond to them. Our rights are violated by the action of deliberate absence of ministers during the questions time.”
EPDP MP Douglas Devananda raised a series of questions pertaining to the destruction of sites of archaeological importance in the North and the East but Education and Cultural Affairs Minister was not present to respond and Chief Government Whip Minister Karunathilake said that he would refer the questions to the respective subject minister.
Failure to present annual reports to Parliament
Speaker considers possibility of summoning Ministers, Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd, BOI heads before COPE
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that he would consider the possibility of summoning Ministers and institutional heads who are in charge of Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd and the Board of Investments of Sri Lanka (BOI) before the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) over their failure to present their annual reports to Parliament within the stipulated period.
The Speaker said this in response to the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who raised the issue of the delay of these institutions to present their annual reports to parliament.
Rajapakshe said, “It is very important to present the annual reports of government institutions at the end of each year to Parliament. The Speaker highlighted its importance on several occasions, but Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd presented their annual report for 2014 only today (23) while the BOI presented its annual report for 2017. Mineral Sands Ltd is notorious for corruption within the institution. The BOI is also a key government institute with national importance. What is the point of them presenting old reports to this parliament?”
The Speaker also agreed with the point raised by Rajapakshe. He said 95% of government institutes present their annual reports on time but even then there are a handful of institutes like this. Therefore, he said he would inform then about it.”
Rajapakshe added, “At least summon the relevant Ministers and institute heads to Parliament so we can question them about this matter.”
The Speaker responded, “I will do that. I will look into the possibility of them summoning before the COPE.”
The BOI comes under the purview of Ministry of Development Strategies of International Trade while Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd is under the purview of Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Port City now part of Colombo District
The proposal presented to Parliament yesterday by Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Vajira Abeywardena to include the reclaimed land known as the “Port City Colombo” within the area of authority and the limits of the administrative district of Colombo, was passed without a vote.
According to the Resolution, the land of Port City Colombo in extent of 446.6153 hectares will be annexed to the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Colombo in the Administrative District of Colombo.As per the plan prepared by the Surveyor General the Colombo Port and Chaithya Road East will be a connecting point to the boundary of the Colombo Divisional Secretary’s Division.
Participating in the debate, Non Cabinet Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the block would have a ‘sovereign right.’
Minister Abeywardena observed that this is the first time in the country’s history that a reclaimed sea area would be considered a part of an administrative district.
Take action against importers of toxic garbage containers- JVP Leader
JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake making a special statement in Parliament yesterday said noted that hundreds of containers of garbage had been imported and some of it was dumped into the local environs but no legal action was taken against those responsible.
“This is a classic example of the unequal dispensation of law and justice in this country. If this offence had been committed by someone of the lower social strata he would have been behind bars by now. He would have been charged under numerous provisions of various acts. Imagine the situation if a villager mining sand from a river bed to feed his family had been caught. He would have been accused of destroying the environment and meted out the most severe form of punishment. Now look at this issue. Such a colossal damage has been done to our environment. Even the future generations are going to suffer from this damage. But no action has been taken against those who imported the garbage containers,” Dissanayake said.
MP Dissanayake said that it was the duty of Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to have come to Parliament and given an explanation to the House on his own regarding this matter which is of national importance without waiting for the Opposition to raise the issue, “But he is not here today,” Dissanayake said.
He said that around 225 garbage containers had been imported from Great Britain and around 102 of them were detected and held in the Harbour by the Customs.
“Around another 120 such containers had been released from the harbour and were held at the Katunayake Trade Zone. A group of officials from the Central Environment Authority went to that site on July 17 and stated that some of the containers had been re-exported and action would be taken to re-export the rest of it,” he said.
“There is a serious doubt whether the CEA officials conducted any investigation or just repeated the statement issued by the importers who are rich and powerful with strong corporate affiliations. There are reports to the effect that some of the containers released by the harbour had been taken out and their contents were discharged at various places in the country. Thereby, an irreparable damage to our environment has already been caused. Now the issue is being politicized and said that the importation had been done making use of some loopholes created on import regulations by a gazette bearing the number 1818-30 issued on July 11, 2013 by the then Finance Minister and former President,” the Dissanayake said.
The MP demanded to know who had imported the garbage containers, when and how. He also demanded to know what action had been taken against or would be taken against those responsible and whether the government would withdraw the 1818-30 gazette.
NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa accused the incumbent government of importing the garbage of the British and trying to put the blame on a gazette issued by the previous government. “This gazette was issued in 2013. If that government wanted to relax import regulations to permit such garbage being imported to the country why there were no such imports in 2013, 2014 and 2015? That gazette story is a lie. The 5th and 6th sections of the gazette ensure that the new provisions would in no way contradict the existing regulations. The story of using loopholes in the gazette is spread by the government in order to palm the blame on the previous government,” Weerawansa said.
Chief Government Whip Minister Gayantha Karunathilake said that a detailed response to the queries raised by the JVP MP would be made by Minister Samaraweera during the course of this week.
Bimal accuses Minister Daya over low-income senior citizens allowance
JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake accused Primary industries and Social Empowerment Minister Daya Gamage of utilising the Rs.100 deducted from the Rs 2,000 monthly allowance paid to the low-income senior citizens by his ministry for his own political objectives.
He told Parliament yesterday that Rs.100 is deducted from the monthly allowance of citizens over 70 years and whose monthly income is below Rs.3000, by the National Secretariat for Elders (NSE) which functions under Minister Gamage’s Ministry.
“The monies are now used by the minister at his will. It is a shame that he is using the monies of these senior citizens for his political campaigns,” MP Ratnayake said.
A question pertaining to the National Fund for Elders’ Welfare raised by MP Ratnayake was listed on the Order Paper yesterday seeking responses from Minister Gamage. However, the latter was not present in the chamber at the time the question was raised and Chief Government Whip Minister Gayantha Karunathilake responded to the question and read out the response sent by Minister Gamage’s Ministry on his behalf.
“As at June 30, this year the fund had a sum of Rs 178.08 million,” Minister Karunathilake said.
Asked to how the fund would be spent, the minister said that it would be utilized to conduct 12,000 medical clinics, purchase 50 buses, to provide contact lenses for elders etc.
However, MP Ratnayake charged that the All Island Elders Society which works with destitute elders had complained that the money was not being utilised for any welfare for the needy. With nearly 300,000 elders receiving the Rs. 2,000 allowance, millions had been collected by deducting Rs. 100 monthly.
“The Committee on Public Enterprises has raised the issue saying that deducting the Rs.100 was illegal and stated that the deduction was being done without the approval of the Ministry of Finance. This is an illegal act. The fund’s activities are violating the provisions of the Finance Act. This matter should be investigated,” he said.
Ratnayake also noted that not even the Health Ministry conducts 12,000 medical clinics for elders, adding that the Health Ministry distributes free contact lenses. “There is no need for Minister Gamage to utilise the monies of this fund to buy contact lenses. The fund is being embezzled,” the MP charged.
Minister Karunathilake said that he would refer the MPs concerns regarding this issue to Minister Gamage.
Revenue loss from Easter terror attack Rs.50 bn
The Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report 2019 which was submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Finance yesterday revealed that the Easter Sunday terror attacks have caused a revenue loss of Rs 50 billion.
The report has revealed that, “an initial estimate on the impact of the Easter Sunday attacks on the government revenue in the short term indicates that the direct contribution to the government revenue by affected sectors such as finance, tourism, trade and construction, will come down by Rs.50 billion approximately.”
The report also said that the estimated loss of revenue could further increase due to the slowdown of economic activities during the remaining months in 2019.
“Economic slowdown had already hindered the collection of internal taxes, namely the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Nation Building Tax in addition to other taxes collected on importation of goods.
The loss of government revenue has been observed from the collection of fees and charges as well. This tendency will affect the revenue targets in 2019 including primary balance, budget and debt financing,” the report added.
As per the report, total government expenditure during the first four months of 2019 has been Rs.962 billion. The recurrent expenditure during the period has been Rs.756 billion while capital expenditure has been Rs.211 billion.
The total government revenue during the first four months this year has been Rs.598 billion.
JVP MP queries about new building for Colombo District Secretariat
JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday alleged that the Internal and Home Affairs Ministry has “snatched away” the new building which was built for the Colombo District Secretariat.
Participating in the debate on the proposal to include the reclaimed land known as “Port City Colombo” within the area of the authority and the limits of the administrative district of Colombo, MP Jayatissa said that a new building was proposed for the Colombo District Secretariat in 2001.
Referring to an invitation card sent by the Internal and Home Affairs Ministry, MP Jayatissa said that the Ministry is planning to open the said building as a main office belonging to them. MP Jayatissa pointed out that the building was proposed, funded and established for the Colombo District Secretariat. He also revealed that the contract pertaining to the construction of the building has also been signed under the name of Colombo District Secretariat. Dr.Jayatissa also said that the Internal and Home Affairs Ministry already have several offices buildings in Colombo.
MP Jayatissa added that the building was allotted Rs.5,583 million for construction purposes from the Budget in 2001. He emphasized that the Colombo District Secretariat needs the building because it will give it a better location and facilities, considering its new responsibilities.
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