Marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s political history, the first sitting of the ninth Parliament took place on Thursday, August 20 with a focus on the 81 first-time MPs.
The members unanimously elected SLPP Matara district Parliamentarian Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena as the Speaker. His name was proposed by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and seconded by SJB Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara.
Following the swearing-in of the newly elected Members, SLPP Kegalle District MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was elected Deputy Speaker while SLFP Jaffna district MP Angajan Ramanathan was elected Deputy Chairman of Committees. A notable feature was that all three were elected unanimously.
The newly elected Speaker was congratulated by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and party leaders such as SLFP leader and former President Maithripala Sirisena, TNA leader R. Sampanthan, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila, EPDP leader Douglas Devananda, NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganesan, All Ceylon Makkal Congress leader Rishad Bathuideen, TMVP leader Sivanesathurei Chandrakanthan and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem.
The Premier welcoming the Speaker said, “It is with humble pride that I congratulate you, a person hailing from the South, on your appointment as the Speaker. As an experienced and senior politician you are well versed in parliamentary traditions and the functioning of Provincial Councils as you played many roles including that of Chief Minister. You have also served as a Cabinet Minister over a considerable period.”
Congratulating the newly elected Speaker, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said throughout his political career, the Speaker has acted with dignity, integrity and honour. “You have been a true patriot, you are not a pseudo nationalist, and neither are you a modern day racist. Therefore, we on this side of the political divide are extremely honoured to have you as our Speaker. Premadasa said a democratically elected Parliament is the epitome of a functioning democracy. It is incumbent upon all of us to protect and promote a vibrant democracy.”
First time MPs
A notable feature is that the ninth Parliament is represented by 81 first time MPs. There are only 25 MPs aged between 25-40. Minister Jeewan Thondaman is the youngest MP as well as the youngest Minister. The number of political parties being represented in Parliament has increased from six to 15. At the recent General Election, the SLPP secured a landslide win with 145 seats.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived for the first sitting of Parliament at 3 p.m. Delivering his Policy Statement, President Rajapaksa said abolishing the 19th Amendment and enacting a new Constitution will be the first priority of the Government as it embarks on the next five years of governance.
President Rajapaksa said the people had given the Government a resounding mandate for effecting constitutional changes that will aid the country’s forward march. The President said, “An unstable Parliament that cannot take firm decisions and succumbs to extremist influences very often, is not suitable for a country. While introducing a new Constitution, it is essential to make changes to the current electoral system. While retaining the salutary aspects of the proportional representation system, these changes will ensure the stability of Parliament and people’s direct representation.”
In his 20-minute policy statement the President said, “I love my country. I am proud of my country. I have a vision for my country. Our ardent desire is to build a prosperous nation with productive citizens, contented families and a righteous society. What we have done so far and the plans we propose to implement in the future will be aimed at achieving this objective.”
He said the historic mandate received by the SLPP had proved that the people were impressed with the way the party had governed the country during the past nine months despite various obstacles.
“This is the motherland for all of us. Hence, the time has come for all of us to join hands for the sake of the country irrespective of race, religion or party differences. The people have given the government a massive mandate. We have been given the responsibility to take the country towards prosperity while safeguarding the people and protecting the sovereignty of the country without succumbing to any force,” the President said.
The UNP which is the oldest political party in the country was not represented at Thursday’s maiden session of Parliament as their sole National List MP seat remains vacant. This is the first time the UNP is not being represented in Parliament since the party was founded in 1947.
In the humiliating defeat at the August 5 General Election, the UNP failed to secure even one seat through the votes received. Since Independence in 1948, the UNP earned its glory in the Chambers, either as a ruling party or as the largest Opposition one could witness in the political arena. However, the phenomenal change in the legislature was evident on Thursday without the presence of a single member of the UNP.
The new Parliament opened its first session after a six-month break following its dissolution in March with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Parliament convened with 223 members, leaving two vacant as the UNP and the Ape Jana Bala Party had not yet filled their National List slots.
By boat
Arriving at the parliamentary complex by boat, newly elected SLPP Colombo District Parliamentarian Madhura Vithanage said that it was a practical mode of transport as the Parliament was situated in the middle of a lake. He said that he had chosen to ride to Parliament in a boat to avoid traffic congestion.
Vithanage said that the President had initiated the boat service as an alternative to reduce traffic congestion, but lamented that people were not making use of it. He said he was planning to promote the boat service, which was a viable alternative to road transport and would help ease congestion on the roads.
The Party leaders who convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena decided to hold Parliament sittings on Friday, August 21 where Government Policy Statement was taken up for debate.
The motion moved by SLPP Matara District Parliamentarian Nipuna Ranawaka to debate the Government’s Policy Statement was passed in the House without a vote. Ranawaka who entered Parliament from the Matara district got the unique opportunity to kick off the debate with his maiden speech to the Legislature. Ranawaka thanked his voters and extended support to implement the President’s economic policies which would focus on strengthening local industry. A number of Government and Opposition lawmakers joined the debate which continued till 4.30 p.m.
It is speculated that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will eventually be the only member of the UNP to be represented the new Parliament. Wickremesinghe had earlier stated that he would not be in running for the UNP National List seat but the UNP has not found a suitable candidate as yet. The reason for this is that if the UNP leader is not appointed to the post, many former MPs will come forward to claim it.
The UNP leader is preparing to resort to his usual tactics to continue to remain the leader and retain the National List slot. At present 27 national list seats have been gazetted and sworn in by the respective parties. The appointments to the two seats won by the UNP and Ape Jana Bala Party have been postponed due to internal chaos.
Constitutional amendments
Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the weekly Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, August 19, that the Cabinet of Ministers of the newly appointed Government had granted approval to abolish the 19th Amendment and draft the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.
A five-member Committee has been appointed to draft the proposed Constitutional Amendment. The Committee consists of Justice Minister Ali Sabry PC and includes Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Udaya Gammanpila, Prof. G.L. Peiris and Dinesh Gunawardena.
The 20th Amendment to the Constitution will be drafted and presented to the Cabinet of Ministers before being tabled in Parliament for approval. Earlier, senior Government lawmakers said that the proposed amendment will include clauses from the 18th and 19th Amendments and several fresh clauses.
SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa had also told the media that the proposed Constitutional Amendment will not extend the presidential term or increase the number of times a President can contest for office. Meanwhile, newly appointed Justice Minister Ali Sabry PC had said that the proposed amendments will not be harmful or unfair to any citizen.
Joining the debate on the Government’s Policy Statement, Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said. The Minister said the 19th Amendment had delayed a General Election being held fthe 19th Amendment to the Constitution passed by the former Yahapalana Government prevented people from electing a new Government at the earliest to replace a regime which had failed them for four and half years and it was against the will of the people.
Ironic
Minister Gunawardena said that it was introduced by the Yahapalana Government led by the UNP to suppress the sovereignty and the freedom of the people. However, it was ironic that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who pioneered the move was not elected to Parliament.
SJB Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara demanded that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to remove parts of a speech made by former Northern Province Chief Minister and TMK MP C.V. Vigneswaran, from the Hansard.
He accused Vigneswaran of expressing an opinion which could harm Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. He said that Vigneswaran took a pledge when entering Parliament to protect Sri Lanka’s sovereignty yet made comments which promoted the division of the country.
Vigneswaran in his maiden speech as a Member of Parliament congratulating the newly elected Speaker demanded the recognition of Tamil rights. He said that the people living in the North and the East have a right to self-determination and also noted that every act will have an opposite reaction. He repeated the words in Sinhalese saying “kala kala deh pala pala de” drawing a few reactions from the House. The Speaker responded saying that he will look into the matter.
Joining the debate on the Policy Statement, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Government has to explain the people as to how it would implement the programs in the Policy Statement presented to Parliament on August 20. He said that the Policy Statement has commendable moves but they are difficult to implement adding that the country is facing a high inflation rate at present.
The Opposition Leader said it is estimated that the inflation rate would reach 20 or 22 percent in the next two years, which will be an economic catastrophe and Inland Revenue has dropped to 8 percent from 13 percent. He said the Government lost a tax revenue of Rs. 600 billion due to the reduction in tax rates. The economic development rate has dropped to minus figures during the first quarter of this year. How the Government can achieve development goals with this minus development rate, he asked.
There are media speculations quoting SLFP General Secretary and State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara that discussions are underway on vesting former President and SLFP Leader Maithripala Sirisena with Government titles and this will probably take place after the 20th Amendment to Constitution is passed in Parliament.
He told reporters in Parliament said that a framework has been discussed in this regard, and is currently in progress.
Monkey issue
Participating in the debate on the Government’s Policy Statement, former President Maithripala Sirisena said that farmers were confronted with a serious problem where their crops are being destroyed by animals, particularly monkeys.
He said that the monkey population has increased phenomenally and has become a serious problem in the country. In response to former President Sirisena’s claims that monkeys are destroying coconut trees, SJB Gampaha district MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said that Sirisena’s assumptions were far from the truth.
Fonseka said, “It is wrong to assume that monkeys have nothing else to do but to engage in a campaign to destroy coconut trees. According to the former President, monkeys eat only coconuts and are thus destroying all the coconut trees. That is far from the truth. Monkeys destroy other crops too. It is ironic that former President Sirisena has chosen to disregard all other burning issues in this country and is fixated only on monkeys,” Field Marshal Fonseka said.