Provinces Must Guard Themselves from Pollution

4 Friday 8th August, 2008 SAARC endorsed fight Provinces must guard against terrorism All leaders of SAARC countries unanimously endorsed the declaration – Bogollagama to fight against terrorism, but it was seen that Opposition themselves from pollution political parties did not make any statement sup- Replying to Puttalam District porting the SAARC lead- Member Samansiri Herath (JVP) ers’ decision, Foreign yesterday (7) Environment and – Ranawaka Minister Rohitha Natural Resources Minister Patali Bogollagama remarked. Champika Ranawaka said that envi- Opposition in Parliament agreed to The main opposition On Wednesday ronmental pollution by industries in pass a Supplementary Estimate for party, the UNP was hav- the Provinces had to be dealt with by 1.185 billion rupees for the fertilizer ing a major problem Bogollagama By Wijitha Nakkawita and the Provincial Environmental subsidy during the current year. about its leader’s seat at the opening of Lakshmi de Silva Authorities. The Central Both sides of the House agreed the SAARC summit, but during the Environmental Authority had no con- to pass the amendments to the debate on the Extension of the leader’s security personnel and one of trol over such matters. Parliament on Thursday Teachers Pension Scheme. Emergency, the UNP had not spoken member Akila Viraj Kariyawasam’s The question was of an Indian Both motions were presented by anything against terrorism. It had also security were found at Wellawatta prov- Company running a foundry at By Wijitha Nakkawita and the relevant Ministers. failed to make a single statement con- ing the white van conspiracy was Madampe releasing waste material Lakshmi de Silva demning terrorism that had plagued the hatched by the UNP. Therefore the without adequate safeguards against Fertilizer subsidy will not country for over two decades, Opposition leader should be held environmental pollution. the weakness in our laws and the Bogollagama, said. responsible for white van activities. Minister Ranawaka terms offered to them under agree- be abolished “However, UNP leader Ranil S. S. Cyril (TNA) said the Tamil quoting the North ments like CEPA. Therefore steps had Wickremesinghe should be more con- people were subjected to untold suffer- Western Provincial to be taken to see that the country Answering a question in scious about his seat at the Sirikotha as ing due to the war especially in the Environmental does not experience disadvantages Parliament Minister of we will not be able to help him. When Vanni area. The Government was blam- Authority said the from such agreements with India. Agriculture Premier Rajiv Gandhi visited the coun- ing the LTTE and harassing the Tamil Chilaw Magistrate’s Maithripala Sirisena try in 1987, the UNP could not give him people, while more than 15,000 people Court, had ordered the said the Government adequate security. President were displaced due to the conflict. Over closure of the Foundry School book will not abolish the Jayewardene said it was an indelible 60 schools in the areas had been closed. on the grounds of its fail- Ranawaka printing a loss fertilizer subsidy to black mark on the country. But when the It was not only the Tamil people, but ure to abide by the condi- the farmer. present Premier and other leaders of also the Sinhala youth that were being tions imposed for environmental pro- The Ministry had the SAARC region visited our country, killed in the war. Minister of Science tection by the authority.An investiga- Minister of allocated 15 billion we were able to give them the best secu- and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana tion was being conducted to ascertain Education Susil rupees in 2008 for the rity. All benefits derived from the said there were international conspira- the nature and extent of the environ- Premajayantha answer- subsidy but the prices Sirisena Summit should be given to the people of tors alleging human rights violations. mental pollution. The Cultural ing a question said the of fertilizer like the oil the country,” he said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appoint- Environmental Authority and the printing of schoolbooks prices were rising in the world mar- Lakshman Kiriella ed an all party committee to find a solu- Ministry had no authority as it came from 2003 had caused Premajayantha ket. UNP Kandy District tion to the national problem. The com- within the powers of the recurring losses to the It was now estimated that the said there was much mittee in turn appointed the APRC that Provincial Council. government as each year the syllabus- total expenditure on the fertilizer opposition to the devolu- had held 78 sittings during the past 2 NFF Parliamentary es had been changing. Printing of subsidy would be in the region of tion of power to resolve years. However, two political parties Group leader Wimal books more than the required number 40 billion rupees for 2008. the national problem had not yet indicated their proposals, Weerawansa said the had caused losses and action was This government was the first among some political par- but it was heartening to note that the foundry, like a member being taken against the officials for since independence to give such a ties, but both the SLFP Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal, the of other Indian indus- causing such losses or engaging in cor- large fertilizer subsidy to farmers. and the UNP have agreed Kiriella new party that had come into the demo- tries that were started rupt methods. A bag of fertilizer, 50 kilograms to implement the 13th cratic mainstream had also come to the under the privileges cost Rs. 5400 but the government Amendment to devolve power to the APRC. given through the agree- Wimal Both sides of House agree on was giving it to the farmer at Rs. North and East. If further devolution The Minister said the Tamil speak- ments like CEPA had 350, almost free. That was a deci- beyond that amendment could be given, ing people had certain problems that created environmental problems. They Teacher Pension Scheme sion of President Mahinda it would be much easier to resolve the should be addressed. A solution to the would pollute the environment due to The Government and the Rajapaksa. problem. The government had thought problem should be found so that all that holding the SAARC summit would three communities Sinhala, Tamil and show the international community that Muslim could live in amity in the coun- we had democracy in Sri Lanka, but the try. Teachers must get their pensions human rights abuses and rigging of Winding up the debate Chief polls in Provincial Council elections Government Whip and Minister of was no secret to the international com- Urban Development munity. Therefore the government Dinesh Gunawardena within month of retirement should not be carried away with the said in the past there idea that the summit had resolved all its were certain countries Ranjith Kurunegala District said problems. that were trying to desta- Maddumabandara (UNP) most schools were not run – Maddumabandara Deputy Minister of Tourism bilize other countries Anuradhapura District efficiently as principals Faizer Mustapha asked the UNP to ask and at this stage when said the majority of teach- who were not qualified had look into their conscience as to who cre- the terrorists were being ers were women who after been appointed and quali- should be given for GCE the results of the GCE ordi- ated the terrorist problem in Sri Lanka. defeated by the armed serving for 20 to 30 years fied teachers were not Advanced Level students. nary and advanced level It was a calculated attack on the Tamils Gunawardena forces new forces were at had to go to zonal and given their due positions. K. Thurairatnasin- examinations. In 1993 only by the J. R. Jayewardene government. work to destabilize the regional education centres There was a gham (TNA) Trincomalee 17.6 percent of students sit- Jayewardene took one week to declare government. There were hundreds of to get their pension docu- school in District said the pension ting the GCE O level exami- emergency and control the thugs who NGOs financed by the same govern- ments processed. This was Avulegama benefit extended to teach- nation passed but in 2007 killed more than 1,000 people during the ments to campaign against the govern- time consuming and tire- with 22 ers will motivate them fur- the percentage of those Black July of 1983. He later tried to shift ment alleging human rights violations. some. Teachers should get excess teach- ther and it will indirectly who passed the examina- the blame of killing Tamil civilians on These were being quoted by certain their pensions within a ers on the help the students to further tion had risen to 49.4 – an left political parties and banned the JVP. opposition elements as statements of month after their retire- staff but the their educations. Teachers increase of 32 percent. During 1987 – 89, the spate of violence UN and other international bodies, but ment. But sometimes they principal was were the creators of the During 1993 only 21.5 per- was also created by the Jayewardene were only statements made by the paid had to wait for years. doing nothing future. The payment of cent passed the GCE A government and even now the UNP NGOs. Nimal Premawansa to get them Renuka pensions for teachers level examination while in should change their stance of being on Quoting the Sri Lankan born mem- (FNN) Nuwara Eliya transferred should be expedited in 2007 57 percent of the can- top of the fence and vote for the exten- ber of the European Parliament Deva District said there were 11 for fear that there may be a appreciation of their serv- didates passed the exami- sion of emergency.

Load more