Opposition withholds support for VOA, confronts move to increase debt limit
On Thursday the Government decided not to present an amended Vote on Account (VOA) seeking an additional Rs 367 billion for Government expenses, and increase the borrowing limit after the Opposition refused to support the move.
When the sittings began, House Leader Dinesh Gunawardena asked Speaker Karu Jayasuriya if the Government had information about the Opposition not honouring agreements reached with the Government earlier. Parliament was then briefly suspended to hold an urgent Party Leaders’ Meeting which was attended by Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle, but this too failed to break the deadlock.
When Parliament reconvened, Mr Gunawardena told the House the Government had decided not to present the VOA. “We need this money to purchase essential medicine, fertiliser, to pay contractors and suppliers and settle bank loans which the previous Government has failed to pay back,” he said.
He said the UNP-led Opposition had initially claimed it could not support an amended VOA as wit would be illegal. “We consulted the Attorney General and his opinion was that if the House approves it, it will be legal.”
He accused the Opposition of standing in the way of the Government providing relief to the people. “The Prime Minister clearly explained to Parliament that these funds are needed to ensure the welfare of the people. But since the Opposition is opposing it, we have decided not to present the VOA,” he added.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, however, insisted the Opposition was not opposed to approving the Rs 367 billion needed for development measures. “This motion has two sections, one that deals with development and relief. We are supportive of both. What we oppose is the attempt to increase the debt ceiling.”
He said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had asked for a moratorium of three years to pay off the country’s debts during his recent visit to India. Mr Premadasa questioned how the Government could ask Parliament for permission to borrow more money, when it could not pay off existing debts.
Vote for women candidates, female MPs urge public
Female Parliamentarians appealed this week for the public to use their votes at the next general election to increase the number of female MPs in Parliament in order to take correct policy decisions on behalf of women and children.
The appeal was made during a news conference held by seven female MPs on Thursday.
They said that at present there were only 12 female MPs in the 225-member legislature, meaning that women made up just 5% of the MPs in this Parliament.
UPFA MP Sumedha G. Jayasena said even though an agreement had been reached for 25% female representation in the local government, provincial council and parliamentary level, this percentage was not being brought forward through the candidate lists of parties. She said party leaders should focus on including more women in the candidate lists.
UNP MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne said female candidates found it hard to compete with their male counterparts in the current electoral system as they do not go around handing out money, liquor or other goods used by male candidates as tactics to obtain votes.
The MPs requested voters, especially female voters, to mark at least one of their three preferences at the upcoming general election for a female candidate to ensure at least one female MP is elected from each district.
UPFA MPs Sumedha G. Jayasena, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Sriyani Wijewickrama, UNP MPs Vijayakala Maheswaran, Hirunika Premachandra, Dr. Thusitha Wijemanna and Rohini Kumari Wijerathna attended the press conference.
Eighth Parliament: Media and public access to Committee sessions most significant highlight
Given that the Government has stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will dissolve Parliament on March 2 or 3, this was the final sitting week of the Eighth Parliament.
This Parliament was notable for many reasons, most significant of all perhaps being the decision to open it up more to the people by allowing media access to Parliamentary Committee sessions that were previously held behind closed doors.
Sessions of key Committees such as the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) are now being televised and carried on both mainstream media and on the web, becoming widely popular among the people.
The decision to open these Committees to the media was preceded by the opening of the proceedings of the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to inquire into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
The Eighth Parliament also saw the appointment of Sectoral Oversight Committees to further empower the legislature.
The 2018 Constitutional crisis was the most significant challenge faced by the Eighth Parliament during its term. Mass brawls among MPs also took place inside the Parliament chamber during the 52-day crisis.
Then President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament during the crisis and a new parliament would have been elected at the beginning of 2019 had the Supreme Court not ruled the President’s actions illegal.