Govt. proposes, SC disposes Divineguma Bill, for now

Opposition on the offensive against strained relations with India

The Government‘s attempt to enact the Divineguma Bill was thwarted for now, at least, after Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa announced in Parliament on Tuesday that the Supreme Court has determined the Bill should first get the sanction of the Provincial Councils (PC), before it can become law.

Following the announcement, the Speaker referred to the Court’s ruling with regard to an objection raised by the Solicitor General that one of the petitioners challenging the Bill had sent a copy of the petition to the Secretary General of Parliament, and not to the Speaker as stipulated in the Constitution.

Court overruled the objection by stating that, “Whilst, the process of sending the petition filed before the Supreme Court within the specified period to the Speaker is mandatory, it cannot be said that the documents being sent to the Secretary General of Parliament, within the stipulated timeframe, is not in compliance with Article 121”.

The Speaker, with reference to the court’s ruling on this, said ”I will study if the Court’s ruling in this regard has impinged on the Constitutional powers bestowed on me, as well as on the sovereignty of the people. I will discuss this issue with party leaders and take necessary action.”

The Divineguma Bill has run into controversy since it was presented in August, with several petitions being filed in the Supreme Court challenging its constitutionality.

However, on the day the Supreme Court decision was expected, several hundred sup- porters of the Bill gathered at the Parliament Drive in Kotte, to voice support for the Bill, urging that it be enacted soon. However, the Supreme Court determination has delayed the process for now, with government being forced to withdraw the Bill from the Order Paper of Parliament last Friday, to be referred to the PCs.

The Bills seeks to amalgamate the Samurdhi Authority of Sri Lanka, the Udarata Development Authority and the Southern Authority, to form one body called the Department of Divineguma Development.

The role of the judiciary also came up during the debate on the Ranaviru Seva Authority (Amendment) Bill, when UNP Kalutara District MP Ajith Perera referred to the case involving the son of Minister Mervyn Silva and an army Major. “Here, we are debating how to protect our war heroes, while some of them are being beaten up by those linked to the politically powerful,” he said.

UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera on Thursday made reference to the attacks in the State media against members of the judiciary, and said that Parliament must act to ensure that the independence of the judiciary is safeguarded.

In addition to these, Parliament debated the midyear fiscal policy report, during which the government painted a rosy picture of the economy, while opposition members lashed out at wasteful expenditure and bad fiscal management.

International Monetary Cooperation Minister (Senior) Dr Sarath Amunugama said total foreign reserves which were at US$ 6 billion last year, have increased up to US$ 8 billion this year, and the economic growth rate was 7.9% during the first four months of this year, due to strong contributions from the service and industrial sector.

However, opposition members were not easily appeased by the positive picture painted by the government on the economy. JVP MP Vijtha Herath said that government is increasing taxes which were burdening the common man, while the tax hikes were not helping local production.

“The government has increased the imports of essen- tial items, with the aim of earning more tax money, but local production has not increased due to bad tax policies of the government,” he said.

Government also came under fire from the UNP, when its members moved an adjournment motion on the strained diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka.

UNP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekara who moved the adjournment motion, said the cause of the deteriorating relations between the two countries was the failure of the government to keep promises it made to solve the county’s national problem, through the political process.

“South India was completely silent during the height of the war. Now they are causing problems, and even the Indian central government is helpless because our government has not kept its promises,” he said.

UNP Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella who seconded the motion, said that India’s covert backing of the government during the war against the LTTE, had helped win the war.

Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera who responded to the opposition charges, said that the ongoing protests are led by a small group of extremists in Tamil Nadu, funded by the LTTE diaspora.

“He also accused the opposition led by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and certain other members, of encouraging these groups with their provocative remarks.