Parliament

JVP returns to tsunami debate, whips UNP for government's sins
By Chandani Kirinde, Our Lobby Correspondent
Political parties across the board put aside their differences in Parliament last Tuesday and spoke with one voice to express their condolences on the passing away of Pope John Paul II , but a debate on the government’s performance in the three months since the tsunami, exposed the misgivings that opposition political parties had about the manner in which the government was handling the relief and reconstruction work.

The JVP, which boycotted the previous debate in Parliament in February on the post tsunami situation decided to join in this time and defend the government's post tsunami performance.

It was not clear what caused this change of heart in the JVP but while admitting that there were short comings in the post tsunami work, most JVP legislators chose to target the Opposition, mainly the UNP.

It was the TNA Jaffna district MP Nadarajah Raviraj who moved the adjournment motion on the subject and expressed his party's dissatisfaction with the relief work in the north and east and accused the JVP of playing a double game.

"The JVP shed crocodile tears against corruption in the relief operations initially and they boycotted the earlier tsunami debate. If they are genuine in their criticism, they should leave the government," Mr.Raviraj said.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Bimal Ratnayake accused the UNP of stirring up trouble by using the 100-metre rule for new construction along the coast, as they had no real issues to address. "The UNP couldn't even provide relief to flood and landslide victims whose numbers were much less than the tsunami victims and now they say we're not doing enough," he said. Referring to the LTTE and the Norwegians as friends of the UNP, Mr. Ratnayake charged that the LTTE was beaming television programmes around the world using satellite equipment which the former government allowed the LTTE to bring into the country. He also vowed that the government would not allow the rebels to use the tsunami to strengthen their military capabilities.

The imposition of a 100 metre buffer zone along the coastal areas is one of the main issues of contention between the government and the UNP. Several UNP MPs argued that nowhere in the world were buffer zones in place along the coast as this was not a realistic option. "Telling people engaged in fishing to stay away from the coast is like telling a man who plucks coconut for a living not to climb trees," UNP Matara district MP Mahinda Wijesekara said.

Muslim legislators raised other problems that were affecting the community mainly in the eastern province. SLMC's Rauff Hakeem said if the government is talking to the LTTE about a joint mechanism, then the Muslim representatives in the areas too should be included in the talks or they would oppose the setting up of such an arrangement.

Faisal Cassim, SLMC Digamadulla MP too had an issue accusing the government of creating unnecessary racial tension in the Pottuvil area by allowing a Buddha statue to be erected in a predominantely Muslim area. Social Services Minister Sumedha Jayasena who wrapped up the debate said that the District Secretary had looked into the matter and it was revealed that the statue had been built before the tsunami.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse expressed the government's condolences on the passing away of the Pope. He praised him for championing the cause of freedom in the world and for paying particular attention to Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister also recalled that after the December 26 tsunami, the Pontiff had dispatched a special delegation to the country to see the scale of the disaster and offer his assistance.

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