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Political battles begin after President makes powerful statement with simple ceremony
There was seemingly plenty of camaraderie and good cheer among Government and Opposition MPs during a decidedly low-key ceremonial opening of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament on Friday. However, some of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s remarks found in his policy statement and exchanges among MPs when sessions began indicate that there will be little cooperation in the legislature and the road ahead will be a rocky one as the country readies for a general election in a few months’ time.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya greets President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa
In the corridors of the Parliament complex, on Friday morning ahead of the President’s arrival, Government and Opposition MPs were seen greeting and wishing each other a happy new year. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, House Leader Dinesh Gunawardena and others who have been appointed to House leadership positions were congratulated by MPs from both sides ahead of the main ceremony, which was scaled down following a direction from President Rajapaksa.
The President had dispensed with the usual vehicle convoy, including a mounted escort, tri-forces guard of honour and the 21 gun salute that is accorded to a President during Parliament’s ceremonial sitting.
The President arrived in a motorcade consisting of just two backup jeeps along with three police motorcycles before being greeted at the entrance by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and ushered inside where a group of schoolgirls recited “Jayamangala Gatha.” This was a far cry from the days of earlier Presidents; when there was far more “pomp and pageantry” associated with such an event.
The decision to make the ceremonial sitting as low-key as possible again reinforced President Rajapaksa’s image as a leader who differs from his predecessors.
The President further bucked tradition by delivering the Government’s policy statement wearing a suit and tie instead of national dress, as Presidents before him had done.
Before the President arrived, Government and Opposition MPs took their seats inside the chamber as per the new seating arrangements. Sajith Premadasa took a front-row seat reserved for the Opposition Leader. New Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilake sat next to his right. United National Party (UNP) Leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s seat was on Mr Premadasa’s left, but the seats were separated by an aisle. Interestingly, this is the first time in decades that Mr Wickremesinghe finds himself without any position in Parliament. He has served as either Prime Minister or Opposition Leader in Parliament since 1993.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was seated next to the new House Leader Dinesh Gunawardena and Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando. Party leaders from both the Government and the Opposition were allocated front row seats.
Parliamentarians Ven. Rathana Thera and Wasantha Senanayake were both sitting in the Government benches as per their request while United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama continued to sit in the Opposition even as UPFA colleagues moved to the Government side. Mr Welgama entered from the left side doors of the chambers usually reserved for Opposition MPs and took a seat next to UNP Kandy District MP M.H.M. Haleem on the second row. He was warmly greeted by his new Opposition colleagues. Mr. Welgama, a former Transport Minister, also cheerfully waved to some of his former colleagues now sitting in the Government.
There were many distinguished invitees in the Parliament gallery to hear the President speak. They included Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, heads of foreign diplomatic missions, ministry secretaries, armed forces commanders and religious leaders.
After the session was declared open, President Rajapaksa delivered the Government’s policy statement from a special chair decorated with his Presidential emblem. In his speech that lasted just about 35 minutes, Mr Rajapaksa outlined his vision for the country and briefly explained how he intended to achieve it through the implementation of his policy statement “Visions of Prosperity and Splendour.”
President Gotabaya arriving without much ado
He pointed out that in accordance with his programme, the Government had already taken several steps “including the easing of taxes that were unduly burdening the public, introducing a high degree of transparency and efficiency to the government administration, and curtailing unnecessary government expenditure.”
Moving forward, Mr Rajapaksa pledged to make use of new technologies when developing the country, improve infrastructure facilities and give more attention to agriculture, plantation and fisheries sectors. He also said the Government would implement plans to develop human capital by giving more opportunities for young people to obtain educational qualifications and skills that will help them in the job market.
Touching on an issue much spoken about during his presidential campaign, Mr Rajapaksa insisted that “National Security” occupies “the foremost place” in his Government. “We have taken steps to ensure proper coordination between the Armed Forces and the Police, who are collectively responsible for maintaining national security. The network of national intelligence agencies has been reorganised and strengthened,” he told MPs.
The President also touched on the issue of constitutional changes; one that is sure to be a bone of contention between his Government and the Opposition in the weeks, months and perhaps years to come. He claimed that such changes were necessary “to safeguard the security, sovereignty, stability and integrity of our country, it is essential that changes be made to the existing constitution.”
The traditional tea party held after the President’s speech was again an opportunity for MPs and the invitees to mingle and engage in small talk. MPs from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), however, stayed away.
When the session resumed at 1 pm, there were a few brief fireworks as MPs from both the Opposition and the Government referred to the forensic audit report on the Central Bank bond scam. The report had been sent to Parliament’s Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). But with President Rajapaksa’s prorogation in December, all oversight committees, including COPE, stood dissolved and this put paid to moves to discuss the bond audit report.
Some Opposition MPs urged the Speaker to table the report as it was with him now. Speaker Jayasuriya, though, said a decision on the composition of the next COPE would be taken at next week’s party leaders’ meeting and once this was done, the report would be tabled. However, he said he could not give a timeframe.
The first “crossover” of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament also occurred on the first day itself. UPFA Ratnapura District MP Waruna Liyanage, who had only taken oaths moments earlier to fill the seat vacated by the demise of Ranjith De Zoysa, crossed over to the Opposition side. Mr Liyanage is currently the UNP’s organiser for the Nivitigala electorate.
Friday’s session was adjourned after just 30 minutes. An agreement, however, was reached at the subsequent party leaders’ meeting to hold a two-day Parliamentary debate on the President’s policy statement next week.
Foreign diplomats arriving in Parliament
President Gotabaya addressing Parliament
Camaraderie between two political veterans: Gamini Jayawickrema Perera and Dinesh Gunawardena. Pix by Amila Hamage and Indika Handuwala