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Controversy arose in Parliament this week when Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Matara District Parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana alleged that some Government members were pushing to legalise ganja.

Mr Pathirana first raised the issue on Wednesday, asking Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa whether his Government intended to legalise ganja.  

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa: I know that some MPs in this legislature are also involved in the push to legalise ganja cultivation

“I know that some MPs in this legislature are also involved in the push to legalise ganja cultivation,” he said.  

Prime Minister Rajapaksa however, said he did not believe that in the current Parliament there were any members who used ganja. 

“But I will look into it nonetheless,” he quipped.

The subject was brought up again on Thursday, when Mr Pathirana produced a book titled Triloka Vijaya which he said had been distributed among Parliament staff members.

“The book promotes ganja. Even outside visitors are not allowed in Parliament these days. As such, I would like to know how such a book was distributed among the staff,” he told Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana. The Speaker promised to conduct an investigation into the matter.

Mr Pathirana also pointed out that the dedication of the book says it is for the purpose of delight (aanandaya labanna).

“What does it mean? Doesn’t it promote smoking ganja? I queried this from Ministers Bandula Gunawardena and S. B. Dissanayake, but could not get an answer.”

Mr Gunawardena at this point, insisted that he had nothing to do with the writing or distribution of the book.

On Friday, SJB Ratnapura district Parliamentarian Hesha Withanage brought up the subject with Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.

“We have heard a senior minister say the country can earn foreign exchange by exporting ganja. I would like to know whether this is the Cabinet’s view or the Minister’s personal view?”

Prime Minister Rajapaksa asked the SJB Parliamentarian to name the minister concerned.

“I’m talking about the Trade Minister,” he said.

“In that case, the query should be directed to him, but I will definitely not allow the legalisation of ganja,” Premier Rajapaksa assured.

As usual Wigneswaran scores points in virtual debate on 13A

With the debate on the 13th Amendment these days, particularly after the recent virtual bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Premier Narendra Modi, Tamil politicos too voiced their opinions – just to score some brownie points.

One such event was a virtual discussion held last Sunday by an outfit called the ‘New India Forum’ which is known to be close to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Zoom seminar titled “India’s role in the 13th Amendment of Sri Lanka,” was presided over by Vanathi Srinivasan, State Vice President of the Tamil Nadu BJP.

The participants included Jaffna District Parliamentarian retired Justice C.V. Wigneswaran and India’s Jaffna based former Consulate General A. Natarajan. As usual, Justice Wigneswaran did not fail to score some points too.

He said India has a moral responsibility to ensure the Tamil speaking people’s rights, which he claimed were ensured in the island-nation after the signing of the Indo-Lanka agreement in 1987. He pointed out that the accord however, failed to make sure that the Tamil speaking people were protected by the bilateral agreement, because of flaws in the implementation of the 13th Amendment.

Parliamentary sambol as lunu becomes loonu

The Parliament’s session for ‘Questions for Oral Answers,’ sees subject ministers answer questions posed in advance by MPs in the House.

During Wednesday’s session (October 7) Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardana    gave an extensive answer regarding the import of onions.

The question had been submitted by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National List Parliamentarian Mohamed Muzammil.

Using data provided by the Finance Ministry and the Sri Lanka Customs, he explained how much had been spent to import onions during the past five years, and the countries of origin.

When it came to follow-up questions however, a clearly confused Mr.    Muzammil asked the Trade Minister in Sinhala whether he had been talking about salt (lunu) or onions (loonu).

When told it was the latter, the SLPP Parliamentarian said the question had in fact been about salt (lunu).

“It seems the Sinhala print had confused lunu with loonu and I have been given the answers for onions instead of salt,” an angry Minister said.

Mr Muzammil tried to soldier on gamely, directing his follow-up question on salt. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena though, cut him short.

“We are already behind time. Ask this question at a latter date with the correct subject,” he told the MP.

Grave task for Jaffna based Indian Consulate office

The Jaffna-based Indian Consulate General’s office was busy recently tracking the grave of an Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) soldier who was killed in a clash with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 1987.

The reason — the fallen Indian soldier’s family had requested a death certificate after three decades. The request came from diplomatic channels originating in New Delhi to Colombo, and finally landed at the Consulate Office.

The Indian Consulate officials finally found the grave in a farming land near Rajah Road at Kopay in Jaffna. The documentation process is underway to determine the identity of the fallen soldier to issue a death certificate from the Sri Lankan government since the death occurred on Lankan soil.

Jaffna University lecturers take page out of students’ books

There were times when university students used to call for strike campaigns to boycott class. But nowadays, even the university lecturers follow suit.

Over the last two days, the Jaffna University’s Arts faculty lecturers have been refusing to attend lectures. They are demanding an ‘independent’ inquiry into a clash between students and university administration employees on Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday, a verbal argument between batchmates turned into an ugly fight inside the university, forcing the Vice Chancellor to call the police to intervene. Later police personnel were asked to leave the university premises after the parties decided to resolve the issue amicably.

The VC had appointed a Disciplinary Committee to probe into the incident and recommend actions needed to be taken against the students who misbehaved.

New envoy to SaudiArabia

In his latest list of political appointments to Sri Lanka’s missions abroad, the President has nominated Hilmy Mohammed — a former Mayor of Matale and the brother-in-law of Uva Province Governor A. J. M. Muzammil — as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Mohammed is a proprietor of a leading gem firm.

Galle MC members ignore health warnings and go to N’ Eliya

Galle Municipal Council members had embarked on a three day taxpayer funded trip to Nuwara Eliya on Thursday, to study online payment schemes for waste management, despite the warnings issued by the Health Ministry to avoid such travel due to new risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was earlier this week that the Health Services Acting Director General S. Sridaran issued a notice banning meetings, conferences, parties, lectures and unnecessary gatherings.

However, the Galle MC members had joined the trip to Nuwara Eliya to study online payments for solid waste management, sewage management and mobile payments for parking. The Mayor had issued a letter on September 21 inviting members to join the trip.

The MC members had also gone to the Udawalawe Elephant transit home while visiting Embilipitiya.

Time’s up: New MPs complain of being clocked out

Poor time management has become a problem in the new Parliament leading to frustration among many of the MPs who have been elected to the House for the first time. A majority have come through the ranks serving in local authorities and at provincial level and hence were rewarded by the voters who elected them to Parliament, with the expectation that rising issues affecting the people would be taken up at this high seat of Government.

However, with Question Time which is supposed to be confined to one hour usually dragging on for nearly two hours, time allocated for debates is slashed and it is usually the new MPs who are deprived of time to speak, with the allocated time being between three and five minutes.

The matter was raised this week by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Badulla District Parliamentarian Chamara Sampath Dissanayake who could barely get started with his speech when he was told his time was up.

“There is no proper time management, and we do get enough time to speak,” the frustrated MP protested, before sitting down.

Similar views have been expressed by other promising new MPs whose chances to contribute to debates and make a mark on the political scene are being denied with seniors taking up all the time, both on the Government’s sides and on the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) side.

Wimal strips Nimal on 20A

Wimal Weerawansa

“Onna Wimal Nimalge kalisama gallewwa” or “There, Wimal removed Nimal’s trousers,” a Government MP confided to a close friend.

Nimal Siripala de Silva

That is common language to suggest that one has outsmarted the other in an issue.

It happened at a special meeting of the Government parliamentary group on Friday at ‘Temple Trees.’ Both, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa were present. The event afforded MPs an opportunity to discuss 20A.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was on his feet. He praised the Government for introducing 20A – though his own Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had expressed differences on four points. In the light of his, as well as party General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara’s statement of support, surprisingly, the SLFP held back a statement it was to issue.

It was to say that the party was opposed to (1) more powers the President has received. (2) Placing independent commissions under the President. (3) Infringing on judicial independence by bringing the appointment of judges under the President. (4) Removing the ban placed on dual citizens contesting elections.

As soon as Minister de Silva had finished speaking, Minister Wimal Weerawansa grabbed the microphone from an aide and used some harsh words first. What he said cannot be printed though the branding was much more than calling him (Minister de Silva) a rascal who should not be trusted.

The reason? Mr Weerawansa said it was only last Wednesday that Minister de Silva had walked up to him after the Cabinet meeting. He had congratulated him for being upright and standing up against some provisions of the draft 20A he did not agree on. Minister de Silva took the barrage from Mr Weerawansa on his broad frame, but did not comment.