Columns
‘No Confidence’ motion highlights need to safeguard SL migrant workers’ rights
UNP draws fire and token support as it dutifully loses its head over a debatable exercise in futility
The debate on the ‘No Confidence’ motion against Foreign Employment Promotion Minister Dilan Perera, over the execution of housemaid Rizana Nafeek, was another opportunity to reflect on the plight of thousands of Sri Lankans employed in the Middle East, mainly as housemaids, and annually inject the biggest chunk in foreign exchange into State coffers.
As to how prudent it is to bring a ‘No Confidence’ motion against one minister over the execution of the housemaid, is a matter of debate. All members who spoke on Tuesday, agreed there was the need to ensure that the Lankan workers should have better rights when employed overseas.
Several senior government ministers spoke strongly in support of Minister Dilan Perera, including ministers Basil Rajapaksa, G.L. Peries, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Wimal Weerawansa and Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
UNP MP Ajith P. Perera who moved the motion, explained the reason for bringing the ‘No Confidence’ motion against the minister, said the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau which comes under the purview of Minister Perera’s Ministry, had totally failed to extend meaningful support to Rizana Nafeek, and, as a result, she had to die an untimely and tragic death.
“The Government should have appealed for a retrial. The Government has failed to fulfill its responsibility by failing to save Rizana’s life,” he said. External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris who’s Ministry too, should have played a leading role in the Rizana affair, explained that, according to Saudi law, only the parents of the infant, whose death Rizana was accused of, could have pardoned her.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran said he did not agree with the contents of the ‘No Confidence’ motion on Minister Dilan Perera. “What is needed is to stop Sri Lankan women from going to the Middle East as housemaids, as it is nothing less than a slave trade,” he said. MP Sumanthiran said that there should be harsh punishment for job agencies that send underage girls abroad.
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) which supported the motion, pointed out that Saudi Arabia, being a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Children’s Rights, which prevents the execution of persons below 18 years, for crimes committed, should have refrained from executing Rizana. “There should be a proper programme to ensure security and rights of Sri Lankan migrant workers,” DNA MP Sunil Handunnetti said.
UNP Ratnapura District MP Ranjan Ramanayake gave an impassioned speech on the death of the girl. MP Ramanayaka who has been working several years to draw attention to the sad plight of Sri Lankan women working in the Middle East, said that, the Government is more interested in the Rs 6 billion the women remit, than the welfare of the workers.
Some of the personal attacks directed at the Minister, by MP Ramanayaka, were met by even worse personal attacks on him, by Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena.
Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem also backed his Cabinet colleague, saying the UNP motion was politically motivated. “The UNP is like a broken bus, it cannot be given a new lease of life through this ‘No Confidence’ motion,” he said. The Minister also scotched rumours that he had any intention of leaving the Government.
The ‘No Confidence’ motion was defeated in Parliament with 136 voting against it and 32 for. The UNP and the DNA MPs present, voted for the motion, while the TNA members who participated in the debate, were absent when the vote was taken.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus