The Kandy district MP representing Sukanda Janata Sabha recently left for Geneva to participate in the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Mr. Lawyer Wasantha Yapabandara yesterday (13) met the Ambassador of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Director of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Anda Philip and handed over a letter regarding the current government’s suppression of the opposition by suppressing the parliamentary tradition and parliamentary democracy.
During the discussion with the Ambassador, Mr Wasantha Yapabandara said that the opportunities given to the opposition in the parliament are not enough and the government is only trying to suppress the opposition.
Speaking further, he said that the opposition groups do not have enough space to represent the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (Business Committee).
Also, the opposition groups do not get enough space in the important and critical committees of the Parliament’s Finance Committee, Committee on Public Business (COP Committee), Committee on Government Accounts (COPA Committee), and Sectoral Oversight Committees, and therefore the opposition groups in the Parliament do not get enough space. Although there is 40% parliamentary power, it is not an opportunity to represent that parliamentary power.
He said that it is regrettable that there have been several cases of suppression of opposition MPs and violation of privileges, and despite complaining to the Speaker of the Parliament, no action has been taken.
Among them, during the last session of the Parliament, when the Minister of Wildlife answered only the first interlocutory question and proceeded to leave the House arrogantly, the Speaker prohibited only the two members of the opposition from participating in the parliamentary proceedings that day. Violation of the right of MPs to ask two oral questions and treating the ruling party in one way and the opposition in another way without taking any action regarding the minister’s running away without answering, and not taking action on the undue influence exerted by the Prime Minister and the chief organizer of the ruling party on the Deputy Speaker who was in the chair at the time of the incident. He pointed out that it was a death blow to democracy.
In particular, he pointed out to the Ambassador that there is no human rights committee in the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the importance of establishing such a committee.
(Here is a copy of the letter handed over by the Member of Parliament, the scenes, photographs and the comments issued by the Member of Parliament to the media regarding the occasion of handing over the letter.)
General Secretary
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Geneva, Switzerland
Subject: Urgent Concerns Regarding Proceedings in Sri Lanka
Dear Sir,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring your attention a matter of utmost importance related to the proceedings within the Sri Lankan Parliament. As a concerned citizen and a Member of Parliament representing the people of Sri Lanka, I feel compelled to highlight the issues that have recently transpired in our legislative body.
Over the past months, there have been disturbing developments within our parliamentary sessions that want your attention. Specifically, there have been incidents where legitimate questions raised by parliamentarians have not received adequate responses from senior members of the governing party. This lack of responsiveness directly contradicts the established Standing Orders governing our parliamentary procedures.
I would like to draw your attention to an incident that occurred on August 23rd, 2023, where I raised a question pertaining to the Minister of Wildlife. According to our parliamentary rules, each parliamentarian is entitled to two sub-questions. However, during this session, after presenting my first question, I was met with assurances from a senior minister, Honorable Pavitra Vanniaracchi, that necessary actions would be taken. Regrettably, no response or opportunity to ask my second question was provided.
To add to the gravity of the situation, the Deputy Speaker presiding over the session was pressurized by the Prime Minister, Honourable Dinesh Gunawardena, and the Chief of the Governing Party, Senior Minster, Honorable Prasanna Ranatunga. A threat was openly made to the Deputy Speaker, implying that if parliamentary proceedings were not controlled to their satisfaction, they would disrupt the session.
As parliamentarians, we have fundamental right to raise questions in accordance with our Standing Orders, especially when such issues affect our constituents. The pressing concern is that these incidents have been recurring, leaving us deeply frustrated. This frustration arises from the fact that our constituents are currently grappling with a severe economic crisis, compounded by escalating threat posed by wild elephant to the livelihoods of innocent farmers.
The menace of these elephants, along with other animals such as monkeys, pigs, and peacocks, poses significant threat to the cops of impoverished farmers.
According to the experts in the field Professor Ashoka Dangolla, the cumulative losses in crop production have already exceeded 30 billion Sri Lankan rupees. This dire situation is exacerbating the economic hardship faced by our people.
Considering these alarming developments, I kindly request you intervention an attention to these issues within the Sri Lankan Parliament. Your guidance and support would be invaluable in ensuring that parliamentary proceedings adhere to the established rules and that the concerns of our constituents who are facing severe hardships are addressed effectively.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. I eagerly await your response and guidance on how we can rectify these pressing issues within our parliamentary system.
Sincerely,
Wasantha Yapa Bandara
Member of Parliament -Sri Lanka
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +94773637317
Sent from iPhone.
