Budget : Committee State - 14th Day

Votes of the Ministry of Defence

"Implement laws passed on behalf of plantation people"

Felix Perera (PA, Gampaha District): The UNP is trying to portray the war as an attempt to inflate the image of the Defence Minister. They have failed to notice his dedicated efforts. The UNP waged the war from Colombo. During the past four years the military captured land that was taken by the LTTE during the UNP time. We have received international support to crackdown on the Tigers. During the UNP time the LTTE gained in strength. We are waging a real war with the minister's selfless guidance.

Tilak Karunaratna (UNP, Kalutara District): Only Jaffna and Wanni was to be captured before the UNP lost power. We had a clear policy and the rest of the country was secured from terrorist attacks unlike today.

Why does the minister risk his life unnecessarily? (He quotes from Tuesday's The Island editorial and from the Defence Correspondent on Wednesday).

Our intelligence organisations are in the control of men who have no experience in intelligence gathering. Do you have any intelligence of the LTTE? In other countries intelligence is the prime target.

We have adopted only one tactic to fight terrorists throughout the country. I would like to ask you what you are doing about Kumar Ponnambalam.

The rising crime wave is another major concern. In my area one WPC's house was robbed.

Mahinda Rajapakse (Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development) said: I must note with appreciation the role the Minister General Ratwatte is playing in the war against terrorism. He was playing an active role visiting the conflict zones braving the dangers to his life.

It is also my duty to sound a note of caution. The life of the Minister and those of the chiefs of the armed forces and senior officials are valuable to the country at this crucial juncture of time. So please take special care when you venture into territories where the enemy is active.

We have left the door for peace wide open. The President has made it clear. We are all for peace but at the same time we are also prepared to resist terrorism.

War destroys life and life is a valuable thing.

I must congratulate the new Inspector General who is trying to give a new face to the police force. There are 40,000 strong reservist police force. They must be confirmed in their posts as early as possible. There are also delayed promotions of SPs and HQIs which must be given early attention.

Ali Zahir Maulana (UNP - Batticaloa District): Increased allocation for defence is a startling factor. It makes people rather uncertain of their future. Furthermore the war is being waged without a plan or clear objectives and therefore less productive. Why should we spend billions and billions year after year on the war?

Indications are that the war will go on and on and from bad to worse. Human lives are becoming cannon fodder. Misery is spreading. Human rights are being violated.

The UN Human Rights Commission has called for a report on human rights violations in the North from the Government.

No development program can be implemented in Batticaloa without the approval of the security forces.

Over 35,000 people in Batticaloa have lost their livelihood and government must provide relief to them. Muslims in Batticaloa are to celebrate Ramazan shortly but the destruction of power generators have forced them to live in darkness.

Armed groups are stalking the roads. Security forces must intervene and disarm them.

P. D. Chandrasekaran (Deputy Minister of Estate Housing): The majority of the youth arrests by the security are without sufficient proof. When the investigations are finalised after nearly one year these youth are released. These security measures are necessary but arrests should be made with more responsibility and with regard to the rights of these people.

A. M. D. Rajan (CWC - Colombo District): All the laws passed on behalf of the people in the plantation areas should be implemented. These people undergo a great difficulty to get their birth certificates. These people are not issued identity cards. The children born in Sri Lanka should be provided with identity cards even if the parents are of Indian origin.

Baratha Luxman Premachandra (PA - Colombo District): Corruption in the security forces should be checked. Sometimes checkpoints are used to draw fast buck.

Drugs brought to this country are still a matter of concern. Drugs enter the country through smugglers from India.

The Political Victimisation Committee work should be stepped up.

Chandradasa Galappatti (UNP, Ampara District): If the government says the war is 95% complete why don't you remove the NSL? If Colombo is secured from terrorist attacks as you claim why don't you remove the intense security arrangements? If the terrorists don't have aircrafts why have you installed anti aircraft guns.

Minister Ratwatte - The LTTE doesn't have aircraft but we are prepared for anything. It is the newspapers that have been fabricating these reports.

You even control democracy according to the whims and fancy of Prabakaran.

The government has been breaking world records in breaking promises.

Tissa Karalliyadda (PA - Anuradhapura District) said: Thanks to the Jayasikuru operation, persons displaced in Medawachchiya and Horowpathana due to the war are returning to their homes.

I make an appeal to the IGP to increase the salaries of home guards by Rs. 500. The home Guards are doing a heroic job in protecting villagers open to terrorist attacks. I also want the IGP to look into the problems of police officers and shortcomings of police stations in the threatened areas.

Government forces were able to recapture 10 of the 11 army camps that fell into the hands of the LTTE terrorists.

Don't belittle the actions of our valiant soldiers. They have the blessings of all honest citizens of the country.

R. M. Pulendran (UNP - Vanni District): The Defence Minister is like a driver of a vehicle which takes the country to disaster.

Why don't the government hold talks with the LTTE? Why are you all imposing conditions for such talks? You must put an end to the war early.

Government must talk to the High Commissioner of India in Colombo, regarding arrangements to bring down a Hindu priest for the performances of some religious rites in Sri Lanka.

In Linganagar, armed forces officials are demanding the clearance of 177 families. The army, it seems, has decided to requisition the land.

Sri Lanka's economy is heading for disaster.

When the Deputy Minister's helicopter was accidentally landed at Pambalmadu in Vavuniya, was a staunch supporter of the UNP. The Minister has promised to help him. Now this man is in deep trouble due to poverty. Please do help this man.

H. B. Semasinghe (Deputy Minister of Tourism and Aviation): Everybody's wish is a quick end to the war. And the war waged by the government against terrorism is for the purpose of ending this conflict.

The war took a different face during the rule of President J. R. Jayewardene, who antagonised Indira Gandhi by making some unstatemanly comments about Indira Gandhi during the visit of Moraj Desai to Sri Lanka. According to a book written by former Indian envoy in Colombo J. N. Dixit his book was titled "Assignment - Colombo'.

You must support the government in its pursuit for a solution to the problem rather than obstructing it.

Let us join hands and explore possibilities for peace.

Sarath Ranawaka (UNP - Kalutara District) said: We wish long life to Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte and the top military officials who had managed to save their lives in the Oddusuddan terrorist attack. In the same breath we pay a warm tribute to the soldiers who suffered injuries in this attack, while paying our deepest sympathies to the dead.

As a result of the one percent increase in the Defence Levy all commodities are bound to increase in price. The government should have excluded at least essential items from this tax. Mind you every person must now pay Rs. 5.50 from every Rs. 100 he spends as Defence levy.

When our leader proposed unconditional talks with the LTTE the government was sceptic. Now the LTTE is talking about talks. At the same time the LTTE wants the government to prepare the ground for such talks.

What does that mean? They might want a ceasefire prior to beginning of talks. LTTEers are cunning people. We too have fallen into their traps. So I warn you about this. Our leader's proposal was to begin talks with the LTTE without conditions which include non-stoppage of the military operations.

It was the captain of the ship Missen which the LTTE captured, who for the first time revealed that LTTE is in possession of light aircraft and helicopters. Captain Janaka Thenabadu, was released by the LTTE after several months in detention. He cannot tell a lie.

There is a press report that a LTTE agent has approached government for supply of arms. The man's name is Kumaran Padmanadan. This man's other contact is Daud Abrew who is Karachi. He was a millionaire businessman in Pakistan.

There is a proposal to purchase six Dvoras from Israel. These, or at least a few of them could have been manufactured at the dockyard at a lesser cost. But the decision to purchase all the six boats from Israel will entail an additional expenditure of Rs. 540 million.

This is a fraudulent transaction.

There is also a report that military hardware have been purchased from China in violation of an agreement. The transaction is reportedly tied to a big commission.

P. Sumathipala (Deputy Minister, Provincial Councils and Local Government): The military effort took on a more aggressive and professional effort after our government took over. The security forces cast aside their "bunker culture" and their servile functions to the ministers after this government launched a more active and aggressive offensive. Considerable number of areas were captured by our forces who were directed by a courageous and able leadership.

The military should be encouraged further and the forces should be equipped with all necessary facilities.

Lionel Gunawardana (PA - Gampaha District): The Defence Minister always attempts to obtain first hand information about the war front. He sacrifices his life to inquire into the needs of the forces and direct the military from the battlefront.

The government has looked after the needs of the military and the President will open a "Ranawiru apparel village" tomorrow.

Jeyraj Fernandopulle (Minister of Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs): The UNP is trying to dampen the morale of the security forces. They are jealous of the government's systematic and planned approach.

The UNP is complaining about the precautions taken by the government but they will not lose time to blame us if Tigers manage to infiltrate.

The North-Western Provincial Council elections will be held as scheduled.

We are not afraid of elections. North-Western Province will be the centre of activity and we will meet you there!

John Amaratunga (UNP, Gampaha district): We are voting the highest amount to this ministry. The country has the right to know what is done with these funds. We have requested for details of Paranthan, Kilinochchi attacks and the 30,000 mortars that were ordered from Zimbabwe. The reports were not produced to us. Today air, sea and land transport has been suspended. The Jayasikuru offensive has stopped dead on its heels.

You challenged us to go to the North-Western Province. I will challenge you to go there because the kith and kin of those who died from the mortar showers are waiting for you.

There are speculations that there is a dispute between the Defence Minister and the Deputy Minister. The Deputy Minister wanted to go ahead with the Jayasikuru operation until it reached its goal, but according to reports it was stopped by the Minister of Defence, the President.

You don't have to abandon the Kilinochchi march, if you had a good intelligence service and better military strategies.

Minister of Power and Energy and Deputy Minister of Defence, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte winding up the debate said I thank all those who made contributions during the debate whatever the intentions are.

There were complaints made by Members against officers of the armed forces. One complaint involved a Pajero. The Pajero was purchased on the approval of the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury.

It was originally purchased for Maj. Gen. Balagalla. But as he went to Jaffna he was supplied with a separate Pajero. The other one which was an automatic vehicle was retained in Colombo. This is being used by the Commander of the Army. It was a blatant lie to say that the vehicle is being used by the Commander's son. The Commander's son is using a vehicle supplied by his employers.

Please don't make false allegations against officers of the armed services. They are involved in a war at great risk to their lives. Please criticise me if you want to. But spare the armed services officers and their men.

There was a complaint about Dvoras. How can I reveal details though I can do so. Revelation of these sensitive information will only help Prabhakaran. Do you want these information to reach Prabhakaran.

I appointed a committee to inquire into certain allegations of corruption in the purchase of military ware. But no evidence was placed before the committee by the Hon'ble Members of Parliament (Opposition) who made those allegations. They are now questioning the competence of the members of the Committee.

I want to tell the House we have not abandoned the objective of opening the Vavuniya-Kilinochchi main supply route (MSR). I tell you definitely that we have not changed it. We will do it. Don't have any doubts about it. Despite some changes the objective remains unchanged.

There is also no truth in the newspaper reports that there is a dispute between me and the President. It is an impossible thing that can never ever happen. Every measure taken by the Defence Ministry has the approval of the President, as Minister of Defence.

The Expenditure Head 230 was passed by a 110 to 6 votes.

The UNP refrained from voting but the TULF voted against.

Heads 231-237 were passed unopposed.