Delicate balancing act before new Speaker amidst new faces and voices

• New Speaker congratulated by all parties
• Different concerns voiced by party leaders on first day of sittings

With a total of 15 different political parties represented in the ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka, there were early indications yesterday during the brief speeches made to congratulate the newly-appointed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena of the delicate balancing act that would be needed to ensure the smooth functioning of the Legislature.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who led the House in congratulating the newly-elected Speaker, said that with more than three decades as a legislator, Parliament would be in safe hands under him. “You will be mindful that you are the third citizen of this country now. You have the will and strength to be an impartial and fair Speaker,” he said.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said the newly-elected MP had always acted with dignity, integrity and honour and the House was extremely honoured to have him as Speaker. “We believe you will be just and fair. This is indispensable for a flourishing democracy,” Premadasa said.

“This institution represents the will of the people. The voice of the voiceless. And you as guardian angel of Parliament, we believe you will ensure the people’s sovereignty is protected and enhanced,” he said.

TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan said the Speaker, with his long experience as a legislator, would act efficiently and effectively and in a bipartisan and acceptable way to all parliamentarians. He said the TNA would extend its maximum cooperation to discharge his duties as Speaker.

Former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran who was elected as the Jaffna District MP from the Tamil People’s National Alliance or TMTK in his speech noted that there was a very powerful government now, similar to the one constituted under the late J.R. Jayewardene in 1977.

“It was during that regime that we had the 1983 pogrom. Certainly, this Government too could follow the example of the elephant of that time, and end up as today, reduced to a single member in the future, but I’m sure they would not. They would prefer to learn from our mistakes of the past and usher in a period of peace and prosperity where all communities would feel equal to each other and walk with dignity and pride as children of Mother Lanka,” Wigneswaran said.

He said that freedom and equality could only dawn if we shed the false historical perspectives of the past and recognise the intrinsic rights of the people living in the north and east of Sri Lanka who are entitled to the right of self-determination as per Article 1 of Chapter 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in addition to their hereditary and traditional right to be recognised as a nation.

“I would hope that we would not have to call upon your protective assistance in this August assembly of parliamentarians in the future during Your Honour’s term of office since we would respect our rights and duties towards each other. But we are sure you will guide us all without fear or favour if any such impasse comes to pass,” he added.

Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Jaffna District MP Gajan Ponnambalam said: “In a House that is so heavily weighted on one side, it is the responsibility of the Speaker to ensure that debates that reflect different mandates given to parties by voters are respected and treated with fairness. We must not forget that all parties represented in this House come here today with their respective mandates. Those mandates must be respected, those mandates must be voiced, those mandates must be respected and due place must be given.”

Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) Batticaloa District MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan who came to Parliament from Remand Prison pledged to work in cooperation with the Government during his speech congratulating the new Speaker.

He also sought the Speaker’s intervention to ensure that he is allowed to attend Parliament without any hindrance. “The Attorney General has said I will need to get permission from Court each day I want to attend Parliament, but this is not possible. I hope I will be allowed to attend sittings without any hindrance,” he said. (CK)