By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Heated words were exchanged in Parliament yesterday over the Government decision to lift the ban on eight Tamil organisations and 264 individuals blacklisted by the former Government with the Opposition insisting it could lead to a resurgence of terrorism within the country.

Prior to lifting the ban, the former Government banned 17 organisations and 424 individuals issuing Gazette Extraordinary No.1854/41 dated 21 March 2014 following provisions in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph (4) of the United Nations Regulations No, 1 of 2012. 

Bringing the dilemma of national security into the picture despite President Maithripala Sirisena’s pledge in Parliament a few days before, UPFA parliamentarian Dallas Alahapperuma accused the Government of making room for the LTTE to resurrect. “Based on the intelligence reports the former Government issued a gazette banning the organisations and individuals. What assurance do you have these organisations and the individuals are no longer involved in separatism? You have to accept the fact that this was not a political decision then President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Secretary of Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa took. Instead of keeping the Parliament informed, the Foreign Minister revealed this removal of ban in Europe by making fun of us for hysteria,” charged Alahapperuma. 

“On 15 October some members of Voice of Intellectuals and Professionals met the Inspector General of Police. They wanted the police to bring back the suspects to Sri Lanka. Dr. Nalaka Godahewa who is a member in this group of intellects had the meeting with the IGP was arrested for a matter, which has no relations to him at all,” he added. 

Reminding the House of what he termed as ‘suffering of Tamils’ under the former Government, Minister of Higher Education and Highways and the Leader of the House of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella said: “UPFA and the United National Front looks at this matter differently. All Tamils were branded traitors or terrorists including all their organisations during your tenure. The new Government has a different agenda and a new approach.” 

“We have discussed matters with intelligence services as well as INTERPOL. We understand that the previous Government chased after innocent Tamil people. Our approach is different. I would like to remind how your Government barred foreign people visiting the North last year almost five months before the election was held. Even Tamils from abroad who had relatives in the North were not allowed. Neither television channels nor journalists were allowed. We took this up in Parliament. Don’t try to raise racism,” added Minister Kiriella. 

Joining the heated argument to explain the rational led to remove the ban said: “There is a committee headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs established on this matter. The Defense Secretary is also a member in this committee. Terrorism Investigation Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Directorate of Military Intelligence, National Intelligence Bureau, Attorney General’s Department, Foreign Service, Financial Investigations Division, and Central Bank representatives are part of this committee who took the decision to remove the selected organisations and persons from this list. We considered two factor among many other – terrorist financing by any of the organisations within the last three years and updates received for the last three years.”

Early retired soldiers could get pension

The Ministry of Defense will explore the possibility of giving pensions to soldiers who retired early from service, State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene told Parliament yesterday.

 With the war coming to an end, the Government has allowed early discharge for those who completed 12 years in the army. But according to the Minister, the Government has no information about hardships the soldiers who left the service before completing 22 years have faced without a pension.

“Having brought this issue to my notice we will look into the possibilities of allowing them a pension,” he confirmed responding to a supplementary question raised by UNP MP Lucky Jayawardana.

At the time of early retirement, a soldier would receive lump sum payment equal to 24 times of his consolidated monthly salary, ration allowance, suitability wages, and good conduct badge allowance. In case the soldier was unmarried the contribution for the widow and orphan fund will also be returned along with the due interest. The contributions made to welfare will also be given back.