Ranil takes on Defence Ministry spending

Wednesday, 23 October 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition demands answers on weapons procurement post-war
National security not an excuse to violate Parliament’s right to control public accounts: Ranil

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby orrespondent The Opposition Leader yesterday expressed dissatisfaction at the Government’s response to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake on the Defence Ministry’s weapon and ammunition procurement in the 2010-2012 period.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told the House that he was concerned by the decision of the Leader of the House Nimal Siripala De Silva to cite national security as reason to avoid responding to the question raised by Karunanayake. Wickremesinghe said National Security could not be used as an excuse to violate Parliamentary Standing Orders. “Parliament has the authority on all public accounts according to Standing Order 125. The article 125-2 provides us the right to examine how these funds were utilised. The Ministry of Defence is not an exception to this rule. If you can provide this information to the Public Accounts Committee, what prevents the Government from disclosing the same facts in this House?” the Opposition Leader charged. Wickremesinghe noted that the constitution guaranteed Parliament full authority over public finance. The most corrupt Ministry in the present Government was the Ministry of Defence, a fired up Karunanayake had told the House. “I am raising this question years after the war. Are these the weapons being used on Roshan Chanaka and Anthony Fernando?” the UNP MP charged, referring to two protestors killed by armed forces quashing civilian demonstrations in 2011 and 2012. “The Government has the right to retain information on Defence spending,” said Minister de Silva in response.