Parliament

Sergeant-at-arms Palliyaguruge upheld dignity of House
By Chandani Kirinde, Our Lobby Correspondent
Despite a marked decrease in incidences of violence in the north and east, parliament extended the state of emergency for another month. With the TNA boycotting sittings on Tuesday, the House was generally quiet.
Passing a vote of appreciation parliament also bade farewell to a long standing member of the legislature’s staff – Sergeant-at-Arms Wijeya Palliyaguruge – on his retirement after nearly three decades of dedicated service.

Prime Minister and Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake moving the emergency motion said since the Geneva peace talks between the Government and the LTTE, the incidence of violence had decreased but the regulations were still needed to keep things under control.

He assured that the emergency would not in anyway hamper the holding of free and fair elections on March 30. The UNP while supporting the emergency highlighted several matters asking the Government for a response.

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera specifically spoke of a matter that was first exposed in The Sunday Times of March 5 and later reported in several other newspapers regarding Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga’s alleged involvement in a visa scam.

“I urge the Prime Minister to look into this serious matter. If there is some irregularity, action must be taken against such persons”, Mr.Perera said adding that the onus on the part of the Government to act in this instance was greater because a Government Minister had been implicated in the case.

However there was no response from the Government benches nor from Mr. Kumaratunga who was also present in Parliament who chose to say nothing in his defence.

The JVP came under attack from UNP Kalutara district MP Rajitha Senaratna who accused the Party of playing a double game. “The JVP wants to enjoy the privileges accorded to the Government and the Opposition. When the government does anything good they claim to be with them and share in the credit but when things go wrong, they claim they are in the Opposition”, Dr. Senaratna said.

There weren’t many JVPers present in the House as most of them were campaigning for the local council elections. Gampaha district MP Vijitha Herath urged the government to ensure that supporters of all political parties were protected and free and fair elections were held.

House Leader and senior Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva moved the vote of appreciation for the retiring Sergeant-at-Arms Wijeya Palliyaguruge who made his last appearance in the Chamber after 29 years of service first at the National State Assembly and later in Parliament – ten of which was in this prestigious position.

The Minister said Mr. Palliyaguruge upheld the respect and dignity of the House at all times and served the Legislature in an impartial manner. “Whether it was a Government MP or an Opposition MP, he treated them all in the same manner and with utmost respect”, Mr. de Silva said.

He also won accolades from the Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who said the retiring officer was an example to any public official and those of his calibre were becoming rarer and rarer even in the Legislature.

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said Mr. Palliyaguruge had always been an affable and helpful person to all MPs and would be sorely missed by them all.

Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara paying a glowing tribute to the retiring officer said he would miss him more than anyone else in the legislature. “His temperament and mine are similar. We are both cool headed persons and my job as Speaker was made that much easier by his presence”, he said.

The Speaker said Mr. Palliyaguruge had always upheld the dignity and decorum of the House at all times – either while on duty at the legislature or at other occasions. Mr. Palliyaguruge will be succeeded by the deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Anil Samarasekera.

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