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Parliament pays tribute to Mandela
View(s):Parliament yesterday expressed its condolences at the passing away of former South African President Nelson Mandela at an impromptu session with both the Government and Opposition paying glowing tributes to the late anti-apartheid freedom fighter, but no decision has yet been taken on who would represent Sri Lanka at the funeral next Saturday.
No decision has been taken whether the national flag must fly at half-mast as has been done in several other countries, President’s Office spokesman Mohan Samaranayaka said. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Leader of the House said “at a time when the people of Sri Lanka mourn at the passing away of this great leader, the Government, the People of Sri Lanka and this Parliament wish to express their condolences on his demise.”
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe also expressed his condolences and said that the one-time prisoner of Robben Island had become a beacon of hope for the whole world. Mr.Wickremesinghe referred to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and said that it showed the extent to which the white rulers in South Africa work the apartheid system to hold its power.
“That is a characteristic of many authoritarian states which seek to control thinking, which seek to control the media, which seek to control the judiciary by putting those favourable to them there, seek to control civil society, seek to keep an eye on anyone they think are dissidents , and then take action against them legally or indirectly…. it is an unfortunate sign that we see in many parts of the world,” the UNP leader said.
The Opposition Leader said that Mr. Mandela set two terms for a President and went home after that. “He could have changed the Constitution and gone for a third term or he could have gone for a life time. He did not do that”.