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Minister Rishad’s request to Pakistan sparks controversy
View(s):The move by a Government Minister to ignore protocol and approach Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to get assistance for a housing scheme for Muslims has raised concerns in political circles. Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that making community specific aid requests was in violation of a 2009 Supreme Court ruling delivered in a Fundamental Rights violation case. The JHU had petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the allocation of houses on communal basis in a scheme made for tsunami victims in Deegavapi using Saudi Arabian assistance.
Mr. Warnasinghe said the Supreme Court had ruled that any allocation should be done based on the ethnic proportions in the said districts. “We are aware that Minister Bathiudeen has approached various countries to get assistance for projects only to aid one community but we strongly object to this,” the JHU spokesman said. “It is a violation of the rights of the people of other communities to seek assistance only for members of one community. Approaching foreign nations ignoring the proper channels of seeking such assistance is also wrong,” he said.
The Sunday Times exclusively reported in its December 29 issue that Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen obtained the help of Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne to forward an appeal to Premier Sharif through Pakistan High Commissioner Qasim Quereshi to make a direct request for a housing scheme for the Muslims in the North.
JVP’s international spokesman Vijitha Herath said this kind of practice was a breach of laid down procedures for seeking foreign assistance. He said that flouting of protocol by government ministers only added to the economic burdens on the people.
“The (ministers) will ask for direct foreign assistance and obtain it but it is the people who have to repay the loans not the ministers,” Mr. Herath said.
Meanwhile, Minister Bathiuddin when contacted by the Sunday Times declined to comment and warned he was sending a letter of demand to the Sunday Times. He, however, did not offer any explanation or respond to the query whether he had asked for assistance.
The Prime Minister’s Secretary S. Amarasekera said he could not confirm or deny that such a request letter went through the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Pakistan High Commission’s media officer when asked specifically whether the High Commission had forwarded Minister Bathuideen’s letter to Premier Sharif without going through the normal diplomatic channels i.e. the MEA or External Resources Department of the Finance Ministry did not answer. But he explained the normal procedure the High Commission followed with regard to aid appeals.
In an e-mail response to the queries posed by the Sunday Times, the official said, “the Government of Pakistan carries out various socio-economic development projects in multiple sectors on annual basis, to assist the Government and people of Sri Lanka.
“The High Commission of Pakistan reviews various project proposals/suggestions every year for undertaking development projects for the uplift of the people of Sri Lanka, with the support of and in coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka.”“These proposals are then referred to the concerned authorities in Islamabad for final review and approval. Once approved, the projects are implemented by the High Commission of Pakistan in coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka.”
“In recent past the Government of Pakistan has funded construction of schools, clean drinking water supply projects, livelihood development and income generation projects, scholarships etc. to support sustainable and inclusive development plans of the Government of Sri Lanka.” The High Commission evaded the question whether the Sri Lankan Minister approached it directly to assist the Muslim community through a housing scheme in the North.