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The much anticipated two-day adjournment debate on the resolution on Sri Lanka adopted by the UNHRC last month, saw a fair share of predictable views being expressed by some MPs. However, the release of the reports compiled by two local Commissions that looked into human rights related issues in the country, widened the scope of the debate and underlined the importance of exposing excesses during the war, instead of sweeping them under the carpet.

Many MPs supported the view that a search for the truth was inevitable if there is to be closure for all those affected by the conflict on all sides, despite differences of opinion on the modus operandi in the search for the truth. Even though several Opposition legislators including vociferous opponents of the Government’s handling of the Geneva resolution, such as UPFA MPs Wimal Weeraawansa and Dinesh Gunawardena, had sought a debate on the issue, the adjournment motion was introduced by UNP MP Ajith Manapperuma and seconded by UNP Galle district MP Bandula Lal Bandarigoda.

The debate got off to a rather stormy start with the two opening speakers accusing several of those in the Opposition of being “cardboard patriots”, and of trying to mislead the country over the Geneva resolution. However, it was not these remarks that caused the rumpus on the first day. It was the growing impatience of several Opposition members, seen as loyalists of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who objected to the manner in which time had been allocated for MPs to speak during the debate.
With nearly all the time in the first half of the first day of the debate allocated to Government members, both UNP and SLFP along with the TNA and the JVP, MPs who had chosen to sit as a separate group in the House, were angered by their time slots which were towards the end of the day’s proceedings.

MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Dinesh Gunawardena both raised the matter from the Floor of the House, but the presiding member at the time, UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman, said he was calling out names in accordance with the list placed before him. Angered by the stance, and without warning, former Chief Government Whip MP Gunawardena rushed to the Well of the House and removed the Mace. Taken by surprise, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando rushed to prevent the Mace being removed from the Chamber. After some scuffling he managed to return it to its rightful place. Sittings suspended during the melee were resumed a few minutes later, when a calmer MP Gunawardena expressed his regrets for the incident, saying it was caused by a misunderstanding. Apologies aside, it was a poor reflection on the conduct of a senior legislator.

Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe who opened the debate on the second day, appealed to break away from traditional politics of the past, for a unified approach to address the problems of the people. He said the reconciliation process was not intended to take revenge on anyone, but meant to bridge the divide between different communities in the country. “We want to take all views into consideration when setting up the process to bring about reconciliation. Let go of uguduwa deshapalanaya. (In reference to a civet, a nocturnal mammal). The civet lives in the dark. When the civet comes out, it cannot do politics in the light. So let go of civet politics and join hands with us to build a democratic society that fulfil the aspirations of the people,” he said.

The PM’s message of reconciliation and unity was backed by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan who said, if the country is to move forward on the journey, all the people must be taken along. But he also called for genuine efforts by the Government to ensure that the Geneva resolution is “honestly, fully and effectively implemented” and said the TNA backed the via media judicial process anticipated by the resolution, to address allegations of human rights violations during the war.”If it was exclusively international, a section of the populace could be apprehensive of it being prejudicial to their interests, or to the interests of their kith and kin. If it was exclusively domestic, yet another section of the people could be apprehensive of it being prejudicial to their interests. In the circumstances, via media is the best course of action and the least controversial, and perhaps inevitable. “What is important is we do not promote hostility among our people,” he said.

JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Dissanayaka made an impassioned speech in which he spoke of the right of the next-of-kin of missing persons to know the whereabouts of their loved ones, if there is to be closure. “My elder brother went missing during the 89/90 period of terror. To this day we still don’t know what happened to him. I have experienced firsthand, the desperation and anguish of my mother who went from pillar to post looking for him. It’s the same for those mothers who carry posters and placards looking for their children even today,” the MP said.

Nevertheless, he appealed to the TNA MPs to place their faith in the people and systems of this country to resolve problems. “India will not come to help you. It will only be here to serve its own interest. Nor will the USA or other foreign nations. We have to address these issues among ourselves and resolve them by ourselves,” he said.

MEP Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena said the Geneva resolution was a threat to the sovereignty of the country, and by choosing to co-sponsor the resolution, the Government was conceding the report compiled by the UN Commissioner of Human Rights as factually correct. “We are accepting the falsehoods contained in the report by the UN Human Rights Commissioner. The report accuses the government of keeping people hungry during the war. This is an utter falsehood because the government ensured that food was sent to the people even at the height of the war. Similarly, the report gives the false figure of 40,000 civilian deaths in the war. The Paranagama report has flatly rejected this figure,” he said.

The debate wound up with Government members making a more convincing case in support of the stance it adopted in Geneva.
The absence of former President, now Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the debate, also helped UNP members who leveled several serious charges against him for being the first person to invite participation of foreign judges in a Sri Lankan process including the Paranagama Commission.