Heroin haul: ­PM, former Speaker trade accusations

By Saman Indrajith-December 17, 2013, 8:48 pm 

Prime Minister, D. M. Jayaratne and former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera, MP yesterday traded accusations in Parliament during the budget debate.

The words, ‘heroin dealer’ and ‘drug peddler’ were heard. That prompted Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to say that it was unfair to accuse anyone of wrongdoing without being found guilty by a court.

Earlier, Premier Jayaratne had said that the government could not stop casinos, liquor and other social ills but the call for stopping them should come from the people themselves.

Prime Minister Jayaratne, participating in the third reading stage debate, on Budget 2014, under the expenditure heads of the 23 ministries, referred to a special select committee and the secretariat for special functions. He said it was an objective mentioned in the Mahinda Chinthana Manifesto to create a just society where people lived by honest means and where moralities would be given high priority.

Jayaratne said there were bhikkhus who dishonored the robe and attention should not be paid to the social disturbances caused by them. Those monks level allegations and blame just people therefore they should be ignored. "I have been working for the benefit of people for 62 years and am guided by what had been said in the Dhammapada that a righteous person should be like a solid rock that will not been shaken by the wind, or is not ruffled by praise or blame," he said.

UNP National List MP Joseph Michael Perera asked whether he could take action to provide text books to Dhamma schools?

Obviously exasperated, the Prime Minister asked MP Perera whether he had a religion. "If you have one then you should act according to the teachings of that religion."

MP Perera responded angrily reminding the PM of the recent detection of a heroin haul concealed in a container, for the clearance of which the Prime Minsiter’s Office had issued a letter to the Customs.

The PM was heard saying words, ‘drug peddler’.

A slanging match ensued and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa had to intervene to settle it.

Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga said: "We know that you, as the minister of religious affairs, had been fair by all religions and faiths and treat them alike. Now the religious leaders of this country have campaigned against casinos. Religious leaders, including the Mahanayakes, demanding that casinos be banned. Could you promise this House that the government would respect the words of religious leaders and stop setting up casinos?"

PM: A government cannot stop casinos. A government could not stop casinos, liquor and other social evils. The urge to stop them should come from within the people themselves.

Chief Opposition Whip: What is a government there for if it could not stop them? What is the use of ministers if they cannot stop them? Why do you all disrespect the request of religious leaders?

The Prime Minister did not respond to the queries of Chief Opposition Whip.