JVP rebel group leader Wimal Weerawansa said he had requested the Minister for Petroleum and Petroleum Resources A.H.M.Fowzie to appoint an all party parliamentary committee to monitor the progress of awarding tenders for off shore oil exploration. But so far the committee had not been appointed.

Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva said the minister was ready to appoint the committee and all parties should nominate their representatives through their party leaders to the minister.

A. Jeyanandamoorthi (TNA) said the government believed it could win the war in the North but it will see that it would suffer defeat after defeat. It also thought that the people of the East will vote for the UPFA during the forthcoming provincial election but it was only a dream of the government that will not be realized. The Tamil speaking people of the East will not vote for the government.

Mano Ganeshan (WPF) said the Bishop of Mannar Rt.Rev Rayappu Joseph had asked for a no war zone around the Madhu Shrine sacred to the Tamil Catholics of Mannar. He was also a civil leader of the people of Mannar and if the government honours his request the LTTE too will follow suit.