The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, do not forget: after 16 years, we are again debating importing salt to Sri Lanka. The average production cost of salt is around Rs. 30; it sold for about Rs. 80. Yet under your Government, the retail price hit Rs. 200, 300, even 400. “Levai” in our economy are a few core sectors — agriculture and fisheries among them. When the State produces 60% and the private sector 40%, and only a handful of salterns must be managed, but still after 16 years we must import salt, that is the failure.

¶ 02 If you knew weather would reduce production this season, you should have planned a year or two ahead. Instead you waited until prices rose and then allowed imports. Even after imports, prices stayed high. Back then, when we imported, you alleged “commissions.” Today you import rice, coconuts, and salt — why?

¶ 03 You deliberately allowed production to fall, watched prices rise, then imported and proudly said you “debated a full day to bring salt.” Remember: in the past 16 years we did not import salt; the State and private sector produced what was needed. Your style is to blame officials to save the Government. With containers too, you said non-compliant salt was re-exported. How many of the 300 containers? No one knows. The Deputy Minister said “we knew and instructed the gate to release.” Customs said it was on a decision discussed with the President. Today, a committee appointed by your own President says the releases were wrong; now you shift blame to officials.

¶ 04 On Presidential pardon: the person was released by Presidential pardon, not by the Prisons Commissioner, yet you blame the Commissioner. Regarding passport fraud — a Minister claimed 17 passports were made without his knowledge by his Secretary. What has happened to that case? Among those could be organized criminals or even the missing young woman connected to an underworld figure who appeared in court. You make a 21‑year‑old, who spoke under pressure because her mother was remanded, into a master criminal? Shame on the Government.

¶ 05 On the “digital economy”: from 1 October an 18% VAT applies to digital services. You promised a digital economy and income avenues for youth, but you only implement the IMF’s demands, not your election promises. VAT comes on time because it comes from Washington, not here. Be sensitive — many innocent youth earn livelihoods online.

¶ 06 About Galle Face: instead of cleaning toilets and basic facilities, you removed small vendors. That does not build a good image. On Weligama surf point: tourism bookings are made months in advance. Shutting small operators overnight ruins livelihoods. Work with UDA to regularize fairly, and support tourism across the island.

¶ 07 You have a two‑thirds majority and 159 MPs. If you push ahead with noise and no listening, the whole economy will crash.

¶ 08 Hon. Deputy Speaker, please give me one more minute.

¶ 09 We request you to discuss with the Weligama youth and treat fairly those small operators who bring thousands of tourists. Also, study the 18% VAT impact if you want to attract dollars and investors; this tax policy will not help.

¶ 10 Today you import salt; at this rate we do not know what else will be imported tomorrow. Do not destroy the domestic entrepreneur. Be sensitive to people’s livelihoods. Thank you.