The Hon. Ajith Gihan

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we debate regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act on salt imports. The Opposition’s arguments today lack logic. Similarly on rice: as a democratic government, we take decisions based on people’s needs. On coconuts too, we acted as needed. Currently the salt issue has impacted people strongly because it’s used for consumption and for industries.

¶ 02 In my Puttalam District, most are fishing communities, including dried fish producers who need salt. One person told me he had to throw fish back to sea because there was no salt to make karawala. When we raised this with the Minister, swift action was taken to protect the fisheries industry and fishers. The Opposition even planned protests about salt. Yet our decisions were taken democratically, for the people.

¶ 03 The Opposition cannot bear this. They would have been happy if we were stuck. On pricing, the decline in production was clearly due to weather. If someone claims, “We have a sea eight times the size of the land; why import salt?” they lack understanding of climate. Salt can be produced only in suitable coastal pans with the right wind and evaporation—having a sea everywhere doesn’t mean salt can be made everywhere.

¶ 04 Hon. Samanmalee said the Opposition has melted like salt in a coconut shell; indeed, salt dissolves to give taste—that’s how we use it. But the Opposition’s statements make no sense. Rainfall, wind and other factors affected production; our Ministers have shown rainfall data nationwide. You were also in government—you should understand this.

¶ 05 Hon. Namal Rajapaksa said after 16 years we are importing salt, like when you said coconuts and rice were imported. How long have we been in office? Who ruled for years? If so, you should have ensured resilient salt production. The Hambantota MP doesn’t seem to grasp why production fell. As a Government, we have acted correctly and will continue to decide based on people’s needs, without fear.

¶ 06 They say nothing we promised has been done. Now observe: their theory is to dash in, speak and flee—no accountability in the House. We, as new MPs, take our duties seriously. The people sent them here—they should remain and answer. They don’t.

¶ 07 Look at the destruction they caused across sectors. We shoulder responsibility and do our duty. We did not bring the country to this state. The Opposition should support the program, saying “yes, we caused this,” rather than making baseless claims.

¶ 08 On Puttalam’s salt pans, production collapsed seriously. Ministers Sunil Handunnetti and Wasantha Samarasinghe visited. We received calls and went ourselves—it was evident that ongoing rainfall disrupted output. Therefore, we had to import. Now we are limiting it. We have done our duty.

¶ 09 This Government has had to face multiple challenges since taking office: floods, coconut issues, rice issues—we confronted them strongly for the people. The country is stabilizing. On trade policy, the President has set out strengthening exports while understanding import needs. Coconut industry issues stem from past wrong decisions on raw materials. Along with strengthening exports, we have plans to increase coconut production—a major dollar earner. Similarly across sectors, our steady plans will leave the Opposition with nothing to say. Even if salt dissolves in a coconut shell and gives taste, this Opposition will soon be tasteless. Thank you for the opportunity.