Hon. Nandana Pathmakumara

¶ 01 Many in the Opposition have lately taken to making noise about salt. They keep raising various allegations: first about rice, then coconuts, then containers, and now salt. They claim shop prices for salt are Rs. 300–400 per packet. Perhaps that is what salt costs in Opposition-linked stores. In ordinary shops, prices are lower and the public is purchasing without hardship. The Opposition has nothing substantive to say, so they grasp at anything.

¶ 02 We all know the recent increase in salt prices had multiple causes, chiefly the worst weather conditions in about 20 years, which disrupted solar salt production and drove up prices. The Opposition knows this, yet continues with accusations. Media also carried headlines such as “Encircled by sea, yet importing salt” and “Salt pricier than rice.” The former Chairman of Lanka Salt Ltd., Attorney-at-Law Nishantha Sandabarana, said Sri Lanka’s seawater is suitable for salt production and with new refineries we could produce for export and earn dollars, but when he tried to implement reforms, a powerful Hambantota politician interfered via local henchmen and he was assaulted and removed. That did not happen during our time; it was under the past government. While we have the resources to produce salt from the sea, reformers were obstructed then. Yet today those same people talk about salt shortages.

¶ 03 We saw Opposition MPs frequently jumping up because they cannot stay in their seats after uttering falsehoods. A colleague from Kalutara spoke about local authorities they claim to have won, but after the people gave us a clear mandate in many local bodies, the Opposition used every trick to snatch control. They boasted they would win many councils, but ended up with a single seat in places. Their real grievance underlies their drum-beating over container releases, coconut prices, rice, and now salt.

¶ 04 Therefore, I propose to Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe: consider a coupon or special ration for the Opposition so they can buy salt at a concessional rate—since that seems to be their latest fixation. In regular shops, prices are far lower than the inflated figures they cite. It is unfortunate the Opposition has come to this.

¶ 05 At ground level we are getting work done. With power in local authorities and about 4,000 councillors, development activities are underway across divisions: roads, street lighting, village needs addressed, and a clampdown on theft, corruption, and fraud.

¶ 06 Hon. Namal Rajapaksa said that when others imported goods, there were accusations of corruption. Now people ask whether such “commissions” exist today. They do not, because today no minister is taking kickbacks on imports. The Opposition is trying to pin on us what they themselves did when in government. We have not forgotten their record.

¶ 07 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the Opposition’s problem is they have no village-level politics left. Roads are built, street lamps installed, rural economies are reviving, and tourism is growing—so their usual politics cannot move forward. They finish one session ranting about salt and then look for another snippet to grab next time. Look at the Opposition benches: often barely any members present, with government MPs filling both sides.